Targeting the Amino Acid Transporter SLC7A5 for Pulmonary Fibrosis

项目总结 特发性肺纤维化(IPF)对公众健康构成巨大负担。IPF是一种快速进步的 由成纤维细胞中细胞外基质蛋白(ECM)异常积聚引起的肺部疾病 估计生存时间为3-4年。氨基酸是繁殖所需的关键生物量。 成纤维细胞。控制氨基酸运输和代谢的不同机制是一个关键的机会 用于药物开发和精准医学。SLC7A5(溶质载体家族7成员5)介导摄取 必需氨基酸，主要是亮氨酸，并将谷氨酰胺排出细胞。因为亮氨酸对人体健康至关重要 MTOR的激活和异常的mTOR激活是肺纤维化的标志，我们的 初步发现支持我们的新假设，即SLC7A5促进肌成纤维细胞分化 活化、凋亡和抗有丝分裂及针对可清除的SLC7A5 成纤维细胞激活的多方面，可能是开发新的治疗方法的有效途径 治疗纤维增生性疾病的策略。这些问题将通过三个高度相关的具体问题来解决 目标。目的1.明确SLC7A5的生物学作用、代谢和分子机制(S 调节肝纤维化转化生长因子-β信号转导通路及抑制SLC7A5是否诱导细胞凋亡 “化疗增敏”纤维性病灶。目的2.阐明SLC7A5介导的线粒体的详细作用(S) 控制成纤维细胞凋亡和有丝分裂的变化。我们还将调查SLC7A5抑制是否 诱导有丝分裂并抑制肺纤维化的发展，如IPF中所见的吞丝不足。 目的3.我们将确定靶向SLC7A5在肺纤维化和肺纤维化治疗模型中的体内疗效。 衰老。这些特定目标的完成将提供重要的机制和临床前信息。 SLC7A5在转化生长因子-β促纤维增殖作用中的作用(S)及其治疗新途径 肺纤维化的治疗。

PROJECT SUMMARY Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) constitutes a tremendous burden to public health. IPF is a rapidly progressive lung disease that results from the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) in fibroblasts with an estimated survival of 3-4 years. Amino acids are required to provide the critical biomass for proliferating fibroblasts. The varied mechanisms controlling amino acid transport and metabolism represent a key opportunity for drug development and precision medicine. SLC7A5 (Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 5) mediates the uptake of essential amino acids primarily leucine and efflux glutamine out of the cell. As leucine is critical for the activation of mTOR and aberrant mTOR activation is a hallmark of pulmonary fibrosis, collectively our preliminary findings motivate our novel hypothesis that SLC7A5 promotes myofibroblast differentiation, mTOR activation, apoptosis and mitophagy resistance and by targeting SLC7A5 which could capable of abrogating multiple facet of fibroblast activation, may represent a efficacious approach towards developing new therapeutic strategies to treat fibroproliferative diseases. These questions will be addressed by 3 highly interrelated Specific Aims. Aim 1. We will define the biological roles, metabolic and molecular mechanism(s) by which SLC7A5 regulate profibrotic TGF-β signaling and whether the induction of apoptosis by inhibiting SLC7A5 “chemosensitize” fibrotic foci. Aim 2. We will elucidate detailed role(s) of SLC7A5 mediated mitochondrial alteration in controlling fibroblast apoptosis and mitophagy. We will also investigate whether SLC7A5 inhibition induces mitophagy and inhibits lung fibrosis development in the setting of insufficient mitophagy as seen in IPF. Aim 3. We will determine the in vivo efficacy of targeting SLC7A5 in a therapeutic model of lung fibrosis and aging. The completion of these specific aims will provide important mechanistic as well as preclinical information on the role(s) of SLC7A5 in mediating the fibroproliferative actions of TGF-β and a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.