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Zhou T, Kyritsi K, Wu N, Francis H, Yang Z, Chen L, O'Brien A, Kennedy L, Ceci L, Meadows V, Kusumanchi P, Wu C, Baiocchi L, Skill NJ, Saxena R, Sybenga A, Xie L, Liangpunsakul S, Meng F, Alpini G, Glaser S. Knockdown of vimentin reduces mesenchymal phenotype of cholangiocytes in the Mdr2 -/- mouse model of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). EBioMedicine 2019; 48:130-142. [PMID: 31522982 PMCID: PMC6838376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocytes are the target cells of cholangiopathies including primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein that has been found in various types of mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of vimentin in the progression of biliary damage/liver fibrosis and whether there is a mesenchymal phenotype of cholangiocytes in the Mdr2-/- model of PSC. METHODS In vivo studies were performed in 12 wk. Mdr2-/- male mice with or without vimentin Vivo-Morpholino treatment and their corresponding control groups. Liver specimens from human PSC patients, human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBEpiC) and human hepatic stellate cell lines (HHSteCs) were used to measure changes in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). FINDINGS There was increased mesenchymal phenotype of cholangiocytes in Mdr2-/- mice, which was reduced by treatment of vimentin Vivo-Morpholino. Concomitant with reduced vimentin expression, there was decreased liver damage, ductular reaction, biliary senescence, liver fibrosis and TGF-β1 secretion in Mdr2-/- mice treated with vimentin Vivo-Morpholino. Human PSC patients and derived cell lines had increased expression of vimentin and other mesenchymal markers compared to healthy controls and HIBEpiC, respectively. In vitro silencing of vimentin in HIBEpiC suppressed TGF-β1-induced EMT and fibrotic reaction. HHSteCs had decreased fibrotic reaction and increased cellular senescence after stimulation with cholangiocyte supernatant with reduced vimentin levels. INTERPRETATION Our study demonstrated that knockdown of vimentin reduces mesenchymal phenotype of cholangiocytes, which leads to decreased biliary senescence and liver fibrosis. Inhibition of vimentin may be a key therapeutic target in the treatment of cholangiopathies including PSC. FUND: National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards, VA Merit awards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States of America
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Nan Wu
- Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Heather Francis
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Zhihong Yang
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Lixian Chen
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States of America
| | - April O'Brien
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States of America
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Ludovica Ceci
- Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Vik Meadows
- Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Praveen Kusumanchi
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, United States of America
| | | | - Nicholas J Skill
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Romil Saxena
- Department of Pathology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Amelia Sybenga
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Linglin Xie
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, United States of America
| | - Suthat Liangpunsakul
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America; Gastroenterology, Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America.
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States of America.
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Kennedy L, Francis H, Invernizzi P, Venter J, Wu N, Carbone M, Gershwin ME, Bernuzzi F, Franchitto A, Alvaro D, Marzioni M, Onori P, Gaudio E, Sybenga A, Fabris L, Meng F, Glaser S, Alpini G. Secretin/secretin receptor signaling mediates biliary damage and liver fibrosis in early-stage primary biliary cholangitis. FASEB J 2019; 33:10269-10279. [PMID: 31251081 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802606r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) primarily targets cholangiocytes and is characterized by liver fibrosis and biliary proliferation. Activation of the secretin (Sct)/secretin receptor (SR) axis, expressed only by cholangiocytes, increases biliary proliferation, liver fibrosis, and bicarbonate secretion. We evaluated the effectiveness of SR antagonist treatment for early-stage PBC. Male and female dominant-negative TGF-β receptor II (dnTGF-βRII) (model of PBC) and wild-type mice at 12 wk of age were treated with saline or the SR antagonist, Sec 5-27, for 1 wk. dnTGF-βRII mice expressed features of early-stage PBC along with enhanced Sct/SR axis activation and Sct secretion. dnTGF-βRII mice had increased biliary proliferation or senescence, inflammation, and liver fibrosis. In dnTGF-βRII mice, there was increased microRNA-125b/TGF-β1/TGF-β receptor 1/VEGF-A signaling. Human early-stage PBC patients had an increase in hepatobiliary Sct and SR expression and serum Sct levels. Increased biliary Sct/SR signaling promotes biliary and hepatic damage during early-stage PBC.-Kennedy, L., Francis, H., Invernizzi, P., Venter, J., Wu, N., Carbone, M., Gershwin, M. E., Bernuzzi, F., Franchitto, A., Alvaro, D., Marzioni, M., Onori, P., Gaudio, E., Sybenga, A., Fabris, L., Meng, F., Glaser, S., Alpini, G. Secretin/secretin receptor signaling mediates biliary damage and liver fibrosis in early-stage primary biliary cholangitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Kennedy
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA.,Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Heather Francis
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA.,Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, Texas, USA
| | | | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Marco Carbone
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano (MI), Italy
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | | | | | - Domenico Alvaro
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marzioni
- Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Amelia Sybenga
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy.,Digestive Disease Section, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA.,Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, Texas, USA
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Knockout of α-calcitonin gene-related peptide attenuates cholestatic liver injury by differentially regulating cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells and cholangiocytes. J Transl Med 2019; 99:764-776. [PMID: 30700848 PMCID: PMC6570540 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide involved in several pathophysiological processes. α-CGRP is involved in the regulation of cholangiocyte proliferation during cholestasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate if α-CGRP regulates bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis by using a α-CGRP knockout (α-CGRP-/-) mouse model. α-CGRP-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to sham surgery or BDL for 7 days. Then, liver fibrosis and cellular senescence as well as the expression of kinase such as p38 and C-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway were evaluated in total liver, together with measurement of cellular senescence in cholangiocytes or hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). There was enhanced hepatic expression of Calca (coding α-CGRP) and the CGRP receptor components (CRLR, RAMP-1 and RCP) in BDL and in both WT α-CGRP-/- and BDL α-CGRP-/- mice, respectively. Moreover, there was increased CGRP serum levels and hepatic mRNA expression of CALCA and CGRP receptor components in late-stage PSC samples compared to healthy control samples. Depletion of α-CGRP reduced liver injury and fibrosis in BDL mice that was associated with enhanced cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells and reduced senescence of cholangiocytes as well as decreased activation of p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathway. Cholangiocyte supernatant from BDL α-CGRP-/- mice inhibited the activation and increased cellular senescence of cultured human HSCs (HHSCs) compared to HHSCs stimulated with BDL cholangiocyte supernatant. Taken together, endogenous α-CGRP promoted BDL-induced cholestatic liver fibrosis through differential changes in senescence of HSCs and cholangiocytes and activation of p38 and JNK signaling. Modulation of α-CGRP/CGRP receptor signaling may be key for the management of biliary senescence and liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies.
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54
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McDaniel K, Wu N, Zhou T, Huang L, Sato K, Venter J, Ceci L, Chen D, Ramos-Lorenzo S, Invernizzi P, Bernuzzi F, Wu C, Francis H, Glaser S, Alpini G, Meng F. Amelioration of Ductular Reaction by Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles in MDR2 Knockout Mice via Lethal-7 microRNA. Hepatology 2019; 69:2562-2578. [PMID: 30723922 PMCID: PMC7015419 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiopathies are diseases that affect cholangiocytes, the cells lining the biliary tract. Liver stem cells (LSCs) are able to differentiate into all cells of the liver and possibly influence the surrounding liver tissue by secretion of signaling molecules. One way in which cells can interact is through secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are small membrane-bound vesicles that contain proteins, microRNAs (miRNAs), and cytokines. We evaluated the contents of liver stem cell-derived EVs (LSCEVs), compared their miRNA contents to those of EVs isolated from hepatocytes, and evaluated the downstream targets of these miRNAs. We finally evaluated the crosstalk among LSCs, cholangiocytes, and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We showed that LSCEVs were able to reduce ductular reaction and biliary fibrosis in multidrug resistance protein 2 (MDR2)-/- mice. Additionally, we showed that cholangiocyte growth was reduced and HSCs were deactivated in LSCEV-treated mice. Evaluation of LSCEV contents compared with EVs derived from hepatocytes showed a large increase in the miRNA, lethal-7 (let-7). Further evaluation of let-7 in MDR2-/- mice and human primary sclerosing cholangitis samples showed reduced levels of let-7 compared with controls. In liver tissues and isolated cholangiocytes, downstream targets of let-7 (identified by ingenuity pathway analysis), Lin28a (Lin28 homolog A), Lin28b (Lin28 homolog B), IL-13 (interleukin 13), NR1H4 (nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 4) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B), are elevated in MDR2-/- mice, but treatment with LSCEVs reduced levels of these mediators of ductular reaction and biliary fibrosis through the inhibition of NF-κB and IL-13 signaling pathways. Evaluation of crosstalk using cholangiocyte supernatants from LSCEV-treated cells on cultured HSCs showed that HSCs had reduced levels of fibrosis and increased senescence. Conclusion: Our studies indicate that LSCEVs could be a possible treatment for cholangiopathies or could be used for target validation for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly McDaniel
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Li Huang
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery and Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Ludovica Ceci
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Demeng Chen
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery and Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sugeily Ramos-Lorenzo
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Bernuzzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Heather Francis
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research Department, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX
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Zhao ZB, Ji K, Shen XY, Zhang WW, Wang R, Xu WP, Wei W. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate promotes hepatic fibrosis by regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation responses in rats. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2019; 68:109-119. [PMID: 30884453 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an environmental pollutant that is widely used in medical and consumer products. An epidemiological study has suggested that a large daily intake of DEHP from phthalate-contaminated food may be a risk factor for liver dysfunction. Long-term exposure to DEHP is associated with liver disease and exacerbates the progression of chronic liver injury. However, the effect of DEHP on hepatic fibrosis is rarely studied. In the present study, we sought to determine the effect of DEHP on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis, and to further examine the molecular mechanisms. We found that DEHP exposure remarkably promoted liver inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis, and increased expression of the protein associated with liver inflammation and fibrogenesis, including α-SMA, COL-Ⅰ, COL-Ⅲ, TGF-β1, P-Smad2, P-Smad3, P-p38 and P-p65. The similar trend was observed in the LX-2 cells. Furthermore, DEHP exposure induced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine production. Taken together, DEHP might play a fibrotic role in hepatic fibrosis rats and TGF-β1-stimulated LX-2 cells in vitro which was related to TGF-β1/Smad and p38MAPK/NF-κB signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zong-Biao Zhao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ke Ji
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xin-Yue Shen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Wen-Wen Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Wei-Ping Xu
- Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei 230001, Anhui, China.
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology of Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine of Education Ministry, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Sato K, Glaser S, Kennedy L, Liangpunsakul S, Meng F, Francis H, Alpini G. Preclinical insights into cholangiopathies: disease modeling and emerging therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:461-472. [PMID: 30990740 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1608950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The common predominant clinical features of cholangiopathies such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and biliary atresia (BA) are biliary damage/senescence and liver fibrosis. Curative therapies are lacking, and liver transplantation is the only option. An understanding of the mechanisms and pathogenesis is needed to develop novel therapies. Previous studies have developed various disease-based research models and have identified candidate therapeutic targets. Areas covered: This review summarizes recent studies performed in preclinical models of cholangiopathies and the current understanding of the pathophysiology representing potential targets for novel therapies. A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the combination of the searched term 'cholangiopathies' with one or two keywords including 'model', 'cholangiocyte', 'animal', or 'fibrosis'. Papers published within five years were obtained. Expert opinion: Access to appropriate research models is a key challenge in cholangiopathy research; establishing more appropriate models for PBC is an important goal. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated promising results and have led to novel therapeutic approaches, especially for PSC. Further studies on the pathophysiology of PBC and BA are necessary to identify candidate targets. Innovative therapeutic approaches such as stem cell transplantation have been introduced, and those therapies could be applied to PSC, PBC, and BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisaku Sato
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
| | - Shannon Glaser
- c Department of Medical Physiology , Texas A&M University Collage of Medicine , Temple , TX , USA
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
| | - Suthat Liangpunsakul
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
| | - Heather Francis
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- a Indiana Center for Liver Research, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , IN , USA.,b Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center , Indianapolis , IN , USA
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Chen L, Zhou T, Wu N, O'Brien A, Venter J, Ceci L, Kyritsi K, Onori P, Gaudio E, Sybenga A, Xie L, Wu C, Fabris L, Invernizzi P, Zawieja D, Liangpunsakul S, Meng F, Francis H, Alpini G, Huang Q, Glaser S. Pinealectomy or light exposure exacerbates biliary damage and liver fibrosis in cholestatic rats through decreased melatonin synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:1525-1539. [PMID: 30890428 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized by the pineal gland and cholangiocytes, decreases biliary hyperplasia and liver fibrosis during cholestasis-induced biliary injury via melatonin-dependent autocrine signaling through increased biliary arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression and melatonin secretion, downregulation of miR-200b and specific circadian clock genes. Melatonin synthesis is decreased by pinealectomy (PINX) or chronic exposure to light. We evaluated the effect of PINX or prolonged light exposure on melatonin-dependent modulation of biliary damage/ductular reaction/liver fibrosis. Studies were performed in male rats with/without BDL for 1 week with 12:12 h dark/light cycles, continuous light or after 1 week of PINX. The expression of AANAT and melatonin levels in serum and cholangiocyte supernatant were increased in BDL rats, while decreased in BDL rats following PINX or continuous light exposure. BDL-induced increase in serum chemistry, ductular reaction, liver fibrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis and ROS generation were significantly enhanced by PINX or light exposure. Concomitant with enhanced liver fibrosis, we observed increased biliary senescence and enhanced clock genes and miR-200b expression in total liver and cholangiocytes. In vitro, the expression of AANAT, clock genes and miR-200b was increased in PSC human cholangiocyte cell lines (hPSCL). The proliferation and activation of HHStecs (human hepatic stellate cell lines) were increased after stimulating with BDL cholangiocyte supernatant and further enhanced when stimulated with BDL rats following PINX or continuous light exposure cholangiocyte supernatant via intracellular ROS generation. Conclusion: Melatonin plays an important role in the protection of liver against cholestasis-induced damage and ductular reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixian Chen
