Leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein promotes lung fibrosis by modulating TGF-β signaling in fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT: TGF-β has an important role in fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Detailed analysis of TGF-β signaling in pulmonary fibrosis at the molecular level is needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. Recently, leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) was reported to function as a modulator of TGF-β signaling in angiogenesis and tumor progression. However, the involvement of LRG in fibrotic disorders, including IPF, has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated the role of LRG in fibrosis by analyzing LRG knockout (KO) mice with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, an animal model of pulmonary fibrosis. The amount of LRG in the lungs of wild-type (WT) mice was increased by bleomycin administration prior to fibrosis development. In LRG KO mice, lung fib

SUBMITTER: Honda H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5742708 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature