ABSTRACT: Exogenous BAPN administration does not regulate gene expression in primary murine lung fibroblasts and alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the prototypic progressive fibrotic lung disease with a median survival of 2-4 years. Injury to and/or dysfunction of alveolar epithelium are strongly implicated in IPF disease initiation, but what factors determine why fibrosis progresses rather than normal tissue repair occurs remain poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that ZEB1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells augments TGF-β-induced profibrogenic responses in underlying lung fibroblasts by paracrine signalling. Here we investigated bi-directional epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk and its potential to drive fibrosis progression. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of lung fibroblasts exposed to conditioned media from ATII cells undergoing RAS-induced EMT identified many differentially expressed genes including those involved in cell migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation. We confirmed that paracrine signalling between AS-activated ATII cells and fibroblasts augmented fibroblast recruitment and demonstrated that this involved a ZEB1-tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) axis. In a reciprocal fashion, paracrine signalling from TGF-β-activated lung fibroblasts or IPF fibroblasts induced RAS activation in ATII cells, at least partially via the secreted protein, SPARC. Together these data identify that aberrant bi-directional epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk in IPF drives a chronic feedback loop that maintains a wound-healing phenotype and provides self-sustaining pro-fibrotic signals.
Project description:Alveolar epithelial type II (ATII)-like cells can be generated from murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), although to date, no robust protocols applying specific differentiation factors are established. We hypothesized that the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), an important mediator of lung organogenesis and primary ATII cell maturation and proliferation, together with dexamethasone, 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP, and isobutylmethylxanthine (DCI), which induce maturation of primary fetal ATII cells, also support the alveolar differentiation of murine ESCs. Here we demonstrate that the above stimuli synergistically potentiate the alveolar differentiation of ESCs as indicated by increased expression of the surfactant proteins (SP-) C and SP-B. This effect is most profound if KGF is supplied not only in the late stage, but at least also during the intermediate stage of differentiation. Our results indicate that KGF most likely does not enhance the generation of (mes)endodermal or NK2 homeobox 1 (Nkx2.1) expressing progenitor cells but rather, supported by DCI, accelerates further differentiation/maturation of respiratory progeny in the intermediate phase and maturation/proliferation of emerging ATII cells in the late stage of differentiation. Ultrastructural analyses confirmed the presence of ATII-like cells with intracellular composite and lamellar bodies. Finally, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from transgenic mice with ATII cell-specific lacZ reporter expression. Again, KGF and DCI synergistically increased SP-C and SP-B expression in iPSC cultures, and lacZ expressing ATII-like cells developed. In conclusion, ATII cell-specific reporter expression enabled the first reliable proof for the generation of murine iPSC-derived ATII cells. In addition, we have shown KGF and DCI to synergistically support the generation of ATII-like cells from ESCs and iPSCs. Combined application of these factors will facilitate more efficient generation of stem cell-derived ATII cells for future basic research and potential therapeutic application. 10 samples in total. mESCs at d8 of differentiation (Control) mESCs at d8 of differentiation with KGF treatment mESCs at d17 of differentiation (Control) mESCs at d17 of differentiation with KGF treatment mESCs at d17 of differentiation with DCI treatment mESCs at d17 of differentiation with KGF and DCI treatment mESCs at d24 of differentiation (Control) mESCs at d24 of differentiation with KGF treatment mESCs at d24 of differentiation with DCI treatment mESCs at d24 of differentiation with KGF and DCI treatment
Project description:Alveolar epithelial type II (ATII)-like cells can be generated from murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), although to date, no robust protocols applying specific differentiation factors are established. We hypothesized that the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), an important mediator of lung organogenesis and primary ATII cell maturation and proliferation, together with dexamethasone, 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP, and isobutylmethylxanthine (DCI), which induce maturation of primary fetal ATII cells, also support the alveolar differentiation of murine ESCs. Here we demonstrate that the above stimuli synergistically potentiate the alveolar differentiation of ESCs as indicated by increased expression of the surfactant proteins (SP-) C and SP-B. This effect is most profound if KGF is supplied not only in the late stage, but at least also during the intermediate stage of differentiation. Our results indicate that KGF most likely does not enhance the generation of (mes)endodermal or NK2 homeobox 1 (Nkx2.1) expressing progenitor cells but rather, supported by DCI, accelerates further differentiation/maturation of respiratory progeny in the intermediate phase and maturation/proliferation of emerging ATII cells in the late stage of differentiation. Ultrastructural analyses confirmed the presence of ATII-like cells with intracellular composite and lamellar bodies. Finally, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from transgenic mice with ATII cell-specific lacZ reporter expression. Again, KGF and DCI synergistically increased SP-C and SP-B expression in iPSC cultures, and lacZ expressing ATII-like cells developed. In conclusion, ATII cell-specific reporter expression enabled the first reliable proof for the generation of murine iPSC-derived ATII cells. In addition, we have shown KGF and DCI to synergistically support the generation of ATII-like cells from ESCs and iPSCs. Combined application of these factors will facilitate more efficient generation of stem cell-derived ATII cells for future basic research and potential therapeutic application.