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Schwab AD, Wyatt TA, Moravec G, Thiele GM, Nelson AJ, Gleason A, Schanze O, Duryee MJ, Romberger DJ, Mikuls TR, Poole JA. Targeting transitioning lung monocytes/macrophages as treatment strategies in lung disease related to environmental exposures. Respir Res 2024; 25:157. [PMID: 38594676 PMCID: PMC11003126 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02804-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental/occupational exposures cause significant lung diseases. Agricultural organic dust extracts (ODE) and bacterial component lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induce recruited, transitioning murine lung monocytes/macrophages, yet their cellular role remains unclear. METHODS CCR2 RFP+ mice were intratracheally instilled with high concentration ODE (25%), LPS (10 μg), or gram-positive peptidoglycan (PGN, 100 μg) for monocyte/macrophage cell-trafficking studies. CCR2 knockout (KO) mice and administration of intravenous clodronate liposomes strategies were employed to reduce circulating monocytes available for lung recruitment following LPS exposure. Lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. Pro-inflammatory and/or pro-fibrotic cytokines, chemokines, and lung extracellular matrix mediators were quantitated by ELISA. Infiltrating lung cells including monocyte/macrophage subpopulations, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were characterized by flow cytometry. Lung histopathology, collagen content, vimentin, and post-translational protein citrullination and malondialdehyde acetaldehyde (MAA) modification were quantitated. Parametric statistical tests (one-way ANOVA, Tukey'smultiple comparison) and nonparametric statistical (Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn's multiple comparison) tests were used following Shapiro-Wilk testing for normality. RESULTS Intratracheal instillation of ODE, LPS, or PGN robustly induced the recruitment of inflammatory CCR2+ CD11cintCD11bhi monocytes/macrophages and both CCR2+ and CCR2- CD11c-CD11bhi monocytes at 48 h. There were also increases in CCR2+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells. Despite reductions in LPS-induced lung infiltrating CD11cintCD11bhi cells (54% reduction), CCR2 knockout (KO) mice were not protected against LPS-induced inflammatory and pro-fibrotic consequences. Instead, compensatory increases in lung neutrophils and CCL2 and CCL7 release occurred. In contrast, the depletion of circulating monocytes through the administration of intravenous clodronate (vs. vehicle) liposomes 24 h prior to LPS exposure reduced LPS-induced infiltrating CD11cintCD11bhi monocyte-macrophage subpopulation by 59% without compensatory changes in other cell populations. Clodronate liposome pre-treatment significantly reduced LPS-induced IL-6 (66% reduction), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3 (36%), MMP-8 (57%), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (61%), fibronectin (38%), collagen content (22%), and vimentin (40%). LPS-induced lung protein citrullination and MAA modification, post-translational modifications implicated in lung disease, were reduced (39% and 48%) with clodronate vs. vehicle liposome. CONCLUSION Highly concentrated environmental/occupational exposures induced the recruitment of CCR2+ and CCR2- transitioning monocyte-macrophage and monocyte subpopulations and targeting peripheral monocytes may reduce the adverse lung consequences resulting from exposures to LPS-enriched inhalants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Schwab
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Todd A Wyatt
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Grace Moravec
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Thiele
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Amy J Nelson
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Angela Gleason
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Oliver Schanze
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael J Duryee
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Debra J Romberger
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ted R Mikuls
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jill A Poole
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Ling S, Kwak D, Takuwa Y, Ge C, Franceschi R, Kim KK. Discoidin domain receptor 2 signaling through PIK3C2α in fibroblasts promotes lung fibrosis. J Pathol 2024; 262:505-516. [PMID: 38332727 PMCID: PMC10940211 DOI: 10.1002/path.6253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis, especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), portends significant morbidity and mortality, and current therapeutic options are suboptimal. We have previously shown that type I collagen signaling through discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed by fibroblasts, is critical for the regulation of fibroblast apoptosis and progressive fibrosis. However, the downstream signaling pathways for DDR2 remain poorly defined and could also be attractive potential targets for therapy. A recent phosphoproteomic approach indicated that PIK3C2α, a poorly studied member of the PI3 kinase family, could be a downstream mediator of DDR2 signaling. We hypothesized that collagen I/DDR2 signaling through PIK3C2α regulates fibroblast activity during progressive fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we found that primary murine fibroblasts and IPF-derived fibroblasts stimulated with endogenous or exogenous type I collagen led to the formation of a DDR2/PIK3C2α complex, resulting in phosphorylation of PIK3C2α. Fibroblasts treated with an inhibitor of PIK3C2α or with deletion of PIK3C2α had fewer markers of activation after stimulation with TGFβ and more apoptosis after stimulation with a Fas-activating antibody. Finally, mice with fibroblast-specific deletion of PIK3C2α had less fibrosis after bleomycin treatment than did littermate control mice with intact expression of PIK3Cα. Collectively, these data support the notion that collagen/DDR2/PIK3C2α signaling is critical for fibroblast function during progressive fibrosis, making this pathway a potential target for antifibrotic therapy. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Ling
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Doyun Kwak
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yoh Takuwa
- Department of Physiology, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Chunxi Ge
- Departments of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Renny Franceschi
- Departments of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kevin K. Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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3
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Perez-Favila A, Garza-Veloz I, Hernandez-Marquez LDS, Gutierrez-Vela EF, Flores-Morales V, Martinez-Fierro ML. Antifibrotic Drugs against Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by COVID-19: Therapeutic Approaches and Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1562. [PMID: 38338840 PMCID: PMC10855955 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the health and economy of the global population. Even after recovery from the disease, post-COVID-19 symptoms, such as pulmonary fibrosis, continue to be a concern. This narrative review aims to address pulmonary fibrosis (PF) from various perspectives, including the fibrotic mechanisms involved in idiopathic and COVID-19-induced pulmonary fibrosis. On the other hand, we also discuss the current therapeutic drugs in use, as well as those undergoing clinical or preclinical evaluation. Additionally, this article will address various biomarkers with usefulness for PF prediction, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and severity assessment in order to provide better treatment strategies for patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro
- Doctorado en Ciencias con Orientación en Medicina Molecular, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y CS, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico; (A.P.-F.); (I.G.-V.); (L.d.S.H.-M.); (E.F.G.-V.); (V.F.-M.)
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4
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Isshiki T, Naiel S, Vierhout M, Otsubo K, Ali P, Tsubouchi K, Yazdanshenas P, Kumaran V, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Kolb MRJ, Ask K. Therapeutic strategies to target connective tissue growth factor in fibrotic lung diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 253:108578. [PMID: 38103794 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of interstitial lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), remains challenging as current available antifibrotic agents are not effective in halting disease progression. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), also known as cellular communication factor 2 (CCN2), is a member of the CCN family of proteins that regulates cell signaling through cell surface receptors such as integrins, the activity of cytokines/growth factors, and the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that CTGF plays a crucial role in promoting lung fibrosis through multiple processes, including inducing transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cooperating with other fibrotic mediators such as TGF-β. Increased expression of CTGF has been observed in fibrotic lungs and inhibiting CTGF signaling has been shown to suppress lung fibrosis in several animal models. Thus, the CTGF signaling pathway is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in IPF and other pulmonary fibrotic conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on the pathogenic role of CTGF in pulmonary fibrosis and discusses the current therapeutic agents targeting CTGF using a systematic review approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Isshiki
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, 6-11-1 Omori Nisi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan
| | - Safaa Naiel
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Megan Vierhout
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Kohei Otsubo
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Pareesa Ali
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Kazuya Tsubouchi
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Parichehr Yazdanshenas
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Vaishnavi Kumaran
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada
| | - Martin R J Kolb
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Kjetil Ask
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, 5o Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Center, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 48L, Canada.
