IL-32 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition by triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress in A549 cells

BACKGROUND: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in the onset and development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with unclear mechanisms. Our previous studies found that bleomycin and tunicamycin could induce ER stress and consequently trigger EMT accompanying with IL-32 overexpression. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of IL-32 on EMT and ER stress to elucidate the pathogenesis of IPF. METHODS: Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were treated with recombinant human (rh)IL-32, IL-32 siRNA and EMT inducer tunicamycin, or 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), respectively. Then the cell morphology was observed and the expression of ER-related markers and EMT-related markers were detected by RT-qPCR or western blotting. RESULTS: Stimulation of A549 cells with rhIL-32 led to a morphological change from a pebble-like shape to an elongated shape in a portion of the cells, accompanied by down regulated expression of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and up regulated expression of the mesenchymal cell markers N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Zeb-1. However, these rhIL-32 induced changes were inhibited by the ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA. Suppression of IL-32 expression with siRNA inhibited TM-induced EMT. Further stimulation of the A549 cells with rhIL-32 demonstrated an increase in the expression of GRP78, although this increase was also inhibited by 4-PBA. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that IL-32 induces EMT in A549 cells by triggering ER stress, and IL-32 may be a novel marker for IPF. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12890-020-01319-z.