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible, and lethal lung disease. The initiation of IPF involves microinjuries to and/or dysfunction of the alveolar epithelium, but factors that determine fibrosis progression or normal tissue repair are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that autophagy inhibition-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells augments local myofibroblast differentiation in pulmonary fibrosis by paracrine signalling. Here, we report that liver kinase B1 (LKB1) inactivation in ATII cells induces autophagy inhibition and EMT as a consequence. In IPF lungs, this is caused by a downregulation of CAB39L, a key subunit within the LKB1 complex. 3D co-cultures of ATII cells and lung fibroblast MRC5 coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) confirmed that paracrine signalling between LKB1-depleted ATII cells and fibroblasts augmented myofibroblast differentiation. Together these data suggest that reduced autophagy caused by LKB1 inhibition can induce EMT in ATII cells and contribute to fibrosis via aberrant epithelial–fibroblast crosstalk.
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible, and lethal lung disease. The initiation of IPF involves microinjuries to and/or dysfunction of the alveolar epithelium, but factors that determine fibrosis progression or normal tissue repair are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that autophagy inhibition-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells augments local myofibroblast differentiation in pulmonary fibrosis by paracrine signalling. Here, we report that liver kinase B1 (LKB1) inactivation in ATII cells induces autophagy inhibition and EMT as a consequence. In IPF lungs, this is caused by a downregulation of CAB39L, a key subunit within the LKB1 complex. 3D co-cultures of ATII cells and lung fibroblast MRC5 coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) confirmed that paracrine signalling between LKB1-depleted ATII cells and fibroblasts augmented myofibroblast differentiation. Together these data suggest that reduced autophagy caused by LKB1 inhibition can induce EMT in ATII cells and contribute to fibrosis via aberrant epithelial–fibroblast crosstalk.
Project description:Resident stem/progenitor cells in the lung are important for tissue homeostasis and repair. However, a progenitor population for alveolar type II (ATII) cells in adult human lungs have not been identified. Here we isolated alveolar epithelial progenitor cells (AEPCs) from adult human lungs. AEPCs showed mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like characteristics combined with ATII cell-phenotypes. AEPCs had the capability for self-renewal and the potential to generate ATII cells in vitro. Furthermore, cells expressing similar markers were present within alveolar walls in normal lungs and these cells were significantly increased in ATII cell hyperplasias. These results suggest that adult human lungs contain a progenitor population for ATII cells.
Project description:Current prophylactic and therapeutic strategies targeting human influenza viruses include vaccines and antivirals. Given variable rates of vaccine efficacy and antiviral resistance, alternative strategies are urgently required to improve disease outcomes. Here we describe the use of HiSeq deep sequencing to analyze host gene expression in primary human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus. We employed primary human ATII cells isolated from normal human lung tissue donated by patients that underwent lung resection. Human host gene expression following HPAI H5N1 virus (A/Chicken/Vietnam/0008/04) infection of primary ATII cells was analyzed using Illumina HiSeq deep sequencing.
Project description:We established a new protocol for negative immunomagnetic isolation of murine primary Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II) yielding untouched primary murine AEC II. AEC II were collected from mice 24h after Aspergillus fumigatus or mock infection (9 replicates per experimental group) and analyzed by label-free quantitative proteomics.
Project description:Resident stem/progenitor cells in lungs are important for tissue homeostasis and repair. We isolated human lung progenitor cells and named alveolar epithelial progenitor cells (AEPCs)(Fujino N, et al. 2011. Lab Invest. 91:363). AEPCs have phenotypes of both alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells and mesenchymal stem cells. AEPCs had the potential to generate ATII-like cells in vitro. ATII-like cells derived from AEPCs expressed protein and mRNA of pulmonary surfactant, and displayed lamellar bodies containing the surfactants. However, it has not been evaluated whether global gene expression of the ATII-like cells from AEPCs was similar to that of mature ATII cells isolated from human lung tissues. This study demonstrated gene expression profiles of ATII-like cells from AEPCs. In addition, transcriptomes in AEPCs and mature ATII cells were deposited in the GEO website (GSE21095 and GSE29133, respectively).