Corneal fibroblast collagen type IV negative feedback modulation of TGF beta: A fibrosis modulating system likely active in other organs

• Published in: Matrix biology 2022-05, Vol.109, p.162-172
• Main Authors: Wilson, Steven E., Shiju, Thomas M., Sampaio, Lycia Pedral, Hilgert, Guilherme S.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Basement membranes; Collagen type IV; Collagen Type IV - genetics; Collagen Type IV - metabolism; Colon; Cornea; Cornea - metabolism; Corneal fibroblasts; Endothelium; Epithelium; Feedback; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Growth factors; Humans; Injuries; kidney; lung; Myofibroblasts; Regulatory feedback pathway; Skin; Stromal cells; Transforming growth factor beta
• ISSN: 0945-053X; 1569-1802
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.04.002

•Collagen type IV binds TGF beta.•TGF beta upregulates collagen type IV production in stromal corneal fibroblasts apart from basement membranes.•Non-basement membrane collagen type IV production likely represents a negative feedback regulatory pathway to modulate myofibroblast generation. Collagen type IV (COL IV) is a major component of basement membranes (BM) in all organs. It serves functions related to BM organization and modulates the passage of growth factors from one tissue compartment to another. COL IV binds transforming growth factor (TGF) beta-1 and TGF beta-2 and, therefore, is a major modulator of TGF beta pro-fibrotic functions. After fibrotic corneal injury, TGF beta enters into the stroma from the tears, epithelium, endothelium and/or aqueous humor and markedly upregulates COL IV production in corneal fibroblasts in the adjacent stroma far removed from BMs. It is hypothesized this non-BM stromal COL IV binds TGF beta-1 (and likely TGF beta-2) in competition with the binding of the growth factors to TGF beta cognate receptors and serves as a negative feedback regulatory pathway to mitigate the effects of TGF beta on stromal cells, including reducing the developmental transition of corneal fibroblasts and fibrocytes into myofibroblasts. Losartan, a known TGF beta signaling inhibitor, when applied topically to the cornea after fibrotic injury, alters this COL IV-TGF beta pathway by down-regulating COL IV production by corneal fibroblasts. Non-BM COL IV produced in response to injuries in other organs, including the lung, skin, liver, kidney, and gut, may participate in similar COL IV-TGF beta pathways and have an important role in controlling TGF beta pro-fibrotic effects in these organs.