Angiotensin-(1–7) suppresses airway inflammation and airway remodeling via inhibiting ATG5 in allergic asthma

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) can reduce airway inflammation and airway remodeling in allergic asthma. Autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) has attracted wide attentions in asthma. However, the effects of Ang-(1–7) on ATG5-mediated autophagy in allergic asthma are unclear. METHODS: In this study, human bronchial epithelial cell (BEAS-2B) and human bronchial smooth muscle cell (HBSMC) were treated with different dose of Ang-(1–7) to observe changes of cell viability. Changes of ATG5 protein expression were measured in 10 ng/mL of interleukin (IL)-13-treated cells. Transfection of ATG5 small interference RNA (siRNA) or ATG5 cDNA in cells was used to analyze the effects of ATG5 on secretion of cytokines in the IL-13-treated cells. The effects of Ang-(1–7) were compared to the effects of ATG5 siRNA transfection or ATG5 cDNA transfection in the IL-13-treated cells. In wild-type (WT) mice and ATG5 knockout (ATG5(−/−)) mice, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation, fibrosis and autophagy were observed. In the OVA-induced WT mice, Ang-(1–7) treatment was performed to observe its effects on airway inflammation, fibrosis and autophagy. RESULTS: The results showed that ATG5 protein level was decreased with Ang-(1–7) dose administration in the IL-13-treated BEAS-2B and IL13-treated HBSMC. Ang-(1–7) played similar results to ATG5 siRNA that it suppressed the secretion of IL-25 and IL-13 in the IL-13-treated BEAS-2B cells, and inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein in the IL-13-treated HBSMC cells. ATG5 cDNA treatment significantly increased the secretion of IL-25 and IL-13 and expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA protein in IL-13-treated cells. Ang-(1–7) treatment suppressed the effects of ATG5 cDNA in the IL-13-treated cells. In OVA-induced WT mice, Ang-(1–7) treatment suppressed airway inflammation, remodeling and autophagy. ATG5 knockout also suppressed the airway inflammation, remodeling and autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: Ang-(1–7) treatment suppressed airway inflammation and remodeling in allergic asthma through inhibiting ATG5, providing an underlying mechanism of Ang-(1–7) for allergic asthma treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-023-02719-7.