PU.1 controls fibroblast polarization and tissue fibrosis

Wohlfahrt, T; Rauber, S; Uebe, S; Luber, M; Soare, A; Ekici, A; Weber, S; Matei, AE; Chen, CW; Maier, C; Karouzakis, E; Kiener, HP; Pachera, E; Dees, C; Beyer, C; Daniel, C; Gelse, K; Kremer, AE; Naschberger, E; Sturzl, M; Butter, F; Sticherling, M; Finotto, S; Kreuter, A; Kaplan, MH; Jungel, A; Gay, S; Nutt, SL; Boykin, DW; Poon, GMK; Distler, O; Schett, G; Distler, JHW; Ramming, A

Author(s): Wohlfahrt, T; Rauber, S; Uebe, S; Luber, M; Soare, A; Ekici, A; Weber, S; Matei, AE; Chen, CW; Maier, C; Karouzakis, E; Kiener, HP; Pachera, E; Dees, C; Beyer, C; Daniel, C; Gelse, K; Kremer, AE; Naschberger, E; Sturzl, M; Butter, F; Sticherling, M; Finotto, S; Kreuter, A; Kaplan, MH; Jungel, A; Gay, S; Nutt, SL; Boykin, DW; Poon, GMK; Distler, O; Schett, G; Distler, JHW; Ramming, A;
Details: Publication Year 2019-01-30,Volume 566,Issue #7744,Page 344-349
Journal Title: Nature
Publication Type: Journal Article
Abstract: Fibroblasts are polymorphic cells with pleiotropic roles in organ morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis and immune responses. In fibrotic diseases, fibroblasts synthesize abundant amounts of extracellular matrix, which induces scarring and organ failure. By contrast, a hallmark feature of fibroblasts in arthritis is degradation of the extracellular matrix because of the release of metalloproteinases and degrading enzymes, and subsequent tissue destruction. The mechanisms that drive these functionally opposing pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory phenotypes of fibroblasts remain unknown. Here we identify the transcription factor PU.1 as an essential regulator of the pro-fibrotic gene expression program. The interplay between transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms that normally control the expression of PU.1 expression is perturbed in various fibrotic diseases, resulting in the upregulation of PU.1, induction of fibrosis-associated gene sets and a phenotypic switch in extracellular matrix-producing pro-fibrotic fibroblasts. By contrast, pharmacological and genetic inactivation of PU.1 disrupts the fibrotic network and enables reprogramming of fibrotic fibroblasts into resting fibroblasts, leading to regression of fibrosis in several organs.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Research Division(s): Immunology
PubMed ID: 30700907
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-0896-x
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2019-03-13 08:04:20

Last Modified: 2019-03-13 09:57:33