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Piras IS, DiStefano JK. Comprehensive meta-analysis reveals distinct gene expression signatures of MASLD progression. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302517. [PMID: 38565287 PMCID: PMC10987979 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), pose significant risks of severe fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite their widespread prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of these common chronic hepatic conditions are not fully understood. Here, we conducted the most extensive meta-analysis of hepatic gene expression datasets from liver biopsy samples to date, integrating 10 RNA-sequencing and microarray datasets (1,058 samples). Using a random-effects meta-analysis model, we compared over 12,000 shared genes across datasets. We identified 685 genes differentially expressed in MASLD versus normal liver, 1,870 in MASH versus normal liver, and 3,284 in MASLD versus MASH. Integrating these results with genome-wide association studies and coexpression networks, we identified two functionally relevant, validated coexpression modules mainly driven by SMOC2, ITGBL1, LOXL1, MGP, SOD3, and TAT, HGD, SLC25A15, respectively, the latter not previously associated with MASLD and MASH. Our findings provide a comprehensive and robust analysis of hepatic gene expression alterations associated with MASLD and MASH and identify novel key drivers of MASLD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio S Piras
- https://ror.org/02hfpnk21 Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Johanna K DiStefano
- https://ror.org/02hfpnk21 Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Research Unit, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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2
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Makri ES, Evripidou K, Polyzos SA. Circulating leptin in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver fibrosis: a systematic review and a meta-analysis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 39:806-817. [PMID: 38238084 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Clinical data on the association between leptin levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related liver fibrosis are conflicting. This meta-analysis aimed to compare circulating leptin between NAFLD patients with versus without liver fibrosis or non-NAFLD controls. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Fifteen studies were included, reporting data from 964 individuals (422 NAFLD patients with fibrosis, 297 NAFLD patients without fibrosis, 245 no-NAFLD controls). RESULTS Leptin standardized mean difference (SMD) was higher in NAFLD patients with fibrosis (F1-F4) than in controls (SMD: 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-3.73); however, this association did not remain robust after the exclusion of studies with morbidly obese individuals. No difference was observed in leptin SMD between NAFLD patients with fibrosis and those without fibrosis (F0), and NAFLD patients without fibrosis versus controls. Heterogeneity was high (I2: 66-98%) among studies. Meta-regression analysis revealed a positive association of leptin SMD with homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, when comparing NAFLD patients with fibrosis versus NAFLD patients without fibrosis (beta: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.04-1.03), and a negative association of leptin SMD with age, when comparing NAFLD patients with fibrosis versus controls (beta: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.05). CONCLUSION Circulating leptin was higher in NAFLD patients with liver fibrosis than non-NAFLD controls, an association, however, attenuated after the exclusion of a study with morbidly obese individuals. Circulating leptin was not different between NAFLD patients with and without fibrosis, or NAFLD patients without fibrosis and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia S Makri
- First Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kleo Evripidou
- First Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stergios A Polyzos
- First Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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3
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Zhang N, Yang A, Zhang W, Li H, Xu A, Yan X, Han Q, Wang B, You H, Chen W. Crosstalk of lysyl oxidase-like 1 and lysyl oxidase prolongs their half-lives and regulates liver fibrosis through Notch signal. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0391. [PMID: 38466882 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysyl oxidase (LOX) family members (LOX and LOXL1 to 4) are crucial copper-dependent enzymes responsible for cross-linking collagen and elastin. Previous studies have revealed that LOX and LOXL1 are the most dramatically dysregulated LOX isoforms during liver fibrosis. However, the crosstalk between them and the underlying mechanisms involved in the profibrotic behaviors of HSCs, as well as the progression of liver fibrosis, remain unclear. METHODS pCol9GFP-HS4,5Tg mice, Loxl1fl/flGfapCre mice, human HSC line, and primary HSCs were enrolled to study the dysregulation pattern, profibrotic roles, and the potential mechanisms of LOX and LOXL1 interaction involved in the myofibroblast-like transition of HSCs and liver fibrogenesis. RESULTS LOX and LOXL1 were synergistically upregulated during liver fibrogenesis, irrespective of etiology, together orchestrating the profibrotic behaviors of HSCs. LOX and LOXL1 coregulated in HSCs, whereas LOXL1 dominated in the coregulation loop. Interestingly, the interaction between LOXL1 and LOX prolonged their half-lives, specifically enhancing the Notch signal-mediated myofibroblast-like transition of HSCs. Selective disruption of Loxl1 in Gfap+ HSCs deactivated the Notch signal, inhibited HSC activation, and relieved carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Our current study confirmed the synergistic roles and the underlying mechanisms of LOXL1 and LOX crosstalk in the profibrotic behaviors of HSCs and liver fibrosis progression, providing experimental evidence for further clear mechanism-based anti-LOXL1 strategy development in the therapy of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Aiting Yang
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing China
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Li
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing China
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Anjian Xu
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing China
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuzhen Yan
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing China
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Han
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingqiong Wang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong You
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Lab of Digestive Health, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing China
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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4
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Han Q, Yan X, Wang L, Zhang N, Zhang W, Li H, Chen W, You H, Yang A. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor attenuates cholestatic liver injury by regulating bile acid metabolism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 682:259-265. [PMID: 37826949 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.10.030] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Cholestatic liver disease is defined as the bile acids (BAs) accumulation in the liver caused by impaired synthesis, and secretion, together with excretion of BAs due to a variety of factors, which, if left untreated, can result in hepatic fibrosis, cholestatic cholangitis, cholestatic cirrhosis, eventually, end-stage liver disease. Currently, modulation of BA metabolism is still a prospective therapeutic strategy for treating the cholestatic diseases. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor with far-reaching effects on the chronic liver disease. However, its role and mechanism in cholestatic liver damage is still unknown. Therefore, in this work, we explored the impact of AHR on the cholestatic liver injury using AHR overexpression mediated by adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. We found that AHR is differentially expressed in different stages of cholestatic liver disease, showing either down-regulation or an increase in protective effects. Overexpression of AHR increased body weight, decreased serum total bilirubin (TBil) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), reduced porphyrin accumulation in liver tissue, and regulated the bile acid pool in the cholestatic mouse model induced by DDC diet. Overall, our data indicate that AHR attenuated cholestatic liver injury. AHR function indicates that it may have an action in the clinical management of cholestasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Han
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xuzhen Yan
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Likai Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hong Li
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hong You
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Aiting Yang
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China; Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong'an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
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5
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Aggeletopoulou I, Kalafateli M, Tsounis EP, Triantos C. Epigenetic Regulation in Lean Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12864. [PMID: 37629043 PMCID: PMC10454848 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612864] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prominent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, is a rapidly growing epidemic. It consists of a wide range of liver diseases, from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and predisposes patients to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is strongly correlated with obesity; however, it has been extensively reported among lean/nonobese individuals in recent years. Although lean patients demonstrate a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, a percentage of these patients may develop steatohepatitis, advanced liver fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease, and have increased all-cause mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms of lean NAFLD remain vague. Studies have reported that lean NAFLD demonstrates a close association with environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and epigenetic modifications. In this review, we aim to discuss and summarize the epigenetic mechanisms involved in lean NAFLD and to introduce the interaction between epigenetic patterns and genetic or non genetic factors. Several epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the regulation of lean NAFLD. These include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding-RNA-mediated gene regulation. Epigenetics is an area of special interest in the setting of lean NAFLD as it could provide new insights into the therapeutic options and noninvasive biomarkers that target this under-recognized and challenging disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Aggeletopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
| | - Maria Kalafateli
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Patras, 26332 Patras, Greece;
| | - Efthymios P. Tsounis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
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6
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Ma HY, Li Q, Wong WR, N'Diaye EN, Caplazi P, Bender H, Huang Z, Arlantico A, Jeet S, Wong A, Emson C, Brightbill H, Tam L, Newman R, Roose-Girma M, Sandoval W, Ding N. LOXL4, but not LOXL2, is the critical determinant of pathological collagen cross-linking and fibrosis in the lung. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf0133. [PMID: 37235663 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive fibrotic disease characterized by excessive deposition of (myo)fibroblast produced collagen fibrils in alveolar areas of the lung. Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) have been proposed to be the central enzymes that catalyze the cross-linking of collagen fibers. Here, we report that, while its expression is increased in fibrotic lungs, genetic ablation of LOXL2 only leads to a modest reduction of pathological collagen cross-linking but not fibrosis in the lung. On the other hand, loss of another LOX family member, LOXL4, markedly disrupts pathological collagen cross-linking and fibrosis in the lung. Furthermore, knockout of both Loxl2 and Loxl4 does not offer any additive antifibrotic effects when compared to Loxl4 deletion only, as LOXL4 deficiency decreases the expression of other LOX family members including Loxl2. On the basis of these results, we propose that LOXL4 is the main LOX activity underlying pathological collagen cross-linking and lung fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Yen Ma
- Department of Discovery Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qingling Li
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Weng Ruh Wong
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elsa-Noah N'Diaye
- Department of Discovery Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Caplazi
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hannah Bender
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zhiyu Huang
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Arlantico
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Surinder Jeet
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Wong
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Claire Emson
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hans Brightbill
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda Tam
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert Newman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Merone Roose-Girma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Sandoval
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Discovery Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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7
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Qiu J, Wu S, Wang P, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Sun Y, Jiang C. miR-488-5p mitigates hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis via suppressing TET3 expression. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:463-475. [PMID: 36001230 PMCID: PMC10119239 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10404-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Numerous studies have demonstrated that hepatic fibrosis, a progressive condition as an endpoint of multiple chronic hepatic diseases, is largely characterized with the extensive activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The precise effect of miR-488-5p in HSCs during hepatic fibrosis has not been elucidated. METHODS In our study, qRT-PCR was applied to assess the level of miR-488-5p in activated HSCs stimulated by TGF-β1. We built murine liver fibrosis models with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), high-fat diet (HFD) and bile duct ligation (BDL). In vitro, the effects of miR-488-5p in HSCs were examined through cell proliferation assay and apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay was applied to identify the underlying target of miR-488-5p. In vivo, the effects of miR-488-5p were explored through mouse liver fibrosis models. RESULTS The reduction of miR-488-5p in the activated HSCs induced by TGF-β1 and three mouse hepatic fibrosis models were identified. The in vitro functional experimentations verified that miR-488-5p restrained expression of fibrosis-related markers and proliferative capacity in HSCs. Mechanically, we identified that miR-488-5p inhibited tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) expression via straightly binding onto the 3' UTR of its mRNA, which sequentially restrained the TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway. TET3 inhibition induced by the overexpression of miR-488-5p reduced extracellular matrix deposition, which contributed to mitigating mouse liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION We highlight that miR-488-5p restrains the activation of HSCs and hepatic fibrosis via targeting TET3 which is involved in the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Collectively, miR-488-5p is identified as a potential therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shasha Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, 223005, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Drum Tower Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongxia Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunping Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Dai W, Guo Y, Shen Z, Wang J, Lu L, Dong H, Cai X. Identification of LBH and SPP1 involved in hepatic stellate cell activation during liver fibrogenesis. Hum Cell 2023; 36:1054-1067. [PMID: 36917392 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00889-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a pathological response driven by the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC). However, the mechanisms of liver fibrosis and HSC activation are complicated and far from being fully understood. We aimed to explore the candidate genes involved in HSC activation during liver fibrogenesis. Five genes (LBH, LGALS3, LOXL1, S100A6 and SPP1) were recurrent in the DEGs derived from the seven datasets. The expression of these genes gradually increased as liver fibrosis staging advanced, suggesting they might be candidate genes involved in HSC activation during hepatic fibrosis. These candidate genes were predicted to be coregulated by miRNAs such as hsa-miR-125a-5p and has-miR-125b, or by transcription factors including JUN, USF1, TP53 and TFAP2C. PPI analysis showed that LGALS3, LOXL1, S100A6 and SPP1 might interact with each other indirectly, but no interaction was found between them and LBH. The candidate genes and their interaction partners were enriched in focal adhesion, extracellular matrix organization and binding. Upregulation of LBH, S100A6 and SPP1 were further validated in TGF-β-treated LX-2 as well as in DDC or CCL4-treated mice models. Decreased LBH and SPP1 expression reduces the expression of HSC activation-related markers in TGF-β-treated LX-2. Our results indicated that LBH, LGALS3, LOXL1, S100A6 and SPP1 were candidate genes which may participate in the HSC activation during liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuecheng Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyang Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lungen Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaobo Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Astrocyte Immune Functions and Glaucoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032747. [PMID: 36769067 PMCID: PMC9916878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032747] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, a non-neuronal glial cell type in the nervous system, are essential for regulating physiological functions of the central nervous system. In various injuries and diseases of the central nervous system, astrocytes often change their phenotypes into neurotoxic ones that participate in pro-inflammatory responses (hereafter referred to as "immune functions"). Such astrocytic immune functions are not only limited to brain diseases but are also found in ocular neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma, a retinal neurodegenerative disease that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The eye has two astrocyte-lineage cells: astrocytes and Müller cells. They maintain the physiological environment of the retina and optic nerve, thereby controlling visual function. Dysfunction of astrocyte-lineage cells may be involved in the onset and progression of glaucoma. These cells become reactive in glaucoma patients, and animal studies have suggested that their immune responses may be linked to glaucoma-related events: tissue remodeling, neuronal death, and infiltration of peripheral immune cells. In this review, we discuss the role of the immune functions of astrocyte-lineage cells in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
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10
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Yang AT, Kim YO, Yan XZ, Abe H, Aslam M, Park KS, Zhao XY, Jia JD, Klein T, You H, Schuppan D. Fibroblast Activation Protein Activates Macrophages and Promotes Parenchymal Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:841-867. [PMID: 36521660 PMCID: PMC9972574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed on activated fibroblast. Its role in fibrosis and desmoplasia is controversial, and data on pharmacological FAP inhibition are lacking. We aimed to better define the role of FAP in liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. METHODS FAP expression was analyzed in mice and patients with fibrotic liver diseases of various etiologies. Fibrotic mice received a specific FAP inhibitor (FAPi) at 2 doses orally for 2 weeks during parenchymal fibrosis progression (6 weeks of carbon tetrachloride) and regression (2 weeks off carbon tetrachloride), and with biliary fibrosis (Mdr2-/-). Recombinant FAP was added to (co-)cultures of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), fibroblasts, and macrophages. Fibrosis- and inflammation-related parameters were determined biochemically, by quantitative immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, and transcriptomics. RESULTS FAP+ fibroblasts/HSCs were α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-negative and located at interfaces of fibrotic septa next to macrophages in murine and human livers. In parenchymal fibrosis, FAPi reduced collagen area, liver collagen content, α-SMA+ myofibroblasts, M2-type macrophages, serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase, key fibrogenesis-related transcripts, and increased hepatocyte proliferation 10-fold. During regression, FAP was suppressed, and FAPi was ineffective. FAPi less potently inhibited biliary fibrosis. In vitro, FAP small interfering RNA reduced HSC α-SMA expression and collagen production, and FAPi suppressed their activation and proliferation. Compared with untreated macrophages, FAPi regulated macrophage profibrogenic activation and transcriptome, and their conditioned medium attenuated HSC activation, which was increased with addition of recombinant FAP. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacological FAP inhibition attenuates inflammation-predominant liver fibrosis. FAP is expressed on subsets of activated fibroblasts/HSC and promotes both macrophage and HSC profibrogenic activity in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ting Yang
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Experimental and Translational Research Center, Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China; Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China; National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Ook Kim
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Xu-Zhen Yan
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China; Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China; National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hiroyuki Abe
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Misbah Aslam
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kyoung-Sook Park
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Xin-Yan Zhao
- Liver Research Center, Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China; Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China; National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ji-Dong Jia
- Liver Research Center, Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China; Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China; National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Thomas Klein
- Boehringer-Ingelheim, Cardiometabolic Research, Biberach, Germany
| | - Hong You
- Liver Research Center, Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China; National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.
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11
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Wang YY, Lu SJ, Gui R, Wu JP, Li J, He XA, Zhang W, Deng GM, Wang WX, Long HP, Wei XF, Zeng GY, Zhang N, Zang SM, Yao Y, Chen ZH, Fei C, Wang YK, Xu KP. Hepatic lipidomics and proteomics analysis reveals the mechanism of Cyclocarya paliurus flavonoids in preventing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. J Funct Foods 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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12
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Liu Y, Chen M. Targeting hepatic stellate cells may serve as a promising target for hepatic steatosis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 37:2331. [PMID: 36254850 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - M Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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13
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Xu R, Pan J, Zhou W, Ji G, Dang Y. Recent advances in lean NAFLD. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113331. [PMID: 35779422 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
