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Xu Z, Davies ER, Yao L, Zhou Y, Li J, Alzetani A, Marshall BG, Hancock D, Wallis T, Downward J, Ewing RM, Davies DE, Jones MG, Wang Y. LKB1 depletion-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition induces fibroblast activation in lung fibrosis. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101065. [PMID: 38222900 PMCID: PMC7615521 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The factors that determine fibrosis progression or normal tissue repair are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that autophagy inhibition-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells augments local myofibroblast differentiation in pulmonary fibrosis by paracrine signalling. Here, we report that liver kinase B1 (LKB1) inactivation in ATII cells inhibits autophagy and induces EMT as a consequence. In IPF lungs, this is caused by downregulation of CAB39L, a key subunit within the LKB1 complex. 3D co-cultures of ATII cells and MRC5 lung fibroblasts coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) confirmed that paracrine signalling between LKB1-depleted ATII cells and fibroblasts augmented myofibroblast differentiation. Together these data suggest that reduced autophagy caused by LKB1 inhibition can induce EMT in ATII cells and contribute to fibrosis via aberrant epithelial-fibroblast crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Xu
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Elizabeth R. Davies
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Liudi Yao
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Yilu Zhou
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Aiman Alzetani
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ben G. Marshall
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - David Hancock
- Oncogene Biology, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Tim Wallis
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Julian Downward
- Oncogene Biology, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Rob M. Ewing
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Donna E. Davies
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Mark G. Jones
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Yihua Wang
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
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Yao L, Xu Z, Davies DE, Jones MG, Wang Y. Dysregulated bidirectional epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk: a core determinant of lung fibrosis progression. CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL PULMONARY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE 2024; 2:27-33. [PMID: 38558961 PMCID: PMC7615773 DOI: 10.1016/j.pccm.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Progressive lung fibrosis is characterised by dysregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. Understanding of disease pathogenesis remains limited and has prevented the development of effective treatments. While an abnormal wound healing response is strongly implicated in lung fibrosis initiation, factors that determine why fibrosis progresses rather than regular tissue repair occurs are not fully explained. Within human lung fibrosis there is evidence of altered epithelial and mesenchymal lung populations as well as cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a dynamic and reversible biological process by which epithelial cells lose their cell polarity and down-regulate cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion to gain migratory properties. This review will focus upon the role of EMT and dysregulated epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk in progressive lung fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudi Yao
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Zijian Xu
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Donna E. Davies
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Mark G. Jones
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Yihua Wang
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
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Ramundo V, Palazzo ML, Aldieri E. TGF-β as Predictive Marker and Pharmacological Target in Lung Cancer Approach. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082295. [PMID: 37190223 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082295] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) represents the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. LC onset is strongly related to genetic mutations and environmental interactions, such as tobacco smoking, or pathological conditions, such as chronic inflammation. Despite advancement in knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in LC, this tumor is still characterized by an unfavorable prognosis, and the current therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. TGF-β is a cytokine that regulates different biological processes, particularly at the pulmonary level, and its alteration has been demonstrated to be associated with LC progression. Moreover, TGF-β is involved in promoting invasiveness and metastasis, via epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction, where TGF-β is the major driver. Thus, a TGF-β-EMT signature may be considered a potential predictive marker in LC prognosis, and TGF-β-EMT inhibition has been demonstrated to prevent metastasis in various animal models. Concerning a LC therapeutic approach, some TGF-β and TGF-β-EMT inhibitors could be used in combination with chemo- and immunotherapy without major side effects, thereby improving cancer therapy. Overall, targeting TGF-β may be a valid possibility to fight LC, both in improving LC prognosis and cancer therapy, via a novel approach that could open up new effective strategies against this aggressive cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Ramundo
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
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Yuan Y, Qiao G, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Li Y, Li X, Jiang Z, Wang Y. Integrated analysis reveals the protective mechanism and therapeutic potential of hyperbaric oxygen against pulmonary fibrosis. Genes Dis 2022; 10:1029-1039. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Brereton CJ, Yao L, Davies ER, Zhou Y, Vukmirovic M, Bell JA, Wang S, Ridley RA, Dean LSN, Andriotis OG, Conforti F, Brewitz L, Mohammed S, Wallis T, Tavassoli A, Ewing RM, Alzetani A, Marshall BG, Fletcher SV, Thurner PJ, Fabre A, Kaminski N, Richeldi L, Bhaskar A, Schofield CJ, Loxham M, Davies DE, Wang Y, Jones MG. Pseudohypoxic HIF pathway activation dysregulates collagen structure-function in human lung fibrosis. eLife 2022; 11:e69348. [PMID: 35188460 PMCID: PMC8860444 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening with downstream activation of mechanosensitive pathways is strongly implicated in fibrosis. We previously reported that altered collagen nanoarchitecture is a key determinant of pathogenetic ECM structure-function in human fibrosis (Jones et al., 2018). Here, through human tissue, bioinformatic and ex vivo studies we provide evidence that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway activation is a critical pathway for this process regardless of the oxygen status (pseudohypoxia). Whilst TGFβ increased the rate of fibrillar collagen synthesis, HIF pathway activation was required to dysregulate post-translational modification of fibrillar collagen, promoting pyridinoline cross-linking, altering collagen nanostructure, and increasing tissue stiffness. In vitro, knockdown of Factor Inhibiting HIF (FIH), which modulates HIF activity, or oxidative stress caused pseudohypoxic HIF activation in the normal fibroblasts. By contrast, endogenous FIH activity was reduced in fibroblasts from patients with lung fibrosis in association with significantly increased normoxic HIF pathway activation. In human lung fibrosis tissue, HIF-mediated signalling was increased at sites of active fibrogenesis whilst subpopulations of human lung fibrosis mesenchymal cells had increases in both HIF and oxidative stress scores. Our data demonstrate that oxidative stress can drive pseudohypoxic HIF pathway activation which is a critical regulator of pathogenetic collagen structure-function in fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Brereton
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Liudi Yao
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth R Davies
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Yilu Zhou
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Milica Vukmirovic
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Joseph A Bell
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert A Ridley
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Lareb SN Dean
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Orestis G Andriotis
- Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU WienViennaAustria
| | - Franco Conforti
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Lennart Brewitz
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research LaboratoryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Soran Mohammed
- School of Chemistry, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Timothy Wallis
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- School of Chemistry, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Rob M Ewing
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Aiman Alzetani
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Benjamin G Marshall
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Sophie V Fletcher
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Philipp J Thurner
- Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU WienViennaAustria
| | - Aurelie Fabre
- Department of Histopathology, St. Vincent's University Hospital & UCD School of Medicine, University College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Naftali Kaminski
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Luca Richeldi
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Pneumologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Atul Bhaskar
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research LaboratoryOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthew Loxham
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Donna E Davies
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Yihua Wang
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Mark G Jones
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
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