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Ding C, Wang Z, Dou X, Yang Q, Ning Y, Kao S, Sang X, Hao M, Wang K, Peng M, Zhang S, Han X, Cao G. Farnesoid X receptor: From Structure to Function and Its Pharmacology in Liver Fibrosis. Aging Dis 2024; 15:1508-1536. [PMID: 37815898 PMCID: PMC11272191 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, plays a crucial role in regulating bile acid metabolism within the enterohepatic circulation. Beyond its involvement in metabolic disorders and immune imbalances affecting various tissues, FXR is implicated in microbiota modulation, gut-to-brain communication, and liver disease. The liver, as a pivotal metabolic and detoxification organ, is susceptible to damage from factors such as alcohol, viruses, drugs, and high-fat diets. Chronic or recurrent liver injury can culminate in liver fibrosis, which, if left untreated, may progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer, posing significant health risks. However, therapeutic options for liver fibrosis remain limited in terms of FDA-approved drugs. Recent insights into the structure of FXR, coupled with animal and clinical investigations, have shed light on its potential pharmacological role in hepatic fibrosis. Progress has been achieved in both fundamental research and clinical applications. This review critically examines recent advancements in FXR research, highlighting challenges and potential mechanisms underlying its role in liver fibrosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Jinhua Institute, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jinhua, China
| | - Zeping Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyue Dou
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Ning
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi Kao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xianan Sang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Hao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kuilong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengyun Peng
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuosheng Zhang
- College of Chinese Materia Medica and Food Engineering, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, China
| | - Xin Han
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Jinhua Institute, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jinhua, China
| | - Gang Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Jinhua Institute, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jinhua, China
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Wang J, Fang Y, Luo Z, Wang J, Zhao Y. Emerging mRNA Technology for Liver Disease Therapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:17378-17406. [PMID: 38916747 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Liver diseases have consistently posed substantial challenges to global health. It is crucial to find innovative methods to effectively prevent and treat these diseases. In recent times, there has been an increasing interest in the use of mRNA formulations that accumulate in liver tissue for the treatment of hepatic diseases. In this review, we start by providing a detailed introduction to the mRNA technology. Afterward, we highlight types of liver diseases, discussing their causes, risks, and common therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we summarize the latest advancements in mRNA technology for the treatment of liver diseases. This includes systems based on hepatocyte growth factor, hepatitis B virus antibody, left-right determination factor 1, human hepatocyte nuclear factor α, interleukin-12, methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase, etc. Lastly, we provide an outlook on the potential of mRNA technology for the treatment of liver diseases, while also highlighting the various technical challenges that need to be addressed. Despite these difficulties, mRNA-based therapeutic strategies may change traditional treatment methods, bringing hope to patients with liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yile Fang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhiqiang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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Nian L, Li W, Zhang C, Li L, Zhang G, Xiao J. 3D-Printed SERS Chips for Highly Specific Detection of Denatured Type I and IV Collagens in Blood for Early Hepatic Fibrosis Diagnosis. ACS Sens 2024; 9:3272-3281. [PMID: 38836565 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00623] [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: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis, the insidious progression of chronic liver scarring leading to life-threatening cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitates the urgent development of noninvasive and precise diagnostic methodologies. Denatured collagen emerges as a critical biomarker in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. Herein, we have for the first time developed 3D-printed collagen capture chips for highly specific surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of denatured type I and type IV collagen in blood, facilitating the early diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Employing a novel blend of denatured collagen-targeting peptide-modified silver nanoparticle probes (Ag@DCTP) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), we engineered a robust ink for the 3D fabrication of these collagen capture chips. The chips are further equipped with specialized SERS peptide probes, Ag@ICTP@R1 (S-I) and Ag@IVCTP@R2 (S-IV), tailored for the targeted detection of type I and IV collagen, respectively. The SERS chip platform demonstrated exceptional specificity and sensitivity in capturing and detecting denatured type I and IV collagen, achieving detection limits of 3.5 ng/mL for type I and 3.2 ng/mL for type IV collagen within a 10-400 ng/mL range. When tested on serum samples from hepatic fibrosis mouse models across a spectrum of fibrosis stages (S0-S4), the chips consistently measured denatured type I collagen and detected a progressive increase in type IV collagen concentration, which correlated with the severity of fibrosis. This novel strategy establishes a benchmark for the multiplexed detection of collagen biomarkers, enhancing our capacity to assess the stages of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linge Nian
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Wenhua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Chunxia Zhang
- Tianjin Baogang Rare Earth Research Institute Company, Limited, Beijing 100022, P. R. China
| | - Lu Li
- Tianjin Baogang Rare Earth Research Institute Company, Limited, Beijing 100022, P. R. China
| | - Guangrui Zhang
- Tianjin Baogang Rare Earth Research Institute Company, Limited, Beijing 100022, P. R. China
| | - Jianxi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
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Wang F, Gan J, Li R, Yang R, Mao X, Liu S, Chen Y, Duan Z, Li J. Naringin from Ganshuang granule inhibits inflammatory to relieve liver fibrosis through TGF-β-Smad signaling pathway. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304185. [PMID: 38857261 PMCID: PMC11164354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304185] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to investigate the specific protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Ganshuang granule (GSG) on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rat models. METHODS Hepatic fibrosis was experimentally evoked in rats by DMN administration, and varying dosages of GSG were employed as an intervention. Hepatocellular damage was assessed by measuring serum levels of aminotransferase and bilirubin, accompanied by histopathological examinations of hepatic tissue. The hepatic concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were quantitated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) within hepatic tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemical techniques. The levels of hepatic interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and a spectrum of interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Additionally, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to TNF-α in the presence of naringin, a principal component of GSG. The gene expression levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metallopeptidase-1 (MMP-1) in these cells were also quantified by qRT-PCR. Proliferative activity of HSCs was evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Finally, alterations in Smad protein expression were analyzed through Western blotting. RESULTS Administration of GSG in rats with fibrosis resulted in reduced levels of serum aminotransferases and bilirubin, along with alleviation of histopathological liver injury. Furthermore, the fibrosis rats treated with GSG exhibited significant downregulation of hepatic TGF-β1, PDGF, and TNF-α levels. Additionally, GSG treatment led to increased mRNA levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4, as well as decreased expression of α-SMA in the liver. Furthermore, treatment with naringin, a pivotal extract of GSG, resulted in elevated expression of MMP-1 and decreased levels of TIMP-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HSCs when compared to the control group. Additionally, naringin administration led to a reduction in Smad expression within the HSCs. CONCLUSION GSG has the potential to mitigate fibrosis induced by DMN in rat models through the regulation of inflammatory and fibrosis factors. Notably, naringin, the primary extract of GSG, may exert a pivotal role in modulating the TGF-β-Smad signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuchun Wang
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Gan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baiyin Pingchuan District People’s Hospital, Baiyin, Gansu, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaorong Mao
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongping Duan
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Heredia-Torres TG, Alvarado-Martínez V, Rincón-Sánchez AR, Lozano-Sepúlveda SA, Galán-Huerta KA, Arellanos-Soto D, Rivas-Estilla AM. Hepatitis C virus NS5A and core protein induce fibrosis-related genes regulation on Huh7 cells through activation of LX2 cells. Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101517. [PMID: 38852781 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2024.101517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Liver fibrosis remains a complication derived from a chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection even when it is resolved, and no liver antifibrotic drug has been approved. Molecular mechanisms on hepatocytes and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. To elucidate molecular mechanisms, it is important to analyze pathway regulation during HSC activation and HCV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluate the fibrosis-associated molecular mechanisms during a co-culture of human HSCs (LX2), with human hepatocytes (Huh7) that express HCV NS5A or Core protein. We evaluated LX2 activation induced by HCV NS5A or Core expression in Huh7 cells during co-culture. We determined a fibrosis-associated gene expression profile in Huh7 that expresses NS5A or Core proteins during the co-culture with LX2. RESULTS We observed that NS5A induced 8.3-, 6.7- and 4-fold changes and that Core induced 6.5-, 1.8-, and 6.2-fold changes in the collagen1, TGFβ1, and timp1 gene expression, respectively, in LX2 co-cultured with transfected Huh7. In addition, NS5A induced the expression of 30 genes while Core induced 41 genes and reduced the expression of 30 genes related to fibrosis in Huh7 cells during the co-culture with LX2, compared to control. The molecular pathways enriched from the gene expression profile were involved in TGFB signaling and the organization of extracellular matrix. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that HCV NS5A and Core protein expression regulate LX2 activation. NS5A and Core-induced LX2 activation, in turn, regulates diverse fibrosis-related gene expression at different levels in Huh7, which can be further analyzed as potential antifibrotic targets during HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania G Heredia-Torres
