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Zhan J, Liu S, Meng Y, Yang Q, Wang Z, Zhang S, Ge L, Zhao L, Xu X, Zhao Y, Li X, Wang X. Systematic review of the mechanism and assessment of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia. Pediatr Surg Int 2024; 40:205. [PMID: 39033225 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-024-05778-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study systematically reviewed our team's research on the mechanism and assessment of liver fibrosis in BA, summarized our experience, and discussed the future development direction. METHODS In this study, Pubmed and Wanfang databases were searched to collect the literature published by our team on the mechanisms of liver fibrosis in BA and the assessment of liver fibrosis in BA, and the above research results were systematically reviewed. RESULTS A total of 58 articles were retrieved. Among the included articles, 25 articles related to the mechanism of liver fibrosis in BA, and five articles evaluated liver fibrosis in BA. This article introduces the key pathways and molecules of liver fibrosis in BA and proposes a new grading system for liver fibrosis in BA. CONCLUSIONS The new BA liver fibrosis grading method is expected to assess children's conditions, guide treatment, and improve prognosis more accurately. In addition, we believe that the TGF-β1 signaling pathway is the most important in the study of liver fibrosis in BA, and at the same time, the study of EMT occurrence in BA should also be deepened to resolve the controversy on this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianghua Zhan
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China.
| | - Shaowen Liu
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianhui Yang
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiru Wang
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shujian Zhang
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Liang Ge
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaodan Xu
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Li
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueting Wang
- Tianjin Children's Hospital ("Children's Hospital, Tianjin University"), Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, 238 Longyan Road, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300134, China
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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2
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Youssef KK, Nieto MA. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tissue repair and degeneration. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00733-z. [PMID: 38684869 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00733-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) are the epitome of cell plasticity in embryonic development and cancer; during EMT, epithelial cells undergo dramatic phenotypic changes and become able to migrate to form different tissues or give rise to metastases, respectively. The importance of EMTs in other contexts, such as tissue repair and fibrosis in the adult, has become increasingly recognized and studied. In this Review, we discuss the function of EMT in the adult after tissue damage and compare features of embryonic and adult EMT. Whereas sustained EMT leads to adult tissue degeneration, fibrosis and organ failure, its transient activation, which confers phenotypic and functional plasticity on somatic cells, promotes tissue repair after damage. Understanding the mechanisms and temporal regulation of different EMTs provides insight into how some tissues heal and has the potential to open new therapeutic avenues to promote repair or regeneration of tissue damage that is currently irreversible. We also discuss therapeutic strategies that modulate EMT that hold clinical promise in ameliorating fibrosis, and how precise EMT activation could be harnessed to enhance tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Angela Nieto
- Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
- CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Diwan R, Gaytan SL, Bhatt HN, Pena-Zacarias J, Nurunnabi M. Liver fibrosis pathologies and potentials of RNA based therapeutics modalities. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01551-8. [PMID: 38446352 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01551-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis (LF) occurs when the liver tissue responds to injury or inflammation by producing excessive amounts of scar tissue, known as the extracellular matrix. This buildup stiffens the liver tissue, hinders blood flow, and ultimately impairs liver function. Various factors can trigger this process, including bloodborne pathogens, genetic predisposition, alcohol abuse, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While some existing small-molecule therapies offer limited benefits, there is a pressing need for more effective treatments that can truly cure LF. RNA therapeutics have emerged as a promising approach, as they can potentially downregulate cytokine levels in cells responsible for liver fibrosis. Researchers are actively exploring various RNA-based therapeutics, such as mRNA, siRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, and oligonucleotides, to assess their efficacy in animal models. Furthermore, targeted drug delivery systems hold immense potential in this field. By utilizing lipid nanoparticles, exosomes, nanocomplexes, micelles, and polymeric nanoparticles, researchers aim to deliver therapeutic agents directly to specific biomarkers or cytokines within the fibrotic liver, increasing their effectiveness and reducing side effects. In conclusion, this review highlights the complex nature of liver fibrosis, its underlying causes, and the promising potential of RNA-based therapeutics and targeted delivery systems. Continued research in these areas could lead to the development of more effective and personalized treatment options for LF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimpy Diwan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Samantha Lynn Gaytan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
- Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Himanshu Narendrakumar Bhatt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Jacqueline Pena-Zacarias
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA
| | - Md Nurunnabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
- Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968, USA.
- Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
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4
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Wells RG. Liver fibrosis: Our evolving understanding. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0243. [PMID: 38961878 PMCID: PMC11221862 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000243] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
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Ohm B, Moneke I, Jungraithmayr W. Targeting cluster of differentiation 26 / dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (CD26/DPP4) in organ fibrosis. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:2846-2861. [PMID: 36196001 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cluster of differentiation 26 (CD26)/dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is an exopeptidase that is expressed as a transmembrane protein in many organs but also present in a circulating soluble form. Beyond its enzymatic and costimulatory activity, CD26/DPP4 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic fibrotic diseases across many organ types, such as liver cirrhosis, kidney fibrosis and lung fibrosis. Organ fibrosis is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, and there are no causative therapies that can effectively attenuate the progress of the disease. Growing evidence suggests that inhibiting CD26/DPP4 can modulate the profibrotic tissue microenvironment and thus reduce fibrotic changes within affected organs. This review summarizes the role of CD26/DPP4 in fibroproliferative disorders and highlights new opportunities for an antifibrotic treatment by CD26/DPP4 inhibition. As a major advantage, CD26/DPP4 inhibitors have been in safe and routine clinical use in type 2 diabetes for many years and thus qualify for repurposing to repurpose as a promising therapeutic against fibrosis. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Translational Advances in Fibrosis as a Therapeutic Target. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.22/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte Ohm
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Isabelle Moneke
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Jungraithmayr
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Zheng Q, Li M, Chen L, Zhang C, Zhao Y, Liu G, Yang F, Zhan J. Potential therapeutic target of EGF on bile duct ligation model and biliary atresia children. Pediatr Res 2023; 94:1297-1307. [PMID: 37138025 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02592-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia (BA) is unclear. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a vital role in liver fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the expression of EGF and the mechanisms of its pro-fibrotic effects in BA. METHODS EGF levels in serum and liver samples of BA and non-BA children were detected. Marker proteins of EGF signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver sections were evaluated. Effects of EGF on intrahepatic cells and the underlying mechanisms were explored in vitro. Bile duct ligation (BDL) mice with/without EGF antibody injection were used to verify the effects of EGF on liver fibrosis. RESULTS Serum levels and liver expression of EGF elevated in BA. Phosphorylated EGF receptor (p-EGFR) and extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) increased. In addition, EMT and proliferation of biliary epithelial cells were present in BA liver. In vitro, EGF induced EMT and proliferation of HIBEpic cells and promoted IL-8 expression in L-02 cells by phosphorylating ERK1/2. And EGF activated LX-2 cells. Furthermore, EGF antibody injection reduced p-ERK1/2 levels and alleviated liver fibrosis in BDL mice. CONCLUSION EGF is overexpressed in BA. It aggravates liver fibrosis through EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 pathway, which may be a therapeutic target for BA. IMPACT The exact pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in BA is unknown, severely limiting the advancement of BA treatment strategies. This study revealed that serum and liver tissue levels of EGF were increased in BA, and its expression in liver tissues was correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis. EGF may promote EMT and proliferation of biliary epithelial cells and induce IL-8 overexpression in hepatocytes through EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. EGF can also activate HSCs in vitro. The EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Zheng
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Mengdi Li
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Lingzhi Chen
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Gengxin Liu
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Jianghua Zhan
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China.
