Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol
January 2022
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating, fibroproliferative, chronic lung disorder, is associated with expansion of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, which leads to excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix. IPF is typically clinically identified as end-stage lung disease, after fibrotic processes are well-established and advanced. Fibroblasts have been shown to be critically important in the development and progression of IPF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOsteopontin (OPN) plays a role in inflammation via recruitment of neutrophils and tissue remodeling. In this study, we investigated the distribution of OPN-expressing cells in the airway epithelium of normal lung tissue and that from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OPN was detected on the epithelial cell surface of small airways and in scattered cells within the epithelial cell layer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease characterized by the pathological remodeling of air sacs as a result of excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, but the mechanism governing the robust protein expression is poorly understood. Our recent findings demonstrate that alternative polyadenylation (APA) caused by NUDT21 reduction is important for the increased expression of fibrotic mediators and ECM proteins in lung fibroblasts by shortening the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) of mRNAs and stabilizing their transcripts, therefore activating pathological signaling pathways. Despite the importance of NUDT21 reduction in the regulation of fibrosis, the underlying mechanisms for the depletion are unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCombined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome that predominantly affects male smokers or ex-smokers and it has a mortality rate of 55% and a median survival of 5 years. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequently fatal complication of CPFE. Despite this dismal prognosis, no curative therapies exist for patients with CPFE outside of lung transplantation and no therapies are recommended to treat PH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNew Findings: What is the central question of this study? We have evaluated changes in cardiovascular physiology using echocardiography in an experimental model of lung fibrosis. What is the main finding and its importance? Remarkably, we report changes in cardiovascular function as early as day 7, concomitant with evidence of vascular remodelling. We also report that isolated pulmonary arteries were hypercontractile in response to a thromboxane A2 agonist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNew Findings: What is the central question of this study? When do alterations in pulmonary mechanics occur following chronic low-dose administration of bleomycin? What is the main finding and its importance? Remarkably, we report changes in lung mechanics as early as day 7 that corresponded to parameters determined from single-frequency forced oscillation manoeuvres and pressure-volume loops. These changes preceded substantial histological changes or changes in gene expression levels. These findings are significant to refine drug discovery in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, where preclinical studies using lung function parameters would enhance the translational potential of drug candidates where lung function readouts are routinely performed in the clinic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating and progressive disease characterized by excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and remodeling of the lung vasculature. Adenosine signaling through the ADORA2B receptor has previously been implicated in disease progression and tissue remodeling in chronic lung disease. In experimental models of PH associated with chronic lung injury, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ADORA2B improved markers of chronic lung injury and hallmarks of PH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAir-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTEC) are a well-established model to study airway epithelial cells, but current methods require large numbers of animals which is unwanted in view of the 3R principle and introduces variation. Moreover, stringent breeding schemes are frequently needed to generate sufficient numbers of genetically modified animals. Current protocols do not incorporate expansion of MTEC, and therefore we developed a protocol to expand MTEC while maintaining their differentiation capacity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is currently unknown how cigarette smoke-induced airway remodelling affects highly expressed respiratory epithelial defence proteins and thereby mucosal host defence.Localisation of a selected set of highly expressed respiratory epithelial host defence proteins was assessed in well-differentiated primary bronchial epithelial cell (PBEC) cultures. Next, PBEC were cultured at the air-liquid interface, and during differentiation for 2-3 weeks exposed daily to whole cigarette smoke.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpidemiological and experimental studies have shown that exposure to the gastric bacterium , especially in early life, prevents the development of asthma. Recent mouse studies have shown that this protective effect does not require live bacteria and that treatment with an extract of in neonates prevents the development of airway inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia. In the current study, the effect of administration of an extract of was assessed in a therapeutic study design with application of the extract just prior to allergen challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergic airways inflammation in asthma is characterized by an airway epithelial gene signature composed of , , and This Th2 gene signature is proposed as a tool to classify patients with asthma into Th2-high and Th2-low phenotypes. However, many asthmatics smoke and the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on the epithelial Th2 gene signature are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the combined effect of IL-13 and whole cigarette smoke (CS) on the Th2 gene signature and the mucin-related genes and in air-liquid interface differentiated human bronchial (ALI-PBEC) and tracheal epithelial cells (ALI-PTEC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Group III pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a highly lethal and widespread lung disorder that is a common complication in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) where it is considered to be the single most significant predictor of mortality. While increased levels of hyaluronan have been observed in IPF patients, hyaluronan-mediated vascular remodelling and the hyaluronan-mediated mechanisms promoting PH associated with IPF are not fully understood.
Experimental Approach: Explanted lung tissue from patients with IPF with and without a diagnosis of PH was used to identify increased levels of hyaluronan.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are considered as two distinct obstructive diseases. Both chronic diseases share a component of airway epithelial dysfunction. The airway epithelium is localized to deal with inhaled substances, and functions as a barrier preventing penetration of such substances into the body.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine interleukin(IL)-13 is a central regulator in goblet cell metaplasia and induces the recently described Th2 gene signature consisting of periostin (POSTN), chloride channel regulator 1 (CLCA1) and serpin B2 (SERPINB2) in airway epithelial cells. This Th2 gene signature has been proposed as a biomarker to classify asthma into Th2-high and Th2-low phenotypes. Clinical studies have shown that the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin reduced clinical symptoms in neutrophilic asthma, but not in the classical Th2-mediated asthma despite the ability of azithromycin to reduce IL-13-induced mucus production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF