Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Science Signaling
Abstract
Overuse of β2-adrenoceptor agonist bronchodilators evokes receptor desensitization, decreased efficacy, and an increased risk of death in asthma patients. Bronchodilators that do not target β2-adrenoceptors represent a critical unmet need for asthma management. Here, we characterize the utility of osthole, a coumarin derived from a traditional Chinese medicine, in preclinical models of asthma. In mouse precision-cut lung slices, osthole relaxed preconstricted airways, irrespective of β2-adrenoceptor desensitization. Osthole administered in murine asthma models attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, a hallmark of asthma. Osthole inhibited phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) activity to amplify autocrine prostaglandin E2 signaling in airway smooth muscle cells that eventually triggered cAMP/PKA-dependent relaxation of airways. The crystal structure of the PDE4D complexed with osthole revealed that osthole bound to the catalytic site to prevent cAMP binding and hydrolysis. Together, our studies elucidate a specific molecular target and mechanism by which osthole induces airway relaxation. Identification of osthole binding sites on PDE4D will guide further development of bronchodilators that are not subject to tachyphylaxis and would thus avoid β2-adrenoceptor agonist resistance.
DOI
10.1126/scisignal.aax0273
Publication Date
11-24-2020
Keywords
asthma, coumarins, Chinese herbal drugs, lung, metabolism, mice, myocytes, phosphorylation, signal transduction, smooth muscle myocytes
ISSN
1937-9145
Recommended Citation
Wang S, Xie Y, Huo Y, Li Y, Abel PW, Jiang H, Zou X, Jiao H, Kuang X, Wolff D, Huang Y, Casale TB, Panettieri RA, Wei T, Cao Z, Tu Y. Airway Relaxation Mechanisms and Structural Basis of Osthole for Improving Lung Function in Asthma. Science Signaling. 2020; 13(659). doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aax0273.
