TGF-\u03b21/SMOC2/AKT and ERK axis regulates proliferation, migration, and fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation in lung fibroblast, contributing with the asthma progression

Anqiang Cao,Feng Chen,Yuebin Wang,Huike Yang,Huirong Hu,Fangtao Yan,Xian Su,Peng Chen

doi:10.1186/s41065-021-00213-w

Anqiang Cao, Feng Chen + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-021-00213-w

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Journal: Hereditas	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
Citations: 8	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Chengdu Third People's Hospital

Abstract

BackgroundAsthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that influences 300 million people all over the world. However, the pathogenesis of asthma has not been fully elucidated. It has been reported that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) can activate myofibroblasts. Moreover, the fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation (FMT) can be triggered by TGF-β, which is a major mediator of subepithelial fibrosis. Secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) is a member of cysteine (SPARC) family and is involved in the progression of multiple diseases. However, its role in asthma remains poorly understood. RT-qPCR evaluated the expression of SMOC2. Bromodeoxyuridine assay and wound-healing assay detected the proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts, respectively. IF staining was performed to assess the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Western blot analysis detected the levels of proteins. Flow cytometry was utilized for determination of the number of myofibroblasts.ResultsWe found the expression of SMOC2 was upregulated by the treatment of TGF-β1 in lung fibroblasts. In addition, SMOC2 promoted the proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts. More importantly, SMOC2 accelerated FMT of lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, SMOC2 was verified to control the activation of AKT and ERK. Rescue assays showed that the inhibition of AKT and ERK pathway reversed the promoting effect of SMOC2 overexpression on proliferation, migration and FMT in lung fibroblasts.ConclusionsThis work demonstrated that SMOC2 modulated TGF-β1-induced proliferation, migration and FMT in lung fibroblasts and may promote asthma, which potentially provided a novel therapeutic target for the management of asthma.

Highlights

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that influences 300 million people all over the world
TGF‐β1 induced the upregulation of Secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) in lung fibroblasts In order to uncover whether the expression of SMOC2 could be influenced by TGF-β1 treatment in lung fibroblasts, RT-qPCR was implemented to detect the expression of SMOC2
Compared the normal HBFs and IMR90 cells, the expression of SMOC2 in both HBFs and IMR90 cells was enhanced by different concentrations of TGFβ1, especially 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 (Fig. 1A)

Summary

Introduction

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that influences 300 million people all over the world. The fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation (FMT) can be triggered by TGF-β, which is a major mediator of subepithelial fibrosis. As a common chronic respiratory disease, asthma seriously influences nearly 300 million people all over the world [1]. The fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation (FMT) can be triggered by TGF-β, which is a major mediator of subepithelial fibrosis and upregulated in asthmatic bronchi tissues [11, 12]. It is of huge importance in the pathogenesis of asthma

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