Project description:To understand the cellular composition and transcriptional phenotype of fibrotic lung tissue we performed single-cell RNA-seq on stromal, immune, epithelial, and endothelial cell populations from human lung explants. Tissue was collected from normal control lungs, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and patients with systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Using the 10X Genomics Chromium platform, we generated transcriptional profiles of approximately 200,500 cells across 4 IPF, 3 SSc-ILD and 3 normal control lungs.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) differ in the predominant demographics and identified genetic risk alleles of affected patients, however both diseases frequently progress to respiratory failure and death. Contrasting advanced SSc-ILD to IPF provides insight to the role dysregulated immunity may play in pulmonary fibrosis. To analyze cell-type specific transcriptome commonalities and differences between IPF and SSc-ILD, we compared single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 21 explanted lung tissue specimens from patients with advanced IPF, SSc-ILD, and organ donor controls. Comparison of IPF and SSc-ILD tissue identified divergent patterns of interferon signaling, with interferon-gamma signaling upregulated in the SPP1hi and FABP4hi macrophages, cytotoxic T cells, and natural kill cells of IPF, while type I interferon signaling and production was upregulated in the corresponding SSc-ILD populations. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells were found in diseased lungs only, and exhibited upregulated cellular stress pathways in SSc-ILD compared to IPF. Alveolar type I cells were dramatically decreased in both IPF and SSc-ILD, with a distinct transcriptome signature separating these cells by disease. KRT5-/KRT17+ aberrant basaloid cells exhibiting markers of cellular senescence and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were identified in SSc-ILD for the first time. In summary, our study utilizes the enriched capabilities of scRNA-seq to identify key divergent cell types and pathways between IPF and SSc-ILD, providing new insights into the shared and distinct mechanisms between idiopathic and autoimmune interstitial lung diseases.
Project description:Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key elements of mRNA stability and likely contribute to the dysregulated lung gene expression observed in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We analyzed the miRNA gene expression of tissue and cells from SSc-ILD patients. A chronic lung fibrotic murine model was used. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissue of 12 SSc-ILD patients and 5 control lungs. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment. Lung fibroblasts and PBMCs were isolated from healthy controls and SSc-ILD patients. miRNA and mRNA were analyzed by microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and/or Nanostring; pathway analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v2.0 software. Wild-type and miR-155 deficient (miR-155ko) mice were exposed to bleomycin. Results: Lung miRNA microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-ILD from healthy controls with 185 miRNA differentially expressed (q<0.25). DIANA-miRPath revealed 57 KEGGs pathways related to the most dysregulated miRNAs. miR-155 and miR-143 were strongly correlated with progression of the HRCT score. Lung fibroblasts showed only mild expression of miR-155/miR-21 after several stimuli. miR-155 PBMC expression strongly correlated with lung function tests in SSc-ILD. miR-155ko mice developed milder lung fibrosis, survived longer, and showed a weaker lung induction of several genes after bleomycin exposure compared to wild-type mice. Conclusions: miRNAs are dysregulated in lungs and PBMCs of SSc-ILD patients. Based on mRNA-miRNA interaction analysis and pathway tools, miRNAs may play a role in the progression of the disease. Our findings suggest that targeting miR-155 might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for SSc-ILD. Lung biopsies taken from open lung biopsy from SSc-ILD patients (n=15 samples) and from cancer free control patients (n=5) during ressection of the lung tumor.
