Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF/UIP) is a fibrosing interstitial lung disease characterized by the accumulation and persistence of myofibroblasts in the lung parenchyma. Fifty percent of patients with biopsy proven IPF/UIP die within three years of diagnosis. There is no known effective therapy. While much has been learned about the origin of myofibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis, little is known about the mechanism(s) that promote their persistence. We hypothesize that myofibroblasts persist in IPF/UIP, in part, by a failure to eliminate these cells by apoptosis. Preliminary studies show that pulmonary fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are basally resistant to apoptosis and that this resistance is overcome by exposure to the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-( and IFN-(. Understanding the molecular basis of the basal resistance to apoptosis and its reversal is expected to provide new insights into how myofibroblast apoptosis may be therapeutically-manipulated in IPF/UIP. We hypothesize that the induction of pulmonary myofibroblast apoptosis involves two steps: 1) TNF-( and IFN-(-initiated sensitization and 2) Fas-ligation.
In Specific Aim 1, we will test the hypothesis that the resistance of myofibroblasts to Fas-induced apoptosis is mediated by FAP-1, an inhibitory protein that basally interacts with Fas to prevent ligand-initiated recruitment of the adapter protein, FADD.
In Specific Aim 2, we will address the mechanism by which sensitization by TNF-( and IFN-( overcomes the basal resistance of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts to apoptosis. The goal of Specific Aim 3 is to address the role of TNF-( and IFN-( in myofibroblast apoptosis in vivo and in the resolution of developing and previously established pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, these studies are expected to provide novel insights into the relationship between pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and how these events may be manipulated to slow or reverse the relentless progression of this usually fatal disorder.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01HL068628-07
Application #
7615620
Study Section
Lung Injury, Repair, and Remodeling Study Section (LIRR)
Program Officer
Reynolds, Herbert Y
Project Start
2001-12-12
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$390,000
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
National Jewish Health
Department
Type
DUNS #
076443019
City
Denver
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80206

  Publications

Redente, Elizabeth F; Keith, Rebecca C; Janssen, William et al. (2014) Tumor necrosis factor-? accelerates the resolution of established pulmonary fibrosis in mice by targeting profibrotic lung macrophages. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 50:825-37
Aschner, Yael; Khalifah, Anthony P; Briones, Natalie et al. (2014) Protein tyrosine phosphatase ? mediates profibrotic signaling in lung fibroblasts through TGF-? responsiveness. Am J Pathol 184:1489-502
Gump, Jacob M; Staskiewicz, Leah; Morgan, Michael J et al. (2014) Autophagy variation within a cell population determines cell fate through selective degradation of Fap-1. Nat Cell Biol 16:47-54
Keith, Rebecca C; Sokolove, Jeremy; Edelman, Benjamin L et al. (2013) Testosterone is protective in the sexually dimorphic development of arthritis and lung disease in SKG mice. Arthritis Rheum 65:1487-93
Park, Moo Suk; He, Qianbin; Edwards, Michael G et al. (2012) Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 modulates regional effects of injurious mechanical ventilation in rodent lungs. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 186:72-81
Keith, Rebecca C; Powers, Jennifer L; Redente, Elizabeth F et al. (2012) A novel model of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease in SKG mice. Exp Lung Res 38:55-66
Zhang, Yong; Leung, Donald Y M; Richers, Brittany N et al. (2012) Vitamin D inhibits monocyte/macrophage proinflammatory cytokine production by targeting MAPK phosphatase-1. J Immunol 188:2127-35
Redente, Elizabeth F; Jacobsen, Kristen M; Solomon, Joshua J et al. (2011) Age and sex dimorphisms contribute to the severity of bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 301:L510-8
Wynes, Murry W; Edelman, Benjamin L; Kostyk, Amanda G et al. (2011) Increased cell surface Fas expression is necessary and sufficient to sensitize lung fibroblasts to Fas ligation-induced apoptosis: implications for fibroblast accumulation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Immunol 187:527-37
Yamashita, Cory M; Dolgonos, Lior; Zemans, Rachel L et al. (2011) Matrix metalloproteinase 3 is a mediator of pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Pathol 179:1733-45

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