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Song MH, Choi SC, Noh JM, Joo HJ, Park CY, Cha JJ, Ahn TH, Ko TH, Choi JI, Na JE, Rhyu IJ, Jang Y, Park Y, Gim JA, Kim JH, Lim DS. LEFTY-PITX2 signaling pathway is critical for generation of mature and ventricular cardiac organoids in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac mesoderm cells. Biomaterials 2021; 278:121133. [PMID: 34571434 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The generation of mature ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs) resembling adult CMs from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is necessary for disease modeling and drug discovery. To investigate the effect of self-organizing capacity on the generation of mature cardiac organoids (COs), we generated cardiac mesoderm cell-derived COs (CMC-COs) and CM-derived COs (CM-COs) and evaluated COs. CMC-COs exhibited more organized sarcomere structures and mitochondria, well-arranged t-tubule structures, and evenly distributed intercalated discs. Increased expressions of ventricular CM, cardiac metabolic, t-tubule formation, K+ ion channel, and junctional markers were confirmed in CMC-COs. Mature ventricular-like function such as faster motion vector speed, decreased beats per min, increased peak-to-peak duration, and prolonged APD50 and APD90 were observed in CMC-COs. Transcriptional profiling revealed that extracellular matrix-integrin, focal adhesion, and LEFTY-PITX2 signaling pathways are upregulated in CMC-COs. LEFTY knockdown affected ECM-integrin-FA signaling pathways in CMC-COs. Here, we found that high self-organizing capacity of CMCs is critical for the generation of mature and ventricular COs. We also demonstrated that LEFTY-PITX2 signaling plays key roles for CM maturation and specification into ventricular-like CM subtype in CMC-COs. CMC-COs are an attractive resource for disease modeling and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeong-Hwa Song
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Seung-Cheol Choi
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea; R&D Center for Companion Diagnostic, SOL Bio Corporation, Suite 510, 27, Seongsui-ro7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04780, South Korea
| | - Ji-Min Noh
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Hyung Joon Joo
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Chi-Yeon Park
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Cha
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Tae Hoon Ahn
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Tae Hee Ko
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jong-Il Choi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Ji Eun Na
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Im Joo Rhyu
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Yongjun Jang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Yongdoo Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jeong-An Gim
- Medical Science Research Center, College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul,08308, South Korea
| | - Jong-Hoon Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Do-Sun Lim
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
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CypB-CD147 Signaling Is Involved in Crosstalk between Cartilage and FLS in Collagen-Induced Arthritis. Mediators Inflamm 2020; 2020:6473858. [PMID: 32908452 PMCID: PMC7475760 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6473858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the crosstalk between cartilage and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we adopted an in vitro coculture system model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) cartilage and CIA FLS monolayer. CIA rat samples of the synovium and femur head were collected for isolation of FLS and coculture system. Cartilages were treated with vehicle (Ctrl group), 10 ng/mL interleukin- (IL-) 1α (IL-1α group), and 10 ng/mL IL-1α plus 10 μM dexamethasone (Dex group) for 3 days before coculture with FLS for further 2 days. After the coculture, FLS were collected to determine the influences of articular cartilage on synoviocytes. Whether the CypB-CD147 signaling pathway is involved in the interactions between cartilage and FLS is assayed. Results showed that IL-1α-stimulated CIA cartilage promoted the proliferation and reduced the apoptosis of FLS. Increased inflammatory cytokines and decreased p57 expression were found in cocultured FLS stimulated by IL-1α-challenged CIA cartilage. Upregulation of NF-κB and I-κB kinase β (IKK-β) and downregulation of the inhibitor of NF-κBα (I-κBα) protein were observed in cocultured FLS. After coculture, significant increases in the expression of cyclophilin B (CypB) and CD147 were observed in CIA cartilage and FLS, respectively. Furthermore, results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the anti-CD147 antibody significantly suppressed p65 nuclear translocation in cocultured FLS stimulated by IL-1α-challenged CIA cartilage. In conclusion, inflammatory effects in the cartilage-FLS coculture system are associated with the CypB-CD147 mediating NF-κB pathway which may further enhance the inflammation in RA.