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Kwak D, Bradley PB, Subbotina N, Ling S, Teitz-Tennenbaum S, Osterholzer JJ, Sisson TH, Kim KK. CD36/Lyn kinase interactions within macrophages promotes pulmonary fibrosis in response to oxidized phospholipid. Respir Res 2023; 24:314. [PMID: 38098035 PMCID: PMC10722854 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent data from human studies and animal models have established roles for type II alveolar epithelial cell (AEC2) injury/apoptosis and monocyte/macrophage accumulation and activation in progressive lung fibrosis. Although the link between these processes is not well defined, we have previously shown that CD36-mediated uptake of apoptotic AEC2s by lung macrophages is sufficient to drive fibrosis. Importantly, apoptotic AEC2s are rich in oxidized phospholipids (oxPL), and amongst its multiple functions, CD36 serves as a scavenger receptor for oxPL. Recent studies have established a role for oxPLs in alveolar scarring, and we hypothesized that uptake and accrual of oxPL by CD36 would cause a macrophage phenotypic change that promotes fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we treated wild-type and CD36-null mice with the oxPL derivative oxidized phosphocholine (POVPC) and found that CD36-null mice were protected from oxPL-induced scarring. Compared to WT mice, fewer macrophages accumulated in the lungs of CD36-null animals, and the macrophages exhibited a decreased accumulation of intracellular oxidized lipid. Importantly, the attenuated accrual of oxPL in CD36-null macrophages was associated with diminished expression of the profibrotic mediator, TGFβ. Finally, the pathway linking oxPL uptake and TGFβ expression was found to require CD36-mediated activation of Lyn kinase. Together, these observations elucidate a causal pathway that connects AEC2 injury with lung macrophage activation via CD36-mediated uptake of oxPL and suggest several potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doyun Kwak
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Patrick B Bradley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Natalia Subbotina
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Song Ling
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Seagal Teitz-Tennenbaum
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Pulmonary Section, Department of Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - John J Osterholzer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Pulmonary Section, Department of Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Thomas H Sisson
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kevin K Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, BSRB 4061, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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6
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Ling S, Kwak D, Kim KK. Inhibition of discoidin domain receptor 2 reveals kinase-dependent and kinase-independent functions in regulating fibroblast activity. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2023; 325:L342-L351. [PMID: 37489274 PMCID: PMC10625828 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00066.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating condition and current treatment is suboptimal. There has been considerable interest in the role of tyrosine kinase signaling as mediators of pro- and antifibrotic processes. Nintedanib is a nonspecific tyrosine kinase that has been shown to have therapeutic benefit in lung fibrosis. However, the precise mechanism of action remains unclear because nintedanib inhibits several tyrosine kinases, which are often expressed on multiple cell types with different activities during fibrosis. Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) has been suggested as a potential target of nintedanib. DDR2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by fibrillar collagens such as type I collagen. DDR2 is primarily expressed by fibroblasts. The effectiveness of specifically targeting DDR2 signaling during fibrosis remains undefined. In the present study, we show that nintedanib acts as a direct and indirect inhibitor of DDR2. We then utilize a novel allosteric inhibitor of DDR2, WRG-28, which blocks ligand binding and activation of DDR2. We find that WRG-28 augments fibroblast apoptosis and attenuates fibrosis. Finally, we show that fibroblast type I collagen autocrine signaling is regulated by DDR2 through both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent functions of DDR2. These findings highlight the importance of type I collagen autocrine signaling by fibroblasts during fibrosis and demonstrate that DDR2 has a central role in this pathway making it a potential therapeutic target.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Type I collagen is a major component of fibrosis and can signal through cell surface receptors such as discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2). DDR2 activation can lead to further collagen deposition by fibroblasts setting up a profibrotic positive feedback loop. In this report, we find that inhibition of DDR2 with nintedanib or a specific DDR2 inhibitor, WRG-28, can disrupt this cycle and prevent fibrosis through augmented fibroblast apoptosis and inhibited activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Ling
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Doyun Kwak
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Kevin K Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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7
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Ligresti G, Raslan AA, Hong J, Caporarello N, Confalonieri M, Huang SK. Mesenchymal cells in the Lung: Evolving concepts and their role in fibrosis. Gene 2023; 859:147142. [PMID: 36603696 PMCID: PMC10068350 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.147142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal cells in the lung are crucial during development, but also contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrotic disorders, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common and deadly form of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases. Originally thought to behave as supporting cells for the lung epithelium and endothelium with a singular function of producing basement membrane, mesenchymal cells encompass a variety of cell types, including resident fibroblasts, lipofibroblasts, myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes, which all occupy different anatomic locations and exhibit diverse homeostatic functions in the lung. During injury, each of these subtypes demonstrate remarkable plasticity and undergo varying capacity to proliferate and differentiate into activated myofibroblasts. Therefore, these cells secrete high levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to tissue repair, or in pathologic situations, scarring and fibrosis. Whereas epithelial damage is considered the initial trigger that leads to lung injury, lung mesenchymal cells are recognized as the ultimate effector of fibrosis and attempts to better understand the different functions and actions of each mesenchymal cell subtype will lead to a better understanding of why fibrosis develops and how to better target it for future therapy. This review summarizes current findings related to various lung mesenchymal cells as well as signaling pathways, and their contribution to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ligresti
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, US.
| | - Ahmed A Raslan
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, US
| | - Jeongmin Hong
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, US
| | - Nunzia Caporarello
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, US
| | - Marco Confalonieri
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Steven K Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, US
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Betageri KR, Link PA, Haak AJ, Ligresti G, Tschumperlin DJ, Caporarello N. The matricellular protein CCN3 supports lung endothelial homeostasis and function. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2023; 324:L154-L168. [PMID: 36573684 PMCID: PMC9925165 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00248.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant vascular remodeling contributes to the progression of many aging-associated diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where heterogeneous capillary density, endothelial transcriptional alterations, and increased vascular permeability correlate with poor disease outcomes. Thus, identifying disease-driving mechanisms in the pulmonary vasculature may be a promising strategy to limit IPF progression. Here, we identified Ccn3 as an endothelial-derived factor that is upregulated in resolving but not in persistent lung fibrosis in mice, and whose function is critical for vascular homeostasis and repair. Loss and gain of function experiments were carried out to test the role of CCN3 in lung microvascular endothelial function in vitro through RNAi and the addition of recombinant human CCN3 protein, respectively. Endothelial migration, permeability, proliferation, and in vitro angiogenesis were tested in cultured human lung microvascular endothelial cells (ECs). Loss of CCN3 in lung ECs resulted in transcriptional alterations along with impaired wound-healing responses, in vitro angiogenesis, barrier integrity as well as an increased profibrotic activity through paracrine signals, whereas the addition of recombinant CCN3 augmented endothelial function. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the matricellular protein CCN3 plays an important role in lung endothelial function and could serve as a promising therapeutic target to facilitate vascular repair and promote lung fibrosis resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana R Betageri
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Patrick A Link
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Andrew J Haak
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Giovanni Ligresti
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel J Tschumperlin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Nunzia Caporarello
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Sountoulidis A, Marco Salas S, Braun E, Avenel C, Bergenstråhle J, Theelke J, Vicari M, Czarnewski P, Liontos A, Abalo X, Andrusivová Ž, Mirzazadeh R, Asp M, Li X, Hu L, Sariyar S, Martinez Casals A, Ayoglu B, Firsova A, Michaëlsson J, Lundberg E, Wählby C, Sundström E, Linnarsson S, Lundeberg J, Nilsson M, Samakovlis C. A topographic atlas defines developmental origins of cell heterogeneity in the human embryonic lung. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:351-365. [PMID: 36646791 PMCID: PMC9928586 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-01064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The lung contains numerous specialized cell types with distinct roles in tissue function and integrity. To clarify the origins and mechanisms generating cell heterogeneity, we created a comprehensive topographic atlas of early human lung development. Here we report 83 cell states and several spatially resolved developmental trajectories and predict cell interactions within defined tissue niches. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and spatially resolved transcriptomics into a web-based, open platform for interactive exploration. We show distinct gene expression programmes, accompanying sequential events of cell differentiation and maturation of the secretory and neuroendocrine cell types in proximal epithelium. We define the origin of airway fibroblasts associated with airway smooth muscle in bronchovascular bundles and describe a trajectory of Schwann cell progenitors to intrinsic parasympathetic neurons controlling bronchoconstriction. Our atlas provides a rich resource for further research and a reference for defining deviations from homeostatic and repair mechanisms leading to pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Sountoulidis
- grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden ,grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergio Marco Salas
- grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden ,grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emelie Braun
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christophe Avenel
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402BioImage Informatics Facility, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab, Sweden
| | - Joseph Bergenstråhle
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Theelke
- grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden ,grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marco Vicari
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paulo Czarnewski
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Liontos
- grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden ,grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xesus Abalo
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Žaneta Andrusivová
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Reza Mirzazadeh
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michaela Asp
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaofei Li
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lijuan Hu
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sanem Sariyar
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Martinez Casals
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Burcu Ayoglu
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Firsova
- grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden ,grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jakob Michaëlsson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Lundberg
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carolina Wählby
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.452834.c0000 0004 5911 2402BioImage Informatics Facility, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab, Sweden
| | - Erik Sundström
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joakim Lundeberg
- grid.5037.10000000121581746Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Nilsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Christos Samakovlis
- Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden. .,Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Molecular Pneumology, Cardiopulmonary Institute, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
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10
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TRIB3 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting SLUG degradation by physically interacting with MDM2. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:1631-1647. [PMID: 37139431 PMCID: PMC10150180 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the pathological structure of incurable fibroproliferative lung diseases that are attributed to the repeated lung injury-caused failure of lung alveolar regeneration (LAR). Here, we report that repetitive lung damage results in a progressive accumulation of the transcriptional repressor SLUG in alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC2s). The abnormal increased SLUG inhibits AEC2s from self-renewal and differentiation into alveolar epithelial type I cells (AEC1s). We found that the elevated SLUG represses the expression of the phosphate transporter SLC34A2 in AEC2s, which reduces intracellular phosphate and represses the phosphorylation of JNK and P38 MAPK, two critical kinases supporting LAR, leading to LAR failure. TRIB3, a stress sensor, interacts with the E3 ligase MDM2 to suppress SLUG degradation in AEC2s by impeding MDM2-catalyzed SLUG ubiquitination. Targeting SLUG degradation by disturbing the TRIB3/MDM2 interaction using a new synthetic staple peptide restores LAR capacity and exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against experimental PF. Our study reveals a mechanism of the TRIB3-MDM2-SLUG-SLC34A2 axis causing the LAR failure in PF, which confers a potential strategy for treating patients with fibroproliferative lung diseases.
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11
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Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Breaking the Bridge. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116064. [PMID: 35682743 PMCID: PMC9181498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CTGF is upregulated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), characterized by the deposition of a pathological extracellular matrix (ECM). Additionally, many omics studies confirmed that aberrant cellular senescence-associated mitochondria dysfunction and metabolic reprogramming had been identified in different IPF lung cells (alveolar epithelial cells, alveolar endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages). Here, we reviewed the role of the CTGF in IPF lung cells to mediate anomalous senescence-related metabolic mechanisms that support the fibrotic environment in IPF.
