BMP3b is a Novel Anti-Fibrotic Molecule Regulated by Meflin in Lung Fibroblasts

GDF10 is a negative regulator of vascular calcification

Cardiovascular mortality is particularly high and increasing in patients with chronic kidney disease, with vascular calcification (VC) as a major pathophysiologic feature. VC is a highly regulated biological process similar to bone formation involving osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We have previously demonstrated that loss of T-cell death-associated gene 51 (TDAG51) expression leads to an attenuation of medial VC. We now show a significant induction of circulating levels of growth differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) in TDAG51-/- mice, which was of interest due to its established role as an inhibitor of osteoblast differentiation. The objective of this study was to examine the role of GDF10 in the osteogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs. Using primary mouse and human VSMCs, as well as ex vivo aortic ring cultures, we demonstrated that treatment with recombinant human (rh) GDF10 mitigated phosphate-mediated hydroxyapatite (HA) mineral deposition. Furthermore, ex vivo aortic rings from GDF10-/- mice exhibited increased HA deposition compared to C57BL/6J controls. To explain our observations, we identified that rhGDF10 treatment reduced protein expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, a key driver of osteogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs and VC. In support of these findings, in vivo treatment with rhGDF10 attenuated VD3-induced VC. Furthermore, we demonstrated an increase in circulating GDF10 in patients with chronic kidney disease with clinically defined severe VC, as assessed by coronary artery calcium score. Thus, our studies identify GDF10 as a novel inhibitor of mineral deposition and as such, may represent a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the detection and management of VC.

Distinct human stem cell subpopulations drive adipogenesis and fibrosis in musculoskeletal injury

Fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) maintain healthy skeletal muscle in homeostasis but drive muscle degeneration in chronic injuries by promoting adipogenesis and fibrosis. To uncover how these stem cells switch from a pro-regenerative to pro-degenerative role we perform single-cell mRNA sequencing of human FAPs from healthy and injured human muscles across a spectrum of injury, focusing on rotator cuff tears. We identify multiple subpopulations with progenitor, adipogenic, or fibrogenic gene signatures. We utilize full spectrum flow cytometry to identify distinct FAP subpopulations based on highly multiplexed protein expression. Injury severity increases adipogenic commitment of FAP subpopulations and is driven by the downregulation of DLK1. Treatment of FAPs both in vitro and in vivo with DLK1 reduces adipogenesis and fatty infiltration, suggesting that during injury, reduced DLK1 within a subpopulation of FAPs may drive degeneration. This work highlights how stem cells perform varied functions depending on tissue context, by dynamically regulating subpopulation fate commitment, which can be targeted improve patient outcomes after injury.

Overexpression of hsa_circ_0001861 inhibits pulmonary fibrosis through targeting miR-296-5p/BCL-2 binding component 3 axis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disorder. Evidence has shown that hsa_circular (circ)RNA_0001861 is dysregulated in pulmonary fibrosis. However, the detailed function of hsa_circRNA_0001861 in pulmonary fibrosis remains unexplored. To investigate the function of hsa_circRNA_0001861 in pulmonary fibrosis, human pulmonary fibroblasts in vitro were used, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining were performed to assess cell viability and proliferation, respectively. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to evaluate protein and mRNA levels. Meanwhile, the relationship among hsa_circRNA_0001861, miR-296-5p and BCL-2 binding component 3 (BBC3) was investigated by RNA pull-down assays. Furthermore, an in vivo model of lung fibrosis was constructed to assess the function of hsa_circRNA_0001861 in lung fibrosis. The data revealed that TGF‑β1 significantly increased the proliferation of pulmonary fibroblasts, while this phenomenon was markedly abolished by hsa_circRNA_0001861 overexpression. hsa_circRNA_0001861 overexpression markedly inhibited TGF‑β1‑induced fibrosis in pulmonary fibroblasts through the mediation of α-smooth muscle actin, E-cadherin, collagen III and fibronectin 1. Meanwhile, hsa_circRNA_0001861 could bind with miR-296-5p, and BBC3 was identified to be the downstream mRNA of miR-296-5p. In addition, the upregulation of hsa_circRNA_0001861 clearly reversed TGF‑β1‑induced fibrosis and proliferation in pulmonary fibroblasts through the upregulation of BBC3. Furthermore, hsa_circRNA_0001861 upregulation markedly alleviated pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Hsa_circRNA_0001861 upregulation attenuated pulmonary fibrosis by modulating the miR-296-5p/BBC3 axis. Hence, the present study may provide some insights for the discovery of new methods against pulmonary fibrosis.

Distinct human skeletal muscle-derived CD90 progenitor subsets for myo-fibro-adipogenic disease modeling and treatment in multiplexed conditions

Chronic muscle injuries, such as massive rotator cuff tears, are associated with progressive muscle wasting, fibrotic scarring, and intramuscular fat accumulation. While progenitor cell subsets are usually studied in culture conditions that drive either myogenic, fibrogenic, or adipogenic differentiation, it is still unknown how combined myo-fibro-adipogenic signals, which are expected to occur in vivo, modulate progenitor differentiation. We therefore evaluated the differentiation potential of retrospectively generated subsets of primary human muscle mesenchymal progenitors in multiplexed conditions in the presence or absence of 423F drug, a modulator of gp130 signaling. We identified a novel CD90+CD56- non-adipogenic progenitor subset that maintained a lack of adipogenic potential in single and multiplexed myo-fibro-adipogenic culture conditions. CD90-CD56- demarcated fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAP) and CD56+CD90+ progenitors were typified as myogenic. These human muscle subsets exhibited varying degrees of intrinsically regulated differentiation in single and mixed induction cultures. Modulation of gp130 signaling via 423F drug mediated muscle progenitor differentiation in a dose-, induction-, and cell subset-dependent manner and markedly decreased fibro-adipogenesis of CD90-CD56- FAP. Conversely, 423F promoted myogenesis of CD56+CD90+ myogenic subset, indicated by increased myotube diameter and number of nuclei per myotube. 423F treatment eliminated FAP-derived mature adipocytes from mixed adipocytes-FAP cultures but did not modify the growth of non-differentiated FAP in these cultures. Collectively, these data demonstrate that capability of myogenic, fibrogenic, or adipogenic differentiation is largely dependent on the intrinsic features of cultured subsets, and that the degree of lineage differentiation varies when signals are multiplexed. Moreover, our tests performed in primary human muscle cultures reveal and confirm the potential triple-therapeutic effects of 423F drug which simultaneously attenuates degenerative fibrosis, fat accumulation and promotes myo-regeneration.