Identification of Paired-related Homeobox Protein 1 as a key mesenchymal transcription factor in pulmonary fibrosis.

Matrix remodeling is a salient feature of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Targeting cells driving matrix remodeling could be a promising avenue for IPF treatment. Analysis of transcriptomic database identified the mesenchymal transcription factor PRRX1 as upregulated in IPF. PRRX1, strongly expressed by lung fibroblasts, was regulated by a TGF-ß/PGE2 balance in vitro in control and IPF human lung fibroblasts, while IPF fibroblast-derived matrix increased PRRX1 expression in a PDGFR-dependent manner in control ones. PRRX1 inhibition decreased human lung fibroblast proliferation by downregulating the expression of S phase cyclins. PRRX1 inhibition also impacted TGF-ß driven myofibroblastic differentiation by inhibiting SMAD2/3 phosphorylation through phosphatase PPM1A upregulation and TGFBR2 downregulation, leading to TGF-ß response global decrease. Finally, targeted inhibition of Prrx1 attenuated fibrotic remodeling in vivo with intra-tracheal antisense oligonucleotides in bleomycin mouse model of lung fibrosis and ex vivo using human and mouse precision-cut lung slices. Our results identified PRRX1 as a key mesenchymal transcription factor during lung fibrogenesis.

Expression of phospholipases A2 in primary human lung macrophages: role of cytosolic phospholipase A2-alpha in arachidonic acid release and platelet activating factor synthesis.

Macrophages are a major source of lipid mediators in the human lung. Expression and contribution of cytosolic (cPLA(2)) and secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)) to the generation of lipid mediators in human macrophages are unclear. We investigated the expression and role of different PLA(2)s in the production of lipid mediators in primary human lung macrophages. Macrophages express the alpha, but not the zeta isoform of group IV and group VIA cPLA(2) (iPLA(2)). Two structurally-divergent inhibitors of group IV cPLA(2) completely block arachidonic acid release by macrophages in response to non-physiological (Ca(2+) ionophores and phorbol esters) and physiological agonists (lipopolysaccharide and Mycobacterium protein derivative). These inhibitors also reduce by 70% the synthesis of platelet-activating factor by activated macrophages. Among the full set of human sPLA(2)s, macrophages express group IIA, IID, IIE, IIF, V, X and XIIA, but not group IB and III enzymes. Me-Indoxam, a potent and cell impermeable inhibitor of several sPLA(2)s, has no effect on arachidonate release or platelet-activating factor production. Agonist-induced exocytosis is not influenced by cPLA(2) inhibitors at concentrations that block arachidonic acid release. Our results indicate that human macrophages express cPLA(2)-alpha, iPLA(2) and several sPLA(2)s. Cytosolic PLA(2)-alpha is the major enzyme responsible for lipid mediator production in human macrophages.

Group X phospholipase A2 stimulates the proliferation of colon cancer cells by producing various lipid mediators.

Among mammalian secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA(2)s), the group X enzyme has the most potent hydrolyzing capacity toward phosphatidylcholine, the major phospholipid of cell membrane and lipoproteins. This enzyme has recently been implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and asthma and may also play a role in colon tumorigenesis. We show here that group X sPLA(2) [mouse (m)GX] is one of the most highly expressed PLA(2) in the mouse colon and that recombinant mouse and human enzymes stimulate proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation of various colon cell lines, including Colon-26 cancer cells. Among various recombinant sPLA(2)s, mGX is the most potent enzyme to stimulate cell proliferation. Based on the use of sPLA(2) inhibitors, catalytic site mutants, and small interfering RNA silencing of cytosolic PLA(2)alpha and M-type sPLA(2) receptor, we demonstrate that mGX promotes cell proliferation independently of the receptor and via its intrinsic catalytic activity and production of free arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids, which are mitogenic by themselves. mGX can also elicit the production of large amounts of prostaglandin E2 and other eicosanoids from Colon-26 cells, but these lipid mediators do not play a role in mGX-induced cell proliferation because inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases do not prevent sPLA(2) mitogenic effects. Together, our results indicate that group X sPLA(2) may play an important role in colon tumorigenesis by promoting cancer cell proliferation and releasing various lipid mediators involved in other key events in cancer progression.

Inhibition of secretory phospholipase A2. 1-design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies starting from 4-tetradecyloxybenzamidine to obtain specific inhibitors of group II sPLA2s.

