Transglutaminase 2 and its role in pulmonary fibrosis.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

University of Rochester, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

Published: September 2011

AI Article Synopsis

  • TG2 (Transglutaminase 2) plays a significant role in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung disease with limited treatment options.
  • The study showed that mice lacking TG2 had notably less fibrosis compared to normal mice, indicating TG2's involvement in the disease's fibrotic response.
  • In human samples, TG2 was found to be more active in IPF patients, suggesting it contributes to fibrotic processes and could be a potential target for new therapies.

Article Abstract

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a deadly progressive disease with few treatment options. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a multifunctional protein, but its function in pulmonary fibrosis is unknown.

Objectives: To determine the role of TG2 in pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: The fibrotic response to bleomycin was compared between wild-type and TG2 knockout mice. Transglutaminase and transglutaminase-catalyzed isopeptide bond expression was examined in formalin-fixed human lung biopsy sections by immunohistochemistry from patients with IPF. In addition, primary human lung fibroblasts were used to study TG2 function in vitro.

Measurements And Main Results: TG2 knockout mice developed significantly reduced fibrosis compared with wild-type mice as determined by hydroxyproline content and histologic fibrosis score (P < 0.05). TG2 expression and activity are increased in lung biopsy sections in humans with IPF compared with normal control subjects. In vitro overexpression of TG2 led to increased fibronectin deposition, whereas transglutaminase knockdown led to defects in contraction and adhesion. The profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-β causes an increase in membrane-localized TG2, increasing its enzymatic activity.

Conclusions: TG2 is involved in pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model and in human disease and is important in normal fibroblast function. With continued research on TG2, it may offer a new therapeutic target.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208598PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201101-0013OCDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pulmonary fibrosis
16
tg2
10
compared wild-type
8
tg2 knockout
8
knockout mice
8
human lung
8
lung biopsy
8
biopsy sections
8
fibrosis
6
pulmonary
5

Similar Publications

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic respiratory disorder for which pirfenidone is the recommended first-line anti-fibrotic treatment. While pirfenidone has demonstrated efficacy in slowing the progression of IPF, its use is associated with several challenges and unresolved issues that impact patient outcomes. Pirfenidone administration can result in gastrointestinal side effects, photosensitivity reactions, and significant drug interactions, particularly in patients with hepatic impairment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with a poor prognosis. Its non-specific clinical symptoms make accurate prediction of disease progression challenging. This study aimed to develop molecular-level prognostic models to personalize treatment strategies for IPF patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is the most common non-pulmonary comorbidity in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Current guidelines recommend insulin therapy as the treatment of choice for people with CFRD. In the past, obesity and overweight were uncommon in individuals with CF.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cystic fibrosis (CF)-related central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders have not yet been fully described. We report the first case of post-infective neuromuscular hyperexcitability syndrome in a 23-year-old male patient with CF and pulmonary exacerbation. CNS radiological investigations were unremarkable and no autoantibodies were detected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The critical role played by vascular dysfunction and ineffective angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc) suggests that circulating biomarkers reflecting these alterations may be useful in the clinical evaluation of this patient group. We sought to address this issue by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating a such candidate biomarker, endostatin, an endogenous glycoprotein exerting anti-angiogenic effects, in SSc patients and healthy controls.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus from inception to 27 May 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!