biostudies-literatureNan LNHLBI NIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHS33116https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5015047biostudies-literatureUnknown6Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1)-induced phosphorylation of transcription factors Smad2 and Smad3 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the molecular regulation of Smad2/Smad3 proteins stability remains a mystery. Here, we show that ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L5 (UCHL5 or UCH37) de-ubiquitinates both Smad2 and Smad3, up-regulates their stability, and promotes TGFβ-1-induced expression of profibrotic proteins, such as fibronectin (FN) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Inhibition or down-regulation of UCHL5 reduced Smad2/Smad3 levels and TGFβ-1-induced the expression of FN and α-SMA in human lung fibroblast. We demonstrate that Smad2 and Smad3 ubiquitination was diminished by over-expression of UCHL5, while it was enhanceScientific reportsUbiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L5 promotes TGFβ-1 signaling by de-ubiquitinating and stabilizing Smad2/Smad3 in pulmonary fibrosis.PMC5015047R01 HL091916R01 GM115389R01 HL112791R01 HL126990P01 HL114453Kass DJJacko AMTan JWang DMa HZhao JZhao YNan LfalseUbiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L5 promotes TGFβ-1 signaling by de-ubiquitinating and stabilizing Smad2/Smad3 in pulmonary fibrosis.Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1)-induced phosphorylation of transcription factors Smad2 and Smad3 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the molecular regulation of Smad2/Smad3 proteins stability remains a mystery. Here, we show that ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L5 (UCHL5 or UCH37) de-ubiquitinates both Smad2 and Smad3, up-regulates their stability, and promotes TGFβ-1-induced expression of profibrotic proteins, such as fibronectin (FN) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Inhibition or down-regulation of UCHL5 reduced Smad2/Smad3 levels and TGFβ-1-induced the expression of FN and α-SMA in human lung fibroblast. We demonstrate that Smad2 and Smad3 ubiquitination was diminished by over-expression of UCHL5, while it was enhance2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Sep2025-04-05T10:43:20.023Z2019-03-27T02:23:45ZS-EPMC50150472760464010.1038/srep33116