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Boraldi F, Lofaro FD, Bonacorsi S, Mazzilli A, Garcia-Fernandez M, Quaglino D. The Role of Fibroblasts in Skin Homeostasis and Repair. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1586. [PMID: 39062158 PMCID: PMC11274439 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071586] [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: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are typical mesenchymal cells widely distributed throughout the human body where they (1) synthesise and maintain the extracellular matrix, ensuring the structural role of soft connective tissues; (2) secrete cytokines and growth factors; (3) communicate with each other and with other cell types, acting as signalling source for stem cell niches; and (4) are involved in tissue remodelling, wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer. This review focuses on the developmental heterogeneity of dermal fibroblasts, on their ability to sense changes in biomechanical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix, and on their role in aging, in skin repair, in pathologic conditions and in tumour development. Moreover, we describe the use of fibroblasts in different models (e.g., in vivo animal models and in vitro systems from 2D to 6D cultures) for tissue bioengineering and the informative potential of high-throughput assays for the study of fibroblasts under different disease contexts for personalized healthcare and regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.D.L.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Francesco Demetrio Lofaro
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.D.L.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Susanna Bonacorsi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.D.L.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Alessia Mazzilli
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.D.L.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Maria Garcia-Fernandez
- Department of Human Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Investigation (IBIMA), University of Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.D.L.); (S.B.); (A.M.)
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Narasaraju T, Neeli I, Criswell SL, Krishnappa A, Meng W, Silva V, Bila G, Vovk V, Serhiy Z, Bowlin GL, Meyer N, Luning Prak ET, Radic M, Bilyy R. Neutrophil Activity and Extracellular Matrix Degradation: Drivers of Lung Tissue Destruction in Fatal COVID-19 Cases and Implications for Long COVID. Biomolecules 2024; 14:236. [PMID: 38397474 PMCID: PMC10886497 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020236] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis, severe alveolitis, and the inability to restore alveolar epithelial architecture are primary causes of respiratory failure in fatal COVID-19 cases. However, the factors contributing to abnormal fibrosis in critically ill COVID-19 patients remain unclear. This study analyzed the histopathology of lung specimens from eight COVID-19 and six non-COVID-19 postmortems. We assessed the distribution and changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including elastin and collagen, in lung alveoli through morphometric analyses. Our findings reveal the significant degradation of elastin fibers along the thin alveolar walls of the lung parenchyma, a process that precedes the onset of interstitial collagen deposition and widespread intra-alveolar fibrosis. Lungs with collapsed alveoli and organized fibrotic regions showed extensive fragmentation of elastin fibers, accompanied by alveolar epithelial cell death. Immunoblotting of lung autopsy tissue extracts confirmed elastin degradation. Importantly, we found that the loss of elastin was strongly correlated with the induction of neutrophil elastase (NE), a potent protease that degrades ECM. This study affirms the critical role of neutrophils and neutrophil enzymes in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Consistently, we observed increased staining for peptidyl arginine deiminase, a marker for neutrophil extracellular trap release, and myeloperoxidase, an enzyme-generating reactive oxygen radical, indicating active neutrophil involvement in lung pathology. These findings place neutrophils and elastin degradation at the center of impaired alveolar function and argue that elastolysis and alveolitis trigger abnormal ECM repair and fibrosis in fatal COVID-19 cases. Importantly, this study has implications for severe COVID-19 complications, including long COVID and other chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teluguakula Narasaraju
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; or (T.N.); (I.N.); (V.S.)
- Department of Microbiology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Center for Research and Innovation, Adichunchanagiri University, Mandya 571448, India
| | - Indira Neeli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; or (T.N.); (I.N.); (V.S.)
| | - Sheila L. Criswell
- Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
| | - Amita Krishnappa
- Department of Pathology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Adichunchanagiri University, Mandya 571448, India;
| | - Wenzhao Meng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.M.); (E.T.L.P.)
| | - Vasuki Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; or (T.N.); (I.N.); (V.S.)
| | - Galyna Bila
- Department of Histology, Cytology, Histology & Embryology, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine; (G.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Volodymyr Vovk
- Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine;
- Lviv Regional Pathological Anatomy Office, CU ENT (Pulmonology Lviv Regional Diagnostic Center), 79000 Lviv, Ukraine;
| | - Zolotukhin Serhiy
- Lviv Regional Pathological Anatomy Office, CU ENT (Pulmonology Lviv Regional Diagnostic Center), 79000 Lviv, Ukraine;
| | - Gary L. Bowlin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
| | - Nuala Meyer
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine and Center for Translational Lung Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eline T. Luning Prak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.M.); (E.T.L.P.)
