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Wu X, Boström KI, Yao Y. Reply: Transitioning endothelial cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2023; 62:2301329. [PMID: 37770088 PMCID: PMC10533945 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01329-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
We sincerely appreciate the correspondence from S.S. Sohal, whose recent discoveries in human pulmonary fibrosis [1, 2] are complementary to our report on an abnormal endothelial differentiation trajectory contributing myofibroblasts to pulmonary fibrosis in matrix Gla protein (MGP)-deficient mice [3]. S.S. Sohal and his collaborators have provided strong evidence for an essential role of endothelial to mesenchymal transitions (EndMTs) in human pulmonary fibrosis [1, 2]. He proposed that the endothelial cell (EC)-like myofibroblasts identified in our mouse model might also undergo EndMTs as they transition from ECs towards myofibroblasts in the fibrotic process. Differentiation trajectory from ECs to EC-like myofibroblasts and myofibroblasts may pass through a mesenchymal stage. This trajectory exists in a quiescent state in healthy lungs and may be activated when pathological stimuli trigger pulmonary fibrosis. https://bit.ly/3QWfgyS
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristina I Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- The Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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2
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Wu X, Zhang D, Qiao X, Zhang L, Cai X, Ji J, Ma JA, Zhao Y, Belperio JA, Boström KI, Yao Y. Regulating the cell shift of endothelial cell-like myofibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2023; 61:2201799. [PMID: 36758986 PMCID: PMC10249020 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01799-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a common and severe fibrotic lung disease with high morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have reported a large number of unwanted myofibroblasts appearing in pulmonary fibrosis, and shown that the sustained activation of myofibroblasts is essential for unremitting interstitial fibrogenesis. However, the origin of these myofibroblasts remains poorly understood. Here, we create new mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis and identify a previously unknown population of endothelial cell (EC)-like myofibroblasts in normal lung tissue. We show that these EC-like myofibroblasts significantly contribute myofibroblasts to pulmonary fibrosis, which is confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing of human pulmonary fibrosis. Using the transcriptional profiles, we identified a small molecule that redirects the differentiation of EC-like myofibroblasts and reduces pulmonary fibrosis in our mouse models. Our study reveals the mechanistic underpinnings of the differentiation of EC-like myofibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis and may provide new strategies for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Daoqin Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Xiaojing Qiao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xinjiang Cai
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaden Ji
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jocelyn A Ma
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yan Zhao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John A Belperio
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristina I Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- The Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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3
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Yao J, Ma F, Zhang L, Zhu C, Jumabay M, Yao Z, Wang L, Cai X, Zhang D, Qiao X, Shivkumar K, Pellegrini M, Yao Y, Wu X, Boström KI. Single-Cell RNA-Seq Identifies Dynamic Cardiac Transition Program from Adipose Derived Cells Induced by Leukemia Inhibitory Factor. Stem Cells 2022; 40:932-948. [PMID: 35896368 PMCID: PMC9585902 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac048] [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: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Adipose-derived cells (ADCs) from white adipose tissue (WAT) are promising stem cell candidates because of their large regenerative reserves and the potential for cardiac regeneration. However, given the heterogeneity of ADC and its unsolved mechanisms of cardiac acquisition, ADC-cardiac transition efficiency remains low. In this study, we explored the heterogeneity of ADCs and the cellular kinetics of 39,432 single-cell transcriptomes along the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) induced ADC-cardiac transition. We identified distinct ADC subpopulations that reacted differentially to LIF when entering the cardiomyogenic program, further demonstrating that ADC-myogenesis is time-dependent and initiates from transient changes in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. At later stages, pseudotime analysis of ADCs navigated a trajectory with two branches corresponding to activated myofibroblast or cardiomyocyte-like cells. Our findings offer a high-resolution dissection of ADC heterogeneity and cell fate during ADC-cardiac transition, thus providing new insights into potential cardiac stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Feiyang Ma
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Chongqing International Institute for Immunology, Chongqing 401338, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Ching Zhu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Medet Jumabay
- Division of Allergy, Immunology Center for Immunity, Infection, and Inflammation Pediatrics, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Zehao Yao
- Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lumin Wang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinjiang Cai
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Daoqin Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Xiaojing Qiao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | | | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Dept of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Kristina I Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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4