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America; Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab for Shock and Microcirculation Research of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - April O'Brien
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Ludovica Ceci
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Amelia Sybenga
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Linglin Xie
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy; Digestive Disease Section, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | | | - David Zawieja
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Suthat Liangpunsakul
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Research, United States of America; Indiana University, Gastroenterology, Medicine, United States of America
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, United States of America; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Heather Francis
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, United States of America; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, United States of America; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Qiaobing Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab for Shock and Microcirculation Research of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, United States of America.
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Sato K, Marzioni M, Meng F, Francis H, Glaser S, Alpini G. Ductular Reaction in Liver Diseases: Pathological Mechanisms and Translational Significances. Hepatology 2019; 69:420-430. [PMID: 30070383 PMCID: PMC6324973 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ductular reaction (DR) is characterized by the proliferation of reactive bile ducts induced by liver injuries. DR is pathologically recognized as bile duct hyperplasia and is commonly observed in biliary disorders. It can also be identified in various liver disorders including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. DR is associated with liver fibrosis and damage, and the extent of DR parallels to patient mortality. DR raises scientific interests because it is associated with transdifferentiation of liver cells and may play an important role in hepatic regeneration. The origin of active cells during DR can be cholangiocytes, hepatocytes, or hepatic progenitor cells, and associated signaling pathways could differ depending on the specific liver injury or animal models used in the study. Although further studies are needed to elucidate detailed mechanisms and the functional roles in liver diseases, DR can be a therapeutic target to inhibit liver fibrosis and to promote liver regeneration. This review summarizes previous studies of DR identified in patients and animal models as well as currently understood mechanisms of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisaku Sato
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
| | - Marco Marzioni
- Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti - University Hospital, Ancona, Italy
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
- Academic Research Integration, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
| | - Heather Francis
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX 76504
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Zhou T, Wu N, Meng F, Venter J, Giang TK, Francis H, Kyritsi K, Wu C, Franchitto A, Alvaro D, Marzioni M, Onori P, Mancinelli R, Gaudio E, Glaser S, Alpini G. Knockout of secretin receptor reduces biliary damage and liver fibrosis in Mdr2 -/- mice by diminishing senescence of cholangiocytes. J Transl Med 2018; 98:1449-1464. [PMID: 29977037 PMCID: PMC6214714 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0093-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Secretin receptor (SR), only expressed by cholangiocytes, plays a key role in the regulation of biliary damage and liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genetic depletion of SR in Mdr2-/- mice on intrahepatic biliary mass, liver fibrosis, senescence, and angiogenesis. 12 wk SR-/-, Mdr2-/-, and SR-/-/Mdr2-/- mice with corresponding wild-type mice were used for the in vivo studies. Immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence was performed in liver sections for (i) biliary expression of SR; (ii) hematoxylin and eosin; (iii) intrahepatic biliary mass by CK-19; (iv) fibrosis by Col1a1 and α-SMA; (v) senescence by SA-β-gal and p16; and (vi) angiogenesis by VEGF-A and CD31. Secretin (Sct) and TGF-β1 levels were measured in serum and cholangiocyte supernatant by ELISA. In total liver, isolated cholangiocytes or HSCs, we evaluated the expression of fibrosis markers (FN-1 and Col1a1); senescence markers (p16 and CCL2); microRNA 125b and angiogenesis markers (VEGF-A, VEGFR-2, CD31, and vWF) by immunoblots and/or qPCR. In vitro, we measured the paracrine effect of cholangiocyte supernatant on the expression of senescent and fibrosis markers in human hepatic stellate cells (HHSteCs). The increased level of ductular reaction, fibrosis, and angiogenesis in Mdr2-/- mice was reduced in SR-/-/Mdr2-/- mice. Enhanced senescence levels in cholangiocytes from Mdr2-/- mice were reversed to normal in SR-/-/Mdr2-/- mice. However, senescence was decreased in HSCs from Mdr2-/- mice but returned to normal values in SR-/-/Mdr2-/- mice. In vitro treatment of HHSteCs with supernatant from cholangiocyte lacking SR (containing lower biliary levels of Sct-dependent TGF-β1) have decreased fibrotic reaction and increased cellular senescence. Sct-induced TGF-β1 secretion was mediated by microRNA 125b. Our data suggest that differential modulation of angiogenesis-dependent senescence of cholangiocytes and HSCs may be important for the treatment of liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
- Academic Research Integration, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Thao K Giang
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Heather Francis
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77840, USA
| | - Antonio Franchitto
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Alvaro
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marzioni
- Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti - University Hospital, Ancona, Italy
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Romina Mancinelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
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Wu N, Meng F, Zhou T, Venter J, Giang TK, Kyritsi K, Wu C, Alvaro D, Onori P, Mancinelli R, Gaudio E, Francis H, Alpini G, Glaser S, Franchitto A. The Secretin/Secretin Receptor Axis Modulates Ductular Reaction and Liver Fibrosis through Changes in Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Mediated Biliary Senescence. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2018; 188:2264-2280. [PMID: 30036520 PMCID: PMC6168967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the secretin (Sct)/secretin receptor (SR) axis stimulates ductular reaction and liver fibrosis, which are hallmarks of cholangiopathies. Our aim was to define the role of Sct-regulated cellular senescence, and we demonstrated that both ductular reaction and liver fibrosis are significantly reduced in Sct-/-, SR-/-, and Sct-/-/SR-/- bile duct ligated (BDL) mice compared with BDL wild-type mice. The reduction in hepatic fibrosis in Sct-/-, SR-/-, and Sct-/-/SR-/- BDL mice was accompanied by reduced transforming growth factor-β1 levels in serum and cholangiocyte supernatant, as well as decreased expression of markers of cellular senescence in cholangiocytes in contrast to enhanced cellular senescence in hepatic stellate cells compared with BDL wild-type mice. Secretin directly stimulated the senescence of cholangiocytes and regulated, by a paracrine mechanism, the senescence of hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis via modulation of transforming growth factor-β1 biliary secretion. Targeting senescent cholangiocytes may represent a novel therapeutic approach for ameliorating hepatic fibrosis during cholestatic liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health Care, Temple, Texas
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Thao K Giang
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | | | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Romina Mancinelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Heather Francis
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health Care, Temple, Texas
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health Care, Temple, Texas.
