Genkwanin reduces airway epithelial cell ferroptosis and alleviates asthma symptoms in mice

Background: This study investigated the role of genkwanin (GKA) in pediatric asthma.

Methods: Newborn mice were exposed to house dust mites and treated with GKA to examine airway epithelial cell damage and airway remodeling. The targets of GKA were predicted and verified.

Results: After medium-dose GKA (M-GKA) treatment, HDM-IgE, HDM-IgG1, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-4 decreased by 28 %, 22 %, 32 %, 48 %, and 38 %, respectively. M-GKA reduced Collagen formation by 28 % and MUC5AC protein expression by 30 % in mice. M-GKA reduced Fe2+ content by 32 % and ROS levels by 21 % in airway epithelial cells by inhibiting DYRK1A activity. DYRK1A increased TFE3 cytoplasmic retention by 73 % through enhancing its serine phosphorylation (by 133 %), leading to suppression of LC3BII/I and ATG5 by 32 % and 37 %, and promotion of MDA content by 263 % and ROS accumulation by 43 %. TFE3 triggered Autophagy to mitigate Ferroptosis (Fe2+ and ROS contents were decreased by 59 % and 25 %, while GPX4 and SLC7A11 were downregulated by 104 % and 88 %). TFE3 knockout weakened the alleviation of airway epithelial cell Ferroptosis by GKA, as evidenced by increased Fe2+ content (89 %), MDA and ROS accumulation (73 % and 44 %, respectively). Additionally, it blocked Autophagy, as indicated by decreased LC3B (58 %) and ATG5 (51 %) expression.

Conclusions: GKA inhibits TFE3 phosphorylation via DYRK1A, thereby driving TFE3 nuclear translocation and activating Autophagy, which suppresses Ferroptosis in airway epithelial cells. This study identifies GKA as a therapeutic candidate for asthma, and screening of additional Flavones will be valuable to map the structural features that confer this activity.

DYRK1A; Ferroptosis; Genkwanin; Pediatric asthma; TFE3.