Project description:To investigate the differential genes associated with mitochondria in pulmonary fibrosis mice, we established pulmonary fibrosis mice and applied mitochondrial replenishment therapy.
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with many chronic lung diseases including Systemic sclerosis (SSc), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) which are characterized by the progressive accumulation of stromal cells and formation of scar tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis is a dysregulated response to alveolar injury which causes a progressive decline in lung function and refractory to current pharmacological therapies. Airway and alveolar epithelial cells and stromal cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis but the cell-specific pathways and gene networks that are responsible for the pathophysiology are unknown. Recent animals models generated in our lab demonstrate clinical phenotypes seen in human fibrotic disease. The mouse model of transforming growth factor-? (TGF?)-induced fibrosis include conditionally expressing TGF? in the lung epithelium under control of the CCSP promoter driving rtTA expression (CCSP/TGF?). This allow the TGF? is only expressed in airway and alveolar epithelial cells and only when mice fed doxycycline (Dox). Similar to PF in humans, TGF? mice on Dox developed a progressive and extensive adventitial, interstitial and pleural fibrosis with a decline in lung mechanics. Thus, the TGF? transgenic mouse is a powerful model to determine lung cell-specific molecular signatures involved in pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we sought to determine changes in the transcriptome during TGF?-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Our results showed that several pro-fibrotic genes increased in the lungs of TGF? mice. This study demonstrates that WT1 network gene changes associated with fibrosis and myfibroblast accumulation and thus may serve as a critical regulator fibrotic lung disease. mRNA profiles of CCSP/- and CCSP/TGFalpha mice treated with Dox
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with many chronic lung diseases including Systemic sclerosis (SSc), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) which are characterized by the progressive accumulation of mesenchymal cells and formation of scar tissue. Th2 T cell-derived cytokines including IL-4 and IL-13 have been shown to contribute to inflammation and fibrotic remodeling in multiple tissues. Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a newly identified cytokine that is predominantly produced by CD4 Th2 T cells, but its signaling receptor IL-31RA is primarily expressed by non-hematopoietic cells. However, the potential role of the IL-31-IL31RA axis in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis has remained largely unknown. To determine the role of IL-31 signaling in pulmonary fibrosis, wildtype, and IL-31RA knockout mice were treated with bleomycin and measured changes in total lung transcripts using RNA-seq. The total lung transcriptome analysis showed a significant reduction in fibrosis-associated gene transcripts including extracellular matrix and epithelial cell-associated gene networks.
Project description:Analysis of whole genome gene expression levels in distal lung tissue from mice with systemically bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The hypothesis is that bleomycin promotes a specific genotype associated with development of pulmonary fibrosis and that treatment with compound EXT reduces the induction of genes related to the early progression of fibrosis.
Project description:Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice mimics major hallmarks of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, yet in this model it spontaneously resolves over time. We studied molecular mechanisms of fibrosis resolution and lung repair, focusing on transcriptional and proteomic signatures and the effect of aging. Old mice showed delayed and incomplete lung function recovery 8 weeks after Bleomycin instillation. This shift in structural and functional repair in old Bleomycin-treated mice was reflected in a temporal shift in gene and protein expression. We reveal gene signatures and signaling pathways which underpin the lung repair process.
Project description:The pathophysiology of silicosis is poorly understood, limiting development of therapies for those who have been exposed to the respirable particle. We explored mechanisms of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in human lung samples collected from patients with occupational exposure to silica and in a longitudinal mouse model of silicosis using multiple modalities including whole-lung single-cell RNA sequencing and histological, biochemical, and physiologic assessments. In addition to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, intratracheal silica challenge induced osteoclast-like differentiation of alveolar macrophages and recruited monocytes, driven by induction of the osteoclastogenic cytokine, receptor activator of nuclear factor κΒ ligand (RANKL) in pulmonary lymphocytes, and alveolar type II cells. Anti-RANKL monoclonal antibody treatment suppressed silica-induced osteoclast-like differentiation in the lung and attenuated pulmonary fibrosis. We conclude that silica induces differentiation of pulmonary osteoclast-like cells leading to progressive lung injury, likely due to sustained elaboration of bone-resorbing proteases and hydrochloric acid. Interrupting osteoclast-like differentiation may therefore constitute a promising avenue for moderating lung damage in silicosis.
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a form of chronic lung disease characterized by progressive destruction of normal alveolar gas-exchange surfaces and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In order to comprehensively define the cell types, mechanisms and mediators driving ECM deposition and fibrotic remodeling in lungs with pulmonary fibrosis, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of single-cell suspensions generated from non-fibrotic control and PF lungs. Analysis of over 114,000 cells from 20 PF and 10 control lungs identified 31 distinct cell types. We identified multiple distinct lineages directly contribute to ECM expansion, including a novel HAS1hi fibroblast subtype and a previously undescribed KRT5-/KRT17+, collagen and ECM-producing epithelial cell population that was highly enriched in PF lungs. Together these data provide high-resolution insights into the basic mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis, and indicate a direct profibrotic role of the lung epithelium in PF pathogenesis.