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12
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Korfei M, Mahavadi P, Guenther A. Targeting Histone Deacetylases in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Future Therapeutic Option. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101626. [PMID: 35626663 PMCID: PMC9139813 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease with limited therapeutic options, and there is a huge unmet need for new therapies. A growing body of evidence suggests that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family of transcriptional corepressors has emerged as crucial mediators of IPF pathogenesis. HDACs deacetylate histones and result in chromatin condensation and epigenetic repression of gene transcription. HDACs also catalyse the deacetylation of many non-histone proteins, including transcription factors, thus also leading to changes in the transcriptome and cellular signalling. Increased HDAC expression is associated with cell proliferation, cell growth and anti-apoptosis and is, thus, a salient feature of many cancers. In IPF, induction and abnormal upregulation of Class I and Class II HDAC enzymes in myofibroblast foci, as well as aberrant bronchiolar epithelium, is an eminent observation, whereas type-II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) of IPF lungs indicate a significant depletion of many HDACs. We thus suggest that the significant imbalance of HDAC activity in IPF lungs, with a “cancer-like” increase in fibroblastic and bronchial cells versus a lack in AECII, promotes and perpetuates fibrosis. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which Class I and Class II HDACs mediate fibrogenesis and on the mechanisms by which various HDAC inhibitors reverse the deregulated epigenetic responses in IPF, supporting HDAC inhibition as promising IPF therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Korfei
- Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (P.M.); (A.G.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), D-35392 Giessen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-641-9942425; Fax: +49-641-9942429
| | - Poornima Mahavadi
- Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (P.M.); (A.G.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Guenther
- Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; (P.M.); (A.G.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), D-35392 Giessen, Germany
- Lung Clinic, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Mittelhessen, D-35398 Giessen, Germany
- European IPF Registry and Biobank, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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13
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Molecular pathways and role of epigenetics in the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Life Sci 2022; 291:120283. [PMID: 34998839 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with unknown etiological factors that can progress to other dangerous diseases like lung cancer. Environmental and genetic predisposition are the two major etiological or risk factors involved in the pathology of the IPF. Among the environmental risk factors, smoking is one of the major causes for the development of IPF. Epigenetic pathways like nucleosomes remodeling, DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA mediated genes play a crucial role in development of IPF. Mutations in the genes make the epigenetic factors as important drug targets in IPF. Transcriptional changes due to environmental factors are also involved in the progression of IPF. The mutations in human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) have shown decreased life expectancy in IPF patients. The TERT-gene is highly expressed in chronic smokers and makes the role of epigenetics evident. Drug like nintedanib acts through vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR), while drug pirfenidone acts through transforming growth factor (TGF), which is useful in IPF. Gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of EGFR, is useful as an anti-fibrosis agent in preclinical models. Newer drugs such as Celgene-CC90001 and FibroGen-FG-3019 are currently under investigations acts through the modulating epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, the study on epigenetics opens a wide window for the discovery of newer drugs. This study provides an elementary analysis of multiple regulators of epigenetics and their roles associated with the pathology of IPF. Further, this review also includes epigenetic drugs under development in preclinical and clinical stages.
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14
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Yanagihara T, Scallan C, Ask K, Kolb MR. Emerging therapeutic targets for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: preclinical progress and therapeutic implications. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:939-948. [PMID: 34784834 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.2006186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive lung disease with high associated morbidity and mortality. The therapeutic landscape has significantly changed in the last 20 years with two drugs currently approved that have demonstrated the ability to slow disease progression. Despite these developments, survival in IPF is limited, so there is a major interest in therapeutic targets which could serve to open up new therapeutic avenues. AREAS COVERED We review the most recent information regarding drug targets and therapies currently being investigated in preclinical and early-stage clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION The complex pathogenesis of IPF and variability in disease course and response to therapy highlights the importance of a precision approach to therapy. Novel technologies including transcriptomics and the use of serum biomarkers, will become essential tools to guide future drug development and therapeutic decision making particularly as it pertains to combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ciaran Scallan
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, 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
| | - 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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15
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Antoniou KM, Tsitoura E, Vasarmidi E, Symvoulakis EK, Aidinis V, Tzilas V, Tzouvelekis A, Bouros D. Precision medicine in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy: From translational research to patient-centered care. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2021; 57:71-80. [PMID: 33556824 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible fibrotic chronic lung disease affecting predominantly older adults, with a history of smoking. The current model of disease natural course is that recurrent injury of the alveolar epithelium in the context of advanced aging/cellular senescence is followed by defective re-epithelialization and scar tissue formation. Currently, two drugs, nintedanib and pirfenidone, that modify disease progression have been approved worldwide for the treatment of IPF. However, despite treatment, patients with IPF are not cured, and eventually, disease advances in most treated patients. Enhancing biogenomic and metabolic research output, its translation into clinical precision and optimal service delivery through patient-centeredness are key elements to support effective IPF care. In this review, we summarize therapeutic options currently investigated for IPF based on the major pathogenetic pathways and molecular targets that drive pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina M Antoniou
- Molecular & Cellular Pneumonology Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece.
| | - Eliza Tsitoura
- Molecular & Cellular Pneumonology Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece
| | - Eirini Vasarmidi
- Molecular & Cellular Pneumonology Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece
| | | | - Vassilis Aidinis
- Division of Immunology, Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis Tzilas
- Center for Diseases of the Chest, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Demosthenes Bouros
- Center for Diseases of the Chest, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece; Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
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16
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Role of various imbalances centered on alveolar epithelial cell/fibroblast apoptosis imbalance in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chin Med J (Engl) 2021; 134:261-274. [PMID: 33522725 PMCID: PMC7846426 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000001288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been recent extensive studies and rapid advancement on the pathogenesis underlying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and intricate pathogenesis of IPF has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to clarify the logical relationship between these mechanisms. An extensive search was undertaken of the PubMed using the following keywords: “etiology,” “pathogenesis,” “alveolar epithelial cell (AEC),” “fibroblast,” “lymphocyte,” “macrophage,” “epigenomics,” “histone,” acetylation,” “methylation,” “endoplasmic reticulum stress,” “mitochondrial dysfunction,” “telomerase,” “proteases,” “plasminogen,” “epithelial-mesenchymal transition,” “oxidative stress,” “inflammation,” “apoptosis,” and “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.” This search covered relevant research articles published up to April 30, 2020. Original articles, reviews, and other articles were searched and reviewed for content; 240 highly relevant studies were obtained after screening. IPF is likely the result of complex interactions between environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors: environmental exposures affect epigenetic marks; epigenetic processes translate environmental exposures into the regulation of chromatin; epigenetic processes shape gene expression profiles; in turn, an individual's genetic background determines epigenetic marks; finally, these genetic and epigenetic factors act in concert to dysregulate gene expression in IPF lung tissue. The pathogenesis of IPF involves various imbalances including endoplasmic reticulum, telomere length homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, Th1/Th2 imbalance, M1–M2 polarization of macrophages, protease/antiprotease imbalance, and plasminogen activation/inhibition imbalance. These affect each other, promote each other, and ultimately promote AEC/fibroblast apoptosis imbalance directly or indirectly. Excessive AEC apoptosis and impaired apoptosis of fibroblasts contribute to fibrosis. IPF is likely the result of complex interactions between environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. The pathogenesis of IPF involves various imbalances centered on AEC/fibroblast apoptosis imbalance.
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17
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Agarwal M, Goheen M, Jia S, Ling S, White ES, Kim KK. Type I Collagen Signaling Regulates Opposing Fibrotic Pathways through α 2β 1 Integrin. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 63:613-622. [PMID: 32692932 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0150oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterized by fibroblast activation, leading to matrix remodeling culminating in a stiff, type I collagen-rich fibrotic matrix. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis is also a major feature of fibrogenesis, and AEC apoptosis is sufficient to initiate a robust lung fibrotic response. TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) is a major driver of fibrosis and can induce both AEC apoptosis and fibroblast activation. We and others have previously shown that changes in extracellular matrix stiffness and composition can regulate the cellular response to TGF-β. In the present study, we find that type I collagen signaling promotes TGF-β-mediated fibroblast activation and inhibits TGF-β-induced AEC death. Fibroblasts cultured on type I collagen or fibrotic decellularized lung matrix had augmented activation in response to TGF-β, whereas AECs on cultured on type I collagen or fibrotic lung matrix were more resistant to TGF-β-induced apoptosis. Both of these responses were mediated by integrin α2β1, a major collagen receptor. AECs treated with an α2 integrin inhibitor or with deletion of α2 integrin had loss of collagen-mediated protection from apoptosis. We found that mice with fibroblast-specific deletion of α2 integrin were protected from fibrosis whereas mice with AEC-specific deletion of α2 integrin had more lung injury and a greater fibrotic response to bleomycin. Intrapulmonary delivery of an α2 integrin-activating collagen peptide inhibited AEC apoptosis in vitro and in vivo and attenuated the fibrotic response. These studies underscore the need for a thorough understanding of the divergent response to matrix signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Agarwal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mitchell Goheen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shijing Jia
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Song Ling
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Eric S White
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kevin K Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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18
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Effect of SIS3 on Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Repair in a Lipopolysaccharide-Induced ARDS Rat Model. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:6644687. [PMID: 33294466 PMCID: PMC7714568 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6644687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the parenchyma plays an important role in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a disease characterized by lung injury. Although it is clear that TGF-β1 can modulate the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through intracellular signaling molecules such as Smad3, its role as a therapeutic target against ARDS remains unknown. In this study, a rat model was established to mimic ARDS via intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A selective inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) was intraperitoneally injected into the disease model, while phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was used in the control group. Animal tissues were then evaluated using histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, ELISA, and western blotting. LPS was found to stimulate the expression of RAGE, TGF-β1, MMP2, and MMP9 in the rat model. Moreover, treatment with SIS3 was observed to reverse the expression of these molecules. In addition, pretreatment with SIS3 was shown to partially inhibit the phosphorylation of Smad3 and alleviate symptoms including lung injury and pulmonary edema. These findings indicate that SIS3, or the blocking of TGF-β/Smad3 pathways, could influence remodeling of the ECM and this may serve as a therapeutic strategy against ARDS.
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19
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Atabai K, Yang CD, Podolsky MJ. You Say You Want a Resolution (of Fibrosis). Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 63:424-435. [PMID: 32640171 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0182tr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In pathological fibrosis, aberrant tissue remodeling with excess extracellular matrix leads to organ dysfunction and eventual morbidity. Diseases of fibrosis create significant global health and economic burdens and are often deadly. Although fibrosis has traditionally been thought of as an irreversible process, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that organ fibrosis can reverse in certain circumstances, especially if an underlying cause of injury can be removed. This body of evidence has uncovered more and more contributors to persistent and nonresolving tissue fibrosis. Here, we review the present knowledge on resolution of organ fibrosis and restoration of near-normal tissue architecture. We emphasize three critical areas of tissue homeostasis that are necessary for fibrosis resolution, namely, the elimination of matrix-producing cells, the clearance of excess matrix, and the regeneration of normal tissue constituents. In so doing, we also highlight how profibrotic pathways interact with one another and where there may be therapeutic opportunities to intervene and remediate pathological persistent fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Atabai
- Cardiovascular Research Institute.,Lung Biology Center, and.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Michael J Podolsky
- Cardiovascular Research Institute.,Lung Biology Center, and.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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20
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Bleomycin induced apical-basal polarity loss in alveolar epithelial cell contributes to experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Exp Cell Res 2020; 396:112295. [PMID: 32971116 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112295] [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: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal fibrosing interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options and a median survival of 3 years after diagnosis. Dysregulated epithelial regeneration is key event involved in initiating and sustaining IPF. The type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECIIs) play a crucial role for epithelial regeneration and stabilisation of alveoli. Loss of cell apical-basal polarity contributes to fibrosis. AECII has apical-basal polarity, but it is poorly understood whether AECII apical-basal polarity loss is involved in fibrosis. Bleomycin is a traditional inducer of pulmonary fibrosis. Here firstly we observed that bleomycin induced apical-basal polarity loss in cultured AECIIs. Next, cell polarity proteins lethal (2) giant larvae 1 (Lgl1), PAR-3A, aPKC and PAR-6B were investigated. We found bleomycin induced increases of Lgl1 protein and decreases of PAR-3A protein, and bleomycin-induced PAR-3A depression was mediated by increased-Lgl1. Then Lgl1 siRNA was transfected into AECIIs. Lgl1 siRNA prevented apical-basal polarity loss in bleomycin-treated AECIIs. At last, Lgl1-conditional knockout mice were applied in making animal models. Bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis, but this was attenuated in Lgl1-conditional knockout mice. Together, these data indicated that bleomycin mediated AECII apical-basal polarity loss which contributed to experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Inhibition of Lgl1 should be a potential therapeutic strategy for the disease.
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21
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Yang J, Agarwal M, Ling S, Teitz-Tennenbaum S, Zemans RL, Osterholzer JJ, Sisson TH, Kim KK. Diverse Injury Pathways Induce Alveolar Epithelial Cell CCL2/12, Which Promotes Lung Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 62:622-632. [PMID: 31922885 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0297oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that fibrosis is a multicellular process with contributions from alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), recruited monocytes/macrophages, and fibroblasts. We have previously shown that AEC injury is sufficient to induce fibrosis, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. Several cell types, including AECs, can produce CCL2 and CCL12, which can promote fibrosis through CCR2 activation. CCR2 signaling is critical for the initiation and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, in part through recruitment of profibrotic bone marrow-derived monocytes. Attempts at inhibiting CCL2 in patients with fibrosis demonstrated a marked upregulation of CCL2 production and no therapeutic response. To better understand the mechanisms involved in CCL2/CCR2 signaling, we generated mice with conditional deletion of CCL12, a murine homolog of human CCL2. Surprisingly, we found that mice with complete deletion of CCL12 had markedly increased concentrations of other CCR2 ligands and were not protected from fibrosis after bleomycin injury. In contrast, mice with lung epithelial cell-specific deletion of CCL12 were protected from bleomycin-induced fibrosis and had expression of CCL2 and CCL7 similar to that of control mice treated with bleomycin. Deletion of CCL12 within AECs led to decreased recruitment of exudate macrophages. Finally, injury to murine and human primary AECs resulted in increased production of CCL2 and CCL12, in part through activation of the mTOR pathway. In conclusion, these data suggest that targeting CCL2 may be a viable antifibrotic strategy once the pathways involved in the production and function of CCL2 and other CCR2 ligands are better defined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manisha Agarwal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
| | - Song Ling
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
| | - Seagal Teitz-Tennenbaum
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and.,Pulmonary Section, Department of Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Rachel L Zemans
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
| | - John J Osterholzer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and.,Pulmonary Section, Department of Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Thomas H Sisson
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
| | - Kevin K Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
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22
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Deng Z, Fear MW, Suk Choi Y, Wood FM, Allahham A, Mutsaers SE, Prêle CM. The extracellular matrix and mechanotransduction in pulmonary fibrosis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 126:105802. [PMID: 32668329 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is characterised by excessive scarring in the lung which leads to compromised lung function, serious breathing problems and in some diseases, death. It includes several lung disorders with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) the most common and most severe. Pulmonary fibrosis is considered to be perpetuated by aberrant wound healing which leads to fibroblast accumulation, differentiation and activation, and deposition of excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, in particular, collagen. Recent studies have identified the importance of changes in the composition and structure of lung ECM during the development of pulmonary fibrosis and the interaction between ECM and lung cells. There is strong evidence that increased matrix stiffness induces changes in cell function including proliferation, migration, differentiation and activation. Understanding how changes in the ECM microenvironment influence cell behaviour during fibrogenesis, and the mechanisms regulating these changes, will provide insight for developing new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Deng
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Mark W Fear
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia; Institute for Respiratory Health, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Yu Suk Choi
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Fiona M Wood
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia; Burns Service of Western Australia, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Amira Allahham
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Steven E Mutsaers
- Institute for Respiratory Health, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Centre for Respiratory Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Cecilia M Prêle
- Institute for Respiratory Health, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Centre for Respiratory Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
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23
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Stojanović SD, Fuchs M, Fiedler J, Xiao K, Meinecke A, Just A, Pich A, Thum T, Kunz M. Comprehensive Bioinformatics Identifies Key microRNA Players in ATG7-Deficient Lung Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4126. [PMID: 32527064 PMCID: PMC7312768 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficient autophagy has been recently implicated as a driver of pulmonary fibrosis, yet bioinformatics approaches to study this cellular process are lacking. Autophagy-related 5 and 7 (ATG5/ATG7) are critical elements of macro-autophagy. However, an alternative ATG5/ATG7-independent macro-autophagy pathway was recently discovered, its regulation being unknown. Using a bioinformatics proteome profiling analysis of ATG7-deficient human fibroblasts, we aimed to identify key microRNA (miR) regulators in autophagy. METHOD We have generated ATG7-knockout MRC-5 fibroblasts and performed mass spectrometry to generate a large-scale proteomics dataset. We further quantified the interactions between various proteins combining bioinformatics molecular network reconstruction and functional enrichment analysis. The predicted key regulatory miRs were validated via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The functional enrichment analysis of the 26 deregulated proteins showed decreased cellular trafficking, increased mitophagy and senescence as the major overarching processes in ATG7-deficient lung fibroblasts. The 26 proteins reconstitute a protein interactome of 46 nodes and miR-regulated interactome of 834 nodes. The miR network shows three functional cluster modules around miR-16-5p, miR-17-5p and let-7a related to multiple deregulated proteins. Confirming these results in a biological setting, serially passaged wild-type and autophagy-deficient fibroblasts displayed senescence-dependent expression profiles of miR-16-5p and miR-17-5p. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a bioinformatics proteome profiling approach that successfully identifies biologically relevant miR regulators from a proteomics dataset of the ATG-7-deficient milieu in lung fibroblasts, and thus may be used to elucidate key molecular players in complex fibrotic pathological processes. The approach is not limited to a specific cell-type and disease, thus highlighting its high relevance in proteome and non-coding RNA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stevan D. Stojanović
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Maximilian Fuchs
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
- Functional Genomics and Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Jan Fiedler
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Ke Xiao
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Anna Meinecke
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Annette Just
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
| | - Andreas Pich
- Institute of Toxicology and Core Unit Proteomics, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Thomas Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.D.S.); (J.F.); (K.X.); (A.M.); (A.J.)
