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Hillsley A, Santoso MS, Engels SM, Halwachs KN, Contreras LM, Rosales AM. A strategy to quantify myofibroblast activation on a continuous spectrum. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12239. [PMID: 35851602 PMCID: PMC9293987 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16158-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are a highly secretory and contractile cell phenotype that are predominant in wound healing and fibrotic disease. Traditionally, myofibroblasts are identified by the de novo expression and assembly of alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fibers, leading to a binary classification: "activated" or "quiescent (non-activated)". More recently, however, myofibroblast activation has been considered on a continuous spectrum, but there is no established method to quantify the position of a cell on this spectrum. To this end, we developed a strategy based on microscopy imaging and machine learning methods to quantify myofibroblast activation in vitro on a continuous scale. We first measured morphological features of over 1000 individual cardiac fibroblasts and found that these features provide sufficient information to predict activation state. We next used dimensionality reduction techniques and self-supervised machine learning to create a continuous scale of activation based on features extracted from microscopy images. Lastly, we compared our findings for mechanically activated cardiac fibroblasts to a distribution of cell phenotypes generated from transcriptomic data using single-cell RNA sequencing. Altogether, these results demonstrate a continuous spectrum of myofibroblast activation and provide an imaging-based strategy to quantify the position of a cell on that spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hillsley
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Matthew S Santoso
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sean M Engels
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen N Halwachs
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Lydia M Contreras
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Adrianne M Rosales
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Sampaio LP, Hilgert GSL, Shiju TM, Santhiago MR, Wilson SE. Topical Losartan and Corticosteroid Additively Inhibit Corneal Stromal Myofibroblast Generation and Scarring Fibrosis After Alkali Burn Injury. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:9. [PMID: 35819289 PMCID: PMC9287619 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.7.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of losartan and prednisolone acetate in inhibiting corneal scarring fibrosis after alkali burn injury in rabbits. Methods Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits were included. Alkali injuries were produced using 1N sodium hydroxide on a 5-mm diameter Whatman #1 filter paper for 1 minute. Four corneas in each group were treated six times per day for 1 month with 50 µL of (1) 0.8 mg/mL losartan in balanced salt solution (BSS), (2) 1% prednisolone acetate, (3) combined 0.8 mg/mL losartan and 1% prednisolone acetate, or (4) BSS. Area of opacity and total opacity were analyzed in standardized slit-lamp photos with ImageJ. Corneas in both groups were cryofixed in Optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound at 1 month after surgery, and immunohistochemistry was performed for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and keratocan or transforming growth factor β1 and collagen type IV with ImageJ quantitation. Results Combined topical losartan and prednisolone acetate significantly decreased slit-lamp opacity area and intensity, as well as decreased stromal myofibroblast α-SMA area and intensity of staining per section and confined myofibroblasts to only the posterior stroma with repopulation of the anterior and mid-stroma with keratocan-positive keratocytes after 1 month of treatment. Corneal fibroblasts produced collagen type IV not associated with basement membranes, and this production was decreased by topical losartan. Conclusions Combined topical losartan and prednisolone acetate decreased myofibroblast-associated fibrosis after corneal alkali burns that produced full-thickness injury, including corneal endothelial damage. Increased dosages and duration of treatment may further decrease scarring fibrosis. Translational Relevance Topical losartan and prednisolone acetate decrease myofibroblast-mediated scarring fibrosis after corneal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lycia Pedral Sampaio
- Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology at University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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153
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Fatima M, Gao J, Han T, Ding Y, Zhang Y, Wen E, Jia L, Wang R, Wang W, Zhao S, Bai L, Liu E. MED1 Deficiency in Macrophages Aggravates Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice. Am J Pathol 2022; 192:1016-1027. [PMID: 35461855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mediator 1 (MED1), a key subunit of the mediator complex, interacts with various nuclear receptors and functions in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Dilated cardiomyopathy-related ventricular dilatation and heart failure have been reported in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific Med1 deficiency. However, the contribution of macrophage-specific MED1 in cardiac remodeling remains unclear. In this study, macrophage-specific Med1 knockout (Med1ΔMac) mice were generated and exposed to isoproterenol (ISO) to induce cardiac fibrosis; these mice showed aggravated cardiac fibrosis compared with Med1fl/fl mice. The levels of expression of marker genes for myofibroblast transdifferentiation [α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)] and of profibrotic genes, including Col1a1, Col3a1, Postn, Mmp2, Timp1, and Fn1, were significantly increased in the cardiac tissues of Med1ΔMac mice with ISO-induced myocardial fibrosis. In particular, the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-Smad2/3 signaling pathway was activated. In bone marrow-derived and peritoneal macrophages, Med1 deficiency was also associated with elevated levels of expression of proinflammatory genes, including Il6, Tnfa, and Il1b. These findings indicate that macrophage-specific MED1 deficiency may aggravate ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis via the regulation of the TGF-β-SMAD2/3 pathway, and the underlying mechanism may involve MED1 deficiency triggering the activation of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, which in turn may stimulate phenotypic switch of cardiac fibroblasts and accelerate cardiac fibrosis. Thus, MED1 is a potential therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehreen Fatima
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tuo Han
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yiming Ding
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ergang Wen
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Linying Jia
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weirong Wang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sihai Zhao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Liang Bai
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Enqi Liu
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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Guo X, Adeyanju O, Sunil C, Mandlem V, Olajuyin A, Huang S, Chen SY, Idell S, Tucker TA, Qian G. DOCK2 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis by promoting lung fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C133-C144. [PMID: 35584329 PMCID: PMC9273279 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00067.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common chronic interstitial lung disease and is characterized by progressive scarring of the lung. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays an essential role in IPF and drives fibroblast to myofibroblast transition (FMT). Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) is known to regulate diverse immune functions by activating Rac and has been recently implicated in pleural fibrosis. We now report a novel role of DOCK2 in pulmonary fibrosis development by mediating FMT. In primary normal and IPF human lung fibroblasts (HLFs), TGF-β induced DOCK2 expression concurrent with FMT markers, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA), collagen-1, and fibronectin. Knockdown of DOCK2 significantly attenuated TGF-β-induced expression of these FMT markers. In addition, we found that the upregulation of DOCK2 by TGF-β is dependent on both Smad3 and ERK pathways as their respective inhibitors blocked TGF-β-mediated induction. TGF-β also stabilized DOCK2 protein, which contributes to increased DOCK2 expression. In addition, DOCK2 was also dramatically induced in the lungs of patients with IPF and in bleomycin, and TGF-β induced pulmonary fibrosis in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, increased lung DOCK2 expression colocalized with the FMT marker α-SMA in the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, implicating DOCK2 in the regulation of lung fibroblast phenotypic changes. Importantly, DOCK2 deficiency also attenuated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and α-SMA expression. Taken together, our study demonstrates a novel role of DOCK2 in pulmonary fibrosis by modulating FMT and suggests that targeting DOCK2 may present a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention or treatment of IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Christudas Sunil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Venkatakirankumar Mandlem
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Ayobami Olajuyin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven Huang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas
| | - Torry A Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas
| | - Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
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Huang J, Zhang H, Fan X, Guo J. Inhibition of miR-497 Attenuates Oral Submucous Fibrosis by Inhibiting Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation in Buccal Mucosal Fibroblasts. Oral Health Prev Dent 2022; 20:339-348. [PMID: 35920886 DOI: 10.3290/j.ohpd.b3276183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a common chronic condition with poor prognosis, and existing therapies for OSF are limited in effectiveness. This study was designed to explore the role of miR-497 in arecoline (AR)-induced OSF. MATERIALS AND METHODS After miR-497 was silenced or overexpressed in buccal mucosa fibroblasts (BMFs), different concentrations of AR (5-200 μg/ml) were applied to incubate BMFs, and 50 μg/ml of AR was chosen for subsequent experiments. Thereafter, collagen gel contraction assay was used to detect the contractile capacity of BMFs. Transwell assay and wound healing assay were applied to detect migration and invasiveness of the cells. In addition, immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were conducted to measure the expression of miR-497, collagen I and α-SMA, as well as the phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3. RESULTS After successful inhibition or overexpression of miR-497 in AR-induced BMFs, the results showed that miR- 497 inhibition suppressed the contractility, migration and invasiveness of AR-induced BMFs, whereas overexpression of miR-497 produced the opposite. In addition, miR-497 inhibition down-regulated the expression level of collagen I and α-SMA in AR-exposed BMFs. Furthermore, TGF-β1 expression, Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation were also repressed in AR-induced BMFs after miR-497 inhibition. Correspondingly, overexpression of miR-497 reversed the expression of the aforementioned proteins. CONCLUSION miR-497 inhibition may attenuate OSF by inhibiting myofibroblast transdifferentiation in BMFs via the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway, indicating that miR-497 might represent an underlying target for treating OSF.
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Tapia Cáceres F, Gaspari TA, Hossain MA, Samuel CS. Relaxin Inhibits the Cardiac Myofibroblast NLRP3 Inflammasome as Part of Its Anti-Fibrotic Actions via the Angiotensin Type 2 and ATP (P2X7) Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137074. [PMID: 35806076 PMCID: PMC9266307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic NLRP3 inflammasome activation can promote fibrosis through its production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Conversely, recombinant human relaxin (RLX) can inhibit the pro-fibrotic interactions between IL-1β, IL-18 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Here, the broader extent by which RLX targeted the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome to mediate its anti-fibrotic effects was elucidated. Primary human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), stimulated with TGF-β1 (to promote myofibroblast (HCMF) differentiation), LPS (to prime the NLRP3 inflammasome) and ATP (to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome) (T+L+A) or benzoylbenzoyl-ATP (to activate the ATP receptor; P2X7R) (T+L+Bz), co-expressed relaxin family peptide receptor-1 (RXFP1), the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) and P2X7R, and underwent increased protein expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Whilst RLX co-administration to HCMFs significantly prevented the T+L+A- or T+L+Bz-stimulated increase in these end points, the inhibitory effects of RLX were annulled by the pharmacological antagonism of either RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R, TLR-4, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or caspase-1. The RLX-induced amelioration of left ventricular inflammation, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in isoproterenol (ISO)-injured mice, was also attenuated by P2X7R antagonism. Thus, the ability of RLX to ameliorate the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome as part of its anti-fibrotic effects, appeared to involve RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R and the inhibition of TLR-4, ROS and caspase-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Tapia Cáceres
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Tracey A. Gaspari
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Chrishan S. Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Cadena-Suárez AR, Hernández-Hernández HA, Alvarado-Vásquez N, Rangel-Escareño C, Sommer B, Negrete-García MC. Role of MicroRNAs in Signaling Pathways Associated with the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Focus on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126613. [PMID: 35743055 PMCID: PMC9224458 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease with high mortality and unclear etiology. Previous evidence supports that the origin of this disease is associated with epigenetic alterations, age, and environmental factors. IPF initiates with chronic epithelial lung injuries, followed by basal membrane destruction, which promotes the activation of myofibroblasts and excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Due to miRNAs’ role as regulators of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and cell-cell interaction processes, some studies have involved miRNAs in the biogenesis and progression of IPF. In this context, the analysis and discussion of the probable association of miRNAs with the signaling pathways involved in the development of IPF would improve our knowledge of the associated molecular mechanisms, thereby facilitating its evaluation as a therapeutic target for this severe lung disease. In this work, the most recent publications evaluating the role of miRNAs as regulators or activators of signal pathways associated with the pathogenesis of IPF were analyzed. The search in Pubmed was made using the following terms: “miRNAs and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)”; “miRNAs and IPF and signaling pathways (SP)”; and “miRNAs and IPF and SP and IPF pathogenesis”. Additionally, we focus mainly on those works where the signaling pathways involved with EMT, fibroblast differentiation, and synthesis of ECM components were assessed. Finally, the importance and significance of miRNAs as potential therapeutic or diagnostic tools for the treatment of IPF are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ruth Cadena-Suárez
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, Calz. Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.R.C.-S.); (H.A.H.-H.)
| | - Hilda Arely Hernández-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, Calz. Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.R.C.-S.); (H.A.H.-H.)
| | - Noé Alvarado-Vásquez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, Calz. Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | - Claudia Rangel-Escareño
- Departamento de Genomica Computacional, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Periférico Sur 4809, Col. Arenal Tepepan, Mexico City 14610, Mexico;
- Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Epigmenio González 500, San Pablo 76130, Mexico
| | - Bettina Sommer
- Departamento de Investigación en Hiperreactividad Bronquial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, Calz. Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, Mexico City 14080, Mexico;
| | - María Cristina Negrete-García
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, Calz. Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (A.R.C.-S.); (H.A.H.-H.)
