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Evaluation of Pirfenidone and Nintedanib in a Human Lung Model of Fibrogenesis

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posted on 2021-12-03, 10:03 authored by KM Roach, E Castells, K Dixon, S Mason, G Elliott, H Marshall, MA Poblocka, S Macip, M Richardson, L Khalfaoui, P Bradding
Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal lung disease with a poor prognosis and increasing incidence. Pirfenidone and nintedanib are the only approved treatments for IPF but have limited efficacy and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Here we have examined the effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in a human model of lung fibrogenesis, and compared these with the putative anti-fibrotic compounds Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and senicapoc, a KCa3.1 ion channel blocker.

Methods: Early fibrosis was induced in cultured human lung parenchyma using TGFβ1 for 7 days, ± pirfenidone, nintedanib, or LXA4. Pro-fibrotic responses were examined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and soluble collagen secretion.

Results: Thirty six out of eighty four IPF and fibrosis-associated genes tested were significantly upregulated by TGFβ1 in human lung parenchyma with a ≥0.5 log2FC (n = 32). Nintedanib (n = 13) reduced the mRNA expression of 14 fibrosis-associated genes including MMPs (MMP1,−4,−13,−14), integrin α2, CXCR4 and PDGFB, but upregulated α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Pirfenidone only reduced mRNA expression for MMP3 and −13. Senicapoc (n = 11) previously attenuated the expression of 28 fibrosis-associated genes, including αSMA, several growth factors, collagen type III, and αV/β6 integrins. Pirfenidone and nintedanib significantly inhibited TGFβ1-induced fibroblast proliferation within the tissue, but unlike senicapoc, neither pirfenidone nor nintedanib prevented increases in tissue αSMA expression. LXA4 was ineffective.

Conclusions: Pirfenidone and nintedanib demonstrate modest anti-fibrotic effects and provide a benchmark for anti-fibrotic activity of new drugs in human lung tissue. Based on these data, we predict that the KCa3.1 blocker senicapoc will show greater benefit than either of these licensed drugs in IPF.

Funding

This work was supported by the MRC, project grant MR/K018213/1 and The British Lung Foundation, grant PPRG15-8. The work was also supported in part by the National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre-Respiratory. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR the Department of Health or the NIH. Work by MAP and SM was funded by a MIBTP BBSRC PhD fellowship and the M.C. Andreu Memorial Fund.

History

Citation

Front. Pharmacol. 12:679388. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.679388

Author affiliation

Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Published in

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Volume

12

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA

eissn

1663-9812

Acceptance date

2021-09-27

Copyright date

2021

Available date

2021-12-03

Language

en

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