Production and application of HMGB1 derived recombinant RAGE-antagonist peptide for anti-inflammatory therapy in acute lung injury

Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory lung disease caused by sepsis, infection, or ischemia-reperfusion. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) signaling pathway plays an important role in ALI. In this study, a novel RAGE-antagonist peptide (RAP) was produced as an inhibitor of the RAGE signaling pathway based on the RAGE-binding domain of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Recombinant RAP was over-expressed and purified using nickel-affinity chromatography. In lipopolysaccharide- or HMGB1-activated RAW264.7 macrophage cells, RAP reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RAP decreased the levels of cell surface RAGE and inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). These results imply that RAP decreases RAGE-mediated NF-κB activation and subsequent inflammatory reaction. For in vivo evaluation, RAP was delivered to the lungs of ALI-model animals via intratracheal administration. As a result, RAGE was down-regulated in the lung tissues by pulmonary delivery of RAP. Consequently, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were also reduced in broncoalveolar lavage fluid and the lung tissues of RAP-treated animals. Hematoxylin and eosin staining indicated that inflammation was decreased in RAP-treated animals. Collectively, these results suggest that RAP may be a useful treatment for ALI.