Emetine dihydrochloride alleviated radiation-induced lung injury through inhibiting EMT

J Cell Mol Med. 2023 Dec;27(23):3839-3850. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.17959. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Abstract

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), divided into early radiation pneumonia (RP) and late radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF), is a common serious disease after clinical chest radiotherapy or nuclear accident, which seriously threatens the life safety of patients. There has been no effective prevention or treatment strategy till now. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key step in the occurrence and development of RILI. In this study, we demonstrated that emetine dihydrochloride (EDD) alleviated RILI through inhibiting EMT. We found that EDD significantly attenuated EMT-related markers, reduced Smad3 phosphorylation expression after radiation. Then, for the first time, we observed EDD alleviated lung hyperaemia and reduced collagen deposit induced by irradiation, providing protection against RILI. Finally, it was found that EDD inhibited radiation-induced EMT in lung tissues. Our study suggested that EDD alleviated RILI through inhibiting EMT by blocking Smad3 signalling pathways. In summary, our results indicated that EDD is a novel potential radioprotector for RILI.

Keywords: Smad3; emetine dihydrochloride (EDD); epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT); radiation-induced lung injury(RILI).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Emetine / pharmacology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Injury* / drug therapy
  • Lung Injury* / etiology
  • Lung Injury* / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis* / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis* / etiology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis* / metabolism
  • Radiation Injuries* / metabolism

Substances

  • Emetine