Efficacy and Safety of Esaxerenone in Hypertensive Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Treatment with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (EAGLE-DH).

INTRODUCTION: The EAGLE-DH study assessed the efficacy and safety of esaxerenone in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label, prospective, interventional study, esaxerenone was started at 1.25 or 2.5 mg/day and could be gradually increased to 5 mg/day on the basis of blood pressure (BP) and serum potassium levels. Oral hypoglycemic or antihypertensive medications prior to obtaining consent was continued. Data were evaluated in the total population and creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) subcohorts (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 [G1-G2 subcohort] and 30 to < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 [G3 subcohort]). RESULTS: In total, 93 patients were evaluated (G1-G2, n = 49; G3, n = 44). Morning home systolic/diastolic BP values (SBP/DBP) were significantly reduced from baseline to week 12 (- 11.8 ± 10.8/- 5.1 ± 6.3 mmHg, both P < 0.001) and week 24 (- 12.9 ± 10.5/- 5.7 ± 6.3 mmHg, both P < 0.001). Similar results were observed in both eGFR subcohorts. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio significantly decreased from baseline to week 24 in the total population (geometric percentage change, - 49.1%, P < 0.001) and in both eGFR subcohorts. The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and drug-related TEAEs were 45.2% and 12.9%, respectively; most were mild or moderate. Serum potassium levels increased over the first 2 weeks of esaxerenone treatment, gradually decreased by week 12, and remained constant to week 24. One patient in the G1-G2 subcohort had serum potassium levels ≥ 5.5 mEq/L. No patients had serum potassium ≥ 6.0 mEq/L. CONCLUSION: Esaxerenone effectively lowered BP, was safe, and showed renoprotective effects in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus receiving treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors. Esaxerenone and SGLT2 inhibitors did not interfere with either drug's efficacy and may reduce the frequency of serum potassium elevations, suggesting they are a compatible combination. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: jRCTs031200273.

Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of clarithromycin on Mycobacterium avium complex replication in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells.

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) invades cultured human bronchial cells, can replicate intracellularly, and facilitates the release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of clarithromycin (CAM) on MAC invasion, replication, and the release of cytokines and chemokines. A human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) monolayer grown on a tissue culture plate was infected with MAC. After 24 h, the cells were washed with Hanks' buffered salt solution, and extracellular bacteria were killed. The monolayer was further cultured for 5 days in medium containing CAM and subjected to a replication assay. The supernatants were assessed using a microchemotaxis assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression was evaluated using a DNA array. The amount of intracellular MAC on day 5 of culture was significantly lower in the presence of CAM at the levels of 1× and 4× MIC. CAM inhibited the release of chemotactic activity and the production of interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1. DNA array analysis of mRNA expression in BEAS-2B cells showed that CAM inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, involving IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-8 mRNA. MAC invaded and replicated in BEAS-2B cells and induced the production of chemotactic factors. In contrast, CAM may have bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects leading to the inhibition of inflammatory events.

[The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis].

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infects all organs in the body; however, lung infection is the primary lesion. The total number of infections is decreasing, but the percentage of infections in older people is rising. Because this disease is due to infection with M. tuberculosis, the diagnosis requires the presence of M. tuberculosis. Chest X-ray and CT are very powerful tools to suggest the presence of M. tuberculosis infection. Pathological examination of the tissues also shows the typical findings of M. tuberculosis infection; however, the presence of the bacterium was not proven in certain cases of M. tuberculosis infection, and especially in cases of latent infection. Recently, the whole-blood interferon--gamma test (QuantiFERON-TB, QFT) became more popular than the tuberculin skin test. It is reported that the specificity and sensitivity of QFT are similar to or better than the tuberculin skin test. However, it should be noted that QFT positive does not automatically lead to a diagnosis of active M. tuberculosis infection and that QFT is one of the supplementary tests in the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection. Currently, massive infection with M. tuberculosis is increasing. The precise responsible linkage in massive infection with M. tuberculosis needs DNA polymorphism analysis using variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) or restricted fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

[A case of hemoptysis caused by vegetable foreign body (cryptomeria) and actinomycosis].