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Zhang L, Liu X, Liang J, Wu J, Tan D, Hu W. Lefty-1 inhibits renal epithelial-mesenchymal transition by antagonizing the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. J Mol Histol 2020; 51:77-87. [PMID: 32065356 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09859-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process in which tubular epithelial cells lose their phenotypes, and new mesenchymal feature are obtained. In particular, type II EMT possibly contributes to renal tissue fibrogenesis. Recent studies indicate that Lefty-1, a novel member of the TGF-β superfamily with pleiotropical and biological regulation characteristics on TGF-β and other signaling pathways, is considered to have potential fibrotic effects. However, its role in EMT, which is often a long-term consequence of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, remains unknown. In this study, we found that Lefty-1 alleviates EMT induction through antagonizing TGF-β/Smad pathway in vivo and in vitro. In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model mice, administration of adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Lefty-1 (Ad-Lefty-1) significantly reduced TGF-β1/Smad expression and alleviated the phenotypic transition of epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. In high glucose-induced rat renal tubular duct epithelial cell line (NRK-52E), EMT and ECM synthesis were alleviated with Lefty-1 treatment, which significantly inhibited TGF-β1/Smad pathway activation in UUO mice and high glucose-treated NRK-52E cells. Thus, Lefty-1 can alleviate EMT and renal interstitial fibrosis in vivo and in vitro through antagonizing the TGF-β/Smad pathway, and Lefty-1 might have a potential novel therapeutic effect on fibrotic kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital, Affiliated to Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, Hubei, China.
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital, Affiliated to Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital, Affiliated to Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, Hubei, China
| | - Jianhua Wu
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital, Affiliated to Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, Hubei, China
| | - Daqing Tan
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital, Affiliated to Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South of China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
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Hong S, Banchereau R, Maslow BSL, Guerra MM, Cardenas J, Baisch J, Branch DW, Porter TF, Sawitzke A, Laskin CA, Buyon JP, Merrill J, Sammaritano LR, Petri M, Gatewood E, Cepika AM, Ohouo M, Obermoser G, Anguiano E, Kim TW, Nulsen J, Nehar-Belaid D, Blankenship D, Turner J, Banchereau J, Salmon JE, Pascual V. Longitudinal profiling of human blood transcriptome in healthy and lupus pregnancy. J Exp Med 2019; 216:1154-1169. [PMID: 30962246 PMCID: PMC6504211 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy and uncomplicated lupus pregnancies exhibit early and sustained transcriptional modulation of lupus-related pathways. This might contribute to fetal tolerance while predisposing pregnant women to certain infections. Failure to modulate these pathways is associated with lupus pregnancy complications. Systemic lupus erythematosus carries an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and fetal adverse outcomes. To identify the underlying molecular mechanisms, we longitudinally profiled the blood transcriptome of 92 lupus patients and 43 healthy women during pregnancy and postpartum and performed multicolor flow cytometry in a subset of them. We also profiled 25 healthy women undergoing assisted reproductive technology to monitor transcriptional changes around embryo implantation. Sustained down-regulation of multiple immune signatures, including interferon and plasma cells, was observed during healthy pregnancy. These changes appeared early after embryo implantation and were mirrored in uncomplicated lupus pregnancies. Patients with preeclampsia displayed early up-regulation of neutrophil signatures that correlated with expansion of immature neutrophils. Lupus pregnancies with fetal complications carried the highest interferon and plasma cell signatures as well as activated CD4+ T cell counts. Thus, blood immunomonitoring reveals that both healthy and uncomplicated lupus pregnancies exhibit early and sustained transcriptional modulation of lupus-related signatures, and a lack thereof associates with adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghee Hong
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
| | - Romain Banchereau
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX.,Oncology Biomarker Development, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Marta M Guerra
- Department of Medicine and Program in Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
| | | | - Jeanine Baisch
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
| | - D Ware Branch
- University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT.,Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - T Flint Porter
- University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT.,Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Allen Sawitzke
- University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Carl A Laskin
- Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jill P Buyon
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Joan Merrill
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Lisa R Sammaritano
- Department of Medicine and Program in Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Michelle Petri
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | - Marina Ohouo
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
| | | | | | - Tae Whan Kim
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
| | - John Nulsen
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | | | | | - Jacob Turner
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