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7
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Liu X, Lam K, Zhao H, Sakane S, Kim HY, Eguileor A, Diggle K, Wu S, Gontijo Weber RC, Soroosh P, Hosseini M, Mekeel K, Brenner DA, Kisseleva T. Isolation of primary human liver cells from normal and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis livers. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102391. [PMID: 37405925 PMCID: PMC10345194 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a protocol for isolating human hepatocytes and neural progenitor cells from normal and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis livers. We describe steps for perfusion for scaled-up liver cell isolation and optimization of chemical digestion to achieve maximal yield and cell viability. We then detail a liver cell cryopreservation and potential applications, such as the use of human liver cells as a tool to link experimental and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Kevin Lam
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Huayi Zhao
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sadatsugu Sakane
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hyun Young Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alvaro Eguileor
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karin Diggle
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Raquel Carvalho Gontijo Weber
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pejman Soroosh
- Janssen Pharmaceutical R&D, Immunometabolism Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mojgan Hosseini
- Department of Pathology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kristin Mekeel
- Department of Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David A Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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8
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Lotto J, Stephan TL, Hoodless PA. Fetal liver development and implications for liver disease pathogenesis. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:561-581. [PMID: 37208503 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00775-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic, digestive and homeostatic roles of the liver are dependent on proper crosstalk and organization of hepatic cell lineages. These hepatic cell lineages are derived from their respective progenitors early in organogenesis in a spatiotemporally controlled manner, contributing to the liver's specialized and diverse microarchitecture. Advances in genomics, lineage tracing and microscopy have led to seminal discoveries in the past decade that have elucidated liver cell lineage hierarchies. In particular, single-cell genomics has enabled researchers to explore diversity within the liver, especially early in development when the application of bulk genomics was previously constrained due to the organ's small scale, resulting in low cell numbers. These discoveries have substantially advanced our understanding of cell differentiation trajectories, cell fate decisions, cell lineage plasticity and the signalling microenvironment underlying the formation of the liver. In addition, they have provided insights into the pathogenesis of liver disease and cancer, in which developmental processes participate in disease emergence and regeneration. Future work will focus on the translation of this knowledge to optimize in vitro models of liver development and fine-tune regenerative medicine strategies to treat liver disease. In this Review, we discuss the emergence of hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, advances that have been made in in vitro modelling of liver development and draw parallels between developmental and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Lotto
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tabea L Stephan
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pamela A Hoodless
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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He YH, Pan JX, Xu LM, Gu T, Chen YW. Ductular reaction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: When Macbeth is perverted. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:725-740. [PMID: 37397935 PMCID: PMC10308290 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i6.725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases defined as a disease spectrum comprising hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatic carcinoma. NASH, characterized by hepatocyte injury, steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, is associated with NAFLD prognosis. Ductular reaction (DR) is a common compensatory reaction associated with liver injury, which involves the hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), hepatic stellate cells, myofibroblasts, inflammatory cells (such as macrophages), and their secreted substances. Recently, several studies have shown that the extent of DR parallels the stage of NASH and fibrosis. This review summarizes previous research on the correlation between DR and NASH, the potential interplay mechanism driving HPC differentiation, and NASH progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Huan He
- Department of Gastroenterology and Department of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jia-Xing Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lei-Ming Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ting Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yuan-Wen Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Department of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
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Ying F, Chan MSM, Lee TKW. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:985-999. [PMID: 36708970 PMCID: PMC10040968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) includes hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with poor prognosis. PLC is characterized by an abundant stromal reaction in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major stromal components. Solid evidence has demonstrated the crucial role of CAFs in tumor progression, and CAF abundance is often correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Although CAFs are regarded as an attractive and promising target for PLC treatment, a poor understanding of CAF origins and heterogeneity and a lack of specific CAF markers are the major hurdles to efficient CAF-specific therapy. In this review, we examine recent advances in the understanding of CAF diversity in the context of biomarkers, subtypes, and functions in PLC. The regulatory roles of CAFs in extracellular matrix remodeling, metastasis, cancer stemness, and therapeutic resistance are summarized. With an increasing link between CAF abundance and reduced antitumor immune responses, we provide updated knowledge on the crosstalk between CAFs and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, which leads to immune resistance. In addition, we present current CAF-targeted therapies and describe some future perspectives. A better understanding of CAF biology will shed light on a novel therapeutic strategy against PLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Ying
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Mandy Sze Man Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
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Dong BS, Liu FQ, Yang WN, Li XD, Shi MJ, Li MR, Yan XL, Zhang H. Huangqi Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells by regulating the long noncoding RNA-C18orf26-1/microRNA-663a/transforming growth factor-β axis. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 21:47-61. [PMID: 36456413 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used as a valid treatment for alleviating liver fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Although our previous studies showed that microRNA-663a (miR-663a) suppresses the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the transforming growth factor-β/small mothers against decapentaplegic (TGF-β/Smad) pathway, whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in HSC activation via the miR-663a/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway has not yet reported. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNA lnc-C18orf26-1 in the activation of HSCs and the mechanism by which HQD inhibits hepatic fibrosis. METHODS The expression levels of lnc-C18orf26-1, miR-663a and related genes were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HSCs were transfected with the miR-663a mimic or inhibitor and lnc-C18orf26-1 small interfering RNAs. The water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay was used to assess the proliferation rate of HSCs. Changes in lncRNA expression were evaluated in miR-663a-overexpressing HSCs by using microarray to identify miR-663a-regulated lncRNAs. RNA hybrid was used to predict the potential miR-663a binding sites on lncRNAs. Luciferase reporter assays further confirmed the interaction between miR-663a and the lncRNA. The expression levels of collagen α-2(I) chain (COL1A2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins were determined using Western blotting. RESULTS Lnc-C18orf26-1 was upregulated in TGF-β1-activated HSCs and competitively bound to miR-663a. Knockdown of lnc-C18orf26-1 inhibited HSC proliferation and activation, downregulated TGF-β1-stimulated α-SMA and COL1A2 expression, and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. HQD suppressed the proliferation and activation of HSCs. HQD increased miR-663a expression and decreased lnc-C18orf26-1 expression in HSCs. Further studies showed that HQD inhibited the expression of COL1A2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI) and phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) in HSCs, and these effects were reversed by miR-663a inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION Our study identified lnc-C18orf26-1 and miR-663a as promising therapeutic targets for hepatic fibrosis. HQD inhibits HSC proliferation and activation at least partially by regulating the lnc-C18orf26-1/miR-663a/TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/p-Smad2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben-Sheng Dong
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Epigenomics Research Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fu-Qun Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Lishui District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 211299, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen-Na Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Lishui District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 211299, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Miao-Juan Shi
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Epigenomics Research Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mao-Rong Li
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Epigenomics Research Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiu-Li Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Epigenomics Research Center, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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12
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Li B, Wang H, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhou T, Zhou B, Zhang Y, Chen R, Xing J, He L, Salinas JM, Koyama S, Meng F, Wan Y. Current Perspectives of Neuroendocrine Regulation in Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233783. [PMID: 36497043 PMCID: PMC9736734 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a complicated process that involves different cell types and pathological factors. The excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the formation of fibrotic scar disrupt the tissue homeostasis of the liver, eventually leading to cirrhosis and even liver failure. Myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute to the development of liver fibrosis by producing ECM in the area of injuries. It has been reported that the secretion of the neuroendocrine hormone in chronic liver injury is different from a healthy liver. Activated HSCs and cholangiocytes express specific receptors in response to these neuropeptides released from the neuroendocrine system and other neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine hormones and their receptors form a complicated network that regulates hepatic inflammation, which controls the progression of liver fibrosis. This review summarizes neuroendocrine regulation in liver fibrosis from three aspects. The first part describes the mechanisms of liver fibrosis. The second part presents the neuroendocrine sources and neuroendocrine compartments in the liver. The third section discusses the effects of various neuroendocrine factors, such as substance P (SP), melatonin, as well as α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP), on liver fibrosis and the potential therapeutic interventions for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yudian Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Tiejun Zhou
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Bingru Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Rong Chen
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Juan Xing
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Longfei He
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jennifer Mata Salinas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Sachiko Koyama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (Y.W.)
| | - Ying Wan
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (Y.W.)
