1
|
Zhou H, Zhang Q, Liu C, Fan J, Huang W, Li N, Yang M, Wang H, Xie W, Kong H. NLRP3 inflammasome mediates abnormal epithelial regeneration and distal lung remodeling in silica‑induced lung fibrosis. Int J Mol Med 2024; 53:25. [PMID: 38240085 PMCID: PMC10836498 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5349] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is closely related to silica particle‑induced chronic lung inflammation but its role in epithelial remodeling, repair and regeneration in the distal lung during development of silicosis remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on epithelial remodeling and cellular regeneration and potential mechanisms in the distal lung of silica‑treated mice at three time points. Pulmonary function assessment, inflammatory cell counting, enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay, histological and immunological analyses, hydroxyproline assay and western blotting were used in the study. Single intratracheal instillation of a silica suspension caused sustained NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the distal lung. Moreover, a time‑dependent increase in airway resistance and a decrease in lung compliance accompanied progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In the terminal bronchiole, lung remodeling including pyroptosis (membrane‑distributed GSDMD+), excessive proliferation (Ki67+), mucus overproduction (mucin 5 subtype AC and B) and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (decreased E‑Cadherin+ and increased Vimentin+), was observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Notably, aberrant spatiotemporal expression of the embryonic lung stem/progenitor cell markers SOX2 and SOX9 and ectopic distribution of bronchioalveolar stem cells were observed in the distal lung only on the 7th day after silica instillation (the early inflammatory phase of silicosis). Western blotting revealed that the Sonic hedgehog/Glioma‑associated oncogene (Shh/Gli) and Wnt/β‑catenin pathways were involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation‑mediated epithelial remodeling and dysregulated regeneration during the inflammatory and fibrotic phases. Overall, sustained NLRP3 inflammasome activation led to epithelial remodeling in the distal lung of mice. Moreover, understanding the spatiotemporal profile of dysregulated epithelial repair and regeneration may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for inhalable particle‑related chronic inflammatory and fibrotic lung disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Chenyang Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Jiahao Fan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Wen Huang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Mingxia Yang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Weiping Xie
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Hui Kong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dobrinskikh E, Hennessy CE, Kurche JS, Kim E, Estrella AM, Cardwell J, Yang IV, Schwartz DA. Epithelial Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Enhances the Risk of Muc5b-associated Lung Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2023; 68:62-74. [PMID: 36108173 PMCID: PMC9817917 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0252oc] [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: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The gain-of-function minor allele of the MUC5B (mucin 5B, oligomeric mucus/gel-forming) promoter (rs35705950) is the strongest risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating fibrotic lung disease that leads to progressive respiratory failure in adults. We have previously demonstrated that Muc5b overexpression in mice worsens lung fibrosis after bleomycin exposure and have hypothesized that excess Muc5b promotes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis, stimulating fibrotic lung injury. Here, we report that ER stress pathway members ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4) and ATF6 coexpress with MUC5B in epithelia of the distal IPF airway and honeycomb cyst and that this is more pronounced in carriers of the gain-of-function MUC5B promoter variant. Similarly, in mice exposed to bleomycin, Muc5b expression is temporally associated with markers of ER stress. Using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing in bleomycin-exposed mice, we found that pathologic ER stress-associated transcripts Atf4 and Ddit3 (DNA damage inducible transcript 3) were elevated in alveolar epithelia of SFTPC-Muc5b transgenic (SFTPC-Muc5bTg) mice relative to wild-type (WT) mice. Activation of the ER stress response inhibits protein translation for most genes by phosphorylation of Eif2α (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha), which prevents guanine exchange by Eif2B and facilitates translation of Atf4. The integrated stress response inhibitor (ISRIB) facilitates interaction of phosphorylated Eif2α with Eif2B, overcoming translation inhibition associated with ER stress and reducing Atf4. We found that a single dose of ISRIB diminished Atf4 translation in SFTPC-Muc5bTg mice after bleomycin injury. Moreover, ISRIB resolved the exaggerated fibrotic response of SFTPC-Muc5bTg mice to bleomycin. In summary, we demonstrate that MUC5B and Muc5b expression is associated with pathologic ER stress and that restoration of normal translation with a single dose of ISRIB promotes lung repair in bleomycin-injured Muc5b-overexpressing mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jonathan S. Kurche
