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The American Journal of Pathology logoLink to The American Journal of Pathology
. 2010 Feb;176(2):679–686. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090123

Inhibition of PI3K by PX-866 Prevents Transforming Growth Factor-α–Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Timothy D Le Cras *, Thomas R Korfhagen *, Cynthia Davidson †, Stephanie Schmidt †, Matthew Fenchel †, Machiko Ikegami *, Jeffrey A Whitsett *, William D Hardie †
PMCID: PMC2808075  PMID: 20042669

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) is a ligand for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR activation is associated with fibroproliferative processes in human lung disease and animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. EGFR signaling activates several intracellular signaling pathways including phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K). We previously showed that induction of lung-specific TGFα expression in transgenic mice caused progressive pulmonary fibrosis over a 4-week period. The increase in levels of phosphorylated Akt, detected after 1 day of doxycycline-induced TGFα expression, was blocked by treatment with the PI3K inhibitor, PX-866. Daily administration of PX-866 during TGFα induction prevented increases in lung collagen and airway resistance as well as decreases in lung compliance. Treatment of mice with oral PX-866 4 weeks after the induction of TGFα prevented additional weight loss and further increases in total collagen, and attenuated changes in pulmonary mechanics. These data show that PI3K is activated in TGFα/EGFR-mediated pulmonary fibrosis and support further studies to determine the role of PI3K activation in human lung fibrotic disease, which could be amenable to targeted therapy.

Pulmonary fibrosis contributes to morbidity and mortality in a number of pediatric and adult lung diseases. Clinical diseases causing pulmonary fibrosis are heterogeneous, and fibrosis may develop secondary to acute lung injury such as in acute respiratory distress syndrome, from chronic inflammatory diseases as in cystic fibrosis, or from unknown causes such as in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. While the pathological features of pulmonary fibrosis may vary depending on the underlying disease process, a number of common characteristics include mesenchymal cell proliferation, expansion of the extracellular matrix, and remodeling of the lung parenchyma.1 Currently there are no proven therapies that prevent or reverse pulmonary fibrosis, emphasizing the need to identify new therapeutic targets.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) belongs to a receptor tyrosine kinases protein family that also includes HER2/neu, HER3 and HER4. Six EGFR ligands (transforming growth factor α [TGFα], epidermal growth factor [EGF], heparin binding EGF-like growth factor, amphiregulin, betacellulin, and heregulin) have been identified in lungs or lung cells.2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Depending on the activating ligand, EGFR family members form homodimers or heterodimers with different biological capacities.9,10 Activation of EGFR is known to regulate diverse cellular functions, many of which are associated with fibrogenesis, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, protection from apoptosis, and transformation.11,12 We have previously generated doxycycline (Dox)-regulatable transgenic mice wherein lung epithelial-specific expression of TGFα caused progressive and extensive vascular adventitial, peribronchial, interstitial, and pleural fibrosis that was independent of inflammation.13 Gene expression profiles observed after expression of TGFα in the mouse lung were similar to those found in human fibrotic lung disease.14

The signaling pathways downstream of EGFR activation that mediate TGFα-induced pulmonary fibrosis are unknown. Following ligand binding to the extracellular domain, receptor homodimers and heterodimers lead to auto- or transphosphorylation by intrinsic tyrosine-kinase activity on specific residues in the cytoplasmic domains. The phosphorylated tyrosine residues become docking sites for signaling molecules that activate multiple downstream effecter pathways including the RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, the JAK/STAT pathway, the phospholipase Cγ pathway and the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway.11

PI3K is a signal transduction enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-biphosphate to form phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate in response to activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, G-protein coupled receptors or cytokine receptors. Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate in turn phosphorylates Akt by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 and/or 2 and has been associated with a number of profibrotic cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation, migration, survival and collagen gene expression.15 PX-866 is an orally available nanomolar pan-inhibitor of PI3K whose administration results in antitumor activity and pathway inhibition in animal models.16,17,18 As stimulation of the PI3K pathway may be the major mediator of the cellular effects of EGFR activation12 we hypothesized that the PI3K-Akt pathway mediates TGFα-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In this study we determined the role of PI3K in the initiation and propagation of pulmonary fibrosis by administering PX-866 at the time of TGFα induction in regulatable transgenic mice. In addition, we determined the effectiveness of PI3K inhibition as a treatment for established fibrosis in the TGFα model by administering PX-866 after fibrosis was pronounced and progressing.

