BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR), a common co-morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aggravates airway inflammation in COPD patients, but its mechanism is unclear. Sfrp5, a novel anti-inflammatory adipocytokine, inhibits macrophage-mediated inflammation of adipose tissue and abrogates IR. However, few studies have been conducted on the regulatory role of Sfrp5 in lung inflammation.

METHODS

In the present study, 30 SD rats were divided into two groups: the normal food (NF) group and the high-fat diet (HFD) group. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin release test were performed to assess whether a successful IR rat model was established. The expression of Sfrp5 and key downstream moleculars of Wnt5a/JNKl signaling was detected. Lung tissue pathomorphology and macrophage activation were observed. In addition, we counted the number of inflammatory cells and measured inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In vitro, rat lung macrophages were isolated and treated with Wnt5a, Sfrp5, and/or JNK inhibitor SP600125. JNK activity and inflammatory cytokines expression were examined.

RESULTS

We found that in a rat model of IR, Sfrp5 expression of lung tissue was downregulated, while the Wnt5a/JNKl pathway was activated and the lung inflammatory response was enhanced. Meanwhile, Sfrp5 significantly suppressed Wnt5a/JNKl-induced macrophage activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, IR reduces Sfrp5 expression of lung tissue and activates the Wnt5a/JNK1 pathway, promoting macrophage activation and contributing to the lung's inflammatory response. In contrast, Sfrp5 suppresses the inflammatory response by inhibiting the Wnt5a/JNKl pathway, which could be a target of treatment of COPD.