Fibroblast growth factor 10 alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by promoting recruited macrophage M2 polarization

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by damage to the alveoli and an overabundance of inflammation. Representing a serious inflammatory condition, ALI lacks a precise treatment approach. Despite the recognized benefit impacts of Fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF10) on ALI, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. To study the role of FGF10 in ALI, C57BL/6 J mice were intratracheally injected with 5 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with FGF10 (5 mg/kg) or an equal volume of PBS. Inflammatory factors were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma using ELISA. RNA sequencing of F4/80+Ly6G- macrophages in BALF explored changes in macrophage phenotype and potential mechanisms. Macrophage polarization in BALF was assessed using qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis. In vitro, a Transwell co-culture of mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE12) and bone marrow macrophages (BMDM) validated the role of FGF10 in modulating LPS-induced macrophage phenotypic changes. FGF10 ameliorated LPS-induced ALI by diminishing pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6) and the neutrophil accumulation in BALF. FGF10 also increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. The FGF10 intervention group exhibited enhanced gene expression of macrophage arginine biosynthesis marker (ARG1), and expression of M2-type marker CD206 in monocytes and macrophages. In addition, phosphorylated STAT3 expression increased in isolated monocyte-derived macrophages. Experiments in vitro confirmed that FGF10 could elevate macrophage M2 marker ARG1 expression through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. FGF10 ameliorates acute LPS-induced lung injury by modulating the polarization of monocyte-derived macrophages recruited in the alveolar space to the M2 type.