- Department of Medicine
- Pulmonary Section, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Alani M. Estrella
- Roy and Diana Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; and
| | | | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Medicine
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David A. Schwartz
- Department of Medicine
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhou H, Zhang Q, Huang W, Zhou S, Wang Y, Zeng X, Wang H, Xie W, Kong H. NLRP3 Inflammasome Mediates Silica-induced Lung Epithelial Injury and Aberrant Regeneration in Lung Stem/Progenitor Cell-derived Organotypic Models. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:1875-1893. [PMID: 37063430 PMCID: PMC10092774 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.80605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Silica-induced lung epithelial injury and fibrosis are vital pathogeneses of silicosis. Although the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to silica-induced chronic lung inflammation, its role in epithelial injury and regeneration remains unclear. Here, using mouse lung stem/progenitor cell-derived organotypic systems, including 2D air-liquid interface and 3D organoid cultures, we investigated the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on airway epithelial phenotype and function, cellular injury and regeneration, and the potential mechanisms. Our data showed that silica-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation disrupted the epithelial architecture, impaired mucociliary clearance, induced cellular hyperplasia and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in 2D culture, and inhibited organoid development in 3D system. Moreover, abnormal expression of the stem/progenitor cell markers SOX2 and SOX9 was observed in the 2D and 3D organotypic models after sustained silica stimulation. Notably, these silica-induced structural and functional abnormalities were ameliorated by MCC950, a selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. Further studies indicated that the NF-κB, Shh-Gli and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were involved in NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated abnormal differentiation and dysfunction of the airway epithelium. Thus, prolonged NLRP3 inflammasome activation caused injury and aberrant lung epithelial regeneration, suggesting that the NLRP3 inflammasome is a pivotal target for regulating tissue repair in chronic inflammatory lung diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Weiping Xie
- ✉ Corresponding authors: Hui Kong, M.D., Ph.D., . Weiping Xie, M.D., Ph.D., . Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China. Tel: +86-25-68136426; Fax: +86-25-68136269
| | - Hui Kong
- ✉ Corresponding authors: Hui Kong, M.D., Ph.D., . Weiping Xie, M.D., Ph.D., . Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China. Tel: +86-25-68136426; Fax: +86-25-68136269
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kurche JS, Stancil IT, Michalski JE, Yang IV, Schwartz DA. Dysregulated Cell-Cell Communication Characterizes Pulmonary Fibrosis. Cells 2022; 11:3319. [PMID: 36291184 PMCID: PMC9600037 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease of older adults characterized by fibrotic replacement of functional gas exchange units in the lung. The strongest risk factor for IPF is a genetic variantin the promoter region of the gel-forming mucin, MUC5B. To better understand how the MUC5B variant influences development of fibrosis, we used the NicheNet R package and leveraged publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data to identify and evaluate how epithelia participating in gas exchange are influenced by ligands expressed in control, MUC5B variant, and fibrotic environments. We observed that loss of type-I alveolar epithelia (AECI) characterizes the single-cell RNA transcriptome in fibrotic lung and validated the pattern of AECI loss using single nuclear RNA sequencing. Examining AECI transcriptomes, we found enrichment of transcriptional signatures for IL6 and AREG, which we have previously shown to mediate aberrant epithelial fluidization in IPF and murine bleomycin models. Moreover, we found that the protease ADAM17, which is upstream of IL6 trans-signaling, was enriched in control MUC5B variant donors. We used immunofluorescence to validate a role for enhanced expression of ADAM17 among MUC5B variants, suggesting involvement in IPF pathogenesis and maintenance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S. Kurche
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ian T. Stancil
- Program in Cellular Biology and Biophysics, Graduate School, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jacob E. Michalski
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A. Schwartz
