GPRC5B promotes collagen production in myofibroblasts

Fibrosis is a condition characterized by the overproduction of extracellular matrix (ECM) components (e.g., collagen) in the myofibroblasts, causing tissue hardening and eventual organ dysfunction. Currently, the molecular mechanisms that regulate ECM production in the myofibroblasts are still obscure. In this study, we investigated the function of GPRC5B in the cardiac and lung myofibroblasts using real-time RT-PCR and siRNA-mediated knockdown. We discovered a significantly high expression of Gprc5b in the tissues of the fibrosis mice models and confirmed that Gprc5b was consistently expressed in the myofibroblasts of fibrotic hearts and lungs. We also found that Gprc5b expression was associated and may be dependent on the actin-MRTF-SRF signaling pathway. Notably, we observed that Gprc5b knockdown reduced the expression of collagen genes in the cardiac and lung myofibroblasts. Therefore, our findings reveal that GPRC5B enhances collagen production in the myofibroblasts, which directly promotes fibrosis in the tissues.