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, Department of Research, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health Care, Temple, Texas
| | - Antonio Franchitto
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine, Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Wu N, McDaniel K, Zhou T, Ramos-Lorenzo S, Wu C, Huang L, Chen D, Annable T, Francis H, Glaser S, Alpini G, Meng F. Knockout of microRNA-21 attenuates alcoholic hepatitis through the VHL/NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2018; 315:G385-G398. [PMID: 29848019 PMCID: PMC6415712 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00111.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
microRNA-21 (miRNA) is one of the most abundant miRNAs in chronic liver injuries including alcoholic liver injury. Previous studies have demonstrated that miR-21 plays a role in inflammation in the liver and functions in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which reside in the perisinusoidal space between sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes and regulate sinusoidal circulation. HSCs integrate cytokine-mediated inflammatory responses in the sinusoids and relay them to the liver parenchyma. Here, we showed that the activation of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) expression, by miR-21 knockout in vivo and anti-miR-21 or VHL overexpression in vitro, suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and IL-1β, in human HSCs during alcoholic liver injury. Sequence and functional analyses confirmed that miR-21 directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of VHL. Immunofluorescence and real-time PCR analysis revealed that miR-21 depletion blocked NF-κB activation in human HSCs both in cultured HSCs as well as HSCs isolated from alcohol-related liver disease mice liver by laser capture microdissection. We also showed that conditioned medium from anti-miR-21-transfected HSCs suppressed human monocyte-derived THP-1 cell migration. Taken together, our study indicates that depletion of miR-21 may downregulate cytokine production in HSCs and macrophage chemotaxis during alcoholic liver injury and that the targeting of miR-21 may have therapeutic potential for preventing the progression of alcoholic liver diseases. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that silencing microRNA-21 can inhibit cytokine production and inflammatory responses in human hepatic stellate cells during alcoholic liver injury and that the targeting of microR-21 in hepatic stellate cells may have therapeutic potential for prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wu
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Kelly McDaniel
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
- Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Sugeily Ramos-Lorenzo
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
- Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas
| | - Li Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University , Guangdong , China
| | - Demeng Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University , Guangdong , China
| | - Tami Annable
- Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
- Texas Bioscience District, Temple, Texas
| | - Heather Francis
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
- Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
- Department of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
- Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
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Ehrlich L, Scrushy M, Meng F, Lairmore TC, Alpini G, Glaser S. Biliary epithelium: A neuroendocrine compartment in cholestatic liver disease. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2018; 42:296-305. [PMID: 29678444 PMCID: PMC6129425 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is characterized by abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) that can lead to ductopenia, cirrhosis, and even malignant transformation. In this review, we examine cholestatic liver diseases characterized by extensive biliary fibrosis such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), polycystic liver disease (PLD), and MDR2-/- and BDL mouse models. Following biliary injury, cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells that line the bile ducts, become reactive and adopt a neuroendocrine phenotype in which they secrete and respond to neurohormones and neuropeptides in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. Emerging evidence indicates that cholangiocytes influence and respond to changes in the ECM and stromal cells in the microenvironment. For example, activated myofibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells are major drivers of collagen deposition and biliary fibrosis. Additionally, the liver is richly innervated with adrenergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic fibers that release neurohormones and peptides to maintain homeostasis and can be deranged in disease states. This review summarizes how cholangiocytes interact with their surrounding environment, with particular focus on how autonomic and sensory regulation affects fibrotic pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Ehrlich
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States
| | - Marinda Scrushy
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX 76504, United States
| | - Terry C Lairmore
- Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX 76504, United States; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX 76504, United States; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, United States.