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Okamoto T, Dobrinskikh E, Hennessy CE, Liu N, Schwarz MI, Evans CM, Fontenot AP, Yang IV, Schwartz DA. Muc5b plays a role in the development of inflammation and fibrosis in hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 323:L329-L337. [PMID: 35881171 PMCID: PMC9423777 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00061.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously we have shown that a gain-of-function MUC5B promoter variant (rs35705950) is the strongest risk factor for the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We have also found that Muc5b overexpression reduces mucociliary clearance in mice, potentially leading to recurrent injury to the bronchoalveolar epithelia. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is induced by inhalation of numerous causative antigens that may be affected by mucociliary clearance. We conducted this study to determine the role of Muc5b in a mouse model of HP induced by Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR) antigen. We used Muc5b-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice to determine whether Muc5b plays a role in inflammation and fibrosis at 3 and 6 wk in an SR model of HP. We measured cell concentrations and MUC5B expression in whole lung lavage (WLL) and quantified fibrosis using hydroxyproline assay and second harmonic generation. Muc5b expression in WLL fluid was significantly increased in SR-exposed WT mice compared with saline controls. WT mice challenged with SR developed more inflammation and lung fibrosis at 6 wk compared with 3 wk postexposure. Moreover, we found that 6 wk following challenge with SR, Muc5b-deficient mice had less lung inflammation and less lung fibrosis than Muc5b WT mice. Furthermore, Muc5b-deficient mice had significantly lower concentrations of TGF-β1 in the WLL compared with Muc5b WT mice at 6 wk of exposure. Muc5b appears to play a role in fibrosis in the animal model of HP and this may have implications for HP in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsukasa Okamoto
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pulmonary Immunotherapeutics, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Naoko Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marvin I Schwarz
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | | | - Ivana V Yang
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David A Schwartz
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kim E, Mathai SK, Stancil IT, Ma X, Hernandez-Gutierrez A, Becerra JN, Marrero-Torres E, Hennessy CE, Hatakka K, Wartchow EP, Estrella A, Huber JP, Cardwell JH, Burnham EL, Zhang Y, Evans CM, Vladar EK, Schwartz DA, Dobrinskikh E, Yang IV. Aberrant Multiciliogenesis in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2022; 67:188-200. [PMID: 35608953 PMCID: PMC9348560 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2021-0554oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified a novel molecular subtype of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) defined by increased expression of cilium-associated genes, airway mucin gene MUC5B, and KRT5 marker of basal cell airway progenitors. Here we show the association of MUC5B and cilia gene expression in human IPF airway epithelial cells, providing further rationale for examining the role of cilium genes in the pathogenesis of IPF. We demonstrate increased multiciliogenesis and changes in motile cilia structure of multiciliated cells both in IPF and bleomycin lung fibrosis models. Importantly, conditional deletion of a cilium gene, Ift88 (intraflagellar transport 88), in Krt5 basal cells reduces Krt5 pod formation and lung fibrosis, whereas no changes are observed in Ift88 conditional deletion in club cell progenitors. Our findings indicate that aberrant injury-activated primary ciliogenesis and Hedgehog signaling may play a causative role in Krt5 pod formation, which leads to aberrant multiciliogenesis and lung fibrosis. This implies that modulating cilium gene expression in Krt5 cell progenitors is a potential therapeutic target for IPF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunjoo Kim
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and
| | | | | | - Xiaoqian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, National Centre for Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | | | | | - Emilette Marrero-Torres
- Department of Medicine-M.D. Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Eric P. Wartchow
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | | | | | | | - Yingze Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | | | | | | | - Evgenia Dobrinskikh
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McCarthy C, Keane MP. Contemporary Concise Review 2021: Interstitial lung disease. Respirology 2022; 27:539-548. [PMID: 35513341 PMCID: PMC9320947 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The last 2 years have presented previously unforeseen challenges in pulmonary medicine. Despite the significant impact of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on patients, clinicians and communities, advances in the care and understanding of interstitial lung disease (ILD) continued unabated. Recent studies have led to improved guidelines, better understanding of the role for antifibrotics in fibrosing ILDs, prognostic indicators and novel biomarkers. In this concise contemporary review, we summarize many of the important studies published in 2021, highlighting their relevance and impact to the management and knowledge of ILD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cormac McCarthy
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael P Keane
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|