miR-338-3p Blocks TGFβ-Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation through the Induction of PTEN

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Rose Rackow ◽  
Jennifer L Judge ◽  
Collynn F Woller ◽  
Patricia J. Sime ◽  
Robert Matthew Kottmann
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Phosphatase And Tensin Homolog ◽  
Tensin Homolog ◽  
Tgfβ Receptor ◽  
Pulmonary Fibroblast

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease. The pathogenesis of IPF is not completely understood. However, numerous genes are associated with the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, indicating there is a significant genetic component to the pathogenesis of IPF. Epigenetic influences on the development of human disease, including pulmonary fibrosis, remain to be fully elucidated. In this paper we identify miR-338-3p as a microRNA severely downregulated in the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis and in experimental models of pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment of primary human lung fibroblasts with miR-338-3p inhibits myofibroblast differentiation and matrix protein production. Published and proposed targets of miR-338-3p such as TGFβ receptor 1, MEK/ERK 1/2, Cdk4 and Cyclin D are also not responsible for the regulation of pulmonary fibroblast behavior by miR-338-3p. miR-338-3p inhibits myofibroblast differentiation by preventing TGFβ-mediated downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a known anti-fibrotic mediator.

scholarly journals Butyrate Prevents TGF-β1-Induced Alveolar Myofibroblast Differentiation and Modulates Energy Metabolism

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 258
Author(s):  
Hyo Yeong Lee ◽  
Somi Nam ◽  
Mi Jeong Kim ◽  
Su Jung Kim ◽  
Sung Hoon Back ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Pulmonary Fibroblasts ◽  
Matrix Deposition ◽  
Tgf Β1

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious lung disease characterized by excessive collagen matrix deposition and extracellular remodeling. Signaling pathways mediated by fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) make important contributions to pulmonary fibrosis, but it remains unclear how TGF-β1 alters metabolism and modulates the activation and differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts. We found that TGF-β1 lowers NADH and NADH/NAD levels, possibly due to changes in the TCA cycle, resulting in reductions in the ATP level and oxidative phosphorylation in pulmonary fibroblasts. In addition, we showed that butyrate (C4), a short chain fatty acid (SCFA), exhibits potent antifibrotic activity by inhibiting expression of fibrosis markers. Butyrate treatment inhibited mitochondrial elongation in TGF-β1-treated lung fibroblasts and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Consistent with the mitochondrial observations, butyrate significantly increased ADP, ATP, NADH, and NADH/NAD levels in TGF-β1-treated pulmonary fibroblasts. Collectively, our findings indicate that TGF-β1 induces changes in mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism during myofibroblast differentiation, and that these changes can be modulated by butyrate, which enhances mitochondrial function.

scholarly journals Systems Analysis of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles Identifies Novel Regulation of Fibrotic Programs by miRNAs in Pulmonary Fibrosis Fibroblasts

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Mullenbrock ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Suzanne Szak ◽  
Xiaoping Hronowski ◽  
Benbo Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Signature Genes ◽  
Gene And Protein Expression ◽  
Lung Transplants ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts are the key effector cells responsible for excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and fibrosis progression in both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) patient lungs, thus it is critical to understand the transcriptomic and proteomic programs underlying their fibrogenic activity. We conducted the first integrative analysis of the fibrotic programming in these cells at the levels of gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression, as well as deposited ECM protein to gain insights into how fibrotic transcriptional programs culminate in aberrant ECM protein production/deposition. We identified messenger RNA (mRNA), miRNA, and deposited matrisome protein signatures for IPF and SSc fibroblasts obtained from lung transplants using next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry. SSc and IPF fibroblast transcriptional signatures were remarkably similar, with enrichment of WNT, TGF-β, and ECM genes. miRNA-seq identified differentially regulated miRNAs, including downregulation of miR-29b-3p, miR-138-5p and miR-146b-5p in disease fibroblasts and transfection of their mimics decreased expression of distinct sets of fibrotic signature genes as assessed using a Nanostring fibrosis panel. Finally, proteomic analyses uncovered a distinct “fibrotic” matrisome profile deposited by IPF and SSc fibroblasts compared to controls that highlights the dysregulated ECM production underlying their fibrogenic activities. Our comprehensive analyses of mRNA, miRNA, and matrisome proteomic profiles in IPF and SSc lung fibroblasts revealed robust fibrotic signatures at both the gene and protein expression levels and identified novel fibrogenesis-associated miRNAs whose aberrant downregulation in disease fibroblasts likely contributes to their fibrotic and ECM gene expression.

