Pro-Fibrotic Effects of CCL18 on Human Lung Fibroblasts Are Mediated via CCR6

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Kerstin Höhne - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Annett Wagenknecht - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Corinna Maier - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Peggy Engelhard - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Torsten Goldmann - , Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Lung Center (Author)
  • Stephan J. Schließmann - , University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Till Plönes - , Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Martin Trepel - , University Medical Center Freiburg, Augsburg University (Author)
  • Hermann Eibel - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Joachim Müller-Quernheim - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Gernot Zissel - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease of unknown origin, with a median patient survival time of ~3 years after diagnosis without anti-fibrotic therapy. It is characterized by progressive fibrosis indicated by increased collagen deposition and high numbers of fibroblasts in the lung. It has been demonstrated that CCL18 induces collagen and αSMA synthesis in fibroblasts. We aimed to identify the CCL18 receptor responsible for its pro-fibrotic activities. Methods: We used a random phage display library to screen for potential CCL18-binding peptides, demonstrated its expression in human lungs and fibroblast lines by PCR and immunostaining and verified its function in cell lines. Results: We identified CCR6 (CD196) as a CCL18 receptor and found its expression in fibrotic lung tissue and lung fibroblast lines derived from fibrotic lungs, but it was almost absent in control lines and tissue. CCL18 induced receptor internalization in a CCR6-overexpressing cell line. CCR6 blockade in primary human lung fibroblasts reduced CCL18-induced FGF2 release as well as collagen-1 and αSMA expression. Knockdown of CCR6 in a mouse fibroblast cell line abolished the induction of collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression. Conclusion: Our data indicate that CCL18 triggers pro-fibrotic processes via CCR6, highlighting its role in fibrogenesis.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number238
JournalCells
Volume13
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38334630

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • FGF2, alpha-smooth muscle actin, chemokine receptor, co-immunoprecipitation, collagen, fibrogenesis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, ligand-induced internalization, Lung/metabolism, Cell Line, Humans, Receptors, CCR6/metabolism, Chemokines, CC/metabolism, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism, Animals, Fibroblasts/metabolism, Mice, Collagen/metabolism