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Wang P, Pan J, Gong S, Zhang Z, Li B. Yes-associated protein inhibition ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice by reducing VDR. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 399:111139. [PMID: 38992766 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) has a wide range of toxic effects, especially causing acute liver injury (ALI), in which rapid compensation for hepatocyte loss ensures liver survival, but proliferation of surviving hepatocytes (known as endoreplication) may imply impaired residual function. Yes-associated protein (YAP) drives hepatocytes to undergo endoreplication and ploidy, the underlying mechanisms of which remain a mystery. In the present study, we uncover during CCl4-mediated ALI accompanied by increased hepatocytes proliferation and YAP activation. Notably, bioinformatics analyses elucidate that hepatic-specific deletion of YAP substantially ameliorated CCl4-induced hepatic proliferation, effectively decreased the vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. Additionally, a mouse model of acute liver injury substantiated that inhibition of YAP could suppress hepatocytes proliferation via VDR. Furthermore, we also disclosed that the VDR agonist nullifies CCl4-induced ALI alleviated by the YAP inhibitor in vivo. Importantly, hepatocytes were isolated from mice, and it was spotlighted that the anti-proliferative impact of the YAP inhibitor was abolished by the activation of VDR within these hepatocytes. Similarly, primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated and it was manifested that YAP inhibitor suppressed HSC activation via VDR during acute liver injury. Our findings further elucidate the YAP's role in ALI and may provide new avenues for protection against CCl4-drived acute liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jinjing Pan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sheyang County People's Hospital, Yancheng, 224300, China
| | - Shiyi Gong
- Deparment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Bingyan Li
- Deparment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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2
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Dai H, Zhu C, Huai Q, Xu W, Zhu J, Zhang X, Zhang X, Sun B, Xu H, Zheng M, Li X, Wang H. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified macrophages ameliorate liver fibrosis in preclinical models. J Hepatol 2024; 80:913-927. [PMID: 38340812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.034] [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] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Treatments directly targeting fibrosis remain limited. Given the unique intrinsic features of macrophages and their capacity to engraft in the liver, we genetically engineered bone marrow-derived macrophages with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to direct their phagocytic activity against hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in multiple mouse models. This study aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of CAR macrophages (CAR-Ms) in mouse models of fibrosis and cirrhosis and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS uPAR expression was studied in patients with fibrosis/cirrhosis and in murine models of liver fibrosis, including mice treated with carbon tetrachloride, a 5-diethoxycarbonyl-1, 4-dihydrocollidine diet, or a high-fat/cholesterol/fructose diet. The safety and efficacy of CAR-Ms were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Adoptive transfer of CAR-Ms resulted in a significant reduction in liver fibrosis and the restoration of function in murine models of liver fibrosis. CAR-Ms modulated the hepatic immune microenvironment to recruit and modify the activation of endogenous immune cells to drive fibrosis regression. These CAR-Ms were able to recruit and present antigens to T cells and mount specific antifibrotic T-cell responses to reduce fibroblasts and liver fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings demonstrate the potential of using macrophages as a platform for CAR technology to provide an effective treatment option for liver fibrosis. CAR-Ms might be developed for treatment of patients with liver fibrosis. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Liver fibrosis is an incurable condition that afflicts millions of people globally. Despite the clear clinical need, therapies for liver fibrosis are limited. Our findings provide the first preclinical evidence that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-macrophages (CAR-Ms) targeting uPAR can attenuate liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We show that macrophages expressing this uPAR CAR exert a direct antifibrotic effect and elicit a specific T-cell response that augments the immune response against liver fibrosis. These findings demonstrate the potential of using CAR-Ms as an effective cell-based therapy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanren Dai
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Huai
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wentao Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jiejie Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xianzheng Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Honghai Xu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Minghua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaolei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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3
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Chen J, Zhang R, Li F, Lin S, Wang J. Integrated analysis and validation of TRIM23/p53 signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells ferroptosis and liver fibrosis. Dig Liver Dis 2024; 56:281-290. [PMID: 37495427 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.07.010] [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] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tripartite motif containing proteins 23(TRIM23) is identified as an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in signal transduction, but its role in liver fibrosis remains unknown. AIMS To investigate the effects and mechanisms of TRIM23 on hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) ferroptosis and liver fibrosis. METHODS We utilized the Gene Expression Omibus database to identify differentially expressed genes and downstream pathways. TRIM23 expression was examined in fibrotic liver tissues. The effects of TRIM23 on HSCs ferroptosis were validated through assessing cell viability, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptotic markers using HSC-T6 cell lines and primary rat HSCs. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to analyze the interactions between TRIM23 and p53. A CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rat model was employed to confirm the in vivo effects. RESULTS TRIM23 expression was positively correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis. Upregulated TRIM23 expression promoted HSCs viability and activation by attenuating ferroptosis. Furthermore, the upregulation of TRIM23 expression significantly enhanced p53 ubiquitination. In contrast, TRIM23 knockdown induced HSCs ferroptosis by regulating p53, leading to the suppression of cell viability and activation. Silencing TRIM23 led to the regression of liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 treatment in vivo. CONCLUSION Our study uncovers a novel mechanism in which TRIM23 inhibits HSCs ferroptosis, promotes cell activation and contributes to liver fibrosis by regulating p53 ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, PR China; Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shengli Lin
- Endoscopy Center and Endoscopy Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China.
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Shanghai, PR China.
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4
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Sharaf-El-Deen S, Soliman S, Brakat R. Evaluation of the antiparasitic and antifibrotic effects of gallic acid on experimental hepatic schistosomiasis mansoni. J Helminthol 2024; 98:e3. [PMID: 38167243 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis afflicts approximately 120 million individuals globally. The hepatic pathology that occurs due to egg-induced granuloma and fibrosis is commonly attributed to this condition. However, there is currently no efficacious treatment available for either of these conditions.Our study aimed to investigate the potential antifibrotic and antiparasitic properties of different doses of gallic acid (GA) in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. In addition, we investigated the outcomes of co-administering it with the standard anti-schistosomiasis treatment, praziquantel (PZQ).In experiment I, Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice were administered GA at doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg. Their effectiveness was evaluated through parasitological (worm and egg loads, granuloma number and diameter), pathological (fibrosis percentage and H-score of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)), and functional (liver enzymes) tests. In experiment II, we investigated the optimal dosage that yielded the best outcomes. This dosage was administered in conjunction with PZQ and was evaluated regarding the parasitological, pathological, functional, and immunological (fibrosis-regulating cytokines) activities.Our findings indicate that the administration of 40 mg/kg GA exhibited the highest level of effectiveness in experiment I. In experiment II, it exhibited lower antiparasitic efficacy in comparison to PZQ. However, it surpassed PZQ in other tests. It showed enhanced outcomes when combined with PZQ.In conclusion, our findings reveal that GA only slightly increased the antischistosomal activity of PZQ. However, it was linked to decreased fibrosis, particularly when administrated with PZQ. Our pilot study identifies GA as a natural antifibrotic agent, which could be administered with PZQ to mitigate the development of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sharaf-El-Deen
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin-el-kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - S Soliman
- Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin-el-kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - R Brakat
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin-el-kom, Menoufia, Egypt
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5
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Wang S, Friedman SL. Found in translation-Fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi0759. [PMID: 37792957 PMCID: PMC10671253 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi0759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a severe form of liver disease that poses a global health threat because of its potential to progress to advanced fibrosis, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recent advances in single-cell methodologies, refined disease models, and genetic and epigenetic insights have provided a nuanced understanding of MASH fibrogenesis, with substantial cellular heterogeneity in MASH livers providing potentially targetable cell-cell interactions and behavior. Unlike fibrogenesis, mechanisms underlying fibrosis regression in MASH are still inadequately understood, although antifibrotic targets have been recently identified. A refined antifibrotic treatment framework could lead to noninvasive assessment and targeted therapies that preserve hepatocellular function and restore the liver's architectural integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
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6
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Cogliati B, Yashaswini CN, Wang S, Sia D, Friedman SL. Friend or foe? The elusive role of hepatic stellate cells in liver cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:647-661. [PMID: 37550577 PMCID: PMC10671228 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00821-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a substantial risk factor for the development and progression of liver cancer, which includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Studies utilizing cell fate mapping and single-cell transcriptomics techniques have identified quiescent perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as the primary source of activated collagen-producing HSCs and liver cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in HCC and liver metastasis, complemented in iCCA by contributions from portal fibroblasts. At the same time, integrative computational analysis of single-cell, single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing data have revealed marked heterogeneity among HSCs and CAFs, with distinct subpopulations displaying unique gene expression signatures and functions. Some of these subpopulations have divergent roles in promoting or inhibiting liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. In this Review, we discuss the dual roles of HSC subpopulations in liver fibrogenesis and their contribution to liver cancer promotion, progression and metastasis. We review the transcriptomic and functional similarities between HSC and CAF subpopulations, highlighting the pathways that either promote or prevent fibrosis and cancer, and the immunological landscape from which these pathways emerge. Insights from ongoing studies will yield novel strategies for developing biomarkers, assessing prognosis and generating new therapies for both HCC and iCCA prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cogliati
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniela Sia
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Affo S, Filliol A, Gores GJ, Schwabe RF. Fibroblasts in liver cancer: functions and therapeutic translation. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:748-759. [PMID: 37385282 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00111-5] [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] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of fibroblasts in the premalignant or malignant liver is a characteristic feature of liver cancer, but has not been therapeutically leveraged despite evidence for pathophysiologically relevant roles in tumour growth. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a largely non-desmoplastic tumour, in which fibroblasts accumulate predominantly in the pre-neoplastic fibrotic liver and regulate the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma development through a balance of tumour-suppressive and tumour-promoting mediators. By contrast, cholangiocarcinoma is desmoplastic, with cancer-associated fibroblasts contributing to tumour growth. Accordingly, restoring the balance from tumour-promoting to tumour-suppressive fibroblasts and mediators might represent a strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma prevention, whereas in cholangiocarcinoma, fibroblasts and their mediators could be leveraged for tumour treatment. Importantly, fibroblast mediators regulating hepatocellular carcinoma development might exert opposite effects on cholangiocarcinoma growth. This Review translates the improved understanding of tumour-specific, location-specific, and stage-specific roles of fibroblasts and their mediators in liver cancer into novel and rational therapeutic concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Affo
- Department of Liver, Digestive System, and Metabolism, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aveline Filliol
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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8
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Trinh VQH, Lee TF, Lemoinne S, Ray KC, Ybanez MD, Tsuchida T, Carter JK, Agudo J, Brown BD, Akat KM, Friedman SL, Lee YA. Hepatic stellate cells maintain liver homeostasis through paracrine neurotrophin-3 signaling that induces hepatocyte proliferation. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadf6696. [PMID: 37253090 PMCID: PMC10367116 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adf6696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Organ size is maintained by the controlled proliferation of distinct cell populations. In the mouse liver, hepatocytes in the midlobular zone that are positive for cyclin D1 (CCND1) repopulate the parenchyma at a constant rate to preserve liver mass. Here, we investigated how hepatocyte proliferation is supported by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), pericytes that are in close proximity to hepatocytes. We used T cells to ablate nearly all HSCs in the murine liver, enabling the unbiased characterization of HSC functions. In the normal liver, complete loss of HSCs persisted for up to 10 weeks and caused a gradual reduction in liver mass and in the number of CCND1+ hepatocytes. We identified neurotrophin-3 (Ntf-3) as an HSC-produced factor that induced the proliferation of midlobular hepatocytes through the activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB). Treating HSC-depleted mice with Ntf-3 restored CCND1+ hepatocytes in the midlobular region and increased liver mass. These findings establish that HSCs form the mitogenic niche for midlobular hepatocytes and identify Ntf-3 as a hepatocyte growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting-Fang Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sara Lemoinne
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin C. Ray
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Maria D. Ybanez
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Takuma Tsuchida
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - James K. Carter
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Judith Agudo
- Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian D. Brown
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kemal M. Akat
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Youngmin A. Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
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9
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Zulaziz N, Chai SJ, Lim KP. The origins, roles and therapies of cancer associated fibroblast in liver cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1151373. [PMID: 37035187 PMCID: PMC10076538 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1151373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. It is often preceded by chronic inflammation such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Different cell types are believed to give rise to liver-specific cancer associated fibroblast (CAF), these include resident fibroblast, hepatic stellate cell, liver cancer cell, hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell and mesenchymal stromal cell. The abundance of fibroblasts has contributed to the cancer progression, immune modulation and treatment resistance in HCC. In this review, we discussed the origins, subtypes and roles of cancer associated fibroblasts in HCC. Their specific roles in shaping the tumor microenvironment, facilitating cancer growth, and modulating different immune cell types to confer a permissive environment for cancer growth. CAF is now an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment, however specific therapeutic development in HCC is still lacking. Hence, we have included preclinical and clinical development of CAF-specific interventions for other cancer types in this review. However, most CAF-specific therapies have resulted in disappointing clinical outcomes, likely due to the difficulties in differentiating CAF from normal fibroblast. A thorough understanding of the characteristics and functionalities of CAF is warranted to further improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-CAF therapies.
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10
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Ramani K, Mavila N, Abeynayake A, Tomasi ML, Wang J, Matsuda M, Seki E. Targeting A-kinase anchoring protein 12 phosphorylation in hepatic stellate cells regulates liver injury and fibrosis in mouse models. eLife 2022; 11:e78430. [PMID: 36193675 PMCID: PMC9531947 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Trans-differentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to activated state potentiates liver fibrosis through release of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, distorting the liver architecture. Since limited antifibrotics are available, pharmacological intervention targeting activated HSCs may be considered for therapy. A-kinase anchoring protein 12 (AKAP12) is a scaffolding protein that directs protein kinases A/C (PKA/PKC) and cyclins to specific locations spatiotemporally controlling their biological effects. It has been shown that AKAP12's scaffolding functions are altered by phosphorylation. In previously published work, observed an association between AKAP12 phosphorylation and HSC activation. In this work, we demonstrate that AKAP12's scaffolding activity toward the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident collagen chaperone, heat-shock protein 47 (HSP47) is strongly inhibited by AKAP12's site-specific phosphorylation in activated HSCs. CRISPR-directed gene editing of AKAP12's phospho-sites restores its scaffolding toward HSP47, inhibiting HSP47's collagen maturation functions, and HSC activation. AKAP12 phospho-editing dramatically inhibits fibrosis, ER stress response, HSC inflammatory signaling, and liver injury in mice. Our overall findings suggest a pro-fibrogenic role of AKAP12 phosphorylation that may be targeted for therapeutic intervention in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Ramani
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
- Applied Cell Biology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Nirmala Mavila
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
- Applied Cell Biology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Aushinie Abeynayake
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Maria Lauda Tomasi
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
- Applied Cell Biology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Jiaohong Wang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Michitaka Matsuda
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Eki Seki
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
- Applied Cell Biology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesUnited States
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11
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Filliol A, Saito Y, Nair A, Dapito DH, Yu LX, Ravichandra A, Bhattacharjee S, Affo S, Fujiwara N, Su H, Sun Q, Savage TM, Wilson-Kanamori JR, Caviglia JM, Chin L, Chen D, Wang X, Caruso S, Kang JK, Amin AD, Wallace S, Dobie R, Yin D, Rodriguez-Fiallos OM, Yin C, Mehal A, Izar B, Friedman RA, Wells RG, Pajvani UB, Hoshida Y, Remotti HE, Arpaia N, Zucman-Rossi J, Karin M, Henderson NC, Tabas I, Schwabe RF. Opposing roles of hepatic stellate cell subpopulations in hepatocarcinogenesis. Nature 2022; 610:356-365. [PMID: 36198802 PMCID: PMC9949942 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05289-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, develops almost exclusively in patients with chronic liver disease and advanced fibrosis1,2. Here we interrogated functions of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main source of liver fibroblasts3, during hepatocarcinogenesis. Genetic depletion, activation or inhibition of HSCs in mouse models of HCC revealed their overall tumour-promoting role. HSCs were enriched in the preneoplastic environment, where they closely interacted with hepatocytes and modulated hepatocarcinogenesis by regulating hepatocyte proliferation and death. Analyses of mouse and human HSC subpopulations by single-cell RNA sequencing together with genetic ablation of subpopulation-enriched mediators revealed dual functions of HSCs in hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatocyte growth factor, enriched in quiescent and cytokine-producing HSCs, protected against hepatocyte death and HCC development. By contrast, type I collagen, enriched in activated myofibroblastic HSCs, promoted proliferation and tumour development through increased stiffness and TAZ activation in pretumoural hepatocytes and through activation of discoidin domain receptor 1 in established tumours. An increased HSC imbalance between cytokine-producing HSCs and myofibroblastic HSCs during liver disease progression was associated with increased HCC risk in patients. In summary, the dynamic shift in HSC subpopulations and their mediators during chronic liver disease is associated with a switch from HCC protection to HCC promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aveline Filliol
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoshinobu Saito
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ajay Nair
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dianne H Dapito
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Le-Xing Yu
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aashreya Ravichandra
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Silvia Affo
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hua Su
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Qiuyan Sun
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas M Savage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - John R Wilson-Kanamori
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jorge M Caviglia
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - LiKang Chin
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA, USA
| | - Dongning Chen
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Caruso
- Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors Laboratory, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jin Ku Kang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amit Dipak Amin
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sebastian Wallace
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ross Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Deqi Yin
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Chuan Yin
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Adam Mehal
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin Izar
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard A Friedman
- Biomedical Informatics Shared Resource, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Utpal B Pajvani
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Helen E Remotti
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Arpaia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors Laboratory, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Michael Karin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ira Tabas
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert F Schwabe
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Kaltenmeier C, Yazdani HO, Handu S, Popp B, Geller D, Tohme S. The Role of Neutrophils as a Driver in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Cancer Growth. Front Immunol 2022; 13:887565. [PMID: 35844608 PMCID: PMC9284204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.887565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system plays an essential role in the response to sterile inflammation and its association with liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). Liver IRI often manifests during times of surgical stress such as cancer surgery or liver transplantation. Following the initiation of liver IRI, stressed hepatocytes release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) which promote the infiltration of innate immune cells which then initiate an inflammatory cascade and cytokine storm. Upon reperfusion, neutrophils are among the first cells that infiltrate the liver. Within the liver, neutrophils play an important role in fueling tissue damage and tumor progression by promoting the metastatic cascade through the formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). NETs are composed of web-like DNA structures containing proteins that are released in response to inflammatory stimuli in the environment. Additionally, NETs can aid in mediating liver IRI, promoting tumor progression, and most recently, in mediating early graft rejection in liver transplantation. In this review we aim to summarize the current knowledge of innate immune cells, with a focus on neutrophils, and their role in mediating IRI in mouse and human diseases, including cancer and transplantation. Moreover, we will investigate the interaction of Neutrophils with varying subtypes of other cells. Furthermore, we will discuss the role and different treatment modalities in targeting Neutrophils and NETs to prevent IRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Kaltenmeier
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hamza O. Yazdani
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sanah Handu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brandon Popp
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, United States
| | - David Geller
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Samer Tohme
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Samer Tohme,
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13
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Optimized Isolation and Characterization of C57BL/6 Mouse Hepatic Stellate Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091379. [PMID: 35563686 PMCID: PMC9102395 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
To obtain meaningful results of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) function, it is crucial to use highly pure HSC populations. Our aim was to optimize HSC isolation from mice livers without exploiting the characteristically transient vitamin A autofluorescence of HSC. HSCs were isolated from C57BL/6 mice using a two-step collagenase digestion and Nycodenz gradient separation followed by CD11b-negative sorting step in order to remove contaminating macrophages and dendritic cells. Isolated cells were analyzed for yield, viability, purity, and potential new markers using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. We obtained a yield of 350,595 ± 100,773 HSC per mouse liver and a viability of isolated cells of 92.4 ± 3.1%. We observed a low macrophage/dendritic cell contamination of 1.22 ± 0.54%. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that CD38 was expressed at the surface of HSC subpopulations and that all expressed intracellular markers specific for HSC in the liver. This isolation method, avoiding fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS), allowed isolation of HSCs with high purity. Further, flow cytometry analysis suggests that CD38 may be a reliable marker of HSCs and may include subpopulations of HSCs without retinoid droplets.
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14
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Kamm DR, McCommis KS. Hepatic stellate cells in physiology and pathology. J Physiol 2022; 600:1825-1837. [PMID: 35307840 PMCID: PMC9012702 DOI: 10.1113/jp281061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) comprise a minor cell population in the liver but serve numerous critical functions in the normal liver and in response to injury. HSCs are primarily known for their activation upon liver injury and for producing the collagen-rich extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. In the absence of liver injury, HSCs reside in a quiescent state, in which their main function appears to be the storage of retinoids or vitamin A-containing metabolites. Less appreciated functions of HSCs include amplifying the hepatic inflammatory response and expressing growth factors that are critical for liver development and both the initiation and termination of liver regeneration. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies have corroborated earlier studies indictaing that HSC activation involves a diverse array of phenotypic alterations and identified unique HSC populations. This review serves to highlight these many functions of HSCs, and to briefly describe the recent genetic tools that will help to thoroughly investigate the role of HSCs in hepatic physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R. Kamm
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Saint Louis University School of Medicine St. Louis MO
| | - Kyle S. McCommis
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Saint Louis University School of Medicine St. Louis MO
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15
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Carter JK, Friedman SL. Hepatic Stellate Cell-Immune Interactions in NASH. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:867940. [PMID: 35757404 PMCID: PMC9218059 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.867940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the dominant cause of liver disease worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more aggressive presentation of NAFLD, is characterized by severe hepatocellular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Chronic inflammation and heightened immune cell activity have emerged as hallmark features of NASH and key drivers of fibrosis through the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular pathways in NASH have highlighted extensive crosstalk between HSCs and hepatic immune populations that strongly influences disease activity. Here, we review these findings, emphasizing the roles of HSCs in liver immunity and inflammation, key cell-cell interactions, and exciting areas for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Carter
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Li T, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhou C, Shi Q, Huang S, Yang C, Chen Y, Bai Y, Xiong B. Liver fibrosis promotes immunity escape but limits the size of liver tumor in a rat orthotopic transplantation model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22846. [PMID: 34819565 PMCID: PMC8613241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02155-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis plays a crucial role in promoting tumor immune escape and tumor aggressiveness for liver cancer. However, an interesting phenomenon is that the tumor size of liver cancer patients with liver fibrosis is smaller than that of patients without liver fibrosis. In this study, 16 SD rats were used to establish orthotopic liver tumor transplantation models with Walker-256 cell lines, respectively on the fibrotic liver (n = 8, LF group) and normal liver (n = 8, control group). MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was used to monitor the size of the tumors. All rats were executed at the third week after modeling, and the immunohistochemical staining was used to reflect the changes in the tumor microenvironment. The results showed that, compared to the control group, the PD-L1 (programmed cell death protein receptor-L1) expression was higher, and the neutrophil infiltration increased while the effector (CD8+) T cell infiltration decreased in the LF group. Additionally, the expression of MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of tumor tissue in the LF group increased. Three weeks after modeling, the size of tumors in the LF group was significantly smaller than that in the control group (382.47 ± 195.06 mm3 vs. 1736.21 ± 657.25 mm3, P < 0.001). Taken together, we concluded that liver fibrosis facilitated tumor immunity escape but limited the expansion of tumor size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqiang Li
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yingliang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chen Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Qin Shi
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Songjiang Huang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chongtu Yang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yaowei Bai
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Bin Xiong
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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17
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Su Q, Kim SY, Adewale F, Zhou Y, Aldler C, Ni M, Wei Y, Burczynski ME, Atwal GS, Sleeman MW, Murphy AJ, Xin Y, Cheng X. Single-cell RNA transcriptome landscape of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in healthy and NAFLD mouse liver. iScience 2021; 24:103233. [PMID: 34755088 PMCID: PMC8560975 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health-care problem with limited therapeutic options. To obtain a cellular resolution of pathogenesis, 82,168 single-cell transcriptomes (scRNA-seq) across different NAFLD stages were profiled, identifying hepatocytes and 12 other non-parenchymal cell (NPC) types. scRNA-seq revealed insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease. We discovered a dual role for hepatic stellate cells in gene expression regulation and in the potential to trans-differentiate into myofibroblasts. We uncovered distinct expression profiles of Kupffer cells versus monocyte-derived macrophages during NAFLD progression. Kupffer cells showed stronger immune responses, while monocyte-derived macrophages demonstrated a capability for differentiation. Three chimeric NPCs were identified including endothelial-chimeric stellate cells, hepatocyte-chimeric endothelial cells, and endothelial-chimeric Kupffer cells. Our work identified unanticipated aspects of mouse with NAFLD at the single-cell level and advanced the understanding of cellular heterogeneity in NAFLD livers. Of all, 82,168 single-cell transcriptomes across different NAFLD stages were profiled Hepatocytes and 12 non-parenchymal cell types were identified in mouse liver Three chimeric NPCs were identified in mouse liver
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Su
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Sun Y Kim
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Funmi Adewale
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Ye Zhou
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Christina Aldler
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Min Ni
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Yi Wei
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Michael E Burczynski
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Gurinder S Atwal
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Mark W Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Yurong Xin
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Xiping Cheng
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
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18
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Caligiuri A, Gentilini A, Pastore M, Gitto S, Marra F. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Liver Fibrosis Regression. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102759. [PMID: 34685739 PMCID: PMC8534788 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver injury of different etiologies may result in hepatic fibrosis, a scar formation process consisting in altered deposition of extracellular matrix. Progression of fibrosis can lead to impaired liver architecture and function, resulting in cirrhosis and organ failure. Although fibrosis was previous thought to be an irreversible process, recent evidence convincingly demonstrated resolution of fibrosis in different organs when the cause of injury is removed. In the liver, due to its high regenerative ability, the extent of fibrosis regression and reversion to normal architecture is higher than in other tissues, even in advanced disease. The mechanisms of liver fibrosis resolution can be recapitulated in the following main points: removal of injurious factors causing chronic hepatic damage, elimination, or inactivation of myofibroblasts (through various cell fates, including apoptosis, senescence, and reprogramming), inactivation of inflammatory response and induction of anti-inflammatory/restorative pathways, and degradation of extracellular matrix. In this review, we will discuss the major cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the regression of fibrosis/cirrhosis and the potential therapeutic approaches aimed at reversing the fibrogenic process.
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19
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Farah H, Young SP, Mauro C, Jones SW. Metabolic dysfunction and inflammatory disease: the role of stromal fibroblasts. FEBS J 2021; 288:5555-5568. [PMID: 33251764 PMCID: PMC8518940 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal fibroblasts have emerged as key mediators of the inflammatory response and drivers of localised inflammation, in part through their interactions with resident and circulating immune cells at inflammatory sites. As such, they have been implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory conditions as well as in tumour progression through modifying the microenvironment. The connection between metabolic changes and altered phenotype of fibroblasts in inflammatory microenvironments has clear implications for our understanding of how chronic inflammation is regulated and for the development of new anti-inflammatory therapeutics. In this review, we consider the evidence that changes to fibroblast metabolic state underpin chronic inflammation. We examine recent research on fibroblast metabolism in inflammatory microenvironments and consider their involvement in inflammation, providing insight into the role of fibroblasts and metabolism in mediating inflammatory disease progression namely cancer, arthritis and fibrotic disorders including chronic kidney disease, pulmonary fibrosis, heart disease and liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Farah
- Institute of Inflammation and AgeingMRC‐Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing ResearchUniversity of BirminghamUK
| | - Stephen P. Young
- Institute of Inflammation and AgeingMRC‐Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing ResearchUniversity of BirminghamUK
| | - Claudio Mauro
- Institute of Inflammation and AgeingMRC‐Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing ResearchUniversity of BirminghamUK
| | - Simon W. Jones
- Institute of Inflammation and AgeingMRC‐Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing ResearchUniversity of BirminghamUK
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20
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Wandmacher AM, Mehdorn AS, Sebens S. The Heterogeneity of the Tumor Microenvironment as Essential Determinant of Development, Progression and Therapy Response of Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4932. [PMID: 34638420 PMCID: PMC8508450 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is commonly diagnosed at advanced stages and most anti-cancer therapies have failed to substantially improve prognosis of PDAC patients. As a result, PDAC is still one of the deadliest tumors. Tumor heterogeneity, manifesting at multiple levels, provides a conclusive explanation for divergent survival times and therapy responses of PDAC patients. Besides tumor cell heterogeneity, PDAC is characterized by a pronounced inflammatory stroma comprising various non-neoplastic cells such as myofibroblasts, endothelial cells and different leukocyte populations which enrich in the tumor microenvironment (TME) during pancreatic tumorigenesis. Thus, the stromal compartment also displays a high temporal and spatial heterogeneity accounting for diverse effects on the development, progression and therapy responses of PDAC. Adding to this heterogeneity and the impact of the TME, the microbiome of PDAC patients is considerably altered. Understanding this multi-level heterogeneity and considering it for the development of novel therapeutic concepts might finally improve the dismal situation of PDAC patients. Here, we outline the current knowledge on PDAC cell heterogeneity focusing on different stromal cell populations and outline their impact on PDAC progression and therapy resistance. Based on this information, we propose some novel concepts for treatment of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Maxi Wandmacher
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Anne-Sophie Mehdorn
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building C, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building U30 Entrance 1, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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21
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Perspective: The Mechanobiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174275. [PMID: 34503085 PMCID: PMC8428343 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most deadly primary cancer in the world and is thus a major global health challenge. HCC primarily develops in patients with an underlying chronic liver disease, the vast majority with advanced cirrhosis, characterized by increased matrix deposition and liver stiffness. Liver stiffness is highly associated with cancer development and poor patient outcome and is measured clinically to assess cancer risk; cirrhotic livers greatly exceed the threshold stiffness shown to alter hepatocyte cell behavior and to increase the malignancy of cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that cirrhotic liver cells have highly irregular nuclear morphologies and that nuclear deformation mediates mechanosensitive signaling. Separate research has shown that nuclear deformation can increase genetic instability and the accumulation of DNA damage in migrating cancer cells. We hypothesize that the mechanical changes associated with chronic liver disease are drivers of oncogenesis, activating mechanosensitive signaling pathways, increasing rates of DNA damage, and ultimately inducing malignant transformation.
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22
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Yang F, Li H, Li Y, Hao Y, Wang C, Jia P, Chen X, Ma S, Xiao Z. Crosstalk between hepatic stellate cells and surrounding cells in hepatic fibrosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 99:108051. [PMID: 34426110 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis represents as a dynamic pathological process characterized by the net accumulation of extracellular matrix in the progression of various chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is well-defined to play a central role in the initiation and progression of hepatic fibrosis. However, the activation of HSCs is affected by the complicated microenvironments in liver, which largely attributes to the communication between hepatocytes and multiple tissue-resident cells, including sinusoidal endothelial cells, bile duct epithelial cells, platelets, T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, in the direct or indirect mechanisms. Cellular crosstalk between HSCs and surrounding cells contributes to the activation of HSCs and the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Currently, accumulating evidence have proven the complexity and plasticity of HSCs activation, and further clarification of cellular communication between HSCs and surrounding cells will provide sufficient clue to the development of novel diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies for hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangming Yang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Heng Li
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation and Immunopharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yanmin Li
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaokun Hao
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chenxiao Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Pan Jia
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinju Chen
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Suping Ma
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Zhun Xiao
- Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
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23
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Hessheimer AJ, Vengohechea J, Martínez de la Maza L, Muñoz J, Vendrell M, Sanahuja JM, Torroella A, Adel Al Shwely F, Riquelme F, Muñoz C, García R, Taurá P, Fondevila C. Somatostatin Therapy Improves Stellate Cell Activation and Early Fibrogenesis in a Preclinical Model of Extended Major Hepatectomy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3989. [PMID: 34439143 PMCID: PMC8392429 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver resection treats primary and secondary liver tumors, though clinical applicability is limited by the remnant liver mass and quality. Herein, major hepatic resections were performed in pigs to define changes associated with sufficient and insufficient remnants and improve liver-specific outcomes with somatostatin therapy. Three experimental groups were performed: 75% hepatectomy (75H), 90% hepatectomy (90H), and 90% hepatectomy + somatostatin (90H + SST). Animals were followed for 24 h (N = 6) and 5 d (N = 6). After hepatectomy, portal pressure gradient was higher in 90H versus 75H and 90H + SST (8 (3-13) mmHg vs. 4 (2-6) mmHg and 4 (2-6) mmHg, respectively, p < 0.001). After 24 h, changes were observed in 90H associated with stellate cell activation and collapse of sinusoidal lumen. Collagen chain type 1 alpha 1 mRNA expression was higher, extracellular matrix width less, and percentage of collagen-staining areas greater at 24 h in 90H versus 75H and 90H + SST. After 5 d, remnant liver mass was higher in 75H and 90H + SST versus 90H, and Ki-67 immunostaining was higher in 90H + SST versus 75H and 90H. As well, more TUNEL-staining cells were observed in 90H versus 75H and 90H + SST at 5 d. Perioperative somatostatin modified portal pressure, injury, apoptosis, and stellate cell activation, stemming changes related to hepatic fibrogenesis seen in liver remnants not receiving treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J. Hessheimer
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
- CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.V.); (J.M.)
| | - Jordi Vengohechea
- CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.V.); (J.M.)
| | - Lilia Martínez de la Maza
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Javier Muñoz
- CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.V.); (J.M.)
| | - Marina Vendrell
- Anesthesiology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (J.M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Josep Martí Sanahuja
- Anesthesiology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (J.M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Alba Torroella
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Farah Adel Al Shwely
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Francisco Riquelme
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - César Muñoz
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Rocío García
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Pilar Taurá
- Anesthesiology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (J.M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Constantino Fondevila
- General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.J.H.); (L.M.d.l.M.); (A.T.); (F.A.A.S.); (F.R.); (C.M.); (R.G.)
- CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.V.); (J.M.)
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24
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Kukla DA, Khetani SR. Bioengineered Liver Models for Investigating Disease Pathogenesis and Regenerative Medicine. Semin Liver Dis 2021; 41:368-392. [PMID: 34139785 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Owing to species-specific differences in liver pathways, in vitro human liver models are utilized for elucidating mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis, drug development, and regenerative medicine. To mitigate limitations with de-differentiated cultures, bioengineers have developed advanced techniques/platforms, including micropatterned cocultures, spheroids/organoids, bioprinting, and microfluidic devices, for perfusing cell cultures and liver slices. Such techniques improve mature functions and culture lifetime of primary and stem-cell human liver cells. Furthermore, bioengineered liver models display several features of liver diseases including infections with pathogens (e.g., malaria, hepatitis C/B viruses, Zika, dengue, yellow fever), alcoholic/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Here, we discuss features of bioengineered human liver models, their uses for modeling aforementioned diseases, and how such models are being augmented/adapted for fabricating implantable human liver tissues for clinical therapy. Ultimately, continued advances in bioengineered human liver models have the potential to aid the development of novel, safe, and efficacious therapies for liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Kukla
- Deparment of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Deparment of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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25
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Herrero A, Benedicto A, Romayor I, Olaso E, Arteta B. Inhibition of COX-2 Impairs Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis through Reduced Stromal Cell Reaction. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2021; 29:342-351. [PMID: 33455946 PMCID: PMC8094073 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2020.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver colonization is initiated through the interplay between tumor cells and adhesion molecules present in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). This crosstalk stimulates tumor COX-2 upregulation and PGE2 secretion. To elucidate the role of the LSEC intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prometastatic response exerted by tumor and stromal COX-2, we utilized celecoxib (CLX) as a COX-2 inhibitory agent. We analyzed the in vitro proliferative and secretory responses of murine C26 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), cultured alone or with LSECs, and their effect on LSEC and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) migration and in vivo liver metastasis. CLX reduced sICAM-1-stimulated COX-2 activation and PGE2 secretion in C26 cells cultured alone or cocultured with LSECs. Moreover, CLX abrogated sICAM-1-induced C26 cell proliferation and C26 secretion of promigratory factors for LSECs and HSCs. Interestingly, CLX reduced the protumoral response of HSC, reducing their migratory potential when stimulated with C26 secretomes and impairing their secretion of chemotactic factors for LSECs and C26 cells and proliferative factors for C26 cells. In vivo, CLX abrogated the prometastatic ability of sICAM-1-activated C26 cells while reducing liver metastasis. COX-2 inhibition blocked the creation of a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by hindering the intratumoral recruitment of activated HSCs and macrophages in addition to the accumulation of fibrillar collagen. These results point to COX-2 being a key modulator of processes initiated by host ICAM-1 during tumor cell/LSEC/HSC crosstalk, leading to the creation of a prometastatic TME in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Herrero
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Aitor Benedicto
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Irene Romayor
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Elvira Olaso
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Arteta
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, School of Medicine and Nursing, Leioa 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
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26
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Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper regulates liver fibrosis by suppressing CCL2-mediated leukocyte recruitment. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:421. [PMID: 33927191 PMCID: PMC8085011 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03704-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis (LF) is a dangerous clinical condition with no available treatment. Inflammation plays a critical role in LF progression. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ, encoded in mice by the Tsc22d3 gene) mimics many of the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids, but its role in LF has not been directly addressed. Here, we found that GILZ deficiency in mice was associated with elevated CCL2 production and pro-inflammatory leukocyte infiltration at the early LF stage, resulting in enhanced LF development. RNA interference-mediated in vivo silencing of the CCL2 receptor CCR2 abolished the increased leukocyte recruitment and the associated hepatic stellate cell activation in the livers of GILZ knockout mice. To highlight the clinical relevance of these findings, we found that TSC22D3 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated and was inversely correlated with that of CCL2 in the liver samples of patients with LF. Altogether, these data demonstrate a protective role of GILZ in LF and uncover the mechanism, which can be targeted therapeutically. Therefore, modulating GILZ expression and its downstream targets represents a novel avenue for pharmacological intervention for treating LF and possibly other liver inflammatory disorders.
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27
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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: 774] [Impact Index Per Article: 258.0] [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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28
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Brenner M, Messing A. Regulation of GFAP Expression. ASN Neuro 2021; 13:1759091420981206. [PMID: 33601918 PMCID: PMC7897836 DOI: 10.1177/1759091420981206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the GFAP gene has attracted considerable attention because its onset is a marker for astrocyte development, its upregulation is a marker for reactive gliosis, and its predominance in astrocytes provides a tool for their genetic manipulation. The literature on GFAP regulation is voluminous, as almost any perturbation of development or homeostasis in the CNS will lead to changes in its expression. In this review, we limit our discussion to mechanisms proposed to regulate GFAP synthesis through a direct interaction with its gene or mRNA. Strengths and weaknesses of the supportive experimental findings are described, and suggestions made for additional studies. This review covers 15 transcription factors, DNA and histone methylation, and microRNAs. The complexity involved in regulating the expression of this intermediate filament protein suggests that GFAP function may vary among both astrocyte subtypes and other GFAP-expressing cells, as well as during development and in response to perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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29
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Muñoz-Durango N, Arrese M, Hernández A, Jara E, Kalergis AM, Cabrera D. A Mineralocorticoid Receptor Deficiency in Myeloid Cells Reduces Liver Steatosis by Impairing Activation of CD8 + T Cells in a Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Mouse Model. Front Immunol 2020; 11:563434. [PMID: 33391254 PMCID: PMC7772468 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.563434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are implicated in non-alcoholic liver fatty disease (NALFD). However, inflammatory mechanisms linking MR and RAAS with disease pathology remain unclear. Here we aimed to evaluate the contribution of myeloid MR to the inflammatory response in an animal model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), induced with a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD). Methods Mice with a conditional deficiency of MR in myeloid cells (MyMRKO) and their counterpart floxed control mice (FC) were fed for 18 days with MCD or chow diet, respectively. Serum levels of aminotransferases and aldosterone levels were measured and hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis scored histologically. Hepatic triglyceride content (HTC) and hepatic mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory pro-fibrotic-associated genes were also assessed. Deep flow cytometric analysis was used to dissect the immune response during NASH development. Results MyMRKO mice fed with an MCD diet exhibited reduced hepatic inflammation and lower HTC than controls. Absolute number and percentage of liver inflammatory infiltrate cells (except for CD8+ T lymphocytes) were similar in both MyMRKO and control mice fed with an MCD diet but expression of the costimulatory molecule CD86 by dendritic cells and the CD25 activation marker in CD8+ T cells were significantly reduced in MyMRKO. Conclusions Proinflammatory cells are functionally suppressed in the absence of MR. We hypothesized that loss of MR in myeloid cells reduces lipid accumulation in the liver, in part through modulating the adaptive immune response, which is pivotal for the development of steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Muñoz-Durango
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marco Arrese
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Hernández
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Evelyn Jara
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Cabrera
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, Santiago, Chile
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30
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Zhang J, Gu C, Song Q, Zhu M, Xu Y, Xiao M, Zheng W. Identifying cancer-associated fibroblasts as emerging targets for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Biosci 2020; 10:127. [PMID: 33292459 PMCID: PMC7603733 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-00488-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex multicellular functional compartment that includes fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM) elements. The microenvironment provides an optimum condition for the initiation, growth, and dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As one of the critical and abundant components in tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been implicated in the progression of HCC. Through secreting various growth factors and cytokines, CAFs contribute to the ECM remodeling, stem features, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which reinforce the initiation and development of HCC. In order to restrain the CAFs-initiated HCC progression, current strategies include targeting specific markers, engineering CAFs with tumor-suppressive phenotype, depleting CAFs’ precursors, and repressing the secretions or downstream signaling. In this review, we update the emerging understanding of CAFs in HCC, with particular emphasis on cellular origin, phenotypes, biological functions and targeted strategies. It provides insights into the targeting CAFs for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chaoyu Gu
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qianqian Song
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, One Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Mengqi Zhu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqing Xu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingbing Xiao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wenjie Zheng
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
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31
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Arab JP, Cabrera D, Sehrawat TS, Jalan-Sakrikar N, Verma VK, Simonetto D, Cao S, Yaqoob U, Leon J, Freire M, Vargas JI, De Assuncao TM, Kwon JH, Guo Y, Kostallari E, Cai Q, Kisseleva T, Oh Y, Arrese M, Huebert RC, Shah VH. Hepatic stellate cell activation promotes alcohol-induced steatohepatitis through Igfbp3 and SerpinA12. J Hepatol 2020; 73:149-160. [PMID: 32087348 PMCID: PMC7305991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Steatohepatitis drives fibrogenesis in alcohol-related liver disease. Recent studies have suggested that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) may regulate the parenchymal cell injury and inflammation that precedes liver fibrosis, although the mechanism remains incompletely defined. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and synectin are membrane proteins implicated in HSC activation. In this study, we disrupted NRP-1 and synectin as models to evaluate the role of HSC activation on the development of steatohepatitis in response to alcohol feeding in mice. METHODS Mice with HSC-selective deletion of NRP (ColCre/Nrp1loxP) or synectin (ColCre/synectinloxP) vs. paired Nrp1loxP or synectinloxP mice were fed a control diet or the chronic/binge alcohol feeding model. Several markers of steatosis and inflammation were evaluated. RESULTS ColCre/Nrp1loxP mice showed less fibrosis, as expected, but also less inflammation and steatosis, with lower hepatic triglyceride content. Similar results were observed in the synectin model. Hepatocytes treated with supernatant of HSCs from ColCre/Nrp1loxP mice compared to supernatant from Nrp1loxP mice were protected against ethanol-induced lipid droplet formation. An adipokine and inflammatory protein array from the supernatant of HSCs with NRP-1 knockdown showed a significant reduction in Igfbp3 (a major insulin-like growth factor-binding protein with multiple metabolic functions) and an increase in SerpinA12 (a serine-protease inhibitor) secretion compared to wild-type HSCs. Recombinant Igfbp3 induced lipid droplets, triglyceride accumulation, and lipogenic genes in hepatocytes in vitro, while SerpinA12 was protective against ethanol-induced steatosis. Finally, Igfbp3 was increased, and SerpinA12 was decreased in serum and liver tissue from patients with alcoholic hepatitis. CONCLUSION Selective deletion of NRP-1 from HSCs attenuates alcohol-induced steatohepatitis through regulation of Igfbp3 and SerpinA12 signaling. LAY SUMMARY Hepatic stellate cells are known for their role in fibrosis (scarring of the liver). In this study, we describe their role in the modulation of fat deposition and inflammation in the liver, which occurs secondary to alcohol damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Arab
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Cabrera
- Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Bernardo O Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tejasav S Sehrawat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Vikas K Verma
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Douglas Simonetto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sheng Cao
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Usman Yaqoob
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jonathan Leon
- Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariela Freire
- Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jose I Vargas
- Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jung H Kwon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yi Guo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Enis Kostallari
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Qing Cai
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Surgery, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Youngman Oh
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Marco Arrese
- Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Robert C Huebert
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Vijay H Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Amor C, Feucht J, Leibold J, Ho YJ, Zhu C, Alonso-Curbelo D, Mansilla-Soto J, Boyer JA, Li X, Giavridis T, Kulick A, Houlihan S, Peerschke E, Friedman SL, Ponomarev V, Piersigilli A, Sadelain M, Lowe SW. Senolytic CAR T cells reverse senescence-associated pathologies. Nature 2020; 583:127-132. [PMID: 32555459 PMCID: PMC7583560 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2403-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 489] [Impact Index Per Article: 122.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is characterized by stable cell-cycle arrest and a secretory program that modulates the tissue microenvironment1,2. Physiologically, senescence serves as a tumour-suppressive mechanism that prevents the expansion of premalignant cells3,4 and has a beneficial role in wound-healing responses5,6. Pathologically, the aberrant accumulation of senescent cells generates an inflammatory milieu that leads to chronic tissue damage and contributes to diseases such as liver and lung fibrosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes and osteoarthritis1,7. Accordingly, eliminating senescent cells from damaged tissues in mice ameliorates the symptoms of these pathologies and even promotes longevity1,2,8-10. Here we test the therapeutic concept that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that target senescent cells can be effective senolytic agents. We identify the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR)11 as a cell-surface protein that is broadly induced during senescence and show that uPAR-specific CAR T cells efficiently ablate senescent cells in vitro and in vivo. CAR T cells that target uPAR extend the survival of mice with lung adenocarcinoma that are treated with a senescence-inducing combination of drugs, and restore tissue homeostasis in mice in which liver fibrosis is induced chemically or by diet. These results establish the therapeutic potential of senolytic CAR T cells for senescence-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Amor
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Judith Feucht
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josef Leibold
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yu-Jui Ho
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Changyu Zhu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Direna Alonso-Curbelo
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jorge Mansilla-Soto
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacob A Boyer
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theodoros Giavridis
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amanda Kulick
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shauna Houlihan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ellinor Peerschke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alessandra Piersigilli
- Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Rockefeller University, Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Scott W Lowe
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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Myofibroblast induces hepatocyte-to-ductal metaplasia via laminin-ɑvβ6 integrin in liver fibrosis. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:199. [PMID: 32251270 PMCID: PMC7090046 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2372-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocytes undergo the metaplasia into ductal biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in response to chronic injury, and subsequently contribute to liver regeneration. The mechanism underlying hepatocyte-to-ductal metaplasia has not been explored until now. In mouse models of liver fibrosis, a florid BEC response was observed in fibrotic liver, and the depletion of myofibroblasts attenuated BEC expansion remarkably. Then, in hepatocyte fate-tracing mouse model, we demonstrated the conversion of mature hepatocytes into ductal BECs in fibrotic liver, and the depletion of myofibroblasts diminished the hepatocyte-to-ductal metaplasia. Finally, the mechanism underlying the metaplasia was investigated. Myofibroblasts secreted laminin-rich extracellular matrix, and then laminin induced hepatocyte-to-ductal metaplasia through ɑvβ6 integrin. Therefore, our results demonstrated myofibroblasts induce the conversion of mature hepatocytes into ductal BECs through laminin-ɑvβ6 integrin, which reveals that the strategy improve regeneration in fibrotic liver through the modification of specific microenvironment.
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Méndez-Sánchez N, Valencia-Rodríguez A, Coronel-Castillo C, Vera-Barajas A, Contreras-Carmona J, Ponciano-Rodríguez G, Zamora-Valdés D. The cellular pathways of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:400. [PMID: 32355844 PMCID: PMC7186641 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.02.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is considered the advanced stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is characterized by liver steatosis, inflammation and different degrees of fibrosis. Although the exact mechanisms by which fatty liver progresses to NASH are still not well understood, innate and adaptive immune responses seem to be essential key regulators in the establishment, progression, and chronicity of these disease. Diet-induced lipid overload of parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells is considered the first step for the development of fatty liver with the consequent organelle dysfunction, cellular stress and liver injury. These will generate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that will upregulate the activation of Kupffer cells (KCs) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MMs) favoring the polarization of the tolerogenic environment of the liver to an immunogenic phenotype with the resulting transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts developing fibrosis. In the long run, dendritic cells (DCs) will activate CD4+ T cells polarizing into the pro-inflammatory lymphocytes Th1 and Th17 worsening the liver damage and inflammation. Therefore, the objective of this review is to discuss in a systematic way the mechanisms known so far of the immune and non-proper immune liver cells in the development and progression of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahum Méndez-Sánchez
- Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico.,Faculty of Medicine. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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da Silva Meirelles L, Marson RF, Solari MIG, Nardi NB. Are Liver Pericytes Just Precursors of Myofibroblasts in Hepatic Diseases? Insights from the Crosstalk between Perivascular and Inflammatory Cells in Liver Injury and Repair. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010188. [PMID: 31940814 PMCID: PMC7017158 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cirrhosis, a late form of liver disease, is characterized by extensive scarring due to exacerbated secretion of extracellular matrix proteins by myofibroblasts that develop during this process. These myofibroblasts arise mainly from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), liver-specific pericytes that become activated at the onset of liver injury. Consequently, HSCs tend to be viewed mainly as myofibroblast precursors in a fibrotic process driven by inflammation. Here, the molecular interactions between liver pericytes and inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils at the first moments after injury and during the healing process are brought into focus. Data on HSCs and pericytes from other tissues indicate that these cells are able to sense pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns and have an important proinflammatory role in the initial stages of liver injury. On the other hand, further data suggest that as the healing process evolves, activated HSCs play a role in skewing the initial proinflammatory (M1) macrophage polarization by contributing to the emergence of alternatively activated, pro-regenerative (M2-like) macrophages. Finally, data suggesting that some HSCs activated during liver injury could behave as hepatic progenitor or stem cells will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindolfo da Silva Meirelles
- PPGBioSaúde and School of Medicine, Lutheran University of Brazil, Av. Farroupilha 8001, 92425-900 Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Renan Fava Marson
- PPGBioSaúde, Lutheran University of Brazil, Av. Farroupilha 8001, 92425-900 Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês Gonzalez Solari
- Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul, Av Princesa Isabel 370, 90620-001 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nance Beyer Nardi
- Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul, Av Princesa Isabel 370, 90620-001 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-51-3230-3600
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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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Min-DeBartolo J, Schlerman F, Akare S, Wang J, McMahon J, Zhan Y, Syed J, He W, Zhang B, Martinez RV. Thrombospondin-I is a critical modulator in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226854. [PMID: 31891606 PMCID: PMC6938381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive liver disease characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation ultimately resulting in fibrosis. Untreated, NAFLD may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and death. However, currently there are no FDA approved therapies that treat NAFLD/NASH. Thrombospondin-I (TSP-1) is a large glycoprotein in the extracellular matrix that regulates numerous cellular pathways including transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) activation, angiogenesis, inflammation and cellular adhesion. Increased expression of TSP-1 has been reported in various liver diseases; however, its role in NAFLD/NASH is not well understood. We first examined TSP-1 modulation in hepatic stellate cell activation, a critical initiating step in hepatic fibrosis. Knockdown or inhibition of TSP-1 attenuated HSC activation measured by alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen I expression. To investigate the impact of TSP-1 modulation in context of NAFLD/NASH, we examined the effect of TSP-1 deficiency in the choline deficient L-amino acid defined high fat diet (CDAHFD) model of NASH in mice by assessing total body and liver weight, serum liver enzyme levels, serum lipid levels, liver steatosis, liver fibrosis and liver gene expression in wild type (WT) and TSP-1 null mice. CDAHFD fed mice, regardless of genotype, developed phenotypes of NASH, including significant increase in liver weight and liver enzymes, steatosis and fibrosis. However, in comparison to WT, CDAHFD-fed TSP-1 deficient mice were protected against numerous NASH phenotypes. TSP-1 null mice exhibited a decrease in serum lipid levels, inflammation markers and hepatic fibrosis. RNA-seq based transcriptomic profiles from the liver of CDAHFD fed mice determined that both WT and TSP-1 null mice exhibited similar gene expression signatures following CDAHFD, similar to biophysical and histological assessment comparison. Comparison of transcriptomic profiles based on genotype suggested that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway and amino acid metabolism pathways are differentially expressed in TSP-1 null mice. Activation of PPARα pathway was supported by observed decrease in serum lipid levels. Our findings provide important insights into the role of TSP-1 in context of NAFLD/NASH and TSP-1 may be a target of interest to develop anti-fibrotic therapeutics for NAFLD/NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Min-DeBartolo
- BioMedicine Design, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JM-D); (RM)
| | - Franklin Schlerman
- Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sandeep Akare
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ju Wang
- Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James McMahon
- Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yutian Zhan
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jameel Syed
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Wen He
- Early Clinical Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Early Clinical Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert V. Martinez
- Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JM-D); (RM)
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Giambartolomei GH, Delpino MV. Immunopathogenesis of Hepatic Brucellosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:423. [PMID: 31956605 PMCID: PMC6951397 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatic immune system can induce rapid and controlled responses to pathogenic microorganisms and tumor cells. Accordingly, most of the microorganisms that reach the liver through the blood are eliminated. However, some of them, including Brucella spp., take advantage of the immunotolerant capacity of the liver to persist in the host. Brucella has a predilection for surviving in the reticuloendothelial system, with the liver being the largest organ of this system in the human body. Therefore, its involvement in brucellosis is practically invariable. In patients with active brucellosis, the liver is commonly affected, and the most frequent clinical manifestation is hepatosplenomegaly. The molecular mechanisms implicated in liver damage have been recently elucidated. It has been demonstrated how Brucella interacts with hepatocytes inducing its death by apoptosis. The inflammatory microenvironment and the direct effect of Brucella on hepatic stellate cells (HSC) induce their activation and turn these cells from its quiescent form to their fibrogenic phenotype. This HSC activation induced by Brucella infection relies on the presence of a functional type IV secretion system and the effector protein BPE005 through a mechanism involved in the activation of the autophagic pathway. Finally, the molecular mechanisms of liver brucellosis observed so far are shedding light on how the interaction of Brucella with liver cells may play an important role in the discovery of new targets to control the infection. In this review, we report the current understanding of the interaction between liver structural cells and immune system cells during Brucella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Hernán Giambartolomei
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Delpino
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires (UBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Therapeutic Effect of Tanshinone IIA on Liver Fibrosis and the Possible Mechanism: A Preclinical Meta-Analysis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:7514046. [PMID: 31915451 PMCID: PMC6930756 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7514046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Liver fibrosis is a serious human health problem, and there is a need for specific antifibrosis drugs in the clinic. Tanshinone IIA has recently been reported to have a role in the treatment of liver fibrosis. However, the evidence supporting its antifibrotic effect is not sufficient, and the underlying mechanism is not clear. We thus performed this meta-analysis of animal research to assess the therapeutic effect of tanshinone IIA on liver fibrosis and analyzed the possible associated mechanism to provide a reference for further clinical drug preparation and clinical research. Methods We collect related articles from the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang, VIP, and CNKI. The quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the SYRCLE risk of bias tool for animal studies. Data were analyzed using RavMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software. Results A total of 404 articles were retrieved from the databases. After screening, 11 articles were included in the analysis. The included studies' methodological quality was generally low, and an obvious publication bias was found. The results showed that tanshinone IIA significantly improved liver function in experimental animals and reduced the level of liver fibrosis by reducing inflammation and inhibiting immunity, antiapoptotic processes, and HSC activation. Conclusion Tanshinone IIA can effectively improve liver fibrosis and liver function in animal models and is worthy of future higher quality animal studies and clinical drug trials.
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The Regulatory Role of MicroRNA in Hepatitis-B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HBV-HCC) Pathogenesis. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121504. [PMID: 31771261 PMCID: PMC6953055 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence and mortality of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) is an intractable public health problem in developing countries that is compounded by limited early detection and therapeutic options. Despite the early promise of utilizing the regulatory role of miRNA in liver cancer, this field remains largely in the work-in-progress phase. This exploratory review paper adopts a broad focus in order to collate evidence of the regulatory role of miRNA in each stage of the HBV-HCC continuum. This includes the regulatory role of miRNA in early HBV infection, chronic inflammation, fibrosis/cirrhosis, and the onset of HCC. The paper specifically investigates HBV dysregulated miRNA that influence the expression of the host/HBV genome in HBV-HCC pathogenesis and fully acknowledges that this does not cover the full spectrum of dysregulated miRNA. The sheer number of dysregulated miRNA in each phase support a hypothesis that future therapeutic interventions will need to consider incorporating multiple miRNA panels.
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Acute Liver Injury after CCl 4 Administration is Independent of Smad7 Expression in Myeloid Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225528. [PMID: 31698731 PMCID: PMC6888233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid cells are essential for the initiation and termination of innate and adaptive immunity that create homeostasis in the liver. Smad7 is an inhibitor of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, which regulates inflammatory cellular processes. Knockdown of Smad7 in hepatocytes has been shown to promote liver fibrosis, but little is known about the effects of Smad7 in myeloid cells during inflammatory responses in the liver. Using mice with a myeloid-specific knockdown of Smad7 (LysM-Cre Smad7fl/fl), we investigated the impact of Smad7 deficiency in myeloid cells on liver inflammation and regeneration using the well-established model of CCl4-mediated liver injury. Early (24/48 h) and late (7 d) time points were analyzed. We found that CCl4 induces severe liver injury, with elevated serum ALT levels, centrilobular and periportal necrosis, infiltrating myeloid cells and an increase of inflammatory cytokines in the liver. Furthermore, as expected, inflammation peaked at 24 h and subsided after 7 d. However, the knockdown of Smad7 in myeloid cells did not affect any of the investigated parameters in the CCl4-treated animals. In summary, our results suggest that the inhibition of TGF-β signaling via Smad7 expression in myeloid cells is dispensable for the induction and control of acute CCl4-induced liver injury.
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Hempel F, Roderfeld M, Savai R, Sydykov A, Irungbam K, Schermuly R, Voswinckel R, Köhler K, Churin Y, Kiss L, Bier J, Pons-Kühnemann J, Roeb E. Depletion of Bone Marrow-Derived Fibrocytes Attenuates TAA-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice. Cells 2019; 8:cells8101210. [PMID: 31591328 PMCID: PMC6829877 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow-derived fibrocytes (FC) represent a unique cell type, sharing features of both mesenchymal and hematopoietic cells. FC were shown to specifically infiltrate the injured liver and participate in fibrogenesis. Moreover, FC exert a variety of paracrine functions, thus possibly influencing the disease progression. However, the overall contribution of FC to liver fibrosis remains unclear. We aimed to study the effect of a specific FC depletion, utilizing a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK)/Valganciclovir suicide gene strategy. Fibrosis was induced by oral thioacetamide (TAA) administration in C57BL/6J mice. Hepatic hydroxyproline content was assessed for the primary readout. The HSV-TK model enabled the specific depletion of fibrocytes. Hepatic hydroxyproline content was significantly reduced as a result of the fibrocyte ablation (−7.8%; 95% CI: 0.7–14.8%; p = 0.033), denoting a reduced deposition of fibrillar collagens. Lower serum alanine transaminase levels (−20.9%; 95% CI: 0.4–36.9%; p = 0.049) indicate a mitigation of liver-specific cellular damage. A detailed mode of action, however, remains yet to be identified. The present study demonstrates a relevant functional contribution of fibrocytes to chronic toxic liver fibrosis, contradicting recent reports. Our results emphasize the need to thoroughly study the biology of fibrocytes in order to understand their importance for hepatic fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Hempel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Martin Roderfeld
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Rajkumar Savai
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), D-61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Akylbek Sydykov
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Karuna Irungbam
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Ralph Schermuly
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Robert Voswinckel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bürgerhospital, D-61169 Friedberg, Germany.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hochwaldkrankenhaus, D-61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany.
| | - Kernt Köhler
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Yury Churin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Ladislau Kiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Jens Bier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Jörn Pons-Kühnemann
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Elke Roeb
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
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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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Ozono Y, Shide K, Toyoshima F, Takaishi Y, Tsuchimochi M, Kamiunten A, Kameda T, Nakamura K, Miike T, Kusumoto K, Iwakiri H, Hasuike S, Nagata K, Sawaguchi A, Shimoda K. Monocyte-derived fibrocytes elimination had little contribution on liver fibrosis. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2019; 18:348-353. [PMID: 30826294 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monocyte-derived fibrocytes play an important role in the progression of fibrosis in the skin, lungs, heart and kidney. However, the contribution of fibrocytes to liver fibrosis is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fibrocytes contributed to fibrosis progression in the livers of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated mice. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control group, CCl4-treated group, CCl4 + control liposome-treated group, and CCl4 + clodronate liposome-treated group. For the elimination of systemic monocyte and monocyte-derived fibrocyte, one group was treated with clodronate liposome, and another group with control liposome as a control. After 4 weeks of treatment, hepatic mononuclear cells were subjected to immunofluorescent (IF) staining and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis to detect fibrocytes. Measurement of collagen-positive Sirius red stained area and collagen-I mRNA expression in the liver were performed to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis quantitatively. RESULTS In the liver of the CCl4-treated and CCl4 + control liposome-treated groups, the number of fibrocytes, the area positive for Sirius red staining and collagen-I mRNA expression significantly increased compared with those in the normal control group. In the liver of the CCl4 + clodronate liposome-treated group, few fibrocytes was observed as in the normal control group, but Sirius red staining positive area and collagen-I mRNA expression were increased and equivalent to the CCl4-treated and CCl4 + control liposome-treated groups. CONCLUSION Monocyte-derived fibrocytes play a minimal role in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Cells other than fibrocytes such as hepatic stellate cells play a central role in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Ozono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Kotaro Shide
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan.
| | - Fumiyo Toyoshima
- Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Yuuka Takaishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Mai Tsuchimochi
- Department of Liver disease, University of Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Ayako Kamiunten
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Takuro Kameda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Kenichi Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Tadashi Miike
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kusumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Hisayoshi Iwakiri
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Satoru Hasuike
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Kenji Nagata
- Department of Liver disease, University of Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Akira Sawaguchi
- Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan
| | - Kazuya Shimoda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1601, Japan; Department of Liver disease, University of Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
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45
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Knockout of α-calcitonin gene-related peptide attenuates cholestatic liver injury by differentially regulating cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells and cholangiocytes. J Transl Med 2019; 99:764-776. [PMID: 30700848 PMCID: PMC6570540 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide involved in several pathophysiological processes. α-CGRP is involved in the regulation of cholangiocyte proliferation during cholestasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate if α-CGRP regulates bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis by using a α-CGRP knockout (α-CGRP-/-) mouse model. α-CGRP-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to sham surgery or BDL for 7 days. Then, liver fibrosis and cellular senescence as well as the expression of kinase such as p38 and C-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway were evaluated in total liver, together with measurement of cellular senescence in cholangiocytes or hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). There was enhanced hepatic expression of Calca (coding α-CGRP) and the CGRP receptor components (CRLR, RAMP-1 and RCP) in BDL and in both WT α-CGRP-/- and BDL α-CGRP-/- mice, respectively. Moreover, there was increased CGRP serum levels and hepatic mRNA expression of CALCA and CGRP receptor components in late-stage PSC samples compared to healthy control samples. Depletion of α-CGRP reduced liver injury and fibrosis in BDL mice that was associated with enhanced cellular senescence of hepatic stellate cells and reduced senescence of cholangiocytes as well as decreased activation of p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathway. Cholangiocyte supernatant from BDL α-CGRP-/- mice inhibited the activation and increased cellular senescence of cultured human HSCs (HHSCs) compared to HHSCs stimulated with BDL cholangiocyte supernatant. Taken together, endogenous α-CGRP promoted BDL-induced cholestatic liver fibrosis through differential changes in senescence of HSCs and cholangiocytes and activation of p38 and JNK signaling. Modulation of α-CGRP/CGRP receptor signaling may be key for the management of biliary senescence and liver fibrosis in cholangiopathies.
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46
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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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47
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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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48
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Zhang Q, Zhao Y, Talukder M, Han Y, Zhang C, Li XN, Li JL. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced hepatotoxicity in quail (Coturnix japonica) via modulating the mitochondrial unfolded protein response and NRF2 mediated antioxidant defense. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:885-894. [PMID: 30257229 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Among ubiquitously found environmental contaminants in the ecosystem, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an important environmental contaminant used as plasticizer in medical and consumer goods. The bioaccumulation and environmental persistence of DEHP cause serious global health effects in wildlife animals and human, especially hepatotoxicity. Herein, to explore the mechanisms of DEHP induced hepatotoxicity, quail were exposed with 0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW/day DEHP by gavage administration daily for 45 days. Notably, the adipose tissue degeneration was observed in the liver of DEHP-exposed quail under the histopathological analysis. DEHP exposure increased the peroxidation product (MDA), GSH and GST, but decreased antioxidant function (T-AOC, SOD and GPX). DEHP induced the oxidative stress and pulsed on NRF2 signal pathway through activating downstream genes. Furthermore, DEHP induced mitochondrial ultrastructural abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) was activated to relieve mitochondrial dysfunctions and mitigated oxidative stress. These findings showed that mitochondrial functions and redox homeostasis were affected by DEHP and resulted in irreversible hepatic injury. In Conclusion, this study suggested that DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity in quail was associated with activating the NRF2 mediated antioxidant defense and mtUPR. These results provided new evidence on molecular mechanism of DEHP induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yi Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Milton Talukder
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Barishal 8210, Bangladesh
| | - Yu Han
- Department of gastrointestinal oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, PR China
| | - Cong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Xue-Nan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jin-Long Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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Lackner C, Tiniakos D. Fibrosis and alcohol-related liver disease. J Hepatol 2019; 70:294-304. [PMID: 30658730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Histological fibrosis stage is one of the most important prognostic factors in compensated and decompensated alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Morphological assessment of fibrosis is useful for patient stratification, enabling individualised management, and for evaluation of treatment effects in clinical studies. In contrast to most chronic liver diseases where fibrosis is portal-based, fatty liver disease (FLD) of alcoholic or non-alcoholic aetiology (NAFLD) is associated with a centrilobular pattern of injury which leads to perivenular fibrosis and/or pericellular fibrosis. Progression of FLD drives expansive pericellular fibrosis, linking vascular structures and paving the way for the development of cirrhosis. At the cirrhotic stage, ongoing tissue damage leads to increasing fibrosis severity due to parenchymal loss and proliferation of fibrous scars. Histologic fibrosis staging systems have been devised, based on topography and the extent of fibrosis, for most chronic liver diseases. The utility of histological staging is reflected in different risks associated with individual fibrosis stages which cannot be reliably distinguished by non-invasive fibrosis assessment. In contrast to NAFLD, ALD-specific staging systems that enable the standardised prognostication required for clinical management and trials are lacking. Although morphological similarities between NAFLD and ALD exist, differences in clinical and histological features may substantially limit the utility of established NAFLD-specific staging systems for prognostication in ALD. This review summarises morphological features of fibrosis in ALD and compares them to other chronic liver diseases, particularly NAFLD. ALD-related fibrosis is examined in the context of pathogenetic mechanisms of fibrosis progression, regression and clinical settings that need to be considered in future prognostically relevant ALD staging approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Lackner
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, Graz 8010, Austria.
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; Dept of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vas. Sofias Avenue 76, Athens 11528, Greece
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50
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Tsuchida T. [Mechanisms of hepatic stellate cell activation as a therapeutic target for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2019; 154:203-209. [PMID: 31597900 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.154.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Although majority of patients with NAFLD are benign and non-progressive, having only steatosis, some fraction of patients develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and eventually increased liver-related mortality. Among histological features of NAFLD, it has been reported that liver fibrosis is the most important predictor of long-term outcomes. Liver fibrosis is a dynamic process characterized by the over-accumulation of extracellular matrix due to chronic liver injury resulting from any etiology including not only NASH, but also viral infection and alcoholic liver disease. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) has been well established as a central driver of fibrosis in experimental animal models and human liver injury. It is a transdifferentiation of quiescent, vitamin-A‑storing cells into proliferative and fibrogenic myofibroblasts. However, the discovery of novel pathways and mediators reveals the complexity of HSC activation. These emerging pathways include hedgehog, autophagy, free cholesterol, YAP1, hepcidin, and nuclear/G-protein coupled receptor-mediated signals. In addition, pathways of HSC clearance have been uncovered such as apoptosis, senescence, and reversion to an inactivated state. Thus, clarifying the underlying mechanisms of HSC activation could lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for NASH, and several drug candidates are currently being developed in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Tsuchida
- Research Unit/Frontier Soyaku. Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
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