- Correspondence:
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158
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Hao M, Liu X, Guo SW. Activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor retards the development of endometriosis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:85. [PMID: 35658970 PMCID: PMC9166516 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00955-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with endometriosis have been shown to have a reduced vagal tone as compared with controls and vagotomy promoted while vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) decelerated the progression of endometriosis in mice. Extensive research also has shown that the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway by VNS activates α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), potently reducing inflammation. Yet whether α7nAChR plays any role in endometriosis is unknown. We evaluated its expression in normal endometrium, ovarian and deep endometriotic lesions, and evaluated its role in the development of endometriosis. METHODS Immunohistochemistry analyses of α7nAChR in endometriotic lesions as well as control endometrium, and quantification of tissue fibrosis by Masson trichrome staining were performed. Mouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of α7nAChR activation or suppression on lesional progression and possible therapeutic effect. Finally, in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of activation of α7nAChR on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (FMT), smooth muscle metaplasia (SMM) and fibrogenesis in an endometriotic epithelial cell line and primary endometriotic stromal cells derived from ovarian endometrioma tissue samples. RESULTS Immunostaining of α7nAChR was significantly reduced in human endometriotic epithelial cells as compared with their counterpart in normal endometrium. Lesional α7nAChR staining levels correlated negatively with lesional fibrosis and the severity of dysmenorrhea. The α7nAChR agonist significantly impeded the development of endometriotic lesions in mouse models possibly through hindrance of EMT and FMT. It also demonstrated therapeutic effects in mice with induced deep endometriosis. Treatment of endometriotic epithelial and stromal cells with an α7nAChR agonist significantly abrogated platelet-induced EMT, FMT and SMM, and suppressed cellular contractility and collagen production. CONCLUSIONS α7nAChR is suppressed in endometriotic lesions, and its activation by pharmacological means can impede EMT, FMT, SMM, and fibrogenesis of endometriotic lesions. As such, α7nAChR can be rightfully viewed as a potential target for therapeutic invention. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Hao
- Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xishi Liu
- Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sun-Wei Guo
- Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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159
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Chen YI, Chang CC, Hsu MF, Jeng YM, Tien YW, Chang MC, Chang YT, Hu CM, Lee WH. Homophilic ATP1A1 binding induces activin A secretion to promote EMT of tumor cells and myofibroblast activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2945. [PMID: 35618735 PMCID: PMC9135720 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells with diverse phenotypes and biological behaviors are influenced by stromal cells through secretory factors or direct cell-cell contact. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extensive desmoplasia with fibroblasts as the major cell type. In the present study, we observe enrichment of myofibroblasts in a juxta-tumoral position with tumor cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitates invasion and correlates with a worse clinical prognosis in PDAC patients. Direct cell-cell contacts forming heterocellular aggregates between fibroblasts and tumor cells are detected in primary pancreatic tumors and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM). Mechanistically, ATP1A1 overexpressed in tumor cells binds to and reorganizes ATP1A1 of fibroblasts that induces calcium oscillations, NF-κB activation, and activin A secretion. Silencing ATP1A1 expression or neutralizing activin A secretion suppress tumor invasion and colonization. Taken together, these results elucidate the direct interplay between tumor cells and bound fibroblasts in PDAC progression, thereby providing potential therapeutic opportunities for inhibiting metastasis by interfering with these cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ing Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chun Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Master Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, China Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Min-Fen Hsu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Ming Jeng
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Tien
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chu Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Mei Hu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Wen-Hwa Lee
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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Chattopadhyaya S, Nagalingam RS, Ledingham DA, Moffatt TL, Al-Hattab DS, Narhan P, Stecy MT, O’Hara KA, Czubryt MP. Regulation of Cardiac Fibroblast GLS1 Expression by Scleraxis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091471. [PMID: 35563778 PMCID: PMC9101234 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is an energy-intensive process requiring the activation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, resulting in the increased synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins. Little is known about the transcriptional control of energy metabolism in cardiac fibroblast activation, but glutaminolysis has been implicated in liver and lung fibrosis. Here we explored how pro-fibrotic TGFβ and its effector scleraxis, which drive cardiac fibroblast activation, regulate genes involved in glutaminolysis, particularly the rate-limiting enzyme glutaminase (GLS1). The GLS1 inhibitor CB-839 attenuated TGFβ-induced fibroblast activation. Cardiac fibroblast activation to myofibroblasts by scleraxis overexpression increased glutaminolysis gene expression, including GLS1, while cardiac fibroblasts from scleraxis-null mice showed reduced expression. TGFβ induced GLS1 expression and increased intracellular glutamine and glutamate levels, indicative of increased glutaminolysis, but in scleraxis knockout cells, these measures were attenuated, and the response to TGFβ was lost. The knockdown of scleraxis in activated cardiac fibroblasts reduced GLS1 expression by 75%. Scleraxis transactivated the human GLS1 promoter in luciferase reporter assays, and this effect was dependent on a key scleraxis-binding E-box motif. These results implicate scleraxis-mediated GLS1 expression as a key regulator of glutaminolysis in cardiac fibroblast activation, and blocking scleraxis in this process may provide a means of starving fibroblasts of the energy required for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikta Chattopadhyaya
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Raghu S. Nagalingam
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - D. Allison Ledingham
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
| | - Teri L. Moffatt
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
| | - Danah S. Al-Hattab
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Pavit Narhan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
| | - Matthew T. Stecy
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
| | - Kimberley A. O’Hara
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
| | - Michael P. Czubryt
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada; (S.C.); (R.S.N.); (D.A.L.); (T.L.M.); (D.S.A.-H.); (P.N.); (M.T.S.); (K.A.O.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-204-235-3719
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Artlett CM. The Mechanism and Regulation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome during Fibrosis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050634. [PMID: 35625564 PMCID: PMC9138796 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is often the end result of chronic inflammation. It is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. This leads to structural alterations in the tissue, causing permanent damage and organ dysfunction. Depending on the organ it effects, fibrosis can be a serious threat to human life. The molecular mechanism of fibrosis is still not fully understood, but the NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin–domain–containing protein 3) inflammasome appears to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of fibrotic disease. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been the most extensively studied inflammatory pathway to date. It is a crucial component of the innate immune system, and its activation mediates the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. NLRP3 activation has been strongly linked with fibrosis and drives the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts by the chronic upregulation of IL-1β and IL-18 and subsequent autocrine signaling that maintains an activated inflammasome. Both IL-1β and IL-18 are profibrotic, however IL-1β can have antifibrotic capabilities. NLRP3 responds to a plethora of different signals that have a common but unidentified unifying trigger. Even after 20 years of extensive investigation, regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is still not completely understood. However, what is known about NLRP3 is that its regulation and activation is complex and not only driven by various activators but controlled by numerous post-translational modifications. More recently, there has been an intensive attempt to discover NLRP3 inhibitors to treat chronic diseases. This review addresses the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in fibrotic disorders across many different tissues. It discusses the relationships of various NLRP3 activators to fibrosis and covers different therapeutics that have been developed, or are currently in development, that directly target NLRP3 or its downstream products as treatments for fibrotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol M Artlett
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
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Filidou E, Kandilogiannakis L, Tarapatzi G, Spathakis M, Steiropoulos P, Mikroulis D, Arvanitidis K, Paspaliaris V, Kolios G. Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Immortalized Mesenchymal-Stem-Cell-Derived Conditioned Medium on Human Lung Myofibroblasts and Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094570. [PMID: 35562961 PMCID: PMC9102072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is caused by progressive lung tissue impairment due to extended chronic fibrosis, and it has no known effective treatment. The use of conditioned media (CM) from an immortalized human adipose mesenchymal stem cell line could be a promising therapeutic strategy, as it can reduce both fibrotic and inflammatory responses. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effect of CM on human pulmonary subepithelial myofibroblasts (hPSM) and on A549 pulmonary epithelial cells, treated with pro-inflammatory or pro-fibrotic mediators. CM inhibited the proinflammatory cytokine-induced mRNA and protein production of various chemokines in both hPSMs and A549 cells. It also downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-1α, but upregulated IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA production in both cell types. CM downregulated the pro-fibrotic-induced mRNA expression of collagen Type III and the migration rate of hPSMs, but upregulated fibronectin mRNA production and the total protein collagen secretion. CM's direct effect on the chemotaxis and cell recruitment of immune-associated cells, and its indirect effect on fibrosis through the significant decrease in the migration capacity of hPSMs, makes it a plausible candidate for further development towards a therapeutic treatment for IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Filidou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Leonidas Kandilogiannakis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Gesthimani Tarapatzi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Michail Spathakis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Paschalis Steiropoulos
- Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Mikroulis
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Arvanitidis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Vasilis Paspaliaris
- Vasilis Paspaliaris, Tithon Biotech Inc., 11440 West Bernardo Court, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92127, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +1-88-8780-2639
| | - George Kolios
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.F.); (L.K.); (G.T.); (M.S.); (K.A.); (G.K.)
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Wang WP, Ji R, Zhang Z, Wu YT, Zhang HS, Zhang Q, Jiang XP, Teng M. [Regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on transformation of human skin fibroblasts]. Zhonghua Shao Shang Yu Chuang Mian Xiu Fu Za Zhi 2022; 38:354-362. [PMID: 35462514 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20210112-00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on the transformation of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs). Methods: The experimental research methods were used. HSFs were collected and divided into 200 mV/mm electric field group treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for 6 h and simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 6 h. Changes in morphology and arrangement of cells were observed in the living cell workstation; the number of cells at 0 and 6 h of treatment was recorded, and the rate of change in cell number was calculated; the direction of cell movement, movement velocity, and trajectory velocity within 3 h were observed and calculated (the number of samples was 34 in the simulated electric field group and 30 in 200 mV/mm electric field group in the aforementioned experiments); the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in cells after 3 h of treatment was detected by immunofluorescence method (the number of sample was 3). HSFs were collected and divided into simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 3 h, and 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group which were treated with electric fields of corresponding intensities for 3 h. Besides, HSFs were divided into simulated electric field group placed in the electric field device without electricity for 6 h, and electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for corresponding time. The protein expressions of α-SMA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by Western blotting (the number of sample was 3). Data were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t test, and least significant difference test. Results: After 6 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were elongated in shape and locally adhered; the cells in simulated electric field group were randomly arranged, while the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were arranged in a regular longitudinal direction; the change rates in the number of cells in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). Within 3 h of treatment, the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group had an obvious tendency to move toward the positive electrode, and the cells in simulated electric field group moved around the origin; compared with those in simulated electric field group, the movement velocity and trajectory velocity of the cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group were increased significantly (with Z values of -5.33 and -5.41, respectively, P<0.01), and the directionality was significantly enhanced (Z=-4.39, P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, the protein expression of α-SMA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group was significantly higher than that in simulated electric field group (t=-9.81, P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, the protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group were 1.195±0.057, 1.606±0.041, and 1.616±0.039, respectively, which were significantly more than 0.649±0.028 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein expressions of α-SMA of cells in electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group were 0.730±0.032, 1.561±0.031, and 1.553±0.045, respectively, significantly more than 0.464±0.020 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in electric field treatment 1 h group, the protein expressions of α-SMA in electric field treatment 3 h group and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly increased (P<0.01). After 3 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 400 mV/mm electric field group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in 200 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expression of PCNA of cells in 400 mV/mm electric field group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with that in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 3 h group, and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly decreased (P<0.01); compared with that in electric field treatment 1 h group, the protein expressions of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 3 h group and electric field treatment 6 h group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with that in electric field treatment 3 h group, the protein expression of PCNA of cells in electric field treatment 6 h group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusions: The bio-intensity electric field can induce the migration of HSFs and promote the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and the transformation displays certain dependence on the time and intensity of electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- W P Wang
- Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - R Ji
- Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Z Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Y T Wu
- Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - H S Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Q Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - X P Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Miao Teng
- Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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Burr SD, Dorroh CC, Stewart JA. Rap1a Activity Elevated the Impact of Endogenous AGEs in Diabetic Collagen to Stimulate Increased Myofibroblast Transition and Oxidative Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094480. [PMID: 35562872 PMCID: PMC9101126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetics have an increased risk for heart failure due to cardiac fibroblast functional changes occurring as a result of AGE/RAGE signaling. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) levels are higher in diabetics and stimulate elevated RAGE (receptor for AGE) signaling. AGE/RAGE signaling can alter the expression of proteins linked to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and oxidative stressors. Our lab has identified a small GTPase, Rap1a, that may overlap the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway. We sought to determine the role Rap1a plays in mediating AGE/RAGE changes and to assess the impact of isolated collagen on further altering these changes. Primary cardiac fibroblasts from non-diabetic and diabetic mice with and without RAGE expression and from mice lacking Rap1a were cultured on tail collagen extracted from non-diabetic or diabetic mice, and in addition, cells were treated with Rap1a activator, EPAC. Protein analyses were performed for changes in RAGE-associated signaling proteins (RAGE, PKC-ζ, ERK1/2) and downstream RAGE signaling outcomes (α-SMA, NF-κB, SOD-2). Increased levels of endogenous AGEs within the diabetic collagen and increased Rap1a activity promoted myofibroblast transition and oxidative stress, suggesting Rap1a activity elevated the impact of AGEs in the diabetic ECM to stimulate myofibroblast transition and oxidative stress.