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Veronica Alvarado-Martínez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Ana R Rincón-Sánchez
- IBMMTG, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Sonia A Lozano-Sepúlveda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Kame A Galán-Huerta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Daniel Arellanos-Soto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Ana M Rivas-Estilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, CIIViM, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
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Caon E, Martins M, Hodgetts H, Blanken L, Vilia MG, Levi A, Thanapirom K, Al-Akkad W, Abu-Hanna J, Baselli G, Hall AR, Luong TV, Taanman JW, Vacca M, Valenti L, Romeo S, Mazza G, Pinzani M, Rombouts K. Exploring the impact of the PNPLA3 I148M variant on primary human hepatic stellate cells using 3D extracellular matrix models. J Hepatol 2024; 80:941-956. [PMID: 38365182 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.032] [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: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G (encoding for I148M) variant is a risk locus for the fibrogenic progression of chronic liver diseases, a process driven by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We investigated how the PNPLA3 I148M variant affects HSC biology using transcriptomic data and validated findings in 3D-culture models. METHODS RNA sequencing was performed on 2D-cultured primary human HSCs and liver biopsies of individuals with obesity, genotyped for the PNPLA3 I148M variant. Data were validated in wild-type (WT) or PNPLA3 I148M variant-carrying HSCs cultured on 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds from human healthy and cirrhotic livers, with/without TGFB1 or cytosporone B (Csn-B) treatment. RESULTS Transcriptomic analyses of liver biopsies and HSCs highlighted shared PNPLA3 I148M-driven dysregulated pathways related to mitochondrial function, antioxidant response, ECM remodelling and TGFB1 signalling. Analogous pathways were dysregulated in WT/PNPLA3-I148M HSCs cultured in 3D liver scaffolds. Mitochondrial dysfunction in PNPLA3-I148M cells was linked to respiratory chain complex IV insufficiency. Antioxidant capacity was lower in PNPLA3-I148M HSCs, while reactive oxygen species secretion was increased in PNPLA3-I148M HSCs and higher in bioengineered cirrhotic vs. healthy scaffolds. TGFB1 signalling followed the same trend. In PNPLA3-I148M cells, expression and activation of the endogenous TGFB1 inhibitor NR4A1 were decreased: treatment with the Csn-B agonist increased total NR4A1 in HSCs cultured in healthy but not in cirrhotic 3D scaffolds. NR4A1 regulation by TGFB1/Csn-B was linked to Akt signalling in PNPLA3-WT HSCs and to Erk signalling in PNPLA3-I148M HSCs. CONCLUSION HSCs carrying the PNPLA3 I148M variant have impaired mitochondrial function, antioxidant responses, and increased TGFB1 signalling, which dampens antifibrotic NR4A1 activity. These features are exacerbated by cirrhotic ECM, highlighting the dual impact of the PNPLA3 I148M variant and the fibrotic microenvironment in progressive chronic liver diseases. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a key role in the fibrogenic process associated with chronic liver disease. The PNPLA3 genetic mutation has been linked with increased risk of fibrogenesis, but its role in HSCs requires further investigation. Here, by using comparative transcriptomics and a novel 3D in vitro model, we demonstrate the impact of the PNPLA3 genetic mutation on primary human HSCs' behaviour, and we show that it affects the cell's mitochondrial function and antioxidant response, as well as the antifibrotic gene NR4A1. Our publicly available transcriptomic data, 3D platform and our findings on NR4A1 could facilitate the discovery of targets to develop more effective treatments for chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Caon
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Maria Martins
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Harry Hodgetts
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Lieke Blanken
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Maria Giovanna Vilia
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Ana Levi
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Kessarin Thanapirom
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Walid Al-Akkad
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Jeries Abu-Hanna
- Research Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Guido Baselli
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrew R Hall
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tu Vinh Luong
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jan-Willem Taanman
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London UK
| | - Michele Vacca
- Laboratory of Hepatic Metabolism and NAFLD, Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, London, UK; Clinica Medica "Frugoni", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Valenti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Precision Medicine, Biological Resource Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Romeo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Giuseppe Mazza
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Krista Rombouts
- Regenerative Medicine and Fibrosis Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK.
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Lv Z, Song J, Xiang Y, Chen Z, Lu Z, Zhou Q, Wang K, Dahong HT, Zheng J, Zhang C, Gao S, Qin C, Chang J. Structural characterization and therapeutic effect of Alhagi honey oligosaccharide on liver fibrosis in mice. Fitoterapia 2024; 175:105974. [PMID: 38663563 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2024.105974] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Alhagi honey is derived from the secretory granules of Alhagi pseudoalhagi Desv., a leguminous plant commonly known as camelthorn. Modern medical research has demonstrated that the extract of Alhagi honey possesses regulatory properties for the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, as well as exerts anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this study was to isolate and purify oligosaccharide monomers (referred to as Mel) from camelthorn and elucidate their structural characteristics. Subsequently, the impact of Mel on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice was investigated. The analysis identified the isolated oligosaccharide monomer (α-D-Glcp-(1 → 3)-β-D-Fruf-(2 → 1)-α-D-Glcp), with the molecular formula C18H32O16. In a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, Mel demonstrated significant therapeutic effects by attenuating the development of fibrosis. Moreover, it enhanced anti-oxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) in liver tissues, thereby reducing oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species). Mel also improved serum albumin levels, lowered liver enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase), and decreased inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6). Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting analyses confirmed the ability of Mel to downregulate hepatic stellate cell-specific markers (collagen type I alpha 1 chain, alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-beta 1. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed the influence of Mel on metabolic pathways related to glutathione, niacin, pyrimidine, butyric acid, and amino acids. In conclusion, the results of our study highlight the promising potential of Mel, derived from Alhagi honey, as a viable candidate drug for treating liver fibrosis. This discovery offers a potentially advantageous option for individuals seeking natural and effective means to promote liver health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Lv
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Jianzhong Song
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China; Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, China
| | - Zhanghao Chen
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Zinan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Quanqian Zhou
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Kaizhen Wang
- College of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Hailiqian Taoer Dahong
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Jiarui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Lihu Avenue 1800, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, China
| | - Shuang Gao
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
| | - Chunjun Qin
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Lihu Avenue 1800, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Junmin Chang
- The Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Active Components and Drug Release Technology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China.
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Cao Y, Yang H, Huang Y, Lu J, Du H, Wang B. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-26a induces ferroptosis, suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation, and ameliorates liver fibrosis by modulating SLC7A11. Open Med (Wars) 2024; 19:20240945. [PMID: 38756248 PMCID: PMC11097046 DOI: 10.1515/med-2024-0945] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a key contributor to hepatic disease-related mortality. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been revealed to improve liver fibrosis. To explore the effect and mechanism of MSC-derived exosomal miR-26a on liver fibrosis, exosomes were separated from bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) and used to treat with LX2 cells. The miR-26a level was decreased in BMSC-derived exosomes. Treatment with exosomes isolated from human BMSCs transfected with miR-26a mimics (miR-26a mimic-Exo) decreased the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cell rate, the protein level of α-SMA and collagen I, and the glutathione (GSH) level but enhanced the apoptosis rate and the reactive oxide species (ROS) level in LX2 cells, which were reversed by the treatment of deferoxamine. Mechanically, miR-26a directly bound SLC7A11 mRNA and negatively modulated the level of SLC7A11 in LX2 cells. Overexpression of SLC7A11 reversed the miR-26a mimic-Exo-induced alterations in the level of ROS, Fe2+, malonaldehyde, and GSH in LX2 cells. In vivo, miR-26a mimic-Exo decreased the level of SLC7A11 and attenuated CCL4-induced liver fibrosis. Collectively, miR-26a mimic-Exo induced ferroptosis to alleviate liver fibrosis by regulating SLC7A11, which may provide new strategies for the treatment of liver fibrosis, and even other relevant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingying Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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9
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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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10
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Sun G, Feng Z, Kuang Y, Fu Z, Wang Y, Zhao X, Wang F, Sun H, Yuan H, Dai L. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of piperazine derivatives as pan-PPARs agonists for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 269:116344. [PMID: 38522113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116344] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is commonly occurred in chronic liver diseases, but there is no approved drug for clinical use. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) could not only regulate metabolic homeostasis but also possess anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, and pan-PPARs agonist was considered as a potential anti-liver fibrosis agent. In this study, a series of novel piperazine pan-PPARs agonists were developed, and the preferred compound 12 displayed potent and well-balanced pan-PPARs agonistic activity. Moreover, compound 12 could dose-dependently stimulate the PPARs target genes expression and showed high selectivity over other related nuclear receptors. Importantly, compound 12 exhibited excellent pharmacokinetic profiles and good anti-liver fibrosis effects in vivo. Collectively, compound 12 holds promise for developing an anti-liver fibrosis agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhiqi Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Yufan Kuang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhuoxin Fu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Fengqin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Hongbin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Haoliang Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Liang Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China.
