1
|
Roccatello D, Lan HY, Sciascia S, Sethi S, Fornoni A, Glassock R. From inflammation to renal fibrosis: A one-way road in autoimmunity? Autoimmun Rev 2024; 23:103466. [PMID: 37848157 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is now recognized as a main determinant of renal pathology to include chronic kidney disease. Deposition of pathological matrix in the walls of glomerular capillaries, the interstitial space, and around arterioles predicts and contributes to the functional demise of the nephron and its surrounding vasculature. The recent identification of the major cell populations of fibroblast precursors in the kidney interstitium such as pericytes and tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells, or bone-marrow-derived macrophages, and in the glomerulus such as podocytes, parietal epithelial and mesangial cells, has enabled the study of the fibrogenic process thought the lens of involved immunological pathways. Besides, a growing body of evidence is supporting the role of the lymphatic system in modulating the immunological response potentially leading to inflammation and ultimately renal damage. These notions have moved our understanding of renal fibrosis to be recognized as a clinical entity and new main player in autoimmunity, impacting directly the management of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Roccatello
- University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases (ERK-net, ERN-Reconnect and RITA-ERN Member) with Nephrology and Dialysis Unit and Center of Immuno-Rheumatology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley (North-West Italy), San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, ASL Città di Torino and Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases,Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Savino Sciascia
- University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases (ERK-net, ERN-Reconnect and RITA-ERN Member) with Nephrology and Dialysis Unit and Center of Immuno-Rheumatology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley (North-West Italy), San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, ASL Città di Torino and Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sanjeev Sethi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Alessia Fornoni
- Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, USA
| | - Richard Glassock
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chi J, Hsiao Y, Liang H, Huang T, Chen F, Chen C, Ko C, Cheng C, Wang J. Blockade of the pentraxin 3/CD44 interaction attenuates lung injury-induced fibrosis. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1099. [PMID: 36336784 PMCID: PMC9637652 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (fILD) are potentially fatal with limited therapeutic options and no effective strategies to reverse fibrogenesis. Myofibroblasts are chief effector cells in fibrosis that excessively deposit collagen in the pulmonary interstitium and lead to progressive impairment of gaseous exchange. METHODS Plasma and lung specimens from patients with fILD were applied for detecting pentraxin 3 (PTX3) abundance by ELISA and Immunohistochemistry. Masson's trichrome and Sirius red stains and hydroxyproline assay were performed for assessing collagen accumulation in the lungs of bleomycin-exposed conditional Ptx3-deficient and PTX3-neutralizing antibody (αPTX3i)-treated mice. Downstream effectors including signaling pathways and fibrotic genes were examined for assessing CD44-involved PTX3-induced fibrosis in HFL1 and primary mouse fibroblasts. RESULTS PTX3 was upregulated in the lungs and plasma of bleomycin-exposed mice and correlated with disease severity and adverse outcomes in fILD patients. Decreased collagen accumulation, attenuation of alveolar fibrosis and fibrotic markers, and improved lung function were observed in bleomycin-exposed conditional Ptx3-deficient mice. PTX3 activates lung fibroblasts to differentiate towards migrative and highly collagen-expressing myofibroblasts. Lung fibroblasts with CD44 inactivation attenuated the PI3K-AKT1, NF-κB, and JNK signaling pathways and fibrotic markers. αPTX3i mimic-based therapeutic studies demonstrated abrogation of the migrative fibroblast phenotype and myofibroblast activation in vitro. Notably, αPTX3i inhibited lung fibrosis, reduced collagen deposition, increased mouse survival, and improved lung function in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS The present study reveals new insights into the involvement of the PTX3/CD44 axis in fibrosis and suggests PTX3 as a promising therapeutic target in fILD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jhih‐Ying Chi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Yu‐Wei Hsiao
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Hsin‐Yin Liang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan,International Research Center for Wound Repair and RegenerationNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Tang‐Hsiu Huang
- Division of Chest MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineNational Cheng Kung University HospitalCollege of MedicineNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan,Institute of Clinical MedicineCollege of MedicineNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Feng‐Wei Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical SciencesCollege of MedicineNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Chen‐Yang Chen
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Chiung‐Yuan Ko
- Ph.D. Program in Medical NeuroscienceCollege of Medical Science and TechnologyTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chao‐Chun Cheng
- Institute of Basic Medical SciencesCollege of MedicineNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Ju‐Ming Wang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan,International Research Center for Wound Repair and RegenerationNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan,Graduate Institute of Medical SciencesCollege of MedicineTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan,Graduate Institute of MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