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Ehrlich L, O’Brien A, Hall C, White T, Chen L, Wu N, Venter J, Scrushy M, Mubarak M, Meng F, Dostal D, Wu C, Lairmore TC, Alpini G, Glaser S. α7-nAChR Knockout Mice Decreases Biliary Hyperplasia and Liver Fibrosis in Cholestatic Bile Duct-Ligated Mice. Gene Expr 2018; 18:197-207. [PMID: 29580318 PMCID: PMC6190116 DOI: 10.3727/105221618x15216453076707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
α7-nAChR is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor [specifically expressed on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), Kupffer cells, and cholangiocytes] that regulates inflammation and apoptosis in the liver. Thus, targeting α7-nAChR may be therapeutic in biliary diseases. Bile duct ligation (BDL) was performed on wild-type (WT) and α7-nAChR-/- mice. We first evaluated the expression of α7-nAChR by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in liver sections. IHC was also performed to assess intrahepatic bile duct mass (IBDM), and Sirius Red staining was performed to quantify the amount of collagen deposition. Immunofluorescence was performed to assess colocalization of α7-nAChR with bile ducts (costained with CK-19) and HSCs (costained with desmin). The mRNA expression of α7-nAChR, Ki-67/PCNA (proliferation), fibrosis genes (TGF-β1, fibronectin-1, Col1α1, and α-SMA), and inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) was measured by real-time PCR. Biliary TGF-β1 and hepatic CD68 (Kupffer cell marker) expression was assessed using IHC. α7-nAChR immunoreactivity was observed in both bile ducts and HSCs and increased following BDL. α7-nAChR-/- BDL mice exhibited decreased (i) bile duct mass, liver fibrosis, and inflammation, and (ii) immunoreactivity of TGF-β1 as well as expression of fibrosis genes compared to WT BDL mice. α7-nAChR activation triggers biliary proliferation and liver fibrosis and may be a therapeutic target in managing extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Ehrlich
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - April O’Brien
- †Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Chad Hall
- ‡Surgery, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Tori White
- †Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Lixian Chen
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Nan Wu
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Julie Venter
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Marinda Scrushy
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Muhammad Mubarak
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
- †Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- §Gastroenterology, Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
| | - David Dostal
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Chaodong Wu
- ¶Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Terry C. Lairmore
- ‡Surgery, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
- †Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- §Gastroenterology, Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Shannon Glaser
- *Department of Medical Physiology, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
- †Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- §Gastroenterology, Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
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Wang J, Pan W, Wang Y, Lei W, Feng B, Du C, Wang XJ. Enhanced efficacy of curcumin with phosphatidylserine-decorated nanoparticles in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. Drug Deliv 2018; 25:1-11. [PMID: 29214887 PMCID: PMC6058669 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2017.1399301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic macrophages have been considered as a therapeutic target for liver fibrosis treatment, and phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing nanoparticles are commonly used to mimic apoptotic cells that can specifically regulate macrophage functions, resulting in anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to test the efficacy of PS-modified nanostructured lipid carriers (mNLCs) containing curcumin (Cur) (Cur-mNLCs) in the treatment of liver fibrosis in a rat model. Carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats was used as an experimental model, and the severity of the disease was examined by both biochemical and histological methods. Here, we showed that mNLCs were spherical nanoparticles with decreased negative zeta potentials due to PS decoration, and significantly increased both mean residence time and area under the curve of Cur. In the rats with liver fibrosis, PS-modification of NLCs enhanced the nanoparticles targeting to the diseased liver, which was evidenced by their highest accumulation in the liver. As compared to all the controls, Cur-mNLCs were significantly more effective at reducing the liver damage and fibrosis, which were indicated by in Cur-mNLCs-treated rats the least increase in liver enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the circulation, along with the least increase in collagen fibers and alpha smooth muscle actin and the most increased hepatocyte growth factors (HGF) and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) two in the livers. In conclusion, PS-modified NLCs nanoparticles prolonged the retention time of Cur, and enhanced its bioavailability and delivery efficiency to the livers, resulting in reduced liver fibrosis and up-regulating hepatic expression of HGF and MMP-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
| | - Wen Pan
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
| | - Ying Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
| | - Wan Lei
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
| | - Bin Feng
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
| | - Caigan Du
- b Department of Urologic Sciences , University of British Columbia, Jack Bell Research Centre , Vancouver , BC , Canada
| | - Xiao-Juan Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Pharmacy , School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , PR China
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Sato K, Meng F, Giang T, Glaser S, Alpini G. Mechanisms of cholangiocyte responses to injury. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:1262-1269. [PMID: 28648950 PMCID: PMC5742086 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocytes, epithelial cells that line the biliary epithelium, are the primary target cells for cholangiopathies including primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis. Quiescent cholangiocytes respond to biliary damage and acquire an activated neuroendocrine phenotype to maintain the homeostasis of the liver. The typical response of cholangiocytes is proliferation leading to bile duct hyperplasia, which is a characteristic of cholestatic liver diseases. Current studies have identified various signaling pathways that are associated with cholangiocyte proliferation/loss and liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies using human samples and rodent models. Although recent studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles and microRNAs could be mediators that regulate these messenger/receptor axes, further studies are required to confirm their roles. This review summarizes current studies of biliary response and cholangiocyte proliferation during cholestatic liver injury with particular emphasis on the secretin/secretin receptor axis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cholangiocytes in Health and Diseaseedited by Jesus Banales, Marco Marzioni, Nicholas LaRusso and Peter Jansen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisaku Sato
- Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States; Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, United States; Academic Research Integration, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, United States; Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Thao Giang
- Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States; Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, United States; Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States; Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, United States; Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, United States.
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Growth differentiation factor 15 contributes to marrow adipocyte remodeling in response to the growth of leukemic cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:66. [PMID: 29566722 PMCID: PMC5863796 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0738-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background The adipocyte remodeling, including of the morphological change, might indicate special pathological function. Our previous study found that the morphological remodeling of larger marrow adipocytes into small marrow adipocytes correlates with a poor prognosis for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. However, the mechanisms contributed to the marrow adipocyte remodeling are still poorly understood. Methods GDF15 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blotting assays in the leukemic cells. The enhancing and antibody neutralization tests in vitro were employed to evaluate the effect of GDF15 on the morphology of mature adipocytes. CCK8 test was used to detect the proliferation of leukemic cells after co-cultivation with small marrow adipocytes. Flow cytometry was used to analysis the proportion of cell cycle of leukemic cells. Immunofluorescence staining and linear analysis were applied to verify the GDF15 expression and the relationship between GDF15 and small marrow adipocytes in AML patients. Results In this study, we found that leukemic cell lines not only expressed significantly higher growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) than the other three cytokines associated with adipocyte differentiation in RNA level but also secreted GDF15 factor. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments demonstrated that GDF15 was involved in the conversion of small marrow adipocytes from larger marrow adipocytes. Correspondingly, the leukemic cells proliferated more rapidly through regulating the cell cycle when co-cultured with GDF15-induced small marrow adipocytes. The immunofluorescence staining on the bone marrow sections of AML patients further exhibited that GDF15 was partly produced by leukemic cells. The positive correlation between the concentration of GDF15 in the marrow aspirates and the number and the volume of small marrow adipocytes might suggest the contribution of GDF15 in AML patients (r = 0.72, r = 0.67). Conclusions GDF15 secreted by leukemic cells was involved in the morphological remodeling of marrow adipocytes, which can in turn promote leukemic cell growth, indicating that GDF15 may be a promising treatment target for AML patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0738-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Andrographolide Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis in Mice: Involvement of TLR4/NF- κB and TGF- β1/Smad2 Signaling Pathways. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:7808656. [PMID: 29743985 PMCID: PMC5878918 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7808656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is characterized by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and extracellular matrix accumulation. Blocking the activation of HSC and the inflammation response are two major effective therapeutic strategies for liver fibrosis. In addition to the long history of using andrographolide (Andro) for inflammatory disorders, we aimed at elucidating the pharmacological effects and potential mechanism of Andro on liver fibrosis. In this study, liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and the mice were intraperitoneally injected with Andro for 6 weeks. HSC cell line (LX-2) and primary HSC were also treated with Andro in vitro. Treatment of CCl4-induced mice with Andro decreased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Sirius red staining as well as the expression of α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β1. Furthermore, the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 and NF-κB p50 was also inhibited by Andro. Additionally, in vitro data confirmed that Andro treatment not only attenuated the expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory factors but also blocked the TGF-β1/Smad2 and TLR4/NF-κB p50 pathways. These results demonstrate that Andro prevents liver inflammation and fibrosis, which is in correlation with the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad2 and TLR4/NF-κB p50 pathways, highlighting Andro as a potential therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.
