LncRNA SNHG16 promotes pulmonary fibrosis by targeting miR-455-3p to regulate the Notch2 pathway

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common interstitial lung diseases with a poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in IPF in several studies. However, the role of lncRNA SNHG16 in IPF is largely unknown. Methods Firstly, experimental pulmonary fibrosis model was established by using bleomycin (BML). Histology and Western blotting assays were used to determine the different stages of fibrosis and expression of several fibrosis biomarkers. The expression of SNHG16 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). EdU staining and wound-healing assay were utilized to analyze proliferation and migration of lung fibroblast cells. Molecular mechanism of SNHG16 was explored by bioinformatics, dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP), and qRT-PCR. Results The expression of SNHG16 was significantly up-regulated in bleomycin-(BLM) induced lung fibrosis and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced fibroblast. Knockdown of SNHG16 could attenuate fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, SNHG16 was able to bind and regulate the expression of miR-455-3p. Moreover, SNHG16 also regulated the expression of Notch2 by targeting miR-455-3p. Finally, SNHG16 could promote fibrogenesis by regulating the expression of Notch2. Conclusion Taken together, our study demonstrated that SNHG16 promoted pulmonary fibrosis by targeting miR-455-3p to regulate the Notch2 pathway. These findings might provide a novel insight into pathologic process of lung fibrosis and may provide prevention strategies in the future.

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Fibroblasts positive for meflin have anti-fibrotic property in pulmonary fibrosis

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.03397-2020 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2003397

Author(s):

Yoshio Nakahara ◽

Naozumi Hashimoto ◽

Koji Sakamoto ◽

Atsushi Enomoto ◽

Taylor S. Adams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Single Cell ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Normal Lung ◽

Potential Marker ◽

Rna Hybridisation ◽

Secretory Phenotype

The prognosis of elderly individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains poor. Fibroblastic foci, in which aggregates of proliferating fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are involved, are the pathological hallmark lesions in IPF to represent focal areas of active fibrogenesis. Fibroblast heterogeneity in fibrotic lesions hampers the discovery of the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, to determine of the pathogenesis of IPF, identification of functional fibroblasts is warranted. This study was aimed to determine the role of fibroblasts positive for meflin, identified as a potential marker for mesenchymal stromal cells, during the development of pulmonary fibrosis. We characterised meflin-positive cells in a single cell atlas established by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)-based profiling of 243 472 cells from 32 IPF lungs and 29 normal lung samples. scRNA-seq combined with in situ RNA hybridisation identified proliferating fibroblasts positive for meflin in fibroblastic foci, not dense fibrosis, of fibrotic lungs in IPF patients. We determined the role of fibroblasts positive for meflin using bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. A BLM-induced lung fibrosis model for meflin-deficient mice showed that fibroblasts positive for meflin had anti-fibrotic property to prevent pulmonary fibrosis. Although transforming growth factor-β-induced fibrogenesis and cell senescence with senescence-associated secretory phenotype were exacerbated in fibroblasts via the repression or lack of meflin, these were inhibited in meflin-deficient fibroblasts with meflin reconstitution. These findings provide evidence to show the biological importance of meflin expression on fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the active fibrotic region of pulmonary fibrosis.

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Inhibition of lncRNA PFRL prevents pulmonary fibrosis by disrupting the miR-26a/smad2 loop

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00434.2017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 315 (4) ◽

pp. L563-L575 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Hua Jiang ◽

Yingzhun Chen ◽

Tong Yu ◽

Xiaoguang Zhao ◽

Huitong Shan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Lung Fibrosis ◽

Feedback Loop ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Molecular Study ◽

Pulmonary Fibroblasts ◽

Proliferation And Differentiation ◽

Tgf Β1

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating interstitial lung disease with increasing mortality and poor prognosis. The current understanding of the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in IPF remains limited. In the present study, we identified a lncRNA NONMMUT022554, designated pulmonary fibrosis-regulatory lncRNA (PFRL), with unknown functions and found that its levels were increased in fibrotic lung tissues of mice and pulmonary fibroblasts exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Furthermore, we found that enforced expression of PFRL induced fibroblast activation and collagen deposition, which could be mitigated by the overexpression of microRNA (miR)-26a. By contrast, the inhibition of PFRL could markedly alleviate the TGF-β1-induced upregulation of fibrotic markers and attenuate fibroblast proliferation and differentiation by regulating miR-26a. Meanwhile, our study confirmed that PFRL inhibited the expression and activity of miR-26a, which has been identified as an antifibrotic miRNA in our previous study. Interestingly, our molecular study further confirmed that Smad2 transcriptionally inhibits the expression of miR-26a and that the miR-26a/Smad2 feedback loop mediates the profibrotic effects of PFRL in lung fibrosis. More importantly, knockdown of PFRL ablated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that lncRNA PFRL contributes to the progression of lung fibrosis by modulating the reciprocal repression between miR-26a and Smad2 and that this lncRNA may be a therapeutic target for IPF.

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Heparin/heparan sulphate binding in the TGF-β cytokine superfamily

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0340458 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 458-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

C.C. Rider

Keyword(s):

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Heparan Sulphate ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Cell Types ◽

Binding Properties ◽

And Migration ◽

Close Relatives ◽

Bmp Antagonist

The TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) cytokine superfamily in mammals contains some 30 members. These dimeric proteins are characterized by a strongly conserved cystine knot-based structure. They regulate the proliferation, differentiation and migration of many cell types, and therefore have important roles in morphogenesis, organogenesis, tissue maintenance and wound healing. Thus far, around one-quarter of these cytokines have been shown to bind to heparin and heparan sulphate. Well-established examples are the TGF-β isoforms 1 and 2, and the BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) -2 and -4. In studies in my laboratory, we have shown that GDNF (glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor) and its close relatives neurturin and artemin bind to heparin and heparan sulphate with high affinity. We have reported previously that binding of GDNF is highly dependent on the presence of 2-O-sulphate groups. More recently, we and others have been investigating the heparin/heparan sulphate-binding properties of BMP-7, which is a representative of a distinct BMP subgroup from that of BMPs -2 and -4. Interestingly, several of the various specific BMP antagonist proteins also bind to heparin and heparan sulphate. Much remains to be learnt about the nature and role of glycosaminoglycan interactions in the TGF-β superfamily, but current work suggests that these cytokines do not share a single highly conserved heparin/heparan sulphate-binding site.

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Myeloid Fbxw7 Prevents Pulmonary Fibrosis by Suppressing TGF-β Production

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.760138 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jia He ◽

Yue Du ◽

Gaopeng Li ◽

Peng Xiao ◽

Xingzheng Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Myeloid Cell ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽

Regulation Mechanisms ◽

Insight Into

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a group of chronic interstitial pulmonary diseases characterized by an inexorable decline in lung function with limited treatment options. The abnormal expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in profibrotic macrophages is linked to severe pulmonary fibrosis, but the regulation mechanisms of TGF-β expression are incompletely understood. We found that decreased expression of E3 ubiquitin ligase Fbxw7 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly related to the severity of pulmonary fibrosis in IPF patients. Fbxw7 is identified to be a crucial suppressing factor for pulmonary fibrosis development and progression in a mouse model induced by intratracheal bleomycin treatment. Myeloid cell-specific Fbxw7 deletion increases pulmonary monocyte-macrophages accumulation in lung tissue, and eventually promotes bleomycin-induced collagen deposition and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Notably, the expression of TGF-β in profibrotic macrophages was significantly upregulated in myeloid cell-specific Fbxw7 deletion mice after bleomycin treatment. C-Jun has long been regarded as a critical transcription factor of Tgfb1, we clarified that Fbxw7 inhibits the expression of TGF-β in profibrotic macrophages by interacting with c-Jun and mediating its K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation. These findings provide insight into the role of Fbxw7 in the regulation of macrophages during the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