- REBIRTH Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Meik Kunz
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
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24
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Jieming G, Liu C, Yang Y, Mo S, Yang X, Wang J. Inhibitory effects of msFGFR2c on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of AE2 cells in pulmonary fibrosis. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:1061-1070. [PMID: 32130565 PMCID: PMC7211205 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02852-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In interstitial fibrosis, alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells fail to repair damaged epithelium. However, whether this dysfunction is related to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal pathway and how it affects the fibrotic process remains unclear. In our study, the medium of the human foetal lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5 (Med) can induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in AE2 cells, we also found that TGF-β in Med can induce FGF-2 and CTGF expression in AE2 cells. TGF-β or CTGF exposure trigger a FGFR2 subtype b to c transition which can be supressed by siRNA-CTGF. All together, since FGFR2IIIc have the highest affinity with FGF-2 in all of the FGFRs, we indicate the activation of FGF2 signal pathway was induced by TGF-β, which is the key component of Med Here, we also find the inhibitory effect of msFGFR2c (S252W mutant of soluble FGFR2IIIc extracellular domain) on EMT of mouse primary AE2 cells in pulmonary fibrotic process. In a bleomycin-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis model, msFGFR2c alleviate pulmonary fibrosis and suppress the decrease in pro-SPC levels. Thus, msFGFR2c can inhibit EMT-induced fibrosis of AE2 cells via FGF-2 signal and AE2 cells is suggested to play an important role in the lung fibrotic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Jieming
- Tai Shan College, Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yin Yang
- Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shanyi Mo
- Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xuesong Yang
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Ju Wang
- Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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25
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Zhou J, Wu P, Sun H, Zhou H, Zhang Y, Xiao Z. Lung tissue extracellular matrix-derived hydrogels protect against radiation-induced lung injury by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:2377-2388. [PMID: 31490023 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine whether lung tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels have protective effects on radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). The cytocompatibility and histocompatibility were tested for the obtained ECM-derived hydrogel. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 18): control group (control); rats receiving irradiation and intratracheal injection of normal saline (IR + NS); and rats receiving irradiation and intratracheal injection of lung ECM-derived hydrogel (IR + ECM). The wet/dry weight ratio was used to evaluate the congestion and edema of the lungs. Histopathological analysis of lung tissues was performed using hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot analyses were carried out to determine the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in lung tissues (E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA], and vimentin). In addition, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), hydroxyproline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were also evaluated. The ECM-derived hydrogels had good cytocompatibility and histocompatibility. ECM-derived hydrogel treatment improved lung histopathology injury and pulmonary edema. Higher expression of E-cadherin and lower expression of vimentin and α-SMA were found in the IR + ECM group compared with those in the IR + NS group. Hydroxyproline levels were reduced by ECM-derived hydrogel treatment compared with those in the IR + NS group. Obvious increases of TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-β1 were identified following irradiation. Marked reductions in MDA content and increases in SOD were induced by ECM-derived hydrogel treatment in rats after radiation. ECM-derived hydrogels were shown to protect against RILI, potentially by reducing EMT, inflammation, and oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Pengfei Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Science City Hospital, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongyu Sun
- Department of Surgery Center, General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- Central Laboratory, General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenliang Xiao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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26
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Saito S, Alkhatib A, Kolls JK, Kondoh Y, Lasky JA. Pharmacotherapy and adjunctive treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). J Thorac Dis 2019; 11:S1740-S1754. [PMID: 31632751 PMCID: PMC6783717 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2019.04.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an advancing and fatal lung disease with increasing incidence and prevalence. Nintedanib and pirfenidone were approved by the FDA for the treatment of IPF in 2014 based on positive phase 3 trials, and both of these antifibrotic drugs are conditionally recommended in the 2015 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline. Although an improvement over previously suggested therapies, their capacity to reduce, but not completely arrest or improve, lung function over time presents an opportunity for novel or add-on pharmacologic agents. The purpose of this review is to deliver a brief overview of the results of phase 3/4 IPF trials with pirfenidone and nintedanib, as well as highlight encouraging results of phase 1/2 trials with novel therapies. Long-term studies indicate that pirfenidone and nintedanib are effective IPF treatments, with acceptable safety and tolerability. The combination of pirfenidone and nintedanib appear safe. Promising results have recently been made public for several phase 2 trials with novel targets, including the autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid (ATX/LPA) pathway, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), pentraxin-2, G protein-coupled receptor agonists/antagonists, αvβ6 integrin, and galectin-3. Results of treatments directed at gastro-esophageal reflux in patients with IPF have also been published. Currently, monotherapy with pirfenidone or nintedanib is the mainstay of pharmacological treatment for IPF. Innovative therapies along with combinations of pharmacological agents hold great promise for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yasuhiro Kondoh
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Tosei General Hospital, Seto, Aichi, Japan
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27
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Knipe RS, Probst CK, Lagares D, Franklin A, Spinney JJ, Brazee PL, Grasberger P, Zhang L, Black KE, Sakai N, Shea BS, Liao JK, Medoff BD, Tager AM. The Rho Kinase Isoforms ROCK1 and ROCK2 Each Contribute to the Development of Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 58:471-481. [PMID: 29211497 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0075oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is thought to result from dysregulated wound repair after repetitive lung injury. Many cellular responses to injury involve rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton mediated by the two isoforms of the Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK), ROCK1 and ROCK2. In addition, profibrotic mediators such as transforming growth factor-β, thrombin, and lysophosphatidic acid act through receptors that activate ROCK. Inhibition of ROCK activation may be a potent therapeutic strategy for human pulmonary fibrosis. Pharmacological inhibition of ROCK using nonselective ROCK inhibitors has been shown to prevent fibrosis in animal models; however, the specific roles of each ROCK isoform are poorly understood. Furthermore, the pleiotropic effects of this kinase have raised concerns about on-target adverse effects of ROCK inhibition such as hypotension. Selective inhibition of one isoform might be a better-tolerated strategy. In the present study, we used a genetic approach to determine the roles of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Using ROCK1- or ROCK2-haploinsufficient mice, we found that reduced expression of either ROCK1 or ROCK2 was sufficient to protect them from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, we found that both isoforms contribute to the profibrotic responses of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Interestingly, ROCK1- and ROCK2-haploinsufficient mice exhibited similar protection from bleomycin-induced vascular leak, myofibroblast differentiation, and fibrosis; however, ROCK1-haploinsufficient mice demonstrated greater attenuation of epithelial cell apoptosis. These findings suggest that selective inhibition of either ROCK isoform has the potential to be an effective therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Knipe
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Clemens K Probst
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David Lagares
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alicia Franklin
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jillian J Spinney
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patricia L Brazee
- 4 Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Paula Grasberger
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Linlin Zhang
- 5 Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Katharine E Black
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Norihiko Sakai
- 6 Division of Nephrology and.,7 Division of Blood Purification, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan; and
| | - Barry S Shea
- 8 Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - James K Liao
- 5 Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Benjamin D Medoff
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew M Tager
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.,2 The Andrew M. Tager Fibrosis Research Center, and.,3 Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Snijder J, Peraza J, Padilla M, Capaccione K, Salvatore MM. Pulmonary fibrosis: a disease of alveolar collapse and collagen deposition. Expert Rev Respir Med 2019; 13:615-619. [DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2019.1623028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Snijder
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jellyana Peraza
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Padilla
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen Capaccione
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary M. Salvatore
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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29
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Jia S, Agarwal M, Yang J, Horowitz JC, White ES, Kim KK. Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 Signaling Regulates Fibroblast Apoptosis through PDK1/Akt. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 59:295-305. [PMID: 29652518 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0419oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive fibrosis is a complication of many chronic diseases, and collectively, organ fibrosis is the leading cause of death in the United States. Fibrosis is characterized by accumulation of activated fibroblasts and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, especially type I collagen. Extensive research has supported a role for matrix signaling in propagating fibrosis, but type I collagen itself is often considered an end product of fibrosis rather than an important regulator of continued collagen deposition. Type I collagen can activate several cell surface receptors, including α2β1 integrin and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2). We have previously shown that mice deficient in type I collagen have reduced activation of DDR2 and reduced accumulation of activated myofibroblasts. In the present study, we found that DDR2-null mice are protected from fibrosis. Surprisingly, DDR2-null fibroblasts have a normal and possibly exaggerated activation response to transforming growth factor-β and do not have diminished proliferation compared with wild-type fibroblasts. DDR2-null fibroblasts are significantly more prone to apoptosis, in vitro and in vivo, than wild-type fibroblasts, supporting a paradigm in which fibroblast resistance to apoptosis is critical for progression of fibrosis. We have identified a novel molecular mechanism by which DDR2 can promote the activation of a PDK1 (3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase-1)/Akt survival pathway, and we have found that inhibition of PDK1 can augment fibroblast apoptosis. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that DDR2 expression is heavily skewed to mesenchymal cells compared with epithelial cells and that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cells and tissue demonstrate increased activation of DDR2 and PDK1. Collectively, these findings identify a promising target for fibrosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijing Jia
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and
| | - Manisha Agarwal
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and
| | - Jibing Yang
- 2 Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jeffrey C Horowitz
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and
| | - Eric S White
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and
| | - Kevin K Kim
