Noncanonical WNT5A controls the activation of latent TGF-ß to drive fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis.
J Clin Invest
; 134(10)2024 Mar 26.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38747285
ABSTRACT
Transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) signaling is a core pathway of fibrosis, but the molecular regulation of the activation of latent TGF-ß remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate a crucial role of WNT5A/JNK/ROCK signaling that rapidly coordinates the activation of latent TGF-ß in fibrotic diseases. WNT5A was identified as a predominant noncanonical WNT ligand in fibrotic diseases such as systemic sclerosis, sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, stimulating fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and tissue fibrosis by activation of latent TGF-ß. The activation of latent TGF-ß requires rapid JNK- and ROCK-dependent cytoskeletal rearrangements and integrin αV (ITGAV). Conditional ablation of WNT5A or its downstream targets prevented activation of latent TGF-ß, rebalanced TGF-ß signaling, and ameliorated experimental fibrosis. We thus uncovered what we believe to be a novel mechanism for the aberrant activation of latent TGF-ß in fibrotic diseases and provided evidence for targeting WNT5A/JNK/ROCK signaling in fibrotic diseases as a new therapeutic approach.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Fibrosis
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Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta
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Quinasas Asociadas a rho
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Fibroblastos
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Proteína Wnt-5a
Límite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Clin Invest
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article