Therapeutic effects of evasin-1, a chemokine binding protein, in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Jul;45(1):72-80. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2009-0406OC. Epub 2010 Sep 10.

Abstract

CC chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of therapeutically targeting CC chemokines and their receptors during interstitial lung diseases. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of Evasin-1, a tick-derived chemokine-binding protein that has high affinity for CCL3/microphage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, was investigated in a murine model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. CCL3/MIP-1α concentrations in lung homogenates increased significantly with time after bleomycin challenge, and this was accompanied by increased number of leukocytes and elevated levels of CCL2/monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, CCL5/regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted, TNF-α and transforming growth factor-β(1), and pulmonary fibrosis. Administration of evasin-1 on a preventive (from the day of bleomycin administration) or therapeutic (from Day 8 after bleomycin) schedule decreased number of leukocytes in the lung, reduced levels of TNF-α and transforming growth factor-β(1), and attenuated lung fibrosis. These protective effects were similar to those observed in CCL3/MIP-1α-deficient mice. In conclusion, targeting CCL3/MIP-1α by treatment with evasin-1 is beneficial in the context of bleomycin-induced lung injury, even when treatment is started after the fibrogenic insult. Mechanistically, evasin-1 treatment was associated with decreased recruitment of leukocytes and production of fibrogenic cytokines. Modulation of CCL3/MIP-1α function by evasin-1 could be useful for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects*
  • Bleomycin / pharmacology
  • Chemokine CCL3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Chemokine CCL3 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL3 / immunology*
  • Chemokine CCL3 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / chemically induced
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / immunology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • Receptors, Chemokine / chemistry
  • Receptors, Chemokine / therapeutic use*
  • Rhipicephalus sanguineus / chemistry
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Ccl3 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL3
  • Evasin-1, Rhipicephalus sanguineus
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Bleomycin