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165
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Katwa LC, Mendoza C, Clements M. CVD and COVID-19: Emerging Roles of Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081316. [PMID: 35455995 PMCID: PMC9031661 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Current data suggest that patients with cardiovascular diseases experience more serious complications with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) than those without CVD. In addition, severe COVID-19 appears to cause acute cardiac injury, as well as long-term adverse remodeling of heart tissue. Cardiac fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, being crucial in response to injury, may play a pivotal role in both contributing to and healing COVID-19-induced cardiac injury. The role of cardiac myofibroblasts in cardiac fibrosis has been well-established in the literature for decades. However, with the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, new cardiac complications are arising. Bursts of inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of TGF-β1 and angiotensin (AngII) are common in severe COVID-19 patients. Cytokines, TGF-β1, and Ang II can induce cardiac fibroblast differentiation, potentially leading to fibrosis. This review details the key information concerning the role of cardiac myofibroblasts in CVD and COVID-19 complications. Additionally, new factors including controlling ACE2 expression and microRNA regulation are explored as promising treatments for both COVID-19 and CVD. Further understanding of this topic may provide insight into the long-term cardiac manifestations of the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to mitigate its negative effects.
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Yeung V, Zhang TC, Yuan L, Parekh M, Cortinas JA, Delavogia E, Hutcheon AEK, Guo X, Ciolino JB. Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Corneal Myofibroblasts Promote Corneal Epithelial Cell Migration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063136. [PMID: 35328555 PMCID: PMC8951135 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal epithelial wound healing is a multifaceted process that encompasses cell proliferation, migration, and communication from the corneal stroma. Upon corneal injury, bidirectional crosstalk between the epithelium and stroma via extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been reported. However, the mechanisms by which the EVs from human corneal keratocytes (HCKs), fibroblasts (HCFs), and/or myofibroblasts (HCMs) exert their effects on the corneal epithelium remain unclear. In this study, HCK-, HCF-, and HCM-EVs were isolated and characterized, and human corneal epithelial (HCE) cell migration was assessed in a scratch assay following PKH26-labeled HCK-, HCF-, or HCM-EV treatment. HCE cells proliferative and apoptotic activity following EV treatment was assessed. HCF-/HCM-EVs were enriched for CD63, CD81, ITGAV, and THBS1 compared to HCK-EV. All EVs were negative for GM130 and showed minimal differences in biophysical properties. At the proteomic level, we showed HCM-EV with a log >two-fold change in CXCL6, CXCL12, MMP1, and MMP2 expression compared to HCK-/HCF-EVs; these proteins are associated with cellular movement pathways. Upon HCM-EV treatment, HCE cell migration, velocity, and proliferation were significantly increased compared to HCK-/HCF-EVs. This study concludes that the HCM-EV protein cargo influences HCE cell migration and proliferation, and understanding these elements may provide a novel therapeutic avenue for corneal wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Yeung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Mohit Parekh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
| | - John A. Cortinas
- Division of Newborn Medicine & Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (J.A.C.); (E.D.)
| | - Eleni Delavogia
- Division of Newborn Medicine & Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (J.A.C.); (E.D.)
| | - Audrey E. K. Hutcheon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Xiaoqing Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Joseph B. Ciolino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (L.Y.); (M.P.); (A.E.K.H.); (X.G.); (J.B.C.)
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Riccetti MR, Ushakumary MG, Waltamath M, Green J, Snowball J, Dautel SE, Endale M, Lami B, Woods J, Ahlfeld SK, Perl AKT. Maladaptive functional changes in alveolar fibroblasts due to perinatal hyperoxia impair epithelial differentiation. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e152404. [PMID: 35113810 PMCID: PMC8983125 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.152404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infants born prematurely worldwide have up to a 50% chance of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a clinical morbidity characterized by dysregulated lung alveolarization and microvascular development. It is known that PDGFR alpha-positive (PDGFRA+) fibroblasts are critical for alveolarization and that PDGFRA+ fibroblasts are reduced in BPD. A better understanding of fibroblast heterogeneity and functional activation status during pathogenesis is required to develop mesenchymal population-targeted therapies for BPD. In this study, we utilized a neonatal hyperoxia mouse model (90% O2 postnatal days 0-7, PN0-PN7) and performed studies on sorted PDGFRA+ cells during injury and room air recovery. After hyperoxia injury, PDGFRA+ matrix and myofibroblasts decreased and PDGFRA+ lipofibroblasts increased by transcriptional signature and population size. PDGFRA+ matrix and myofibroblasts recovered during repair (PN10). After 7 days of in vivo hyperoxia, PDGFRA+ sorted fibroblasts had reduced contractility in vitro, reflecting loss of myofibroblast commitment. Organoids made with PN7 PDGFRA+ fibroblasts from hyperoxia in mice exhibited reduced alveolar type 1 cell differentiation, suggesting reduced alveolar niche-supporting PDGFRA+ matrix fibroblast function. Pathway analysis predicted reduced WNT signaling in hyperoxia fibroblasts. In alveolar organoids from hyperoxia-exposed fibroblasts, WNT activation by CHIR increased the size and number of alveolar organoids and enhanced alveolar type 2 cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Riccetti
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
- Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Marion Waltamath
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - Jenna Green
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - John Snowball
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - Sydney E. Dautel
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - Mehari Endale
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - Bonny Lami
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
| | - Jason Woods
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine & Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Shawn K. Ahlfeld
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Anne-Karina T. Perl
- The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, and
- Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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168
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Bugg D, Bailey LRJ, Bretherton RC, Beach KE, Reichardt IM, Robeson KZ, Reese AC, Gunaje J, Flint G, DeForest CA, Stempien-Otero A, Davis J. MBNL1 drives dynamic transitions between fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in cardiac wound healing. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:419-433.e10. [PMID: 35176223 PMCID: PMC8929295 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic fibroblast to myofibroblast state transitions underlie the heart's fibrotic response. Because transcriptome maturation by muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) promotes differentiated cell states, this study investigated whether tactical control of MBNL1 activity could alter myofibroblast activity and fibrotic outcomes. In healthy mice, cardiac fibroblast-specific overexpression of MBNL1 transitioned the fibroblast transcriptome to that of a myofibroblast and after injury promoted myocyte remodeling and scar maturation. Both fibroblast- and myofibroblast-specific loss of MBNL1 limited scar production and stabilization, which was ascribed to negligible myofibroblast activity. The combination of MBNL1 deletion and injury caused quiescent fibroblasts to expand and adopt features of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells, whereas transgenic MBNL1 expression blocked fibroblast proliferation and drove the population into a mature myofibroblast state. These data suggest MBNL1 is a post-transcriptional switch, controlling fibroblast state plasticity during cardiac wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrian Bugg
- Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Logan R J Bailey
- Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ross C Bretherton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Kylie E Beach
- Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Kalen Z Robeson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Anna C Reese
- Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jagadambika Gunaje
- Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Galina Flint
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Cole A DeForest
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Davis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Lab Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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169
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Choo YY, Sakai T, Komatsu S, Ikebe R, Jeffers A, Singh KP, Idell S, Tucker TA, Ikebe M. Calponin 1 contributes to myofibroblast differentiation of human pleural mesothelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 322:L348-L364. [PMID: 35018804 PMCID: PMC8858681 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00289.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) can become myofibroblasts via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MesoMT) and contribute to pleural organization, fibrosis, and rind formation. However, how these transformed mesothelial cells contribute to lung fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism of contractile myofibroblast differentiation of PMCs. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) induced marked upregulation of calponin 1 expression, which was correlated with notable cytoskeletal rearrangement in human PMCs (HPMCs) to produce stress fibers. Downregulation of calponin 1 expression reduced stress fiber formation. Interestingly, induced stress fibers predominantly contain α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) associated with calponin 1 but not β-actin. Calponin 1-associated stress fibers also contained myosin II and α-actinin. Furthermore, focal adhesions were aligned with the produced stress fibers. These results suggest that calponin 1 facilitates formation of stress fibers that resemble contractile myofibrils. Supporting this notion, TGF-β significantly increased the contractile activity of HPMCs, an effect that was abolished by downregulation of calponin 1 expression. We infer that differentiation of HPMCs to contractile myofibroblasts facilitates stiffness of scar tissue in pleura to promote pleural fibrosis (PF) and that upregulation of calponin 1 plays a central role in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Yeon Choo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Tsuyoshi Sakai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Satoshi Komatsu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Reiko Ikebe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Ann Jeffers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Karan P Singh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Torry A Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Mitsuo Ikebe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
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170
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Guo X, Sunil C, Adeyanju O, Parker A, Huang S, Ikebe M, Tucker TA, Idell S, Qian G. PD-L1 mediates lung fibroblast to myofibroblast transition through Smad3 and β-catenin signaling pathways. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3053. [PMID: 35197539 PMCID: PMC8866514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07044-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint protein that has been linked with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and fibroblast to myofibroblast transition (FMT). However, it remains largely unclear how PD-L1 mediates this process. We found significantly increased PD-L1 in the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients and mice with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin and TGF-β. In primary human lung fibroblasts (HLFs), TGF-β induced PD-L1 expression that is dependent on both Smad3 and p38 pathways. PD-L1 knockdown using siRNA significantly attenuated TGF-β-induced expression of myofibroblast markers α-SMA, collagen-1, and fibronectin in normal and IPF HLFs. Further, we found that PD-L1 interacts with Smad3, and TGF-β induces their interaction. Interestingly, PD-L1 knockdown reduced α-SMA reporter activity induced by TGF-β in HLFs, suggesting that PD-L1 might act as a co-factor of Smad3 to promote target gene expression. TGF-β treatment also phosphorylates GSK3β and upregulates β-catenin protein levels. Inhibiting β-catenin signaling with the pharmaceutical inhibitor ICG001 significantly attenuated TGF-β-induced FMT. PD-L1 knockdown also attenuated TGF-β-induced GSK3β phosphorylation/inhibition and β-catenin upregulation, implicating GSK3β/β-catenin signaling in PD-L1-mediated FMT. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that fibroblast PD-L1 may promote pulmonary fibrosis through both Smad3 and β-catenin signaling and may represent a novel interventional target for IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Christudas Sunil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Andrew Parker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Steven Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Mitsuo Ikebe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
| | - Torry A Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA.
