VEGF synthesis is induced by prostacyclin and TGF‐β in distal lung fibroblasts from COPD patients and control subjects: Implications for pulmonary vascular remodelling

• Published in: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 68 - 75
• Main Authors: Westergren‐Thorsson, Gunilla, Bagher, Mariam, Andersson‐Sjöland, Annika, Thiman, Lena, Löfdahl, Claes‐Göran, Hallgren, Oskar, Bjermer, Leif, Larsson‐Callerfelt, Anna‐Karin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Autocrine signalling; Biglycan - biosynthesis; Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disease; Cell culture; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical Medicine; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Extracellular matrix; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans - biosynthesis; Humans; Iloprost - pharmacology; Indomethacin; Indomethacin - pharmacology; Kardiologi; Kardiologi och kardiovaskulära sjukdomar; Klinisk medicin; Lung - cytology; Lung - metabolism; Lungs; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Perlecan; Prostacyclin; Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase; Proteoglycans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - metabolism; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - pathology; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor - metabolism; Respiratory diseases; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - pharmacology; Transforming growth factor-b1; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - biosynthesis; Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors; Vascular Remodeling; fibroblasts; prostacyclin; vascular endothelial growth factor; extracellular matrix; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 1323-7799; 1440-1843; 1440-1843
• DOI: 10.1111/resp.13142

ABSTRACT Background and objective Involvement of pulmonary vascular remodelling is a characteristic sign in COPD. Vascular mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostacyclin may regulate fibroblast activity. The objective was to study the synthesis of VEGF and interactions with prostacyclin and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 in lung fibroblasts from patients with COPD and healthy control subjects. To further explore the autocrine role of synthesized VEGF on fibroblast activity, studies were performed in human lung fibroblasts (HFL‐1). Methods Primary distal lung fibroblast cultures were established from healthy individuals and from COPD patients (GOLD stage IV). Lung fibroblasts were stimulated with the prostacyclin analogue iloprost and the profibrotic stimuli TGF‐β1. VEGF synthesis was measured in the cell culture medium. Changes in proliferation rate, migration and synthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins proteoglycans were analysed after stimulations with VEGF‐A isoform 165 (VEGF165; 1–10 000 pg/mL) in HFL‐1. Results Iloprost and TGF‐β1 significantly increased VEGF synthesis in both fibroblasts from COPD patients and control subjects. TGF‐β1‐induced VEGF synthesis was significantly reduced by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin in fibroblasts from COPD patients. VEGF significantly increased proliferation rate and migration capacity in HFL‐1. VEGF also significantly increased synthesis of the ECM proteins biglycan and perlecan. The VEGF receptors (VEGFR), VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3, were all expressed in primary lung fibroblasts and HFL‐1. Conclusion VEGF is synthesized in high amounts by distal lung fibroblasts and may have a crucial role in ongoing vascular remodelling processes in the distal lung compartments. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is synthesized in high amounts by primary distally derived human lung fibroblasts. Our data indicate differences in cyclooxygenase (COX)‐related responses in distal lung fibroblasts in COPD compared with healthy individuals, which may promote ongoing remodelling processes in the distal lung.