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Human antigen R promotes lung fibroblast differentiation to myofibroblasts and increases extracellular matrix production
Author(s) -
AlHabeeb Fatmah,
Aloufi Noof,
Traboulsi Hussein,
Liu Xingxing,
Nair Parameswaran,
Haston Christina,
Azuelos Ilan,
Huang Steven K.,
White Eric S.,
Gallouzi Imed E.,
Di Marco Sergio,
Eidelman David H.,
Baglole Carolyn J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.30380
Subject(s) - myofibroblast , extracellular matrix , gene knockdown , pulmonary fibrosis , rna binding protein , idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , cytoplasm , fibroblast , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , rna splicing , fibrosis , transforming growth factor , rna , cancer research , lung , pathology , cell culture , medicine , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease of progressive scarring caused by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and activation of α‐SMA‐expressing myofibroblasts. Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA binding protein that promotes protein translation. Upon translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, HuR functions to stabilize messenger RNA (mRNA) to increase protein levels. However, the role of HuR in promoting ECM production, myofibroblast differentiation, and lung fibrosis is unknown. Human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) treated with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) showed a significant increase in translocation of HuR from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. TGF‐β‐treated HLFs that were transfected with HuR small interfering RNA had a significant reduction in α‐SMA protein as well as the ECM proteins COL1A1, COL3A, and FN1. HuR was also bound to mRNA for ACTA2, COL1A1, COL3A1 , and FN . HuR knockdown affected the mRNA stability of ACTA2 but not that of the ECM genes COL1A1, COL3A1 , or FN . In mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis, there was higher cytoplasmic HuR in lung structural cells compared to control mice. In human IPF lungs, there was also more cytoplasmic HuR. This study is the first to show that HuR in lung fibroblasts controls their differentiation to myofibroblasts and consequent ECM production. Further research on HuR could assist in establishing the basis for the development of new target therapy for fibrotic diseases, such as IPF.