Prostacyclin is one of a number of lipid mediators elaborated from the metabolism of arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. This prostanoid is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and its production by endothelial cells and protective role in the vasculature are well established. In contrast, much less is known regarding the function of this prostanoid in other disease processes. We show here that COX-2-dependent production of prostacyclin plays an important role in the development of fibrotic lung disease, limiting both the development of fibrosis and the consequential alterations in lung mechanics. In stark contrast, loss of prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and signaling through the G(s)-coupled EP2 and EP4 receptors had no effect on the development of disease. These findings suggest that prostacyclin analogs will protect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in COX-2(-/-) mice. If such protection is observed, investigation of these agents as a novel therapeutic approach to pulmonary fibrosis in humans may be warranted.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease causing unremitting extracellular matrix deposition with resultant distortion of pulmonary architecture and impaired gas exchange. β-arrestins regulate G-protein-coupled receptors through receptor desensitization while acting as signaling scaffolds that facilitate numerous effector pathways. Here we examine the role of β-arrestin1 and β-arrestin2 in the pathobiology of pulmonary fibrosis. In the bleomycin-induced mouse lung fibrosis model, loss of eitherβ-arrestin1 or β-arrestin2 results in protection from mortality, inhibition of matrix deposition, and protected lung function. Fibrosis is prevented despite preserved recruitment of inflammatory cells and fibroblast chemotaxis. However, isolated lung fibroblasts from bleomycin-treated β-arrestin null mice fail to invade extracellular matrix while displaying altered expression of genes involved in matrix production and degradation. Furthermore, knockdown of β-arrestin2 in fibroblasts from IPF patients attenuated the invasive phenotype. These data implicate β-arrestins as mediators of fibroblast invasion and development of pulmonary fibrosis, thus representing a potential target for therapeutic intervention for patients with IPF.
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