Esrrg inhibition protects against PM2.5-induced asthma aggravation by reducing Pde3b

PM2.5 exposure is closely linked to the exacerbation of asthma. Estrogen related receptor gamma (Esrrg), an orphan nuclear receptor, exerts a crucial role as a transcription factor in various metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, the impacts of Esrrg on PM2.5-triggered asthma aggravation have not been investigated. Herein, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice were exposed to PM2.5 to establish a mouse model of asthma aggravation by PM2.5. In view of mRNA sequencing, Esrrg was the only member of nuclear receptor superfamily in the up-regulated differentially expressed genes in OVA compared with Naive groups as well as OVA+PM2.5 compared with OVA groups (|log2 (fold change)|>1 and p<0.05). In vivo, adeno-associated virus carrying Esrrg shRNA (AAV-shEsrrg) was applied to silencing Esrrg. In addition, Esrrg activity was suppressed pharmacologically with an inverse agonist GSK5182. Either AAV-shEsrrg or GSK5182 ameliorated airway inflammation in the PM2.5-aggravated asthmatic mice. In vitro, isolated mouse primary tracheobronchial epithelial cells (MTEC) from mice were identified by detecting cytokeratin 7-positive cells. The treatment of adenovirus vector with shEsrrg or GSK5182 mitigated the cell damage induced by PM2.5. Notably, phosphodiesterase 3B (Pde3b) expression was declined by Esrrg inhibition in vivo and in vitro. Dual luciferase reporter and ChIP-PCR assays showed the binding of Esrrg to the Pde3b promoter. Taken together, these results revealed that Esrrg inhibition alleviated airway inflammation in the PM2.5-deteriorated asthmatic mouse model and prevented PM2.5-driven MTEC injury through binding to the Pde3b promoter, which might contribute to further study the therapy of PM2.5-aggravated asthma.