Abstract
Background: Numbers of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increased in the airways after allergen challenge. Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK) signaling is critical in determining the lineage fate of MSCs in tissue repair/remodeling. Objectives: We sought to investigate the role of RhoA/ROCK signaling in lineage commitment of MSCs during allergen-induced airway remodeling and delineate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Active RhoA expression in lung tissues of asthmatic patients and its role in cockroach allergen–induced airway inflammation and remodeling were investigated. RhoA/ROCK signaling–mediated MSC lineage commitment was assessed in an asthma mouse model by using MSC lineage tracing mice (nestin-Cre; ROSA26-EYFP). The role of RhoA/ROCK in MSC lineage commitment was also examined by using MSCs expressing constitutively active RhoA (RhoA-L63) or dominant negative RhoA (RhoA-N19). Downstream RhoA-regulated genes were identified by using the Stem Cell Signaling Array. Results: Lung tissues from asthmatic mice showed increased expression of active RhoA when compared with those from control mice. Inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling with fasudil, a RhoA/ROCK inhibitor, reversed established cockroach allergen–induced airway inflammation and remodeling, as assessed based on greater collagen deposition/fibrosis. Furthermore, fasudil inhibited MSC differentiation into fibroblasts/myofibroblasts but promoted MSC differentiation into epithelial cells in asthmatic nestin-Cre; ROSA26-EYFP mice. Consistently, expression of RhoA-L63 facilitated differentiation of MSCs into fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, whereas expression of RhoA-19 switched the differentiation toward epithelial cells. The gene array identified the Wnt signaling effector lymphoid enhancer–binding factor 1 (Lef1) as the most upregulated gene in RhoA-L63–transfected MSCs. Knockdown of Lef1 induced MSC differentiation away from fibroblasts/myofibroblasts but toward epithelial cells. Conclusions: These findings uncover a previously unrecognized role of RhoA/ROCK signaling in MSC-involved airway repair/remodeling in the setting of asthma.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1560-1574.e6 |
Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 143 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2019 |
Keywords
- Asthma
- Lef1
- Ras homolog family member A/Rho-associated protein kinase 1
- cockroach allergen
- mesenchymal stem cell
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology