AUTHOR=Petit Laure M. G. , Belgacemi Randa , Mulette Pauline , Brisebarre Audrey , Saber Cherif Lynda , Devilliers Maëva A. , Hatoum Sarah , Ancel Julien , Delepine Gonzague , Durlach Anne , Polette Myriam , Deslée Gaëtan , Perotin Jeanne-Marie , Dormoy Valérian 

TITLE=POU5F1 bridges Hedgehog signaling and epithelial remodeling in COPD

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1566251

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2025.1566251

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=Airway epithelium remodeling is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Hedgehog signaling is activated during airway epithelial repair to warrant proliferation and during cell differentiation to establish a fully functional epithelium with optimal mucociliary clearance. Consequently, it was found to be altered in COPD patients. Using transcriptomic analysis on air–liquid interface airway epithelial cells during differentiation upon Hedgehog pathway inhibition, we highlighted potential regulators of COPD-associated epithelial remodeling. Furthermore, the alteration of POU5F1 (OCT3/4) was validated in COPD airway epithelial cells and lung tissues. Although further investigations are required, these findings uncovered essential clues tethering respiratory epithelial cell plasticity and Hedgehog signaling.