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171
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Rogers JD, Aguado BA, Watts KM, Anseth KS, Richardson WJ. Network modeling predicts personalized gene expression and drug responses in valve myofibroblasts cultured with patient sera. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117323119. [PMID: 35181609 PMCID: PMC8872767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117323119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) patients experience pathogenic valve leaflet stiffening due to excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Numerous microenvironmental cues influence pathogenic expression of ECM remodeling genes in tissue-resident valvular myofibroblasts, and the regulation of complex myofibroblast signaling networks depends on patient-specific extracellular factors. Here, we combined a manually curated myofibroblast signaling network with a data-driven transcription factor network to predict patient-specific myofibroblast gene expression signatures and drug responses. Using transcriptomic data from myofibroblasts cultured with AVS patient sera, we produced a large-scale, logic-gated differential equation model in which 11 biochemical and biomechanical signals were transduced via a network of 334 signaling and transcription reactions to accurately predict the expression of 27 fibrosis-related genes. Correlations were found between personalized model-predicted gene expression and AVS patient echocardiography data, suggesting links between fibrosis-related signaling and patient-specific AVS severity. Further, global network perturbation analyses revealed signaling molecules with the most influence over network-wide activity, including endothelin 1 (ET1), interleukin 6 (IL6), and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), along with downstream mediators c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Lastly, we performed virtual drug screening to identify patient-specific drug responses, which were experimentally validated via fibrotic gene expression measurements in valvular interstitial cells cultured with AVS patient sera and treated with or without bosentan-a clinically approved ET1 receptor inhibitor. In sum, our work advances the ability of computational approaches to provide a mechanistic basis for clinical decisions including patient stratification and personalized drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Rogers
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
| | - Brian A Aguado
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
- Bioengineering Department, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Kelsey M Watts
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309;
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172
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Aguado BA, Walker CJ, Grim JC, Schroeder ME, Batan D, Vogt BJ, Rodriguez AG, Schwisow JA, Moulton KS, Weiss RM, Heistad DD, Leinwand LA, Anseth KS. Genes That Escape X Chromosome Inactivation Modulate Sex Differences in Valve Myofibroblasts. Circulation 2022; 145:513-530. [PMID: 35000411 PMCID: PMC8844107 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.054108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic valve stenosis is a sexually dimorphic disease, with women often presenting with sustained fibrosis and men with more extensive calcification. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that drive these clinically important sex differences remain underexplored. METHODS Hydrogel biomaterials were designed to recapitulate key aspects of the valve tissue microenvironment and to serve as a culture platform for sex-specific valvular interstitial cells (VICs; precursors to profibrotic myofibroblasts). The hydrogel culture system was used to interrogate intracellular pathways involved in sex-dependent VIC-to-myofibroblast activation and deactivation. RNA sequencing was used to define pathways involved in driving sex-dependent activation. Interventions with small molecule inhibitors and siRNA transfections were performed to provide mechanistic insight into sex-specific cellular responses to microenvironmental cues, including matrix stiffness and exogenously delivered biochemical factors. RESULTS In both healthy porcine and human aortic valves, female leaflets had higher baseline activation of the myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin compared with male leaflets. When isolated and cultured, female porcine and human VICs had higher levels of basal α-smooth muscle actin stress fibers that further increased in response to the hydrogel matrix stiffness, both of which were higher than in male VICs. A transcriptomic analysis of male and female porcine VICs revealed Rho-associated protein kinase signaling as a potential driver of this sex-dependent myofibroblast activation. Furthermore, we found that genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation such as BMX and STS (encoding for Bmx nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and steroid sulfatase, respectively) partially regulate the elevated female myofibroblast activation through Rho-associated protein kinase signaling. This finding was confirmed by treating male and female VICs with endothelin-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, factors that are secreted by endothelial cells and known to drive myofibroblast activation through Rho-associated protein kinase signaling. CONCLUSIONS Together, in vivo and in vitro results confirm sex dependencies in myofibroblast activation pathways and implicate genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation in regulating sex differences in myofibroblast activation and subsequent aortic valve stenosis progression. Our results underscore the importance of considering sex as a biological variable to understand the molecular mechanisms of aortic valve stenosis and to help guide sex-based precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A. Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Cierra J. Walker
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Joseph C. Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Megan E. Schroeder
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Dilara Batan
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Brandon J. Vogt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jessica A. Schwisow
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Karen S. Moulton
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Robert M. Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Donald D. Heistad
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Leslie A. Leinwand
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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173
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LIN J, WANG L, CHEN B, OU S, QIN J, FAN J. Shenweifang-containing serum inhibits transforming growth factor-β1 induced myofibroblast differentiation in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cell. J TRADIT CHIN MED 2022; 42:39-48. [PMID: 35294121 PMCID: PMC10164629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of Shenweifang (SWF)-containing serum on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transition in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cells (NRK-49F). METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with one of five solutions: (a) saline; (b) saline plus low-dose SWF; (c) saline plus medium-dose SWF; (d) saline plus highdose SWF; and (e) saline plus valsartan. NRK-49F cells were treated with TGF-β1 and cultured using serum from the gavaged rats. RESULTS TGF-β1 treatment increased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, collagen I, Smad3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 10, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 3 and induced abnormalities in cell morphology, cell cycle progression, and cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS SWF- or valsartan-containing serum corrected (or partially corrected) TGF-β1-induced abnormal changes in this in vitro system. SWF-containing serum reversed abnormalities in morphology, cell cycle progression, and proliferation in TGF-β1-treated NRK49F cells, probably by blocking the TGF-β1/Smads and TGF-β1/MAPK/JNK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaru LIN
- 1 Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- 2 Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
- 3 Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Li WANG
- 4 Central Laboratory, Affiliated Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Bo CHEN
- 4 Central Laboratory, Affiliated Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Santao OU
- 1 Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jianhua QIN
- 1 Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Junming FAN
- 1 Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- 3 Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
- 4 Central Laboratory, Affiliated Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- 5 Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- 6 Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China
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174
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Guler Z, Roovers JP. Role of Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010094. [PMID: 35053242 PMCID: PMC8773530 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a multifactorial connective tissue disorder caused by damage to the supportive structures of the pelvic floor, leading to the descent of pelvic organs in the vagina. In women with POP, fibroblast function is disturbed or altered, which causes impaired collagen metabolism that affects the mechanical properties of the tissue. Ideal surgical repair, either native tissue repair or POP surgery using an implant, aims to create a functional pelvic floor that is load-bearing, activating fibroblasts to regulate collagen metabolism without creating fibrotic tissue. Fibroblast function plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of POP by directly affecting the connective tissue quality. On the other hand, fibroblasts determine the success of the POP treatment, as the fibroblast-to-(myo)fibroblast transition is the key event during wound healing and tissue repair. In this review, we aim to resolve the question of “cause and result” for the fibroblasts in the development and treatment of POP. This review may contribute to preventing the development and progress of anatomical abnormalities involved in POP and to optimizing surgical outcomes.
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175
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Saludas L, Garbayo E, Ruiz-Villalba A, Hernández S, Vader P, Prósper F, Blanco-Prieto MJ. Isolation methods of large and small extracellular vesicles derived from cardiovascular progenitors: A comparative study. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2022; 170:187-196. [PMID: 34968647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the beneficial therapeutical effects of extracellular vesicles (EVs), these agents have been attracting great interest as next-generation therapies. EVs are nanosized membrane bodies secreted by all types of cells that mediate cell-cell communication. Although the classification of different subpopulations of EVs can be complex, they are broadly divided into microvesicles and exosomes based on their biogenesis and in large and small EVs based on their size. As this is an emerging field, current investigations are focused on basic aspects such as the more convenient method for EV isolation. In the present paper, we used cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) to study and compare different cell culture conditions for EV isolation as well as two of the most commonly employed purification methods: ultracentrifugation (UC) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Large and small EVs were separately analysed. We found that serum starvation of cells during the EV collecting period led to a dramatic decrease in EV secretion and major cell death. Regarding the isolation method, our findings suggest that UC and SEC gave similar EV recovery rates. Separation of large and small EV-enriched subpopulations was efficiently achieved with both purification protocols although certain difference in sample heterogeneity was observed. Noteworthy, while calnexin was abundant in large EVs, ALIX and CD63 were mainly found in small EVs. Finally, when the functionality of EVs was assessed on primary culture of adult murine cardiac fibroblasts, we found that EVs were taken up by these cells, which resulted in a pronounced reduction in the proliferative and migratory capacity of the cells. Specifically, a tendency towards a larger effect of SEC-related EVs was observed. No differences could be found between large and small EVs. Altogether, these results contribute to establish the basis for the use of EVs as therapeutic platforms, in particular in regenerative fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Saludas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elisa Garbayo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Adrián Ruiz-Villalba
- Hematology Service and Area of Cell Therapy, Clinic Universidad de Navarra, Foundation for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biomedicine of Málaga (IBIMA), Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain. Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (BIONAND), Málaga, Spain
| | - Silvia Hernández
- Hematology Service and Area of Cell Therapy, Clinic Universidad de Navarra, Foundation for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pieter Vader
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Felipe Prósper
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain; Hematology Service and Area of Cell Therapy, Clinic Universidad de Navarra, Foundation for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Hematology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Foundation for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigacion en Red de Oncologia (CIBERONC), Spain.
| | - María J Blanco-Prieto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.
