Rao Xingyu, Luo Hong, Luo Kaiyuan, Hu Chaohua
Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No.128, Jinling Road, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
Department of Surgery I, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University/Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, No. 46, Jingjiu Road, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, 341000, China.
Respir Res. 2024 Dec 6;25(1):429. doi: 10.1186/s12931-024-03052-1.
BACKGROUND: The TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway is crucial in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4), a key mediator of TGF-β, its roles and underlying mechanisms in asthma remain unclear. METHODS: The in vivo and in vitro roles of SMAD4 in asthma were investigated through an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model and an interleukin-13 (IL-13)-induced cell model. The molecular mechanism of SMAD4 influenced asthma was examined using transcriptome sequencing, followed by feedback experiments involving recombinant human interleukin 17 A (rhIL-17 A), an IL-17 A signaling pathway activator. RESULTS: SMAD4 was highly expressed in the asthma models. SMAD4 silencing alleviated damage to lung tissue and decreased inflammatory infiltration. Expression levels of Caspase-3, IgG, and inflammatory factors were reduced after silencing SMAD4. Silencing SMAD4 suppressed ferroptosis. Silencing SMAD4 also enhanced IL-13-induced BEAS-2B cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore. IL-17 A signaling pathway was promoted in the asthma models, as evidenced by elevated IL-17RA, IL-17 A, and Act1 protein levels. SMAD4 silencing inhibited the expression levels of these IL-17 A pathway-associated proteins. Moreover, rhIL-17 A treatment notably reversed the impacts of SMAD4 silencing on asthma in the IL-13-induced cell model and OVA-induced mouse model, indicating that silencing SMAD4 inhibited inflammation and ferroptosis in asthma by blocking the IL-17 A signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Silencing SMAD4 prevents inflammation and ferroptosis in asthma by inhibiting the IL-17 pathway, which provides a novel potential approach for asthma therapy.
Microorganisms. 2025-2-18
Int J Biol Macromol. 2024-4