TRANSLATIONAL PHYSIOLOGY The triterpenoid CDDO limits inflammation in preclinical models of cystic fibrosis lung disease

Nichols DP, Ziady AG, Shank SL, Eastman JF, Davis PB. The triterpenoid CDDO limits inflammation in preclinical models of cystic fibrosis lung disease. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 297: L828 –L836, 2009. First published August 21, 2009; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00171.2009.—Excessive inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is a contributor to progressive pulmonary decline. Effective and well-tolerated anti-inflammatory therapy may preserve lung function, thereby improving quality and length of life. In this paper, we assess the anti-inflammatory effects of the synthetic triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28oic acid (CDDO) in preclinical models of CF airway inflammation. In our experiments, mice carrying the R117H Cftr mutation have significantly reduced airway inflammatory responses to both LPS and flagellin when treated with CDDO before inflammatory challenge. Anti-inflammatory effects observed include reduced airway neutrophilia, reduced concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and reduced weight loss. Our findings with the synthetic triterpenoids in multiple cell culture models of CF human airway epithelia agree with effects previously described in other disease models (e.g., neoplastic cells). These include the ability to reduce NFB activation while increasing nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activity. As these two signaling pathways appear to be pivotal in regulating the net inflammatory response in the CF airway, these compounds are a promising potential anti-inflammatory therapy for CF lung disease.