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Liu X, Wu Y, Li M, Hao J, Wang Q, Zeng X. Plasticity of Treg and imbalance of Treg/Th17 cells in patients with systemic sclerosis modified by FK506. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2021; 35:2058738421998086. [PMID: 33631989 PMCID: PMC7917869 DOI: 10.1177/2058738421998086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine the effects of Tacrolimus (FK506) on Treg cells and subpopulations in SSc patients and assess the ability of FK506 to modify the immune imbalance of Treg/Th17 cells. We analyzed PBMC from five SSc patients and six healthy control by flow cytometry after cultured with 0, 0.1, 1, or 10 ng/ml FK506 in vitro. The number of Treg cells decreased in SSc patients treated with FK506. The number of FrI cells were decreased in SSc following FK506 treatment. The drug did increase the frequency of FrII/Treg cells, but not FrII cells. However, FK506 significantly decreased FrIII in both SSc patients and controls. FK506 clearly decreased the numbers of Th17 cells and FoxP3+IL-17+ cells. The proliferation capacity of cells was also inhibited by FK506, which had a greater effect on FoxP3- cells than FoxP3+ cells. FK506 did inhibit the proliferation of FrIII cells, but not FrI or FrII cells. Our study provides that FK506 reduced the number of FoxP3low CD45RA- T cells (FrIII) by inhibiting its proliferation. Therefore, FK506 modifies Treg cells and the immune imbalance between Tregs and Th17 cells in SSc patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Mengtao Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Yamashita T, Asano Y, Saigusa R, Taniguchi T, Nakamura K, Miura S, Toyama T, Takahashi T, Ichimura Y, Hirabayashi M, Yoshizaki A, Miyagaki T, Sugaya M, Sato S. Increased expression of aquaporin-1 in dermal fibroblasts and dermal microvascular endothelial cells possibly contributes to skin fibrosis and edema in patients with systemic sclerosis. J Dermatol Sci 2018; 93:24-32. [PMID: 30270117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aquaporin-1 (AQP1), a water channel protein controlling the water contents of cells and tissues, exerts pleiotropic effects on various biological activities, including inflammation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling, by regulating cell behaviors and tissue water balance. OBJECTIVE To investigate AQP1 roles in systemic sclerosis (SSc) which is characterized by autoimmune inflammation, vasculopathy, and tissue fibrosis. METHODS AQP1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR in skin samples from human and animal models and by immunoblotting in cultured cells. Fli1 binding to the AQP1 promoter was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Cell migration was assessed by scratch assay. RESULTS Dermal fibroblasts and endothelial cells highly expressed AQP1 in SSc lesional skin, and AQP1 expression in dermal fibroblasts and endothelial cells positively correlated with the degrees of tissue fibrosis and edema, respectively. Consistently, SSc dermal fibroblasts up-regulated AQP1 compared with normal dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Furthermore, TGF-β stimulation induced AQP1 expression in normal dermal fibroblasts, while TGF-β1 antisense oligonucleotide suppressed AQP1 expression in SSc dermal fibroblasts. In endothelial cells, Fli1 deficiency resulted in AQP1 up-regulation in vivo and in vitro and Fli1 bound to the AQP1 promoter. Importantly, SSc dermal fibroblasts and FLI1 siRNA-treated endothelial cells had a pro-migratory property, which was remarkably diminished by gene silencing of AQP1. CONCLUSION AQP1 is up-regulated in SSc dermal fibroblasts and SSc endothelial cells at least partially due to autocrine TGF-β stimulation and Fli1 deficiency, respectively, possibly contributing to inflammation, vasculopathy, and tissue fibrosis by regulating tissue edema and cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamashita
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Asano
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Ryosuke Saigusa
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Takashi Taniguchi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kouki Nakamura
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Miura
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Toyama
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Takehiro Takahashi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yohei Ichimura
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Megumi Hirabayashi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Ayumi Yoshizaki
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tomomitsu Miyagaki
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Makoto Sugaya
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Shinichi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
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Tamaki Z, Asano Y, Kubo M, Ihn H, Tada Y, Sugaya M, Kadono T, Sato S. Effects of the immunosuppressant rapamycin on the expression of human α2(I) collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 1 genes in scleroderma dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol Sci 2014; 74:251-9. [PMID: 24630239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapamycin has been shown to exert an anti-fibrotic effect on skin fibrosis in a certain subset of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and in bleomycin-treated animal models. OBJECTIVES To investigate the mechanism responsible for the anti-fibrotic effect of rapamycin especially by focusing on human α2(I) collagen (COL1A2) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) genes in normal and systemic sclerosis (SSc) dermal fibroblasts. METHODS The expression levels of type I procollagen and MMP1 proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting and the mRNA levels of COL1A2 and MMP1 genes were evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The activities of COL1A2 and MMP1 promoters were determined by reporter analysis. RESULTS Rapamycin significantly decreased the levels of type I procollagen protein and COL1A2 mRNA, while significantly increasing the levels of MMP1 protein and mRNA in normal dermal fibroblasts. Similar effects of rapamycin were also observed in SSc dermal fibroblasts. Importantly, the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of rapamycin on the mRNA levels of COL1A2 and MMP1 genes, respectively, were significantly greater in SSc dermal fibroblasts than in normal dermal fibroblasts. In SSc dermal fibroblasts, rapamycin affected the expression of COL1A2 gene at the post-transcriptional level. In contrast, rapamycin altered the expression of MMP1 gene at the transcriptional level through the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway in those cells. CONCLUSION Rapamycin has a potential to directly regulate the deposition of type I collagen in extracellular matrix through inhibiting type I collagen synthesis and promoting its degradation by MMP1, suggesting that this drug is useful for the treatment of SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenshiro Tamaki
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Asano
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masahide Kubo
- Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Kousei-Nenkin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hironobu Ihn
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yayoi Tada
- Department of Dermatology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Sugaya
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takafumi Kadono
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Makino K, Jinnin M, Hirano A, Yamane K, Eto M, Kusano T, Honda N, Kajihara I, Makino T, Sakai K, Masuguchi S, Fukushima S, Ihn H. The Downregulation of microRNA let-7a Contributes to the Excessive Expression of Type I Collagen in Systemic and Localized Scleroderma. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 190:3905-15. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Lan CCE, Fang AH, Wu PH, Wu CS. Tacrolimus abrogates TGF-β1-induced type I collagen production in normal human fibroblasts through suppressing p38MAPK signalling pathway: implications on treatment of chronic atopic dermatitis lesions. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2013; 28:204-15. [PMID: 23301526 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a commonly encountered inflammatory skin disease. Although acute lesions of acute AD are characterized by intense inflammation, the hallmarks of chronic AD lesions include lichenified fibrosis and thickening of the upper dermis. The increased expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a well-known fibrogenic cytokine, is observed in chronic AD lesions. Tacrolimus (FK506) ointment has been reported to be effective for treating AD as well as some TGF-β1-induced fibrotic diseases. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of tacrolimus on TGF-β1-stimulated cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts and explore the potential signalling pathways involved. METHODS Fibroblasts cultured from healthy adult human foreskins were treated with TGF-β1 with or without tacrolimus. The impact on cell viability and proliferation were assessed by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay and BrdU incorporation assay respectively. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting were performed to evaluate the relevant expressions of mRNA or proteins in fibroblasts. RESULTS Our results revealed that the increased expressions of transforming growth factor-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) and TGF-βRII in TGF-β1-treated fibroblasts were suppressed by tacrolimus treatment. In addition, tacrolimus significantly inhibited fibroblast proliferation enhanced by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 increased type I collagen production, and this enhancing effect was suppressed by tacrolimus. The down-regulation of MMP-1 and up-regulation of TIMP-1 induced by TGF-β1 were reversed by tacrolimus. The increase in phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) expression stimulated by TGF-β1 was down-regulated by tacrolimus. Moreover, the fibroblasts treated with p38MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced type I collagen expression induced by TGF-β1. CONCLUSIONS The present results demonstrated that tacrolimus significantly inhibited physiological functions of fibroblasts enhanced by TGF-β1 in vitro. Clinically, we propose that topical tacrolimus may not only reduce AD recurrence but also ameliorate dermal fibrosis often seen in chronic AD lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-C E Lan
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - A-H Fang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - P-H Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - C-S Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Asano Y, Bujor AM, Trojanowska M. The impact of Fli1 deficiency on the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. J Dermatol Sci 2010; 59:153-62. [PMID: 20663647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2010.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2010] [Revised: 06/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease with unknown etiology characterized by microvascular injury and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. A growing body of evidence suggests that deficiency of the transcription factor Fli1 (Friend leukemia integration-1) has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SSc. Fli1 is expressed in fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, and has important roles in the activation, differentiation, development, and survival of these cells. Previous studies demonstrated that Fli1 is downregulated in SSc fibroblasts by an epigenetic mechanism and a series of experiments with Fli1-deficient animal models revealed that Fli1 deficiency in fibroblasts and endothelial cells reproduces the histopathologic features of fibrosis and vasculopathy in SSc, respectively. In this article, we review the impact of Fli1 deficiency on the pathogenesis of SSc and discuss a new therapeutic strategy for SSc by targeting the transcription factor Fli1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihide Asano
