Inhibition of EZH2 prevents acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the macrophage polarization phenotype

Respiratory Research

Xiaowei Bao¹  Xiandong Liu¹  Qian Yang¹  Jianwen Bai¹  Lunxian Tang¹  Huijuan Ren¹  Dongyang Zhao¹  Na Liu²  Shougang Zhuang³  Xiaohui Zhou⁴ 

[1] Department of Internal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Shanghai East Hospital, Tong Ji University, 1800, Yuntai Road, 200120, Shanghai, China;Department of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China;Department of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China;Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA;Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, 150, Jimo Road, 200120, Shanghai, China;

关键词: ARDS;    Sepsis;    Fibrosis;    EZH2;    Macrophage polarization;    EMT;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12931-021-01785-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWe recently reported histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) as a key epigenetic regulator that contributes to the dysfunction of innate immune responses to sepsis and subsequent lung injury by mediating the imbalance of macrophage polarization. However, the role of EZH2 in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated fibrosis remains poorly understood.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the role and mechanisms of EZH2 in pulmonary fibrosis in a murine model of LPS-induced ARDS and in ex-vivo cultured alveolar macrophages (MH-S) and mouse lung epithelial cell line (MLE-12) by using 3-deazaneplanocin A (3-DZNeP) and EZH2 the small interfering (si) RNA.ResultsWe found that treatment with 3-DZNeP significantly ameliorated the LPS-induced direct lung injury and fibroproliferation by blocking EMT through TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and regulating shift of macrophage phenotypes. In the ex-vivo polarized alveolar macrophages cells, treatment with EZH2 siRNA or 3-DZNeP suppressed the M1 while promoted the M2 macrophage differentiation through modulating the STAT/SOCS signaling pathway and activating PPAR-γ. Moreover, we identified that blockade of EZH2 with 3-DZNeP suppressed the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in co-cultured bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and mouse lung epithelial cell line through down-regulation of TGF-β1, TGF-βR1, Smad2 while up-regulation of Smad7 expression.ConclusionsThese results indicate that EZH2 is involved in the pathological process of ARDS-associated pulmonary fibrosis. Targeting EZH2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat pulmonary fibrosis post ARDS.

【 授权许可】

CC BY