Flavin adenine dinucleotide increases antioxidant availability and protects neonatal C57Bl6 lungs from high oxygen

Hunter D Montgomery1, Mingyang A Zhang2, Elizabeth Zimmerman2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont, United States.

Insights

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) nasal spray protects neonatal lungs from high oxygen injury by restoring redox balance. This intervention reduces lung damage and inflammation, offering a potential therapy for premature infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Pulmonary medicine
  • Oxidative stress research

Background:

  • Immature lungs in preterm infants are susceptible to oxygen-induced injury.
  • Restoring redox homeostasis is crucial for mitigating lung damage.
  • Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) supports antioxidant pathways like glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione (GSH).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if intranasal FAD can protect neonatal lungs from hyperoxic injury.
  • To determine if FAD restores redox homeostasis and modulates inflammatory pathways.
  • To assess FAD's efficacy in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a C57Bl6/N mouse model exposed to 85% FiO2 to induce hyperoxic lung injury.
  • Administered FAD intranasally and measured redox potential (GSH/GSSG Eh) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
  • Assessed lung injury scores, inflammatory cell counts (neutrophils, macrophages) in BALF, and cytokine profiles.

Main Results:

  • Intranasal FAD significantly improved the GSH/GSSG Eh (redox potential) in BALF.
  • FAD treatment led to reduced lung injury scores and decreased neutrophil infiltration.
  • FAD increased macrophage counts in BALF and modulated key inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-12p70, IL-27, IL-6).

Conclusions:

  • Intranasal FAD effectively protects neonatal lungs against hyperoxic injury in a mouse model.
  • FAD treatment restores redox homeostasis and attenuates oxidative stress-induced inflammation.
  • FAD shows potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing or treating BPD and related lung injuries in preterm infants.