Carbon monoxide-induced autophagy enhances human mesenchymal stromal cell function via paracrine actions in murine polymicrobial sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening process due to organ dysfunction resulting from severe infections. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being investigated as therapy for sepsis, along with conditioning regimens to improve their function. Carbon monoxide (CO) gas, which is cytoprotective at low doses, induces autophagy and is a mediator of inflammation. We evaluated CO-induced autophagy in human MSCs (hMSCs), and its impact on cell function in murine cecal ligation and puncture. Conditioning of hMSCs with CO ex vivo resulted in enhanced survival and bacterial clearance in vivo, and neutrophil phagocytosis of bacteria in vitro. Decreased neutrophil infiltration and less parenchymal cell death in organs were associated with increased macrophage efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils, promoting resolution of inflammation. These CO effects were lost when the cells were exposed to autophagy inhibition prior to gas exposure. When assessing paracrine actions of CO-induced autophagy, extracellular vesicles (EVs) were predominantly responsible. CO had no effect on EV production, but altered their miRNA cargo. Increased expression of miR-145-3p and miR-193a-3p by CO was blunted with disruption of autophagy, and inhibitors of these miRNAs led to a loss of neutrophil phagocytosis and macrophage efferocytosis. Collectively, CO-induced autophagy enhanced hMSC function during sepsis via paracrine actions of MSC-derived EVs.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: circulating levels of FGF23 and pulmonary diffusion.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, destructive disease of the lungs with a limited number of determinants of disease activity, which are a critical need for clinical trials. FGF23 has been implicated in several chronic pulmonary diseases. We aimed to determine the association between serum FGF23 levels and pulmonary function in a cohort of patients with LAM. METHODS: This was a descriptive single-center study in which subjects with LAM and controls with unreported lung disease were recruited. Serum FGF23 levels were measured in all subjects. Clinical data, including pulmonary function testing, were retrospectively obtained from electronic medical records of LAM subjects. Associations between FGF23 levels and clinical features of LAM were explored via nonparametric hypothesis testing. RESULTS: The sample comprised 37 subjects with LAM and 16 controls. FGF23 levels were higher in the LAM group than in the control group. In the LAM group, FGF23 levels above the optimal cutoff point distinguished 33% of the subjects who had nondiagnostic VEGF-D levels. Lower FGF23 levels were associated with impaired DLCO (p = 0.04), particularly for those with isolated diffusion impairment with no other spirometric abnormalities (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that FGF23 is associated with pulmonary diffusion abnormalities in LAM patients and elicit novel mechanisms of LAM pathogenesis. FGF23 alone or in combination with other molecules needs to be validated as a biomarker of LAM activity in future clinical research.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: circulating levels of FGF23 and pulmonary diffusion / Linfangioleiomiomatose: níveis circulantes de FGF23 e difusão pulmonar

ABSTRACT Objective: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, destructive disease of the lungs with a limited number of determinants of disease activity, which are a critical need for clinical trials. FGF23 has been implicated in several chronic pulmonary diseases. We aimed to determine the association between serum FGF23 levels and pulmonary function in a cohort of patients with LAM. Methods: This was a descriptive single-center study in which subjects with LAM and controls with unreported lung disease were recruited. Serum FGF23 levels were measured in all subjects. Clinical data, including pulmonary function testing, were retrospectively obtained from electronic medical records of LAM subjects. Associations between FGF23 levels and clinical features of LAM were explored via nonparametric hypothesis testing. Results: The sample comprised 37 subjects with LAM and 16 controls. FGF23 levels were higher in the LAM group than in the control group. In the LAM group, FGF23 levels above the optimal cutoff point distinguished 33% of the subjects who had nondiagnostic VEGF-D levels. Lower FGF23 levels were associated with impaired DLCO (p = 0.04), particularly for those with isolated diffusion impairment with no other spirometric abnormalities (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our results suggest that FGF23 is associated with pulmonary diffusion abnormalities in LAM patients and elicit novel mechanisms of LAM pathogenesis. FGF23 alone or in combination with other molecules needs to be validated as a biomarker of LAM activity in future clinical research.

RESUMO Objetivo: A linfangioleiomiomatose (LAM) é uma doença rara e destrutiva dos pulmões com um número limitado de determinantes da atividade da doença, que são uma necessidade crítica para ensaios clínicos. O FGF23 já foi implicado em várias doenças pulmonares crônicas. O nosso objetivo foi determinar a associação entre os níveis séricos de FGF23 e a função pulmonar em uma coorte de pacientes com LAM. Métodos: Estudo descritivo unicêntrico no qual foram recrutados indivíduos com LAM e controles com doenças pulmonares não declaradas. Os níveis séricos de FGF23 foram medidos em todos os indivíduos. Os dados clínicos, incluindo testes de função pulmonar, foram obtidos retrospectivamente a partir dos prontuários eletrônicos dos indivíduos com LAM. As associações entre os níveis de FGF23 e as características clínicas da LAM foram exploradas por meio do teste de hipóteses não paramétrico. Resultados: A amostra incluiu 37 indivíduos com LAM e 16 controles. Os níveis de FGF23 foram mais altos no grupo LAM do que no grupo controle. No grupo LAM, níveis de FGF23 acima do ponto de corte ideal distinguiram 33% dos indivíduos com níveis não diagnósticos de VEGF-D. Níveis mais baixos de FGF23 estavam associados à DLCO comprometida (p = 0,04), particularmente naqueles com comprometimento isolado da difusão e sem outras alterações espirométricas (p = 0,04). Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que o FGF23 está associado a alterações na difusão pulmonar em pacientes com LAM e potencialmente indicam novos mecanismos de patogênese da LAM. O FGF23 isoladamente ou em combinação com outras moléculas precisa ser validado como um biomarcador da atividade da LAM em futuras pesquisas clínicas.

Angiotensin II receptor type 1 blockade regulates Klotho expression to induce TSC2-deficient cell death.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a multisystem disease occurring in women of child-bearing age manifested by uncontrolled proliferation of smooth muscle-like "LAM" cells in the lungs. LAM cells bear loss-of-function mutations in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) genes TSC1 and/or TSC2, causing hyperactivation of the proliferation promoting mammalian/mechanistic target of Rapamycin complex 1 pathway. Additionally, LAM-specific active renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been identified in LAM nodules, suggesting this system potentially contributes to neoplastic properties of LAM cells; however, the role of this renin-angiotensin signaling is unclear. Here, we report that TSC2-deficient cells are sensitive to the blockade of angiotensin II receptor type 1 (Agtr1). We show that treatment of these cells with the AGTR1 inhibitor losartan or silencing of the Agtr1 gene leads to increased cell death in vitro and attenuates tumor progression in vivo. Notably, we found the effect of Agtr1 blockade is specific to TSC2-deficient cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that cell death induced by Agtr1 inhibition is mediated by an increased expression of Klotho. In TSC2-deficient cells, we showed overexpression of Klotho or treatment with recombinant (soluble) Klotho mirrored the cytocidal effect of angiotensin blockade. Furthermore, Klotho treatment decreased the phosphorylation of AKT, potentially leading to this cytocidal effect. Conversely, silencing of Klotho rescued TSC2-deficient cells from cell death induced by Agtr1 inhibition. Therefore, we conclude that Agtr1 and Klotho are important for TSC2-deficient cell survival. These findings further illuminate the role of the RAS in LAM and the potential of targeting Agtr1 inhibition in TSC2-deficient cells.

Dysregulated myosin in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome lung fibroblasts is associated with increased cell motility.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by improper biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LROs). Lung fibrosis is the leading cause of death among adults with HPS-1 and HPS-4 genetic types, which are associated with defects in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-3 (BLOC-3), a guanine exchange factor (GEF) for a small GTPase, Rab32. LROs are not ubiquitously present in all cell types, and specific cells utilize LROs to accomplish dedicated functions. Fibroblasts are not known to contain LROs, and the function of BLOC-3 in fibroblasts is unclear. Here, we report that lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with HPS-1 have increased migration capacity. Silencing HPS-1 in normal lung fibroblasts similarly leads to increased migration. We also show that the increased migration is driven by elevated levels of Myosin IIB. Silencing HPS1 or RAB32 in normal lung fibroblasts leads to increased MYOSIN IIB levels. MYOSIN IIB is downstream of p38-MAPK, which is a known target of angiotensin receptor signaling. Treatment with losartan, an angiotensin receptor inhibitor, decreases MYOSIN IIB levels and impedes HPS lung fibroblast migration in vitro. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of angiotensin receptor with losartan seemed to decrease migration of HPS lung fibroblasts in vivo in a zebrafish xenotransplantation model. Taken together, we demonstrate that BLOC-3 plays an important role in MYOSIN IIB regulation within lung fibroblasts and contributes to fibroblast migration.

