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




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
5R01HL162963-02

Targeting vascular dysfunction to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution
03/05/2022 - 02/28/2026 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5R01HL158733-03

Targeting pathogenic venous endothelial cells in pulmonary fibrosis
02/05/2024 - 02/05/2026 (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

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. 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. 2024 Dec 06.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39642371
     
  2. 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;
     
  3. 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;
     
  4. 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;
     
  5. 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;
     
  6. 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;
     
  7. Banerji R, Grifno GN, Shi L, Smolen D, LeBourdais R, Muhvich J, Eberman C, Hiller BE, Lee J, Regan K, Zheng S, Zhang S, Jiang J, Raslan AA, Breda JC, Pihl R, Traber K, Mazzilli S, Ligresti G, Mizgerd JP, Suki B, Nia HT. Crystal ribcage: a platform for probing real-time lung function at cellular resolution. Nat Methods. 2023 Nov; 20(11):1790-1801.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37710017; PMCID: PMC10860663; DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02004-9;
     
  8. Caporarello N, Ligresti G. Vascular Contribution to Lung Repair and Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2023 Aug; 69(2):135-146. PMID: 37126595; PMCID: PMC10399144; DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0431TR;
     
  9. Ruaro B, Tavano S, Confalonieri P, Pozzan R, Hughes M, Braga L, Volpe MC, Ligresti G, Andrisano AG, Lerda S, Geri P, Biolo M, Baratella E, Confalonieri M, Salton F. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and pulmonary fibrosis: A never-ending story? Heliyon. 2023 Apr; 9(4):e14768. PMID: 37025914; PMCID: PMC10070648; DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14768;
     
  10. Raslan AA, Pham TX, Lee J, Hong J, Schmottlach J, Nicolas K, Dinc T, Bujor AM, Caporarello N, Thiriot A, von Andrian UH, Huang SK, Nicosia RF, Trojanowska M, Varelas X, Ligresti G. Single Cell Transcriptomics of Fibrotic Lungs Unveils Aging-associated Alterations in Endothelial and Epithelial Cell Regeneration. bioRxiv. 2023 Jan 20.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36712020; PMCID: PMC9882122; DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.523179;
     
Showing 10 of 66 results. Show More

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

Bar chart showing 66 publications over 18 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
20245


Researchers identify protein connected to aging and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Medical Xpress 7/25/2022
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