We have reported that von Hippel-Lindau
protein (pVHL) expression is elevated in human and mouse fibrotic lungs and that overexpression of pVHL stimulates fibroblast proliferation. We sought to determine whether loss of pVHL in fibroblasts prevents injury and
fibrosis in mice that are treated with
bleomycin. We generated heterozygous fibroblast-specific pVHL (Fsp-VHL) knockdown mice (Fsp-VHL(+/-)) and homozygous Fsp-VHL knockout mice (Fsp-VHL(-/-)) by crossbreeding vhlh 2-lox mice (VHL(fl/fl)) with Fsp-
Cre recombinase mice. Our data show that Fsp-VHL(-/-) mice, but not Fsp-VHL(+/-) mice, have elevated red blood cell counts, hematocrit,
hemoglobin content, and expression of
hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) targets, indicating HIF activation. To examine the role of pVHL
in bleomycin-induced
lung injury and
fibrosis in vivo, we administered PBS or
bleomycin to age-, sex-, and strain-matched 8-week-old VHL(fl/fl), Fsp-VHL(+/-), and Fsp-VHL(-/-) mice. In Fsp-VHL(+/-) and Fsp-VHL(-/-) mice,
bleomycin-induced
collagen accumulation, fibroblast proliferation, differentiation, and matrix
protein dysregulation were markedly attenuated. Suppression of pVHL also decreased
bleomycin-induced Wnt signaling and
prostaglandin E2 signaling but did not affect
bleomycin-induced initial
acute lung injury and
lung inflammation. These results indicate that pVHL has a pivotal role
in bleomycin-induced
pulmonary fibrosis, possibly via an HIF-independent pathway. Paradoxically, pVHL does not affect
bleomycin-induced
lung injury and
inflammation, indicating a separation of the mechanisms involved in injury/
inflammation from those involved in
pulmonary fibrosis.