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11
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Salajegheh F, Rukerd MRZ, Nakhaie M, Ghoreshi ZAS, Charostad J, Arefinia N. Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals with liver cirrhosis: a rapid review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2024; 13:83-90. [PMID: 38752003 PMCID: PMC11091435 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2024.13.2.83] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been a remarkable advancement. However, the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of these vaccines in individuals with liver cirrhosis require careful evaluation due to their compromised immune status and potential interactions with underlying liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in liver cirrhosis patients. In the present study, we searched international databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The search strategy was carried out by using keywords and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms. STATA ver. 15.0 (Stata Corp., USA) was used to analyze the data statistically. The analysis was performed using the random-effects model. We also used the chi-square test and I2 index to calculate heterogeneity among studies. For evaluating publication bias, Begg's funnel plots and Egger's tests were used. A total of 4,831 liver cirrhosis patients with COVID-19 were examined from 11 studies. The rate of hospitalization in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9%-44%). The rate of fever in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 4.5% (95% CI, 0.9%-8.1%). The rate of positive neutralizing antibodies in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 82.5% (95% CI, 69.8%-95.1%). Also, the rates of seroconversion after the second vaccination in patients with liver cirrhosis and the control group were 96.6% (95% CI, 92.0%-99.0%), and 99.7% (95% CI, 99.0%-100.0%), respectively. COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated promising efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety profiles in individuals with liver cirrhosis, providing crucial protection against COVID-19-related complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faranak Salajegheh
- Clinical Research Development Unit, School of Medicine, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rezaei Zadeh Rukerd
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nakhaie
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Javad Charostad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
| | - Nasir Arefinia
- School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
- Bio Environmental Health Hazards Research Center, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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12
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Hassan RE, Saleh EM, Hamdy GM. Aloe vera gel relieves cadmium triggered hepatic injury via antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic routes. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04141-4. [PMID: 38467965 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04141-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Aloe vera (AV) gel extracted from fresh AV leaves was chosen in this study to evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities against cadmium (Cd) -induced liver injury. Forty Wistar male adult rats were equally divided into four groups. Group I (standard control) ingested with 2.5 ml/kg b.w. of physiological saline. Group II (Cd-intoxicated) received 3 mg/kg b.w./day of CdCl2 dissolved in saline. Group III (AV) received 200 mg/kg b.w./day of AV gel dissolved in saline. Group IV (Cd+AV) ingested with 200 mg/kg b.w./day of AV gel solution along with 3 mg/kg b.w. CdCl2. All groups were ingested orally by gavage for 3 consecutive weeks. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and HSP70 were measured in serum. The deposited Cd level, nitric oxide content, lipid peroxidation, collagen-1 (COL-1), and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels were all determined in liver tissue homogenates. Gene expression of NF-κB and IL-6, Bax, and Bcl2, as well as immunohistochemistry analysis of activated caspase-3, was performed. Results showed that ingestion of AV gel greatly relieved all oxidative stress due to Cd exposure, modulated the NF-κB, IL-6, Bax, and Bcl2 expression levels, and improved the apoptotic state. In conclusion, AV gel confirmed its potential ameliorating effect against liver injury induced due to Cd exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha E Hassan
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Eman M Saleh
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Germine M Hamdy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
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13
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Shinn J, Park S, Lee S, Park N, Kim S, Hwang S, Moon JJ, Kwon Y, Lee Y. Antioxidative Hyaluronic Acid-Bilirubin Nanomedicine Targeting Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells for Anti-Hepatic-Fibrosis Therapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:4704-4716. [PMID: 38288705 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening and irreversible disease. The fibrosis process is largely driven by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which undergo transdifferentiation from an inactivated state to an activated one during persistent liver damage. This activated state is responsible for collagen deposition in liver tissue and is accompanied by increased CD44 expression on the surfaces of HSCs and amplified intracellular oxidative stress, which contributes to the fibrosis process. To address this problem, we have developed a strategy that combines CD44-targeting of activated HSCs with an antioxidative approach. We developed hyaluronic acid-bilirubin nanoparticles (HABNs), composed of endogenous bilirubin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bile acid, and hyaluronic acid, an endogenous CD44-targeting glycosaminoglycan biopolymer. Our findings demonstrate that intravenously administered HABNs effectively targeted the liver, particularly activated HSCs, in fibrotic mice with choline-deficient l-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CD-HFD)-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). HABNs were able to inhibit HSC activation and proliferation and collagen production. Furthermore, in a murine CD-HFD-induced NASH fibrosis model, intravenously administered HABNs showed potent fibrotic modulation activity. Our study suggests that HABNs have the potential to serve as a targeted anti-hepatic-fibrosis therapy by modulating activated HSCs via CD44-targeting and antioxidant strategies. This strategy could also be applied to various ROS-related diseases in which CD44-overexpressing cells play a pivotal role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongyoon Shinn
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Seojeong Park
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Seonju Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Nayoon Park
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Seojeong Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Seohui Hwang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - James J Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Youngjoo Kwon
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Yonghyun Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
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14
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Chen L, Guo W, Mao C, Shen J, Wan M. Liver fibrosis: pathological features, clinical treatment and application of therapeutic nanoagents. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:1446-1466. [PMID: 38265305 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02790b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a reversible damage-repair response, the pathological features of which mainly include damage to hepatocytes, sinusoid capillarization, hepatic stellate cells activation, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix and inflammatory response. Although some treatments (including drugs and stem cell therapy) for these pathological features have been shown to be effective, more clinical trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness. In recent years, nanomaterials-based therapies have emerged as an innovative and promising alternative to traditional drugs, being explored for the treatment of liver fibrosis diseases. Natural nanomaterials (including extracellular vesicles) and synthetic nanomaterials (including inorganic nanomaterials and organic nanomaterials) are developed to facilitate drug targeting delivery and combination therapy. In this review, the pathological features of liver fibrosis and the current anti-fibrosis drugs in clinical trials are briefly introduced, followed by a detailed introduction of the therapeutic nanoagents for the precise delivery of anti-fibrosis drugs. Finally, the future development trend in this field is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Wenyan Guo
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Chun Mao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Jian Shen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Mimi Wan
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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15
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Li Z, Zhu J, Ouyang H. Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in improving hepatic fibrosis based on inhibiting pathological angiogenesis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1303012. [PMID: 38155904 PMCID: PMC10754536 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1303012] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is the formation of scar tissue in the liver. This scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and can lead to liver dysfunction and failure if left untreated. It is usually caused by chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis B or C, alcohol abuse, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Pathological angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development of hepatic fibrosis by promoting the growth of new blood vessels in the liver. These new vessels increase blood flow to the damaged areas of the liver, which triggers the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs are responsible for producing excess collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins that contribute to the development of fibrosis. Pathological angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development of hepatic fibrosis by promoting the growth of new blood vessels in the liver. These new vessels increase blood flow to the damaged areas of the liver, which triggers the activation of HSCs. HSCs are responsible for producing excess collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins that contribute to the development of fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been found to target pathological angiogenesis, thereby providing a potential treatment option for hepatic fibrosis. Several studies have demonstrated that TCM exhibits anti-angiogenic effects by inhibiting the production of pro-angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2, and by reducing the proliferation of endothelial cells. Reviewing and highlighting the unique TCM recognition of treating hepatic fibrosis by targeting pathological angiogenesis may shed light on future hepatic fibrosis research.