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Marko Radic
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; or (T.N.); (I.N.); (V.S.)
| | - Rostyslav Bilyy
- Department of Histology, Cytology, Histology & Embryology, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine; (G.B.); (R.B.)
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Gibellini L, Borella R, Santacroce E, Serattini E, Boraldi F, Quaglino D, Aramini B, De Biasi S, Cossarizza A. Circulating and Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Dynamics, Phenotypes, Metabolism, and Functions. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3327. [PMID: 37444436 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant myeloid cells in the blood and are a considerable immunological component of the tumor microenvironment. However, their functional importance has often been ignored, as they have always been considered a mono-dimensional population of terminally differentiated, short-living cells. During the last decade, the use of cutting-edge, single-cell technologies has revolutionized the classical view of these cells, unmasking their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. In this review, we summarize the emerging concepts in the field of neutrophils in cancer, by reviewing the recent literature on the heterogeneity of both circulating neutrophils and tumor-associated neutrophils, as well as their possible significance in tumor prognosis and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Gibellini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Rebecca Borella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Santacroce
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Eugenia Serattini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Aramini
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University Hospital GB Morgagni-L Pierantoni, 47121 Forlì, Italy
| | - Sara De Biasi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Cossarizza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
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Halsey G, Sinha D, Dhital S, Wang X, Vyavahare N. Role of elastic fiber degradation in disease pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166706. [PMID: 37001705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is a crucial extracellular matrix protein that provides structural integrity to tissues. Crosslinked elastin and associated microfibrils, named elastic fiber, contribute to biomechanics by providing the elasticity required for proper function. During aging and disease, elastic fiber can be progressively degraded and since there is little elastin synthesis in adults, degraded elastic fiber is not regenerated. There is substantial evidence linking loss or damage of elastic fibers to the clinical manifestation and pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. Disruption of elastic fiber networks by hereditary mutations, aging, or pathogenic stimuli results in systemic ailments associated with the production of elastin degradation products, inflammatory responses, and abnormal physiology. Due to its longevity, unique mechanical properties, and widespread distribution in the body, elastic fiber plays a central role in homeostasis of various physiological systems. While pathogenesis related to elastic fiber degradation has been more thoroughly studied in elastic fiber rich tissues such as the vasculature and the lungs, even tissues containing relatively small quantities of elastic fibers such as the eyes or joints may be severely impacted by elastin degradation. Elastic fiber degradation is a common observation in certain hereditary, age, and specific risk factor exposure induced diseases representing a converging point of pathological clinical phenotypes which may also help explain the appearance of co-morbidities. In this review, we will first cover the role of elastic fiber degradation in the manifestation of hereditary diseases then individually explore the structural role and degradation effects of elastic fibers in various tissues and organ systems. Overall, stabilizing elastic fiber structures and repairing lost elastin may be effective strategies to reverse the effects of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Halsey
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, SC 29634, United States of America
| | - Dipasha Sinha
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, SC 29634, United States of America
| | - Saphala Dhital
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, SC 29634, United States of America
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, SC 29634, United States of America
| | - Naren Vyavahare
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, SC 29634, United States of America.
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Gene Networks of Hyperglycemia, Diabetic Complications, and Human Proteins Targeted by SARS-CoV-2: What Is the Molecular Basis for Comorbidity? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137247. [PMID: 35806251 PMCID: PMC9266766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
People with diabetes are more likely to have severe COVID-19 compared to the general population. Moreover, diabetes and COVID-19 demonstrate a certain parallelism in the mechanisms and organ damage. In this work, we applied bioinformatics analysis of associative molecular networks to identify key molecules and pathophysiological processes that determine SARS-CoV-2-induced disorders in patients with diabetes. Using text-mining-based approaches and ANDSystem as a bioinformatics tool, we reconstructed and matched networks related to hyperglycemia, diabetic complications, insulin resistance, and beta cell dysfunction with networks of SARS-CoV-2-targeted proteins. The latter included SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors (ACE2 and DPP4), SARS-CoV-2 entry associated proteases (TMPRSS2, CTSB, and CTSL), and 332 human intracellular proteins interacting with SARS-CoV-2. A number of genes/proteins targeted by SARS-CoV-2 (ACE2, BRD2, COMT, CTSB, CTSL, DNMT1, DPP4, ERP44, F2RL1, GDF15, GPX1, HDAC2, HMOX1, HYOU1, IDE, LOX, NUTF2, PCNT, PLAT, RAB10, RHOA, SCARB1, and SELENOS) were found in the networks of vascular diabetic complications and insulin resistance. According to the Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, the defined molecules are involved in the response to hypoxia, reactive oxygen species metabolism, immune and inflammatory response, regulation of angiogenesis, platelet degranulation, and other processes. The results expand the understanding of the molecular basis of diabetes and COVID-19 comorbidity.
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