Project description:Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key elements of mRNA stability and likely contribute to the dysregulated lung gene expression observed in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We analyzed the miRNA gene expression of tissue and cells from SSc-ILD patients. A chronic lung fibrotic murine model was used. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissue of 12 SSc-ILD patients and 5 control lungs. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment. Lung fibroblasts and PBMCs were isolated from healthy controls and SSc-ILD patients. miRNA and mRNA were analyzed by microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and/or Nanostring; pathway analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v2.0 software. Wild-type and miR-155 deficient (miR-155ko) mice were exposed to bleomycin. Results: Lung miRNA microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-ILD from healthy controls with 185 miRNA differentially expressed (q<0.25). DIANA-miRPath revealed 57 KEGGs pathways related to the most dysregulated miRNAs. miR-155 and miR-143 were strongly correlated with progression of the HRCT score. Lung fibroblasts showed only mild expression of miR-155/miR-21 after several stimuli. miR-155 PBMC expression strongly correlated with lung function tests in SSc-ILD. miR-155ko mice developed milder lung fibrosis, survived longer, and showed a weaker lung induction of several genes after bleomycin exposure compared to wild-type mice. Conclusions: miRNAs are dysregulated in lungs and PBMCs of SSc-ILD patients. Based on mRNA-miRNA interaction analysis and pathway tools, miRNAs may play a role in the progression of the disease. Our findings suggest that targeting miR-155 might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for SSc-ILD. Lung biopsies taken from open lung biopsy from SSc-ILD patients (n=15 samples) and from cancer free control patients (n=5) during ressection of the lung tumor.
Project description:Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key elements of mRNA stability and likely contribute to the dysregulated lung gene expression observed in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We analyzed the miRNA gene expression of tissue and cells from SSc-ILD patients. A chronic lung fibrotic murine model was used. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissue of 12 SSc-ILD patients and 5 control lungs. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment. Lung fibroblasts and PBMCs were isolated from healthy controls and SSc-ILD patients. miRNA and mRNA were analyzed by microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and/or Nanostring; pathway analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v2.0 software. Wild-type and miR-155 deficient (miR-155ko) mice were exposed to bleomycin. Results: Lung miRNA microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-ILD from healthy controls with 185 miRNA differentially expressed (q<0.25). DIANA-miRPath revealed 57 KEGGs pathways related to the most dysregulated miRNAs. miR-155 and miR-143 were strongly correlated with progression of the HRCT score. Lung fibroblasts showed only mild expression of miR-155/miR-21 after several stimuli. miR-155 PBMC expression strongly correlated with lung function tests in SSc-ILD. miR-155ko mice developed milder lung fibrosis, survived longer, and showed a weaker lung induction of several genes after bleomycin exposure compared to wild-type mice. Conclusions: miRNAs are dysregulated in lungs and PBMCs of SSc-ILD patients. Based on mRNA-miRNA interaction analysis and pathway tools, miRNAs may play a role in the progression of the disease. Our findings suggest that targeting miR-155 might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for SSc-ILD.
Project description:Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key elements of mRNA stability and likely contribute to the dysregulated lung gene expression observed in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). We analyzed the miRNA gene expression of tissue and cells from SSc-ILD patients. A chronic lung fibrotic murine model was used. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissue of 12 SSc-ILD patients and 5 control lungs. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment. Lung fibroblasts and PBMCs were isolated from healthy controls and SSc-ILD patients. miRNA and mRNA were analyzed by microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and/or Nanostring; pathway analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v2.0 software. Wild-type and miR-155 deficient (miR-155ko) mice were exposed to bleomycin. Results: Lung miRNA microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-ILD from healthy controls with 185 miRNA differentially expressed (q<0.25). DIANA-miRPath revealed 57 KEGGs pathways related to the most dysregulated miRNAs. miR-155 and miR-143 were strongly correlated with progression of the HRCT score. Lung fibroblasts showed only mild expression of miR-155/miR-21 after several stimuli. miR-155 PBMC expression strongly correlated with lung function tests in SSc-ILD. miR-155ko mice developed milder lung fibrosis, survived longer, and showed a weaker lung induction of several genes after bleomycin exposure compared to wild-type mice. Conclusions: miRNAs are dysregulated in lungs and PBMCs of SSc-ILD patients. Based on mRNA-miRNA interaction analysis and pathway tools, miRNAs may play a role in the progression of the disease. Our findings suggest that targeting miR-155 might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for SSc-ILD.
Project description:There is microscopic spatial and temporal heterogeneity of pathologic changes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung tissue, which may relate to heterogeneity in pathophysiological mediators of disease and clinical progression. We measured gene expression in samples from lung biopsies or explants in order to assess relationships with pathological features and systemic biomarkers. RNA was extracted directly from lung tissue samples from 40 IPF patients or 8 healthy controls.
Project description:To identifying new blood derived prognostic biomarkers of lung disease progression in systemic sclerosis patients, we performed RNA-seq on whole blood from progressing SSc-ILD patients and controls enrolled in the FaSScinate clinical trial or an independent cohort.