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13
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Talbott HE, Mascharak S, Griffin M, Wan DC, Longaker MT. Wound healing, fibroblast heterogeneity, and fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1161-1180. [PMID: 35931028 PMCID: PMC9357250 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are highly dynamic cells that play a central role in tissue repair and fibrosis. However, the mechanisms by which they contribute to both physiologic and pathologic states of extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling are just starting to be understood. In this review article, we discuss the current state of knowledge in fibroblast biology and heterogeneity, with a primary focus on the role of fibroblasts in skin wound repair. We also consider emerging techniques in the field, which enable an increasingly nuanced and contextualized understanding of these complex systems, and evaluate limitations of existing methodologies and knowledge. Collectively, this review spotlights a diverse body of research examining an often-overlooked cell type-the fibroblast-and its critical functions in wound repair and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Talbott
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shamik Mascharak
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle Griffin
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Derrick C Wan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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14
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Czaja AJ. Immune Inhibitory Properties and Therapeutic Prospects of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta and Interleukin 10 in Autoimmune Hepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 2022; 67:1163-1186. [PMID: 33835375 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-021-06968-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin 10 have diverse immune inhibitory properties that have restored homeostatic defense mechanisms in experimental models of autoimmune disease. The goals of this review are to describe the actions of each cytokine, review their investigational use in animal models and patients, and indicate their prospects as interventions in autoimmune hepatitis. English abstracts were identified in PubMed by multiple search terms. Full-length articles were selected for review, and secondary and tertiary bibliographies were developed. Transforming growth factor-beta expands the natural and inducible populations of regulatory T cells, limits the proliferation of natural killer cells, suppresses the activation of naïve CD8+ T cells, decreases the production of interferon-gamma, and stimulates fibrotic repair. Interleukin 10 selectively inhibits the CD28 co-stimulatory signal for antigen recognition and impairs antigen-specific activation of uncommitted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. It also inhibits maturation of dendritic cells, suppresses Th17 cells, supports regulatory T cells, and limits production of diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines. Contradictory immune stimulatory effects have been associated with each cytokine and may relate to the dose and accompanying cytokine milieu. Experimental findings have not translated into successful early clinical trials. The recombinant preparation of each agent in low dosage has been safe in human studies. In conclusion, transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin 10 have powerful immune inhibitory actions of potential therapeutic value in autoimmune hepatitis. The keys to their therapeutic application will be to match their predominant non-redundant function with the pivotal pathogenic mechanism or cytokine deficiency and to avoid contradictory immune stimulatory actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Czaja
- Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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15
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Fuji H, Miller G, Nishio T, Koyama Y, Lam K, Zhang V, Loomba R, Brenner D, Kisseleva T. The role of Mesothelin signaling in Portal Fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:790032. [PMID: 34966784 PMCID: PMC8710774 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.790032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis develops in response to chronic toxic or cholestatic injury, and is characterized by apoptosis of damaged hepatocytes, development of inflammatory responses, and activation of Collagen Type I producing myofibroblasts that make liver fibrotic. Two major cell types, Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs) and Portal Fibroblasts (PFs) are the major source of hepatic myofibroblasts. Hepatotoxic liver injury activates Hepatic Stellate Cells (aHSCs) to become myofibroblasts, while cholestatic liver injury activates both aHSCs and Portal Fibroblasts (aPFs). aPFs comprise the major population of myofibroblasts at the onset of cholestatic injury, while aHSCs are increasingly activated with fibrosis progression. Here we summarize our current understanding of the role of aPFs in the pathogenesis of cholestatic fibrosis, their unique features, and outline the potential mechanism of targeting aPFs in fibrotic liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Fuji
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Grant Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Takahiro Nishio
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukinori Koyama
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kevin Lam
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Vivian Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - David Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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16
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Wang C, He Q, Yin Y, Wu Y, Li X. Clonorchis sinensis Granulin Promotes Malignant Transformation of Hepatocyte Through EGFR-Mediated RAS/MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:734750. [PMID: 34858869 PMCID: PMC8631275 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.734750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological functions of growth factor, such as granulins, have been explored in parasites, and we elucidated that Clonorchis sinensis granulin (CsGRN) promoted the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in our previous study. However, it is still unclear for the malignant transformation role of CsGRN in normal human hepatocytes. In this study, by transfecting pEGFP-C1-CsGRN eukaryotic expression plasmid, a cell line with stable overexpression of CsGRN in normal hepatocyte (LO2-GRN cells) was constructed. The effects on cell proliferation were detected by carrying out cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and colony formation assay. Additionally, we conducted flow cytometry analysis to determine whether the proliferation of CsGRN was due to cell cycle arrest. Subsequently, the migration ability and the invasion ability of LO2-GRN cells were evaluated through wound-healing assay and transwell assay. Meanwhile, the levels of the markers of RAS/MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways activation in LO2-GRN cells were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Our results indicated that CsGRN promoted the proliferation of LO2 cells by regulating the expression of cell-cycle-related genes. Moreover, the overexpression of CsGRN regulates malignant metastasis of liver cells by inducing the upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins. Furthermore, both mRNA and protein expression levels of p-EGFR, RAS, p-ERK, p-AKT, p-PI3K, and p-braf have been enhanced by CsGRN. These results showed that CsGRN promoted the malignant transformation of hepatocytes by regulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated RAS/MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, which suggested that CsGRN could serve as a novel oncoprotein during Clonorchis sinensis-associated malignant transformation of hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiqin Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China.,China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, China
| | - Qing He
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China.,China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yingxuan Yin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China.,China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yinjuan Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China.,China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerong Li
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China.,China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, China
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17
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Sun YL, Bai T, Zhou L, Zhu RT, Wang WJ, Liang RP, Li J, Zhang CX, Gou JJ. SOD3 deficiency induces liver fibrosis by promoting hepatic stellate cell activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:4313-4329. [PMID: 33230845 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is suggested to potentially promote HSC activation. Superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) is an extracellular antioxidant defense against oxidative damage. Here, we found downregulation of SOD3 in a mouse model of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ). SOD3 deficiency induced spontaneous liver injury and fibrosis with increased collagen deposition, and further aggravated CCl4 -induced liver injury in mice. Depletion of SOD3 enhanced HSC activation marked by increased α-smooth muscle actin and subsequent collagen synthesis primarily collagen type I in vivo, and promoted transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced HSC activation in vitro. SOD3 deficiency accelerated EMT process in the liver and TGF-β1-induced EMT of AML12 hepatocytes, as evidenced by loss of E-cadherin and gain of N-cadherin and vimentin. Notably, SOD3 expression and its pro-fibrogenic effect were positively associated with sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression. SOD3 deficiency inhibited adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling to downregulate SIRT1 expression and thus involving in liver fibrosis. Enforced expression of SIRT1 inhibited SOD3 deficiency-induced HSC activation and EMT, whereas depletion of SIRT1 counteracted the inhibitory effect of SOD3 in vitro. These findings demonstrate that SOD3 deficiency contributes to liver fibrogenesis by promoting HSC activation and EMT process, and suggest a possibility that SOD3 may function through modulating SIRT1 via the AMPK pathway in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ling Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tao Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Digestive, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rong-Tao Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei-Jie Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruo-Peng Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chi-Xian Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian-Jun Gou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Lab of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
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18
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La Pergola E, Zen Y, Davenport M. Developmental histology of the portal plate in biliary atresia: observations and implications. Pediatr Surg Int 2021; 37:715-721. [PMID: 33646373 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-021-04861-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The key characteristic of biliary atresia (BA) is obliteration of the extrahepatic bile ducts at the level of the porta hepatis. We aimed to relate the immunohistochemical features of remnant biliary ductules at the porta hepatis with clinical features and outcomes. METHODS Samples were immunostained with anti-cytokeratin 20 (CK20), vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (aSMA). Primary outcome was set as clearance of jaundice (bilirubin ≤ 20 μmol/L) following Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). RESULTS Eighty-two cases were classified into syndromic BA (n = 10), cystic BA (n = 7), CMV IgM+ BA (n = 9) and isolated BA (n = 56). CK20 expression was confirmed in 40/82 (49%), and vimentin expression in 19/82 (23%). aSMA was negative in all cases studied. CK20 expression was less common in isolated BA (n = 20/56, 36%) compared to CMV IgM+ BA (n = 8/9, 89%), cystic BA (n = 7/7, 100%) (isolated BA vs non-isolated BA, P = 0.0008). There was no difference in vimentin expression among the sub-groups (isolated BA vs. non-isolated BA; P = 0.39). CoJ was achieved in 52/82 (63%) overall with significant difference depending simply on sub-group [e.g. syndromic BA 9/10 (90%)]. CK20 expression was associated with a diminished rate of CoJ in the entire cohort [CK20+ 32/56 (57%) vs. CK20- 20/26 (77%); P = 0.04]. By contrast no correlation was observed between vimentin expression and CoJ (P = 0.13). CONCLUSION CK20+ expression was associated with reduced clearance of jaundice in BA and a trend towards reduced native liver survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico La Pergola
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Yoh Zen
- Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Mark Davenport
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
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19
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The Emerging Role of Immunotherapy in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050422. [PMID: 33922362 PMCID: PMC8146949 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancer, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) in particular, represents a rather uncommon, highly aggressive malignancy with unfavorable prognosis. Therapeutic options remain scarce, with platinum-based chemotherapy is being considered as the gold standard for the management of advanced disease. Comprehensive molecular profiling of tumor tissue biopsies, utilizing multi-omics approaches, enabled the identification of iCC’s intratumor heterogeneity and paved the way for the introduction of novel targeted therapies under the scope of precision medicine. Yet, the unmet need for optimal care of patients with chemo-refractory disease or without targetable mutations still exists. Immunotherapy has provided a paradigm shift in cancer care over the past decade. Currently, immunotherapeutic strategies for the management of iCC are under intense research. Intrinsic factors of the tumor, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and mismatch repair (MMR) status, are simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg with regard to resistance to immunotherapy. Acknowledging the significance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in both cancer growth and drug response, we broadly discuss about its diverse immune components. We further review the emerging role of immunotherapy in this rare disease, summarizing the results of completed and ongoing phase I–III clinical trials, expounding current challenges and future directions.