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Sun Y, Cai H, Ge J, Shao F, Huang Z, Ding Z, Dong L, Chen J, Zhang J, Zang Y. Tubule-derived INHBB promotes interstitial fibroblast activation and renal fibrosis. J Pathol 2022; 256:25-37. [PMID: 34543458 DOI: 10.1002/path.5798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Upstream stimuli for myofibroblast activation are of considerable interest for understanding the mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis. Activin B, a member of the TGF-β family, exists as a homodimer of inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB), but its role in renal fibrosis remains unknown. We found that INHBB expression was significantly increased in various renal fibrosis models and human chronic kidney disease specimens with renal fibrosis. Notably, the increase of INHBB occurred mainly in the tubular epithelial cells (TECs). In vivo, inhibiting INHBB blocked the activation of interstitial fibroblasts and ameliorated the renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction or ischemia-reperfusion injury, while ectopic expression of INHBB in the TECs was able to activate interstitial fibroblasts and initiate interstitial fibrosis. In vitro, overexpression of INHBB in TECs led to the secretion of activin B, thereby promoting the proliferation and activation of interstitial fibroblasts through activin B/Smad signaling. Furthermore, inhibition of activin B/Smad signaling attenuated the fibrotic response caused by tubular INHBB. Mechanistically, the upregulation of INHBB depended on the transcription factor Sox9 in the injured TECs. Clinical analyses also identified a positive correlation between Sox9 and INHBB expression in human specimens, suggesting the Sox9/INHBB axis as a positive regulator of renal fibrosis. In conclusion, tubule-derived INHBB is implicated in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis by activating the surrounding fibroblasts in a paracrine manner, thereby exhibiting as a potential therapeutic target. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Huimin Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Jia Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Fang Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zhen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zhi Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Jiangning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yuhui Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China
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177
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Tang PC, Chung JY, Xue VW, Xiao J, Meng X, Huang X, Zhou S, Chan AS, Tsang AC, Cheng AS, Lee T, Leung K, Lam EW, To K, Tang PM, Lan H. Smad3 Promotes Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Generation via Macrophage-Myofibroblast Transition. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022; 9:e2101235. [PMID: 34791825 PMCID: PMC8728853 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important in tumor microenvironment (TME) driven cancer progression. However, CAFs are heterogeneous and still largely underdefined, better understanding their origins will identify new therapeutic strategies for cancer. Here, the authors discovered a new role of macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) in cancer for de novo generating protumoral CAFs by resolving the transcriptome dynamics of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) with single-cell resolution. MMT cells (MMTs) are observed in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) associated with CAF abundance and patient mortality. By fate-mapping study, RNA velocity, and pseudotime analysis, existence of novel macrophage-lineage-derived CAF subset in the TME of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model is confirmed, which is directly transited via MMT from M2-TAM in vivo and bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) in vitro. Adoptive transfer of BMDM-derived MMTs markedly promote CAF formation in LLC-bearing mice. Mechanistically, a Smad3-centric regulatory network is upregulated in the MMTs of NSCLC, where chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing(ChIP-seq) detects a significant enrichment of Smad3 binding on fibroblast differentiation genes in the macrophage-lineage cells in LLC-tumor. More importantly, macrophage-specific deletion and pharmaceutical inhibition of Smad3 effectively block MMT, therefore, suppressing the CAF formation and cancer progression in vivo. Thus, MMT may represent a novel therapeutic target of CAF for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu‐Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Jeff Yat‐Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Vivian Wei‐wen Xue
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | | | - Xiao‐Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney DiseasesGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangzhouChina
| | - Shuang Zhou
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyTongji University School of MedicineTongji University Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Alex Siu‐Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social SciencesThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Anna Chi‐Man Tsang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | | | - Tin‐Lap Lee
- ReproductionDevelopment and Endocrinology ProgramSchool of Biomedical SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Kam‐Tong Leung
- Department of PaediatricsPrince of Wales HospitalThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Eric W.‐F. Lam
- Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510060China
| | - Ka‐Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Patrick Ming‐Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Hui‐Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong‐Guangdong Academy of Sciences/Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Joint Research Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney DiseasesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
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178
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Kocurkova A, Nesporova K, Sandanusova M, Kerberova M, Lehka K, Velebny V, Kubala L, Ambrozova G. Endogenously-Produced Hyaluronan and Its Potential to Regulate the Development of Peritoneal Adhesions. Biomolecules 2021; 12:biom12010045. [PMID: 35053193 PMCID: PMC8773905 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of peritoneal adhesions (PA) is one of the major complications following intra-abdominal surgery. It is primarily caused by activation of the mesothelial layer and underlying tissues in the peritoneal membrane resulting in the transition of mesothelial cells (MCs) and fibroblasts to a pro-fibrotic phenotype. Pro-fibrotic transition of MCs—mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT), and fibroblasts activation to myofibroblasts are interconnected to changes in cellular metabolism and culminate in the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the form of fibrotic tissue between injured sides in the abdominal cavity. However, ECM is not only a mechanical scaffold of the newly synthetized tissue but reciprocally affects fibrosis development. Hyaluronan (HA), an important component of ECM, is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan consisting of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and D-glucuronic acid (GlcUA) that can affect the majority of processes involved in PA formation. This review considers the role of endogenously produced HA in the context of different fibrosis-related pathologies and its overlap in the development of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kocurkova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Nesporova
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Miriam Sandanusova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Kerberova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
| | - Katerina Lehka
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Vladimir Velebny
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Lukas Kubala
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Ambrozova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Correspondence:
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179
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Šalingová B, Červenák Z, Adamičková A, Chomanicová N, Valášková S, Gažová A, Kyselovič J. Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition or Functional Tissue Regeneration - Two Outcomes of Heart Remodeling. Physiol Res 2021; 70:S13-S20. [PMID: 35503046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart remodeling occurs as a compensation mechanism for the massive loss of tissue during initial heart failure and the consequent inflammation process. During heart remodeling fibroblasts differentiate to myofibroblasts activate their secretion functions and produce elevated amounts, of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, mostly collagen, that form scar tissue and alter the normal degradation of ECM. Scar formation does replace the damaged tissue structurally; however, it impedes the normal contractive function of cardiomyocytes (CMs) and results in long-lasting effects after heart failure. Besides CMs and cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells (ECs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) contribute to heart repair. This review summarizes the current knowledge of EC-CM crosstalk in cardiac fibrosis (CF), the role of cEPCs in heart regeneration and the contribution of Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT).
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Affiliation(s)
- B Šalingová
- 5th Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Bratislava-Ružinov, Bratislava, Slovakia
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180
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Liao J, Li K, Su X, Chen Y, Wang Y, Tang X, Xing Y, Xu Y, Dai X, Teng J, Li H, Wang H, Lv X, Wang Y. Dexmedetomidine Promotes Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Differentiation of Cardiac Fibroblasts and Collagen I/III Synthesis through α 2A Adrenoreceptor-Mediated Activation of the PKC-p38-Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312749. [PMID: 34884552 PMCID: PMC8657501 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2 adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist, is commonly used as a sedative drug during critical illness. In the present study, we explored a novel accelerative effect of DEX on cardiac fibroblast (CF) differentiation mediated by LPS and clarified its potential mechanism. LPS apparently increased the expression of α-SMA and collagen I/III and the phosphorylation of p38 and Smad-3 in the CFs of mice. These effects were significantly enhanced by DEX through increasing α2A-AR expression in CFs after LPS stimulation. The CFs from α2A-AR knockout mice were markedly less sensitive to DEX treatment than those of wild-type mice. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) abolished the enhanced effects of DEX on LPS-induced differentiation of CFs. We also found that the α-SMA level in the second-passage CFs was much higher than that in the nonpassage and first-passage CFs. However, after LPS stimulation, the TNF-α released from the nonpassage CFs was much higher than that in the first- and second-passage CFs. DEX had no effect on LPS-induced release of TNF-α and IL-6 from CFs. Further investigation indicated that DEX promoted cardiac fibrosis and collagen I/III synthesis in mice exposed to LPS for four weeks. Our results demonstrated that DEX effectively accelerated LPS-induced differentiation of CFs to myofibroblasts through the PKC-p38-Smad2/3 signaling pathway by activating α2A-AR.
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181
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Basta MD, Paulson H, Walker JL. The local wound environment is a key determinant of the outcome of TGFβ signaling on the fibrotic response of CD44 + leader cells in an ex vivo post-cataract-surgery model. Exp Eye Res 2021; 213:108829. [PMID: 34774488 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) has a role in regulating the normal and pathological response to wound healing, yet how it shifts from a pro-repair to a pro-fibrotic function within the wound environment is still unclear. Using a clinically relevant ex vivo post-cataract surgery model that mimics the lens fibrotic disease posterior capsule opacification (PCO), we investigated the influence of two distinct wound environments on shaping the TGFβ-mediated injury response of CD44+ vimentin-rich leader cells. The substantial fibrotic response of this cell population occurred within a rigid wound environment under the control of endogenous TGFβ. However, TGFβ was dispensable for the role of leader cells in wound healing on the endogenous basement membrane wound environment, where repair occurs in the absence of a major fibrotic outcome. A difference between leader cell function in these distinct environments was their cell surface expression of the latent TGFβ activator, αvβ3 integrin. This receptor is exclusively found on this CD44+ cell population when they localize to the leading edge of the rigid wound environment. Providing exogenous TGFβ to bypass any differences in the ability of the leader cells to sustain activation of TGFβ in different environments revealed their inherent ability to induce pro-fibrotic reactions on the basement membrane wound environment. Furthermore, exposure of the leader cells in the rigid wound environment to TGFβ led to an accelerated fibrotic response including the earlier appearance of pro-collagen + cells, alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)+ myofibroblasts, and increased fibrotic matrix production. Collectively, these findings show the influence of the local wound environment on the extent and severity of TGFβ-induced fibrotic responses. These findings have important implications for understanding the development of the lens fibrotic disease PCO in response to cataract surgery wounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan D Basta
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Heather Paulson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Janice L Walker
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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182
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Zainal Abidin SAI, Paterson IC, Hunt S, Lambert DW, Higginbotham S, Pink RC. Myofibroblast transdifferentiation is associated with changes in cellular and extracellular vesicle miRNA abundance. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256812. [PMID: 34762649 PMCID: PMC8584782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), a pro-fibrotic tumour-derived factor promotes fibroblast differentiation in the tumour microenvironment and is thought to contribute to the development of pro-tumourigenic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) by promoting myofibroblast differentiation. miRNA dysregulation has been demonstrated in myofibroblast transdifferentiation and CAF activation, however, their expression varies among cell types and with the method of fibroblast induction. Here, the expression profile of miRNA in human primary oral fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1, to derive a myofibroblastic, CAF-like phenotype, was determined compared to untreated fibroblasts. Myofibroblast transdifferentiation was determined by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin-1 extra domain A (FN-EDA1) using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The formation of stress fibres was assessed by fluorescence microscopy, and associated changes in contractility were assessed using collagen contraction assays. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were purified by using size exclusion chromatography and ultracentrifugation and their size and concentration were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis. miRNA expression profiling in oral fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1 and their extracellular vesicles was carried out using tiling low-density array cards. The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used to perform functional and pathway enrichment analysis of target genes. In this study, TGF-β1 induced a myofibroblastic phenotype in normal oral fibroblasts as assessed by expression of molecular markers, the formation of stress fibres and increased contractility. TaqMan Low-Density Array (TLDA) analysis demonstrated that miR-503 and miR-708 were significantly upregulated, while miR-1276 was significantly downregulated in TGF-β1-treated oral fibroblasts (henceforth termed experimentally-derived CAF, eCAF). The gene functional enrichment analysis showed that the candidate miRNAs have the potential to modulate various pathways; including the Ras associated protein 1 (Rap1), PI3K-Akt, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling pathways. In addition, altered levels of several miRNAs were detected in eCAF EV, including miR-142 and miR-222. No differences in size or abundance of EV were detected between eCAF and normal oral fibroblast (NOF). Little overlap was observed between changes in cellular and EV miRNA profiles, suggesting the possibility of selective loading of EV miRNA. The study reveals miRNA expression signature could be involved in myofibroblast transdifferentiation and the miRNA cargo of their EV, providing novel insight into the involvement of miRNA in CAF development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Amalina Inche Zainal Abidin
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Oral Cancer Research & Coordinating Center, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Ian Charles Paterson
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Oral Cancer Research & Coordinating Center, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Stuart Hunt
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel W. Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Higginbotham
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Charles Pink
- Department of Biological and Medical Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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183
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Rippa AL, Alpeeva EV, Vasiliev AV, Vorotelyak EA. Alveologenesis: What Governs Secondary Septa Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212107. [PMID: 34829987 PMCID: PMC8618598 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The simplification of alveoli leads to various lung pathologies such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and emphysema. Deep insight into the process of emergence of the secondary septa during development and regeneration after pneumonectomy, and into the contribution of the drivers of alveologenesis and neo-alveolarization is required in an efficient search for therapeutic approaches. In this review, we describe the formation of the gas exchange units of the lung as a multifactorial process, which includes changes in the actomyosin cytoskeleton of alveocytes and myofibroblasts, elastogenesis, retinoic acid signaling, and the contribution of alveolar mesenchymal cells in secondary septation. Knowledge of the mechanistic context of alveologenesis remains incomplete. The characterization of the mechanisms that govern the emergence and depletion of αSMA will allow for an understanding of how the niche of fibroblasts is changing. Taking into account the intense studies that have been performed on the pool of lung mesenchymal cells, we present data on the typing of interstitial fibroblasts and their role in the formation and maintenance of alveoli. On the whole, when identifying cell subpopulations in lung mesenchyme, one has to consider the developmental context, the changing cellular functions, and the lability of gene signatures.
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184
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Hillsley A, Santos JE, Rosales AM. A deep learning approach to identify and segment alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fiber positive cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21855. [PMID: 34750438 PMCID: PMC8575943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological process characterized by excessive tissue deposition, matrix remodeling, and tissue stiffening, which eventually leads to organ failure. On a cellular level, the development of fibrosis is associated with the activation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, a highly contractile and secretory phenotype. Myofibroblasts are commonly identified in vitro by the de novo assembly of alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fibers; however, there are few methods to automate stress fiber identification, which can lead to subjectivity and tedium in the process. To address this limitation, we present a computer vision model to classify and segment cells containing alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fibers into 2 classes (α-SMA SF+ and α-SMA SF-), with a high degree of accuracy (cell accuracy: 77%, F1 score 0.79). The model combines standard image processing methods with deep learning techniques to achieve semantic segmentation of the different cell phenotypes. We apply this model to cardiac fibroblasts cultured on hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels of various moduli to induce alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fiber formation. The model successfully predicts the same trends in stress fiber identification as obtained with a manual analysis. Taken together, this work demonstrates a process to automate stress fiber identification in in vitro fibrotic models, thereby increasing reproducibility in fibroblast phenotypic characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hillsley
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Javier E Santos
- Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Adrianne M Rosales
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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185
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Chen M, Wen X, Gao Y, Liu B, Zhong C, Nie J, Liang H. IRF-4 deficiency reduces inflammation and kidney fibrosis after folic acid-induced acute kidney injury. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 100:108142. [PMID: 34555644 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The chronic phase following toxin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by robust inflammation and progressive kidney fibrosis. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4) is a type of multifunctional transcription factor that has been deeply linked to inflammation and fibrotic diseases. However, the role of IRF-4 in kidney damage and renal fibrosis after toxin-induced AKI remain to be explored. In this work, we examined the effect of IRF-4 deficiency on inflammation and kidney fibrosis in an AKI-chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition model induced by folic acid (FA) injury. We showed that FA treatment resulted in severe acute tubular injury followed by inflammatory reaction and interstitial fibrosis in wild-type mice. A sharp elevation of IRF-4 levels was observed in FA-injured kidneys. IRF-4 knockout led to a substantial reduction of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins deposition and inhibited myofibroblasts transformation in the kidneys of mice subjected to FA treatment. In addition, IRF-4 ablation impaired F4/80+ macrophages and CD3+ T lymphocytes infiltration into the FA-injured kidneys. Loss of IRF-4 reduced the production of inflammatory molecules such as CXCL16, IL-18, IL-6, and TGF-β1 in the kidneys in response to FA stress. Following FA injury, the kidneys of IRF-4 knockout mice had fewer bone marrow-derived myofibroblasts than wild-type controls. Moreover, IRF-4 disruption inhibited macrophages to myofibroblasts differentiation in the kidneys in response to FA stimuli. In vitro, IL-4 stimulated expression of α-smooth muscle actin and ECM proteins and promoted M2 macrophages to myofibroblasts transition in mouse bone marrow-derived monocytes, which was abolished in the absence of IRF-4. Thus, we identified an important role of IRF-4 in the pathogenesis of progressive CKD following FA-induced AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Foshan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Xianjie Wen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Benquan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Chaoqun Zhong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Jiayi Nie
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Hua Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, China.
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186
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Ollewagen T, Powrie YSL, Myburgh KH, Smith C. Unresolved intramuscular inflammation, not diminished skeletal muscle regenerative capacity, is at the root of rheumatoid cachexia: insights from a rat CIA model. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e15119. [PMID: 34806343 PMCID: PMC8606867 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis targets numerous organs in patients, including the skeletal muscle, resulting in rheumatoid cachexia. In the muscle niche, satellite cells, macrophages, and myofibroblasts may be affected and the factors they release altered. This study aimed to assess these cell types, cytokines, and growth factors and their relationships to muscle fiber size and number in a rodent collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, in order to identify new therapeutic targets. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) was 57% lower in CIA than controls (p < 0.0001), thus smaller but more fibers visible per field of view. Immunostaining indicated the increased presence of satellite cells, macrophages, myofibroblasts, and myonuclei per field of view in CIA (p < 0.01), but this finding was not maintained when taking fiber number into consideration. Western blots of gastrocnemius samples indicated that tumor necrosis factor-α was significantly elevated (p < 0.01) while interleukin-10 (IL-10) was decreased (p < 0.05) in CIA. This effect was maintained (and heightened for IL-10) when expressed per fiber number. Myogenic regulatory factors (MyoD and myogenin), transforming growth factor-β and inhibitor of differentiation were significantly elevated in CIA muscle and levels correlated significantly with CSA. Several of these factors remained elevated, but bone morphogenetic protein-7 decreased when considering fiber number per area. In conclusion, CIA-muscle demonstrated a good regenerative response. Myoblast numbers per fiber were not elevated, suggesting their activity results from the persistent inflammatory signaling which also significantly hampered maintenance of muscle fiber size. A clearer picture of signaling events at cellular level in arthritis muscle may be derived from expressing data per fiber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Ollewagen
- Department Physiological SciencesScience FacultyStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Yigael S. L. Powrie
- Division of Clinical PharmacologyDepartment of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Kathryn H. Myburgh
- Department Physiological SciencesScience FacultyStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Carine Smith
- Division of Clinical PharmacologyDepartment of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
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187
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Liu T, Gonzalez De Los Santos F, Hirsch M, Wu Z, Phan SH. Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2021; 65:489-499. [PMID: 34107237 PMCID: PMC8641847 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0499oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway initiates a signaling cascade that is critical in cell differentiation and the normal development of multiple organ systems. The reactivation of this pathway has been documented in experimental and human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, wherein Wnt/β-catenin activation has been implicated in epithelial-cell repair. Furthermore, the canonical ligand Wnt3a is known to induce myofibroblast differentiation; however, the role of noncanonical Wnt ligands remains unclear. This study showed significantly higher levels of Wnt11 expression in cells from both patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and bleomycin-treated mice, as well as in TGFβ-treated mouse lung fibroblasts. Moreover, Wnt11 induced myofibroblast differentiation as manifested by increased α-SMA (ACTA2) expression, which was similar to that induced by canonical Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. Further investigation revealed that Wnt11 induction of α-SMA was associated with the activation of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase)/c-Jun signaling and was inhibited by a JNK inhibitor. The potential importance of this signaling pathway was supported by in vivo evidence showing significantly increased levels of Wnt11 and activated JNK in the lungs of mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Interestingly, fibroblasts did not express canonical Wnt3a, but treatment of these cells with exogenous Wnt3a induced endogenous Wnt11 and Wnt5a, resulting in repression of the Wnt3a/β-catenin target gene Axin2. These findings suggested that the noncanonical Wnt induction of myofibroblast differentiation mediated by the JNK/c-Jun pathway might play a significant role in pulmonary fibrosis, in addition to or in synergy with canonical Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, Wnt3a activation of noncanonical Wnt signaling might trigger a switch from canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling to induce myofibroblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mitchell Hirsch
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zhe Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Han YY, Gu X, Yang CY, Ji HM, Lan YJ, Bi YQ, Si R, Qu J, Cheng MH, Gao J. Protective effect of dimethyl itaconate against fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation during pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting TXNIP. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:7734-7744. [PMID: 34061990 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation (FMD) is a critical cellular phenotype during the occurrence and deterioration of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). FMD can increase with an elevated level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on fibroblasts under oxidative stress. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is an α-arrestin family protein that regulates the level of intracellular ROS. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) can protect against FMD in PF. However, the relationship between Nrf2 and TXNIP in FMD remains elusive. Therefore, we established TGF-β1-induced FMD in vitro and bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse PF model in vivo to explore whether the activation of Nrf2 can inhibit TXNIP-mediated FMD in PF. Dimethyl itaconate (DMI) was selected to activate Nrf2. Our results showed that TXNIP was elevated and FMD was aggravated in mice lung tissues after BLM administration compared with the saline group. Inversely, Nrf2 decreased TXNIP expression and alleviated FMD in PF. In vitro, TXNIP overexpression enhanced FMD and increased the level of ROS. In contrast, TXNIP deficiency by small interfering RNA (siRNA) attenuated TGF-β1-induced FMD and reduced ROS. An increase in ROS by H2 O2 can upregulate TXNIP expression. Moreover, Nrf2 also inhibited TGF-β1-induced FMD and the increase of ROS, with reducing expression of TXNIP, and the inhibitory effect was better than TXNIP siRNA. These results suggest that activation of Nrf2 by DMI can protect against PF via inhibiting TXNIP expression. Our study may provide new therapeutic targets and treatment approaches for PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Yue Han
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xuan Gu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chong-Yang Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui-Min Ji
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yue-Jiao Lan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu-Qian Bi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Rong Si
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiao Qu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ming-Han Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jian Gao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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189
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Vohlen C, Mohr J, Fomenko A, Kuiper-Makris C, Grzembke T, Aydogmus R, Wilke R, Hirani D, Dötsch J, Alejandre Alcazar MA. Dynamic Regulation of GH-IGF1 Signaling in Injury and Recovery in Hyperoxia-Induced Neonatal Lung Injury. Cells 2021; 10:2947. [PMID: 34831169 PMCID: PMC8616454 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Prematurely born infants often require supplemental oxygen that impairs lung growth and results in arrest of alveolarization and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The growth hormone (GH)- and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)1 systems regulate cell homeostasis and organ development. Since IGF1 is decreased in preterm infants, we investigated the GH- and IGF1 signaling (1) in newborn mice with acute and prolonged exposure to hyperoxia as well as after recovery in room air; and (2) in cultured murine lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) and primary neonatal lung fibroblasts (pLFs) after treatment with GH, IGF1, and IGF1-receptor (IGF1-R) inhibitor or silencing of GH-receptor (Ghr) and Igf1r using the siRNA technique. We found that (1) early postnatal hyperoxia caused an arrest of alveolarization that persisted until adulthood. Both short-term and prolonged hyperoxia reduced GH-receptor expression and STAT5 signaling, whereas Igf1 mRNA and pAKT signaling were increased. These findings were related to a loss of epithelial cell markers (SFTPC, AQP5) and proliferation of myofibroblasts (αSMA+ cells). After recovery, GH-R-expression and STAT5 signaling were activated, Igf1r mRNA reduced, and SFTPC protein significantly increased. Cell culture studies showed that IGF1 induced expression of mesenchymal (e.g., Col1a1, Col4a4) and alveolar epithelial cell type I (Hopx, Igfbp2) markers, whereas inhibition of IGF1 increased SFTPC and reduced AQP5 in MLE-12. GH increased Il6 mRNA and reduced proliferation of pLFs, whereas IGF1 exhibited the opposite effect. In summary, our data demonstrate an opposite regulation of GH- and IGF1- signaling during short-term/prolonged hyperoxia-induced lung injury and recovery, affecting alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, inflammatory activation of fibroblasts, and a possible uncoupling of the GH-IGF1 axis in lungs after hyperoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Vohlen
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
- The German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Institute for Lung Health, University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Justus-Liebig University Gießen, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Jasmine Mohr
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Alexey Fomenko
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Celien Kuiper-Makris
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Tiffany Grzembke
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Rabia Aydogmus
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Rebecca Wilke
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Dharmesh Hirani
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Jörg Dötsch
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Miguel A. Alejandre Alcazar
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Translational Experimental Pediatrics—Experimental Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany; (C.V.); (J.M.); (A.F.); (C.K.-M.); (T.G.); (R.A.); (R.W.); (D.H.)
- The German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Institute for Lung Health, University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre (UGMLC), Justus-Liebig University Gießen, 35392 Gießen, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
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190
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Reyes Nicolás V, Allaire JM, Alfonso AB, Pupo Gómez D, Pomerleau V, Giroux V, Boudreau F, Perreault N. Altered Mucus Barrier Integrity and Increased Susceptibility to Colitis in Mice upon Loss of Telocyte Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signalling. Cells 2021; 10:2954. [PMID: 34831177 PMCID: PMC8616098 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
FoxL1+-Telocytes (TCFoxL1+) are subepithelial cells that form a network underneath the epithelium. We have shown that without inflammatory stress, mice with loss of function in the BMP signalling pathway in TCFoxL1+ (BmpR1aΔFoxL1+) initiated colonic neoplasia. Although TCFoxL1+ are modulated in IBD patients, their specific role in this pathogenesis remains unclear. Thus, we investigated how the loss of BMP signalling in TCFoxL1+ influences the severity of inflammation and fosters epithelial recovery after inflammatory stress. BmpR1a was genetically ablated in mouse colonic TCFoxL1+. Experimental colitis was performed using a DSS challenge followed by recovery steps to assess wound healing. Physical barrier properties, including mucus composition and glycosylation, were assessed by alcian blue staining, immunofluorescences and RT-qPCR. We found that BmpR1aΔFoxL1+ mice had impaired mucus quality, and upon exposure to inflammatory challenges, they had increased susceptibility to experimental colitis and delayed healing. In addition, defective BMP signalling in TCFoxL1+ altered the functionality of goblet cells, thereby affecting mucosal structure and promoting bacterial invasion. Following inflammatory stress, TCFoxL1+ with impaired BMP signalling lose their homing signal for optimal distribution along the epithelium, which is critical in tissue regeneration after injury. Overall, our findings revealed key roles of BMP signalling in TCFoxL1+ in IBD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nathalie Perreault
- Département d’Immunologie et Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada; (V.R.N.); (J.M.A.); (A.B.A.); (D.P.G.); (V.P.); (V.G.); (F.B.)
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191
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Devocelle A, Lecru L, Ferlicot S, Bessede T, Candelier JJ, Giron-Michel J, François H. IL-15 Prevents Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Collagen Synthesis: A New Pathway in Chronic Kidney Disease? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11698. [PMID: 34769128 PMCID: PMC8583733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), secondary to renal fibrogenesis, is a public health burden. The activation of interstitial myofibroblasts and excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are major events leading to end-stage kidney disease. Recently, interleukin-15 (IL-15) has been implicated in fibrosis protection in several organs, with little evidence in the kidney. Since endogenous IL-15 expression decreased in nephrectomized human allografts evolving toward fibrosis and kidneys in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, we explored IL-15's renoprotective role by pharmologically delivering IL-15 coupled or not with its soluble receptor IL-15Rα. Despite the lack of effects on myofibroblast accumulation, both IL-15 treatments prevented tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) in UUO as characterized by reduced collagen and fibronectin deposition. Moreover, IL-15 treatments inhibited collagen and fibronectin secretion by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-treated primary myofibroblast cultures, demonstrating that the antifibrotic effect of IL-15 in UUO acts, in part, through a direct inhibition of ECM synthesis by myofibroblasts. In addition, IL-15 treatments resulted in decreased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and subsequent macrophage infiltration in UUO. Taken together, our study highlights a major role of IL-15 on myofibroblasts and macrophages, two main effector cells in renal fibrosis, demonstrating that IL-15 may represent a new therapeutic option for CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Devocelle
- INSERM UMR-S-MD 1197/Ministry of the Armed Forces, Biomedical Research Institute of the Armed Forces (IRBA), Paul-Brousse Hospital Villejuif and CTSA Clamart, 94807 Villejuif, France; (A.D.); (L.L.); (J.-J.C.)
- Orsay-Vallée Campus, Paris-Saclay University, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lola Lecru
- INSERM UMR-S-MD 1197/Ministry of the Armed Forces, Biomedical Research Institute of the Armed Forces (IRBA), Paul-Brousse Hospital Villejuif and CTSA Clamart, 94807 Villejuif, France; (A.D.); (L.L.); (J.-J.C.)
- Orsay-Vallée Campus, Paris-Saclay University, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sophie Ferlicot
- Service d’Anatomopathologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, AP-HP, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France;
| | - Thomas Bessede
- Service d’Urologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, AP-HP, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France;
| | - Jean-Jacques Candelier
- INSERM UMR-S-MD 1197/Ministry of the Armed Forces, Biomedical Research Institute of the Armed Forces (IRBA), Paul-Brousse Hospital Villejuif and CTSA Clamart, 94807 Villejuif, France; (A.D.); (L.L.); (J.-J.C.)
- Orsay-Vallée Campus, Paris-Saclay University, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julien Giron-Michel
- INSERM UMR-S-MD 1197/Ministry of the Armed Forces, Biomedical Research Institute of the Armed Forces (IRBA), Paul-Brousse Hospital Villejuif and CTSA Clamart, 94807 Villejuif, France; (A.D.); (L.L.); (J.-J.C.)
- Orsay-Vallée Campus, Paris-Saclay University, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hélène François
- INSERM UMR_S1155, Tenon Hospital, 75020 Paris, France
- Soins Intensifs Néphrologiques et Rein Aigu (SINRA), Hôpital Tenon, AP-HP, Sorbonne University, 75020 Paris, France
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192
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Sánchez J, Trenor B, Saiz J, Dössel O, Loewe A. Fibrotic Remodeling during Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: In Silico Investigation of the Role of Calcium for Human Atrial Myofibroblast Electrophysiology. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112852. [PMID: 34831076 PMCID: PMC8616446 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During atrial fibrillation, cardiac tissue undergoes different remodeling processes at different scales from the molecular level to the tissue level. One central player that contributes to both electrical and structural remodeling is the myofibroblast. Based on recent experimental evidence on myofibroblasts' ability to contract, we extended a biophysical myofibroblast model with Ca2+ handling components and studied the effect on cellular and tissue electrophysiology. Using genetic algorithms, we fitted the myofibroblast model parameters to the existing in vitro data. In silico experiments showed that Ca2+ currents can explain the experimentally observed variability regarding the myofibroblast resting membrane potential. The presence of an L-type Ca2+ current can trigger automaticity in the myofibroblast with a cycle length of 799.9 ms. Myocyte action potentials were prolonged when coupled to myofibroblasts with Ca2+ handling machinery. Different spatial myofibroblast distribution patterns increased the vulnerable window to induce arrhythmia from 12 ms in non-fibrotic tissue to 22 ± 2.5 ms and altered the reentry dynamics. Our findings suggest that Ca2+ handling can considerably affect myofibroblast electrophysiology and alter the electrical propagation in atrial tissue composed of myocytes coupled with myofibroblasts. These findings can inform experimental validation experiments to further elucidate the role of myofibroblast Ca2+ handling in atrial arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Sánchez
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (O.D.); (A.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Beatriz Trenor
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitàt Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (B.T.); (J.S.)
| | - Javier Saiz
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (Ci2B), Universitàt Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (B.T.); (J.S.)
| | - Olaf Dössel
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (O.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (O.D.); (A.L.)
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193
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Sheldon H, Alexander J, Bridges E, Moreira L, Reilly S, Ang KH, Wang D, Lin S, Haider S, Banham AH, Harris AL. ELTD1 Activation Induces an Endothelial-EMT Transition to a Myofibroblast Phenotype. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11293. [PMID: 34681953 PMCID: PMC8539764 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ELTD1 is expressed in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells and has a role in angiogenesis. It has been classified as an adhesion GPCR, but as yet, no ligand has been identified and its function remains unknown. To establish its role, ELTD1 was overexpressed in endothelial cells. Expression and consequently ligand independent activation of ELTD1 results in endothelial-mesenchymal transistion (EndMT) with a loss of cell-cell contact, formation of stress fibres and mature focal adhesions and an increased expression of smooth muscle actin. The effect was pro-angiogenic, increasing Matrigel network formation and endothelial sprouting. RNA-Seq analysis after the cells had undergone EndMT revealed large increases in chemokines and cytokines involved in regulating immune response. Gene set enrichment analysis of the data identified a number of pathways involved in myofibroblast biology suggesting that the endothelial cells had undergone a type II EMT. This type of EMT is involved in wound repair and is closely associated with inflammation implicating ELTD1 in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Sheldon
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, University of Oxford, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.B.); (K.H.A.); (S.L.)
| | - John Alexander
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Division of Breast Cancer Research, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK; (J.A.); (S.H.)
| | - Esther Bridges
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, University of Oxford, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.B.); (K.H.A.); (S.L.)
| | - Lucia Moreira
- Cardiovascular Medicine, RDM John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Svetlana Reilly
- Cardiovascular Medicine, RDM John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (L.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Koon Hwee Ang
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, University of Oxford, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.B.); (K.H.A.); (S.L.)
| | - Dian Wang
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (D.W.); (A.H.B.)
| | - Salwa Lin
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, University of Oxford, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.B.); (K.H.A.); (S.L.)
| | - Syed Haider
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Division of Breast Cancer Research, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK; (J.A.); (S.H.)
| | - Alison H. Banham
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (D.W.); (A.H.B.)
| | - Adrian L. Harris
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, University of Oxford, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.B.); (K.H.A.); (S.L.)
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Gao Z, Lu A, Daquinag AC, Yu Y, Huard M, Tseng C, Gao X, Huard J, Kolonin MG. Partial Ablation of Non-Myogenic Progenitor Cells as a Therapeutic Approach to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101519. [PMID: 34680151 PMCID: PMC8534118 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by the loss of dystrophin, remains incurable. Reduction in muscle regeneration with DMD is associated with the accumulation of fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) differentiating into myofibroblasts and leading to a buildup of the collagenous tissue aggravating DMD pathogenesis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) are activated in muscle during DMD progression and give rise to FAPs promoting DMD progression. Here, we hypothesized that muscle dysfunction in DMD could be delayed via genetic or pharmacologic depletion of MSC-derived FAPs. In this paper, we test this hypothesis in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. To reduce fibro/adipose infiltration and potentiate muscle progenitor cells (MPCs), we used a model for inducible genetic ablation of proliferating MSCs via a suicide transgene, viral thymidine kinase (TK), expressed under the Pdgfrb promoter. We also tested if MSCs from fat tissue, the adipose stromal cells (ASCs), contribute to FAPs and could be targeted in DMD. Pharmacological ablation was performed with a hunter-killer peptide D-CAN targeting ASCs. MSC depletion with these approaches resulted in increased endurance, measured based on treadmill running, as well as grip strength, without significantly affecting fibrosis. Although more research is needed, our results suggest that depletion of pathogenic MSCs mitigates muscle damage and delays the loss of muscle function in mouse models of DMD.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Proliferation/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dystrophin/genetics
- Humans
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Muscle, Skeletal/growth & development
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy
- Myofibroblasts/cytology
- Myofibroblasts/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/genetics
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanguo Gao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Z.G.); (A.C.D.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Aiping Lu
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA; (A.L.); (M.H.); (X.G.)
| | - Alexes C. Daquinag
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Z.G.); (A.C.D.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yongmei Yu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Z.G.); (A.C.D.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Matthieu Huard
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA; (A.L.); (M.H.); (X.G.)
| | - Chieh Tseng
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Xueqin Gao
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA; (A.L.); (M.H.); (X.G.)
| | - Johnny Huard
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA; (A.L.); (M.H.); (X.G.)
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (M.G.K.); Tel.: +970-479-1595 (J.H.); +713-500-3146 (M.G.K.)
| | - Mikhail G. Kolonin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (Z.G.); (A.C.D.); (Y.Y.)
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (M.G.K.); Tel.: +970-479-1595 (J.H.); +713-500-3146 (M.G.K.)
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Künzel SR, Hoffmann M, Weber S, Künzel K, Kämmerer S, Günscht M, Klapproth E, Rausch JS, Sadek MS, Kolanowski T, Meyer-Roxlau S, Piorkowski C, Tugtekin SM, Rose-John S, Yin X, Mayr M, Kuhlmann JD, Wimberger P, Grützmann K, Herzog N, Küpper JH, O’Reilly M, Kabir SN, Sommerfeld LC, Guan K, Wielockx B, Fabritz L, Nattel S, Ravens U, Dobrev D, Wagner M, El-Armouche A. Diminished PLK2 Induces Cardiac Fibrosis and Promotes Atrial Fibrillation. Circ Res 2021; 129:804-820. [PMID: 34433292 PMCID: PMC8487716 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.319425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan R. Künzel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K.)
| | - Maximilian Hoffmann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Silvio Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Karolina Künzel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Susanne Kämmerer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Mario Günscht
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Erik Klapproth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Johanna S.E. Rausch
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Mirna S. Sadek
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Tomasz Kolanowski
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Stefanie Meyer-Roxlau
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
| | - Christopher Piorkowski
- Department of Rhythmology (C.P., M.W.), Clinic for Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden GmbH, Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Sems M. Tugtekin
- Department of Cardiac Surgery (S.M.T.), Clinic for Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden GmbH, Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Stefan Rose-John
- Unit for Degradomics of the Protease Web, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel (S.R.-J.)
| | - Xiaoke Yin
- The James Black Centre, King’s College, University of London (X.Y., M.M.)
| | - Manuel Mayr
- The James Black Centre, King’s College, University of London (X.Y., M.M.)
