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The CCL20-integrin α5β1 interaction enhances TGF-β/Smad signaling to promote fibroblast activation and facilitate pulmonary fibrosis

ABSTRACT: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has limited therapeutic options because its molecular pathogenesis remains unclear. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of various immune diseases. However, its role in PF is unknown. Here, we showed that CCL20 expression was significantly increased in the lung tissues of PF mouse models and PF patients compared with healthy controls. Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) were identified as the major producers of CCL20, and increased CCL20 expression resulted from decreased expression of the transcription factor JUN. AEC2-specific deletion of CCL20 protected mice from bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF. Mechanistic studies revealed that CCL20 interacted with integrin α5β1, but not the classical receptor CCR6, on fibroblasts and subsequently enhanced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling, which promoted the differentiation of lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Antibody blockade of CCL20 or disruption of the CCL20-integrin α5β1 interaction reduced established PF. Overall, our study highlights the CCL20-integrin α5β1-TGF-β signaling cascade as a potential therapeutic target for PF.

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens

SUBMITTER: Shanshan Liu

PROVIDER: PXD061156 | iProX | Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 GMT 2025

REPOSITORIES: iProX

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease consisting of emphysema, small airway obstruction, and/or chronic bronchitis that results in significant loss of lung function over time. METHODS: In order to gain insights into the molecular pathways underlying progression of emphysema and explore computational strategies for identifying COPD therapeutics, we profiled gene expression in lung tissue samples obtained from regions within the same lung with varying amounts of emphysematous destruction from smokers with COPD (8 regions x 8 lungs = 64 samples). Regional emphysema severity was quantified in each tissue sample using the mean linear intercept (Lm) between alveolar walls from micro-CT scans. RESULTS: We identified 127 genes whose expression levels were significantly associated with regional emphysema severity while controlling for gene expression differences between individuals. Genes increasing in expression with increasing emphysematous destruction included those involved in inflammation, such as the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, while genes decreasing in expression were enriched in tissue repair processes, including the transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) pathway, actin organization, and integrin signaling. We found concordant differential expression of these emphysema severity-associated genes in four cross-sectional studies of COPD. Using the Connectivity Map, we identified GHK as a compound that can reverse the gene-expression signature associated with emphysematous destruction and induce expression patterns consistent with TGF beta pathway activation. Treatment of human fibroblasts with GHK recapitulated TGF beta-induced gene-expression patterns, led to the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and elevated the expression of integrin beta1. Furthermore, addition of GHK or TGF beta restored collagen I contraction and remodeling by fibroblasts derived from COPD lungs compared to fibroblasts from former smokers without COPD. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that gene-expression changes associated with regional emphysema severity within an individualÂ¿s lung can provide insights into emphysema pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic opportunities for this deadly disease. They also suggest the need for additional studies to examine the mechanisms by which TGF beta and GHK each reverse the gene-expression signature of emphysematous destruction and the effects of this reversal on disease progression. Paired samples were obtained from 8 regions at regular intervals between the apex and base of each explanted lung from six patients with severe COPD and two donors. The degree of emphysematous destruction was quantified in one sample from each region by mean linear intercept (Lm), while gene expression was profiled in the adjacent sample from the same region using the Affymetrix Human Exon 1.0 ST GeneChip. Human fibroblast cell lines (HLF-1) were treated with GHK or TGF-Beta1 for 48 hours and profiled using the Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST GeneChip.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease consisting of emphysema, small airway obstruction, and/or chronic bronchitis that results in significant loss of lung function over time. METHODS: In order to gain insights into the molecular pathways underlying progression of emphysema and explore computational strategies for identifying COPD therapeutics, we profiled gene expression in lung tissue samples obtained from regions within the same lung with varying amounts of emphysematous destruction from smokers with COPD (8 regions x 8 lungs = 64 samples). Regional emphysema severity was quantified in each tissue sample using the mean linear intercept (Lm) between alveolar walls from micro-CT scans. RESULTS: We identified 127 genes whose expression levels were significantly associated with regional emphysema severity while controlling for gene expression differences between individuals. Genes increasing in expression with increasing emphysematous destruction included those involved in inflammation, such as the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, while genes decreasing in expression were enriched in tissue repair processes, including the transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) pathway, actin organization, and integrin signaling. We found concordant differential expression of these emphysema severity-associated genes in four cross-sectional studies of COPD. Using the Connectivity Map, we identified GHK as a compound that can reverse the gene-expression signature associated with emphysematous destruction and induce expression patterns consistent with TGF beta pathway activation. Treatment of human fibroblasts with GHK recapitulated TGF beta-induced gene-expression patterns, led to the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and elevated the expression of integrin beta1. Furthermore, addition of GHK or TGF beta restored collagen I contraction and remodeling by fibroblasts derived from COPD lungs compared to fibroblasts from former smokers without COPD. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that gene-expression changes associated with regional emphysema severity within an individual¿s lung can provide insights into emphysema pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic opportunities for this deadly disease. They also suggest the need for additional studies to examine the mechanisms by which TGF beta and GHK each reverse the gene-expression signature of emphysematous destruction and the effects of this reversal on disease progression.

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The CCL20-integrin α5β1 interaction enhances TGF-β/Smad signaling to promote fibroblast activation and facilitate pulmonary fibrosis

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