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20
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Kisseleva T, Brenner D. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of liver fibrosis and its regression. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 18:151-166. [PMID: 33128017 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-020-00372-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 740] [Impact Index Per Article: 246.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver injury leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis, through which activated myofibroblasts in the liver secrete extracellular matrix proteins that generate the fibrous scar. The primary source of these myofibroblasts are the resident hepatic stellate cells. Clinical and experimental liver fibrosis regresses when the causative agent is removed, which is associated with the elimination of these activated myofibroblasts and resorption of the fibrous scar. Understanding the mechanisms of liver fibrosis regression could identify new therapeutic targets to treat liver fibrosis. This Review summarizes studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying the reversibility of liver fibrosis, including apoptosis and the inactivation of hepatic stellate cells, the crosstalk between the liver and the systems that orchestrate the recruitment of bone marrow-derived macrophages (and other inflammatory cells) driving fibrosis resolution, and the interactions between various cell types that lead to the intracellular signalling that induces fibrosis or its regression. We also discuss strategies to target hepatic myofibroblasts (for example, via apoptosis or inactivation) and the myeloid cells that degrade the matrix (for example, via their recruitment to fibrotic liver) to facilitate fibrosis resolution and liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - David Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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21
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Fabris L, Sato K, Alpini G, Strazzabosco M. The Tumor Microenvironment in Cholangiocarcinoma Progression. Hepatology 2021; 73 Suppl 1:75-85. [PMID: 32500550 PMCID: PMC7714713 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy of the biliary tree. A typical hallmark of CCA is that cancer cells are embedded into a dense stroma containing fibrogenic cells, lymphatics and a variety of immune cells. Functional roles of the reactive tumor stroma are not fully elucidated; however, recent studies suggest that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in the progression and invasiveness of CCA. CCA cells exchange autocrine/paracrine signals with other cancer cells and the infiltrating cell types that populate the microenvironment. This crosstalk is under the control of signals mediated by various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. In addition, extracellular vesicles (EVs), exosomes and microvesicles, containing cargo mediators, such as proteins and RNAs, play a key role in cell-to-cell communication, and particularly in epigenetic regulation thanks to their content in miRNAs. Both cytokine- and EV-mediated communications between CCA cells and other liver cells provide a potential novel target for the management of CCA. This review summarizes current understandings of the tumor microenvironment and intercellular communications in CCA and their role in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy,Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN,Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Correspondence: Mario Strazzabosco MD, PhD, Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,
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22
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Chang Y, Li H. Hepatic Antifibrotic Pharmacotherapy: Are We Approaching Success? J Clin Transl Hepatol 2020; 8:222-229. [PMID: 32832403 PMCID: PMC7438353 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2020.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence rate and mortality of liver fibrosis caused by various etiologies are high throughout the world. Liver fibrosis, the subsequent cirrhosis and other serious related complications threaten the health of patients and represent a serious medical burden; yet, there is still a lack of approved methods to prevent or reverse liver fibrosis. Therefore, effective hepatic antifibrotic drugs are urgently needed. The activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells are still the mechanisms of fibrosis that remain the focus of therapeutic research. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development and applicability of antifibrosis drugs. In this review, we summarize the effectiveness and safety of available antifibrosis drugs utilizing different targets. In addition, some characteristics of antifibrosis drugs in phase II and III trials are introduced in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatic Fibrosis and Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Tianjin, China
| | - Hai Li
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatic Fibrosis and Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Tianjin, China
- Correspondence to: Hai Li, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Xiqing Hospital, No. 403 Xiqing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300380, China. Tel: +86-22- 60578765, Fax: +86-22-24370605, E-mail:
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23
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Chen Y, Fan Y, Guo DY, Xu B, Shi XY, Li JT, Duan LF. Study on the relationship between hepatic fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in intrahepatic cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 129:110413. [PMID: 32570119 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a pathophysiological process, which causes excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition resulting from persistent liver damage. Myofibroblasts are the core cells that produce ECM. It is known that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is not a simple transition of cells from the epithelial to mesenchymal state. Instead, it is a process, in which epithelial cells temporarily lose cell polarity, transform into interstitial cell-like morphology, and acquire migration ability. Hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and bile duct cells are the types of intrahepatic cells found in the liver. They can be transformed into myofibroblasts via EMT and play important roles in the development of hepatic fibrosis through a maze of regulations involving various pathways. The aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between the relevant regulatory factors and the EMT signaling pathways in the various intrahepatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- The Basic Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China.
| | - Yu Fan
- The Basic Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China; Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Basic and New Herbal Medicament Research, Xianyang 712046, China.
| | - Dong-Yan Guo
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Basic and New Herbal Medicament Research, Xianyang 712046, China.
| | - Bing Xu
- The Medical Technical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China.
| | - Xiao-Yan Shi
- The Basic Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China.
| | - Jing-Tao Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712000, China.
| | - Li-Fang Duan
- The Basic Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China.
