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Lung injury-induced activated endothelial cell states persist in aging-associated progressive fibrosis

Research Authors
Ahmed A. Raslan, Tho X. Pham, Jisu Lee, Konstantinos Kontodimas, Andrew Tilston-Lunel, Jillian Schmottlach, Jeongmin Hong, Taha Dinc, Andreea M. Bujor, Nunzia Caporarello, Aude Thiriot, Ulrich H. von Andrian, Steven K. Huang, Roberto F. Nicosia, Maria Tro
Research Abstract

Progressive lung fibrosis is associated with poorly understood aging-related endothelial cell dysfunction. To gain insight into endothelial cell alterations in lung fibrosis we performed single cell RNA-sequencing of bleomycin-injured lungs from young and aged mice. Analysis reveals activated cell states enriched for hypoxia, glycolysis and YAP/TAZ activity in ACKR1+ venous and TrkB+ capillary endothelial cells. Endothelial cell activation is prevalent in lungs of aged mice and can also be detected in human fibrotic lungs. Longitudinal single cell RNA-sequencing combined with lineage tracing demonstrate that endothelial activation resolves in young mouse lungs but persists in aged ones, indicating a failure of the aged vasculature to return to quiescence. Genes associated with activated lung endothelial cells states in vivo can be induced in vitro by activating YAP/TAZ. YAP/TAZ also cooperate with BDNF, a TrkB ligand that is reduced in fibrotic lungs, to promote capillary morphogenesis. These findings offer insights into aging-related lung endothelial cell dysfunction that may contribute to defective lung injury repair and persistent fibrosis.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Nature Communications
Research Publisher
Nature Portfolio
Research Rank
Q1, Journal Impact Factor: 14.7, 5-year Journal Impact Factor: 16.1
Research Vol
15
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49545-x
Research Year
2024
Research Pages
5449