| | | | - Jane E Salmon
- Department of Medicine and Program in Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Virginia Pascual
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.,Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX
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5
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Li H, Cao R, Bai L, Qiao XM, Zhao YQ. Lefty promotes the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells by inhibiting nodal expression. Cell Biol Int 2018; 42:1259-1264. [PMID: 29663570 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Obstetric Department; The Maternity Hospital of DaLian; Dalian 116033 China
| | - Rui Cao
- Gynecology Department; The Maternity Hospital of DaLian; Dalian 116033 China
| | - Liang Bai
- Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Department; The First Affiliated Hospital of DaLian Medical University; Dalian 116023 China
| | - Xin-min Qiao
- Obstetric Department; The Maternity Hospital of DaLian; Dalian 116033 China
| | - Yong-qin Zhao
- Obstetric Department; The Maternity Hospital of DaLian; Dalian 116033 China
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Wei M, Gao Y, Lu B, Jiao Y, Liu X, Cui B, Hu S, Sun L, Mao S, Dong J, Yan L, Chen Z, Zhao Y. FKBP51 regulates decidualization through Ser473 dephosphorylation of AKT. Reproduction 2018; 155:283-295. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Defective decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) has recently been highlighted as an underlying cause of implantation failure. FK-506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) has been shown to participate in the steroid hormone response and the protein kinase B (AKT) regulation process, both of which are important pathways involved in decidualization. The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effects and mechanisms of FKBP51 in the regulation of ESC decidualization. By performing immunohistochemical staining on an endometrial tissue microarray (TMA) derived from normal females, we found that FKBP51 expression was much higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase in ESCs. Primary ESCs were isolated from patients to build an in vitro decidualization model through co-culture with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 8-bromoadenosine (cAMP). SC79, a specific AKT activator in various physiological and pathological conditions, and shRNA-FKBP51 were used to examine the roles of AKT and FKBP51 in decidualization. The Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that FKBP51, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) and prolactin (PRL) expression increased in ESCs treated with MPA + cAMP; meanwhile, the level of p-Ser473 AKT (p-S473 AKT) decreased and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1A) expression increased. Decidualization was inhibited by the AKT activator SC79 and the transfection of FKBP51-shRNA by affecting protein synthesis, cell morphology, cell growth and cell cycle. Furthermore, this inhibition was rescued by FKBP51-cDNA transfection. The results supported that FKBP51 promotes decidualization by reducing the Ser473 phosphorylation levels in AKT.
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Zhang L, Xu C, Hu W, Wu P, Qin C, Zhang J. Anti-inflammatory effects of Lefty-1 in renal tubulointerstitial inflammation via regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Int J Mol Med 2017; 41:1293-1304. [PMID: 29286065 PMCID: PMC5819905 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal tubulointerstitial inflammation has an important role in fibrosis, which is the main pathogenetic alteration associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The left-right determination factor 1 (Lefty-1) gene pleiotropically and biologically regulates transforming growth factor, mitogen-activated protein kinase and other signaling pathways, and is considered to have a potential anti-inflammatory function. However, its role in renal tubulointerstitial inflammation, which is often a long-term consequence of renal fibrosis, is currently unknown. In the present study, the effects of adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Lefty-1 (Ad-Lefty-1-flag) on renal tubulointerstitial inflammation were determined using a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and a rat renal tubular duct epithelial cell line (NRK-52E), which was treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In vivo results indicated that the inflammatory response was increased in UUO mice, as evidenced by the increase in inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Conversely, Lefty-1 significantly reversed the effects of UUO. Furthermore, the results of the in vitro study demonstrated that Lefty-1 significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory marker expression in cultured NRK-52E cells via the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. These results suggested that Lefty-1 may ameliorate renal tubulointerstitial inflammation by suppressing NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicated that Lefty-1 may be considered a potential novel therapeutic agent for inhibiting renal tubulointerstitial inflammation or even reversing the CKD process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Minda Hospital Affiliated to Hubei Institute for Nationalities, Enshi, Hubei 445000, P.R. China
| | - Changgeng Xu
- Department of Urology, Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South of China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, P.R. China
| | - Pin Wu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Cong Qin
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
