Open AccessVimentin intermediate filament assembly regulates fibroblast invasion in fibrogenic lung injury
Author(s) -
Ranu Surolia,
Fu Jun Li,
Wei Zheng,
Huashi Li,
K.G. Dsouza,
Vinoy Thomas,
Sergey Mirov,
Dolores PérezSala,
Mohammad Athar,
Victor J. Thannickal,
Veena B. Antony
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jci insight
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.099
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 2379-3708
DOI - 10.1172/jci.insight.123253
Subject(s) - vimentin , idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , fibroblast , lung , autophagy , myofibroblast , bleomycin , pulmonary fibrosis , intermediate filament , cancer research , fibrosis , pathology , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , cell culture , cytoskeleton , immunohistochemistry , chemotherapy , apoptosis , biochemistry , genetics
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease, with a median survival of 3-5 years following diagnosis. Lung remodeling by invasive fibroblasts is a hallmark of IPF. In this study, we demonstrate that inhibition of vimentin intermediate filaments (VimIFs) decreases the invasiveness of IPF fibroblasts and confers protection against fibrosis in a murine model of experimental lung injury. Increased expression and organization of VimIFs contribute to the invasive property of IPF fibroblasts in connection with deficient cellular autophagy. Blocking VimIF assembly by pharmacologic and genetic means also increases autophagic clearance of collagen type I. Furthermore, inhibition of expression of collagen type I by siRNA decreased invasiveness of fibroblasts. In a bleomycin injury model, enhancing autophagy in fibroblasts by an inhibitor of VimIF assembly, withaferin A (WFA), protected from fibrotic lung injury. Additionally, in 3D lung organoids, or pulmospheres, from patients with IPF, WFA reduced the invasiveness of lung fibroblasts in the majority of subjects tested. These studies provide insights into the functional role of vimentin, which regulates autophagy and restricts the invasiveness of lung fibroblasts.