CONTEXT: CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is suggested to play a role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Macrophages are thought to be the main source of CCL18, and the effect of pirfenidone, an anti-fibrotic agent for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, on the expression of CCL18 in macrophages warrants investigation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pirfenidone on the expression of CCL18 in macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: U937 cells were differentiated into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate and then stimulated with recombinant IL-4 to induce the production of CCL18. The cells were treated with pirfenidone, and the mRNA and protein levels for CCL18 were measured by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The effects of pirfenidone on the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) expression and STAT6 activation were investigated and on the JAK kinase activity were measured using the Z'-LYTE™ kinase assay. RESULTS: Pirfenidone significantly suppressed the expression of CCL18 when the cells were treated with concentrations of 50-250 μg/mL. Pirfenidone did not affect the expression of the IL-4R components. The selective STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499 suppressed CCL18 expression. Both AS1517499 and pirfenidone suppressed STAT6 phosphorylation (p < .05), although the effect of pirfenidone was less marked than that of AS1517499. The Z'-LYTE™ kinase assay showed a reduction in the activities of JAK1, JAK3 and TYK2 by pirfenidone. CONCLUSION: Pirfenidone suppresses CCL18 expression in macrophages and this effect is thought to be attributed partly to the inhibition of STAT6 phosphorylation.
CONTEXT: CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is suggested to play a role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Macrophages are thought to be the main source of CCL18, and the effect of pirfenidone, an anti-fibrotic agent for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, on the expression of CCL18 in macrophages warrants investigation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pirfenidone on the expression of CCL18 in macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: U937 cells were differentiated into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate and then stimulated with recombinant IL-4 to induce the production of CCL18. The cells were treated with pirfenidone, and the mRNA and protein levels for CCL18 were measured by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The effects of pirfenidone on the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) expression and STAT6 activation were investigated and on the JAK kinase activity were measured using the Z'-LYTE™ kinase assay. RESULTS:Pirfenidone significantly suppressed the expression of CCL18 when the cells were treated with concentrations of 50-250 μg/mL. Pirfenidone did not affect the expression of the IL-4R components. The selective STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499 suppressed CCL18 expression. Both AS1517499 and pirfenidone suppressed STAT6 phosphorylation (p < .05), although the effect of pirfenidone was less marked than that of AS1517499. The Z'-LYTE™ kinase assay showed a reduction in the activities of JAK1, JAK3 and TYK2 by pirfenidone. CONCLUSION:Pirfenidone suppresses CCL18 expression in macrophages and this effect is thought to be attributed partly to the inhibition of STAT6 phosphorylation.
Authors: Zachary M Dong; Edwin Lin; Michael E Wechsler; Peter F Weller; Amy D Klion; Bruce S Bochner; Don A Delker; Mark W Hazel; Keke Fairfax; Paneez Khoury; Praveen Akuthota; Peter A Merkel; Anne-Marie Dyer; Carol Langford; Ulrich Specks; Gerald J Gleich; Vernon M Chinchilli; Benjamin Raby; Mark Yandell; Frederic Clayton Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2020-04-03 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Eisuke Ueshima; Masashi Fujimori; Hiroshi Kodama; Diane Felsen; Jie Chen; Jeremy C Durack; Stephen B Solomon; Jonathan A Coleman; Govindarajan Srimathveeravalli Journal: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Date: 2019-04-24