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Smolgovsky S, Theall B, Wagner N, Alcaide P. Fibroblasts and immune cells: at the crossroad of organ inflammation and fibrosis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H303-H316. [PMID: 38038714 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00545.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The immune and fibrotic responses have evolved to work in tandem to respond to pathogen clearance and promote tissue repair. However, excessive immune and fibrotic responses lead to chronic inflammation and fibrosis, respectively, both of which are key pathological drivers of organ pathophysiology. Fibroblasts and immune cells are central to these responses, and evidence of these two cell types communicating through soluble mediators or adopting functions from each other through direct contact is constantly emerging. Here, we review complex junctions of fibroblast-immune cell cross talk, such as immune cell modulation of fibroblast physiology and fibroblast acquisition of immune cell-like functions, as well as how these systems of communication contribute to organ pathophysiology. We review the concept of antigen presentation by fibroblasts among different organs with different regenerative capacities, and then focus on the inflammation-fibrosis axis in the heart in the complex syndrome of heart failure. We discuss the need to develop anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic therapies, so far unsuccessful to date, that target novel mechanisms that sit at the crossroads of the fibrotic and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Smolgovsky
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Brandon Theall
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Noah Wagner
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Pilar Alcaide
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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Purev E, Bahmed K, Kosmider B. Alveolar Organoids in Lung Disease Modeling. Biomolecules 2024; 14:115. [PMID: 38254715 PMCID: PMC10813493 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung organoids display a tissue-specific functional phenomenon and mimic the features of the original organ. They can reflect the properties of the cells, such as morphology, polarity, proliferation rate, gene expression, and genomic profile. Alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells have a stem cell potential in the adult lung. They produce and secrete pulmonary surfactant and proliferate to restore the epithelium after damage. Therefore, AT2 cells are used to generate alveolar organoids and can recapitulate distal lung structures. Also, AT2 cells in human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived alveolospheres express surfactant proteins and other factors, indicating their application as suitable models for studying cell-cell interactions. Recently, they have been utilized to define mechanisms of disease development, such as COVID-19, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this review, we show lung organoid applications in various pulmonary diseases, drug screening, and personalized medicine. In addition, stem cell-based therapeutics and approaches relevant to lung repair were highlighted. We also described the signaling pathways and epigenetic regulation of lung regeneration. It is critical to identify novel regulators of alveolar organoid generations to promote lung repair in pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enkhee Purev
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Center for Inflammation and Lung Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Karim Bahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Center for Inflammation and Lung Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Beata Kosmider
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Center for Inflammation and Lung Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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M. S. Barron A, Fabre T, De S. Distinct fibroblast functions associated with fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and their implications for therapeutic development. F1000Res 2024; 13:54. [PMID: 38681509 PMCID: PMC11053351 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.143472.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are ubiquitous cells that can adopt many functional states. As tissue-resident sentinels, they respond to acute damage signals and shape the earliest events in fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Upon sensing an insult, fibroblasts produce chemokines and growth factors to organize and support the response. Depending on the size and composition of the resulting infiltrate, these activated fibroblasts may also begin to contract or relax thus changing local stiffness within the tissue. These early events likely contribute to the divergent clinical manifestations of fibrotic and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Further, distinct changes to the cellular composition and signaling dialogue in these diseases drive progressive fibroblasts specialization. In fibrotic diseases, fibroblasts support the survival, activation and differentiation of myeloid cells, granulocytes and innate lymphocytes, and produce most of the pathogenic extracellular matrix proteins. Whereas, in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, sequential accumulation of dendritic cells, T cells and B cells programs fibroblasts to support local, destructive adaptive immune responses. Fibroblast specialization has clear implications for the development of effective induction and maintenance therapies for patients with these clinically distinct diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M. S. Barron
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Thomas Fabre
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Saurav De
- Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
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Graf J, Trautmann-Rodriguez M, Sabnis S, Kloxin AM, Fromen CA. On the path to predicting immune responses in the lung: Modeling the pulmonary innate immune system at the air-liquid interface (ALI). Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 191:106596. [PMID: 37770004 PMCID: PMC10658361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic respiratory diseases and infections are among the largest contributors to death globally, many of which still have no cure, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory syncytial virus among others. Pulmonary therapeutics afford untapped potential for treating lung infection and disease through direct delivery to the site of action. However, the ability to innovate new therapeutic paradigms for respiratory diseases will rely on modeling the human lung microenvironment and including key cellular interactions that drive disease. One key feature of the lung microenvironment is the air-liquid interface (ALI). ALI interface modeling techniques, using cell-culture inserts, organoids, microfluidics, and precision lung slices (PCLS), are rapidly developing; however, one major component of these models is lacking-innate immune cell populations. Macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, among others, represent key lung cell populations, acting as the first responders during lung infection or injury. Innate immune cells respond to and modulate stromal cells and bridge the gap between the innate and adaptive immune system, controlling the bodies response to foreign pathogens and debris. In this article, we review the current state of ALI culture systems with a focus on innate immune cells and suggest ways to build on current models to add complexity and relevant immune cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Graf
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | | | - Simone Sabnis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - April M Kloxin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Catherine A Fromen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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Thiam F, Phogat S, Abokor FA, Osei ET. In vitro co-culture studies and the crucial role of fibroblast-immune cell crosstalk in IPF pathogenesis. Respir Res 2023; 24:298. [PMID: 38012580 PMCID: PMC10680329 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02608-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IPF is a fatal lung disease characterized by intensive remodeling of lung tissue leading to respiratory failure. The remodeling in IPF lungs is largely characterized by uncontrolled fibrosis. Fibroblasts and their contractile phenotype the myofibroblast are the main cell types responsible for typical wound healing responses, however in IPF, these responses are aberrant and result in the overactivation of fibroblasts which contributes to the inelasticity of the lung leading to a decrease in lung function. The specific mechanisms behind IPF pathogenesis have been elusive, but recently the innate and adaptive immunity have been implicated in the fibrotic processes of the disease. In connection with this, several in vitro co-culture models have been used to investigate the specific interactions occurring between fibroblasts and immune cells and how this contributes to the pathobiology of IPF. In this review, we discuss the in vitro models that have been used to examine the abnormal interactions between fibroblasts and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, and how these contribute to the fibrotic processes in the lungs of IPF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fama Thiam
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Sakshi Phogat
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Filsan Ahmed Abokor
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Twumasi Osei
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada.
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Jiang R, Zhou Y, Gao Q, Han L, Hong Z. ZC3H4 governs epithelial cell migration through ROCK/p-PYK2/p-MLC2 pathway in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 104:104301. [PMID: 37866415 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased epithelial migration capacity is a key step accompanying epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our lab has described that ZC3H4 mediated EMT in silicosis. Here, we aimed to explore the mechanisms of ZC3H4 by which to stimulate epithelial cell migration. METHODS Silicon dioxide (SiO2)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) animal models were administered by intratracheal instillation in C57BL/6 J mice. Pathological analysis and 2D migration assay were established to uncover the pulmonary fibrotic lesions and epithelial cell migration, respectively. Inhibitors targeting ROCK/p-PYK2/p-MLC2 and CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids targeting ZC3H4 were administrated to explore the signaling pathways. RESULTS 1) SiO2 upregulated epithelial migration in pulmonary fibrotic lesions. 2) ZC3H4 modulated SiO2-induced epithelial migration. 3) ZC3H4 governed epithelial migration through ROCK/p-PYK2/p-MLC2 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS ZC3H4 regulates epithelial migration through the ROCK/p-PYK2/p-MLC2 signaling pathway, providing the possibility that molecular drugs targeting ZC3H4-overexpression may exert effects on pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Jiang
- Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yichao Zhou
- Department of Occupation Disease Prevention and Cure, Changzhou Wujin District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- Department of Occupation Disease Prevention and Cure, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lei Han
- Department of Occupation Disease Prevention and Cure, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Zhen Hong
- Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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