Materials and Methods

Transgenic Mice and Administration of PX-866

CCSP-rtTA activator mice expressing the reverse tetracycline-responsive transactivator (rtTA) under control of the 2.3-kb rat Clara Cell Secretory Protein (CCSP), a.k.a. secretoglobin, family 1A, member 1 (Scgb1a1) gene promoter19 were mated to conditional Dox-regulated transgenic mice containing the human TGFα cDNA under the control of seven copies of the tetracycline operon, (TetO)7-cmv TGFα, plus a minimal CMV promoter.13 Single transgenic (CCSP-rtTA+/− mice, (hereafter abbreviated CCSP/−) and bitransgenic CCSP-rtTA+/−/(TetO)7-cmv TGFα+/− mice (hereafter abbreviated CCSP/TGFα) were produced within the same litter by mating homozygous CCSP/− mice to hemizygous (TetO)7-cmv TGFα+/− mice. All mice were derived from the FVB/NJ inbred strain. Mice were maintained in virus-free containment. All animal protocols were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation. To induce TGFα expression, Dox (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) was administered in the drinking water at a final concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and in food (62.5 mg/kg). Water was replaced three times per week.

The PI3K inhibitor PX-866 (Oncothyreon Inc., Seattle, WA) was suspended in 5% ethanol to make a 5 mg/ml stock solution. Three hours before administration, food and water were removed from cages. Mice were then anesthetized (Isoflurane; Abbott Labs, Chicago, IL), and sterile vehicle or drug (3 mg/kg)16,18 was administered by gavage using a 20 gauge feeding catheter (Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA). Dosing throughout the study was based on original baseline weights and was not adjusted for weight changes. Mice were treated with vehicle or PX-866 every other day for up to 4 weeks.

Western Blots

Western blot analysis was performed on lung homogenates as previously described.20 Blots were incubated with antibodies against total and phosphorylated Akt (Ser 473 and Thr 308, Cell Signaling Technology) and quantified using the volume integration function on a PhosphorImager software Imagequant 5.2 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA).

Lung Histology, Immunostaining, and Total Lung Collagen

Lungs were inflation fixed as previously described.21 Sections (5 μm) were loaded onto poly-lysine slides for trichrome and smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) staining as previously described.22,23 Total lung collagen was determined by quantifying total soluble collagen (Sircol Collagen Assay, Biocolor, County Antrim, Ireland) as previously described.20

Pulmonary Mechanics

Lung mechanics were assessed on mice with a computerized Flexi Vent system (SCIREQ, Montreal, Canada), as previously described.24,25 Briefly, mice were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine, tracheostomized, and then ventilated with a tidal volume of 8 ml/kg at a rate of 150 breaths/min and positive end-expiratory pressure of 2 cm H2O computerized by the SCIREQ system, thereby permitting analysis of dynamic lung compliance, airway resistance, and airway elastance. The ventilation mode was changed to forced oscillatory signal (0.5 to 19.6 Hz), and respiratory impedance was measured. Tissue elastance was obtained for mice at 2 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure by fitting a model to each impedance spectrum. With this system, the calibration procedure removed the impedance of the equipment and tracheal tube.

Statistics

Means (± SEM) were calculated and plotted for each variable, by mouse group (CCSP/−Vehicle, CCSP/TGFα Vehicle, CCSP/TGFα PX-866, CCSP/TGFα Vehicle Off Dox). Data were assessed for normality using plots and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Where normality assumptions were not met, log-transformed values were used in a one-way analysis of variance to test for differences between groups. Where log-transformations did not improve normality a non-parametric, one-way analysis of variance was used. Simulation-based, step-down multiple comparison adjustments were used for all pair-wise comparisons. (For the nonparametric analyses of variance, the Bonferroni-Holm multiple comparison adjustment was used.) The significance level was set a priori at P < 0.05. Weights of mice in four different groups were measured at baseline and at weekly intervals over the ensuing 8 weeks. A repeated measures analysis was conducted with Group × Time and Baseline as the factors, to compute differences in Group × Time means. A separate Toepliz variance/covariance structure was used for each Group. Differences in selected (a priori) Group × Time means were calculated and tested using a simulation-based adjustment for multiple comparisons.

Results

PX-866 Inhibits TGFα-Induced Phosphorylation of Akt

CCSP/TGFα mice were treated with Dox for 1 day to induce TGFα expression. Phosphorylated Akt (P-Akt) levels for Ser 473 as measured by Western blot analysis increased over fivefold compared with Dox-treated CCSP/− control mice. PX-866 treatment in CCSP/TGFα mice prevented TGFα-induced increases in P-Akt (Figure 1, A and B).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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PX-866 inhibits TGFα-induced phosphorylation of Akt (P-Akt). Western blot analysis was used to determine levels of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated Akt in lung homogenates. P-Akt levels in CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice increased over fivefold after 1 day of Dox-induced TGFα expression compared with Dox-treated single transgene (CCSP/−) controls. Pretreatment of CCSP/TGFα mice with PX-866 prevented increased phosphorylation of Akt. Representative samples in (A) are three separate mice in each group. Values in (B) are mean ± SE, n = 6 in each group. *P < 0.05, as compared with CCSP/− controls and PX-866-treated mice.

PX-866 Inhibits TGFα-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

CCSP/TGFα mice were treated with Dox to induce TGFα expression and concomitantly treated with either PX-866 (3 mg/kg) or vehicle every other day for 4 weeks. Induction of TGFα caused extensive pleural, perivascular, and peribronchial fibrosis (Figure 2A). Total lung collagen levels were over twofold higher in CCSP/TGFα mice compared with Dox-treated CCSP/− control mice after 4 weeks of Dox. Mice treated with PX-866 did not show any differences in lung fibrosis as assessed by histology and whole lung collagen compared with Dox-treated CCSP/− control mice (Figure 2, A and B). Similarly, induction of TGFα caused marked increases in SMA staining in fibrotic regions that were prevented in PX-866-treated mice (Figure 3). Lung compliance decreased by more than 30%, and airway resistance, elastance and tissue elastance increased more than twofold in CCSP/TGFα mice compared with Dox-treated CCSP/− control mice (Figure 4). Mice treated with PX-866 did not show any differences in lung mechanics compared with Dox-treated control mice (Figure 4).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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PX-866 prevents establishment of pulmonary fibrosis. Sections of lungs from control CCSP/− and CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice following 4 weeks of Dox were stained with trichrome (A). CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice administered PX-866 at the initiation of TGFα induction demonstrated marked attenuation of fibrosis, as compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα mice. Photomicrographs for each group are from two separate animals and are representative of lungs from five to seven mice in each group. Upper panel is taken at ×5 magnification with lower panel at ×10 magnification. Lung collagen content was determined from lungs of transgenic mice as described in Materials and Methods. PX-866 administered at the time of TGFα-induction prevented increases in lung collagen B: Values are mean ± SE. *P < 0.05 compared with CCSP/− controls and PX-866-treated mice.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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PX-866 prevents increased SMA deposition. Sections of lungs from control CCSP/− and CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice following 4 weeks of Dox were stained with SMA. CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice administered vehicle demonstrate marked SMA staining in the adventitia (arrow upper panel) and pleural regions while mice treated with PX-866 have no change in staining compared with controls. Upper panel is taken at ×5 magnification with lower panel at ×20 magnification. Scale bar = 100 μm. Photomicrographs for each group are from two separate animals and are representative of lungs from five to seven mice in each group.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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PX-866 prevents TGFα-dependent changes in lung function. Pulmonary mechanics were determined as described in Methods. PX-866 administered at the time of TGFα-induction prevented increases in airway resistance, airway and tissue elastance, and decreases in compliance compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice receiving 4 weeks of Dox. *P < 0.05, as compared with CCSP/− controls and PX-866-treated mice. Data were derived from six to ten mice in each group.

PX-866 Prevents Progression of Established TGFα-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

To determine whether PX-866 influences the progression of established fibrosis, following 4 weeks of Dox treatment, CCSP/TGFα mice were administered PX-866, while remaining on Dox for an additional 4 weeks (8 weeks total) (Figure 5A). Controls included CCSP/− and CCSP/TGFα mice treated with vehicle while remaining on Dox an additional 4 weeks. A third set of controls included CCSP/TGFα mice that received 4 weeks of Dox, then taken off Dox and treated with 4 weeks of vehicle. The on-off Dox group is added to compare the efficacy of PX-866 in reversing fibrosis in mice with ongoing EGFR activation to mice where EGFR activation is extinguished.14

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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PX-866 prevents progressive weight loss. To assess the efficacy of PI3K inhibition in established fibrosis, CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice were treated with PX-866 after 4 weeks of Dox, while remaining on Dox for an additional 4 weeks. The treatment protocol is represented schematically in A. Controls included CCSP/− and CCSP/TGFα mice treated with vehicle while remaining on Dox an additional 4 weeks. Mice were weighed weekly during treatments as described in Materials and Methods. Dox-induced expression of TGFα for 8 weeks caused progressive weight loss in vehicle-treated mice (red line), while mice treated with PX-866 4 weeks after TGFα induction did not have changes in body weight (green line), but weights remained below CCSP/− controls (blue line), and CCSP/TGFα mice that received 4 weeks of Dox, then taken off Dox and treated with 4 weeks of vehicle (gold line, B). *P < 0.05 compared with CCSP/− control mice and CCSP/TGFα transgenic Off Dox mice; **P < 0.05 compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice. Data derived from 10 mice per group.

Body weights of CCSP/TGFα mice treated with vehicle decreased over 26% from baseline following 8 weeks of Dox (Figure 5B). PX-866 administered at the beginning of week 5 prevented further body weight loss compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα mice, but body weights were still lower than CCSP/− control mice or CCSP/TGFα mice off Dox. CCSP/TGFα mice treated with Dox and vehicle for 8 weeks demonstrated marked pleural thickening with fibrosis advancing into the interstitium and effacing alveolar architecture as assessed on histology with trichrome and SMA stain (Figure 6A and Figure 7). In addition, there was also advanced perivascular and peribronchial fibrosis affecting large and small vessels and airways. CCSP/TGFα mice treated with PX-866 demonstrated reduced pleural fibrosis, as well as reduced perivascular and peribronchial fibrosis, as compared with vehicle-treated mice. CCSP/TGFα mice off Dox also demonstrated similar reductions in pleural and adventitial fibrosis with little fibrosis detected in small airways and vessels. Total lung collagen levels were almost fourfold higher in CCSP/TGFα mice, as compared with Dox-treated CCSP/− control mice after 8 weeks of Dox (Figure 6B). Both CCSP/TGFα mice treated with PX-866 and mice off Dox demonstrated reduced lung collagen levels compared with vehicle-treated mice, but levels remained significantly elevated compared with CCSP/− control mice (Figure 6B). Lung mechanics of CCSP/TGFα mice treated with PX-866 were significantly improved, as compared with vehicle-treated mice, but also remained significantly altered, as compared with controls and CCSP/TGFα mice off Dox for 4 weeks (Figure 8).

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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PX-866 decreases progression of lung fibrosis. Both CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice administered PX-866 4 weeks after the initiation of TGFα induction and CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice Off Dox demonstrated attenuation of fibrosis compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα mice. Photomicrographs in A are trichrome stains from two separate animals focused on low power of pleural surface and interstitial areas (top, ×2.5 magnification) and higher power of peribronchial and perivascular adventitium (bottom, ×10 magnification). All photomicrographs are representative of lungs from six mice in each group. Panel B demonstrates lung collagen in PX-866-treated mice was unchanged compared with Off Dox mice, but remained elevated compared with CCSP/− controls. *P < 0.05 compared with CCSP/− control mice; **P < 0.05 compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice. Data derived from 10 mice per group.

