Inhibition of aquaporin-9 ameliorates severe acute pancreatitis and associated lung injury by NLRP3 and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Aug 20:137:112450. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112450. Epub 2024 Jun 20.

Abstract

Inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress play crucial roles in the deterioration of severe acute pancreatitis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (SAP-ARDS). Unfortunately, despite a high mortality rate of 45 %[1], there are limited treatment options available for ARDS outside of last resort options such as mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal support strategies[2]. This study investigated the potential therapeutic role and mechanisms of AQP9 inhibitor RG100204 in two animal models of severe acute pancreatitis, inducing acute respiratory distress syndrome: 1) a sodium-taurocholate induced rat model, and 2) and Cerulein and lipopolysaccharide induced mouse model. RG100204 treatment led to a profound reduction in inflammatory cytokine expression in pancreatic, and lung tissue, in both models. In addition, infiltration of CD68 + and CD11b + cells into these tissues were reduced in RG100204 treated SAP animals, and edema and SAP associated tissue damage were improved. Moreover, we demonstrate that RG100204 reduced apoptosis in the lungs of rat SAP animals, and reduces NF-κB signaling, NLRP3, expression, while profoundly increasing the Nrf2-dependent anti oxidative stress response. We conclude that AQP9 inhibition is a promising strategy for the treatment of pancreatitis and its systemic complications, such as ARDS.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis;AQP9, ARDS; Nrf2; Oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Aquaporins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Aquaporins / metabolism
  • Ceruletide
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Injury / drug therapy
  • Lung Injury / metabolism
  • Lung Injury / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2* / metabolism
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Pancreas / drug effects
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Pancreatitis* / drug therapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Taurocholic Acid

Substances

  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Aquaporins
  • Nlrp3 protein, rat
  • Nfe2l2 protein, rat
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Taurocholic Acid
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Ceruletide
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
  • Hmox1 protein, rat
  • Nfe2l2 protein, mouse