R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts

BackgroundRadiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a chronic, fatal and irreversible disease that develops after a consequence of thoracic radiation therapy and few effective treatments have been developed for this condition. Repeated inflammation and excessive accumulation of fibroblasts are...

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Main Authors: Yaqin Zhao, Yuanfeng Wei, Wanting Hou, Xianzhou Huang, Qiaoqi Li, Cheng Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600776/full
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author Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yuanfeng Wei
Yuanfeng Wei
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Xianzhou Huang
Qiaoqi Li
Qiaoqi Li
Cheng Yi
Cheng Yi
author_facet Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yuanfeng Wei
Yuanfeng Wei
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Xianzhou Huang
Qiaoqi Li
Qiaoqi Li
Cheng Yi
Cheng Yi
author_sort Yaqin Zhao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundRadiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a chronic, fatal and irreversible disease that develops after a consequence of thoracic radiation therapy and few effective treatments have been developed for this condition. Repeated inflammation and excessive accumulation of fibroblasts are features of RIPF. Thus, reducing inflammation and inducing lung fibroblast apoptosis may be an effective strategy for RIPF. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), as a natural immunomodulator, can specifically bind to death receptors (DRs) and selectively induce apoptosis in many cells. In our research, we have constructed a novel TRAIL mutant with CPP-like and Smac-like structure (R5S4TRAIL) and aim to explore the role and molecular mechanism of R5S4TRAIL in RIPF.MethodsFirstly, the RIPF model was established in C57BL/6 mice. Then, the mice were treated with saline (Con group), dexamethasone (Dex group), or R5S4TRAIL (RST group). The remission of RIPF was evaluated by micro-CT, Masson and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Next, the molecular mechanisms of R5S4TRAIL in RIPF were explored in vivo and vitro.ResultsWe successfully established the RIPF model and found that R5S4TRAIL treatment could regulate the expression of inflammatory-related cytokines and attenuate the inflammatory response. Meanwhile, R5S4TRAIL treatment could upregulate DR5 expression and induce apoptosis in lung fibroblasts. Briefly, treatment with R5S4TRAIL could alleviate RIPF.ConclusionsR5S4TRAIL has the potential to ameliorate RIPF by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-8f4cba6816614a558f0d0e2be21eebd32025-08-20T03:34:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16007761600776R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblastsYaqin Zhao0Yaqin Zhao1Yaqin Zhao2Yuanfeng Wei3Yuanfeng Wei4Wanting Hou5Wanting Hou6Wanting Hou7Xianzhou Huang8Qiaoqi Li9Qiaoqi Li10Cheng Yi11Cheng Yi12Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDivision of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDivision of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDivision of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDivision of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaBackgroundRadiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a chronic, fatal and irreversible disease that develops after a consequence of thoracic radiation therapy and few effective treatments have been developed for this condition. Repeated inflammation and excessive accumulation of fibroblasts are features of RIPF. Thus, reducing inflammation and inducing lung fibroblast apoptosis may be an effective strategy for RIPF. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), as a natural immunomodulator, can specifically bind to death receptors (DRs) and selectively induce apoptosis in many cells. In our research, we have constructed a novel TRAIL mutant with CPP-like and Smac-like structure (R5S4TRAIL) and aim to explore the role and molecular mechanism of R5S4TRAIL in RIPF.MethodsFirstly, the RIPF model was established in C57BL/6 mice. Then, the mice were treated with saline (Con group), dexamethasone (Dex group), or R5S4TRAIL (RST group). The remission of RIPF was evaluated by micro-CT, Masson and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Next, the molecular mechanisms of R5S4TRAIL in RIPF were explored in vivo and vitro.ResultsWe successfully established the RIPF model and found that R5S4TRAIL treatment could regulate the expression of inflammatory-related cytokines and attenuate the inflammatory response. Meanwhile, R5S4TRAIL treatment could upregulate DR5 expression and induce apoptosis in lung fibroblasts. Briefly, treatment with R5S4TRAIL could alleviate RIPF.ConclusionsR5S4TRAIL has the potential to ameliorate RIPF by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600776/fullR5S4TRAILradiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF)inflammatoryapoptosisdeath receptor (DR)
spellingShingle Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yaqin Zhao
Yuanfeng Wei
Yuanfeng Wei
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Wanting Hou
Xianzhou Huang
Qiaoqi Li
Qiaoqi Li
Cheng Yi
Cheng Yi
R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
Frontiers in Immunology
R5S4TRAIL
radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF)
inflammatory
apoptosis
death receptor (DR)
title R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
title_full R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
title_fullStr R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
title_full_unstemmed R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
title_short R5S4TRAIL ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
title_sort r5s4trail ameliorates radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis by alleviating inflammatory responses and promoting apoptosis of fibroblasts
topic R5S4TRAIL
radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF)
inflammatory
apoptosis
death receptor (DR)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600776/full
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