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Guihard PJ, Guo Y, Wu X, Zhang L, Yao J, Jumabay M, Yao Y, Garfinkel A, Boström KI. Shaping Waves of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Inhibition During Vascular Growth. Circ Res 2020; 127:1288-1305. [PMID: 32854559 PMCID: PMC7987130 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.120.317439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) are essential morphogens in angiogenesis and vascular development. Disruption of BMP signaling can trigger cardiovascular diseases, such as arteriovenous malformations. OBJECTIVE A computational model predicted that BMP4 and BMP9 and their inhibitors MGP (matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid [Gla] protein) and CV2 (crossveinless-2) would form a regulatory system consisting of negative feedback loops with time delays and that BMP9 would trigger oscillatory expression of the 2 inhibitors. The goal was to investigate this regulatory system in endothelial differentiation and vascular growth. METHODS AND RESULTS Oscillations in the expression of MGP and CV2 were detected in endothelial cells in vitro, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. These organized temporally downstream BMP-related activities, including expression of stalk-cell markers and cell proliferation, consistent with an integral role of BMP9 in vessel maturation. In vivo, the inhibitors were located in distinct zones in relation to the front of the expanding retinal network, as determined by immunofluorescence. Time-dependent changes of the CV2 location in the retina and the existence of an endothelial population with signs of oscillatory MGP expression in developing vasculature supported the in vitro findings. Loss of MGP or its BMP4-binding capacity disrupted the retinal vasculature, resulting in poorly formed networks, especially in the venous drainage areas, and arteriovenous malformations as determined by increased cell coverage and functional testing. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a previously unknown mechanism of temporal orchestration of BMP4 and BMP9 activities that utilize the tandem actions of the extracellular antagonists MGP and CV2. Disruption of this mechanism may contribute to vascular malformations and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre J. Guihard
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Yina Guo
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Lily Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Jiayi Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Medet Jumabay
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Alan Garfinkel
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Kristina I. Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA
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5
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Lanham SA, Cagampang FR, Oreffo ROC. The influence of a high fat diet on bone and soft tissue formation in Matrix Gla Protein knockout mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3635. [PMID: 29483527 PMCID: PMC5827663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21650-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies suggest bone growth and development are influenced by maternal nutrition, during intrauterine and early postnatal life. This study assessed the role of MGP and a maternal high fat diet on vitamin K-dependent proteins' gene expression and their impact on bone formation. Knockout (KO) offspring were smaller than wild type (WT) littermates, yet possessed the same volume of intrascapular brown adipose tissue. The total proportion of body fat was reduced, but only in animals on a control diet. Lung air volume was observed to be comparable in both KO and WT animals on the same diet. The degree of aortic calcification was reduced in KO animals maintained on a HF diet. KO females on the high fat diet showed reduced cortical bone volume and thickness in the femur and tibia. Gene expression levels of GGCX and VKOR were reduced in control fed KO animals suggesting a potential link between gene expression levels of MGP, GGCX, and VKOR and total volumes of bone, calcified soft tissue, and iBAT; with implications for modulation of body length and mass. Our results confirm the important role for vitamin K in bone and calcified soft tissue, but now extend this role to include iBAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Lanham
- Bone and Joint Research Group, Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, Human Development and Health, Institute of Developmental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
| | - F R Cagampang
- Maternal, Pregnancy, and Child Research Group, Human Development and Health, Institute of Developmental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - R O C Oreffo
- Bone and Joint Research Group, Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, Human Development and Health, Institute of Developmental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
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6
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Blei F. Update March 2016. Lymphat Res Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2016.29000.fb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Yao J, Guihard PJ, Blazquez-Medela AM, Guo Y, Liu T, Boström KI, Yao Y. Matrix Gla protein regulates differentiation of endothelial cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Angiogenesis 2016; 19:1-7. [PMID: 26364300 PMCID: PMC4703505 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-015-9484-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins and expressed in vascular endothelial cells. Lack of MGP causes vascular abnormalities in multiple organs in mice. The objective of this study is to define the role of MGP in early endothelial differentiation. We find that expression of endothelial markers is highly induced in Mgp null organs, which, in wild type, contain high MGP expression. Furthermore, Mgp null embryonic stem cells express higher levels of endothelial markers than wild-type controls and an abnormal temporal pattern of expression. We also find that the Mgp-deficient endothelial cells adopt characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. We conclude that loss of MGP causes dysregulation of early endothelial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Western Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Pierre J Guihard
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
| | - Ana M Blazquez-Medela
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
| | - Yina Guo
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
| | - Ting Liu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1630 Dong Fang Rd, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Kristina I Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA
- The Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1570, USA
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA.
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Box 951679, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1679, USA.
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