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68
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Wan Y, McDaniel K, Wu N, Ramos-Lorenzo S, Glaser T, Venter J, Francis H, Kennedy L, Sato K, Zhou T, Kyritsi K, Huang Q, Annable T, Wu C, Glaser S, Alpini G, Meng F. Regulation of Cellular Senescence by miR-34a in Alcoholic Liver Injury. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 187:2788-2798. [PMID: 29128099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease remains a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality, which ranges from alcoholic steatohepatitis to fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and the related mechanisms are understood poorly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-34a in alcohol-induced cellular senescence and liver fibrosis. We found that hepatic miR-34a expression was upregulated in ethanol-fed mice and heavy drinkers with steatohepatitis compared with respective controls. Mice treated with miR-34a Vivo-Morpholino developed less severe liver fibrosis than wild-type mice after 5 weeks of ethanol feeding. Further mechanism exploration showed that inhibition of miR-34a increased cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in ethanol-fed mice, although it decreased senescence in total liver and hepatocytes, which was verified by the changes of senescence-associated β-galactosidase and gene expression. Furthermore, enhanced cellular senescence was observed in liver tissues from steatohepatitis patients compared with healthy controls. In addition, the expression of transforming growth factor-β1, drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 2 (Smad2), and Smad3 was decreased after inhibition of miR-34a in ethanol-fed mice. Our in vitro experiments showed that silencing of miR-34a partially blocked activation of HSCs by lipopolysaccharide and enhanced senescence of HSCs. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-34a decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced fibrotic gene expression in cultured hepatocytes. In conclusion, our data suggest that miR-34a functions as a profibrotic factor that promotes alcohol-induced liver fibrosis by reducing HSC senescence and increasing the senescence of hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wan
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Pathophysiology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Kelly McDaniel
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Sugeily Ramos-Lorenzo
- Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas
| | - Trenton Glaser
- Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Heather Francis
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Qiaobing Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab for Shock and Microcirculation Research of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tami Annable
- Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Temple Health and Bioscience District, Temple, Texas
| | - Chaodong Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas.
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Division of Research, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas.
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69
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Sato K, Meng F, Venter J, Giang T, Glaser S, Alpini G. The role of the secretin/secretin receptor axis in inflammatory cholangiocyte communication via extracellular vesicles. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11183. [PMID: 28894209 PMCID: PMC5593902 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10694-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small and large intrahepatic bile ducts consist of small and large cholangiocytes, respectively, and these cholangiocytes have different morphology and functions. The gastrointestinal peptide hormone, secretin (SCT) that binds to secretin receptor (SR), is a key mediator in cholangiocyte pathophysiology. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound vesicles and cell-cell EV communication is recognized as an important factor in liver pathology, although EV communication between cholangiocytes is not identified to date. Cholangiocytes secrete proinflammatory cytokines during bacterial infection leading to biliary inflammation and hyperplasia. We demonstrate that cholangiocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a membrane component of gram-negative bacteria, secrete more EVs than cholangiocytes incubated with vehicle. These LPS-derived EVs induce inflammatory responses in other cholangiocytes including elevated cytokine production and cell proliferation. Large but not small cholangiocytes show inflammatory responses against large but not small cholangiocyte-derived EVs. Large cholangiocytes with knocked down either SCT or SR by short hairpin RNAs show reduced EV secretion during LPS stimulation, and EVs isolated from SCT or SR knocked down cholangiocytes fail to induce inflammatory reactions in control large cholangiocytes. This study identifies cholangiocyte EV communication during LPS stimulation, and demonstrates that the SCT/SR axis may be important for this event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisaku Sato
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Academic Research Integration, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
| | - Julie Venter
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Thao Giang
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, TX, 76504, USA. .,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, 76504, USA.
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Hall C, Ehrlich L, Meng F, Invernizzi P, Bernuzzi F, Lairmore TC, Alpini G, Glaser S. Inhibition of microRNA-24 increases liver fibrosis by enhanced menin expression in Mdr2 -/- mice. J Surg Res 2017; 217:160-169. [PMID: 28602220 PMCID: PMC5760243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation remains the primary treatment for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Mdr2-/- mice provide a reliable in vivo model of PSC and develop characteristic biliary inflammation and fibrosis. We tested the hypothesis that the tumor suppressor protein menin is implicated in the progression of liver fibrosis and that menin expression can be regulated in the liver via microRNA-24 (miR-24). MATERIALS AND METHODS Menin expression was measured in human PSC and Mdr2-/- mice. Twelve-week-old FVB/NJ wild-type (WT) and Mdr2-/- mice were treated with miR-24 Vivo-Morpholino to knockdown miR-24 expression levels. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by Sirius Red staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for genes associated with liver fibrosis, such as fibronectin 1, collagen type 1 alpha 1, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and α-smooth muscle actin. Studies were also performed in vitro using immortalized murine cholangiocyte lines treated with miR-24 hairpin inhibitor and mimic. RESULTS Menin gene expression was increased in Mdr2-/- mice and late-stage human PSC samples. Treatment of FVB/NJ WT and Mdr2-/- mice with miR-24 Vivo-Morpholino increased menin expression, which correlated with increased expression of fibrosis genes. In vitro, inhibition of miR-24 also significantly increased the expression of fibrosis genes. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of miR-24 increases menin and TGF-β1 expression, subsequently increasing hepatic fibrosis in FVB/NJ WT and Mdr2-/- mice. Modulation of the menin/miR-24 axis may provide novel targeted therapies to slow the progression of hepatic fibrosis into cirrhosis in PSC patients by altering TGF-β1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Hall
- Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas
| | - Laurent Ehrlich
- Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas; Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, Texas
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Bernuzzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Terry C Lairmore
- Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, Texas; Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, Texas; Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas.
