Project description:To address the gap between acute bleomycin-induced fibrosis in mice and the chronic nature of human IPF, we performed RNA-seq on lung tissue from single-dose and repetitive bleomycin models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (BLEO-IPF). We find that the repetitive BLEO-IPF model recapitulates the key features of progressive fibrosis and senescence, offering a relevant pre-clinical platform for studying chronic IPF pathology and evaluating anti-fibrotic interventions.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic progressive lung disease of unknown etiology, is characterized by the expansion of myofibroblasts and abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix in the lung parenchyma. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that lead to IPF, we analyzed myofibroblasts established from patients with IPF by oligonucleotide microarrays. Gene expression profiles revealed a novel pathophysiologic function of myofibroblasts as a generator of reactive oxygen species, and a self-defense mechanism against oxidative stress of their own generating. Experiment Overall Design: We isolated two myofibroblast cell culture from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Embryonic pulmonary fibroblast was used for the reference.
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with many chronic lung diseases including Systemic sclerosis (SSc), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) which are characterized by the progressive accumulation of mesenchymal cells and formation of scar tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis is a dysregulated response to alveolar injury which causes a progressive decline in lung function and refractory to current pharmacological therapies. Airway and alveolar epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis but the cell-specific pathways and gene networks that are responsible for the pathophysiology are unknown. Our new findings have identified the aberrant activation of Sox9 in lung resident fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in IPF lung biopsies and the mouse model of transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we sought to determine Sox9-driven gene networks in lung resident fibroblast during pulmonary fibrosis. Our results showed that Sox9 regulates the transcriptional changes that are required for the fibroblast activation including migration, myofibroblast transformation, survival and extracellular matrix deposition during pulmonary fibrosis. In summary, this new study demonstrates that Sox9 is a critical regulator of fibroblast activation in IPF and hence serve as a target for therapeutic intervention.
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with many chronic lung diseases including Systemic sclerosis (SSc), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) which are characterized by the progressive accumulation of mesenchymal cells and formation of scar tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis is a dysregulated response to alveolar injury which causes a progressive decline in lung function and refractory to current pharmacological therapies. Airway and alveolar epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis but the cell-specific pathways and gene networks that are responsible for the pathophysiology are unknown. Our new findings have identified the abberent activation of Aurora Kinase B (AURKB) in lung resident fibroblast and myofibroblast in IPF lung biopsies and the mouse model of transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) and bleomycin induced fibrosis. In this study, we sought to determine the role of AURKB in transcriptome changes in lung resident fibroblast during pulmonary fibrosis. Our results showed that AURKB regulates the transcriptional changes that are required for the fibroblast activation processes such fibroproliferation, myofibroblast survival and extracellular matrix deposition during pulmonary fibrosis. Finally, this study demonstrates that AURKB is a critcal regulator of fibroblast activation in IPF and hence serve as a target for therapeutic intervention. Grantee: Satish K Madala Grantor: US Department of Defense funds Grant ID: W81XWH-17-1-0666 Grant Title: Therapeutic Benefit of Hsp90 Inhibition in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Project description:Analysis of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at gene expression level. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that Epigenetic mechanisms are likely to be associated with pathogenesis in IPF. To determine the DNA methylation change, and their effects on gene expression, we compared microarray data of DNA methylation and RNA expression. Results provide that among the genes whose DNA methylation status and RNA expression were both significantly altered between IPF-rapid and normal controls. Total RNA obtained from Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis samples.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease that is unresponsive to current therapy. While it carries a median survival of less than 3 years its rate of progression varies widely between patients. We hypothesized that studying the gene expression profiles of physiologically stable patients and those in which the disease progressed rapidly after the initial diagnosis would aid in the search for biomarkers and contribute to the understanding of disease pathogenesis. We generated 12 Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) lung parenchyma SAGE profiles. Initial cluster analysis including 8 other public available lung SAGE libraries verified that the IPF transcriptome is distinct from normal lung tissue and other lung diseases like COPD. In order to identify candidate markers of disease progression we segregated the IPF SAGE profiles in two groups based on clinical parameters regarding lung volume and lung function.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by pathogenic accumulation of scar tissue in the lung. Many of the processes implicated in fibrosis also occur following pneuomonectomy, but fibrotic changes are absent. We aimed to characterize differences between the responses to pneumonectomy and bleomycin, a fibrosis-inducing drug. We identified Itpkc as a gene uniquely up-regulated following pneumonectomy and identified it to have anti-fibrotic effects in cell culture. We then used RNA-sequencing on normal human lung fibroblasts overexpressing ITPKC or control to gain a deeper understanding of its role.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and often fatal pulmonary disorder characterized by fibroblast proliferation and the excess deposit of extracellular matrix proteins. The etiology of IPF is unknown, but a central role for microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding regulatory RNAs, has been recently suggested. We report the upregulation of miR-199a-5p in mouse lungs undergoing bleomycin-induced fibrosis and also in human biopsies from IPF patients. Levels of miR-199a-5p were increased selectively in myofibroblasts and putative profibrotic effects of miR-199a-5p were further investigated in cultured lung fibroblasts. MiR-199a-5p expression was induced upon TGFβ exposure and ectopic expression of miR-199a-5p was sufficient to promote the pathogenic activation of pulmonary fibroblasts. CAV1, a critical mediator of pulmonary fibrosis, was established as a bona fide target of miR-199a-5p. Finally, we also found an aberrant expression of miR-199a-5p in mouse models of kidney and liver fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of miR-199a-5p represents a general mechanism contributing to the fibrotic process. We propose miR-199a-5p as a major regulator of fibrosis that represents a potential therapeutic target to treat fibroproliferative diseases. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below. Refer to individual Series
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with various chronic lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and cystic fibrosis (CF). It is characterized by the progressive accumulation of mesenchymal cells and excessive extracellular matrix production (ECM), resulting in scar tissue formation. PF arises from a dysregulated response to alveolar injury, leading to a progressive decline in lung function that remains largely unresponsive to current pharmacological therapies. Both airway and alveolar epithelial cells, along with mesenchymal cells, contribute to PF, but the cell-specific pathways and gene networks driving the pathophysiology remain poorly understood. Our recent findings indicate abnormal activation of SOX9 in lung basal epithelial cells from IPF lung biopsies and in a mouse model of repetitive bleomycin-induced fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of SOX9 in regulating transcriptomic changes in basal epithelial cells during pulmonary fibrosis. Our results show that SOX9 governs the transcriptional programs involved in basal epithelial cell differentiation to mucus producing goblet cells, and inflammation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SOX9 is a critical regulator of basal cell dysfunction in IPF and represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention.