Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis, SSc) is a devastating multiorgan disease with a prevalence of approximately 250 cases per million people in the US. The hallmark features of SSc include fibroproliferative vasculopathy, immune dysfunction, and extensive skin and organ fibrosis. Despite extensive clinical and pathological findings concerning vascular dysfunction, the mechanism underlying vascular disease and the relationship between vasculopathy and other disease manifestations is poorly understood. The progress in this area is hampered by the heterogeneity of the disease and the lack of the animal models that adequately represent the complex nature of SSc. Based on extensive studies that implicated deficiency of transcription factor Fli1 in SSc vasculopathy and fibrosis, we have established a transgenic model of SSc that recapitulates many of the vascular features of SSc and shows evidence of increased susceptibility to fibrosis. In addition, we developed an inducible model of dermal fibrosis based on Angiotensin II infusion that is characterized by vascular injury, inflammation and fibrosis, thus recapitulating the principal features of SSc. The proposed studies will test the hypothesis that persistent endothelial cell injury, in part mediated through activation of the TLR4/PKC?/Fli1 pathway, is a key pathogenic event that leads to myofibroblast activation and fibrosis in SSc. The studies will include investigation of the molecular mechanisms of LPS/TLR4 induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), with the emphasis on the PKC?-Fli1 axis combined with the comprehensive analyses of the new SSc mouse models. To further substantiate the pathological role of the PKC?/Fli1 pathway we will determine whether blockade of this pathway is therapeutically effective in reducing vasculopathy and fibrosis in animal models of SSc. We propose the following specific aims: 1: To determine the molecular mechanism of LPS/TLR4-induced activation of endothelial cells focusing on the role of PKC?/Fli1 as mediators of this process. 2: To elucidate the relationship between vasculopathy and fibrosis using mouse models of SSc. 3: To determine the therapeutic potential of novel PKC? inhibitors in reducing vasculopathy and fibrosis in vivo.

Public Health Relevance

We have successfully established experimental models of SSc recapitulating the key disease features, including vasculopathy and fibrosis that will allow us to begin to address some of the unanswered questions related to the pathogenesis of SSc and characterize candidate molecules and pathways in SSc. The new knowledge generated by these studies will help to unravel the molecular basis of the vascular injury and the relationship between vasculopathy and fibrosis and ultimately provide logical and effective targets for therapeutic intervention in SSc.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AR042334-20A1
Application #
8631514
Study Section
Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Study Section (ACTS)
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
1994-08-10
Project End
2019-04-30
Budget Start
2014-05-06
Budget End
2015-04-30
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$360,140
Indirect Cost
$140,140
Name
Boston University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Stawski, Lukasz; Marden, Grace; Trojanowska, Maria (2018) The Activation of Human Dermal Microvascular Cells by Poly(I:C), Lipopolysaccharide, Imiquimod, and ODN2395 Is Mediated by the Fli1/FOXO3A Pathway. J Immunol 200:248-259
Toyama, Tetsuo; Looney, Agnieszka P; Baker, Brendon M et al. (2018) Therapeutic Targeting of TAZ and YAP by Dimethyl Fumarate in Systemic Sclerosis Fibrosis. J Invest Dermatol 138:78-88
Stawski, Lukasz; Trojanowska, Maria (2018) Oncostatin M and its role in fibrosis. Connect Tissue Res :1-10
Makino, Katsunari; Makino, Tomoko; Stawski, Lukasz et al. (2017) Anti-connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) monoclonal antibody attenuates skin fibrosis in mice models of systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Res Ther 19:134
Takahashi, Takehiro; Asano, Yoshihide; Sugawara, Koji et al. (2017) Epithelial Fli1 deficiency drives systemic autoimmunity and fibrosis: Possible roles in scleroderma. J Exp Med 214:1129-1151
Farina, Antonella; Peruzzi, Giovanna; Lacconi, Valentina et al. (2017) Epstein-Barr virus lytic infection promotes activation of Toll-like receptor 8 innate immune response in systemic sclerosis monocytes. Arthritis Res Ther 19:39
Yamashita, Takashi; Asano, Yoshihide; Taniguchi, Takashi et al. (2017) Glycyrrhizin Ameliorates Fibrosis, Vasculopathy, and Inflammation in Animal Models of Systemic Sclerosis. J Invest Dermatol 137:631-640
Grzegorzewska, Agnieszka P; Seta, Francesca; Han, Rong et al. (2017) Dimethyl Fumarate ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension and lung fibrosis by targeting multiple pathways. Sci Rep 7:41605
Looney, Agnieszka P; Han, Rong; Stawski, Lukasz et al. (2017) Synergistic Role of Endothelial ERG and FLI1 in Mediating Pulmonary Vascular Homeostasis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 57:121-131
Makino, Katsunari; Makino, Tomoko; Stawski, Lukasz et al. (2017) Blockade of PDGF Receptors by Crenolanib Has Therapeutic Effect in Patient Fibroblasts and in Preclinical Models of Systemic Sclerosis. J Invest Dermatol 137:1671-1681

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