SN50

SN50 attenuates alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome mice through inhibiting NF-κB p65 translocation

Background: It has been confirmed that NF-κB p65 signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Whether SN50, a NF-κB cell permeable inhibitor, could attenuate alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS remains to be elucidated. Purpose: We explored the efficacy and potential mechanism of SN50 on alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS in mice. Materials and methods: Mouse ARDS was made by 50 μl of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (4 mg/ml) inhalation. Male BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with different does of SN50 1 h before LPS inhalation. Lung tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, wet/dry ratio. Pulmonary expressions of tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), collagen III, as well as phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), p65 in nucleus (p'-p65), IκBα and IKKα/β were measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was gathered to test the concentrations of TF, PAI-1, activated protein C (APC) and thrombinantithrombin complex (TAT). DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65 was also determined. Results: After LPS stimulation, pulmonary edema and exudation and alveolar collapse occured. LPS also stimulated higher expressions of TF and PAI-1 in lung tissues, and higher secretions of TF, PAI-1, TAT and low level of APC in BALF. Pulmonary collagen III expression was obviously enhanced after LPS inhalation. At same time, NF-κB signaling pathway was activated with LPS injury, shown by higher expressions of p-p65, p'-p65, p-IKKα/β, p-Iκα in pulmonary tissue and higher level p65 DNA binding activity. SN50 dose-dependently inhibited TF, PAI-1 and collagen IIIexpressions, and decreased TF, PAI-1, TAT but increased APC in BALF. SN50 treatment attenuated pulmonary edema, exudation and reduced lung tissue damage as well. SN50 application significantly reduced p'-p65 expression and weakened p65 DNA binding activity, but expressions of p-p65, p-IKKα/β, p-Iκα in cytoplasm of pulmonary tissue were not affected. Conclusions: SN 50 attenuates alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS via inhibition of NF-κB p65 translocation. Our data demonstrates that NF-κB p65 pathway is a viable new therapeutic target for ARDS treatment.

SN50, a Cell-Permeable Inhibitor of Nuclear Factor-κB, Attenuates Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury in an Isolated and Perfused Rat Lung Model

High tidal volume (VT) ventilation causes the release of various mediators and results in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). SN50, a cell-permeable nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitory peptide, attenuates inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, the mechanisms associated with the effects of SN50 in VILI have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms for the effects of SN50 treatment in VILI. An isolated and perfused rat lung model was exposed to low (5 mL/kg) or high (15 mL/kg) VT ventilation for 6 h. SN50 was administered in the perfusate at the onset of the high-stretch mechanical ventilation. The hemodynamics, lung histological changes, inflammatory responses, and activation of apoptotic pathways were evaluated. VILI was demonstrated by increased pulmonary vascular permeability and lung weight gain, as well as by increased levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, myeloperoxidase (MPO), hydrogen peroxide, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The lung tissue expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), caspase-3, and phosphorylation of serine/threonine-specific protein kinase (p-AKT) was greater in the high VT group than in the low VT group. Upregulation and activation of NF-κB was associated with increased lung injury in VILI. SN50 attenuated the inflammatory responses, including the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, MPO, MAPKs, and NF-κB. In addition, the downregulation of apoptosis was evaluated using caspase-3 and p-AKT expression. Furthermore, SN50 mitigated the increases in the lung weights, pulmonary vascular permeability, and lung injury. In conclusion, VILI is associated with inflammatory responses and activation of NF-κB. SN50 inhibits the activation of NF-κB and attenuates VILI.

