Effect of knockdown of junctional genes JUP and PLEC on Small Airway Epithelial Cells (SAECs) in the context of epithelial desquamation in distal bronchioles of Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients

JUP and PLEC are downregulated in the distal bronchioles of IPF patients. To understand the relevance of this in the epithelial sloughing (desquamation) phenotype observed in distal bronchioles of IPF patients, we knockeddown JUP and PLEC in small airway epithelial cells thats are isolated from distal bronchioles of human airway epithelium (Lonza). Bulk RNA sequencing of JUP vs Scrambled and PLEC vs Scrambled were performed. The transriptomic data suggests that JUP transcriptionally regulates the matrix synthesis and the transcription of other junctional genes in SAECs. However, no significant effect of PLEC knockdown on transcription of matrix genes, a significant reduction in junctional gene transcripts were observed in PLEC knockdown. These findings suggest that JUP and PLEC may play key roles in the regulation of epithelial integrity during homeostasis, and when desrupted can lead to epithelial desquamation.