Browsing by Author "Ayala, Pedro"

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    Acute lung injury by gastric fluid instillation: activation of myofibroblast apoptosis during injury resolution
    (2018) Ayala, Pedro; Torres, Jorge; Vivar, Raúl; Meneses, Manuel; Olmos Coelho, Pablo Roberto; San Martín, Tamara; Borzone, Gisella
    Abstract Background Gastric contents aspiration in humans has variable consequences depending on the volume of aspirate, ranging from subclinical pneumonitis to respiratory failure with up to 70% mortality. Several experimental approaches have been used to study this condition. In a model of single orotracheal instillation of gastric fluid we have shown that severe acute lung injury evolves from a pattern of diffuse alveolar damage to one of organizing pneumonia (OP), that later resolves leaving normal lung architecture. Little is known about mechanisms of injury resolution after a single aspiration that could be dysregulated with repetitive aspirations. We hypothesized that, in a similar way to cutaneous wound healing, apoptosis may participate in lung injury resolution by reducing the number of myofibroblasts and by affecting the balance between proteases and antiproteases. Our aim was to study activation of apoptosis as well as MMP-2/TIMP-2 balance in the sub-acute phase (4–14 days) of gastric fluid-induced lung injury. Methods Anesthesized Sprague-Dawley rats received a single orotracheal instillation of gastric fluid and were euthanized 4, 7 and 14 days later (n = 6/group). In lung tissue we studied caspase-3 activation and its location by double immunofluorescence for cleaved caspase-3 or TUNEL and alpha-SMA. MMP-2/TIMP-2 balance was studied by zymography and Western blot. BALF levels of TGF-β1 were measured by ELISA. Results An OP pattern with Masson bodies and granulomas was seen at days 4 and 7 that was no longer present at day 14. Cleaved caspase-3 increased at day 7 and was detected by immunofluorescence in Masson body-alpha-SMA-positive and –negative cells. TUNEL-positive cells at days 4 and 7 were located mainly in Masson bodies. Distribution of cleaved caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells at day 14 was similar to that in controls. At the peak of apoptosis (day 7), an imbalance between MMP-2 activity and TIMP-2 expression was produced by reduction in TIMP-2 expression. Conclusions Apoptosis is activated in Masson body-alpha-SMA–positive and –negative cells during the sub-acute phase of gastric fluid-induced lung injury. This mechanism likely contributes to OP resolution, by reducing myofibroblast number and new collagen production. In addition, pre-formed collagen degradation is favored by an associated MMP-2/TIMP-2 imbalance.
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    Changes in the pattern of fibrosis in the rat lung with repetitive orotracheal instillations of gastric contents: evidence of persistent collagen accumulation
    (2018) Ayala, Pedro; Torres, Jorge; Vivar, Raul; Olmos Coelho, Pablo Roberto; Meneses, Manuel; Borzone, Gisella
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    Interferon-β decreases LPS-induced neutrophil recruitment to cardiac fibroblasts
    (2023) Anfossi, Renatto; Vivar, Raul; Ayala, Pedro; Gonzalez-Herrera, Fabiola; Espinoza-Perez, Claudio; Osorio, Jose Miguel; Roman-Torres, Mauricio; Bolivar, Samir; Diaz-Araya, Guillermo
    Introduction: Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are crucial cells in damaged heart tissues, expressing TLR4, IFN-receptor and responding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) respectively. While CF interact with immune cells; however, their relationship with neutrophils remains understudied. Additionally, theimpact of LPS and IFN-beta on CF-neutrophil interaction is poorly understood.Methods: Isolated CF from adult rats were treated with LPS, with or without IFN-beta. This study examined IL-8 secretion, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, and neutrophil recruitment, as well as their effects on MMPs activity.Results: LPS triggered increased IL-8 expression and secretion, along with elevated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, all of which were blocked by TAK-242. Pre-treatment with IFN-beta countered these LPS effects. LPS treated CF showed higher neutrophil recruitment (migration and adhesion) compared to unstimulated CF, an effect prevented by IFN-beta. Ruxolitinib blocked these IFN-beta anti-inflammatory effects, implicating JAK signaling. Analysis of culture medium zymograms from CF alone, and CF-neutrophils interaction, revealed that MMP2 was mainly originated from CF, while MMP9 could come from neutrophils. LPS and IFN-beta boosted MMP2 secretion by CF. MMP9 activity in CF was low, and LPS or IFN-beta had no significant impact. Pre-treating CF with LPS, IFN-beta, or both before co-culture with neutrophils increased MMP2. Neutrophil co-culture increased MMP9 activity, with IFN-beta pre-treatment reducing MMP9 compared to unstimulated CF.Conclusion: In CF, LPS induces the secretion of IL-8 favoring neutrophils recruitment and these effects were blocked by IFN-. The results highlight that CF-neutrophil interaction appears to influence the extracellular matrix through MMPs activity modulation.
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    Lipopolysaccharide Activates Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Prevents Cardiac Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast Differentiation
    (HUMANA PRESS INC, 2017) Bolivar, Samir; Santana, Roxana; Ayala, Pedro; Landaeta, Rodolfo; Boza, Pia; Humeres, Claudio; Vivar, Raul; Munoz, Claudia; Pardo, Viviana; Fernandez, Samuel; Anfossi, Renatto; Diaz Araya, Guillermo
    Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a known ligand of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) which is expressed in cardiac fibroblasts (CF). Differentiation of CF to cardiac myofibroblasts (CMF) is induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), increasing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression. In endothelial cells, an antagonist effect between LPS-induced signaling and canonical TGF-beta 1 signaling was described; however, it has not been studied whether in CF and CMF the expression of alpha-SMA induced by TGF-beta 1 is antagonized by LPS and the mechanism involved. In adult rat CF and CMF, alpha-SMA, ERK1/2, Akt, NF-kappa beta, Smad3, and Smad7 protein levels were determined by western blot, TGF-beta isoforms by ELISA, and alpha-SMA stress fibers by immunocytochemistry. CF and CMF secrete the three TGF-beta isoforms, and the secretion levels of TGF-beta 2 was affected by LPS treatment. In CF, LPS treatment decreased the protein levels of alpha-SMA, and this effect was prevented by TAK-242 (TLR4 inhibitor) and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor), but not by BAY 11-7082 (NF-kappa beta inhibitor) and PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor). TGF-beta 1 increased alpha-SMA protein levels in CF, and LPS prevented partially this effect. In addition, in CMF alpha-SMA protein levels were decreased by LPS treatment, which was abolished by TAK-242. Finally, in CF LPS decreased the p-Smad3 phosphorylation and increased the Smad7 protein levels. LPS treatment prevents the CF-to-CMF differentiation and reverses the CMF phenotype induced by TGF-beta 1, through decreasing p-Smad3 and increasing Smad7 protein levels.
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    Resolution of Lung Injury after a Single Event of Aspiration. A Model of Bilateral Instillation of Whole Gastric Fluid
    (2015) Araos, Joaquín D.; Ayala, Pedro; Meneses, Manuel; Contreras, Rafael; Cutiño, Andrea; Montalva, Rebeca M.; Tazelaar, Henry D.; Borzone, Gisella