Genetic deficiency of the transcription factor NFAT1 confers protection against fibrogenic responses independent of immune influx

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology 2024-01, Vol.326 (1), p.L39-L51
• Main Authors: Vittal, Ragini, Walker, Natalie M, McLinden, A Patrick, Braeuer, Russell R, Ke, Fang, Fattahi, Fatemeh, Combs, Michael P, Misumi, Keizo, Aoki, Yoshiro, Wheeler, David S, Wilke, Carol A, Huang, Steven K, Moore, Bethany B, Cao, Pengxiu, Lama, Vibha N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bleomycin - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - chemically induced; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - genetics; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Lung - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 1040-0605; 1522-1504; 1522-1504
• DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00045.2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is marked by unremitting matrix deposition and architectural distortion. Multiple profibrotic pathways contribute to the persistent activation of mesenchymal cells (MCs) in fibrosis, highlighting the need to identify and target common signaling pathways. The transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1) lies downstream of second messenger calcium signaling and has been recently shown to regulate key profibrotic mediator autotaxin (ATX) in lung MCs. Herein, we investigate the role of NFAT1 in regulating fibroproliferative responses during the development of lung fibrosis. deficient mice subjected to bleomycin injury demonstrated improved survival and protection from lung fibrosis and collagen deposition as compared with bleomycin-injured wild-type (WT) mice. Chimera mice, generated by reconstituting bone marrow cells from WT or mice into irradiated WT mice (WT→WT and →WT), demonstrated no difference in bleomycin-induced fibrosis, suggesting immune influx-independent fibroprotection in mice. Examination of lung tissue and flow sorted lineage /platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) MCs demonstrated decreased MC numbers, proliferation [↓ cyclin D1 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation], myofibroblast differentiation [↓ α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)], and survival (↓ ) in mice. Nfat1 deficiency abrogated ATX expression in response to bleomycin in vivo and MCs derived from mice demonstrated decreased ATX expression and migration in vitro. Human IPF MCs demonstrated constitutive NFAT1 activation, and regulation of ATX in these cells by NFAT1 was confirmed using pharmacological and genetic inhibition. Our findings identify NFAT1 as a critical mediator of profibrotic processes, contributing to dysregulated lung remodeling and suggest its targeting in MCs as a potential therapeutic strategy in IPF. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease with hallmarks of fibroblastic foci and exuberant matrix deposition, unknown etiology, and ineffective therapies. Several profibrotic/proinflammatory pathways are implicated in accelerating tissue remodeling toward a honeycombed end-stage disease. NFAT1 is a transcriptional factor activated in IPF tissues. -deficient mice subjected to chronic injury are protected against fibrosis independent of immune influxes, with suppression of profibrotic mesenchymal phenotypes including proliferation, differentiation, resistance to apoptosis, and