The extracellular matrix protein periostin is required for wound repair in primary human airway epithelia

Lorena A Tran; Michael Catlin; Scott Schecter; Andrew L Thurman; Shreya Ghimire; Rosarie Tudas; Brandon Bettis; Ryan Gannon; Joseph Zabner; Alejandro A Pezzulo

doi:10.1152/ajplung.00039.2025

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The extracellular matrix protein periostin is required for wound repair in primary human airway epithelia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The extracellular matrix protein periostin is required for wound repair in primary human airway epithelia

Lorena A Tran, Michael Catlin, Scott Schecter, Andrew L Thurman, Shreya Ghimire, Rosarie Tudas, Brandon Bettis, Ryan Gannon, Joseph Zabner and Alejandro A Pezzulo

American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, Vol.328(6), pp.L826-L831

06/01/2025

DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00039.2025

PMCID: PMC12100768

PMID: 40257107

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https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00039.2025View

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Abstract

Type 2 inflammation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) play critical roles in airway repair after damage from allergens or parasites. The matricellular protein periostin (POSTN) has increased expression in inflammatory conditions and has been implicated in fibrosis and EMT, suggesting a role in airway repair. This study investigates the role of periostin in airway epithelial and lung fibroblast wound repair using an wound model. Our results demonstrate that the type 2 cytokine IL-13 induces periostin secretion from primary human airway epithelial basal cells. Periostin knockdown in human airway epithelial cells (HAEs) and human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) impairs wound closure, indicating that periostin is required for airway repair. In a coculture model of HAE and HLFs, fibroblast-secreted POSTN is required for airway epithelial wound repair, suggesting that periostin is involved in paracrine signaling between the two cell types. These findings highlight periostin's critical function in epithelial and fibroblast-mediated wound repair, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for diseases characterized by aberrant wound healing and fibrosis, such as asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Inflammation

human airway epithelia

fibrosis

wound repair

periostin

Details

Title: Subtitle: The extracellular matrix protein periostin is required for wound repair in primary human airway epithelia
Creators: Lorena A Tran - University of Iowa
Michael Catlin - University of Iowa
Scott Schecter - University of Iowa
Andrew L Thurman - University of Iowa
Shreya Ghimire - University of Iowa
Rosarie Tudas - University of Iowa
Brandon Bettis - University of Iowa
Ryan Gannon - University of Iowa
Joseph Zabner - Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Alejandro A Pezzulo - Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, Vol.328(6), pp.L826-L831
DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00039.2025
PMID: 40257107
PMCID: PMC12100768
NLM abbreviation: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
ISSN: 1522-1504
eISSN: 1522-1504
Publisher: AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC; Rockville
Grant note: 1R01HL163024 / HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 04/21/2025
Date published: 06/01/2025
Academic Unit: Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984813104502771

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