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
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Poulalhon N, Farge D, Roos N, Tacheau C, Neuzillet C, Michel L, Mauviel A, Verrecchia F. Modulation of collagen and MMP-1 gene expression in fibroblasts by the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. A direct role as an antifibrotic agent? J Biol Chem 2006; 281:33045-52. [PMID: 16914544 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m606366200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We have examined whether rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug, may exert part of its antifibrotic activity by directly targeting fibroblast extracellular matrix deposition. Incubation of human lung fibroblast (WI-26) cultures with rapamycin led to dose- and time-dependent reduction in the expression of types I and III collagens, both at the protein and mRNA levels. Rapamycin had no effect on collagen promoter activity but accelerated mRNA decay, indicating post-transcriptional control of collagen gene expression. In contrast, rapamycin significantly enhanced the expression of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) at the protein and mRNA levels and transcriptionally. We determined that rapamycin efficiently activates AP-1-driven transcription by rapidly inducing c-jun/AP-1 phosphorylation with activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) cascade, resulting in enhanced binding of AP-1.DNA complex formation and AP-1-dependent gene transactivation. Conversely, the JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited rapamycin-induced MMP-1 gene transactivation and AP-1/DNA interactions. A c-jun antisense expression vector efficiently prevented rapamycin-induced MMP-1 gene transcription. Pharmacological inhibition of either ERK or p38 MAPK pathways was without effect on rapamycin-induced MMP-1 gene expression. It thus appears that rapamycin may exert direct antifibrotic activities independent from its immunosuppressive action.
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Ramirez F, Tanaka S, Bou-Gharios G. Transcriptional regulation of the human alpha2(I) collagen gene (COL1A2), an informative model system to study fibrotic diseases. Matrix Biol 2006; 25:365-72. [PMID: 16815696 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2006.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2006] [Revised: 04/23/2006] [Accepted: 04/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
During the past two decades, the human pro-alpha2(I) collagen gene (COL1A2) has emerged as an informative model in which to study the general principles that govern the transcriptional control of extracellular matrix deposition in normal and fibrotic conditions. Multiple studies have in fact delineated the genomic regions, cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors implicated in constitutive, cytokine-modulated and tissue-specific expression of COL1A2. These functional components are integrated into a regulatory network that consists of the proximal promoter, far-upstream enhancer and downstream repressor, and which operates according to two mechanisms. The first mechanism is one in which combinatorial interactions among promoter-bound proteins determine transcriptional outcome in different cellular and experimental contexts. The other mechanism is one whereby cooperative assembly of protein complexes at distantly located DNA elements directs spatiotemporal specificity. These transcriptional studies have also an additional value in translational research, in that they are providing the conceptual means to develop new animal models of and therapeutic strategies for fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ramirez
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert W. Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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Asano Y, Ihn H, Jinnin M, Mimura Y, Tamaki K. Involvement of alphavbeta5 integrin in the establishment of autocrine TGF-beta signaling in dermal fibroblasts derived from localized scleroderma. J Invest Dermatol 2006; 126:1761-9. [PMID: 16675963 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Localized scleroderma (LSc) is a connective tissue disorder limited to skin and subcutaneous tissue, which may share pathogenic processes with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We previously demonstrated that upregulated expression of integrin alphavbeta5 might contribute to autocrine TGF-beta signaling in SSc fibroblasts. Based on these data, we presently focused on alphavbeta5 and assessed its involvement in pathogenesis of LSc. We initially demonstrated that LSc fibroblasts might be activated by the stimulation of autocrine TGF-beta. Consistent with SSc fibroblasts, expression levels of alphavbeta5 were elevated in LSc fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo. Anti-alphavbeta5 antibody partially reversed expression levels of type I procollagen and MMP-1 and constitutive DNA-Smad3 binding in LSc fibroblasts. In LSc fibroblasts pretreated with antisense TGF-beta1, exogenous latent TGF-beta1 stimulation increased expression of type I procollagen in an alphavbeta5-dependent manner. The luciferase activities of TMLC cells, Mv1Lu cells stably expressing a portion of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 promoter, co-cultured with LSc fibroblasts were significantly elevated compared with those co-cultured with normal fibroblasts and were significantly reduced in the presence of anti-alphavbeta5 antibody. Anti-alphavbeta5 antibody reversed the myofibroblastic features of LSc fibroblasts. These results indicate that upregulated expression of alphavbeta5 contributes to autocrine TGF-beta signaling in LSc fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihide Asano
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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