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Leask A. Conjunction junction, what's the function? CCN proteins as targets in fibrosis and cancers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020; 318:C1046-C1054. [PMID: 32130070 PMCID: PMC7311738 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00028.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cellular communication network (CCN) proteins are matricellular proteins that coordinate signaling among extracellular matrix, secreted proteins, and cell surface receptors. Their specific in vivo function is context-dependent, but they play profound roles in pathological conditions, such as fibrosis and cancers. Anti-CCN therapies are in clinical consideration. Only recently, however, has the function of these complex molecules begun to emerge. This review summarizes and interprets our current knowledge regarding these fascinating molecules and provides experimental evidence for their utility as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Leask
- School of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Tsang M, Quesnel K, Vincent K, Hutchenreuther J, Postovit LM, Leask A. Insights into Fibroblast Plasticity: Cellular Communication Network 2 Is Required for Activation of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in a Murine Model of Melanoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 190:206-221. [PMID: 31610176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor stroma resembles a fibrotic microenvironment, being characterized by the presence of myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In wild-type mice injected with melanoma cells, we show that the stem cell transcription factor Sox2 is expressed by tumor cells and induced in CAFs derived from synthetic fibroblasts. These fibroblasts were labeled postnatally with green fluorescent protein using mice expressing a tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase under the control of a fibroblast-specific promoter/enhancer. Conversely, fibroblast activation was impaired in mice with a fibroblast-specific deletion of cellular communication network 2 (Ccn2), associated with reduced expression of α-smooth muscle actin and Sox2. Multipotent Sox2-expressing skin-derived precursor (SKP) spheroids were cultured from murine back skin. Using lineage tracing and flow cytometry, approximately 40% of SKPs were found to be derived from type I collagen-lineage cells and acquired multipotency in culture. Inhibition of mechanotransduction pathways prevented myofibroblast differentiation of SKPs and expression of Ccn2. In SKPs deleted for Ccn2, differentiation into a myofibroblast, but not an adipocyte or neuronal phenotype, was also impaired. In human melanoma, CCN2 expression was associated with a profibrotic integrin alpha (ITGA) 11-expressing subset of CAFs that negatively associated with survival. These results suggest that synthetic dermal fibroblasts are plastic, and that CCN2 is required for the differentiation of dermal progenitor cells into a myofibroblast/CAF phenotype and is, therefore, a therapeutic target in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tsang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine Quesnel
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Krista Vincent
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Hutchenreuther
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Leask
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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Quesnel K, Shi-Wen X, Hutchenreuther J, Xiao Y, Liu S, Peidl A, Naskar D, Siqueira WL, O'Gorman DB, Hinz B, Stratton RJ, Leask A. CCN1 expression by fibroblasts is required for bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. Matrix Biol Plus 2019; 3:100009. [PMID: 33543008 PMCID: PMC7852207 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2019.100009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The microenvironment contributes to the excessive connective tissue deposition that characterizes fibrosis. Members of the CCN family of matricellular proteins are secreted by fibroblasts into the fibrotic microenvironment; however, the role of endogenous CCN1 in skin fibrosis is unknown. Mice harboring a fibroblast-specific deletion for CCN1 were used to assess if CCN1 contributes to dermal homeostasis, wound healing, and skin fibrosis. Mice with a fibroblast-specific CCN1 deletion showed progressive skin thinning and reduced accumulation of type I collagen; however, the overall mechanical property of skin (Young's modulus) was not significantly reduced. Real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that CCN1-deficient skin displayed reduced expression of mRNAs encoding enzymes that promote collagen stability (including prolyl-4-hydroxylase and PLOD2), although expression of COL1A1 mRNA was unaltered. CCN1-deficent skin showed reduced hydroxyproline levels. Electron microscopy revealed that collagen fibers were disorganized in CCN1-deficient skin. CCN1-deficient mice were resistant to bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis, as visualized by reduced collagen accumulation and skin thickness suggesting that deposition/accumulation of collagen is impaired in the absence of CCN1. Conversely, CCN1-deficient mice showed unaltered wound closure kinetics, suggesting de novo collagen production in response to injury did not require CCN1. In response to either wounding or bleomycin, induction of α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts was unaffected by loss of CCN1. CCN1 protein was overexpressed by dermal fibroblasts isolated from lesional (i.e., fibrotic) areas of patients with early onset diffuse scleroderma. Thus, CCN1 expression by fibroblasts, being essential for skin fibrosis, is a viable anti-fibrotic target. The role of endogenous CCN1 in skin biology is largely unknown Fibroblast-specific deletion CCN1 causes thinner skin and misaligned collagen CCN1-deficient mice were resistant to bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis Wound healing closure kinetics was unaffected by loss of CCN1 CCN1 may be as a target for anti-fibrotic therapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Quesnel
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Xu Shi-Wen
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London (Royal Free Campus), London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - James Hutchenreuther
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Yizhi Xiao
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Shangxi Liu
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Alexander Peidl
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Deboki Naskar
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1G6, Canada
| | - Walter L Siqueira
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - David B O'Gorman
- Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, Lawson Research Institute, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.,Departments of Biochemistry and Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, N6A 5C1, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1G6, Canada
| | - Richard J Stratton
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London (Royal Free Campus), London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Andrew Leask
- Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
