Sodium propionate protects against bronchopulmonary dysplasia by inhibiting IL-17-mediated apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells

Sodium propionate (SP) has been shown to enhance alveolar growth retardation in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), but the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the potential mechanism of SP in the treatment of BPD by utilizing animal and cell models along with bioinformation analysis. Neonatal mice were exposed to either air (21% O₂) or hyperoxia (85% O₂) from the first day after birth to establish the BPD model. The neonatal mice were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline (control group) or SP (500 mg/kg, SP group) from day 8 to day 14. SP significantly reduced the inflammatory condition of alveolar septal thickening, and decreased the alveolar fusion and mitigated weight loss in BPD mice. ELISA results demonstrated that SP significantly inhibited the secretion of IL-17, IL-6 and TNFα. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that IL-17 signaling pathway is closely related to the therapeutic effects of SP on BPD. In addition, MX2, MMP10, IL-11, ZMAT4 and SEC1 genes were identified as key and potential targets involved in the mechanism of SP treating BPD. Meanwhile, in mouse alveolar epithelial cells, apoptosis was induced by hyperoxia, but it was reduced following SP intervention. The expression of IL-17 pathway related genes: IL-17A, IL-6, TNFα and cox2 was decreased in hyperoxia treated cells after SP intervention. In conclusion, through transcriptome analysis, animal and cell experiments, we explored the role of sodium propionate in attenuating apoptosis in a BPD model through IL-17 pathway.