Heme oxygenase‐1 induction attenuates senescence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease lung fibroblasts by protecting against mitochondria dysfunction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with lung fibroblast senescence, a process characterized by an irreversible proliferation arrest associated with secretion of inflammatory mediators. ROS production, known to induce senescence, is increased in COPD fibroblasts and mitochondria dysfunction participates in this process. Among the battery of cellular responses against oxidative stress damage, heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 plays a critical role in defending the lung against oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, we investigated whether pharmacological induction of HO‐1 by chronic hemin treatment attenuates senescence and improves dysfunctional mitochondria in COPD fibroblasts. Fibroblasts from smoker controls (S‐C) and COPD patients were isolated from lung biopsies. Fibroblasts were long‐term cultured in the presence or absence of hemin, and/or ZnPP or QC‐15 (HO‐1 inhibitors). Lung fibroblasts from smokers and COPD patients displayed in long‐term culture a senescent phenotype, characterized by a reduced replicative capacity, an increased senescence and inflammatory profile. These parameters were significantly higher in senescent COPD fibroblasts which also exhibited decreased mitochondrial activity (respiration, glycolysis, and ATP levels) which led to an increased production of ROS, and mitochondria biogenesis and impaired mitophagy process. Exposure to hemin increased the gene and protein expression level of HO‐1 in fibroblasts and diminished ROS levels, senescence, the inflammatory profile and simultaneously rescued mitochondria dysfunction by restoring mitophagy in COPD cells. The effects of hemin were abolished by a cotreatment with ZnPP or QC‐15. We conclude that HO‐1 attenuates senescence in COPD fibroblasts by protecting, at least in part, against mitochondria dysfunction and restoring mitophagy.