O-GlcNAc transferase regulates collagen deposition and fibrosis resolution in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic pulmonary disease that is characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g. collagens) in the parenchyma, which ultimately leads to respiratory failure and death. While current therapies exist to slow the progression, no therapies are available to resolve fibrosis. Methods: We characterized the O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT)/O-GlcNAc axis in IPF using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and human lung sections and isolated fibroblasts from IPF and non-IPF donors. The underlying mechanism(s) of IPF were further investigated using multiple experimental models to modulate collagen expression and accumulation by genetically and pharmacologically targeting OGT. Furthermore, we hone in on the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) effector molecule, Smad3, by co-expressing it with OGT to determine if it is modified and its subsequent effect on Smad3 activation. Results: We found that OGT and O-GlcNAc levels are upregulated in patients with IPF compared to non-IPF. We report that the OGT regulates collagen deposition and fibrosis resolution, which is an evolutionarily conserved process demonstrated across multiple species. Co-expression of OGT and Smad3 showed that Smad3 is O-GlcNAc modified. Blocking OGT activity resulted in decreased phosphorylation at Ser-423/425 of Smad3 attenuating the effects of TGF-ß1 induced collagen expression/deposition. Conclusion: OGT inhibition or knockdown successfully blocked and reversed collagen expression and accumulation, respectively. Smad3 is discovered to be a substrate of OGT and its O-GlcNAc modification(s) directly affects its phosphorylation state. These data identify OGT as a potential target in pulmonary fibrosis resolution, as well as other diseases that might have aberrant ECM/collagen accumulation.

Rat bronchoalveolar lavage proteome changes following e-cigarette aerosol exposures.

E-cigarette liquids are complex mixtures of chemicals consisting of humectants, such as propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), with nicotine or flavorings added. Published literature emphasizes the toxicity of e-cigarette aerosols with flavorings whereas much less attention has been given to the biologic effects of humectants. The purpose of the current study was to provide a comprehensive view of the acute biologic effects of e-cigarette aerosols on rat bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using mass spectrometry-based global proteomics. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to e-cigarette aerosol for 3 h/day for three consecutive days. Groups included: PG/VG alone, PG/VG + 2.5% nicotine (N), or PG/VG + N + 3.3% vanillin (V). Right lung lobes were lavaged for BAL and supernatants prepared for proteomics. Extracellular BAL S100A9 concentrations and BAL cell staining for citrullinated histone H3 (citH3) were also performed. From global proteomics, ∼2,100 proteins were identified from rat BAL. The greatest change in number of BAL proteins occurred with PG/VG exposures alone compared with controls with biological pathways enriched for acute phase responses, extracellular trap formation, and coagulation. Extracellular BAL S100A9 concentrations and the number of citH3 + BAL cells also increased significantly in PG/VG and PG/VG + 2.5% N. In contrast to PG/VG or PG/VG + N, the addition of vanillin to PG/VG + N increased BAL neutrophilia and downregulated lipid transport proteins. In summary, global proteomics support e-cigarette aerosol exposures to PG/VG alone as having a significant biologic effect on the lung independent of nicotine or flavoring with increased markers of extracellular trap formation.

Observation of covalent and electrostatic bonds in nitrogen-containing polycyclic ions formed by gas phase reactions of the benzene radical cation with pyrimidine.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocyclics (PANHs) are present in ionizing environments, including interstellar clouds and solar nebulae, where their ions can interact with neutral PAH and PANH molecules leading to the formation of a variety of complex organics including large N-containing ions. Herein, we report on the formation of a covalently-bonded (benzene·pyrimidine) radical cation dimer by the gas phase reaction of pyrimidine with the benzene radical cation at room temperature using the mass-selected ion mobility technique. No ligand exchange reactions with benzene and pyrimidine are observed indicating that the binding energy of the (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ adduct is significantly higher than both the benzene dimer cation and the proton-bound pyrimidine dimer. The (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ adduct shows thermal stability up to 541 K. Thermal dissociation of the (C6D6·C4H4N2)˙+ adduct at temperatures higher than 500 K produces C4H4N2D+ (m/z 82) suggesting the transfer of a D atom from the C6D6 moiety to the C4H4N2 moiety before the dissociation of the adduct. Mass-selected ion mobility of the (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ dimer reveals the presence of two families of isomers formed by electron impact ionization of the neutral (benzene·pyrimidine) dimer. The slower mobility peak corresponds to a non-covalent family of isomers with larger collision cross sections (76.0 ± 1.8 Å2) and the faster peak is consistent with a family of covalent isomers with more compact structures and smaller collision cross sections (67.7 ± 2.2 Å2). The mobility measurements at 509 K show only one peak corresponding to the family of stable covalently bonded isomers characterized by smaller collision cross sections (66.9 ± 1.9 Å2 at 509 K). DFT calculations at the M06-2X/6-311++G** level show that the most stable (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ isomer forms a covalent C-N bond with a binding energy of 49.7 kcal mol-1 and a calculated collision cross section of 69.2 Å2, in excellent agreement with the value obtained from the faster mobility peak of the (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ dimer. Formation of a C-N covalent bond displaces a hydrogen atom from a C-H bond of the benzene cation which is transferred to the second pyrimidine nitrogen atom, thus preserving the pyrimidine π system and yielding the most stable (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ isomer. The calculations also show less stable non-covalent electrostatically bonded perpendicular isomers of the (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ dimer with a binding energy of 19 kcal mol-1 and a calculated collision cross section of 74.0-75.0 Å2 in excellent agreement with the value obtained from the slower mobility peak of the (benzene·pyrimidine)˙+ dimer.