NF-κB/mTOR-mediated autophagy can regulate diquat-induced apoptosis

Autophagy and apoptosis are the major types of cell death in pesticide-induced neurotoxicity, and autophagy is known to play a role in cell protection by inhibiting apoptosis. In this study, we characterized the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis in diquat (DQ)-induced cell death and explored a novel pharmacotherapeutic approach involving autophagy regulation to prevent DQ neurotoxicity. DQ was cytotoxic to PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, as shown by decreased cell viability and decreased dopamine (DA) levels. DQ-induced apoptosis was found in PC12 cells, as demonstrated by activation of caspase-3 and -9 and by nuclear condensation. By monitoring expression of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3-II) and p62, DQ was found to induce autophagy. Exposure of PC12 cells to DQ led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) antioxidant effectively blocked both apoptosis and autophagy. Interestingly, DQ in PC12 cells showed increased p53 and NF-κB in a time-dependent manner; furthermore, pifithrin-α (PFT-α), a p53 inhibitor, downregulates the cytotoxicity of DQ, as shown by decreased LC3-II and cleaved caspase-3. SN50, an NF-κB inhibitor, results in diminished LC3-II, cleaved caspase-3, and p53. DQ induces mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling including ERK, JNK, and p38, which inhibit regulated apoptosis and autophagic cell death by controlling mTOR signaling. In addition, modulation of DQ-induced apoptosis in response to autophagy regulation was investigated. Pretreatment with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, significantly enhanced the viability of DQ-exposed cells by alleviating DQ-induced apoptosis. Conversely, cell pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3MA), an autophagy inhibitor increased DQ toxicity. Our results suggest that DQ-induced cytotoxicity is modified by autophagy regulation. Pharmacologic induction of autophagy may be a useful treatment strategy in neurodegenerative disorders.

Therapeutic effect of SN50, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB, in treatment of TBI in mice

NF-κB upregulation has been demonstrated in neurons and glial cells in response to experimental injury and neuropathological disorders, where it has been related to both neurodegenerative and neuroprotective activities. It has been generally recognized that NF-κB plays important roles in the regulation of apoptosis and inflammation as well as innate and adaptive immunity. However, the regulatory mechanism of NF-κB in apoptosis remained to be determined. The present study sought to first investigate the effect of a NF-κB inhibitor SN50, which inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation, on cell death and behavioral deficits in our mice traumatic brain injury (TBI) models. Additionally, we tried to elucidate the possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of SN50 through NF-κB regulating apoptotic and inflammatory pathway in vivo. Encouragingly, the results showed that pretreatment with SN50 remarkably attenuated TBI-induced cell death (detected by PI labeling), cumulative loss of cells (detected by lesion volume), and motor and cognitive dysfunction (detected by motor test and Morris water maze). To analyze the mechanism of SN50 on cell apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathway, we thus assessed expression levels of TNF-α, cathepsin B and caspase-3, Bid cleavage and cytochrome c release in SN50-pretreated groups compared with those in saline vehicle groups. The results imply that through NF-κB/TNF-α/cathepsin networks SN50 may contribute to TBI-induced extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis, and inflammatory pathways, which partly determined the fate of injured cells in our TBI model.

SN50 enhances the effects of LY294002 on cell death induction in gastric cancer cell line SGC7901

Introduction: In the previous study, we found that the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) by LY294002 induced SGC7901 cell death in vitro. We did not know whether SN50, which is a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), could increase the cell death induction of gastric cancer of LY294002 in vitro, and we also wanted to know the mechanism of it, which might be applied to clinical tumor therapy.
Material and methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of the drugs. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured using the fluorescent probe JC-1. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to detect apoptosis and necrosis morphological changes after LY294002 and/or SN50 treatment. Expression of p53, PUMA and Beclin1 were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. We used transmission electron microscopy to identify ultrastructural changes in SGC7901 cells after LY294002 and/or SN50 treatment.
Results: In this study, we found that treating the human gastric cancer cells SGC7901 with SN50 could significantly enhance the effects of LY294002 on inducing cell death after 24 h, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Detection of mitochondrial potential and transmission electron microscopic examination indicated that the rate of cell death increased progressively. The expression of p53, PUMA and Beclin1 was up-regulated.
Conclusions: The NF-κB inhibitor SN50 could enhance the role of LY294002 on inducing cell death of human gastric cancer cells SGC7901, which might be a promising new approach to gastric cancer therapy.