scholarly journals Calcium-sensing receptor antagonism as a novel therapeutic for pulmonary fibrosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasope L. Wolffs ◽  
Bethan Mansfield ◽  
Richard T. Bruce ◽  
Ping Huang ◽  
Martin Schepelmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Human Lung ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Calcium Cation ◽  
Cation Sensing

ABSTRACTBackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with very poor prognosis and no curative therapies. The G protein-coupled, calcium/cation-sensing receptor (CaSR) is activated by environmental pollutants and by arginine-derived polyamines, which are thought to play a role in IPF. Whether the CaSR is involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the CaSR as a novel drug target for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis (PF).Methods and resultsCaSR protein expression is found in the airway epithelium in the neuroepithelial bodies of the healthy and IPF human lung. Expression of arginine pathway-linked polyamines is increased in PF patient saliva samples compared to non-PF patients. Arginine pathway metabolites, ornithine and spermine, activate the CaSR in primary normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF), effects prevented by CaSR antagonism using the calcilytic NPS2143. In NHLF calcilytic also reversed the pro-fibrotic effects of exogenous TGFβ1 administration on Rho kinase and αSMA expression, proliferation, collagen production and IL-8 secretion. Targeted CaSR ablation from fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells protects mice from spontaneously occurring, age-related lung fibrosis.ConclusionsSustained CaSR activation in the lung drives pro-fibrotic processes, which can be reversed by calcilytic. Pharmacological and genetic CaSR blockade reduce both TGFβ1-induced and naturally occurring pro-fibrotic changes. This work provides the scientific rationale for developing inhaled calcilytics as novel therapeutics for IPF.KEY MESSAGESKey questionHow does the calcium/cation-sensing receptor (CaSR) promote pulmonary fibrosis?Bottom lineThe CaSR is expressed in human IPF and experimental models of PF where receptor inhibition prevents pro-fibrotic changes and pulmonary remodeling.Why read onCaSR blockers, calcilytics, represent a novel treatment for IPF.

scholarly journals Activated mTORC1-SIRT6 Mediates Myofibroblast Differentiation and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Zhang ◽  
Yi Hu ◽  
Huiping Huang ◽  
Qun Liu ◽  
Yang Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mtor Signaling ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Mtor Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mtorc1 Pathway ◽  
Tgf Β1

Abstract BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by accumulation of myofibroblasts and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and myofibroblast hyperproliferation plays a major role in pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, mTOR signaling pathway and SIRT6 play a critical role in pulmonary fibrosis. However, the mechanisms whether SIRT6 affect the myofibroblasts differentiation during IPF remain unclear.MethodWe investigated myofibroblast differentiation using a bleomycin-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis model and TGF-b1 induced human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC5) in vitro. We used both SIRT6 siRNA and rapamycin to study the role of SIRT6 and mTOR signaling pathway in the normal human lung fibroblasts and the myofibroblasts from human IPF lungs.ResultsOur data show that high level of SIRT6 was detected in IPF samples, and SIRT6 was significantly upregulated by TGF-β1 in a time and concentration-dependent manner. SIRT6 expression and activation of mTORC1 signalling pathway were upregulated in fibrotic lung tissues and primary lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with IPF and bleomycin-challenged mice. Furthermore, rapamycin treatment inhibited mTORC1 pathway activity and SIRT6 protein expression. SIRT6 SiRNA failed to mediate the activity of mTORC1 pathway and autophagy induction. However, SIRT6 knockdown could promote TGF-b1 induced pro-fibrotic cytokines.ConclusionActivated mTORC1 signalling pathway regulated SIRT6 overexpression. Deficiency of SIRT6 mediated myofibroblasts differentiation through induced pro-fibrotic cytokines production in the present of TGF-β1. The study indicated that manipulations of SIRT6 expression may provide a new therapeutic strategy to prevent and reverse the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Targeted inhibition of PI3 kinase/mTOR specifically in fibrotic lung fibroblasts suppresses pulmonary fibrosis in experimental models

