scholarly journals RhoA-Dependent HGF and c-Met Mediate Gas6-Induced Inhibition of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition, Migration, and Invasion of Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung ◽  
Yang ◽  
Kim ◽  
Lee ◽  
Kim ◽  
...  

Previously, we demonstrated that growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6)/Axl or Mer signaling inhibited the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung epithelial cells. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has also been shown to inhibit TGF-β1-induced changes in EMT markers. Here, we examined whether Gas6 signaling can induce the production of HGF and c-Met in lung alveolar epithelial cells to mediate the inhibition of EMT and to inhibit the migration and invasion of epithelial cells. The inhibition of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, using either a RhoA-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) or the Rho kinase pharmacologic inhibitor Y27362, prevented the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced EMT in LA-4 cells and primary alveolar type II (AT II) epithelial cells. The c-Met antagonist PHA-665752 also blocked the anti-EMT effects associated with Gas6. Moreover, treatment with Y27362 or PHA-665752 prevented the Gas6-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1-induced migration and invasion. Our data provided evidence that the RhoA-dependent production of HGF and c-Met mediated the Gas6-induced inhibition of EMT, migration and invasion in lung alveolar epithelial cells. Thus, Gas6/Axl and Mer/RhoA signaling may be necessary for the maintenance of homeostasis in the alveolar epithelium, via HGF and c-Met.

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung ◽  
Lee ◽  
Choi ◽  
Park ◽  
Kim ◽  
...  

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in organ fibrosis. We hypothesized that growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) and its underlying mechanisms play roles in the prevention of EMT in alveolar epithelial cells (ECs). In this study, to determine whether Gas6 prevents TGF-β1-induced EMT in LA-4 and primary alveolar type II ECs, real-time PCR and immunoblotting in cell lysates and ELISA in culture supernatants were performed. Migration and invasion assays were performed using Transwell chambers. Pretreatment of ECs with Gas6 inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT based on cell morphology, changes in EMT marker expression, and induction of EMT-activating transcription factors. Gas6 enhanced the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGD2 as well as of their receptors. COX-2 inhibitors and antagonists of PGE2 and PGD2 receptors reversed the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced EMT, migration, and invasion by Gas6. Moreover, knockdown of Axl or Mer reversed the enhancement of PGE2 and PGD2 and suppression of EMT, migration and invasion by Gas6. Our data suggest Gas6-Axl or -Mer signalling events may reprogram ECs to resist EMT via the production of PGE2, PGD2, and their receptors.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. L212-L221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Vyas-Read ◽  
Philip W. Shaul ◽  
Ivan S. Yuhanna ◽  
Brigham C. Willis

Patients with interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), suffer from lung fibrosis secondary to myofibroblast-mediated excessive ECM deposition and destruction of lung architecture. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) to myofibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) attenuates ECM accumulation, enhances lung growth, and decreases alveolar myofibroblast number in experimental models. We therefore hypothesized that NO attenuates TGF-β1-induced EMT in cultured AEC. Studies of the capacity for endogenous NO production in AEC revealed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are expressed and active in AEC. Total NOS activity was 1.3 pmol·mg protein−1·min−1 with 67% derived from eNOS. TGF-β1 (50 pM) suppressed eNOS expression by more than 60% and activity by 83% but did not affect iNOS expression or activity. Inhibition of endogenous NOS with l-NAME led to spontaneous EMT, manifested by increased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and a fibroblast-like morphology. Provision of exogenous NO to TGF-β1-treated AEC decreased stress fiber-associated α-SMA expression and decreased collagen I expression by 80%. NO-treated AEC also retained an epithelial morphology and expressed increased lamellar protein, E-cadherin, and pro-surfactant protein B compared with those treated with TGF-β alone. These findings indicate that NO serves a critical role in preserving an epithelial phenotype and in attenuating EMT in AEC. NO-mediated regulation of AEC fate may have important implications in the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases such as IPF and BPD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 11152
Author(s):  
Kai-Wei Chang ◽  
Xiang Zhang ◽  
Shih-Chao Lin ◽  
Yu-Chao Lin ◽  
Chia-Hsiang Li ◽  
...  

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by fibrotic change in alveolar epithelial cells and leads to the irreversible deterioration of pulmonary function. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in type 2 lung epithelial cells contributes to excessive collagen deposition and plays an important role in IPF. Atractylodin (ATL) is a kind of herbal medicine that has been proven to protect intestinal inflammation and attenuate acute lung injury. Our study aimed to determine whether EMT played a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and whether EMT can be utilized as a therapeutic target by ATL treatment to mitigate IPF. To address this topic, we took two steps to investigate: 1. Utilization of anin vitro EMT model by treating alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cells) with TGF-β1 followed by ATL treatment for elucidating the underlying pathways, including Smad2/3 hyperphosphorylation, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway overexpression, Snail and Slug upregulation, and loss of E-cadherin. Utilization of an in vivo lung injury model by treating bleomycin on mice followed by ATL treatment to demonstrate the therapeutic effectiveness, such as, less collagen deposition and lower E-cadherin expression. In conclusion, ATL attenuates TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 cells and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuyi Zhang ◽  
Xiaoping Zhu ◽  
Yifei Hua ◽  
Qian Zhao ◽  
Kaijing Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive lung disease associated with lung damage and scarring. The pathological mechanism causing pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown. Emerging evidence suggests prominent roles of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in myofibroblast formation and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Our previous work has demonstrated the regulation of YY1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pathogenesis of fibroid lung. However, the specific function of YY1 in AECs during the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is yet to be determined. Herein, we found the higher level of YY1 in primary fibroblasts than that in primary epithelial cells from the lung of mouse. A549 and BEAS-2B cells, serving as models for type II alveolar pulmonary epithelium in vitro, were used to determine the function of YY1 during EMT of AECs. TGF-β-induced activation of the pro-fibrotic program was applied to determine the role YY1 may play in pro-fibrogenesis of type II alveolar epithelial cells. Upregulation of YY1 was associated with EMT and pro-fibrotic phenotype induced by TGF-β treatment. Targeted knockdown of YY1 abrogated the EMT induction by TGF-β treatment. Enforced expression of YY1 can partly mimic the TGF-β-induced pro-fibrotic change in either A549 cell line or primary alveolar epithelial cells, indicating the induction of YY1 expression may mediate the TGF-β-induced EMT and pro-fibrosis. In addition, the translocation of NF-κB p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was demonstrated in A549 cells after TGF-β treatment and/or YY1 overexpression, suggesting that NF-κB-YY1 signaling pathway regulates pulmonary fibrotic progression in lung epithelial cells. These findings will shed light on the better understanding of mechanisms regulating pro-fibrogenesis in AECs and pathogenesis of lung fibrosis.


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