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24
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Li M, Jiang M, Meng J, Tao L. Exosomes: Carriers of Pro-Fibrotic Signals and Therapeutic Targets in Fibrosis. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4496-4509. [PMID: 31814552 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191209161443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that are released by a variety of cells. Exosomes contain cargo from cells they derived, including lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. The bilayer lipid membrane structure of exosomes protects these contents from degradation, allowing them for intercellular communication. The role of exosomes in fibrotic diseases is increasingly being valued. Exosomes, as carriers of profibrotic signals, are involved in the development of fibrotic diseases, and also regulate fibrosis by transmitting signals that inhibit fibrosis or inflammation. Exosomes mobilize and activate a range of effector cells by targeted delivery of bioactive information. Exosomes can also reflect the condition of cells, tissues and organisms, and thus become potential biomarkers of fibrotic diseases. Exosomes from bone marrow stem cells support biological signaling that regulates and inhibits fibrosis and thus initially used in the treatment of fibrotic diseases. This article briefly summarizes the role of exosomes in the pathogenesis and treatment of fibrotic diseases and raises some issues that remain to be resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Organ Fibrosis Research Center, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mao Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Organ Fibrosis Research Center, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Meng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Organ Fibrosis Research Center, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lijian Tao
- Organ Fibrosis Research Center, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 932 Lushans Rd, Yuela, Changsha, Hunan, China
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25
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The Vascular Involvement in Soft Tissue Fibrosis-Lessons Learned from Pathological Scarring. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072542. [PMID: 32268503 PMCID: PMC7177855 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue fibrosis in important organs such as the heart, liver, lung, and kidney is a serious pathological process that is characterized by excessive connective tissue deposition. It is the result of chronic but progressive accumulation of fibroblasts and their production of extracellular matrix components such as collagens. Research on pathological scars, namely, hypertrophic scars and keloids, may provide important clues about the mechanisms that drive soft tissue fibrosis, in particular the vascular involvement. This is because these dermal fibrotic lesions bear all of the fibrotic characteristics seen in soft tissue fibrosis. Moreover, their location on the skin surface means they are readily observable and directly treatable and therefore more accessible to research. We will focus here on the roles that blood vessel-associated cells play in cutaneous scar pathology and assess from the literature whether these cells also contribute to other soft tissue fibroses. These cells include endothelial cells, which not only exhibit aberrant functions but also differentiate into mesenchymal cells in pathological scars. They also include pericytes, hepatic stellate cells, fibrocytes, and myofibroblasts. This article will review with broad strokes the roles that these cells play in the pathophysiology of different soft tissue fibroses. We hope that this brief but wide-ranging overview of the vascular involvement in fibrosis pathophysiology will aid research into the mechanisms underlying fibrosis and that this will eventually lead to the development of interventions that can prevent, reduce, or even reverse fibrosis formation and/or progression.
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26
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Roehlen N, Crouchet E, Baumert TF. Liver Fibrosis: Mechanistic Concepts and Therapeutic Perspectives. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040875. [PMID: 32260126 PMCID: PMC7226751 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 515] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis due to viral or metabolic chronic liver diseases is a major challenge of global health. Correlating with liver disease progression, fibrosis is a key factor for liver disease outcome and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite different mechanism of primary liver injury and disease-specific cell responses, the progression of fibrotic liver disease follows shared patterns across the main liver disease etiologies. Scientific discoveries within the last decade have transformed the understanding of the mechanisms of liver fibrosis. Removal or elimination of the causative agent such as control or cure of viral infection has shown that liver fibrosis is reversible. However, reversal often occurs too slowly or too infrequent to avoid life-threatening complications particularly in advanced fibrosis. Thus, there is a huge unmet medical need for anti-fibrotic therapies to prevent liver disease progression and HCC development. However, while many anti-fibrotic candidate agents have shown robust effects in experimental animal models, their anti-fibrotic effects in clinical trials have been limited or absent. Thus, no approved therapy exists for liver fibrosis. In this review we summarize cellular drivers and molecular mechanisms of fibrogenesis in chronic liver diseases and discuss their impact for the development of urgently needed anti-fibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Roehlen
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Emilie Crouchet
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; (N.R.); (E.C.)
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques U1110, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle Hepato-digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-366853703
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27
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Pu W, Han X, He L, Li Y, Huang X, Zhang M, Lv Z, Yu W, Wang QD, Cai D, Wang J, Sun R, Fei J, Ji Y, Nie Y, Zhou B. A genetic system for tissue-specific inhibition of cell proliferation. Development 2020; 147:dev.183830. [PMID: 31988189 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cellular proliferation is a basic process during organ development, tissue homeostasis and disease progression. Likewise, after injury typically multiple cell lineages respond to various cues and proliferate to initiate repair and/or remodeling of the injured tissue. Unravelling the specific role of proliferation of one cell type and its lineage in the context of the whole organism during tissue regeneration and/or disease progression would provide valuable information on these processes. Here, we report a new genetic system that allows cell proliferation to be inhibited in a tissue-specific manner. We generated Cre- or Dre-inducible p21-GFP (ip21-GFP) transgenic mice that enable experimentally induced permanent cell cycle arrest of specific cell lineages of interest, while genetically marking these cells. This system allows for the inhibition of pathogenic cell proliferation. We found that cardiac fibroblast proliferation inhibition significantly reduced scar formation, and promoted neovascularization and cardiomyocyte survival. Additionally, we found that inhibition of one type of cell proliferation (namely, hepatocytes) induces the lineage conversion of another type cells (i.e. ductal cells) during tissue regeneration. These results validate the use of ip21-GFP mice as a new genetic tool for cell lineage-specific inhibition of cell proliferation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Pu
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ximeng Han
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lingjuan He
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiuzhen Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zan Lv
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qing-Dong Wang
- Bioscience Cardiovascular, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
| | - Dongqing Cai
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc. (SMOC), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ruilin Sun
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc. (SMOC), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc. (SMOC), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yong Ji
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China.,Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 10037, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence on Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China .,Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,The Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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28
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LeBleu VS, Neilson EG. Origin and functional heterogeneity of fibroblasts. FASEB J 2020; 34:3519-3536. [PMID: 32037627 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201903188r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The inherent plasticity and resiliency of fibroblasts make this cell type a conventional tool for basic research. But where do they come from, are all fibroblasts the same, and how do they function in disease? The first fibroblast lineages in mammalian development emerge from the ooze of primary mesenchyme during gastrulation. They are cells that efficiently create and negotiate the extracellular matrix of the mesoderm in order to migrate and meet their developmental fate. Mature fibroblasts in epithelial tissues live in the interstitial spaces between basement membranes that spatially delimit complex organ structures. While the function of resident fibroblasts in healthy tissues is largely conjecture, the accumulation of fibroblasts in pathologic lesions offers insight into biologic mechanisms that control their function; fibroblasts are poised to coordinate fibrogenesis in tissue injury, neoplasia, and aging. Here, we examine the developmental origin and plasticity of fibroblasts, their molecular and functional definitions, the epigenetic control underlying their identity and activation, and the evolution of their immune regulatory functions. These topics are reviewed through the lens of fate mapping using genetically engineered mouse models and from the perspective of single-cell RNA sequencing. Recent observations suggest dynamic and heterogeneous functions for fibroblasts that underscore their complex molecular signatures and utility in injured tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie S LeBleu
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eric G Neilson
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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29
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Dhar D, Baglieri J, Kisseleva T, Brenner DA. Mechanisms of liver fibrosis and its role in liver cancer. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020; 245:96-108. [PMID: 31924111 PMCID: PMC7016420 DOI: 10.1177/1535370219898141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrogenesis is a pathophysiological outcome of chronic liver injury hallmarked by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Fibrosis is a dynamic process that involves cross-talk between parenchymal cells (hepatocytes), hepatic stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells and both resident and infiltrating immune cells. In this review, we focus on key cell-types that contribute to liver fibrosis, cytokines, and chemokines influencing this process and what it takes for fibrosis to regress. We discuss how mitochondria and metabolic changes in hepatic stellate cells modulate the fibrogenic process. We also briefly review how the presence of fibrosis affects development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Dhar
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jacopo Baglieri
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - David A Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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30
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Oncostatin M, A Profibrogenic Mediator Overexpressed in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Stimulates Migration of Hepatic Myofibroblasts. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010028. [PMID: 31861914 PMCID: PMC7017087 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic myofibroblasts (MFs) can originate from hepatic stellate cells, portal fibroblasts, or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and can migrate towards the site of injury by aligning with nascent and established fibrotic septa in response to several mediators. Oncostatin M (OSM) is known to orchestrate hypoxia-modulated hepatic processes involving the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). METHODS In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to analyze the expression of OSM and OSM-receptor (OSMR) in three murine models of non-alcoholic-fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and -steatohepatitis (NASH) and in human NASH patients as well as the action of OSM on phenotypic responses of human MFs. RESULTS Hepatic OSM and OSMR levels were overexpressed in three murine NASH models and in NASH patients. OSM stimulates migration in human MFs by involving early intracellular ROS generation and activation of Ras/Erk, JNK1/2, PI3K/Akt as well as STAT1/STAT3 pathways and HIF-1α. OSM-dependent migration relies on a biphasic mechanism requiring early intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and late HIF1-dependent expression and release of VEGF. CONCLUSION OSM is overexpressed in experimental and human progressive NAFLD and can act as a profibrogenic factor by directly stimulating migration of hepatic MFs.
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31
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Kim JY, Park JH, Kim K, Leem J, Park KK. Melatonin Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in AML12 Hepatocytes. BIOLOGY 2019; 8:biology8040084. [PMID: 31717992 PMCID: PMC6956139 DOI: 10.3390/biology8040084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies showed that melatonin, a well-known pineal hormone that modulates the circadian rhythm, exerts beneficial effects against liver fibrosis. However, mechanisms for its protective action against the fibrotic processes remain incompletely understood. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of the hormone on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in AML12 hepatocytes. Pretreatment with melatonin dose-dependently reversed downregulation of an epithelial marker and upregulation of mesenchymal markers after TGF-β1 stimulation. Additionally, melatonin dose-dependently suppressed an increased phosphorylation of Smad2/3 after TGF-β1 treatment. Besides the canonical Smad signaling pathway, an increase in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 was also dose-dependently attenuated by melatonin. The suppressive effect of the hormone on EMT stimulated by TGF-β1 was not affected by luzindole, an antagonist of melatonin membrane receptors, suggesting that its membrane receptors are not required for the inhibitory action of melatonin. Moreover, melatonin suppressed elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in TGF-β1-treated cells. Finally, TGF-β1-stimulated EMT was also inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Collectively, these results suggest that melatonin prevents TGF-β1-stimulated EMT through suppression of Smad and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascades by deactivating ROS-dependent mechanisms in a membrane receptor-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Yeon Kim
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
| | - Jae-Hyung Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (J.-H.P.); (K.K.)
| | - Kiryeong Kim
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Korea; (J.-H.P.); (K.K.)
| | - Jaechan Leem
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
- Correspondence:
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
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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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A critical role of autophagy in regulating the mesenchymal transition of ductular cells in liver cirrhosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10673. [PMID: 31337842 PMCID: PMC6650611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46764-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies have shown that autophagy mediates the link between ductular reaction (DR) and liver cirrhosis. Whether the subsequent fibrogenic response is regulated by increased autophagy in DR remains unclear. Here, using both human liver specimens and a rat model of liver cirrhosis induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), we explored the involvement of autophagy in regulating mesenchymal transition of ductular cells. Ductular cells from AAF/CCL4 livers exhibited increased autophagy compared to those of normal livers. These cells showed morphological and functional characteristics of mesenchymal cells. Blocking autophagy using bafilomycin A1 or siRNA targeting ATG7 reduced the expression of mesenchymal markers in these ductular cells from AAF/CCL4 livers, indicating a role for autophagy in regulating the mesenchymal phenotype of ductular cells. Furthermore, we show that the mesenchymal transition in DR requires the activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in an autophagy-dependent manner. Importantly, in cirrhotic human livers, ductular cells that are positive for LC3B also showed increased expression of TGF-β and fibroblast-specific protein-1. Our data suggest activation of autophagy in ductular cells, and also demonstrate that it is required for the mesenchymal transition during the DR, processes that are critically involved in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis.
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Almalé L, García-Álvaro M, Martínez-Palacián A, García-Bravo M, Lazcanoiturburu N, Addante A, Roncero C, Sanz J, de la O López M, Bragado P, Mikulits W, Factor VM, Thorgeirsson SS, Casal JI, Segovia JC, Rial E, Fabregat I, Herrera B, Sánchez A. c-Met Signaling Is Essential for Mouse Adult Liver Progenitor Cells Expansion After Transforming Growth Factor-β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Regulates Cell Phenotypic Switch. Stem Cells 2019; 37:1108-1118. [PMID: 31108004 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Adult hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs)/oval cells are bipotential progenitors that participate in liver repair responses upon chronic injury. Recent findings highlight HPCs plasticity and importance of the HPCs niche signals to determine their fate during the regenerative process, favoring either fibrogenesis or damage resolution. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are among the key signals involved in liver regeneration and as component of HPCs niche regulates HPCs biology. Here, we characterize the TGF-β-triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) response in oval cells, its effects on cell fate in vivo, and the regulatory effect of the HGF/c-Met signaling. Our data show that chronic treatment with TGF-β triggers a partial EMT in oval cells based on coexpression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. The phenotypic and functional profiling indicates that TGF-β-induced EMT is not associated with stemness but rather represents a step forward along hepatic lineage. This phenotypic transition confers advantageous traits to HPCs including survival, migratory/invasive and metabolic benefit, overall enhancing the regenerative potential of oval cells upon transplantation into a carbon tetrachloride-damaged liver. We further uncover a key contribution of the HGF/c-Met pathway to modulate the TGF-β-mediated EMT response. It allows oval cells expansion after EMT by controlling oxidative stress and apoptosis, likely via Twist regulation, and it counterbalances EMT by maintaining epithelial properties. Our work provides evidence that a coordinated and balanced action of TGF-β and HGF are critical for achievement of the optimal regenerative potential of HPCs, opening new therapeutic perspectives. Stem Cells 2019;37:1108-1118.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Almalé
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María García-Álvaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adoración Martínez-Palacián
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María García-Bravo
- Cell Differentiation and Cytometry Unit, Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.,Advanced Therapies Mixed Unit, CIEMAT/IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Lazcanoiturburu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Annalisa Addante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesáreo Roncero
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Sanz
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María de la O López
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Bragado
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentina M Factor
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Snorri S Thorgeirsson
- Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - J Ignacio Casal
- Department of Functional Proteomics, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - José-Carlos Segovia
- Cell Differentiation and Cytometry Unit, Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.,Advanced Therapies Mixed Unit, CIEMAT/IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rial
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca Herrera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Sánchez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
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Fabris L, Perugorria MJ, Mertens J, Björkström NK, Cramer T, Lleo A, Solinas A, Sänger H, Lukacs-Kornek V, Moncsek A, Siebenhüner A, Strazzabosco M. The tumour microenvironment and immune milieu of cholangiocarcinoma. Liver Int 2019; 39 Suppl 1:63-78. [PMID: 30907492 PMCID: PMC10878127 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumour microenvironment is a complex, multicellular functional compartment that, particularly when assembled as an abundant desmoplastic reaction, may profoundly affect the proliferative and invasive abilities of epithelial cancer cells. Tumour microenvironment comprises not only stromal cells, mainly cancer-associated fibroblasts, but also immune cells of both the innate and adaptive system (tumour-associated macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and T and B lymphocytes), and endothelial cells. This results in an intricate web of mutual communications regulated by an extensively remodelled extracellular matrix, where the tumour cells are centrally engaged. In this regard, cholangiocarcinoma, in particular the intrahepatic variant, has become the focus of mounting interest in the last years, largely because of the lack of effective therapies despite its rising incidence and high mortality rates worldwide. On the other hand, recent studies in pancreatic cancer, which similarly to cholangiocarcinoma, is highly desmoplastic, have argued against a tumour-promoting function of the tumour microenvironment. In this review, we will discuss recent developments concerning the role of each cellular population and their multifaceted interplay with the malignant biliary epithelial counterpart. We ultimately hope to provide the working knowledge on how their manipulation may lead to a therapeutic gain in cholangiocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - María Jesús Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute – Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastián, Spain
- National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Joachim Mertens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Niklas K. Björkström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thorsten Cramer
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- ESCAM – European Surgery Center Aachen Maastricht, Germany and The Netherlands
- NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Lleo
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano (MI), Italy. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
| | - Antonio Solinas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Hanna Sänger
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veronika Lukacs-Kornek
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany
| | - Anja Moncsek
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Siebenhüner
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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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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The Role of Fibrosis and Liver-Associated Fibroblasts in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019. [PMID: 30959975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071723.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and lacks effective therapeutic approaches. Most HCC develops in the setting of chronic liver injury, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key players in liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis, respectively. CAFs, which probably derive from HSCs, activate into extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing myofibroblasts and crosstalk with cancer cells to affect tumor growth and invasion. In this review, we describe the different components which form the HCC premalignant microenvironment (PME) and the tumor microenvironment (TME), focusing on the liver fibrosis process and the biology of CAFs. We will describe the CAF-dependent mechanisms which have been suggested to promote hepatocarcinogenesis, such as the alteration of ECM, CAF-dependent production of cytokines and angiogenic factors, CAF-dependent reduction of immuno-surveillance, and CAF-dependent promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). New knowledge of the fibrosis process and the role of CAFs in HCC may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for liver cancer.
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Baglieri J, Brenner DA, Kisseleva T. The Role of Fibrosis and Liver-Associated Fibroblasts in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20071723. [PMID: 30959975 PMCID: PMC6479943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and lacks effective therapeutic approaches. Most HCC develops in the setting of chronic liver injury, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key players in liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis, respectively. CAFs, which probably derive from HSCs, activate into extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing myofibroblasts and crosstalk with cancer cells to affect tumor growth and invasion. In this review, we describe the different components which form the HCC premalignant microenvironment (PME) and the tumor microenvironment (TME), focusing on the liver fibrosis process and the biology of CAFs. We will describe the CAF-dependent mechanisms which have been suggested to promote hepatocarcinogenesis, such as the alteration of ECM, CAF-dependent production of cytokines and angiogenic factors, CAF-dependent reduction of immuno-surveillance, and CAF-dependent promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). New knowledge of the fibrosis process and the role of CAFs in HCC may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Baglieri
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - David A Brenner
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Freund E, Liedtke KR, van der Linde J, Metelmann HR, Heidecke CD, Partecke LI, Bekeschus S. Physical plasma-treated saline promotes an immunogenic phenotype in CT26 colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 2019; 9:634. [PMID: 30679720 PMCID: PMC6345938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37169-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death. Current options in palliation such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) present severe side effects. Recent research efforts suggested the therapeutic use of oxidant-enriched liquid using cold physical plasma. To investigate a clinically accepted treatment regimen, we assessed the antitumor capacity of plasma-treated saline solution. In response to such liquid, CT26 murine colon cancer cells were readily oxidized and showed cell growth with subsequent apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and upregulation of immunogenic cell death (ICD) markers in vitro. This was accompanied by marked morphological changes with re-arrangement of actin fibers and reduced motility. Induction of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype was not observed. Key results were confirmed in MC38 colon and PDA6606 pancreatic cancer cells. Compared to plasma-treated saline, hydrogen peroxide was inferiorly toxic in 3D tumor spheroids but of similar efficacy in 2D models. In vivo, plasma-treated saline decreased tumor burden in Balb/C mice. This was concomitant with elevated numbers of intratumoral macrophages and increased T cell activation following incubation with CT26 cells ex vivo. Being a potential adjuvant for HIPEC therapy, our results suggest oxidizing saline solutions to inactivate colon cancer cells while potentially stimulating antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Freund
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kim Rouven Liedtke
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Julia van der Linde
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans-Robert Metelmann
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Claus-Dieter Heidecke
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lars-Ivo Partecke
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str., 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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Chen L, Brenner DA, Kisseleva T. Combatting Fibrosis: Exosome-Based Therapies in the Regression of Liver Fibrosis. Hepatol Commun 2018; 3:180-192. [PMID: 30766956 PMCID: PMC6357832 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis results from chronic injury and inflammation in the liver and leads to cirrhosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrosis has advanced the prospect of developing therapies for regression of the disease. Resolution of fibrosis requires a reduction of proinflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines, a decrease in extracellular matrix (ECM) protein production, an increase in collagenase activity, and finally, a disappearance of activated myofibroblasts. Exosomes are nanovesicles of endocytic origin secreted by most cell types. They epigenetically reprogram and alter the phenotype of their recipient cells and hold great promise for the reversal of fibrosis. Recent studies have shown that exosomes function as conduits for intercellular transfer and contain all the necessary components to induce resolution of fibrosis, including the ability to (1) inhibit macrophage activation and cytokine secretion, (2) remodel ECM production and decrease fibrous scars, and (3) inactivate hepatic stellate cells, a major myofibroblast population. Here, we discuss the research involving the regression of hepatic fibrosis. We focus on the newly discovered roles of exosomes during fibrogenesis and as a therapy for fibrosis reversal. We also emphasize the novel discoveries of exosome‐based antifibrotic treatments in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Department of Medicine University of California San Diego La Jolla CA
| | - David A Brenner
- Department of Medicine University of California San Diego La Jolla CA
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery University of California San Diego La Jolla CA
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Liver fibrosis: Pathophysiology, pathogenetic targets and clinical issues. Mol Aspects Med 2018; 65:37-55. [PMID: 30213667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 587] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The progression of chronic liver diseases (CLD), irrespective of etiology, involves chronic parenchymal injury, persistent activation of inflammatory response as well as sustained activation of liver fibrogenesis and wound healing response. Liver fibrogenesis, is a dynamic, highly integrated molecular, cellular and tissue process responsible for driving the excess accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components (i.e., liver fibrosis) sustained by an eterogeneous population of hepatic myofibroblasts (MFs). The process of liver fibrogenesis recognizes a number of common and etiology-independent mechanisms and events but it is also significantly influenced by the specific etiology, as also reflected by peculiar morphological patterns of liver fibrosis development. In this review we will analyze the most relevant established and/or emerging pathophysiological issues underlying CLD progression with a focus on the role of critical hepatic cell populations, mechanisms and signaling pathways involved, as they represent potential therapeutic targets, to finally analyze selected and relevant clinical issues.
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Toll-like receptor 4 shRNA attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells in rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 107:1210-1217. [PMID: 30257335 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (IBECs) of the bile duct in liver tissue of patients with hepatolithiasis promoted the development of diseases through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study investigated whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell-wall constituent of gram-negative bacteria, could induce EMT of IBECs and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) had a regulatory role via activating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Snail signaling pathway during this process in vivo. METHODS TLR4 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) adenovirus or negative control shRNA (NC shRNA) adenovirus (1 × 109 plaque-forming unit (PFU), respectively) was injected into the caudal vein of rats. After 96 h, 1 mg/kg LPS was infused retrogradely into the common bile duct for 48 h per rat. The effects of TLR4 shRNA on LPS-induced EMT were determined by evaluating the histopathological changes in IBECs using hematoxylin and eosin staining and the changes in the levels of EMT markers, TLR4, NF-κB p65, pNF-κB p65, and Snail using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Compared with normal saline treatment, a loss of epithelial cell markers (E-cadherin and cytokeratin 7) and a gain of mesenchymal cell markers (N-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase 2) were revealed. The levels of TLR4, NF-κB phosphorylation, and Snail significantly increased after LPS treatment, whereas pretreatment with TLR4 shRNA inhibited the LPS-induced EMT by downregulating the NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS LPS induced the EMT of IBECs by activating TLR4. The RNAi-mediated knockdown of TLR4 suppressed EMT occurrence via downregulating the NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway, implicating TLR4 as a new target for human hepatolithiasis.
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Oh SH, Swiderska-Syn M, Jewell ML, Premont RT, Diehl AM. Liver regeneration requires Yap1-TGFβ-dependent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocytes. J Hepatol 2018; 69:359-367. [PMID: 29758331 PMCID: PMC6349217 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic failure of mechanisms that promote effective regeneration of dead hepatocytes causes replacement of functional hepatic parenchyma with fibrous scar tissue, ultimately resulting in cirrhosis. Therefore, defining and optimizing mechanisms that orchestrate effective regeneration might prevent cirrhosis. We hypothesized that effective regeneration of injured livers requires hepatocytes to evade the growth-inhibitory actions of TGFβ, since TGFβ signaling inhibits mature hepatocyte growth but drives cirrhosis pathogenesis. METHODS Wild-type mice underwent 70% partial hepatectomy (PH); TGFβ expression and signaling were evaluated in intact tissue and primary hepatocytes before, during, and after the period of maximal hepatocyte proliferation that occurs from 24-72 h after PH. To determine the role of Yap1 in regulating TGFβ signaling in hepatocytes, studies were repeated after selectively deleting Yap1 from hepatocytes of Yap1flox/flox mice. RESULTS TGFβ expression and hepatocyte nuclear accumulation of pSmad2 and Yap1 increased in parallel with hepatocyte proliferative activity after PH. Proliferative hepatocytes also upregulated Snai1, a pSmad2 target gene that promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), suppressed epithelial genes, induced myofibroblast markers, and produced collagen 1α1. Deleting Yap1 from hepatocytes blocked their nuclear accumulation of pSmad2 and EMT-like response, as well as their proliferation. CONCLUSION Interactions between the TGFβ and Hippo-Yap signaling pathways stimulate hepatocytes to undergo an EMT-like response that is necessary for them to grow in a TGFβ-enriched microenvironment and regenerate injured livers. LAY SUMMARY The adult liver has an extraordinary ability to regenerate after injury despite the accumulation of scar-forming factors that normally block the proliferation and reduce the survival of residual liver cells. We discovered that liver cells manage to escape these growth-inhibitory influences by transiently becoming more like fibroblasts themselves. They do this by reactivating programs that are known to drive tissue growth during fetal development and in many cancers. Understanding how the liver can control programs that are involved in scarring and cancer may help in the development of new treatments for cirrhosis and liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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The role of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in diseases of the salivary glands. Histochem Cell Biol 2018; 150:133-147. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-018-1680-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Caja L, Dituri F, Mancarella S, Caballero-Diaz D, Moustakas A, Giannelli G, Fabregat I. TGF-β and the Tissue Microenvironment: Relevance in Fibrosis and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018. [PMID: 29701666 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051294.pmid:29701666;pmcid:pmc5983604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a cytokine essential for the induction of the fibrotic response and for the activation of the cancer stroma. Strong evidence suggests that a strong cross-talk exists among TGF-β and the tissue extracellular matrix components. TGF-β is stored in the matrix as part of a large latent complex bound to the latent TGF-β binding protein (LTBP) and matrix binding of latent TGF-β complexes, which is required for an adequate TGF-β function. Once TGF-β is activated, it regulates extracellular matrix remodelling and promotes a fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, which is essential in fibrotic processes. This cytokine also acts on other cell types present in the fibrotic and tumour microenvironment, such as epithelial, endothelial cells or macrophages and it contributes to the cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotype. Furthermore, TGF-β exerts anti-tumour activity by inhibiting the host tumour immunosurveillance. Aim of this review is to update how TGF-β and the tissue microenvironment cooperate to promote the pleiotropic actions that regulate cell responses of different cell types, essential for the development of fibrosis and tumour progression. We discuss recent evidences suggesting the use of TGF-β chemical inhibitors as a new line of defence against fibrotic disorders or cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Caja
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Francesco Dituri
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Serena Mancarella
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Daniel Caballero-Diaz
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran Via de l'Hospitalet, 199, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran Via de l'Hospitalet, 199, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
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Caja L, Dituri F, Mancarella S, Caballero-Diaz D, Moustakas A, Giannelli G, Fabregat I. TGF-β and the Tissue Microenvironment: Relevance in Fibrosis and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051294. [PMID: 29701666 PMCID: PMC5983604 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a cytokine essential for the induction of the fibrotic response and for the activation of the cancer stroma. Strong evidence suggests that a strong cross-talk exists among TGF-β and the tissue extracellular matrix components. TGF-β is stored in the matrix as part of a large latent complex bound to the latent TGF-β binding protein (LTBP) and matrix binding of latent TGF-β complexes, which is required for an adequate TGF-β function. Once TGF-β is activated, it regulates extracellular matrix remodelling and promotes a fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, which is essential in fibrotic processes. This cytokine also acts on other cell types present in the fibrotic and tumour microenvironment, such as epithelial, endothelial cells or macrophages and it contributes to the cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotype. Furthermore, TGF-β exerts anti-tumour activity by inhibiting the host tumour immunosurveillance. Aim of this review is to update how TGF-β and the tissue microenvironment cooperate to promote the pleiotropic actions that regulate cell responses of different cell types, essential for the development of fibrosis and tumour progression. We discuss recent evidences suggesting the use of TGF-β chemical inhibitors as a new line of defence against fibrotic disorders or cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Caja
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Francesco Dituri
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Serena Mancarella
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Daniel Caballero-Diaz
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran Via de l'Hospitalet, 199, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran Via de l'Hospitalet, 199, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
Activation of TGF-β1 initiates a program of temporary collagen accumulation important to wound repair in many organs. However, the outcome of temporary extracellular matrix strengthening all too frequently morphs into progressive fibrosis, contributing to morbidity and mortality worldwide. To avoid this maladaptive outcome, TGF-β1 signaling is regulated at numerous levels and intimately connected to feedback signals that limit accumulation. Here, we examine the current understanding of the core functions of TGF-β1 in promoting collagen accumulation, parallel pathways that promote physiological repair, and pathological triggers that tip the balance toward progressive fibrosis. Implicit in better understanding of these processes is the identification of therapeutic opportunities that will need to be further advanced to limit or reverse organ fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Dean Sheppard
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, and Lung Biology Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Harold A Chapman
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, and Lung Biology Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
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Autocrine transforming growth factor-β/activin A-Smad signaling induces hepatic progenitor cells undergoing partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition states. Biochimie 2018; 148:87-98. [PMID: 29544731 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are a subpopulation of cells which was usually expanded in chronic liver injury and are contributed to liver regeneration through differentiating into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a dynamic process which is important for the progression of liver fibrosis and cancer initiation. This study demonstrated that LE/6 and WB-F344 cells, both of which were HPC derived cell lines, were undergoing partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition states, which was indicated by the co-expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and zona occludin 1), and mesenchymal markers (vimentin, fibronectin, collagen 1and α-SMA). Furthermore, autocrine TGF-β and activin A signaling contributed to the maintenance of partial EMT in HPCs. In addition, Smad signaling, a classic downstream signaling cascade of both TGF-β and activin A, also participated in the partial EMT. These findings revealed the existence of partial EMT states in HPCs and confirmed some partial EMT related autocrine signaling cascades, and may help to further the understanding and explore the functional role of HPCs in the process of hepatic fibrosis and liver cancer initiation.
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Di Carlo SE, Peduto L. The perivascular origin of pathological fibroblasts. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:54-63. [PMID: 29293094 DOI: 10.1172/jci93558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to repair tissues is essential for the survival of organisms. In chronic settings, the failure of the repair process to terminate results in overproduction of collagen, a pathology known as fibrosis, which compromises organ recovery and impairs function. The origin of the collagen-overproducing cell has been debated for years. Here we review recent insights gained from the use of lineage tracing approaches in several organs. The resulting evidence points toward specific subsets of tissue-resident mesenchymal cells, mainly localized in a perivascular position, as the major source for collagen-producing cells after injury. We discuss these findings in view of the functional heterogeneity of mesenchymal cells of the perivascular niche, which have essential vascular, immune, and regenerative functions that need to be preserved for efficient repair.
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Abstract
Fibrosis of the liver is an inherent wound healing response to chronic liver injury. Regeneration of liver epithelium and restoration of normal liver structure were generally involved in this process. Although the liver has a striking capacity to adapt to damage through tissue repair, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix during this process often leads to scar tissue formation and subsequent fibrosis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables a polarized epithelial cell to undergo multiple changes biochemically and to bear a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT plays a critical role in tissue and organ development and embryogenesis. In the liver, it is proposed that epithelial cells can acquire fibroblastic phonotype via EMT and contribute to fibrogenesis. This made EMT a potential target for antifibrotic strategies. Following an original passion, many investigators devote themselves to exploring this mechanism in liver fibrosis. However, as research continues, this hypothesis became highly controversial. The exact contribution of EMT to fibrogenesis was challenged due to the contradictory results from related studies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances regarding EMT in hepatic fibrosis and discussed the potentially involved liver cell types and pathways in order to reach rational and helpful conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangfeng Shi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China,Address for correspondence: Dr. Ning Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai – 200040, People's Republic of China. E-mail:
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