Blocking hyaluronan synthesis alleviates acute lung allograft rejection.

Lung allograft rejection results in the accumulation of low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA), which further propagates inflammation and tissue injury. We have previously shown that therapeutic lymphangiogenesis in a murine model of lung allograft rejection reduced tissue LMW-HA and was associated with improved transplant outcomes. Herein, we investigated the use of 4-Methylumbelliferone (4MU), a known inhibitor of HA synthesis, to alleviate acute allograft rejection in a murine model of lung transplantation. We found that treating mice with 4MU from days 20 to 30 after transplant was sufficient to significantly improve outcomes, characterized by a reduction in T cell-mediated lung inflammation and LMW-HA content and in improved pathology scores. In vitro, 4MU directly attenuated activation, proliferation, and differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th1 cells. As 4MU has already been demonstrated to be safe for human use, we believe examining 4MU for the treatment of acute lung allograft rejection may be of clinical significance.

FK506 induces lung lymphatic endothelial cell senescence and downregulates LYVE-1 expression, with associated decreased hyaluronan uptake.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic lymphangiogenesis in an orthotopic lung transplant model has been shown to improve acute allograft rejection that is mediated at least in part through hyaluronan drainage. Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor (LYVE-1) expressed on the surface of lymphatic endothelial cells plays important roles in hyaluronan uptake. The impact of current immunosuppressive therapies on lung lymphatic endothelial cells is largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that FK506, the most commonly used immunosuppressant after lung transplantation, induces lung lymphatic endothelial cell dysfunction. METHODS: Lung lymphatic endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and treated with FK506. Telomerase activity was measured using the TRAP assay. Protein expression of LYVE-1 and senescence markers p21 and ß-galactosidase was assessed with western blotting. Matrigel tubulation assay were used to investigate the effects of FK506 on TNF-α-induced lymphangiogenesis. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm NFAT-dependent transcriptional regulation of LYVE-1. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effects of FK506 on LYVE-1 in precision-cut-lung-slices ex vivo and on hyaluronan uptake in vitro. RESULTS: In vitro, FK506 downregulated telomerase reverse transcriptase expression, resulting in decreased telomerase activity and subsequent induction of p21 expression and cell senescence. Treatment with FK506 decreased LYVE-1 mRNA and protein levels and resulted in decreased LEC HA uptake. Similar result showing reduction of LYVE-1 expression when treated with FK506 was observed ex vivo. We identified a putative NFAT binding site on the LYVE-1 promoter and cloned this region of the promoter in a luciferase-based reporter construct. We showed that this NFAT binding site regulates LYVE-1 transcription, and mutation of this binding site blunted FK506-dependent downregulation of LYVE-1 promoter-dependent transcription. Finally, FK506-treated lymphatic endothelial cells show a blunted response to TNF-α-mediated lymphangiogenesis. CONCLUSION: FK506 alters lymphatic endothelial cell molecular characteristics and causes lymphatic endothelial cell dysfunction in vitro and ex vivo. These effects of FK506 on lymphatic endothelial cell may impair the ability of the transplanted lung to drain hyaluronan macromolecules in vivo. The implications of our findings on the long-term health of lung allografts merit more investigation.

Shorter telomere length following lung transplantation is associated with clinically significant leukopenia and decreased chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival.

Patients with short telomeres and interstitial lung disease may have decreased chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)-free survival following lung transplantation. The relationship between post-transplant telomere length and outcomes following lung transplantation has not been characterised among all recipients, regardless of native lung disease. This was a single-centre prospective cohort study. Consenting transplant recipients had their telomere length measured using quantitative real-time PCR assays on peripheral blood collected at the time of surveillance bronchoscopy. We assessed the association between early post-transplant telomere length (as measured in the first 100 days) and CLAD-free survival, time to clinically significant leukopenia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) viraemia, chronic kidney disease, and acute cellular rejection. We also assessed the association between rate of telomere shortening and CLAD-free survival. Telomere lengths were available for 98 out of 215 (45.6%) recipients who underwent lung transplant during the study period (median measurement per patient=2 (interquartile range, 1-3)). Shorter telomere length was associated with decreased CLAD-free survival (hazard ratio (HR)=1.24; 95% CI=1.03-1.48; p=0.02), leukopenia requiring granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (HR=1.17, 95% CI=1.01-1.35, p=0.03), and CMV viraemia among CMV-mismatch recipients (HR=4.04, 95% CI=1.05-15.5, p=0.04). Telomere length was not associated with acute cellular rejection or chronic kidney disease. Recipients with more rapid loss in telomere length (defined as the highest tertile of telomere shortening) did not have worse subsequent CLAD-free survival than those without rapid loss (HR=1.38, 95% CI=0.27-7.01, p=0.70). Shorter early post-transplant telomere length is associated with decreased CLAD-free survival and clinically significant leukopenia in lung transplant recipients, regardless of native lung disease.

Hyaluronan and LYVE-1 and allograft function in lung transplantation recipients.

Hyaluronan (HA) is associated with innate immune response activation and may be a marker of allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. This was a prospective, single center study comparing levels of bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL) and serum HA and the HA immobilizer LYVE-1 in lung transplant recipients with and without acute cellular rejection (ACR). Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)-free survival was also evaluated based on HA and LYVE-1 levels. 78 recipients were enrolled with a total of 115 diagnostic biopsies and 1.5 years of median follow-up. Serum HA was correlated with BAL HA (r = 0.25, p = 0.01) and with serum LYVE-1 (r = 0.32, p = 0.002). There was significant variation in HA and LYVE-1 over time, regardless of ACR status. Levels of serum HA (median 74.7 vs 82.7, p = 0.69), BAL HA (median 149.4 vs 134.5, p = 0.39), and LYVE-1 (mean 190.2 vs 183.8, p = 0.72) were not associated with ACR. CLAD-free survival was not different in recipients with any episode of elevated serum HA (HR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.3-7.7, p = 0.61) or BAL HA (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.2-3.6, p = 0.93). These results did not differ when stratified by bilateral transplant status. In this small cohort, serum HA, BAL HA, and LYVE-1 levels are not associated with ACR or CLAD-free survival in lung transplant recipients.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3-ß inhibition induces lymphangiogenesis through ß-catenin-dependent and mTOR-independent pathways.

Lymphatic vessels play an important role in health and in disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GSK3-ß inhibition on lung lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition and silencing of GSK3-ß resulted in increased lymphangiogenesis of lung lymphatic endothelial cells. To investigate mechanisms of GSK3-ß-mediated lymphangiogenesis, we interrogated the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway and found that inhibition of GSK3-ß resulted in PTEN activation and subsequent decreased activation of AKT, leading to decreased p-P70S6kinase levels, indicating inhibition of the mTOR pathway. In addition, consistent with a negative role of GSK3-ß in ß-catenin stability through protein phosphorylation, we found that GSK3-ß inhibition resulted in an increase in ß-catenin levels. Simultaneous silencing of ß-catenin and inhibition of GSK3-ß demonstrated that ß-catenin is required for GSK3-ß-induced lymphangiogenesis.

Serum endostatin levels are associated with diffusion capacity and with tuberous sclerosis- associated lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Endostatin is a naturally occurring collagen fragment with anti-angiogenic properties. We investigated the association between serum endostatin levels and DLCO in a cohort of patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Associations of endostatin levels to clinical features of LAM were explored using logistic regression models. Endostatin levels were associated with DLCO and were higher in subjects with TSC-associated LAM compared to sporadic LAM. These data suggest that endostatin could be a predictive biomarker of decline in DLCO and that germline mutational inactivation of the TSC1 or TSC2 gene is associated with higher endostatin levels. These findings could offer novel insights into the pathogenesis of LAM.

Circulating Biomarkers From the Phase 1 Trial of Sirolimus and Autophagy Inhibition for Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

