Min Hye-Young, Sim Jeong Yeon, Ahn Jee Hwan, Kang Nae-Won, Boo Hye-Jin, Kim Jina, Yu Na-Young, Bottacin Marta, Huh Jungmoo, Park Choon-Sik, Park Jong-Sook, Hong Suckchang, You Sungyong, Kim Dae-Duk, Lee Ho-Young
Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Redox Biol. 2025 Jun 26;85:103744. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2025.103744.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of human mortality worldwide and is closely associated with chronic inflammation triggered by environmental toxicants such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). However, the molecular mechanisms linking Pb/Cd exposure to COPD pathogenesis and effective therapeutic strategies remain poorly defined. In this study, we established a mouse model of environmentally induced COPD by exposing mice to Pb/Cd aerosols using a specialized nebulizer system. Pb/Cd exposure led to characteristic COPD-like pathological features, including alveolar damage, mucus hypersecretion, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis of lung tissues revealed upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and lipid metabolism-related genes, with macrophages-particularly those expressing MMP-12-identified as key contributors to pulmonary inflammation. Through a targeted stilbenoid compound screen, we identified gaylussacin as a potent suppressor of Pb/Cd-induced MMP-12 expression in macrophages. Mechanistically, gaylussacin suppressed expression of MMP-12 and inflammatory mediators via activation of SIRT1. In a porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema model, oral administration of gaylussacin significantly improved lung function, reduced apoptosis, ROS production, and inflammation. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed limited oral bioavailability of gaylussacin but efficient conversion to its active metabolite, pinosylvic acid. Toxicological evaluations confirmed negligible toxicity in normal cells derived from various organs and no significant adverse effects in vivo. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Pb/Cd inhalation promotes COPD pathogenesis through macrophage-driven inflammation mediated by MMP-12 and that gaylussacin mitigates these effects by enhancing SIRT1 activity. This study supports gaylussacin as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of environmentally induced COPD.
慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)是全球人类死亡的主要原因,与铅(Pb)和镉(Cd)等环境毒物引发的慢性炎症密切相关。然而,将铅/镉暴露与COPD发病机制联系起来的分子机制以及有效的治疗策略仍不清楚。在本研究中,我们使用专门的雾化器系统让小鼠暴露于铅/镉气溶胶中,建立了环境诱导的COPD小鼠模型。铅/镉暴露导致了典型的COPD样病理特征,包括肺泡损伤、黏液分泌过多、氧化应激和细胞凋亡。肺组织的转录组分析显示促炎细胞因子、趋化因子和脂质代谢相关基因上调,巨噬细胞——尤其是那些表达MMP-12的巨噬细胞——被确定为肺部炎症的关键促成因素。通过靶向筛选二苯乙烯类化合物,我们确定了加卢萨辛是巨噬细胞中铅/镉诱导的MMP-12表达的有效抑制剂。从机制上讲,加卢萨辛通过激活SIRT1抑制MMP-12和炎症介质的表达。在猪胰弹性蛋白酶(PPE)诱导的肺气肿模型中,口服加卢萨辛可显著改善肺功能,减少细胞凋亡、活性氧生成和炎症。药代动力学分析显示加卢萨辛的口服生物利用度有限,但能有效转化为其活性代谢产物松乙酮酸。毒理学评估证实,加卢萨辛对来自各种器官的正常细胞的毒性可忽略不计,且在体内无明显不良反应。总的来说,这些发现表明吸入铅/镉通过MMP-12介导的巨噬细胞驱动的炎症促进COPD发病机制,而加卢萨辛通过增强SIRT1活性减轻这些影响。本研究支持加卢萨辛作为治疗环境诱导的COPD的有前景的治疗候选药物。
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2025-8-1
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025-9
Cells. 2024-5-22
Pharmaceutics. 2024-4-22
J Clin Invest. 2023-9-1
Nat Biotechnol. 2024-2
J Pharm Anal. 2023-4