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LEFTY2 inhibits endometrial receptivity by downregulating Orai1 expression and store-operated Ca 2+ entry. J Mol Med (Berl) 2017; 96:173-182. [PMID: 29230527 PMCID: PMC5778154 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-017-1610-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Early embryo development and endometrial differentiation are initially independent processes, and synchronization, imposed by a limited window of implantation, is critical for reproductive success. A putative negative regulator of endometrial receptivity is LEFTY2, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family. LEFTY2 is highly expressed in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, coinciding with the closure of the window of implantation. Here, we show that flushing of the uterine lumen in mice with recombinant LEFTY2 inhibits the expression of key receptivity genes, including Cox2, Bmp2, and Wnt4, and blocks embryo implantation. In Ishikawa cells, a human endometrial epithelial cell line, LEFTY2 downregulated the expression of calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1, encoded by ORAI1, and inhibited store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Furthermore, LEFTY2 and the Orai1 blockers 2-APB, MRS-1845, as well as YM-58483, inhibited, whereas the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, strongly upregulated COX2, BMP2 and WNT4 expression in decidualizing HESCs. These findings suggest that LEFTY2 closes the implantation window, at least in part, by downregulating Orai1, which in turn limits SOCE and antagonizes expression of Ca2+-sensitive receptivity genes. Key messages •Endometrial receptivity is negatively regulated by LEFTY2. •LEFTY2 inhibits the expression of key murine receptivity genes, including Cox2, Bmp2and Wnt4, and blocks embryo implantation. •LEFTY2 downregulates the expression of Orai1 and inhibits SOCE. •LEFTY2 and the Orai1 blockers 2-APB, MRS-1845, and YM-58483 inhibit COX2, BMP2, and WNT4 expression in endometrial cells. •Targeting LEFTY2 and Orai1 may represent a novel approach for treating unexplained infertility. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00109-017-1610-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Abstract
Decidualization is an intricate biological process where extensive morphological, functional, and genetic changes take place in endometrial stromal cells to support the development of an implanting blastocyst. Deficiencies in decidualization are associated with pregnancy complications and reproductive diseases. Decidualization is coordinately regulated by steroid hormones, growth factors, and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily signaling regulates multifaceted reproductive processes. However, the role of TGFβ signaling in uterine decidualization is poorly understood. Recent studies using the Cre-LoxP strategy have shed new light on the critical role of TGFβ signaling machinery in uterine decidualization. Herein, we focus on reviewing exciting findings from studies using both mouse genetics and in vitro cultured human endometrial stromal cells. We also delve into emerging mechanisms that underlie decidualization, such as non-coding RNAs and epigenetic modifications. We envision that future studies aimed at defining the interrelationship among TGFβ signaling circuitries and their potential interactions with epigenetic modifications/non-coding RNAs during uterine decidualization will open new avenues to treat pregnancy complications associated with decidualization deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Ni
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Qinglei Li
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Zhang L, Zhang J, Xu C, Zhou X, Wang W, Zheng R, Hu W, Wu P. Lefty-1 alleviates TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in NRK-49F cells. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2015; 9:4669-78. [PMID: 26316705 PMCID: PMC4544629 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s86770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation and proliferation are important for fibroblast–myofibroblast transdifferentiation, a crucial process in the pathological changes that define renal interstitial fibrosis. The left–right determination factor (Lefty) is an important cytokine of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family, with two variants, Lefty-1 and Lefty-2, in mice. Lefty has diverse functions, such as the regulation of embryonic development, the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling, and the suppression of tumor activity. However, whether Lefty-1 influences fibroblast activation and proliferation, and consequently prevents fibroblast–myofibroblast transdifferentiation, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether Lefty-1 can attenuate TGF-β1-induced fibroblast–myofibroblast transdifferentiation in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cells (NRK-49F), as well as the mechanisms underlying any effects. Results showed that the typical fibroblast cell morphology of NRK-49F cells was altered after TGF-β1 treatment and that Lefty-1 significantly prevented this change in a dose-dependent manner. Further analyses demonstrated decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1, collagen I(A1), alpha-smooth muscle actin, and fibronectin expression. Lefty-1 further induced remarkable reductions in TGF-β1-induced Smad3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase-10/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK-3) signaling, and enhanced expression of the antifibrotic factor bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-5. However, without TGF-β1, Lefty-1 had no effect on Smad3, JNK-3, and BMP-5 activation and fibroblast–myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Taken together, these findings indicate that Lefty-1 can alleviate TGF-β1-mediated activation and the proliferation of fibroblasts. Furthermore, Lefty-1 may prevent fibroblast–myofibroblast transdifferentiation in part via modulations of Smad3, JNK-3, and BMP-5 activities in the TGF-β/BMP signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Changgeng Xu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangjun Zhou
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Renping Zheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Pin Wu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
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