Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury

Abstract Aim of the study Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical condition in the emergency department and is associated with a high mortality rate. Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor (rhUTI), a serine protease inhibitor compounded by genetic engineering technology, is expected to rep...

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Main Authors: Tong Wang, Wenna Liu, Jun Li, Yongli Wan, Hang Su, Anlong Qi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02890-z
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author Tong Wang
Wenna Liu
Jun Li
Yongli Wan
Hang Su
Anlong Qi
author_facet Tong Wang
Wenna Liu
Jun Li
Yongli Wan
Hang Su
Anlong Qi
author_sort Tong Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aim of the study Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical condition in the emergency department and is associated with a high mortality rate. Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor (rhUTI), a serine protease inhibitor compounded by genetic engineering technology, is expected to replace UTI, which has been reported to protect multiple organs against inflammation- and/or injury-induced dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of rhUTI on splenic dendritic cells (DCs) in LPS-induced ALI mice. Materials and methods RhUTI was administered to mice, and splenic CD11c + DCs were isolated and assessed using flow cytometry for apoptotic or phenotypic analysis. Protein markers and cytokines were determined by western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results After treatment with rhUTI, lung injury in LPS-induced ALI mice improved and the survival rate of the mice increased. Treatment with rhUTI could markedly upregulate the levels of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules (MHC-II) on the surface of splenic DC and decreased the apoptosis rate of splenic DCs in LPS-induced ALI mice. In addition, protein levels of markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and ERS-related apoptotic pathways (including GRP78, XBP-1, PERK, caspase-12, and CHOP) were downregulated in the rhUTI-treated group when compared with the LPS-induced ALI group. Conclusions These results suggest that rhUTI protects LPS-induced ALI mice by improving the immune response of splenic DCs and inhibiting excessive ERS-mediated apoptosis.
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spelling doaj-art-bdc5e701515e4598972b04b5ef7719502025-08-20T03:42:27ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111310.1186/s40001-025-02890-zRecombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injuryTong Wang0Wenna Liu1Jun Li2Yongli Wan3Hang Su4Anlong Qi5NHC Key Lab of Hormones and Development and Tianjin Key Lab of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Institute of EndocrinologyNHC Key Lab of Hormones and Development and Tianjin Key Lab of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Institute of EndocrinologyNHC Key Lab of Hormones and Development and Tianjin Key Lab of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Institute of EndocrinologyNHC Key Lab of Hormones and Development and Tianjin Key Lab of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Institute of EndocrinologyNHC Key Lab of Hormones and Development and Tianjin Key Lab of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Institute of EndocrinologyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalAbstract Aim of the study Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical condition in the emergency department and is associated with a high mortality rate. Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor (rhUTI), a serine protease inhibitor compounded by genetic engineering technology, is expected to replace UTI, which has been reported to protect multiple organs against inflammation- and/or injury-induced dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of rhUTI on splenic dendritic cells (DCs) in LPS-induced ALI mice. Materials and methods RhUTI was administered to mice, and splenic CD11c + DCs were isolated and assessed using flow cytometry for apoptotic or phenotypic analysis. Protein markers and cytokines were determined by western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results After treatment with rhUTI, lung injury in LPS-induced ALI mice improved and the survival rate of the mice increased. Treatment with rhUTI could markedly upregulate the levels of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules (MHC-II) on the surface of splenic DC and decreased the apoptosis rate of splenic DCs in LPS-induced ALI mice. In addition, protein levels of markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and ERS-related apoptotic pathways (including GRP78, XBP-1, PERK, caspase-12, and CHOP) were downregulated in the rhUTI-treated group when compared with the LPS-induced ALI group. Conclusions These results suggest that rhUTI protects LPS-induced ALI mice by improving the immune response of splenic DCs and inhibiting excessive ERS-mediated apoptosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02890-zRhUTIAcute lung injuryERS-mediated apoptosisDendritic cells
spellingShingle Tong Wang
Wenna Liu
Jun Li
Yongli Wan
Hang Su
Anlong Qi
Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
European Journal of Medical Research
RhUTI
Acute lung injury
ERS-mediated apoptosis
Dendritic cells
title Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
title_full Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
title_fullStr Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
title_full_unstemmed Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
title_short Recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
title_sort recombinant human urinary trypsin inhibitor improves the immunological function of splenic dendritic cells in mice with acute lung injury
topic RhUTI
Acute lung injury
ERS-mediated apoptosis
Dendritic cells
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02890-z
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