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71
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Fickert P, Wagner M. Biliary bile acids in hepatobiliary injury - What is the link? J Hepatol 2017; 67:619-631. [PMID: 28712691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The main trigger for liver injury in acquired cholestatic liver disease remains unclear. However, the accumulation of bile acids (BAs) undoubtedly plays a role. Recent progress in deciphering the pathomechanisms of inborn cholestatic liver diseases, decoding mechanisms of BA-induced cell death, and generating modern BA-derived drugs has improved the understanding of the regulation of BA synthesis and transport. Now is the appropriate time to reassess current knowledge about the specific role of BAs in hepatobiliary injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Fickert
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
| | - Martin Wagner
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Graz, Austria
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Wan Y, Meng F, Wu N, Zhou T, Venter J, Francis H, Kennedy L, Glaser T, Bernuzzi F, Invernizzi P, Glaser S, Huang Q, Alpini G. Substance P increases liver fibrosis by differential changes in senescence of cholangiocytes and hepatic stellate cells. Hepatology 2017; 66:528-541. [PMID: 28256736 PMCID: PMC5519428 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Substance P (SP) is involved in the proliferation of cholangiocytes in bile duct-ligated (BDL) mice and human cholangiocarcinoma growth by interacting with the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). To identify whether SP regulates liver fibrosis during cholestasis, wild-type or NK-1R knockout (NK-1R-/- ) mice that received BDL or sham surgery and multidrug resistance protein 2 knockout (Mdr2-/- ) mice treated with either an NK-1R antagonist (L-733,060) or saline were used. Additionally, wild-type mice were treated with SP or saline intraperitoneally. In vivo, there was increased expression of tachykinin precursor 1 (coding SP) and NK-1R in both BDL and Mdr2-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Expression of tachykinin precursor 1 and NK-1R was significantly higher in liver samples from primary sclerosing cholangitis patients compared to healthy controls. Knockout of NK-1R decreased BDL-induced liver fibrosis, and treatment with L-733,060 resulted in decreased liver fibrosis in Mdr2-/- mice, which was shown by decreased sirius red staining, fibrosis gene and protein expression, and reduced transforming growth factor-β1 levels in serum and cholangiocyte supernatants. Furthermore, we observed that reduced liver fibrosis in NK-1R-/- mice with BDL surgery or Mdr2-/- mice treated with L-733,060 was associated with enhanced cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells and decreased senescence of cholangiocytes. In vitro, L-733,060 inhibited SP-induced expression of fibrotic genes in hepatic stellate cells and cholangiocytes; treatment with L-733,060 partially reversed the SP-induced decrease of senescence gene expression in cultured hepatic stellate cells and the SP-induced increase of senescence-related gene expression in cultured cholangiocytes. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results demonstrate the regulatory effects of the SP/NK-1R axis on liver fibrosis through changes in cellular senescence during cholestatic liver injury. (Hepatology 2017;66:528-541).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wan
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX,Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab for Shock and Microcirculation Research of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX,Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX,Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Heather Francis
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX,Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Trenton Glaser
- Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | | | | | - Shannon Glaser
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX,Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
| | - Qiaobing Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Lab for Shock and Microcirculation Research of Guangdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX,Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Scott & White, Temple, TX,Department of Medicine, Division Gastroenterology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX
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73
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Kyritsi K, Meng F, Zhou T, Wu N, Venter J, Francis H, Kennedy L, Onori P, Franchitto A, Bernuzzi F, Invernizzi P, McDaniel K, Mancinelli R, Alvaro D, Gaudio E, Alpini G, Glaser S. Knockdown of Hepatic Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone by Vivo-Morpholino Decreases Liver Fibrosis in Multidrug Resistance Gene 2 Knockout Mice by Down-Regulation of miR-200b. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 187:1551-1565. [PMID: 28502477 PMCID: PMC5500827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis occurs during the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and is characterized by accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Proliferating cholangiocytes and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) participate in the promotion of liver fibrosis during cholestasis. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a trophic peptide hormone synthesized by hypothalamic neurons and the biliary epithelium and exerts its biological effects on cholangiocytes by interaction with the receptor subtype (GnRHR1) expressed by cholangiocytes and HSCs. Previously, we demonstrated that administration of GnRH to normal rats increased intrahepatic biliary mass (IBDM) and hepatic fibrosis. Also, miR-200b is associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis; however, the role of the GnRH/GnRHR1/miR-200b axis in the development of hepatic fibrosis in PSC is unknown. Herein, using the mouse model of PSC (multidrug resistance gene 2 knockout), the hepatic knockdown of GnRH decreased IBDM and liver fibrosis. In vivo and in vitro administration of GnRH increased the expression of miR-200b and fibrosis markers. The GnRH/GnRHR1 axis and miR-200b were up-regulated in human PSC samples. Cetrorelix, a GnRHR1 antagonist, inhibited the expression of fibrotic genes in vitro and decreased IBDM and hepatic fibrosis in vivo. Inhibition of miR-200b decreased the expression of fibrosis genes in vitro in cholangiocyte and HSC lines. Targeting the GnRH/GnRHR1/miR-200b axis may be key for the management of hepatic fibrosis during the progression of PSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Kyritsi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Temple, Texas; Research Foundation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Julie Venter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Heather Francis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Temple, Texas
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Franchitto
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Bernuzzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Kelly McDaniel
- Research Foundation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas
| | - Romina Mancinelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Alvaro
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Temple, Texas; Research Foundation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas.
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas; Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Health Digestive Disease Research Center, Temple, Texas.
