IMD-4690, a novel specific inhibitor for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, reduces allergic airway remodeling in a mouse model of chronic asthma via regulating angiogenesis and remodeling-related mediators

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 18;10(3):e0121615. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121615. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is the principal inhibitor of plasminogen activators, and is responsible for the degradation of fibrin and extracellular matrix. IMD-4690 is a newly synthesized inhibitor for PAI-1, whereas the effect on allergic airway inflammation and remodeling is still unclear. We examined the in vivo effects by using a chronic allergen exposure model of bronchial asthma in mice. The model was generated by an immune challenge for 8 weeks with house dust mite antigen, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp). IMD-4690 was intraperitoneally administered during the challenge. Lung histopathology, hyperresponsiveness and the concentrations of mediators in lung homogenates were analyzed. The amount of active PAI-1 in the lungs was increased in mice treated with Dp. Administration with IMD-4690 reduced an active/total PAI-1 ratio. IMD-4690 also reduced the number of bronchial eosinophils in accordance with the decreased expressions of Th2 cytokines in the lung homogenates. Airway remodeling was inhibited by reducing subepithelial collagen deposition, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and angiogenesis. The effects of IMD-4690 were partly mediated by the regulation of TGF-β, HGF and matrix metalloproteinase. These results suggest that PAI-1 plays crucial roles in airway inflammation and remodeling, and IMD-4690, a specific PAI-1 inhibitor, may have therapeutic potential for patients with refractory asthma due to airway remodeling.

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / pharmacology*
  • Acetates / therapeutic use
  • Airway Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / adverse effects
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / pathology*
  • Asthma / physiopathology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Bronchi / blood supply
  • Bronchi / drug effects*
  • Bronchi / immunology
  • Bronchi / pathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / metabolism

Substances

  • 2-((3-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)-4'-(trifluoromethoxy)(1,1'-biphenyl)-4-yl)oxy)acetic acid
  • Acetates
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Cytokines
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Grants and funding

Institute of Medicinal Molecular Design, Inc. provided support in the form of salaries for authors YY, TF, and AI, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis (except for Fig. 1B), decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the author contributions section with a slight modification.