- 1 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and
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30
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Abstract
Fibrosis is a dynamic process with the potential for reversibility and restoration of near-normal tissue architecture and organ function. Herein, we review mechanisms for resolution of organ fibrosis, in particular that involving the lung, with an emphasis on the critical roles of myofibroblast apoptosis and clearance of deposited matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Horowitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Victor J Thannickal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
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31
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Saito S, Zhuang Y, Suzuki T, Ota Y, Bateman ME, Alkhatib AL, Morris GF, Lasky JA. HDAC8 inhibition ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 316:L175-L186. [PMID: 30358439 PMCID: PMC6383499 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00551.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibroproliferative lung disease, and fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation (FMD) is thought to be a key event in the pathogenesis of IPF. Histone deacetylase-8 (HDAC8) has been shown to associate with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA; a marker of FMD) and regulates cell contractility in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the role of HDAC8 in FMD or pulmonary fibrosis has never been reported. This study investigated the role of HDAC8 in pulmonary fibrosis with a focus on FMD. We observed that HDAC8 expression was increased in IPF lung tissue as well as transforming growth factor (TGF)β1-treated normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs). Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that HDAC8 was associated with α-SMA in TGFβ1-treated NHLFs. HDAC8 inhibition with NCC170 (HDAC8-selective inhibitor) repressed TGFβ1-induced fibroblast contraction and α-SMA protein expression in NHLFs cultured in collagen gels. HDAC8 inhibition with HDAC8 siRNA also repressed TGFβ1-induced expression of profibrotic molecules such as fibronectin and increased expression of antifibrotic molecules such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). Chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR using an antibody against H3K27ac (histone H3 acetylated at lysine 27; a known HDAC8 substrate and a marker for active enhancers) suggested that HDAC8 inhibition with NCC170 ameliorated TGFβ1-induced loss of H3K27ac at the PPARγ gene enhancer. Furthermore, NCC170 treatment significantly decreased fibrosis measured by Ashcroft score as well as expression of type 1 collagen and fibronectin in bleomycin-treated mouse lungs. These data suggest that HDAC8 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis and that there is a therapeutic potential for HDAC8 inhibitors to treat IPF as well as other fibrotic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Saito
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
- Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center, Roadmap Scholars Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Yan Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto , Japan
| | - Yosuke Ota
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto , Japan
| | - Marjorie E Bateman
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Ala L Alkhatib
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Gilbert F Morris
- Department of Pathology, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Joseph A Lasky
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
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32
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Sato S, Yanagihara T, Kolb MRJ. Therapeutic targets and early stage clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018; 28:19-28. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1554054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seidai Sato
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Departments of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University,
Tokushima, Japan
| | - Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Departments of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin R. J. Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Departments of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada
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33
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Kim KK, Dotson MR, Agarwal M, Yang J, Bradley PB, Subbotina N, Osterholzer JJ, Sisson TH. Efferocytosis of apoptotic alveolar epithelial cells is sufficient to initiate lung fibrosis. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:1056. [PMID: 30333529 PMCID: PMC6193049 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Type II alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis is a prominent feature of fibrotic lung diseases and animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. While there is growing recognition of the importance of AEC injury and apoptosis as a causal factor in fibrosis, the underlying mechanisms that link these processes remain unknown. We have previously shown that targeting the type II alveolar epithelium for injury by repetitively administering diphtheria toxin to transgenic mice expressing the diphtheria toxin receptor off of the surfactant protein C promoter (SPC-DTR) develop lung fibrosis, confirming that AEC injury is sufficient to cause fibrosis. In the present study, we find that SPC-DTR mice develop increased activation of caspase 3/7 after initiation of diphtheria toxin treatment consistent with apoptosis within AECs. We also find evidence of efferocytosis, the uptake of apoptotic cells, by alveolar macrophages in this model. To determine the importance of efferocytosis in lung fibrosis, we treated cultured alveolar macrophages with apoptotic type II AECs and found that the uptake induced pro-fibrotic gene expression. We also found that the repetitive intrapulmonary administration of apoptotic type II AEC or MLE-12 cells induces lung fibrosis. Finally, mice lacking a key efferocytosis receptor, CD36, developed attenuated fibrosis in response to apoptotic MLE-12 cells. Collectively, these studies support a novel mechanism linking AEC apoptosis with macrophage pro-fibrotic activation via efferocytosis and reveal previously unrecognized therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Megan R Dotson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Manisha Agarwal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jibing Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Patrick B Bradley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Natalia Subbotina
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - John J Osterholzer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Thomas H Sisson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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34
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SIS3, a specific inhibitor of smad3, attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 503:757-762. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.06.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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35
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López-Ramírez C, Suarez Valdivia L, Rodríguez Portal JA. Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Elderly. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:medsci6030058. [PMID: 30042329 PMCID: PMC6164854 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6030058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and most lethal type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. It is a chronic, aging-associated lung disease characterized by fibrotic foci and inflammatory infiltrates, with no cure and very limited therapeutic options. Although its etiology is unknown, several pathogenic pathways have been described that could explain this process, involving aging, environmental factors, genomic instability, loss of proteostasis, telomere attrition, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, and altered intercellular communication. One of the main prognostic factors for the development of IPF in broad epidemiological studies is age. The incidence increases with age, making this a disease that predominantly affects the elderly population, being exceptional under 45 years of age. However, the degree to which each of these mechanisms is involved in the etiology of the uncontrolled fibrogenesis that defines IPF is still unknown. Clarifying these questions is crucial to the development of points of intervention in the pathogenesis of the disease. This review briefly summarizes what is known about each possible etiological factor, and the questions that most urgently need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia López-Ramírez
- Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lionel Suarez Valdivia
- Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Jose Antonio Rodríguez Portal
- Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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36
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van der Velden JL, Wagner DE, Lahue KG, Abdalla ST, Lam YW, Weiss DJ, Janssen-Heininger YMW. TGF-β1-induced deposition of provisional extracellular matrix by tracheal basal cells promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a c-Jun NH 2-terminal kinase-1-dependent manner. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2018; 314:L984-L997. [PMID: 29469614 PMCID: PMC6032072 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00053.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells have been suggested as potential drivers of lung fibrosis, although the epithelial-dependent pathways that promote fibrogenesis remain unknown. Extracellular matrix is increasingly recognized as an environment that can drive cellular responses in various pulmonary diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated mouse tracheal basal (MTB) cells produce provisional matrix proteins in vitro, which initiate mesenchymal changes in subsequently freshly plated MTB cells via Rho kinase- and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1)-dependent processes. Repopulation of decellularized lung scaffolds, derived from mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis or from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with wild-type MTB cells resulted in a loss of epithelial gene expression and augmentation of mesenchymal gene expression compared with cells seeded into decellularized normal lungs. In contrast, Jnk1-/- basal cells seeded into fibrotic lung scaffolds retained a robust epithelial expression profile, failed to induce mesenchymal genes, and differentiated into club cell secretory protein-expressing cells. This new paradigm wherein TGF-β1-induced extracellular matrix derived from MTB cells activates a JNK1-dependent mesenchymal program, which impedes subsequent normal epithelial cell homeostasis, provides a plausible scenario of chronic aberrant epithelial repair, thought to be critical in lung fibrogenesis. This study identifies JNK1 as a possible target for inhibition in settings wherein reepithelialization is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jos L van der Velden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
| | - Darcy E Wagner
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lung Bioengineering, and Regeneration, Lund University , Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University , Lund, Sweden
| | - Karolyn G Lahue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
| | - Sarah T Abdalla
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
| | - Ying-Wai Lam
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
- Vermont Genetics Networks Proteomics Facility, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
| | - Daniel J Weiss
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont , Burlington, Vermont
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37
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IL-13 induces periostin and eotaxin expression in human primary alveolar epithelial cells: Comparison with paired airway epithelial cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196256. [PMID: 29672593 PMCID: PMC5908159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar epithelial cells are critical to the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, which are associated with overexpression of type 2 cytokine IL-13. IL-13 is known to induce the production of profibrotic (e.g., periostin) and pro-inflammatory (e.g., eotaxin-3) mediators in human airway epithelial cells, but it remains unclear if human primary alveolar epithelial cells increase periostin and eotaxin expression following IL-13 stimulation. The goals of this study are to determine if alveolar epithelial cells increase periostin and eotaxin expression upon IL-13 stimulation, and if alveolar and airway epithelial cells from the same subjects have similar responses to IL-13. Paired alveolar and airway epithelial cells were isolated from donors without any lung disease, and cultured under submerged or air-liquid interface conditions with or without IL-13. Up-regulation of periostin protein and mRNA was observed in IL-13-stimulated alveolar epithelial cells, which was comparable to that in IL-13-stimulated paired airway epithelial cells. IL-13 also increased eotaxin-3 expression in alveolar epithelial cells, but the level of eotaxin mRNA was lower in alveolar epithelial cells than in airway epithelial cells. Our findings demonstrate that human alveolar epithelial cells are able to produce periostin and eotaxin in responses to IL-13 stimulation. This study suggests the need to further determine the contribution of alveolar epithelial cell-derived mediators to pulmonary fibrosis.
