MAPK13 controls structural remodeling and disease after epithelial injury

All living organisms are charged with repair after injury particularly at epithelial barrier sites, but in some cases this response leads instead to structural remodeling and long-term disease. Identifying the molecular and cellular control of this divergence is key to disease modification. In that regard, stress kinase control of epithelial stem cells is a rational entry point for study. Here we examine the potential for mitogen-activated protein kinase 13 (MAPK13) regulation of epithelial stem cells using models of respiratory viral injury and post-viral lung disease that resembles asthma. We show that Mapk13 gene-knockout mice handle acute infectious illness as expected but are protected against basal-epithelial stem cell (basal-ESC) hyperplasia and mucous metaplasia. In corresponding organoid models, Mapk13-deficiency directly controls the basal-ESC program for stemness endpoints of hyperplasia and mucous metaplasia. Extension to human studies shows induction/activation of MAPK13 in basal-epithelial cells in lung tissue samples from asthma and COPD patients. Further, in human organoid models, MAPK13 mRNA knockdown regulates basal-ESC stemness similarly to mouse models. Together, the data identify MAPK13 as a control point for structural remodeling after epithelial injury and a suitable target for down-regulation as a disease-modifying strategy.