Starting from 4-tetradecyloxybenzamidine (PMS815), a non-specific inhibitor of GI and GII PLA2s, we report in this work the discovery of the specificity through design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships studies of different kinds of PMS815 derivatives. The leading compound, 4,5-dihydro-3-(4-tetradecyloxybenzyl)-1,2,4-4H-oxadiazol-5-one (9b, PMS1062) exhibits a micromolar IC50 towards three group II PLA2s, while inactive towards four group I and one group III enzymes in two in vitro enzymatic assay conditions. It is also able to block the PLA2-II activities induced by LPS and IL-6 in HepG2 cell line and no cytotoxicity is observed when PMS1062 is tested up to a concentration of 100 microM in two different cell lines (A549 and LLC-PK1).

Characterization of human knee and chin adipose-derived stromal cells.

Animal study findings have revealed that individual fat depots are not functionally equivalent and have different embryonic origins depending on the anatomic location. Mouse bone regeneration studies have also shown that it is essential to match the Hox code of transplanted cells and host tissues to achieve correct repair. However, subcutaneous fat depots from any donor site are often used in autologous fat grafting. Our study was thus carried out to determine the embryonic origins of human facial (chin) and limb (knee) fat depots and whether they had similar features and molecular matching patterns. Paired chin and knee fat depots were harvested from 11 subjects and gene expression profiles were determined by DNA microarray analyses. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) from both sites were isolated and analyzed for their capacity to proliferate, form clones, and differentiate. Chin and knee fat depots expressed a different HOX code and could have different embryonic origins. ASCs displayed a different phenotype, with chin-ASCs having the potential to differentiate into brown-like adipocytes, whereas knee-ASCs differentiated into white adipocytes. These results highlighted different features for these two fat sites and indicated that donor site selection might be an important factor to be considered when applying adipose tissue in cell-based therapies.

Total direct chemical synthesis and biological activities of human group IIA secretory phospholipase A2.

Human group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) (hGIIA sPLA(2)) is reported to be involved in inflammation, since its expression level is enhanced under various inflammatory conditions. In this work, we report the total chemical synthesis of this enzyme (124 amino acids) by solid-phase method. The identity of the protein, in denatured or folded (7 disulphide bonds) forms, was confirmed by electrospray MS. Synthetic sPLA(2) possesses the same circular dichroism spectrum, enzymic activity in hydrolysing different phospholipid substrates, and inhibitory effect in thrombin formation from prothrombinase complex as the recombinant sPLA(2). Furthermore, LY311727, a reported specific hGIIA sPLA(2) inhibitor, is able to inhibit the synthetic and the recombinant enzymes with the same efficiency. This study demonstrates that chemically continuous solid phase synthesis is an alternative and less time-consuming approach to producing small, structurally folded and fully active proteins of up to 124 amino acids, such as hGIIA sPLA(2). Moreover, this technique provides more flexibility in analogue synthesis to elucidate their physiological functions and pathological effects.

Arachidonic acid release from mammalian cells transfected with human groups IIA and X secreted phospholipase A(2) occurs predominantly during the secretory process and with the involvement of cytosolic phospholipase A(2)-alpha.

Stable expression of human groups IIA and X secreted phospholipases A(2) (hGIIA and hGX) in CHO-K1 and HEK293 cells leads to serum- and interleukin-1beta-promoted arachidonate release. Using mutant CHO-K1 cell lines, it is shown that this arachidonate release does not require heparan sulfate proteoglycan- or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. It is shown that the potent secreted phospholipase A(2) inhibitor Me-Indoxam is cell-impermeable. By use of Me-Indoxam and the cell-impermeable, secreted phospholipase A(2) trapping agent heparin, it is shown that hGIIA liberates free arachidonate prior to secretion from the cell. With hGX-transfected CHO-K1 cells, arachidonate release occurs before and after enzyme secretion, whereas all of the arachidonate release from HEK293 cells occurs prior to enzyme secretion. Immunocytochemical studies by confocal laser and electron microscopies show localization of hGIIA to the cell surface and Golgi compartment. Additional results show that the interleukin-1beta-dependent release of arachidonate is promoted by secreted phospholipase A(2) expression and is completely dependent on cytosolic (group IVA) phospholipase A(2). These results along with additional data resolve the paradox that efficient arachidonic acid release occurs with hGIIA-transfected cells, and yet exogenously added hGIIA is poorly able to liberate arachidonic acid from mammalian cells.