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Yanagihara T, Zhou Q, Tsubouchi K, Revill S, Ayoub A, Gholiof M, Chong SG, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Ask K, Shi W, Kolb MR. Intrinsic BMP inhibitor Gremlin regulates alveolar epithelial type II cell proliferation and differentiation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 656:53-62. [PMID: 36958255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 alveolar epithelial cells (AT1s) and type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT2s) regulate the structural integrity and function of alveoli. AT1s mediate gas exchange, whereas AT2s serve multiple functions, including surfactant secretion and alveolar repair through proliferation and differentiation into AT1s as progenitors. However, mechanisms regulating AT2 proliferation and differentiation remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that Gremlin, an intrinsic inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), induces AT2 proliferation and differentiation. Transient overexpression of Gremlin in rat lungs by adenovirus vector delivery suppressed BMP signaling, induced proliferation of AT2s and the production of Bmp2, which in turn led to the recovery of BMP signaling and induced AT2 differentiation into AT1s. Bleomycin-induced lung injury upregulated Gremlin and showed a similar time course of biomarker expression comparable to the adenovirus model. TGF-β and IL-1β induced Gremlin expression in fibroblasts. Taken together, our findings implicate that Gremlin expression during lung injury leads to precisely timed inhibition of BMP signaling and activates AT2s, leading to alveolar repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Quan Zhou
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kazuya Tsubouchi
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Spencer Revill
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anmar Ayoub
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mahsa Gholiof
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sy Giin Chong
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kjetil Ask
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Wei Shi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Martin Rj Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Zeltz C, Navab R, Heljasvaara R, Kusche-Gullberg M, Lu N, Tsao MS, Gullberg D. Integrin α11β1 in tumor fibrosis: more than just another cancer-associated fibroblast biomarker? J Cell Commun Signal 2022; 16:649-660. [PMID: 35378690 PMCID: PMC8978763 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-022-00673-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently an increased interest in understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in tumor growth and progression. In this context the role of integrins in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) will need to be carefully re-evaluated. Fibroblast-derived cells are not only in the focus in tumors, but also in tissue fibrosis as well as in inflammatory conditions. The recent transcriptional profiling of what has been called "the pan-fibroblast cell lineage" in mouse and human tissues has identified novel transcriptional biomarker mRNAs encoding the secreted ECM proteins dermatopontin and collagen XV as well as the phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein Pi16. Some of the genes identified in these fibroblasts scRNA-seq datasets will be useful for rigorous comparative characterizations of fibroblast-derived cell subpopulations. At the same time, it will be a challenge in the coming years to validate these transcriptional mRNA datasets at the protein-(expression) and at tissue-(distribution) levels and to find useful protein biomarker reagents that will facilitate fibroblast profiling at the cell level. In the current review we will focus on the role of the collagen-binding integrin α11β1 in CAFs, summarizing our own work as well as published datasets with information on α11 mRNA expression in selected tumors. Our experimental data suggest that α11β1 is more than just another biomarker and that it as a functional collagen receptor in the TME is playing a central role in regulating collagen assembly and matrix remodeling, which in turn impact tumor growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Zeltz
- Department of Biomedicine, Matrix Biology Group, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Roya Navab
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ritva Heljasvaara
- Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marion Kusche-Gullberg
- Department of Biomedicine, Matrix Biology Group, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ning Lu
- Department of Biomedicine, Matrix Biology Group, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ming-Sound Tsao
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Donald Gullberg
- Department of Biomedicine, Matrix Biology Group, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway.
