Increased local expression of coagulation factor X contributes to the fibrotic response in human and murine lung injury.
Uncontrolled activation of the coagulation cascade contributes to the pathophysiology of several conditions, including acute and chronic lung diseases. Coagulation zymogens are considered to be largely derived from the circulation and locally activated in response to tissue injury and microvascular leak. Here we report that expression of coagulation factor X (FX) is locally increased in human and murine fibrotic lung tissue, with marked immunostaining associated with bronchial and alveolar epithelia. FXa was a potent inducer of the myofibroblast differentiation program in cultured primary human adult lung fibroblasts via TGF-beta activation that was mediated by proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and integrin alphavbeta5. PAR1, alphavbeta5, and alpha-SMA colocalized to fibrotic foci in lung biopsy specimens from individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, we demonstrated a causal link between FXa and fibrosis development by showing that a direct FXa inhibitor attenuated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. These data support what we believe to be a novel pathogenetic mechanism by which FXa, a central proteinase of the coagulation cascade, is locally expressed and drives the fibrotic response to lung injury. These findings herald a shift in our understanding of the origins of excessive procoagulant activity and place PAR1 central to the cross-talk between local procoagulant signaling and tissue remodeling.
Scotton
Chris J
CJ
Centre for Respiratory Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Krupiczojc
Malvina A
MA
Königshoff
Melanie
M
Mercer
Paul F
PF
Lee
Y C Gary
YC
Kaminski
Naftali
N
Morser
John
J
Post
Joseph M
JM
Maher
Toby M
TM
Nicholson
Andrew G
AG
Moffatt
James D
JD
Laurent
Geoffrey J
GJ
Derian
Claudia K
CK
Eickelberg
Oliver
O
Chambers
Rachel C
RC
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C064660:integrin alphaVbeta5; D001761:Bleomycin; D015951:Factor Xa