Project description:Rationale: The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires exclusion of an underlying autoimmune disease, as present in interstitial lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD). The prevalence of autoantibodies in IPF patients is currently unknown. Objectives: An unbiased assay for de novo discovery of autoantigens can help characterizing autoreactivities in IPF patients beyond clinically established autoimmune panels. Methods: We developed the proteomic Differential Antigen Capture (DAC) assay, capturing patient antibodies from plasma, followed by affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry (AP-MS). The DAC assay quantifies the binding capacity of patient antibodies to proteins in a pooled native extract from lung explants (ILD explants n=41; donor controls n=12). Plasma antibodies from patients with IPF (n=35), CTD-ILD (n=24) and age-matched controls (n=32) were analyzed and validated in an independent cohort (IPF: n=40; CTD-ILD: n=20). Plasma antibody binding profiles were associated with clinical meta-data including diagnosis, lung function and transplant free survival. Measurements and Main Results: We identified 586 putative autoantigens in both study cohorts with a broad heterogeneity among disease entities and cohorts. On average, in IPF a mean±SD of 16±40 autoantigens and in CTD-ILD a mean±SD of 9±15 autoantigens were identified per patient. We identified 18 IPF-specific autoantigens validated in the second cohort. Interestingly, there was also a high number of shared autoantigens in IPF and CTD-ILD patients, with 17 being present in IPF and CTD-ILD of both cohorts. Presence of antibodies to Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and tubulin beta-1 chain (TUBB1) was associated with a significantly reduced survival in patients with IPF (p=0.002 and p=0.019, respectively). This signature was often associated with autoreactivity against talin-1 (TLN1), latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1), epididymis secretory protein Li 112 (HEL-S-112), zyxin (ZYX), the LIM and senescent cell antigen-like-containing domain protein 1 (LIMS1) and caldesmon (CALD1). Conclusions: Unbiased proteomic profiling reveals that the overall prevalence of autoantibodies is similar in IPF and CTD-ILD patients and identifies novel IPF specific autoantigens associated with patient survival.
Project description:Rationale: The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires exclusion of an underlying autoimmune disease, as present in interstitial lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD). The prevalence of autoantibodies in IPF patients is currently unknown. Objectives: An unbiased assay for de novo discovery of autoantigens can help characterizing autoreactivities in IPF patients beyond clinically established autoimmune panels. Methods: We developed the proteomic Differential Antigen Capture (DAC) assay, capturing patient antibodies from plasma, followed by affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry (AP-MS). The DAC assay quantifies the binding capacity of patient antibodies to proteins in a pooled native extract from lung explants (ILD explants n=41; donor controls n=12). Plasma antibodies from patients with IPF (n=35), CTD-ILD (n=24) and age-matched controls (n=32) were analyzed and validated in an independent cohort (IPF: n=40; CTD-ILD: n=20). Plasma antibody binding profiles were associated with clinical meta-data including diagnosis, lung function and transplant free survival. Measurements and Main Results: We identified 586 putative autoantigens in both study cohorts with a broad heterogeneity among disease entities and cohorts. On average, in IPF a mean±SD of 16±40 autoantigens and in CTD-ILD a mean±SD of 9±15 autoantigens were identified per patient. We identified 18 IPF-specific autoantigens validated in the second cohort. Interestingly, there was also a high number of shared autoantigens in IPF and CTD-ILD patients, with 17 being present in IPF and CTD-ILD of both cohorts. Presence of antibodies to Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and tubulin beta-1 chain (TUBB1) was associated with a significantly reduced survival in patients with IPF (p=0.002 and p=0.019, respectively). This signature was often associated with autoreactivity against talin-1 (TLN1), latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1), epididymis secretory protein Li 112 (HEL-S-112), zyxin (ZYX), the LIM and senescent cell antigen-like-containing domain protein 1 (LIMS1) and caldesmon (CALD1). Conclusions: Unbiased proteomic profiling reveals that the overall prevalence of autoantibodies is similar in IPF and CTD-ILD patients and identifies novel IPF specific autoantigens associated with patient survival.