RAGE is a Critical Mediator of Pulmonary Oxidative Stress, Alveolar Macrophage Activation and Emphysema in Response to Cigarette Smoke

Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 18;9(1):231. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36163-z.

Abstract

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a cell membrane receptor, recognizes ligands produced by cigarette smoke (CS) and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD. We demonstrate that deletion or pharmacologic inhibition of RAGE prevents development of CS-induced emphysema. To identify molecular pathways by which RAGE mediates smoking related lung injury we performed unbiased gene expression profiling of alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from RAGE null and C57BL/6 WT mice exposed to CS for one week or four months. Pathway analysis of RNA expression identified a number of genes integral to the pathogenesis of COPD impacted by the absence of RAGE. Altered expression of antioxidant response genes and lung protein 4-HNE immunostaining suggest attenuated oxidative stress in the RAGE null mice despite comparable CS exposure and lung leukocyte burden as the WT mice. Reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress in response to CS exposure also was observed in the AM from RAGE null mice. These findings provide novel insight into the sources of oxidative stress, macrophage activation, and the pathogenesis of lung disease due to CS exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cigarette Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Emphysema / physiopathology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Macrophage Activation*
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / deficiency
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / metabolism*
  • Smoke / adverse effects

Substances

  • Ager protein, mouse
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
  • Smoke