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38
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Kunzmann S, Krempl C, Seidenspinner S, Glaser K, Speer CP, Fehrholz M. Increase in CTGF mRNA expression by respiratory syncytial virus infection is abrogated by caffeine in lung epithelial cells. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2018; 12:662-666. [PMID: 29660819 PMCID: PMC6086851 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood. Underlying pathomechanisms of elevated pulmonary morbidity in later infancy are largely unknown. We found that RSV‐infected H441 cells showed increased mRNA expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a key factor in airway remodeling. Additional dexamethasone treatment led to further elevated mRNA levels, indicating additive effects. Caffeine treatment prevented RSV‐mediated increase in CTGF mRNA. RSV may be involved in airway remodeling processes by increasing CTGF mRNA expression. Caffeine might abrogate these negative effects and thereby help to restore lung homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Kunzmann
- Clinic of Neonatology, Buergerhospital Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,University Children's Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christine Krempl
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Kirsten Glaser
- University Children's Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christian P Speer
- University Children's Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Fehrholz
- University Children's Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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39
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Ohara Y, Chew SH, Misawa N, Wang S, Somiya D, Nakamura K, Kajiyama H, Kikkawa F, Tsuyuki Y, Jiang L, Yamashita K, Sekido Y, Lipson KE, Toyokuni S. Connective tissue growth factor-specific monoclonal antibody inhibits growth of malignant mesothelioma in an orthotopic mouse model. Oncotarget 2018; 9:18494-18509. [PMID: 29719620 PMCID: PMC5915087 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive neoplasm with no particularly effective treatments. We previously reported that overexpression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) promotes mesothelioma growth, thus suggesting it as a novel molecular target. A human monoclonal antibody that antagonizes CTGF (FG-3019, pamrevlumab) attenuates malignant properties of different kinds of human cancers and is currently under clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This study reports the effects of FG-3019 on human mesothelioma in vitro and in vivo. We analyzed the effects of FG-3019 on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration/invasion, adhesion and anchorage-independent growth in three human mesothelioma cell lines, among which ACC-MESO-4 was most efficiently blocked with FG-3019 and was chosen for in vivo experiments. We also evaluated the coexistent effects of fibroblasts on mesothelioma in vitro, which are also known to produce CTGF in various pathologic situations. Coexistent fibroblasts in transwell systems remarkably promoted the proliferation and migration/invasion of mesothelioma cells. In orthotopic nude mice model, FG-3019 significantly inhibited mesothelioma growth. Histological analyses revealed that FG-3019 not only inhibited the proliferation but also induced apoptosis in both mesothelioma cells and fibroblasts. Our data suggest that FG-3019 antibody therapy could be a novel additional choice for the treatment of mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Ohara
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shan Hwu Chew
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Misawa
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shenqi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Daiki Somiya
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kae Nakamura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yuta Tsuyuki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kyoko Yamashita
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Sekido
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya 464-8681, Japan
| | | | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
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40
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Wang J, Faiz A, Ge Q, Vermeulen CJ, Van der Velden J, Snibson KJ, van de Velde R, Sawant S, Xenaki D, Oliver B, Timens W, Ten Hacken N, van den Berge M, James A, Elliot JG, Dong L, Burgess JK, Ashton AW. Unique mechanisms of connective tissue growth factor regulation in airway smooth muscle in asthma: Relationship with airway remodelling. J Cell Mol Med 2018. [PMID: 29516637 PMCID: PMC5908101 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neovascularization, increased basal membrane thickness and increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) bulk are hallmarks of airway remodelling in asthma. In this study, we examined connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) dysregulation in human lung tissue and animal models of allergic airway disease. Immunohistochemistry revealed that ASM cells from patients with severe asthma (A) exhibited high expression of CTGF, compared to mild and non‐asthmatic (NA) tissues. This finding was replicated in a sheep model of allergic airways disease. In vitro, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β increased CTGF expression both in NA‐ and A‐ASM cells but the expression was higher in A‐ASM at both the mRNA and protein level as assessed by PCR and Western blot. Transfection of CTGF promoter‐luciferase reporter constructs into NA‐ and A‐ASM cells indicated that no region of the CTGF promoter (−1500 to +200 bp) displayed enhanced activity in the presence of TGF‐β. However, in silico analysis of the CTGF promoter suggested that distant transcription factor binding sites may influence CTGF promoter activation by TGF‐β in ASM cells. The discord between promoter activity and mRNA expression was also explained, in part, by differential post‐transcriptional regulation in A‐ASM cells due to enhanced mRNA stability for CTGF. In patients, higher CTGF gene expression in bronchial biopsies was correlated with increased basement membrane thickness indicating that the enhanced CTGF expression in A‐ASM may contribute to airway remodelling in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfei Wang
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alen Faiz
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qi Ge
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cornelis J Vermeulen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne Van der Velden
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Kenneth J Snibson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Rob van de Velde
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sonia Sawant
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dikaia Xenaki
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brian Oliver
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wim Timens
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nick Ten Hacken
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten van den Berge
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alan James
- Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - John G Elliot
- Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Janette K Burgess
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC (Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD), Groningen, The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony W Ashton
- Division of Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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41
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Giacomelli C, Daniele S, Romei C, Tavanti L, Neri T, Piano I, Celi A, Martini C, Trincavelli ML. The A 2B Adenosine Receptor Modulates the Epithelial- Mesenchymal Transition through the Balance of cAMP/PKA and MAPK/ERK Pathway Activation in Human Epithelial Lung Cells. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:54. [PMID: 29445342 PMCID: PMC5797802 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process in which cell phenotype switches from the epithelial to mesenchymal one. The deregulations of this process have been related with the occurrence of different diseases such as lung cancer and fibrosis. In the last decade, several efforts have been devoted in understanding the mechanisms that trigger and sustain this transition process. Adenosine is a purinergic signaling molecule that has been involved in the onset and progression of chronic lung diseases and cancer through the A2B adenosine receptor subtype activation, too. However, the relationship between A2BAR and EMT has not been investigated, yet. Herein, the A2BAR characterization was carried out in human epithelial lung cells. Moreover, the effects of receptor activation on EMT were investigated in the absence and presence of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1), which has been known to promote the transition. The A2BAR activation alone decreased and increased the expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin) and the mesenchymal one (Vimentin, N-cadherin), respectively, nevertheless a complete EMT was not observed. Surprisingly, the receptor activation counteracted the EMT induced by TGF-β1. Several intracellular pathways regulate the EMT: high levels of cAMP and ERK1/2 phosphorylation has been demonstrated to counteract and promote the transition, respectively. The A2BAR stimulation was able to modulated these two pathways, cAMP/PKA and MAPK/ERK, shifting the fine balance toward activation or inhibition of EMT. In fact, using a selective PKA inhibitor, which blocks the cAMP pathway, the A2BAR-mediated EMT promotion were exacerbated, and conversely the selective inhibition of MAPK/ERK counteracted the receptor-induced transition. These results highlighted the A2BAR as one of the receptors involved in the modulation of EMT process. Nevertheless, its activation is not enough to trigger a complete transition, its ability to affect different intracellular pathways could represent a mechanism at the basis of EMT maintenance/inhibition based on the extracellular microenvironment. Despite further investigations are needed, herein for the first time the A2BAR has been related to the EMT process, and therefore to the different EMT-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chiara Romei
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Radiology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Tavanti
- Pneumology Unit, Cardio-Thoracic Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tommaso Neri
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Piano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Celi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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42
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He MY, Wang G, Han SS, Li K, Jin Y, Liu M, Si ZP, Wang J, Liu GS, Yang X. Negative impact of hyperglycaemia on mouse alveolar development. Cell Cycle 2017; 17:80-91. [PMID: 29143549 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1403683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy has been known to affect the embryonic development of various systems, including cardiovascular and nervous systems. However, whether this disease could have a negative impact on embryonic respiratory system remains controversial. In this study, we demonstrated that pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM)-induced defects in lung development in mice are mainly characterized by the changes in the morphological structure of the lung. Immunostaining and Western blotting showed that proliferation increased and apoptosis decreased in PGDM. Hyperglycaemia caused pulmonary tissue fibrationas manifested by an increase in Masson staining and decorin expression in PGDM lungs, and the immunofluorescent pro-SPC+ type II pulmonary epithelial cell number was decreased. The alteration of pulmonary epithelial cell differentiation might be due to hyperglycaemia-activated Wnt signalling and suppressed GATA6 expression in PGDM mouse lung tissues and MLE-12 cells. The treatment of MLE-12 cells with high glucose in the presence/absence of XAV939 or su5402 further proved that hyperglycaemia suppressed the expression of GATA6 and pro-SPC by activating Wnt signalling and induced the expression of decorin, α-SMA and TGF-β by activating Fgf signalling. Therefore, in this study, we revealed that hyperglycemia induced dysfunctional pulmonary cell apoptosis and proliferation, as well as pulmonary myofibroblast hyperplasia, which contributed to the formation of aberrant structure of alveolar walls. Furthermore, the hyperglycaemia also inhibited the differentiation of pulmonary epithelial cells through the canonical Wnt and Fgf signalling, and the alteration of Fgf and Wnt signalling activated TGF-β, which would promote the AECII EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Yao He
- a Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology , Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine ; The First Affiliated Hospital , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510630 , China
| | - Guang Wang
- b Division of Histology & Embryology , Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education , Medical College , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Sha-Sha Han
- a Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology , Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine ; The First Affiliated Hospital , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510630 , China
| | - Ke Li
- b Division of Histology & Embryology , Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education , Medical College , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Ya Jin
- a Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology , Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine ; The First Affiliated Hospital , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510630 , China
| | - Meng Liu
- b Division of Histology & Embryology , Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education , Medical College , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Zhen-Peng Si
- a Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology , Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine ; The First Affiliated Hospital , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510630 , China
| | - Ju Wang
- c Institute of Biomedicine , National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Guo-Sheng Liu
- a Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology , Institute of Fetal-Preterm Labor Medicine ; The First Affiliated Hospital , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510630 , China
| | - Xuesong Yang
- b Division of Histology & Embryology , Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education , Medical College , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
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43
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Kolb M, Bonella F, Wollin L. Therapeutic targets in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respir Med 2017; 131:49-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2017.07.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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44
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Sakai N, Nakamura M, Lipson KE, Miyake T, Kamikawa Y, Sagara A, Shinozaki Y, Kitajima S, Toyama T, Hara A, Iwata Y, Shimizu M, Furuichi K, Kaneko S, Tager AM, Wada T. Inhibition of CTGF ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis through suppression of fibroblast and myofibroblast accumulation and angiogenesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5392. [PMID: 28710437 PMCID: PMC5511333 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05624-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is a serious complication in various clinical settings, but the mechanisms driving it remain to be fully determined. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is known to regulate fibroblast activities. We therefore examined if CTGF inhibition has anti-fibrotic effects in PF. PF was induced by repetitive intraperitoneal injections of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) in mice with type I pro-collagen promoter-driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression to identify fibroblasts. FG-3019, an anti-CTGF monoclonal antibody, was used to inhibit CTGF. CG-induced PF was significantly attenuated in FG-3019-treated mice. CG challenges induced marked accumulations of proliferating fibroblasts and of myofibroblasts, which were both reduced by FG-3019. Levels of peritoneal CTGF expression were increased by CG challenges, and suppressed in FG-3019-treated mice. FG-3019 treatment also reduced the number of CD31+ vessels and VEGF-A-positive cells in fibrotic peritoneum. In vitro studies using NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) showed that CTGF blockade suppressed TGF-β1-induced fibroblast proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation, PMC mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and VEGF-A production. These findings suggest that the inhibition of CTGF by FG-3019 might be a novel treatment for PF through the regulation of fibroblast and myofibroblast accumulation and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Sakai
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan. .,Division of Blood Purification, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
| | - Miki Nakamura
- Department of Nephrology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | | | - Taito Miyake
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Kamikawa
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Akihiro Sagara
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Shinozaki
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Shinji Kitajima
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Tadashi Toyama
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Akinori Hara
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Yasunori Iwata
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Miho Shimizu
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Kengo Furuichi
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.,Division of Blood Purification, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of System Biology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Andrew M Tager
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Takashi Wada
- Division of Nephrology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.,Department of Nephrology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
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45
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Huang X, Wang W, Yuan H, Sun J, Li L, Wu X, Luo J, Gu Y. Sunitinib, a Small-Molecule Kinase Inhibitor, Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2017; 239:251-61. [PMID: 27439438 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.239.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and ultimately fatal disease, characterized by excessive accumulation of fibroblasts, extensive deposition of extracellular matrix, and destruction of alveolar architecture. IPF is associated with an epithelial-dependent fibroblast-activated process, termed the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, there is still a lack of strategies to target EMT for the treatment of IPF. Sunitinib, a small-molecule multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, targets multiple kinases that may play an important role in developing pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we explored the therapeutic potential of sunitinib using a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Mice received intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM). Then, the mice were intragastrically administrated with sunitinib or normal saline until the end of the experiment. Distinguished destruction of pulmonary architecture, conspicuous proliferation of fibroblasts and extensive deposition of collagen fibers were found in BLM mice. Sunitinib attenuated the pulmonary fibrosis and inhibited the accumulation of fibroblasts in the lung of BLM mice. To investigate if the inhibition of fibroblast accumulation in the lung by sunitinib was associated with EMT, we used human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEs) and W138 human lung fibroblasts. Sunitinib suppressed the degree of EMT induced by TGF-β, a profibrotic factor, in HBEs and the proliferation of WI38 fibroblasts. Moreover, sunitinib reduced the degree of phosphorylation of serine residues on Smad2/3 that was induced by TGF-β in HBEs. As EMT and accumulation of fibroblasts are critical for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, targeting multiple pro-fibrosis signaling pathways with sunitinib may be a novel strategy to treat pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
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Cong X, Hubmayr RD, Li C, Zhao X. Plasma membrane wounding and repair in pulmonary diseases. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 312:L371-L391. [PMID: 28062486 PMCID: PMC5374305 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00486.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Various pathophysiological conditions such as surfactant dysfunction, mechanical ventilation, inflammation, pathogen products, environmental exposures, and gastric acid aspiration stress lung cells, and the compromise of plasma membranes occurs as a result. The mechanisms necessary for cells to repair plasma membrane defects have been extensively investigated in the last two decades, and some of these key repair mechanisms are also shown to occur following lung cell injury. Because it was theorized that lung wounding and repair are involved in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in this review, we summarized the experimental evidence of lung cell injury in these two devastating syndromes and discuss relevant genetic, physical, and biological injury mechanisms, as well as mechanisms used by lung cells for cell survival and membrane repair. Finally, we discuss relevant signaling pathways that may be activated by chronic or repeated lung cell injury as an extension of our cell injury and repair focus in this review. We hope that a holistic view of injurious stimuli relevant for ARDS and IPF could lead to updated experimental models. In addition, parallel discussion of membrane repair mechanisms in lung cells and injury-activated signaling pathways would encourage research to bridge gaps in current knowledge. Indeed, deep understanding of lung cell wounding and repair, and discovery of relevant repair moieties for lung cells, should inspire the development of new therapies that are likely preventive and broadly effective for targeting injurious pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Cong
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Rolf D Hubmayr
- Emerius, Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and
| | - Changgong Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia;
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47
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Periostin regulates fibrocyte function to promote myofibroblast differentiation and lung fibrosis. Mucosal Immunol 2017; 10:341-351. [PMID: 27435108 PMCID: PMC5250615 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2016.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibrocytes are circulating mesenchymal precursors (CD45+, col 1+) recruited to fibrotic areas. Fibrocytes secrete profibrotic mediators including periostin; a matricellular protein that regulates cellular interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) components. In bleomycin-induced fibrosis, periostin deficiency in structural or hematopoietic cells limits development of pulmonary fibrosis. To determine if hematopoietic-derived fibrocytes might secrete soluble factors to activate structural myofibroblast differentiation, wild-type (WT) fibroblasts were treated with conditioned medium from fibrocytes isolated from bleomycin-treated WT or periostin-/- mice. After 24 h we saw less α-smooth muscle actin expression in cells treated with conditioned medium from periostin-/- fibrocytes. Adoptive transfer of WT fibrocytes augmented lung fibrosis to a greater extent than transfer of fibrocytes from periostin-/- mice. In vitro analysis of fibrocytes and fibroblasts isolated from WT and periostin-/- mice treated with TGFβ1 or periostin demonstrated co-regulation of mesenchymal activation and beta 1 integrin as a potential receptor for periostin on fibrocytes. Additionally, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA expression was increased in fibrocytes treated with periostin whereas CTGF and lysl oxidase (LOX) mRNA expression was low in bleomycin-treated periostin-/- fibrocytes. These data suggest fibrocytes may augment bleomycin-induced fibrosis via secretion of periostin and other soluble factors that promote myofibroblast differentiation.
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48
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Knudsen L, Ruppert C, Ochs M. Tissue remodelling in pulmonary fibrosis. Cell Tissue Res 2016; 367:607-626. [PMID: 27981380 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-016-2543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many lung diseases result in fibrotic remodelling. Fibrotic lung disorders can be divided into diseases with known and unknown aetiology. Among those with unknown aetiology, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common diagnosis. Because of its progressive character leading to a rapid decline in lung function, it is a fatal disease with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Thus, IPF has motivated many studies in the last few decades in order to increase our mechanistic understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. The current concept suggests an ongoing injury of the alveolar epithelium, an impaired regeneration capacity, alveolar collapse and, finally, a fibroproliferative response. The origin of lung injury remains elusive but a diversity of factors, which will be discussed in this article, has been shown to be associated with IPF. Alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells play a key role in lung fibrosis and their crucial role for epithelial regeneration, stabilisation of alveoli and interaction with fibroblasts, all known to be responsible for collagen deposition, will be illustrated. Whereas mechanisms of collagen deposition and fibroproliferation are the focus of many studies in the field, the awareness of other mechanisms in this disease is currently limited to biochemical and imaging studies including quantitative assessments of lung structure in IPF and animal models assigning alveolar collapse and collapse induration crucial roles for the degradation of the lung resulting in de-aeration and loss of surface area. Dysfunctional AE2 cells, instable alveoli and mechanical stress trigger remodelling that consists of collapsed alveoli absorbed by fibrotic tissue (i.e., collapse induration).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Knudsen
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. .,REBIRTH, Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Clemens Ruppert
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Universities of Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Matthias Ochs
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH, Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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49
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Lin CH, Wang YH, Chen YW, Lin YL, Chen BC, Chen MC. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of CXCL8/IL-8 gene expression induced by connective tissue growth factor. Immunol Res 2016; 64:369-84. [PMID: 26071024 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-015-8670-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a CCN family member, is a secreted protein regulating cellular functions, including fibrosis, apoptosis, adhesion, migration, differentiation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and chondrogenesis. CTGF increases proinflammatory factor production; however, inflammatory cytokine regulation by CTGF is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify novel biological functions and elucidate the functional mechanisms of CTGF. Specifically, the study focused on the ability of CTGF-primed monocytes to secrete interleukin 8 (CXCL8/IL-8) and determined the signaling pathways involved in CTGF-induced CXCL8/IL-8 gene regulation during inflammation. We transfected wild-type or mutant CXCL8/IL-8 promoter-derived luciferase reporter constructs into 293T cells to examine the effect of CTGF on the CXCL8/IL-8 promoter. The results showed that the activator protein-1 and nuclear factor κB binding sites of the CXCL8/IL-8 promoter are essential for CTGF-induced CXCL8/IL-8 transcription. Moreover, the CTGF-induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is involved in this process. In addition, adenosine-uridine-rich elements (AREs) of the CXCL8/IL-8 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) reduce CXCL8/IL-8 mRNA stability. To investigate whether CTGF regulates CXCL8/IL-8 gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, we transfected 293 cells with serial luciferase constructs containing different segments of the CXCL8/IL-8 3'-UTR and then stimulated the cells with CTGF. The results suggested that CTGF stabilized luciferase mRNA and increased luciferase activity by regulating the CXCL8/IL-8 3'-UTR. Moreover, the p38 MAPK pathway may contribute to CTGF-induced CXCL8/IL-8 mRNA stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Huang Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Hung Wang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Liang Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Chang Chen
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Chieh Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
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50
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Kim KK, Sisson TH, Horowitz JC. Fibroblast growth factors and pulmonary fibrosis: it's more complex than it sounds. J Pathol 2016; 241:6-9. [PMID: 27757968 DOI: 10.1002/path.4825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lung fibrosis results from the cumulative effect of dysfunctional wound repair involving multiple cell types, including fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and macrophages responding to an array of soluble and matrix-mediated stimuli. Recent studies have shown that a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets FGF, VEGF, and PDGF receptors can slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, each of these growth factor families is comprised of multiple ligands and receptors with pleiotropic activities on different cell types such that their broad inhibition might have both pro-fibrotic and anti-fibrotic effects, limiting the potential therapeutic efficacy. Continued investigation and delineation of specific roles of individual proteins and receptors on different cell types hold promise for targeting specific pathways with precision and optimizing the potential efficacy of future approaches to lung fibrosis therapy. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 6303 MSRB 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5642, USA
| | - Thomas H Sisson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 6303 MSRB 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5642, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Horowitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 6303 MSRB 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5642, USA
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