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METTL3-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification is critical for epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of gastric cancer

Molecular Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12943-019-1065-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Ben Yue ◽

Chenlong Song ◽

Linxi Yang ◽

Ran Cui ◽

Xingwang Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Rna Immunoprecipitation ◽

E Cadherin

Abstract Background As one of the most frequent chemical modifications in eukaryotic mRNAs, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification exerts important effects on mRNA stability, splicing, and translation. Recently, the regulatory role of m6A in tumorigenesis has been increasingly recognized. However, dysregulation of m6A and its functions in tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis remain obscure. Methods qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in gastric cancer (GC). The effects of METTL3 on GC metastasis were investigated through in vitro and in vivo assays. The mechanism of METTL3 action was explored through transcriptome-sequencing, m6A-sequencing, m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (MeRIP qRT-PCR), confocal immunofluorescent assay, luciferase reporter assay, co-immunoprecipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Results Here, we show that METTL3, a major RNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase, was upregulated in GC. Clinically, elevated METTL3 level was predictive of poor prognosis. Functionally, we found that METTL3 was required for the EMT process in vitro and for metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we unveiled the METTL3-mediated m6A modification profile in GC cells for the first time and identified zinc finger MYM-type containing 1 (ZMYM1) as a bona fide m6A target of METTL3. The m6A modification of ZMYM1 mRNA by METTL3 enhanced its stability relying on the “reader” protein HuR (also known as ELAVL1) dependent pathway. In addition, ZMYM1 bound to and mediated the repression of E-cadherin promoter by recruiting the CtBP/LSD1/CoREST complex, thus facilitating the EMT program and metastasis. Conclusions Collectively, our findings indicate the critical role of m6A modification in GC and uncover METTL3/ZMYM1/E-cadherin signaling as a potential therapeutic target in anti-metastatic strategy against GC.

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Downregulation of S100A2 alleviates pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23375/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guichuan Huang ◽

Jing Zhang ◽

Gang Qing ◽

Daishun Liu ◽

Xin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Western Blot ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

A549 Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Tgf Β1

Abstract Background：Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive and lethal disease with poor prognosis. S100A2 plays an important role in the progression of cancer. However, the role of S100A2 in PF has not been reported yet. In this study, we explored the potential role of S100A2 in PF and its potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: First, we analyzed S100A2 expression of patients with PF by retrieving RNA-sequencing datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Next, we detected the expression of S100A2 in patients with PF using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Then, S100A2 expression was determined with or without the treatment of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in A549 cells. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers, including E-cadherin，vimentin, and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), were identified using qRT-PCR and western blot. Finally, the relevant signalling pathway indicators were detected by western blot. Results: Increased expression of S100A2 was first observed in lung tissues of PF patients. Meanwhile, we found that downregulation of S100A2 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 cells. Mechanically, TGF-β1 up-regulated β-catenin and phosphorylation of GSK-3β, which was blocked by silencing S100A2 in vitro. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that downregulation of S100A2 alleviate pulmonary fibrosis via inhibiting EMT. S100A2 is a promising potential target for further understanding the mechanism and developing strategy for the treatment of PF and other EMT-associated disease.