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74
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Wu N, Meng F, Zhou T, Han Y, Kennedy L, Venter J, Francis H, DeMorrow S, Onori P, Invernizzi P, Bernuzzi F, Mancinelli R, Gaudio E, Franchitto A, Glaser S, Alpini G. Prolonged darkness reduces liver fibrosis in a mouse model of primary sclerosing cholangitis by miR-200b down-regulation. FASEB J 2017. [PMID: 28634212 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700097r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin therapy or prolonged exposure to complete darkness reduces biliary hyperplasia and liver fibrosis in bile-duct-ligated (BDL) rats; however, no information exists in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Thus, we aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of prolonged dark therapy or melatonin administration on hepatic fibrosis in the multidrug resistance gene 2-knockout (Mdr2-/-) mouse model of PSC. Melatonin levels, biliary mass, liver fibrosis, angiogenesis and miR-200b expression were evaluated in wild-type and Mdr2-/- mice exposed to darkness or melatonin treatment or in male patients with PSC and healthy controls. Mdr2-/- mice were also treated with miR-200b inhibitor or control before evaluating biliary mass, liver fibrosis, and angiogenesis. After overexpression of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT; the enzyme regulating melatonin synthesis) or inhibition of miR-200b in cholangiocytes and hepatic stellate cells in vitro, we evaluated angiogenesis and fibrosis gene expression. After exposure to darkness or administration of melatonin, Mdr2-/- mice show elevated serum melatonin levels and inhibition of biliary mass, along with reduction of liver fibrosis and angiogenesis. MicroRNA PCR analysis demonstrated that miR-200b expression increased in Mdr2-/- mice and patients with PSC compared with controls and decreased in Mdr2-/- mice subjected to dark exposure or melatonin treatment. Inhibition of miR-200b in Mdr2-/- ablates biliary proliferation, liver fibrosis, and angiogenesis. In vitro, overexpression of AANAT or inhibition of miR-200b in cholangiocytes and hepatic stellate cells decreased the expression of miR-200b, angiogenesis, and fibrosis genes. Dark therapy or targeting melatonin/miR-200b axis may be important in the management of biliary damage and liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies including PSC.-Wu, N., Meng, F., Zhou, T., Han, Y., Kennedy, L., Venter, J., Francis, H., DeMorrow, S., Onori, P., Invernizzi, P., Bernuzzi, F., Mancinelli, R., Gaudio, E., Franchitto, A., Glaser, S., Alpini G. Prolonged darkness reduces liver fibrosis in a mouse model of primary sclerosing cholangitis by miR-200b down-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA.,Digestive Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas, USA.,Research Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Yuyan Han
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Julie Venter
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Heather Francis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA.,Digestive Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas, USA.,Research Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Sharon DeMorrow
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA.,Digestive Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas, USA.,Research Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, and Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Bernuzzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Romina Mancinelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, and Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, and Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Shannon Glaser
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA; .,Digestive Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas, USA.,Research Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, Texas, USA; .,Digestive Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas, USA.,Research Service, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA
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Hall C, Sato K, Wu N, Zhou T, Kyritsi K, Meng F, Glaser S, Alpini G. Regulators of Cholangiocyte Proliferation. Gene Expr 2017; 17:155-171. [PMID: 27412505 PMCID: PMC5494439 DOI: 10.3727/105221616x692568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocytes, a small population of cells within the normal liver, have been the focus of a significant amount of research over the past two decades because of their involvement in cholangiopathies such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis. This article summarizes landmark studies in the field of cholangiocyte physiology and aims to provide an updated review of biliary pathogenesis. The historical approach of rodent extrahepatic bile duct ligation and the relatively recent utilization of transgenic mice have led to significant discoveries in cholangiocyte pathophysiology. Cholangiocyte physiology is a complex system based on heterogeneity within the biliary tree and a number of signaling pathways that serve to regulate bile composition. Studies have expanded the list of neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and hormones that have been shown to be key regulators of proliferation and biliary damage. The peptide histamine and hormones, such as melatonin and angiotensin, angiotensin, as well as numerous sex hormones, have been implicated in cholangiocyte proliferation during cholestasis. Numerous pathways promote cholangiocyte proliferation during cholestasis, and there is growing evidence to suggest that cholangiocyte proliferation may promote hepatic fibrosis. These pathways may represent significant therapeutic potential for a subset of cholestatic liver diseases that currently lack effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Hall
- *Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- †Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Temple, TX, USA
- ‡Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Keisaku Sato
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Nan Wu
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
| | | | - Fanyin Meng
- *Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
- ¶Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Shannon Glaser
- *Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, USA
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
- ¶Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- ‡Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
- §Operational Funds, Baylor Scott & White, Temple, TX, USA
- ¶Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott & White and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA
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76
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Knockout of microRNA-21 reduces biliary hyperplasia and liver fibrosis in cholestatic bile duct ligated mice. J Transl Med 2016; 96:1256-1267. [PMID: 27775690 PMCID: PMC5121007 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholestasis is a condition that leads to chronic hepatobiliary inflammation, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis. Many microRNAs (miRs) are known to have a role in fibrosis progression; however, the role of miR-21 during cholestasis remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the role of miR-21 during cholestasis-induced biliary hyperplasia and hepatic fibrosis. Wild-type (WT) and miR-21-/- mice underwent Sham or bile duct ligation (BDL) for 1 week, before evaluating liver histology, biliary proliferation, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, fibrotic response, and small mothers against decapentaplegic 7 (Smad-7) expression. In vitro, immortalized murine biliary cell lines (IMCLs) and human hepatic stellate cell line (hHSC) were treated with either miR-21 inhibitor or control before analyzing proliferation, apoptosis, and fibrotic responses. In vivo, the levels of miR-21 were increased in total liver and cholangiocytes after BDL, and loss of miR-21 decreased the amount of BDL-induced biliary proliferation and intrahepatic biliary mass. In addition, loss of miR-21 decreased BDL-induced HSC activation, collagen deposition, and expression of the fibrotic markers transforming growth factor-β1 and α-smooth muscle actin. In vitro, IMCL and hHSCs treated with miR-21 inhibitor displayed decreased proliferation and expression of fibrotic markers and enhanced apoptosis when compared with control treated cells. Furthermore, mice lacking miR-21 show increased Smad-7 expression, which may be driving the decrease in biliary hyperplasia and hepatic fibrosis. During cholestatic injury, miR-21 is increased and leads to increased biliary proliferation and hepatic fibrosis. Local modulation of miR-21 may be a therapeutic option for patients with cholestasis.
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77
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Wagner M, Fickert P, Zollner G. Secretin and cholestasis, two sides of a coin. Hepatology 2016; 64:714-6. [PMID: 27312229 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wagner
- Research Unit for Experimental and Molecular Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Fickert
- Research Unit for Experimental and Molecular Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gernot Zollner
- Research Unit for Experimental and Molecular Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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