Reprogramming of GM-CSF-dependent alveolar macrophages through GSK3 activity modulation

Monocyte-derived macrophages recruited into inflamed tissues can acquire an array of functional states depending on the extracellular environment. Since the anti-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic macrophage profile is determined by MAFB, whose activity/protein levels are regulated by GSK3, we addressed the...

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Main Authors: Israel Ríos, Cristina Herrero, Mónica Torres-Torresano, Baltasar López-Navarro, María Teresa Schiaffino, Francisco Díaz Crespo, Alicia Nieto-Valle, Rafael Samaniego, Yolanda Sierra-Palomares, Eduardo Oliver, Fernando Revuelta-Salgado, Ricardo García-Luján, Paloma Sánchez-Mateos, Rafael Delgado, Amaya Puig-Kröger, Angel L Corbí
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2025-05-01
Series:eLife
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Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/102659
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Summary:Monocyte-derived macrophages recruited into inflamed tissues can acquire an array of functional states depending on the extracellular environment. Since the anti-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic macrophage profile is determined by MAFB, whose activity/protein levels are regulated by GSK3, we addressed the macrophage reprogramming potential of GSK3 modulation. GM-CSF-dependent (GM-MØ) and M-CSF-dependent monocyte-derived macrophages (M-MØ) exhibited distinct levels of inactive GSK3, and inhibiting GSK3 in GM-MØ led to the acquisition of transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional properties characteristic of M-MØ (enhanced expression of IL-10 and monocyte-recruiting factors, and higher efferocytosis). These reprogramming effects were also observed upon GSK3α/β knockdown and through GSK3 inhibition in ex vivo isolated human alveolar macrophages (AMØ). Notably, GSK3 downmodulation potentiated the transcriptional signature of interstitial macrophages (IMØ) while suppressing the AMØ-specific gene profile. Indeed, heightened levels of inactive GSK3 and MAFB-dependent proteins were observed in severe COVID-19 patients’ lung macrophages, highlighting the GSK3-MAFB axis as a therapeutic target for macrophage reprogramming.
ISSN:2050-084X