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Moretti L, Stalfort J, Barker TH, Abebayehu D. The interplay of fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, and inflammation in scar formation. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101530. [PMID: 34953859 PMCID: PMC8784641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Various forms of fibrosis, comprising tissue thickening and scarring, are involved in 40% of deaths across the world. Since the discovery of scarless functional healing in fetuses prior to a certain stage of development, scientists have attempted to replicate scarless wound healing in adults with little success. While the extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, and inflammatory mediators have been historically investigated as separate branches of biology, it has become increasingly necessary to consider them as parts of a complex and tightly regulated system that becomes dysregulated in fibrosis. With this new paradigm, revisiting fetal scarless wound healing provides a unique opportunity to better understand how this highly regulated system operates mechanistically. In the following review, we navigate the four stages of wound healing (hemostasis, inflammation, repair, and remodeling) against the backdrop of adult versus fetal wound healing, while also exploring the relationships between the ECM, effector cells, and signaling molecules. We conclude by singling out recent findings that offer promising leads to alter the dynamics between the ECM, fibroblasts, and inflammation to promote scarless healing. One factor that promises to be significant is fibroblast heterogeneity and how certain fibroblast subpopulations might be predisposed to scarless healing. Altogether, reconsidering fetal wound healing by examining the interplay of the various factors contributing to fibrosis provides new research directions that will hopefully help us better understand and address fibroproliferative diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, systemic sclerosis, progressive kidney disease, and cardiovascular fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Moretti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jack Stalfort
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Thomas Harrison Barker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel Abebayehu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
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Qin X, Wu K, Zuo C, Lin M. The Expression and Role of Hypoxia-induced Factor-1α in Human Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts under Hypoxia. Curr Eye Res 2020; 46:417-425. [PMID: 32767899 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1805470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its downstream factors in human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs) and changes in HTFs biological functions, we explored the role of HIF-1α in HTFs under hypoxia to provide a basis for studying the regulation of HIF-1α in wound healing after glaucoma surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS we established HTFs hypoxia model in vitro, meanwhile the HIF-1α agonist VH298 or inhibitor KC7F2 was added to HTFs, and the normoxia group was used as a control. Western blot, immunofluorescence and ELISA were used to detect the expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Smads and collagen I. The proliferation of HTFs was quantified by cell counting kit-8, and cell migration was tested by healing scratch test. RESULTS HIF-1α protein expression increased under hypoxia, peaked from 4-24 h, and then decreased. The secretion of VEGF and TGF-β increased with prolonged hypoxia time. VH298 and KC7F2 upregulated and downregulated the levels of VEGF and TGF-β, respectively, suggesting that HIF-1α upregulates and downregulates the levels of VEGF and TGF-β in HTFs under hypoxia, respectively. HIF-1α upregulated the proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of HTFs under hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS Regulating HIF-1α and its downstream factors effectively regulated HTFs proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis. HIF-1α is a promising regulator in the study of wound healing after glaucoma surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Keling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengguo Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingkai Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou, China
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Zeltz C, Primac I, Erusappan P, Alam J, Noel A, Gullberg D. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in desmoplastic tumors: emerging role of integrins. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 62:166-181. [PMID: 31415910 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex meshwork of extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules filled with a collection of cells including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), blood vessel associated smooth muscle cells, pericytes, endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells and a variety of immune cells. In tumors the homeostasis governing ECM synthesis and turnover is disturbed resulting in abnormal blood vessel formation and excessive fibrillar collagen accumulations of varying stiffness and organization. The disturbed ECM homeostasis opens up for new types of paracrine, cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions with large consequences for tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, immune suppression and resistance to treatments. As a main producer of ECM and paracrine signals the CAF is a central cell type in these events. Whereas the paracrine signaling has been extensively studied in the context of tumor-stroma interactions, the nature of the numerous integrin-mediated cell-ECM interactions occurring in the TME remains understudied. In this review we will discuss and dissect the role of known and potential CAF interactions in the TME, during both tumorigenesis and chemoresistance-induced events, with a special focus on the "interaction landscape" in desmoplastic breast, lung and pancreatic cancers. As an example of the multifaceted mode of action of the stromal collagen receptor integrin α11β1, we will summarize our current understanding on the role of this CAF-expressed integrin in these three tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Zeltz
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Irina Primac
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege (ULiège), Liege, Belgium
| | - Pugazendhi Erusappan
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jahedul Alam
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agnes Noel
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liege (ULiège), Liege, Belgium
| | - Donald Gullberg
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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