As the predominant type of chronic liver disease, the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a concern worldwide. Although obesity plays the most pivotal role in NAFLD, approximately 10-20% of individuals with NAFLD who are not overweight or obese (BMI < 25 kg/m2, or BMI < 23 kg/m2 in Asians) have "lean NAFLD." Lean individuals with NAFLD have a lower prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome than nonlean individuals with NAFLD, but higher fibrosis scores and rates of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality in advanced stages. The pathophysiological mechanisms of lean NAFLD remain poorly understood. Studies have shown that lean NAFLD is more correlated with factors such as environmental, genetic susceptibility, and epigenetic regulation. This review will examine the way in which the research progress and characteristic of lean NAFLD, and explore the function of epigenetic modification to provide the basis for the clinical treatment and diagnosis of lean NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruohui Xu
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases (ccCRDD), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiashu Pan
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases (ccCRDD), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Digestive Disease, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenjun Zhou
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases (ccCRDD), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guang Ji
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases (ccCRDD), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yanqi Dang
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, China-Canada Center of Research for Digestive Diseases (ccCRDD), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
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14
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Niu WX, Bao YY, Zhang N, Lu ZN, Ge MX, Li YM, Li Y, Chen MH, He HW. Dehydromevalonolactone ameliorates liver fibrosis and inflammation by repressing activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Bioorg Chem 2022; 127:105971. [PMID: 35749855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is an important process in chronic liver disease and is strongly related to poor prognosis. Dehydromevalonolactone (C8) is a natural product isolated from a fungus of Fusarium sp. CPCC 401218, and its pharmacological activity has never been reported before. In this study, the potential of C8 as an anti-hepatic fibrosis agent was investigated. In human hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line LX-2, C8 suppressed the increased expression of COL1A1 and α-SMA induced by TGFβ1, which indicated that C8 could repress the activation of HSCs. In bile duct ligated rats, C8 administration (100 mg/kg, i.p.) markedly attenuated liver injury, fibrosis, and inflammation, and suppressed the expression of the macrophage surface marker F4/80. In terms of mechanism, C8 treatment blocked the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which was stimulated by LPS and nigericin in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and companied by the release of active IL-1β. In addition, the activation of LX-2 cells induced by IL-1β released from BMDMs was also inhibited after C8 administration, which indicated that C8 repressed HSCs activation by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Furthermore, C8 exhibited the effects of anti-fibrosis and inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mice. Finally, C8 can be commendably absorbed in vivo and was safe for mice at the concentration of 1000 mg/kg (p.o.). In summary, our study reveals that C8 ameliorates HSCs activation and liver fibrosis in cholestasis rats and NASH mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, and C8 might be a safe and effective candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Xiao Niu
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yun-Yang Bao
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Zhen-Ning Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Mao-Xu Ge
- Department of Pharmacy, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yi Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Ming-Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Hong-Wei He
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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15
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Liu Y, Li Y, Liang J, Sun Z, Wu Q, Liu Y, Sun C. Leptin: an entry point for the treatment of peripheral tissue fibrosis and related diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 106:108608. [PMID: 35180626 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Leptin is a small peptide mainly secreted by adipocyte, which acts on the central nervous system of the hypothalamus to regulate the body's energy balance by inhibiting food intake, it also can directly act on specific cells through leptin receptors (for example, ObRa, which exists in the blood-brain barrier or kidneys), thereby affect cell metabolism. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) causes damage to normal tissues or destruction of organ structure, which will eventually lead to tissue or organ fibrosis. The sustainable development of fibrosis can lead to structural damage and functional decline of organs, and even exhaustion, which seriously threatens human health and life. In recent years, studies have found that leptin directly alleviates the fibrosis process of various tissues and organs in mammals. Therefore, we speculate that leptin may become a significant treatment for fibrosis of various tissues and organs in the future. So, the main purpose of this review is to explore the specific mechanism of leptin in the process of fibrosis in multiple tissues and organs, and to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of various tissues and organs fibrosis and related diseases caused by it, which is of great significance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexia Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Yizhou Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Juntong Liang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Zhuwen Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Qiong Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining, 810000, China.
| | - Yongnian Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining, 810000, China.
