Epithelial CD47 is critical for mucosal repair in the murine intestine in vivo

Nat Commun. 2019 Nov 1;10(1):5004. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12968-y.

Abstract

CD47 is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates inflammatory responses and tissue repair. Here, we show that normal mice treated with anti-CD47 antibodies, and Cd47-null mice have impaired intestinal mucosal wound healing. Furthermore, intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-specific loss of CD47 does not induce spontaneous immune-mediated intestinal barrier disruption but results in defective mucosal repair after biopsy-induced colonic wounding or Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-induced mucosal damage. In vitro analyses using primary cultures of CD47-deficient murine colonic IEC or human colonoid-derived IEC treated with CD47-blocking antibodies demonstrate impaired epithelial cell migration in wound healing assays. Defective wound repair after CD47 loss is linked to decreased epithelial β1 integrin and focal adhesion signaling, as well as reduced thrombospondin-1 and TGF-β1. These results demonstrate a critical role for IEC-expressed CD47 in regulating mucosal repair and raise important considerations for possible alterations in wound healing secondary to therapeutic targeting of CD47.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD47 Antigen / genetics
  • CD47 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Intestines / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Thrombospondin 1 / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / genetics
  • Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

  • CD47 Antigen
  • Thrombospondin 1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Dextran Sulfate