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (M.M.)
| | - Jan Dominik Kuhlmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (J.D.K., P.W.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg (J.D.K., P.W.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden (J.D.K., P.W., K.G.)
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (J.D.K., P.W.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg (J.D.K., P.W.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden (J.D.K., P.W., K.G.)
| | - Konrad Grützmann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden (J.D.K., P.W., K.G.)
| | - Natalie Herzog
- Brandenburg University of Technology, Senftenberg (N.H., J.-H.K.)
| | | | - Molly O’Reilly
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham (M.O., S.N.K., L.C.S.)
| | - S. Nashitha Kabir
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham (M.O., S.N.K., L.C.S.)
| | - Laura C. Sommerfeld
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham (M.O., S.N.K., L.C.S.)
- University Center of Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg (L.F., L.C.S.)
| | - Kaomei Guan
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
- Department of Rhythmology (C.P., M.W.), Clinic for Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden GmbH, Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
- Department of Cardiac Surgery (S.M.T.), Clinic for Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden GmbH, Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
- Unit for Degradomics of the Protease Web, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel (S.R.-J.)
- The James Black Centre, King’s College, University of London (X.Y., M.M.)
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (J.D.K., P.W.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg (J.D.K., P.W.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden (J.D.K., P.W., K.G.)
- Brandenburg University of Technology, Senftenberg (N.H., J.-H.K.)
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham (M.O., S.N.K., L.C.S.)
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden (B.W.)
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Birmingham (L.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada (S.N., D.D.)
- Institut für Experimentelle Kardiovaskuläre Medizin, Universitäts Herzzentrum, Freiburg Bad Krotzingen, Freiburg im Breisgau (U.R.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen (S.N., D.D.)
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université (S.N.)
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine (D.D.)
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K.)
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (M.M.)
- University Center of Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg (L.F., L.C.S.)
| | - Ben Wielockx
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden (B.W.)
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Birmingham (L.F.)
- University Center of Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg (L.F., L.C.S.)
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada (S.N., D.D.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen (S.N., D.D.)
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université (S.N.)
| | - Ursula Ravens
- Institut für Experimentelle Kardiovaskuläre Medizin, Universitäts Herzzentrum, Freiburg Bad Krotzingen, Freiburg im Breisgau (U.R.)
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada (S.N., D.D.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen (S.N., D.D.)
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine (D.D.)
| | - Michael Wagner
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
- Department of Rhythmology (C.P., M.W.), Clinic for Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden GmbH, Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Ali El-Armouche
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (S.R.K., M.H., S.W., K.K., S.K., M.G., E.K., J.S.E.R., M.S.S., T.K., S.M.-R., K.G., M.W., A.E.-A.)
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Wang P, Xiao T, Li J, Wang D, Sun J, Cheng C, Ma H, Xue J, Li Y, Zhang A, Liu Q. miR-21 in EVs from pulmonary epithelial cells promotes myofibroblast differentiation via glycolysis in arsenic-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Environ Pollut 2021; 286:117259. [PMID: 33965804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As an environmental toxicant, arsenic causes damage to various organs and systems of the body and has attracted worldwide attention. It is well-known that exposure to arsenic can induce pulmonary fibrosis, but the molecular mechanisms are elusive. Glycolysis is involved in the process of various diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis. Extracellular vehicles (EVs) are mediators of cell communication through transporting miRNAs. The potential of miRNAs in EVs as liquid biopsy biomarkers for various diseases has been reported, and they have been applied in clinical diagnoses. In the present investigation, we focused on the roles and mechanisms of miR-21 in EVs on arsenic-induced glycolysis and pulmonary fibrosis through experiments with human populations, experimental animals, and cells. The results for arsenicosis populations showed that the serum levels of hydroxyproline, lactate, and EVs-miRNAs were elevated and that EVs-miR-21 levels were positively related to the levels of hydroxyproline and lactate. For mice, chronic exposure to arsenite led to high levels of miR-21, AKT activation, elevated glycolysis, and pulmonary fibrosis; however, these effects were blocked by the depletion of miR-21 in miR-21 knockout (miR-21KO) mice. After MRC-5 cells were co-cultured with arsenite-treated HBE cells, the levels of miR-21, AKT activation, glycolysis, and myofibroblast differentiation were enhanced, effects that were blocked by reducing miR-21 and by inhibiting the EVs in HBE cells. The down-regulation of PTEN in MRC-5 cells and primary lung fibroblasts (PLFs) reversed the blocking effect of inhibiting miR-21 in HBE cells. Thus, miR-21 down-regulates PTEN and promotes glycolysis via activating AKT, which is associated with arsenite-induced myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis. Our results provide a new approach for the construction of clinical diagnosis technology based on analysis of the mechanism of arsenite-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwen Wang
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Xiao
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Li
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Sun
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huimin Ma
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Junchao Xue
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qizhan Liu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Działo E, Czepiel M, Tkacz K, Siedlar M, Kania G, Błyszczuk P. WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Promotes TGF-β-Mediated Activation of Human Cardiac Fibroblasts by Enhancing IL-11 Production. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810072. [PMID: 34576234 PMCID: PMC8468519 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological process associated with the development of heart failure. TGF-β and WNT signaling have been implicated in pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis, however, little is known about molecular cross-talk between these two pathways. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of exogenous canonical WNT3a and non-canonical WNT5a in TGF-β-activated human cardiac fibroblasts. We found that WNT3a and TGF-β induced a β-catenin-dependent response, whereas WNT5a prompted AP-1 activity. TGF-β triggered profibrotic signatures in cardiac fibroblasts, and co-stimulation with WNT3a or co-activation of the β-catenin pathway with the GSK3β inhibitor CHIR99021 enhanced collagen I and fibronectin production and development of active contractile stress fibers. In the absence of TGF-β, neither WNT3a nor CHIR99021 exerted profibrotic responses. On a molecular level, in TGF-β-activated fibroblasts, WNT3a enhanced phosphorylation of TAK1 and production and secretion of IL-11 but showed no effect on the Smad pathway. Neutralization of IL-11 activity with the blocking anti-IL-11 antibody effectively reduced the profibrotic response of cardiac fibroblasts activated with TGF-β and WNT3a. In contrast to canonical WNT3a, co-activation with non-canonical WNT5a suppressed TGF-β-induced production of collagen I. In conclusion, WNT/β-catenin signaling promotes TGF-β-mediated fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition by enhancing IL-11 production. Thus, the uncovered mechanism broadens our knowledge on a molecular basis of cardiac fibrogenesis and defines novel therapeutic targets for fibrotic heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Działo
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Cracow, Poland; (E.D.); (M.C.); (K.T.); (M.S.)
| | - Marcin Czepiel
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Cracow, Poland; (E.D.); (M.C.); (K.T.); (M.S.)
| | - Karolina Tkacz
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Cracow, Poland; (E.D.); (M.C.); (K.T.); (M.S.)
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Cracow, Poland; (E.D.); (M.C.); (K.T.); (M.S.)
| | - Gabriela Kania
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland;
| | - Przemysław Błyszczuk
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Cracow, Poland; (E.D.); (M.C.); (K.T.); (M.S.)
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-12-658-24-86
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Wortmann M, Peters AS, Erhart P, Körfer D, Böckler D, Dihlmann S. Inflammasomes in the Pathophysiology of Aortic Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092433. [PMID: 34572082 PMCID: PMC8468335 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic diseases comprise aneurysms, dissections, and several other pathologies. In general, aging is associated with a slow but progressive dilation of the aorta, along with increased stiffness and pulse pressure. The progression of aortic disease is characterized by subclinical development or acute presentation. Recent evidence suggests that inflammation participates causally in different clinical manifestations of aortic diseases. As of yet, diagnostic imaging and surveillance is mainly based on ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Little medical therapy is available so far to prevent or treat the majority of aortic diseases. Endovascular therapy by the introduction of covered stentgrafts provides the main treatment option, although open surgery and implantation of synthetic grafts remain necessary in many situations. Because of the risks associated with surgery, there is a need for identification of pharmaceutical targets interfering with the pathophysiology of aortic remodeling. The participation of innate immunity and inflammasome activation in different cell types is common in aortic diseases. This review will thus focus on inflammasome activities in vascular cells of different chronic and acute aortic diseases and discuss their role in development and progression. We will also identify research gaps and suggest promising therapeutic targets, which may be used for future medical interventions.
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Zhang B, Chen X, Ru F, Gan Y, Li B, Xia W, Dai G, He Y, Chen Z. Liproxstatin-1 attenuates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis by inhibiting renal tubular epithelial cells ferroptosis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:843. [PMID: 34511597 PMCID: PMC8435531 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common pathological process that occurs with diverse etiologies in chronic kidney disease. However, its regulatory mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Ferroptosis is a form of non-apoptotic regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It is currently unknown whether ferroptosis is initiated during unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and its role has not been determined. In this study, we demonstrated that ureteral obstruction induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) in vivo. The ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) reduced iron deposition, cell death, lipid peroxidation, and inhibited the downregulation of GPX4 expression induced by UUO, ultimately inhibiting ferroptosis in TECs. We found that Lip-1 significantly attenuated UUO-induced morphological and pathological changes and collagen deposition of renal fibrosis in mice. In addition, Lip-1 attenuated the expression of profibrotic factors in the UUO model. In vitro, we used RSL3 treatment and knocked down of GPX4 level by RNAi in HK2 cells to induce ferroptosis. Our results indicated HK2 cells secreted various profibrotic factors during ferroptosis. Lip-1 was able to inhibit ferroptosis and thereby inhibit the secretion of the profibrotic factors during the process. Incubation of kidney fibroblasts with culture medium from RSL3-induced HK2 cells promoted fibroblast proliferation and activation, whereas Lip-1 impeded the profibrotic effects. Our study found that Lip-1 may relieve renal fibrosis by inhibiting ferroptosis in TECs. Mechanistically, Lip-1 could reduce the activation of surrounding fibroblasts by inhibiting the paracrine of profibrotic factors in HK2 cells. Lip-1 may potentially be used as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of UUO-induced renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Ru
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Gan
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingsheng Li
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiping Xia
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Dai
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao He
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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Lim JH, Yook JM, Oh SH, Jeon SJ, Noh HW, Jung HY, Choi JY, Cho JH, Kim CD, Kim YL, Park SH. Paricalcitol Improves Hypoxia-Induced and TGF-β1-Induced Injury in Kidney Pericytes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189751. [PMID: 34575914 PMCID: PMC8472327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the role of kidney pericytes in kidney fibrosis has been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the effect of paricalcitol on hypoxia-induced and TGF-β1-induced injury in kidney pericytes. The primary cultured pericytes were pretreated with paricalcitol (20 ng/mL) for 90 min before inducing injury, and then they were exposed to TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) or hypoxia (1% O2 and 5% CO2). TGF-β1 increased α-SMA and other fibrosis markers but reduced PDGFRβ expression in pericytes, whereas paricalcitol reversed the changes. Paricalcitol inhibited the TGF-β1-induced cell migration of pericytes. Hypoxia increased TGF-β1, α-SMA and other fibrosis markers but reduced PDGFRβ expression in pericyte, whereas paricalcitol reversed them. Hypoxia activated the HIF-1α and downstream molecules including prolyl hydroxylase 3 and glucose transporter-1, whereas paricalcitol attenuated the activation of the HIF-1α-dependent molecules and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathways in hypoxic pericytes. The gene silencing of HIF-1α vanished the hypoxia-induced TGF-β1, α-SMA upregulation, and PDGFRβ downregulation. The effect of paricalcitol on the HIF-1α-dependent changes of fibrosis markers was not significant after the gene silencing of HIF-1α. In addition, hypoxia aggravated the oxidative stress in pericytes, whereas paricalcitol reversed the oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant enzymes in an HIF-1α-independent manner. In conclusion, paricalcitol improved the phenotype changes of pericyte to myofibroblast in TGF-β1-stimulated pericytes. In addition, paricalcitol improved the expression of fibrosis markers in hypoxia-exposed pericytes both in an HIF-1α-dependent and independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sun-Hee Park
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-200-5547; Fax: +82-53-426-9464
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