Alamandine via MrgD receptor attenuates pulmonary fibrosis via NOX4 and autophagy pathway

Abstract

Alamandine (ALA) and its receptor MrgD were recently identified as components of the renin-angiotensin system, which confer protection against cardio-fibrosis and renal-fibrosis; however, the effects of ALA on pulmonary fibrosis are unknown. This study was designed to serve two goals: (i) to evaluate the ALA/MrgD axis ability in the prevention of angiotensin II (Ang II) – induced pulmonary fibrosis in fibroblasts, and (ii) to determine the effect of ALA in bleomycin (BLM) – treated C57B/6 mice. In vivo experiments revealed that the treatment of C57B/6 mice with ALA prevented BLM-induced fibrosis, and these findings were similar to those reported for pirfenidone. The antifibrosis actions of ALA were mediated via alleviation of oxidative injury and autophagy induction. In addition, in vitro studies revealed that ALA treatment attenuated Ang II–induced α-collagen I, CTGF, and α-SMA production in fibroblast which was blocked by D-Pro7-Ang-(1-7), a MrgD antagonist. This led to alleviation of oxidative injury and induction of autophagy similar to that reported for rapamycin. This study demonstrated that ALA via MrgD receptor reduced pulmonary fibrosis through attenuation of oxidative injury and induction of autophagy.