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Knockdown of LINC01694 inhibits growth of gallbladder cancer cells via miR-340-5p/Sox4

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20194444 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Lei Liu ◽

Yuexiang Yan ◽

Guanyu Zhang ◽

Chengxue Chen ◽

Weihong Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gallbladder Cancer ◽

High Mobility ◽

Tumor Formation ◽

Cell Counting ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Normal Tissues ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Rna Immunoprecipitation

Abstract Purpose: The indispensable role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been increasingly reported. In the present study, LINC01694 was found to regulate the proliferation, invasion, as well as apoptosis in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells through sponging miR-340-5p. Methods: LINC01694 level in GBC cells was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell, and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of Sry-related high-mobility group box 4 (Sox4) was detected by Western blot (WB). The interaction between LINC01694 and miR-340-5p was measured by dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) test, and RNA pull-down. Tumor formation was examined by in vivo experiment. Results: qRT-PCR illustrated that cancerous tissues had higher LINC01694 than normal tissues. Survival analysis demonstrated that the prognosis of patients with high LINC01694 was significantly poorer than those with low LINC01694. Down-regulation of LINC01694 slowed down the proliferation and invasion in GBC cells and accelerated the apoptosis. DLR assay indicated that LINC01694 elevated Sox4 expression by regulating miR-340-5p. LINC01694 functioned as miR-340-5p sponge to inhibit Sox4 expression. Conclusion: LINC01694 level is elevated in GBC by regulating miR-340-5p/Sox4 axis, which indicates the poor prognosis of the patients.

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SnoN facilitates ALK1–Smad1/5 signaling during embryonic angiogenesis

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.201208113 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 202 (6) ◽

pp. 937-950 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Qingwei Zhu ◽

Yong Hwan Kim ◽

Douglas Wang ◽

S. Paul Oh ◽

Kunxin Luo

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Negative Regulator ◽

Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽

Type I ◽

Positive Role ◽

And Migration ◽

Proliferation And Migration

In endothelial cells, two type I receptors of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, ALK1 and ALK5, coordinate to regulate embryonic angiogenesis in response to BMP9/10 and TGF-β. Whereas TGF-β binds to and activates ALK5, leading to Smad2/3 phosphorylation and inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and migration, BMP9/10 and TGF-β also bind to ALK1, resulting in the activation of Smad1/5. SnoN is a negative regulator of ALK5 signaling through the binding and repression of Smad2/3. Here we uncover a positive role of SnoN in enhancing Smad1/5 activation in endothelial cells to promote angiogenesis. Upon ligand binding, SnoN directly bound to ALK1 on the plasma membrane and facilitated the interaction between ALK1 and Smad1/5, enhancing Smad1/5 phosphorylation. Disruption of this SnoN–Smad interaction impaired Smad1/5 activation and up-regulated Smad2/3 activity. This resulted in defective angiogenesis and arteriovenous malformations, leading to embryonic lethality at E12.5. Thus, SnoN is essential for TGF-β/BMP9-dependent biological processes by its ability to both positively and negatively modulate the activities of Smad-dependent pathways.

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Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase deficiency aggravates lung fibrosis in mice by modulating TGF-β1/BMP-4 signaling

Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1515/hsz-2019-0168 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 400 (12) ◽

pp. 1617-1627

Author(s):

Meizi Chen ◽

Bing Wan ◽

Suhua Zhu ◽

Fang Zhang ◽

Jiajia Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Lung Injury ◽

Lung Fibrosis ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β1 ◽

Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate Synthase ◽

Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate ◽

Morphogenetic Protein ◽

Tgf Β1

Abstract Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). GGPPS is implicated in many disorders, but its role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of GGPPS in IPF. We established bleomycin-induced lung injury in a lung-specific GGPPS-deficient mouse (GGPPS−/−) and detected GGPPS expression in lung tissues by Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. We found that GGPPS expression increased during lung injury and fibrosis in mice induced by bleomycin, and GGPPS deficiency augmented lung fibrosis. GGPPS deficiency activated lung fibroblast by facilitating transforming growth factor β1 while antagonizing bone morphogenetic protein 4 signaling. Notably, the supplementation of exogenous GGPP mitigated lung fibrosis in GGPPS−/− mice induced by bleomycin. In conclusion, our findings suggest that GGPPS provides protection against pulmonary fibrosis and that the restoration of protein geranylgeranylation may benefit statin-induced lung injury.

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