title: Alternative activation of macrophages and pulmonary fibrosis are modulated by scavenger receptor, macrophage receptor with collagenous structure.
abstract: Alternative activation of alveolar macrophages is linked to fibrosis following exposure to asbestos. The scavenger receptor, macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), provides innate immune defense against inhaled particles and pathogens; however, a receptor for asbestos has not been identified. We hypothesized that MARCO acts as an initial signaling receptor for asbestos, polarizes macrophages to a profibrotic M2 phenotype, and is required for the development of asbestos-induced fibrosis. Compared with normal subjects, alveolar macrophages isolated from patients with asbestosis express higher amounts of MARCO and have greater profibrotic polarization. Arginase 1 (40-fold) and IL-10 (265-fold) were higher in patients. In vivo, the genetic deletion of MARCO attenuated the profibrotic environment and pulmonary fibrosis in mice exposed to chrysotile. Moreover, alveolar macrophages from MARCO(-/-) mice polarize to an M1 phenotype, whereas wild-type mice have higher Ym1 (>3.0-fold) and nearly 7-fold more active TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (BALF). Arg(432) and Arg(434) in domain V of MARCO are required for the polarization of macrophages to a profibrotic phenotype as mutation of these residues reduced FIZZ1 expression (17-fold) compared with cells expressing MARCO. These observations demonstrate that a macrophage membrane protein regulates the fibrotic response to lung injury and suggest a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Shubha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Larson-Casey
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobzik
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, and the Graduate Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Human Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA bcarter1@uab.edu.
authors.forename: A Brent
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D001119:Arginase
keywords: MARCO; asbestos; mitochondria