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (567) ◽  
pp. eaay3724
Author(s):  
Suraj U. Hettiarachchi ◽  
Yen-Hsing Li ◽  
Jyoti Roy ◽  
Fenghua Zhang ◽  
Estela Puchulu-Campanella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Collagen Synthesis ◽  
Lung Parenchyma ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Pi3k Inhibitor ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
Pi3k Activation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal disease with an average life expectancy of 3 to 5 years. IPF is characterized by progressive stiffening of the lung parenchyma due to excessive deposition of collagen, leading to gradual failure of gas exchange. Although two therapeutic agents have been approved from the FDA for IPF, they only slow disease progression with little impact on outcome. To develop a more effective therapy, we have exploited the fact that collagen-producing myofibroblasts express a membrane-spanning protein, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), that exhibits limited if any expression on other cell types. Because collagen-producing myofibroblasts are only found in fibrotic tissues, solid tumors, and healing wounds, FAP constitutes an excellent marker for targeted delivery of drugs to tissues undergoing pathologic fibrosis. We demonstrate here that a low–molecular weight FAP ligand can be used to deliver imaging and therapeutic agents selectively to FAP-expressing cells. Because induction of collagen synthesis is associated with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activation, we designed a FAP-targeted PI3K inhibitor that selectively targets FAP-expressing human IPF lung fibroblasts and potently inhibited collagen synthesis. Moreover, we showed that administration of the inhibitor in a mouse model of IPF inhibited PI3K activation in fibrotic lungs, suppressed production of hydroxyproline (major building block of collagen), reduced collagen deposition, and increased mouse survival. Collectively, these studies suggest that a FAP-targeted PI3K inhibitor might be promising for treating IPF.

scholarly journals SIRT3 blocks myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis by preventing mitochondrial DNA damage

2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (1) ◽  
pp. L68-L78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samik Bindu ◽  
Vinodkumar B. Pillai ◽  
Abhinav Kanwal ◽  
Sadhana Samant ◽  
Gökhan M. Mutlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Lung Fibrosis ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Damage

Myofibroblast differentiation is a key process in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a powerful inducer of myofibroblast differentiation and is implicated in pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. This study was undertaken to determine the role of mitochondrial deacetylase SIRT3 in TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation in vitro and lung fibrosis in vivo. Treatment of human lung fibroblasts with TGF-β1 resulted in increased expression of fibrosis markers, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA), collagen-1, and fibronectin. TGF-β1 treatment also caused depletion of endogenous SIRT3, which paralleled with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, and subsequent reduction in levels of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1), an enzyme that hydrolyzes oxidized guanine (8-oxo-dG) and thus protects DNA from oxidative damage. Overexpression of SIRT3 by adenovirus-mediated transduction reversed the effects of TGF-β1 on ROS production and mitochondrial DNA damage and inhibited TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation. To determine the antifibrotic role of SIRT3 in vivo, we used the bleomycin-induced mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Compared with wild-type controls, Sirt3-knockout mice showed exacerbated fibrosis after intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Increased lung fibrosis was associated with decreased levels of OGG1 and concomitant accumulation of 8-oxo-dG and increased mitochondrial DNA damage. In contrast, the transgenic mice with whole body Sirt3 overexpression were protected from bleomycin-induced mtDNA damage and development of lung fibrosis. These data demonstrate a critical role of SIRT3 in the control of myofibroblast differentiation and lung fibrosis.

FGF9 and FGF18 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis promote survival and migration and inhibit myofibroblast differentiation of human lung fibroblasts in vitro

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (7) ◽  
pp. L615-L629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Joannes ◽  
Stéphanie Brayer ◽  
Valérie Besnard ◽  
Joëlle Marchal-Sommé ◽  
Madeleine Jaillet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Human Lung ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Human Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Fibroblast Foci

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by an accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins and fibroblasts in the distal airways. Key developmental lung signaling pathways are reactivated in IPF. For instance, fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) and FGF18, involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, are critical for lung development. We evaluated the expression of FGF9, FGF18, and FGF receptors (FGFRs) in lung tissue from controls and IPF patients and assessed their effect on proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of control and IPF human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). FGF9, FGF18, and all FGFRs were present in the remodeled alveolar epithelium close to the fibroblast foci in IPF lungs. FGFR3 was generally detected in fibroblast foci by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, HLFs mainly expressed mesenchyme-associated FGFR isoforms (FGFR1c and FGFR3c) and FGFR4. FGF9 did not affect fibroblast proliferation, whereas FGF18 inhibited cell growth in control fibroblasts. FGF9 and FGF18 decreased Fas-ligand-induced apoptosis in control but not in IPF fibroblasts. FGF9 prevented transforming growth factor β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation. FGF9 and FGF18 increased the migratory capacities of HLF, and FGF9 actively modulated matrix metalloproteinase activity. In addition, FGFR3 inhibition by small interfering RNA impacted p-ERK activation by FGF9 and FGF18 and their effects on differentiation and migration. These results identify FGF9 as an antiapoptotic and promigratory growth factor on HLF, maintaining fibroblasts in an undifferentiated state. The biological effects of FGF9 and FGF18 were partially driven by FGFR3. FGF18 was a less potent molecule. Both growth factors likely contribute to the fibrotic process in vivo.

PPARγ agonists inhibit TGF-β induced pulmonary myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production: implications for therapy of lung fibrosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. L1146-L1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Burgess ◽  
Louis Eugene Daugherty ◽  
Thomas H. Thatcher ◽  
Heather F. Lakatos ◽  
Denise M. Ray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Type I ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Pparγ Agonists

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive life-threatening disease for which no effective therapy exists. Myofibroblasts are one of the key effector cells in pulmonary fibrosis and are the primary source of extracellular matrix production. Drugs that inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts have potential as antifibrotic therapies. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is a transcription factor that upon ligation with PPARγ agonists activates target genes containing PPAR response elements. PPARγ agonists have anti-inflammatory activities and may have potential as antifibrotic agents. In this study, we examined the abilities of PPARγ agonists to block two of the most important profibrotic activities of TGF-β on pulmonary fibroblasts: myofibroblast differentiation and production of excess collagen. Both natural (15d-PGJ2) and synthetic (ciglitazone and rosiglitazone) PPARγ agonists inhibited TGF-β-driven myofibroblast differentiation, as determined by α-smooth muscle actin-specific immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. PPARγ agonists also potently attenuated TGF-β-driven type I collagen protein production. A dominant-negative PPARγ partially reversed the inhibition of myofibroblast differentiation by 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone, but the irreversible PPARγ antagonist GW-9662 did not, suggesting that the antifibrotic effects of the PPARγ agonists are mediated through both PPARγ-dependent and independent mechanisms. Thus PPARγ agonists have novel and potent antifibrotic effects in human lung fibroblasts and may have potential for therapy of fibrotic diseases in the lung and other tissues.

scholarly journals Ionizing radiation induces myofibroblast differentiation via lactate dehydrogenase

2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (8) ◽  
pp. L879-L887 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Judge ◽  
K. M. Owens ◽  
S. J. Pollock ◽  
C. F. Woeller ◽  
T. H. Thatcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Lactate Production ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Fibrotic Process ◽  
Radiation Induced

Pulmonary fibrosis is a common and dose-limiting side-effect of ionizing radiation used to treat cancers of the thoracic region. Few effective therapies are available for this disease. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by an accumulation of myofibroblasts and excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Although prior studies have reported that ionizing radiation induces fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production, the mechanism remains unclear. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key profibrotic cytokine that drives myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix production. However, its activation and precise role in radiation-induced fibrosis are poorly understood. Recently, we reported that lactate activates latent TGF-β through a pH-dependent mechanism. Here, we wanted to test the hypothesis that ionizing radiation leads to excessive lactate production via expression of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) to promote myofibroblast differentiation. We found that LDHA expression is increased in human and animal lung tissue exposed to ionizing radiation. We demonstrate that ionizing radiation induces LDHA, lactate production, and extracellular acidification in primary human lung fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrate that genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of LDHA protects against radiation-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, LDHA inhibition protects from radiation-induced activation of TGF-β. We propose a profibrotic feed forward loop, in which radiation induces LDHA expression and lactate production, which can lead to further activation of TGF-β to drive the fibrotic process. These studies support the concept of LDHA as an important therapeutic target in radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

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