Project description:Fibrosis is a common pathology in cardiovascular disease. In the heart, fibrosis causes mechanical and electrical dysfunction and in the kidney, it predicts the onset of renal failure. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is the principal pro-fibrotic factor, but its inhibition is associated with side effects due to its pleiotropic roles. We hypothesized that downstream effectors of TGFβ1 in fibroblasts could be attractive therapeutic targets and lack upstream toxicity. Here we show, using integrated imaging–genomics analyses of primary human fibroblasts, that upregulation of interleukin-11 (IL-11) is the dominant transcriptional response to TGFβ1 exposure and required for its pro-fibrotic effect. IL-11 and its receptor (IL11RA) are expressed specifically in fibroblasts, in which they drive non-canonical, ERK-dependent autocrine signaling that is required for fibrogenic protein synthesis. In mice, fibroblast-specific Il11 transgene expression or Il-11 injection causes heart and kidney fibrosis and organ failure, whereas genetic deletion of Il11ra1 protects against disease. Therefore, inhibition of IL-11 prevents fibroblast activation across organs and species in response to a range of important pro-fibrotic stimuli. These results reveal a central role of IL-11 in fibrosis and we propose that inhibition of IL-11 is a potential therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic diseases.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease where invasive pulmonary myofibroblasts secrete collagen and destroy lung integrity. Here we show that IL-11 is upregulated in the lung of IPF patients, associated with disease severity and is secreted from IPF fibroblasts. In vitro, IL-11 stimulates lung fibroblasts to become invasive, ACTA2+ve, collagen secreting myofibroblasts, in an ERK-dependent fashion. In mice, fibroblast-specific transgenic expression or administration of Il-11 drives lung fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation and causes lung fibrosis. Il11ra1 deleted mice, whose lung fibroblasts are unresponsive to pro-fibrotic stimulation, are protected from fibrosis in the bleomycin mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. We generated an IL-11 neutralising antibody that blocks lung fibroblast activation downstream of multiple stimuli and reverses myofibroblast activation. In therapeutic studies, anti-IL-11 treatment both prevented and reversed lung fibrosis, which was accompanied by diminished Erk activation. These data prioritise IL-11 as a drug target for lung fibrosis and IPF.
Project description:The aim of this study was to identify end-stage heart failure (HF)-specific circulating micro-RNAs (miRNA), and examine whether the selected miRNAs are correlated with myocardial fibrosis (MF) and are reflective of the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with stage C or D HF.
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. Th2 T cell-derived cytokines including IL-4 and IL-13 have been shown to contribute to inflammation and fibrotic remodeling in multiple tissues. Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a newly identified cytokine that is predominantly produced by CD4 Th2 T cells, but its signaling receptor IL-31RA is primarily expressed by non-hematopoietic cells. However, the potential role of the IL-31-IL31RA axis in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis has remained largely unknown. To determine the role of IL-31 signaling in pulmonary fibrosis, wildtype, and IL-31RA knockout mice were treated with bleomycin and measured changes in total lung transcripts using RNA-seq. The total lung transcriptome analysis showed a significant reduction in fibrosis-associated gene transcripts including extracellular matrix and epithelial cell-associated gene networks.
Project description:Hematopoiesis advances cardiovascular disease by generating inflammatory leukocytes that attack the arteries, heart and brain. While it is well documented that the bone marrow niche regulates hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and hence the systemic leukocyte pool, it is less clear how cardiovascular disease affects the vasculature forming this niche. Here we show that arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction alter the anatomy and function of bone marrow vasculature. Hypertension and atherosclerosis instigated vascular fibrosis, leakage and endothelial dysfunction in the bone marrow. Myocardial infarction induced vascular leakage and bone marrow angiogenesis via Vegf signaling. Endothelial cell-specific deletion of the Vegf receptor 2 limited emergency hematopoiesis after myocardial infarction, indicating that new vasculature supports higher blood cell production. RNA-sequencing of bone marrow endothelial cells revealed inflammatory gene expression in mice with cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cell-specific deletion of interleukin 6 or versican, which were highly expressed in mice with atherosclerosis or myocardial infarction, respectively, reduced hematopoiesis and systemic myeloid cells. Taken together, cardiovascular disease affects the vascular bone marrow niche, thus influencing hematopoietic stem cell behavior and expanding innate immune cell supply to atherosclerotic plaque and ischemic myocardium. Interrupting this feed back loop may constrain cardiovascular inflammation.