Title Anti-fibrotic effect of ciglitazone in HRV-induced airway remodelling cell model.
Author Wieczfinska, Joanna; Pawliczak, Rafal
Journal J Cell Mol Med Publication Year/Month 2023-Jul
PMID 37259630 PMCID PMC10315786
Affiliation 1.Department of Immunopathology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Fibrosis is an important phenomenon as it can occur early in the pathogenesis of asthma; it may be associated with disease severity and resistance to therapy. There is a strong evidence that infection caused by human rhinovirus (HRV) contributes to remodelling process, but there is lack of studies clearly explaining this pathway. Synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma presents immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory features. In this study, we examined immunomodulatory properties of ciglitazone - PPAR-gamma agonist, in development and modulation of airway remodelling. Epithelial cells (NHBE) and two lines of fibroblasts (WI-38, HFL1) were stimulated with ciglitazone and rhinovirus. The expression of genes related to airway remodelling process were analysed in the cells; moreover NF-kappaB, c-Myc and STAT3 were silenced in order to estimate potential pathways involved. Ciglitazone decreased mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TGF-beta. It also modified the expression of alpha-SMA and collagen after rhinovirus infection. Transcription factors knockdown altered the levels of expression. The results suggest possible anti-fibrotic activity of PPAR-gamma agonist in human airway cells. Ciglitazone has been shown to be dependent on NF-kappaB- and STAT3-related pathways, thus, the PPAR-gamma agonist may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of airway remodelling in asthma.

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