by Katie Dineen, B.S. Biology, Business Development Manager, Preclinical Research Services

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are life-threatening conditions that continue to challenge physicians worldwide. Despite decades of research, targeted therapies remain elusive—leaving a critical unmet need in respiratory medicine.

Recent studies have highlighted the significance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pathogenesis of ALI. The IRE1α/XBP1 signaling pathway, a key branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR), has been implicated in mediating inflammatory responses and apoptosis in lung tissues.

A recent study published in Respiratory Research explored the impact of modulating ER stress via the IRE1α/XBP1 pathway—an arm of the unfolded protein response known to exacerbate inflammation and apoptosis in lung tissues. Using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mouse model, researchers demonstrated that 4µ8C, a small molecule inhibitor of IRE1α, significantly attenuated lung inflammation, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), and suppressed key inflammatory pathways such as TXNIP/NLRP3 and ERK/p65. Importantly, epithelial cell death was also mitigated, highlighting the pathway’s therapeutic potential.

These findings point to a promising new direction for treating acute lung injury (ALI). By blocking the IRE1α/XBP1 pathway, researchers were able to reduce harmful inflammation and cell damage in the lungs—key drivers of disease in ALI and ARDS. This opens the door to potential new treatments that focus on calming the body’s overactive stress responses during lung injury.

At MLM Medical Labs, we offer an established LPS-induced ALI model that closely mirrors key pathological features seen in human lung injury.

Leveraging this model, sponsors can rapidly evaluate novel mechanisms—like IRE1α/XBP1 inhibition—under rigorous, reproducible conditions. With scientific oversight from PhD-led project teams and robust in vivo infrastructure​, MLM enables preclinical insights that de-risk and accelerate respiratory drug development.

For those wanting to dive deeper into the research behind these findings, the full study is available  HERE.

To learn more about working with MLM’s validated and customizable preclinical disease models, reach out to our team directly: