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Deciphering the role of p16INK4A+ fibroblasts in lung fibrosis

Award Number: R01HL160895
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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Deciphering the role of p16INK4A+ fibroblasts in lung fibrosis - Project Summary/Abstract Aging is one of the biggest risk factors for many chronic lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, uncertainties remain as to how age-related processes contribute to the pathogenesis of IPF, particularly in deciphering the cell types that might play a role in both aging and fibrotic transformation. Senescence, a cellular state characterized by an irreversible cell cycle arrest and other morphologic transformations, is thought to be a cellular phenotype that becomes increasingly prevalent in aged organs, contributing to the decline in function over time. p16INK4A, a tumor suppressor, is one of the best-studied biomarkers of senescent cells in vitro and in vivo. Numerous genetic models have been built to remove p16INK4A+ cells from tissues, demonstrating a functional role for these cells in promoting age-related pathologies such as lung fibrosis. Despite the knowledge gained from strategies that remove p16INK4A+ cells, deletion of these cells precludes the identification and functional characterization of p16INK4A+ cells in vivo, leaving a large gap in our understanding of how senescent cells might behave in tissues rather than in a culture dish. To address this, we constructed a novel genetic reporter of senescence by engineering an amplified fluorescent tag driven by expression of p16INK4A (mouse referred to as INK4A H2B-GFP Reporter-In-Tandem, or INKBRITE) to isolate and characterize p16INK4A+ cells in vivo and ex vivo. To our surprise, we were able to identify p16INK4A+ fibroblasts in young and healthy lungs that contribute to scar-forming cells in areas of fibrotic remodeling. Furthermore, p16INK4A+ cells are able to alter the epithelial progenitor microenvironment and alter stem cell regenerative outcomes. This led us to the hypothesis that p16INK4A+ fibroblasts are capable of contributing to fibrosis by forming scars and inducing an pathologic epithelial response, and the INKBRITE reporter could be leveraged as a screening platform to identify compounds that more precisely target p16INK4A+ fibroblasts in vivo. Through the use of single cell RNA sequencing, adoptive cell transfers, lineage tracing, high-content imaging, and various methodologies outlined in this proposal, we aim to better define the cellular contribution of p16INK4A+ fibroblasts to fibrotic transformation, and define agents that might better remove it from tissues.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $556,850 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94103	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	001	4	7/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$55,683
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94103	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	4	11/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$501,167
														Subtotal = $556,850

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $545,713 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94103	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	001	3	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$44,546
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	3	12/11/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$501,167
														Subtotal = $545,713

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $556,850 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	001	2	3/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$55,684
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	2	12/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$501,166
														Subtotal = $556,850

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $556,850 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	1	2/1/2022	NEW	$556,850
														Subtotal = $556,850

Grand Total All Awards = $2,216,263

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Deciphering the role of p16INK4A+ fibroblasts in lung fibrosis

Award Number: R01HL160895

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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