| | - Chao Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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16
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Perryman L, Gray SG. Fibrosis in Mesothelioma: Potential Role of Lysyl Oxidases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040981. [PMID: 35205728 PMCID: PMC8870010 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies (such as checkpoint inhibitors) and standard chemotherapies (such as cisplatin) have limitations in the successful treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Fibrosis is the accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues, making them denser than that of healthy tissues and thereby affecting drug delivery and immune cell infiltration. Moreover, fibrosis severely affects the patient's breathing and quality of life. The production of collagen and its assembly is highly regulated by various enzymes such as lysyl oxidases. Many solid tumors aberrantly express the family of lysyl oxidases (LOX/LOXL). This review examines how LOX/LOXLs were found to be dysregulated in noncancerous and cancerous settings, discusses their roles in solid tumor fibrosis and pathogenesis and explores the role of fibrosis in the development and poor clinical outcomes of patients with MPM. We examine the current preclinical status of drugs targeting LOX/LOXLs and how the incorporation of such drugs may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment and management of patients with MPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Perryman
- Drug Discovery Department, Pharmaxis Ltd., Sydney, NSW 2086, Australia;
| | - Steven G. Gray
- Thoracic Oncology, Labmed Directorate, St James’s Hospital, D08 RX0X Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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17
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Nuovo GJ, Suster D, Awad H, Michaille JJ, Tili E. The histologic and molecular correlates of liver disease in fatal COVID-19 including with alcohol use disorder. Ann Diagn Pathol 2021; 57:151881. [PMID: 34968863 PMCID: PMC8694815 DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2021.151881] [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: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic disease is common in severe COVID-19. This study compared the histologic/molecular findings in the liver in fatal COVID-19 (n = 9) and age-matched normal controls (n = 9); three of the fatal COVID-19 livers had pre-existing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Controls showed a high resident population of sinusoidal macrophages that had variable ACE2 expression. Histologic findings in the cases included periportal/lobular inflammation. SARS-CoV2 RNA and nucleocapsid protein were detected in situ in 2/9 COVID-19 livers in low amounts. In 9/9 cases, there was ample in situ SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that co-localized with viral matrix and envelope proteins. The number of cells positive for spike/100× field was significantly greater in the AUD/COVID-19 cases (mean 5.9) versus the non-AUD/COVID-19 cases (mean 0.4, p < 0.001) which was corroborated by Western blots. ACE2+ cells were 10× greater in AUD/COVID-19 livers versus the other COVID-19/control liver samples (p < 0.001). Co-expression experiments showed that the spike protein localized to the ACE2 positive macrophages and, in the AUD cases, hepatic stellate cells that were activated as evidenced by IL6 and TNFα expression. Injection of the S1, but not S2, subunit of spike in mice induced hepatic lobular inflammation in activated macrophages. It is concluded that endocytosed viral spike protein can induce hepatitis in fatal COVID-19. This spike induced hepatitis is more robust in the livers with pre-existing AUD which may relate to why patients with alcohol abuse are at higher risk of severe liver disease with SARS-CoV2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard J Nuovo
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA; GnomeDX, Powell, OH, USA.
| | - David Suster
- Rutgers University Hospital Department of Pathology, Newark, NY, USA
| | - Hamdy Awad
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jean-Jacques Michaille
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; BioPerox-IL, Faculté des Sciences Gabriel, Université de Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Esmerina Tili
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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18
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Yang A, Yan X, Xu H, Fan X, Zhang M, Huang T, Li W, Chen W, Jia J, You H. Selective depletion of hepatic stellate cells-specific LOXL1 alleviates liver fibrosis. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21918. [PMID: 34569648 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100374r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The role of LOXL1 in fibrosis via mediating ECM crosslinking and stabilization is well established; however, the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)-specific LOXL1 in the development of fibrosis remains unknown. We generated HSCs-specific Loxl1-depleted mice (Loxl1Gfap-cre mice) to investigate the HSCs-specific contribution of LOXL1 in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Loxl1fl/fl mice were used as the control. Furthermore, we used RNA sequencing to explore the underlying changes in the transcriptome. Results of the sirius red staining, type I collagen immunolabeling, and hydroxyproline content analysis, coupled with the reduced expression of profibrogenic genes revealed that Loxl1Gfap-cre mice with CCl4 -induced fibrosis exhibited decreased hepatic fibrosis. In addition, Loxl1Gfap-cre mice exhibited reduced macrophage tissue infiltration by CD68-positive cells and decreased expression of inflammatory genes compared with the controls. RNA sequencing identified integrin α8 (ITGA8) as a key modulator of LOXL1-mediated liver fibrosis. Functional analyses showed that siRNA silencing of Itga8 in cultured fibroblasts led to a decline in the LOXL1 expression and inhibition of fibroblast activation. Mechanistic analyses indicated that LOXL1 activated the FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a signaling pathway, and the addition of inhibitors of FAK or PI3K reversed these results via downregulation of LOXL1. Furthermore, HIF1a directly interacted with LOXL1 and upregulated its expression, indicating that LOXL1 can positively self-regulate by forming a positive feedback loop with the FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a pathway. We demonstrated that HSCs-specific Loxl1 deficiency prevented fibrosis, inflammation and that ITGA8/FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a was essential for the function and expression of LOXL1. Knowledge of this approach can provide novel mechanisms and targets to treat fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiting Yang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xuzhen Yan
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hufeng Xu
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xu Fan
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengyang Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weiyu Li
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hong You
- Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
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19
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Wu T, Chen T, Ning Q. Validation of non-invasive tools in predicting HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure. Hepatol Int 2021; 15:571-574. [PMID: 34142336 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-021-10185-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wu
- Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Qin Ning
- Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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