title: Osteopontin induces airway remodeling and lung fibroblast activation in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: Airway remodeling is a central feature of asthma; however, the mechanisms underlying its development have not been fully elucidated. We have demonstrated that osteopontin, an inflammatory cytokine and an extracellular matrix glycoprotein with profibrotic properties, is up-regulated in a murine model of allergen-induced airway remodeling. In the present study, we determined whether osteopontin plays a functional role in airway remodeling. Osteopontin (OPN)-deficient (OPN(-/-)) and wild-type mice were sensitized and exposed to inhaled ovalbumin (OVA) or saline for 5 weeks. Collagen production, peribronchial smooth muscle area, mucus-producing cell number, and bronchoalveolar cell counts were assessed. The functional behavior and phenotype of lung fibroblasts from OVA-treated OPN(-/-) and from wild-type mice were studied using ex vivo cultures. OVA-treated OPN(-/-) mice exhibited reduced lung collagen content, smooth muscle area, mucus-producing cells, and inflammatory cell accumulation as compared with wild-type mice. Reduced matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and vascular endothelial growth factor were observed in OVA-treated OPN(-/-) mice. Lung fibroblasts from OVA-treated OPN(-/-) mice showed reduced proliferation, migration, collagen deposition, and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in comparison with OVA-treated wild-type lung fibroblasts. Thus, OPN is key for the development of allergen-induced airway remodeling in mice. In response to allergen, OPN induces the switching of lung fibroblasts to a pro-fibrogenic myofibroblast phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Lung Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohan
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berkman
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D053495:Osteopontin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2