Critical role for transglutaminase 2 in scleroderma skin fibrosis and in the development of dermal sclerosis in a mouse model of scleroderma

Objective

Scleroderma is a life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, tissue remodeling, and fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) in scleroderma skin and experimentally induced dermal fibrosis to determine its potential role and therapeutic implications.

Methods

We performed immunohistochemistry on skin sections to assess TGM2 expression and localization, and protein biochemistry of both systemic sclerosis–derived and healthy control dermal fibroblasts to assess TGM2 expression, function, and extracellular matrix deposition in the presence of TGM2 inhibiting and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β neutralizing antibodies and a small-molecule inhibitor of the TGF-βRI kinase. Mice with a complete deficiency of TGM2 (Tgm2-/-) were investigated in the bleomycin-induced model of skin fibrosis.

Results

TGM2 was found to be widely expressed in both control and scleroderma skin samples, as well as in cultured fibroblasts. Scleroderma fibroblasts exhibited elevated TGM2 expression, which correlated with increased expression of fibrosis markers (Col-1, αSMA, and CCN2). Inhibition of TGM2 using an inhibiting antibody reduced the expression of key markers of fibrosis. The effects of TGM2 inhibition were similar to those observed with TGF-β neutralization, suggesting a potential crosstalk between TGM2 and TGF-β signaling. Moreover, TGM2 knockout mice showed significantly reduced dermal fibrosis compared with wild type mice. In vitro experiments with TGM2-deleted fibroblasts demonstrated impaired cell migration and collagen matrix contraction, which could be partially restored by exogenous TGF-β.

Conclusion

TGM2 can regulate several key profibrotic activities of TGF-β suggesting that attenuating TGM2 function may be of benefit in severe forms of connective tissue disease with skin fibrosis.