Giovanni Ligresti,PhD
Associate Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Rheumatology

PhD, University of Trieste
MS, University of Trieste
BS, University of Trieste



My laboratory focuses on lung repair and pulmonary fibrosis. We are currently investigating molecular mechanisms implicated in the differentiation of lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts during lung fibrosis, with particular emphasis on transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms driving persistent fibrogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We have recently discovered that in the lung, myofibroblast differentiation occurs through the engagement of chromatin modifier enzymes and epigenetic readers. We found that the histone methyltransferase G9a and the epigenetic reader CBX5 play a critical role in lung fibroblast activation, and that targeting these epigenetic modifiers enhanced mitochondrial function, blocked ECM protein secretion, and attenuated lung fibrogenesis.
In addition, my laboratory is interested in investigating the impact of aging on the development of pulmonary fibrosis. We have recently discovered that the endothelium of aged mouse lungs is dysfunctional and this abnormality leads to capillary loss and persistent lung fibrosis following injury. Using a multi-omics approach (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and scRNA-seq) we have identified transcriptional programs in lung endothelial cells orchestrating lung vascular repair and whose abnormal activation with aging leads to persistent lung fibrosis.

Member
Boston University
Pulmonary Center


Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Targeting Vascular Cgas-Sting Pathway to Inhibit Lung Fibrosis Progression
07/01/2026 - 06/30/2029 (Key Person / Mentor)
PI: Ahmed A. Raslan, PhD
Parker B. Francis Fellowship Program


Targeting the alveolar vascular niche to promote fibrosis resolution
07/01/2025 - 06/30/2027 (Key Person / Mentor)
PI: Ahmed A. Raslan, PhD
American Lung Association


Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution
03/05/2022 - 02/28/2027 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R01HL158733-04

Heterogeneity and Regulation of the DNA Methylome in IPF Mesenchymal Cells
02/01/2023 - 11/30/2026 (Subcontract PI)
Regents of the University of Michigan NIH NHLBI
5R01HL162963-03

Targeting pathogenic venous endothelial cells in pulmonary fibrosis
02/05/2024 - 06/06/2026 (PI)
Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (Japan)


Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis
09/18/2019 - 06/30/2024 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R01HL142596-05



Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2025 Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution 5R01HL158733-04
2024 Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution 5R01HL158733-03
2023 Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution 5R01HL158733-02
2022 Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution 1R01HL158733-01A1
2022 Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis 5R01HL142596-05
2021 Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis 5R01HL142596-04 4
2020 Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis 5R01HL142596-03 4
2019 Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis 7R01HL142596-02 4
2018 Epigenetic gene repression in pulmonary fibrosis 1R01HL142596-01 4

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Antar SA, Mensah E, Dahlka J, Aziz M, Halouani A, Imani S, Parashar A, Raslan AA, Benezra R, Fraidenraich D, Ligresti G, Sassi Y. A Simultaneous Inhibition of ID1 and ID3 Protects Against Pulmonary Fibrosis. bioRxiv. 2025 Jul 26.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40777426; PMCID: PMC12330687; DOI: 10.1101/2025.07.24.665373;
     
  2. Dinc MT, El-Adili F, Lui JK, Kripesh S, York M, Trojanowski M, Ligresti G, Lafyatis R, Trojanowska M, Bujor AM. Transcriptomic profiling of scleroderma monocytes reveals links with cardiovascular complications, implicating Notch and interferon pathways. J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2025 Jul 25; 10(3):23971983251356123.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40735732; PMCID: PMC12301231; DOI: 10.1177/23971983251356123;
     
  3. Hong J, Pham TX, Lee J, Raslan AA, Nicolas K, Sharov A, Meridew JA, Urrutia RA, Lomberk G, Huang SK, Ligresti G. Targeting the Epigenetic Regulator CBX5 Promotes Fibroblast Metabolic Reprogramming and Inhibits Lung Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025 Jun; 72(6):627-642.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39642371; PMCID: PMC12143411; DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2024-0255OC;
     
  4. Gianì F, Roos BB, Link PA, Somasundram B, Dresler SR, Sciacca E, Vancheri C, Javeed N, Ligresti G, Tschumperlin DJ, Caporarello N. Vascular protection by young circulating extracellular vesicles ameliorates aging-related pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2025 Jul 01; 329(1):C159-C169. PMID: 40411768; PMCID: PMC13007800; DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00022.2025;
     
  5. Aplin AC, Ligresti G, Nicosia RF. Serum-Free Mouse Aortic Ring Assay of Angiogenesis. Methods Mol Biol. 2025; 2956:97-110. PMID: 40859078
     
  6. Yamashita T, Kaplan U, Chakraborty A, Marden G, Gritli S, Roh D, Bujor A, Trojanowski M, Ligresti G, Browning JL, Trojanowska M. ERG Regulates Lymphatic Vessel Specification Genes and Its Deficiency Impairs Wound Healing-Associated Lymphangiogenesis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Nov; 76(11):1645-1657.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38965683; PMCID: PMC11521767; DOI: 10.1002/art.42944;
     
  7. Raslan AA, Pham TX, Lee J, Kontodimas K, Tilston-Lunel A, Schmottlach J, Hong J, Dinc T, Bujor AM, Caporarello N, Thiriot A, von Andrian UH, Huang SK, Nicosia RF, Trojanowska M, Varelas X, Ligresti G. Lung injury-induced activated endothelial cell states persist in aging-associated progressive fibrosis. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 27; 15(1):5449.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38937456; PMCID: PMC11211333; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49545-x;
     
  8. Wang X, Li X, Zhao J, Li Y, Shin SR, Ligresti G, Ng AHM, Bromberg JS, Church G, Lemos DR, Abdi R. Rapid Generation of hPSC-Derived High Endothelial Venule Organoids with In Vivo Ectopic Lymphoid Tissue Capabilities. Adv Mater. 2024 Apr; 36(15):e2308760. PMID: 38306610; PMCID: PMC11009051; DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308760;
     
  9. Chakraborty A, Kim A, AlAbdullatif S, Campbell JD, Alekseyev YO, Kaplan U, Dambal V, Ligresti G, Trojanowska M. Endothelial Erg Regulates Expression of Pulmonary Lymphatic Junctional and Inflammation Genes in Mouse Lungs Impacting Lymphatic Transport. Res Sq. 2024 Jan 24.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38343832; PMCID: PMC10854286; DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3808970/v1;
     
  10. Liang J, Ligresti G. Aging Delays Lung Repair: Insights from Omics Analysis in Mice with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2023 Oct; 69(4):376-377. PMID: 37437301; PMCID: PMC10557920; DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2023-0171ED;
     
Showing 10 of 70 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 70 publications over 19 distinct years, with a maximum of 7 publications in 2019 and 2022

YearPublications
20061
20072
20085
20092
20102
20114
20123
20133
20152
20161
20174
20183
20197
20204
20215
20227
20236
20244
20255


Researchers identify protein connected to aging and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Medical Xpress 7/25/2022
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