Identification of FGFR4 as a regulator of myofibroblast differentiation in pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR4) is a known receptor for several paracrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). FGFR4 is also the main receptor for FGF19, an endocrine FGF that was demonstrated by our group to have antifibrotic properties in the lung. We aimed to determine whether FGFR4 could modulate pulmonary fibrogenesis. We assessed FGFR4 mRNA and protein levels in IPF and control lungs. In vitro, we determined the effect of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), endothelin-1, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on FGFR4 expression in human lung fibroblasts. We determined the effect of FGFR4 inhibition, using a specific pharmacological inhibitor (FGF401), or genetic deletion in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) on TGF-β-induced myofibroblastic differentiation. In vivo, we evaluated the development of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in Fgfr4-deficient (Fgfr4^-/-) mice compared with wild-type littermates (WT) and after FGF401 treatment in WT mice compared with a control group receiving the solvent only. FGFR4 was decreased in IPF lungs, as compared with control lungs, at mRNA and protein levels. In vitro, FGFR4 was downregulated after treatment with TGF-β, endothelin-1, and PDGF. In vitro, FGFR4 inhibition by FGF401 prevented TGF-β1-induced collagen and ACTA2 increase in lung fibroblasts. Similar results were observed in Fgfr4^-/- MEFs. In vivo, FGFR4 genetic deficiency or FGFR4 pharmacological inhibition did not modulate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Our data suggest that FGFR4 exerts profibrotic properties by enhancing TGF-β signaling in vitro. However, the inhibition of FGFR4 is not sufficient to prevent the development of pulmonary fibrosis in vivo.NEW & NOTEWORTHY FGFR4 has been reported to have antifibrotic effects in the liver. We aimed to determine the involvement of FGFR4 during IPF. Our data suggest that FGFR4 exerts profibrotic properties by enhancing TGF-β signaling in vitro. However, the inhibition of FGFR4 is not sufficient to prevent the development of pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the profibrotic action of FGFR4 during pulmonary fibrosis.