June 2022

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

WNT/RYK signaling functions as an anti-inflammatory modulator in the lung mesenchyme

Hyun-Taek Kim, Paolo Panza, Khrievono Kikhi, Yuko Nakamichi, Ann Atzberger, Stefan Guenther, Clemens Ruppert, Andreas Guenther, and Didier Y.R. Stainier

Abstract

A number of inflammatory lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and pneumonia, are modulated by WNT/b-catenin signaling.  However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.  Here, starting with a forward genetic screen in mouse, we identify the WNT coreceptor RYK acting in mesenchymal tissues as a cell survival and anti-inflammatory modulator.  Ryk mutant mice exhibit lung hypoplasia and inflammation as well as alveolar simplification due to defective secondary septation, and deletion of Ryk specifically in mesenchymal cells also leads to these phenotypes.  By analyzing the transcriptome of wild-type and mutant lungs, we observed the upregulation of pro-apoptotic and inflammatory genes whose expression can be repressed by WNT/RYK signaling in vitro.  Moreover, mesenchymal Ryk deletion at postnatal and adult stages can also lead to lung inflammation, thus indicating a continued role for WNT/RYK signaling in homeostasis.  Our results indicate that RYK signaling through b-catenin and NF-kB is part of a safeguard mechanism against mesenchymal cell death, excessive inflammatory cytokine production, and inflammatory cell recruitment and accumulation.  Notably, RYK expression is downregulated in the stromal cells of pneumonitis patient lungs.  Altogether, our data reveal that RYK signaling plays critical roles as an anti-inflammatory modulator during lung development and homeostasis, and provide an animal model to further investigate the etiology of, and therapeutic approaches for, inflammatory lung diseases.

Legend to graphical abstract:

Expression of RYK and CCL2 in human pneumonitis lungs.  A) Reduced RYK expression and increased CCL2 expression in stromal cells of pneumonitis lungs.  Abbreviations: al, alveoli; br, bronchiole; bv, blood vessel; il, inflammatory lesion.  B) Schematic diagram illustrating the role of WNT/RYK signaling in lung mesenchyme.

Original publication:

Kim HT, Panza P, Kikhi K, Nakamichi Y, Atzberger A, Panza P, Guenther A, Ruppert C, Guenther A, Stainier DYR. WNT/RYK signaling functions as an antiinflammatory modulator in the lung mesenchyme. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jun 14; 119(24): e2201707119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2201707119. PMID: 35671428.