A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with hemoptysis. Chest radiography and chest CT scanning demonstrated atelectasis in the right middle lobe. Bronchoscopy showed nothing of abnormal appearance. We performed a middle lobe lobectomy suspecting that the continuing hemoptysis was caused by the lesion in the middle lobe. Histologically, a vegetable foreign body (cryptomeria) was recognized in a bronchiole of the middle lobe, surrounded by inflamed tissues and sulfur granules. It was suggested that all of these were the cause of the hematoptysis. The patient was discharged on the fourteenth postoperative day, and has been asymptomatic since. This was a very rare case of hemoptysis caused by a vegetable foreign body and actinomycosis.

Bronchoscopic microsampling for bacterial colony counting in relevant lesions in patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections with nodular/bronchiectasis lesions is increasing. However, factors determining deterioration are unknown. In the present study, we investigated quantitative MAC cultures obtained through bronchoscopic microsampling (BMS) from patients with pulmonary MAC infection and analyzed the relationship between MAC culture and the short-term natural history. We also assessed chest computed tomography (CT) findings for the deteriorating factors. DESIGN: For this prospective study, MAC was collected from peripheral lung lesions by BMS through endobronchial ultrasonography. MAC colonies were counted on Middlebrook 7H11 agar. We compared the number of MAC colonies with laboratory data and chest CT findings. PATIENTS: We studied 26 patients with pulmonary MAC infection. RESULTS: The patients were divided into 2 groups: 11 patients in the non-deteriorated group and 15 patients in the deteriorated group. The number of MAC colonies was significantly correlated with deterioration of MAC infection (p < 0.001). In the non-deteriorated group, chest CT scans showed nodular/bronchiectasis lesions in 8 patients (73%) and consolidated lesions in 3 patients (27%). In the deteriorated group, chest CT scans showed nodular/bronchiectasis lesions in 1 patient (7%), consolidated lesions in 6 patients (40%), and cavitary lesions in 8 patients (53%). CONCLUSION: The number of MAC colonies in relevant lesions investigated by BMS was significantly larger in the deteriorated group than in the non-deteriorated group. Cavitary and consolidated lesions observed from chest CT scans are thought to indicate a high risk of progression of pulmonary MAC infection.

A peptide against the N-terminus of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate inhibits degranulation of human leukocytes in vitro.

Leukocytes synthesize a variety of inflammatory mediators that are packaged and stored in the cytoplasm within membrane-bound granules. Upon stimulation, the cells secrete the granule contents via an exocytotic process whereby the granules translocate to the cell periphery, the granule membranes fuse with the plasma membrane, and the granule contents are released extracellularly. We have reported previously that another exocytotic process, release of mucin by secretory cells of the airway epithelium, is regulated by the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) (Li Y, Martin LD, Spizz G, Adler KB. MARCKS protein is a key molecule regulating mucin secretion by human airway epithelial cells in vitro. J Biol Chem 2001;276:40982-40990; Singer M, Martin LD, Vargaftig BB, Park J, Gruber AD, Li Y, Adler KB. A MARCKS-related peptide blocks mucus hypersecretion in a mouse model of asthma. Nat Med 2004;10:193-196). In those studies, mucin secretion in vitro and in vivo was attenuated by a synthetic peptide identical to the N-terminus of MARCKS, named the MANS peptide (Li and colleagues, 2001). In this study, we used the MANS peptide to investigate possible involvement of MARCKS in secretion of leukocyte granule proteins. In neutrophils isolated from human blood, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced myeloperoxidase release was attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner by MANS but not by equal concentrations of a missense control peptide. In additional studies using human leukocyte cell lines, secretion of eosinophil peroxidase from the eosinophil-like cell line HL-60 clone 15, lysozyme from the monocytic leukemia cell line U937, and granzyme from the lymphocyte natural killer cell line NK-92 were attenuated by preincubation of the cells with MANS but not with the missense control peptide. The results indicate that MARCKS protein may play an important role in the secretion of membrane-bound granules from different leukocytes. MARCKS may be an important component of secretory pathways associated with release of granules by different cell types.

Human bronchial epithelium expresses interleukin-9 receptors and releases neutrophil chemotactic factor.

Growing evidence obtained from human genomic analysis and antigen-challenged transgenic mice suggests that interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a candidate factor in immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and thus is thought to be associated with bronchial inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). To evaluate the expression of the IL-9 receptor and its effect on the IL-9 human bronchial cell line BEAS-2B cells, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemical investigation, and chemotaxis assay were performed. The components of the IL-9 receptor, consisting of IL-9 receptor alpha (CD129) and IL-2 receptory ((1)132), were expressed on BEAS-2B cells as determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. BEAS-2B cells exposed to IL-9 released neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the presence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was also detected. This factor is primarily involved in NCA for the measurement of cytokines and in the inhibition assay of neutrophil chemotaxis. These findings suggest that bronchial epithelial cells may express IL-9 receptors, and that IL-9 may induce airway inflammation through the release of G-CSF from bronchial epithelial cells.

Decreased level of vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of normal smokers and patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays multifunctional roles in both the development of vasculature and the maintenance of vascular function. A decrease in VEGF reduces angiogenesis and induces apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Inhibition of the VEGF receptor causes endothelial cell apoptosis and emphysema. We postulated that VEGF concentrations might be reduced in patients with chronic lung diseases. The level of VEGF was evaluated by enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from normal smokers, nonsmoking volunteers, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis associated with a connective tissue disease, and sarcoidosis. The isoforms of VEGF in BALF were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. VEGF in nonsmoking volunteers was detectable at a high concentration. In contrast, VEGF in most of the normal smokers was below the detectable limit. The VEGF found in nonsmoking volunteers BALF was VEGF165. VEGF was significantly decreased in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis associated with a connective tissue disease, and sarcoidosis compared with nonsmoking volunteers. The smoking patients showed a further decrease in VEGF. These data suggest that the decrease in VEGF in smokers and patients with chronic lung diseases may reduce angiogenesis and induce apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells.

Methotrexate stimulates lung epithelial cells to release inflammatory cell chemotactic activities.

Methotrexate-induced pneumonitis has been reported as an infrequent but potentially serious complication of therapy in a variety of malignant and benign conditions. Because inflammatory cell infiltration is concerned with the development of methotrexate-induced pneumoinitis, and because airway epithelial cells participate in the orchestration of lung inflammation, the authors determined whether methotrexate might stimulate airway epithelial cells (A549 cells) to release neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil chemotactic activities (NCA, MCA, and ECA). A549 cells released NCA, MCA, and ECA in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to methotrexate. Partial characterization revealed the heterogeneity of NCA, MCA, and ECA. The release of chemotactic activity was blocked by lipoxygenase inhibitors and cycloheximide. NCA was inhibited by leukotriene (LT) B(4) receptor antagonist, and anti-interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) antibodies. MCA was attenuated by LTB(4) receptor antagonist, and anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) antibodies. ECA was attenuated by LTB(4) receptor antagonist, and anti-IL-8 and GM-CSF antibodies. The release of IL-8, G-CSF, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and LTB(4) from A549 cells significantly increased in response to methotrexate. The mRNA expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 was augmented by methotrexate stimulation. These data suggest that type II epithelial cells may modulate inflammatory cell recruitment into the lung by releasing NCA, MCA, and ECA in response to methotrexate.

Histamine and serotonin stimulate eotaxin production by a human lung fibroblast cell line.

