Dataset Information

Metallothionein 2 activation by pravastatin reinforces epithelial integrity and ameliorates radiation-induced enteropathy

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiotherapy or accidental exposure to ionizing radiation causes severe damage of healthy intestinal tissues. Intestinal barrier function is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation, and loss of epithelial integrity results in mucosal inflammation, bacterial translocation, and endotoxemia. Few studies have of epithelial integrity as a therapeutic target to treat radiation toxicity. Here, we examined the effects of pravastatin (PS) and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial integrity on radiation-induced enteropathy.

Methods

The radio-mitigative effects of PS were evaluated in a minipig model by quantifying clinical symptoms, and performing histological and serological analyses and mRNA sequencing in intestinal tissues. To evaluate the role of intercellular junctions on radiation damage, we used tight junction regulator and metallothionein 2 (MT2) as treatments in a mouse model of radiation-induced enteropathy. Caco-2 monolayers were used to examine functional epithelial integrityand intercellular junction expression.

Finding

Using a minipig model of pharmaceutical oral bioavailability, we found that PS mitigated acute radiation-induced enteropathy. PS-treated irradiated minipigs had mild clinical symptoms, lower intestinal inflammation and endotoxin levels, and improved gastrointestinal integrity, compared with control group animals. The results of mRNA sequencing analysis indicated that PS treatment markedly influenced intercellular junctions by inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling in the irradiated intestinal epithelium. The PS-regulated gene MT2 improved the epithelial barrier via enhancement of intercellular junctions in radiation-induced enteropathy.

Interpretation

PS regulated epithelial integrity by modulating MT2 in radiation-damaged epithelial cells. These findings suggested that maintenance of epithelial integrity is a novel therapeutic target for treatment of radiation-induced gastrointestinal damage.

Funding

As stated in the Acknowledgments

SUBMITTER: Kwak S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8546423 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:AimsAnthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) is a serious adverse effect among cancer patients. A central mechanism of AIC is irreversible mitochondrial damage. Despite major efforts, there are currently no effective therapies able to prevent AIC.Methods and resultsForty Large-White pigs were included. In Study 1, 20 pigs were randomized 1:1 to remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC, 3 cycles of 5 min leg ischaemia followed by 5 min reperfusion) or no pretreatment. RIPC was performed immediately before each intracoronary doxorubicin injections (0.45 mg/kg) given at Weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. A group of 10 pigs with no exposure to doxorubicin served as healthy controls. Pigs underwent serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) exams at baseline and at Weeks 6, 8, 12, and 16, being sacrifice after that. In Study 2, 10 new pigs received 3 doxorubicin injections (with/out preceding RIPC) and were sacrificed at week 6. In Study 1, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) depression was blunted animals receiving RIPC before doxorubicin (RIPC-Doxo), which had a significantly higher LVEF at Week 16 than doxorubicin treated pigs that received no pretreatment (Untreated-Doxo) (41.5 ± 9.1% vs. 32.5 ± 8.7%, P = 0.04). It was mainly due to conserved regional contractile function. In Study 2, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at Week 6 showed fragmented mitochondria with severe morphological abnormalities in Untreated-Doxo pigs, together with upregulation of fission and autophagy proteins. At the end of the 16-week Study 1 protocol, TEM revealed overt mitochondrial fragmentation with structural fragmentation in Untreated-Doxo pigs, whereas interstitial fibrosis was less severe in RIPC+Doxo pigs.ConclusionIn a translatable large-animal model of AIC, RIPC applied immediately before each doxorubicin injection resulted in preserved cardiac contractility with significantly higher long-term LVEF and less cardiac fibrosis. RIPC prevented mitochondrial fragmentation and dysregulated autophagy from AIC early stages. RIPC is a promising intervention for testing in clinical trials in AIC.

Project description:Salivary glands are highly susceptible to radiation, and patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy invariably suffer from its distressing side effect, salivary hypofunction. The reduction in saliva disrupts oral functions, and significantly impairs oral health. Previously, we demonstrated that adenoviral-mediated expression of Tousled-like kinase 1B (TLK1B) in rat submandibular glands preserves salivary function after single-dose ionizing radiation. To achieve long-term transgene expression for protection of salivary gland function against fractionated radiation, this study examines the usefulness of recombinant adeno-associated viral vector for TLK1B delivery. Lactated Ringers or AAV2/9 with either TLK1B or GFP expression cassette were retroductally delivered to rat submandibular salivary glands (10(11) vg/gland), and animals were exposed, or not, to 20?Gy in eight fractions of 2.5?Gy/day. AAV2/9 transduced predominantly the ductal cells, including the convoluted granular tubules of the submandibular glands. Transgene expression after virus delivery could be detected within 5 weeks, and stable gene expression was observed till the end of study. Pilocarpine-stimulated saliva output measured at 8 weeks after completion of radiation demonstrated >10-fold reduction in salivary flow in saline- and AAV2/9-GFP-treated animals compared with the respective nonirradiated groups (90.8% and 92.5% reduction in salivary flow, respectively). Importantly, there was no decrease in stimulated salivary output after irradiation in animals that were pretreated with AAV2/9-TLK1B (121.5% increase in salivary flow; p<0.01). Salivary gland histology was better preserved after irradiation in TLK1B-treated group, though not significantly, compared with control groups. Single preemptive delivery of AAV2/9-TLK1B averts salivary dysfunction resulting from fractionated radiation. Although AAV2/9 transduces mostly the ductal cells of the gland, their protection against radiation assists in preserving submandibular gland function. AAV2/9-TLK1B treatment could prove beneficial in attenuating xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.