van den Bosch L, Luppi F, Ferrara G, Mura M. Immunomodulatory treatment of interstitial lung disease. Ther Adv Respir Dis 2022; 16:17534666221117002. [PMID: 35938712 PMCID: PMC9364223 DOI: 10.1177/17534666221117002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have an array of immunomodulatory treatment options compared with IPF, due to their inflammatory component. However, there is a relative paucity of guidance on the management of this heterogeneous group of diseases. In ILDs other than IPF, immunosuppression is the cornerstone of therapy, with varying levels of evidence for different immunomodulatory agents and for each specific ILD. Classification of ILDs is important for guiding treatment decisions. Immunomodulatory agents mainly include corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and rituximab. In this review, the available evidence for single agents in the most common ILDs is first discussed. We then reviewed practical therapeutic approaches in connective tissue disease-related ILD and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features, scleroderma-related ILD, vasculitis and dermatomyositis with hypoxemic respiratory failure, idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis sarcoidosis, fibrosing organizing pneumonia and eosinophilic pneumonia. The treatment of acute exacerbations of ILD is also discussed. Therapy augmentation in ILD is dictated by the recognition of progression of disease. Criteria for the evaluation of progression of disease are then discussed. Finally, specific protocol and measures to increase patients' safety are reviewed as well, including general monitoring and serologic surveillance, Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis, patients' education, genetic testing for azathioprine, MMF serum levels and cyclophosphamide administration protocols. Immunomodulatory therapies are largely successful in the management of ILDs and can be safely managed with the application of specific protocols, precautions and monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabrizio Luppi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ferrara
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marco Mura
- London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioners Road East, Room E6-203, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Romano E, Rosa I, Fioretto BS, Matucci-Cerinic M, Manetti M. New Insights into Profibrotic Myofibroblast Formation in Systemic Sclerosis: When the Vascular Wall Becomes the Enemy. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:610. [PMID: 34202703 PMCID: PMC8307837 DOI: 10.3390/life11070610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In systemic sclerosis (SSc), abnormalities in microvessel morphology occur early and evolve into a distinctive vasculopathy that relentlessly advances in parallel with the development of tissue fibrosis orchestrated by myofibroblasts in nearly all affected organs. Our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying such a unique relationship between SSc-related vasculopathy and fibrosis has profoundly changed over the last few years. Indeed, increasing evidence has suggested that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), a process in which profibrotic myofibroblasts originate from endothelial cells, may take center stage in SSc pathogenesis. While in arterioles and small arteries EndoMT may lead to the accumulation of myofibroblasts within the vessel wall and development of fibroproliferative vascular lesions, in capillary vessels it may instead result in vascular destruction and formation of myofibroblasts that migrate into the perivascular space with consequent tissue fibrosis and microvessel rarefaction, which are hallmarks of SSc. Besides endothelial cells, other vascular wall-resident cells, such as pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, may acquire a myofibroblast-like synthetic phenotype contributing to both SSc-related vascular dysfunction and fibrosis. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of myofibroblasts inside the vessel wall provides the rationale for novel targeted therapeutic strategies for the treatment of SSc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eloisa Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.R.); (B.S.F.); (M.M.-C.)
| | - Irene Rosa
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Bianca Saveria Fioretto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.R.); (B.S.F.); (M.M.-C.)
| | - Marco Matucci-Cerinic
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (E.R.); (B.S.F.); (M.M.-C.)
| | - Mirko Manetti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Romano E, Rosa I, Fioretto BS, Cerinic MM, Manetti M. The Role of Pro-fibrotic Myofibroblasts in Systemic Sclerosis: from Origin to Therapeutic Targeting. Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:209-239. [PMID: 33823766 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210325102749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) is a complex connective tissue disorder characterized by multisystem clinical manifestations resulting from immune dysregulation/autoimmunity, vasculopathy and, most notably, progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. In recent years, it has emerged that the main drivers of SSc-related tissue fibrosis are myofibroblasts, a type of mesenchymal cells with both the extracellular matrix-synthesizing features of fibroblasts and the cytoskeletal characteristics of contractile smooth muscle cells. The accumulation and persistent activation of pro-fibrotic myofibroblasts during SSc development and progression result into elevated mechanical stress and reduced matrix plasticity within the affected tissues and may be ascribed to a reduced susceptibility of these cells to pro-apoptotic stimuli, as well as their increased formation from tissue-resident fibroblasts or transition from different cell types. Given the crucial role of myofibroblasts in SSc pathogenesis, finding the way to inhibit myofibroblast differentiation and accumulation by targeting their formation, function and survival may represent an effective approach to hamper the fibrotic process or even halt or reverse established fibrosis. In this review, we discuss the role of myofibroblasts in SSc-related fibrosis, with a special focus on their cellular origin and the signaling pathways implicated in their formation and persistent activation. Furthermore, we provide an overview of potential therapeutic strategies targeting myofibroblasts that may be able to counteract fibrosis in this pathological condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eloisa Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| | - Irene Rosa
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| | - Bianca Saveria Fioretto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| | - Marco Matucci Cerinic
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| | - Mirko Manetti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| |
Collapse
|