Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease characterized by extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by activated myofibroblasts, which are specialized hyper-contractile cells that promote ECM remodeling and matrix stiffening. New insights on therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing fibrosis by targeting myofibroblast fate are showing promise in promoting fibrosis resolution. Previously, we showed that a novel adipocytokine, omentin-1, attenuated bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis by reducing the number of myofibroblasts. Apoptosis, deactivation, and reprogramming of myofibroblasts are important processes in the resolution of fibrosis. Here we report that omentin-1 reverses established lung fibrosis by promoting mechanically activated myofibroblasts dedifferentiation into lipofibroblasts. Omentin-1 promotes myofibroblasts lipogenic differentiation by inhibiting dimerization and nuclear translocation of glycolytic enzymes pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) and activation of the downstream Yes-associated protein (YAP) by increasing the cofactor fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F1, 6BP, FBP). Moreover, omentin-1 activates proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) signaling, the master regulator of lipogenesis, and promotes the upregulation of the lipogenic differentiation-related protein perilipin 2 (PLIN2) by suppressing the PKM2-YAP pathway. Ultimately, omentin-1 facilitates myofibroblasts transformation into the lipofibroblast phenotype, with reduced collagen synthesis and enhanced degradation properties, which are crucial mechanisms to clear the ECM deposition in fibrotic tissue, leading to fibrosis resolution. Our results indicate that omentin-1 targets mechanical signal accelerates fibrosis resolution and reverses established lung fibrosis by promoting myofibroblasts lipogenic differentiation, which is closely associated with ECM clearance in fibrotic tissue. These findings suggest that targeting mechanical force to promote myofibroblast lipogenic differentiation is a promising therapeutic strategy against persistent lung fibrosis.