A dissociated glucocorticoid receptor modulator reduces airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mouse model of asthma

J Immunol. 2012 Apr 1;188(7):3478-87. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1004227. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

Abstract

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a transcription factor able to support either target gene activation via direct binding to DNA or gene repression via interfering with the activity of various proinflammatory transcription factors. An improved therapeutic profile for combating chronic inflammatory diseases has been reported through selectively modulating the GR by only triggering its transrepression function. We have studied in this paper the activity of Compound A (CpdA), a dissociated GR modulator favoring GR monomer formation, in a predominantly Th2-driven asthma model. CpdA acted similarly to the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) in counteracting OVA-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, recruitment of eosinophils, dendritic cells, neutrophils, B and T cells, and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung Th2, Tc2, Th17, Tc17, and mast cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and goblet cell metaplasia. Both CpdA and DEX inhibited Th2 cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage as well as nuclear translocation of NF-κB and its subsequent recruitment onto the IκBα promoter in the lung. By contrast, DEX but not CpdA induces expression of the GR-dependent model gene MAPK phosphatase 1 in the lung, confirming the dissociative action of CpdA. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CpdA inhibited IL-4-induced STAT6 translocation and that GR is essential for CpdA to mediate chemokine repression. In conclusion, we clearly show in this study the anti-inflammatory effect of CpdA in a Th2-driven asthma model in the absence of transactivation, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit of this strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetates
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / drug therapy*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / physiopathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / genetics
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Goblet Cells / pathology
  • Inflammation
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Metaplasia
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / toxicity
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / physiology
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Tyramine / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • 2-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-chloro-N-methylethylamine
  • Acetates
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Cytokines
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Stat6 protein, mouse
  • Dexamethasone
  • Ovalbumin
  • Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1
  • Tyramine