title: Hyaluronan orchestrates transforming growth factor-beta1-dependent maintenance of myofibroblast phenotype.
abstract: The differentiation of resident fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is central to wound healing. In the context of organ fibrosis, however, persistence of these myofibroblasts is associated with progressive disease. This study examines mechanisms controlling the maintenance of the myofibroblast phenotype. Myofibroblasts were induced by adding transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) (10 ng/ml) to fibroblasts for 72 h. The phenotype was maintained for up to 120 h following removal of TGF-beta1. Western blot for pSmad2 and -3 demonstrated persistent phosphorylation despite removal of exogenous TGF-beta1. This persistence was because of autocrine synthesis of TGF-beta1, which was inhibited by both anti-TGF-beta1 antibody and the ALK5 inhibitor SB431542. Persistence of phenotype was also associated with increased hyaluronan (HA) generation, synthesis of the hyaladherin TSG6, and HA pericellular coat formation. These were all inhibited by TGF-beta receptor blockade. To further investigate the importance of HA synthesis, 4-methylumbelliferone was used to deplete the cytoplasmic pool of UDP-glucuronic acid, essential for HA chain elongation. This prevented formation of the pericellular HA matrix and decreased expression of alpha-SMA. 4-Methylumbelliferone had no effect, however, on Smad2 and -3 phosphorylation. Similarly inhibition of HAS2 by short interfering RNA prevented phenotypic activation without altering TGF-beta1-dependent Smad phosphorylation, thus suggesting that HA-dependent regulation of cell phenotype was independent of Smad activation. These data suggest that myofibroblasts in areas of fibrosis maintain their own phenotype through autocrine TGF-beta1 action and that extracellular HA matrices are an essential mediator of this. We propose a model in which the formation of the pericellular HA matrix regulates the outcome of Smad-dependent autocrine TGF-beta1-activated signaling, and therefore persistence of the myofibroblast phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nephrology, Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Soma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meran
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steadman
authors.forename: Aled
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C072273:TNFAIP6 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid