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Yu T, Lu X, Liang Y, Yang L, Yin Y, Chen H. Naringenin alleviates liver fibrosis by triggering autophagy-dependent ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28865. [PMID: 38576562 PMCID: PMC10990976 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a promising approach for treating liver fibrosis, and the ferroptosis has emerged as a pivotal mechanism to achieve this inhibition. The effects of naringenin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties, have not been thoroughly examined in liver fibrosis. Therefore, we used cholestasis model to study the effect of naringenin on liver fibrosis. Our findings demonstrated a significant exacerbation of liver tissue damage and fibrosis in mice subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL), accompanied by a substantial upregulation of fibrogenesis-related gene expression. Notably, naringenin administration markedly alleviated liver injury and fibrosis in these mice. Furthermore, naringenin exhibited inhibitory effects on the activation of HSCs, concurrently inducing ferroptosis. Importantly, naringenin significantly increased autophagic activity in HSCs. This effect was counteracted by co-administration of the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA, leading to a notable reduction in naringenin-induced HSC ferroptosis. In BDL model mice, naringenin demonstrated a mitigating effect on liver fibrosis, suggesting a potential correlation with naringenin-induced ferroptosis of HSCs. These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of naringenin-induced ferroptosis and highlight autophagy-dependent ferroptosis as a promising therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejia Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuehan Yin
- China HuaYou Group Corporation, Beijing, 100724, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
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Liu F, Li S, Chen P, Gu Y, Wang S, Wang L, Chen C, Wang R, Yuan Y. Salvianolic acid B inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by targeting PDGFRβ. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 122:110550. [PMID: 37451016 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a reversible pathological process and a wound healing response to liver injury. As an early stage of various liver diseases, liver fibrosis can develop into cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer if not controlled in time. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a medicinal plant with hepatoprotective effects. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is the representative component of S. miltiorrhiza. Many studies have reported the anti-liver fibrosis effects and mechanisms of Sal B. However, the direct anti-fibrotic targets of Sal B have not yet been reported. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) is one of the most classical targets in liver fibrosis, which is closely related to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activated. Previously, we established and applied a PDGFRβ affinity chromatography model, and found that Sal B binds well to PDGFRβ. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct targets of Sal B against liver fibrosis. We confirmed the binding ability of Sal B to PDGFRβ by molecular docking and a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Our findings indicated that Sal B targeted PDGFRβ to inhibit the activation, migration and proliferation of HSCs and suppressed the PDGF-BB-induced PDGFRβ signaling pathway. Annexin V-FITC/PI assay showed that Sal B reversed the PDGF-BB-induced decrease in HSC apoptosis rate. In the mouse liver fibrosis model, Sal B inhibited the PDGFRβ signaling pathway, HSC activation and reduced inflammatory response, ultimately improved CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. In summary, the direct anti-fibrotic targets of Sal B may be PDGFRβ, and this study clarified the anti-liver fibrosis effects and mechanism of Sal B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangbin Liu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shengnan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Panpan Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Yanqiu Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Shaozhan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Chun Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China.
| | - Yongfang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 280 Mohe Rd, Shanghai 201999, China.
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Zhang J, Wang H, Yao L, Zhao P, Wu X. MiR-34a promotes fibrosis of hepatic stellate cells via the TGF-β pathway. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1520. [PMID: 34790726 PMCID: PMC8576652 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-5005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Previous studies have confirmed that MicroRNA (miRNA) is a key regulator exhibiting different effects in human liver fibrosis. However, the function of miR-34a in liver fibrosis has not been reported. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-34a in liver fibrosis. Methods The expression of miR-34a was measured in fibrosis tissues via the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Subsequently, 30 male C57BL/6J mice were divided into control and treatment groups and used to establish animal models of liver fibrosis to explore the expression level of miR-34a. Moreover, Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays were preformed to identify the regulatory mechanism of miR-34a in cells. The effect of miR-34a on the activity of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway was observed by western blot. Results Up-regulation of miR-34a was detected in fibrosis cells. Moreover, the cellular phenotype was suppressed by miR-34a down-regulation in a primary culture of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Besides, it was found that increased miR-34a could significantly promote the invasion and migration of HSCs. Moreover, miR-34a activates HSCs through transforming TGF-β, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which further affects liver fibrosis. Conclusions MiR-34a promotes the fibrosis of HSCs as well as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Nutrition, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Haixia Wang
- Healthcare Department, The Third Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Linlin Yao
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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