BACKGROUND: We have previously conducted the Sirolimus and Autophagy Inhibition in LAM (SAIL) trial, a phase 1 dose-escalation study of the combination of sirolimus and hydroxychloroquine in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The goal of the present study was to analyze sera from the SAIL trial to identify novel biomarkers that could shed light into disease pathogenesis and response to therapy. METHODS: We used the DiscoveryMAP platform from Rules Based Medicine to simultaneously measure 279 analytes in sera collected at each visit from subjects enrolled in the SAIL trial. We used longitudinal regression and pathway analysis to examine analyte rate of change and corresponding effect on lung function and to identify networks and potential nodes of interest. RESULTS: A total of 222 analytes were included in the analysis. We identified 32 analytes that changed over the treatment period of the study. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment in cytokine-receptor interaction and mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin-related pathways, in addition to seemingly unrelated processes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins analysis identified two hubs centered around acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha and beta and coagulation factor II. In addition, we identified vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 and CCL21 as molecules significantly associated with changes in FEV1 during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: We performed a large-scale analyte study in sera of women with LAM and identified potential markers that could be linked to disease pathogenesis, lung injury, and therapeutic response. These data will enable future investigation into the specific roles of these molecules in LAM. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No. NCT01687179; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Characterization of lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients with discordance between spirometric and diffusion measurements of pulmonary function.

Background: A subset of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients present with normal FEV1 and FVC but with reduced DLCO. Patients with an isolated reduction in DLCO in other diseases appear to be at higher risk for pulmonary hypertension and worse survival but this has not been previously described in LAM patients. Objective: To characterize the prevalence and clinical progression of LAM patients who present with discordantly low DLCO. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of LAM patients in two centers in the United States and Brazil. Discordant DLCO was defined as FEV1 >80% predicted, FVC >80% predicted, and DLCO<80% predicted. We compared the rate of decline in pulmonary function, pulmonary artery to aorta (PA-A) ratio, and VEGF-D levels in patients with concordant and discordant DLCO. Results: The overall prevalence of discordant DLCO was 26.0%. Patients with discordant DLCO did not have a higher rate of yearly decline in FEV1 (-1.0±0.6 vs -1.0±0.6, p=0.50), FVC (-1.0±0.7 vs -0.3±0.8, p=0.54), or DLCO (-2.2±0.9 vs -1.6±0.6, p=0.79). They did not have higher rates of PA-A ratio>1 (23.3% vs 20.1%, p=1.00). Patients with discordant DLCO did not have higher levels of VEGF-D (1214±1256 pg/mL vs 1706±1214 pg/mL, p=0.07). Conclusions: LAM patients who present with a discordantly low DLCO do not appear to have different rates of decline in pulmonary function. Additional biological and radiographic markers are needed to more fully characterize this population. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 206-212).

Lymphatic Changes in Respiratory Diseases: More than Just Remodeling of the Lung?

Advances in our ability to identify lymphatic endothelial cells and differentiate them from blood endothelial cells have led to important progress in the study of lymphatic biology. Over the past decade, preclinical and clinical studies have shown that there are changes to the lymphatic vasculature in nearly all lung diseases. Efforts to understand the contribution of lymphatics and their growth factors to disease initiation, progression, and resolution have led to seminal findings establishing critical roles for lymphatics in lung biology spanning from the first breath after birth to asthma, tuberculosis, and lung transplantation. However, in other diseases, it remains unclear if lymphatics are part of the overall lung remodeling process or real contributors to disease pathogenesis. The goal of this Translational Review is to highlight some of the advances in our understanding of the role(s) of lymphatics in lung disease and shed light on the critical needs and unanswered questions that might lead to novel translational applications.

Aberrant SYK Kinase Signaling Is Essential for Tumorigenesis Induced by TSC2 Inactivation.

Somatic or germline mutations in the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) tumor suppressor genes are associated closely with the pathogenesis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a rare and progressive neoplastic disease that predominantly affects women in their childbearing years. Serum levels of the lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-D are elevated significantly in lymphangioleiomyomatosis. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding VEGF-D dysregulation and its cellular origin in lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Here, we show that increased expression and activation of the tyrosine kinase Syk in TSC2-deficient cells and pulmonary nodules from lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients contributes to tumor growth. Syk kinase inhibitors blocked Syk signaling and exhibited potent antiproliferative activities in TSC2-deficient cells and an immunodeficient mouse xenograft model of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. In TSC2-deficient cells, Syk signaling increased the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein MCP-1, which in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated the production of VEGF-D. In clinical isolates of PBMCs from lymphangioleiomyomatosis patients, VEGF-D expression was elevated. Furthermore, levels of VEGF-D and MCP-1 in patient sera correlated positively with each other. Our results illuminate the basis for lymphangioleiomyomatosis growth and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting Syk in this and other settings driven by TSC genetic mutation. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1492-502. ©2017 AACR.