Paracrine signalling during ZEB1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition augments local myofibroblast differentiation in lung fibrosis



Yao, Liudi, Conforti, Franco, Hill, Charlotte, Bell, Joseph, Drawater, Leena, Li, Juanjuan, Liu, Dian, Xiong, Hua, Alzetani, Aiman, Chee, Serena J
et al (show 14 more authors) (2019) Paracrine signalling during ZEB1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition augments local myofibroblast differentiation in lung fibrosis. CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION, 26 (5). pp. 943-957.

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Abstract

The contribution of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to human lung fibrogenesis is controversial. Here we provide evidence that ZEB1-mediated EMT in human alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells contributes to the development of lung fibrosis by paracrine signalling to underlying fibroblasts. Activation of EGFR-RAS-ERK signalling in ATII cells induced EMT via ZEB1. ATII cells had extremely low extracellular matrix gene expression even after induction of EMT, however conditioned media from ATII cells undergoing RAS-induced EMT augmented TGFβ-induced profibrogenic responses in lung fibroblasts. This epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk was controlled by ZEB1 via the expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In human fibrotic lung tissue, nuclear ZEB1 expression was detected in alveolar epithelium adjacent to sites of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, suggesting that ZEB1-mediated paracrine signalling has the potential to contribute to early fibrotic changes in the lung interstitium. Targeting this novel ZEB1 regulatory axis may be a viable strategy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Lung, Cell Line, Extracellular Matrix, Epithelial Cells, Humans, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Fibrosis, Paracrine Communication, Cell Differentiation, Gene Expression Regulation, Myofibroblasts, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 18 Apr 2023 15:48
Last Modified: 18 Apr 2023 15:48
DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0175-7
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169688