Figure 7.

Figure 7

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PX-866 decreases progression of SMA deposition. Sections of lungs from CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice in reversal studies were stained with SMA. CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice administered vehicle demonstrate marked SMA staining in the pleural and adventitia regions while mice treated with PX-866 and Off Dox demonstrate reduced SMA staining. Upper panel is taken at ×5 magnification with lower panel at ×20 magnification. Scale bar = 100 μm. Photomicrographs are from two separate animals and are representative of lungs from five to seven mice in each group.

Figure 8.

Figure 8

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PX-866 slows progression of TGFα-dependent changes in lung mechanics. CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice administered PX-866 4 weeks after treatment with Dox demonstrated reduced increases in airway resistance, and airway and tissue elastance, and decreases in compliance, as compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice receiving 8 weeks of Dox. Lung mechanics in PX-866 mice were significantly altered compared with controls and CCSP/TGFα mice Off Dox for 4 weeks. *P < 0.05 compared with CCSP/− control mice and CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice Off Dox; **P < 0.05 compared with vehicle-treated CCSP/TGFα transgenic mice. Data derived from 10 mice per group.

Discussion

The present study demonstrates that treatment with the PI3K inhibitor PX-866 prevents EGFR-mediated pulmonary fibrosis and associated alterations in lung mechanics in TGFα transgenic mice. These findings support the PI3K pathway as a primary signaling pathway downstream of EGFR mediating pulmonary fibrogenesis.

To more closely mirror clinical treatment of individuals with lung fibrosis, we also evaluated whether PI3K signaling is necessary for maintenance and/or progression of established TGFα-induced fibrosis. Mice treated with PX-866 4 weeks after Dox demonstrated normalization of body weights, reduced fibrosis on lung histology and improved lung mechanics compared with vehicle-treated mice. However, body weights, lung histology, lung collagen, and lung mechanics all remained altered compared with CCSP/− control mice demonstrating incomplete reversal of the fibrosis phenotype. As the fibrotic process may not be expected to be completely resolved 4 weeks into treatment, we compared endpoints to mice where TGFα over-expression was extinguished by removing Dox. If fibrosis endpoints were similar between the PX-866 and Off Dox groups, PI3K inhibition is likely to be effective in reversing lung fibrosis. Our results demonstrate PX-866 treated mice showed similar degrees of fibrosis measured by lung collagen and histology compared with mice Off Dox, while physiological measures of fibrosis including body weights and lung mechanics remained altered in PX-866-treated mice.

To further assess PI3K inhibition in reversing fibrosis we compared PX-866-treated mice to mice after only 4 weeks of Dox. Fibrosis endpoints in the 4-week Dox group (Figures 23–4) represent the new starting point of lung fibrosis when mice begin treatment. If PI3K inhibition reversed fibrosis then endpoints would be improved, as compared with 4 weeks Dox mice. PX-866-treated mice demonstrated similar degrees of fibrosis measured by lung histology and collagen, as compared with 4-week Dox mice, while lung mechanics remained significantly altered in PX-866-treated mice.

Taken together, these reversal studies demonstrate that inhibition of PI3K with PX-866 after fibrosis is established prevented progression of lung fibrosis but attenuated physiological alterations. One explanation for these findings is that additional time may be necessary to allow more fibrosis resolution to be detected in PX-866-treated mice. While we did not measure lung collagen or mechanics values between 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the weekly body weight values in the PX-866-treated mice trended upward for the final 2 weeks of treatment, suggesting a delayed recovery. Another explanation is that additional signaling pathways other than PI3K remain activated and continue to contribute toward maintenance of lung fibrosis. Tyrosine kinase receptors such as EGFR activate the PI3K and other pathways that control cellular growth and proliferation. The concept of combined signaling pathway inhibition has proved effective in transgenic and xenograft models of cancer.26,27,28 Identification of additional signaling pathways active in the maintenance of lung fibrosis would support combined targeted therapy.

Fibrosis induced by 4 weeks of TGFα expression, followed by TGFα extinction demonstrated physiological reversal based on changes in body weights (Figure 5B) and lung mechanics (Figure 8) and minimal residual fibrosis on lung histology and collagen measurements (Figures 6 and 7). These results support previous data in TGFα mice demonstrating near complete reversal of fibrosis following extinction of TGFα expression after 6 weeks of overexpression.14 Together these findings support the concept that maintenance of lung fibrosis requires ongoing exposure to pro-fibrotic stimuli. Moreover, these findings support that the lung, like the liver, is capable of reversing established fibrosis.29

Emerging data from other studies support the data that PI3K activation mediates lung fibrosis. Studies in both human and mouse fibroblasts demonstrate that PI3K activation leads to reduced apoptosis along with increased proliferation, collagen synthesis and myofibroblasts differentiation.30,31,32 Tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a negative growth regulator of the PI3K-Akt pathway that de-phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate to phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-biphosphate. Bleomycin lung injury of PTEN-haploinsufficient and wild-type mice treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of PTEN causes augmented collagen deposition and myofibroblast differentiation supporting a role in vivo for unopposed PI3K-Akt activation in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.30,31 Fibroblasts isolated from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have decreased PTEN expression or decreased PTEN activity leading to increased proliferation.31,33 Pulmonary fibrosis in lung-specific regulatable TGFβ1 transgenic mice was attenuated when mice were treated with an Akt inhibitor.34 Fibrosis in TGFα transgenic mice develops independent of TGFβ activation suggesting the PI3K/Akt pathway may represent a potential point of convergence where multiple pro-fibrotic stimuli converge to induced mesenchymal cell proliferation and matrix deposition. The platelet derived growth factor is another profibrotic growth factor implicated in inflammatory models of lung fibrosis.35,36 Platelet-derived growth factors act via two receptors that, like EGFR, are receptor tyrosine kinases. Like EGFR and TGFβ1, platelet-derived growth factor receptors activate PI3K.37 Collectively, these data further support a role of PI3K activation as a common pathway mediating fibrogenesis induced by multiple cytokines.

Both epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells proliferate in response to TGFα,13,22 however it is unclear if PI3K activation in both cell types leads to fibrosis. Transgenic mice in which the Pten gene was conditionally deleted from the pulmonary epithelium demonstrated increased epithelial PI3K-Akt activation associated with marked epithelial hyperplasia characterized by a hypercellular epithelium lining papillae with fibrovascular cores that protruded into bronchial and bronchiolar lumens.38 However, unlike TGFα transgenic mice, the hyperplasia was not progressive, and parenchymal fibrosis did not develop suggesting that PI3K activation of the fibroblast is important in mediating PI3K/Akt-mediated fibrosis.

Recent data support that activation of PI3K-Akt is a cause of human fibrotic lung disease. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung biopsies from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients demonstrate increased phosphorylated Akt in fibroblastic foci.31 The success of PI3K inhibition in the TGFα and TGFβ transgenic models coupled with evidence of aberrant PI3K signaling in human fibrotic disease suggests that pharmacologically targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway may alter progressive fibrosis in human diseases. However, a broad range of cellular processes mediated by PI3K may be affected by inhibitors posing significant risks.39 Safety data on patients treated with PI3K inhibition is forthcoming as PX-866 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials as an antitumor agent.

In summary, the present study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of TGFα/EGFR-mediated pulmonary fibrosis. These findings support the concept that PI3K activation may play a significant role in human lung fibrotic disease, which could be amenable to targeted therapy.

Acknowledgments

We thank the veterinary services at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for their expert care of mice used in this study. In addition, we thank Angelica Schehr for technical assistance in measuring lung mechanics and assistance with statistical analysis by Rhonda Vandyke, Ph.D.

Footnotes

Address reprint requests to William D. Hardie, M.D., Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229. E-mail: william.hardie@cchmc.org.

Supported by The American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health grants AHA 740069N (T.D.L.), HL058795 (T.K.), HL90156 (J.A.W.), and HL086598 (W.D.H.).

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