Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase attenuates airway remodeling in a chronic asthma model.

Airway remodeling in asthma is difficult to treat because of its complex pathophysiology that involves proinflammatory cytokines, as well as the arachidonic acid cytochrome P-450 (CYP) pathway; however, it has received little attention. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) on airway remodeling in a mouse model of chronic asthma. The expression of sEH and CYP2J2 and the level of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET), airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were analyzed to determine the level of sEH inhibition. AUDA, a sEH inhibitor, was given daily for 9 weeks orally, which significantly increased the level of 14,15-EET by inhibiting the expression of sEH and increasing the expression of CYP2J2 in lung tissues. The inhibition of sEH reduced the expression of remodeling-related molecular markers, such as interleukin (IL)-13, IL-17, matrix metalloproteinase 9, N-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), S100A4, Twist, epithelial goblet cell metaplasia, and collagen deposition in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) and lung tissues. Moreover, remodeling-related eosinophil accumulation in the BAL fluid and infiltration into the lung tissue were improved by AUDA. Finally, AUDA alleviated AHR, which is a functional indicator of airway remodeling. The effect of AUDA on airway remodeling was related to the downregulation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases (Erk1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that inhibition of sEH exerts significant protective effects on airway remodeling in asthma.

Jiang JX ，Guan Y ，Shen HJ ，Jia YL ，Shen J ，Zhang LH ，Liu Q ，Zhu YL ，Xie QM ... -  《-》

ZDHXB-101 (3',5-Diallyl-2, 4'-dihydroxy-[1,1'-biphen-yl]-3,5'-dicarbaldehyde) protects against airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness via inhibiting both the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and the signal transducer and activator of

Jiang JX ，Shen HJ ，Guan Y ，Jia YL ，Shen J ，Liu Q ，Xie QM ，Yan XF ... -  《RESPIRATORY RESEARCH》

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor AUDA decreases bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity in mice by inhibiting the p38/Smad3 pathways.

Bleomycin (BLM) has potent tumor cell-killing properties that have given it an important place in cancer chemotherapy, but pulmonary toxicity is its major adverse effect. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors have been reported to have protective effects in fibrosis models, but the effects of AUDA, an sEH inhibitor of BLM-induced pulmonary toxicity and fibrosis, remain to be researched. In this study, we assessed the effects of AUDA on the BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced epithelial proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro by monitoring changes in pulmonary function, inflammatory response, fibrotic remodeling, and signaling pathways. AUDA was administered by intragastric administration (i.g) daily for three weeks, starting at seven days after intratracheal instillation of BLM. All examinations were performed 24h after the last i.g. In vivo, AUDA significantly improved BLM-induced decline in lung function and body weight, and inhibited inflammatory cell accumulation and the mRNA and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, TGF-β1, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in lung tissue. Moreover, AUDA attenuated BLM-induced deposition of collagen fibers, destruction of alveolar structures, and pulmonary parenchyma. Additionally, AUDA regulated the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin by inhibiting the Smad3/p38 signaling pathway. In vitro, AUDA significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced epithelial cells and fibroblast proliferation, reduced sEH expression and α-SMA expression, and increased epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) levels and E-cadherin expression in epithelial cells. These effects were blocked by AUDA by downregulating the Smad3 and p38 signaling pathways. Taken together, these data indicate that treatment with sEH inhibitors may improve BLM-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Dong XW ，Jia YL ，Ge LT ，Jiang B ，Jiang JX ，Shen J ，Jin YC ，Guan Y ，Sun Y ，Xie QM ... -  《-》

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition Attenuates Excitotoxicity Involving 14,15-Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid-Mediated Astrocytic Survival and Plasticity to Preserve Glutamate Homeostasis.

Kuo YM ，Hsu PC ，Hung CC ，Hu YY ，Huang YJ ，Gan YL ，Lin CH ，Shie FS ，Chang WK ，Kao LS ，Tsou MY ，Lee YH ... -  《-》

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition improves myocardial perfusion and function in experimental heart failure.

The study addressed the hypothesis that soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibition, which increases cardiovascular protective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), exerts beneficial effects in an established chronic heart failure (CHF) model. In CHF rats, left ventricular (LV) function, perfusion and remodeling were assessed using MRI and invasive hemodynamics after 42-day (starting 8 days after coronary ligation) and delayed 3-day (starting 47 days after coronary ligation) treatments with the sEH inhibitor AUDA (twice 0.25 mg/day). Delayed 3-day and 42-day AUDA increased plasma EETs demonstrating the effective inhibition of sEH. Delayed 3-day and 42-day AUDA enhanced cardiac output without change in arterial pressure, thus reducing total peripheral resistance. Both treatment periods increased the slope of the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relation, but only 42-day AUDA decreased LV end-diastolic pressure, relaxation constant Tau and the slope of the LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relation, associated with a reduced LV diastolic volume and collagen density. Delayed 3-day and, to a larger extent, 42-day AUDA increased LV perfusion associated with a decreased LV hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha. Both treatment periods decreased reactive oxygen species level and increased reduced-oxidized glutathione ratio. Finally, MSPPOH, an inhibitor of the EET-synthesizing enzyme cytochrome epoxygenases, abolished the beneficial effects of 3-day AUDA on LV function and perfusion. Augmentation of EET availability by pharmacological inhibition of sEH increases LV diastolic and systolic functions in established CHF. This notably results from short-term processes, i.e. increased LV perfusion, reduced LV oxidative stress and peripheral vasodilatation, but also from long-term effects, i.e. reduced LV remodeling.

Merabet N ，Bellien J ，Glevarec E ，Nicol L ，Lucas D ，Remy-Jouet I ，Bounoure F ，Dreano Y ，Wecker D ，Thuillez C ，Mulder P ... -  《-》