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Andl T, Zhou L, Yang K, Kadekaro AL, Zhang Y. YAP and WWTR1: New targets for skin cancer treatment. Cancer Lett 2017; 396:30-41. [PMID: 28279717 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The core components of the Hippo signaling pathway are a cascade of kinases that govern the phosphorylation of downstream transcriptional co-activators, namely, YES-associated protein (YAP) and WW domain-containing transcription regulator protein 1 (WWTR1, also known as TAZ). The Hippo signaling pathway is considered an important tumor-suppressor pathway, and its dysregulation has been noted in a variety of human cancers, in which YAP/WWTR1 enable cancerous cells to overcome contact inhibition, and to grow and spread uncontrollably. Interestingly, however, recent studies have told a somewhat different but perhaps more intriguing YAP/WWTR1 story, as these studies found that YAP/WWTR1 function as a central hub that integrates signals from multiple upstream signaling pathways, cell-cell interactions and mechanical forces and then bind to and activate different downstream transcriptional factors to direct cell social behavior and cell-cell interactions. In this review, we present the latest findings on the role of YAP/WWTR1 in skin physiology, pathology and tumorigenesis and discuss the statuses of newly developed therapeutic interventions that target YAP/WWTR1 in human cancers, as well as their prospects for use as skin cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Andl
- Burnett School of Biological Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
| | - Linli Zhou
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Kun Yang
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Ana Luisa Kadekaro
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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Jun JI, Lau LF. CCN2 induces cellular senescence in fibroblasts. J Cell Commun Signal 2016; 11:15-23. [PMID: 27752926 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-016-0359-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of Ccn2 (CTGF) has been linked to fibrosis in many tissues and pathologies, although its activities in fibroblastic cells and precise mechanism of action in fibrogenesis are still controversial. Here, we showed that CCN2 can induce cellular senescence in fibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo, whereupon senescent cells express an anti-fibrotic "senescence-associated secretory phenotype" (SASP) that includes upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and downregulation of collagen. Mechanistically, CCN2 induces fibroblast senescence through integrin α6β1-mediated accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to activation of p53 and induction of p16INK4a. In cutaneous wound healing, Ccn2 expression is highly elevated only during the initial inflammatory phase and quickly declines thereafter to a low level during the proliferation and maturation phases of healing when myofibroblasts play a major role. Consistent with this expression kinetics, knockdown of Ccn2 has little effect on the rate of wound closure, formation of senescent cells, or collagen content of the wounds. However, application of purified CCN2 protein on cutaneous wounds leads to induction of senescent cells, expression of SASP, and reduction of collagen content. These results show that CCN2 can induce cellular senescence in fibroblasts and is capable of exerting an anti-fibrotic effect in a context-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Ii Jun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Lester F Lau
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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Tripoli M, Cordova A, Moschella F. Update on the role of molecular factors and fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's disease. J Cell Commun Signal 2016; 10:315-330. [PMID: 27271552 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-016-0331-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism by which the fibroblast is able to trigger palmar fibromatosis is still not yet fully understood. It would appear certain that the "abnormal" fibroblasts continuously synthesise profibrotic cytokines which are able to determine the activation to myofibroblasts, to stimulate them to the further proliferation and synthesis of other cytokines, to modify the cells' differentiation and ultrastructural characteristics, as well as the production of matrix and other proteins. Several fibroblast growth factors have been suggested to be responsible of an abnormal cell activation with an aberrantly elevated collagen synthesis and extracellular deposition in Dupuytren's disease, as TGF-Beta, TNF-Alfa, PDGF, GM-CSF, free radicals, metalloproteinases, sex hormones, gene modified expression, mechanical stimulation. The Authors review the current state of knowledge in the field, by analyzing the role of these cytokines in the palmar fibromatosis.
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Hutchenreuther J, Leask A. A tale of two orgins: do myofibroblasts originate from different sources in wound healing and fibrosis? Cell Tissue Res 2016; 365:507-9. [PMID: 27184951 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-016-2419-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James Hutchenreuther
- Departments of Dentistry and Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Andrew Leask
- Departments of Dentistry and Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada.
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Mu S, Kang B, Zeng W, Sun Y, Yang F. MicroRNA-143-3p inhibits hyperplastic scar formation by targeting connective tissue growth factor CTGF/CCN2 via the Akt/mTOR pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2016; 416:99-108. [PMID: 27075467 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-016-2699-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic hypertrophic scar (HS) is a fibrotic disease with excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) production, which is a response to tissue injury by fibroblasts. Although emerging evidence has indicated that miRNA contributes to hypertrophic scarring, the role of miRNA in HS formation remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-143-3p was markedly downregulated in HS tissues and fibroblasts (HSFs) using qRT-PCR. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) was upregulated both in HS tissues and HSFs, which is proposed to play a key role in ECM deposition in HS. The protein expression of collagen I (Col I), collagen III (Col III), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was obviously inhibited after treatment with miR-143-3p in HSFs. The CCK-8 assay showed that miR-143-3p transfection reduced the proliferation ability of HSFs, and flow cytometry showed that either early or late apoptosis of HSFs was upregulated by miR-143-3p. In addition, the activity of caspase 3 and caspase 9 was increased after miR-143-3p transfection. On the contrary, the miR-143-3p inhibitor was demonstrated to increase cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of HSFs. Moreover, miR-143-3p targeted the 3'-UTR of CTGF and caused a significant decrease of CTGF. Western blot demonstrated that Akt/mTOR phosphorylation and the expression of CTGF, Col I, Col III, and α-SMA were inhibited by miR-143-3p, but increased by CTGF overexpression. In conclusion, we found that miR-143-3p inhibits hypertrophic scarring by regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of human HSFs, inhibiting ECM production-associated protein expression by targeting CTGF, and restraining the Akt/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzhi Mu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Bei Kang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Weihui Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, 710003, China.
| | - Yaowen Sun
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, 710068, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, 710068, China
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Fixing a hole: CCN2 closes chronic wounds. J Cell Commun Signal 2015; 9:281-2. [PMID: 25899386 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-015-0292-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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