Histamine and serotonin are important inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiology of asthma, and asthmatic patients have higher plasma histamine and serotonin levels than nonasthmatic control subjects. Eotaxin, a potent eosinophil-specific chemotactic factor, is increased in the lower respiratory tract of allergic patients. Recently, lung fibroblasts have been reported to produce eotaxin and are suggested to be the major cellular source of eotaxin. We postulated that lung fibroblasts might release eotaxin in response to histamine or serotonin. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the potential of histamine or serotonin to induce the release of eotaxin by the human fetal lung fibroblast cell line, HFL-1. HFL-1 released eotaxin in response to histamine and serotonin in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Histamine or serotonin treatment of HFL-1 augmented the expression of eotaxin mRNA. Eosinophil chemotactic activity by HFL-1 supernatant fluids was inhibited by anti-human eotaxin-neutralizing antibody. These findings lead to the hypothesis that lung-fibroblast-derived eotaxin may in part be responsible for the eosinophil infiltration observed in allergic disease of the airways.

Peroxynitrite enhances interleukin-10 reduction in the release of neutrophil chemotactic activity.

Peroxynitrite, formed by nitric oxide and superoxide, has been shown to nitrate and reduce the function of proinflammatory proteins such as interleukin (IL)-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and eotaxin, but in contrast, to enhance the function of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in reducing IL-1 release from blood monocytes. However, the effect of nitrated IL-10 on release of proinflammatory cytokines from lung epithelial cells is unknown. We hypothesized that peroxynitrite would enhance the capacity of human IL-10 to reduce inflammatory mediators released by epithelial cells. To test this hypothesis, recombinant human IL-10 was evaluated for its capacity to attenuate the release of neutrophil chemotactic activity and IL-8 from a human epithelial cell line in response to IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Neutrophil chemotactic activity and IL-8 in lung epithelial culture supernatant fluids were significantly lower after culture with nitrated human IL-10 compared with non-nitrated human IL-10 controls (P < 0.05). Consistent with these results, nitrated human IL-10 attenuated IL-8 mRNA expression more than non-nitrated human IL-10 controls (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that peroxynitrite exposed human IL-10 has enhanced anti-inflammatory activity and suggest that nitration may play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation within the lower respiratory tract.

Serine protease inhibitors modulate chemotactic cytokine production by human lung fibroblasts in vitro.

Chemotactic chemokines can be released from lung fibroblasts in response to interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. An imbalance between proteases and antiproteases has been observed at inflammatory sites, and, therefore, protease inhibitors might modulate fibroblast release of chemotactic cytokines. To test this hypothesis, serine protease inhibitors (FK-706, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, or N(alpha)-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone) were evaluated for their capacity to attenuate the release of neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) or monocyte chemotactic activity (MCA) from human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1). Similarly, the release of the chemoattractants IL-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, from HFL-1, were evaluated in response to IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. NCA, MCA, and chemotactic cytokines were attenuated by FK-706. However, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors were without effect, and cysteine protease inhibitors only slightly attenuated chemotactic or cytokine release. These data suggest that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha may stimulate lung fibroblasts to release NCA and MCA by a protease-dependent mechanism and that serine protease inhibitors may attenuate the release.

Serine protease inhibitors modulate smoke-induced chemokine release from human lung fibroblasts.

Smoking is associated with lung inflammation and a protease-antiprotease imbalance. We previously reported that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) stimulates human lung fibroblasts to release chemotactic cytokines. We hypothesized that serine protease inhibitors might modulate lung fibroblast release of chemotactic cytokines in response to CSE. To test this hypothesis, serine protease inhibitors (FK706, alpha1-antitrypsin, methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val chloromethyl ketone, or Nalpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone) were evaluated for their capacity to attenuate the release of neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) and monocyte chemotactic activity (MCA) from human fetal lung fibroblasts by the blind-well chemotactic chamber. Metalloproteinases and cysteine proteinases were not examined in this study. Similarly, the release and gene expression of chemokines and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Release of NCA, MCA, chemotactic chemokines including interleukin-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and the expression of interleukin-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA were attenuated by FK706. Furthermore, FK706 suppressed NF-kappaB activation. These data suggest that serine protease inhibitors attenuate the CSE-induced release of NCA and MCA from human fetal lung fibroblasts and that the inhibitory action of antiproteases might depend on NF-kappaB signaling pathway.