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16
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Wan L, Hu C, Wang F, Xu K, Li F, He B, Wu Z, Luo L, Wen Z. Evaluation of the efficacy of Biejia decoction pill combined with entecavir in the treatment of hepatitis B liver fibrosis/cirrhosis by VCTE. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19616. [PMID: 37949927 PMCID: PMC10638370 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46459-4] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) technique was used to assess the effectiveness of a Biejia Decoction pill in combination with Entecavir in the treatment of hepatitis B liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. We randomly selected 120 patients to receive entecavir and 119 patients to receive both entecavir and Biejia Decoction Pill, which both with hepatitis B liver fibrosis/cirrhosis visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2019 and February 2022. The observation group got ETV (entecavir) and Biejia Decoction pills, whereas the control group received only standard ETV antiviral medication. Based on the grading of the VCTE detection value (LSM) initially diagnosed for patients with hepatitis B liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, we divided the patients into two subgroups of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In addition, patients with liver fibrosis were divided into mild and moderate subgroups according to their VCTE values. Patients were measured for liver hardness after three, six, nine, and twelve months of treatment with VCTE. Biejia Decoction Pill combined with ETV on HBV liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was evaluated by comparing patients' changes in liver hardness and HBV-DNA negative conversion rates before and after treatment in each group at the same baseline. The LSM (liver elasticity value) of the observation group and the control group after treatment was lower than that before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001); The LSM of the observation group after treatment was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was also statistically significant (P = 0.0005 < 0.05). In the subgroup of liver fibrosis, the number of patients with moderate and severe liver fibrosis who completely reversed liver fibrosis after treatment in the treatment group was far more than that in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 4.82 P = 0.028 < 0.05) 。 When the treatment course was more than 9 months, the negative conversion rate of patients in the observation group reached 87.4%, which was higher than that in the control group (70.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002 < 0.05); After 12 months of treatment, the negative conversion rate of patients in the observation group was as high as 95%, which was significantly higher than 76.67% in the control group (P < 0.001). The degree of liver fibrosis was significantly improved when Biejia Decoction Pill was combined with ETV in patients with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis due to hepatitis B. The virological response rate to HBV-DNA increased with the prolongation of treatment, and the Biejia Decoction Pill assists with entecavir in antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Wan
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chungen Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fenfen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Kedong Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bo He
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhengqiang Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Linfei Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhili Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
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17
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Li B, Huang Y, Bao J, Xu Z, Yan X, Zou Q. Supramolecular Nanoarchitectonics Based on Antagonist Peptide Self-Assembly for Treatment of Liver Fibrosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304675. [PMID: 37433983 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic peptides have attracted increasing attention as anti-fibrotic drug candidates. However, the rapid degradation and insufficient liver accumulation of therapeutic peptides have seriously hampered their clinical translation. Here, the use of supramolecular nanoarchitectonics is reported to fabricate nanodrugs from therapeutic peptides for treating liver fibrosis. Self-assembling antagonist peptides are rationally designed and manipulated into uniform peptide nanoparticles with well-defined nanostructures and uniform sizes. Significantly, the peptide nanoparticles show enhanced accumulation in liver sites and limited distribution in other tissues. In vivo results show that the peptide nanoparticles exhibit greatly enhanced anti-fibrotic activity compared to the pristine antagonist along with good biocompatibility. These results indicate that self-assembly is a promising nanoarchitectonics approach to enhance the anti-fibrotic activity of therapeutic peptides for treating liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Yan Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Bao
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Zixuan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Xuehai Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Qianli Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, 230000, P. R. China
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18
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Wang K, Chen H, Qin S, Chen S, Zhang Q, Chen J, Di D, Su G, Yuan Y. Co-delivery of pirfenidone and siRNA in ZIF-based nanoparticles for dual inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation in liver fibrotic therapy. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 231:113567. [PMID: 37797465 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113567] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis, as a destructive liver disease, occurs due to activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) producing excessive extracellular matrix deposition. If left untreated, it could further deteriorate into cirrhosis and hepatoma with high morbidity and mortality. Currently, to break the dilemma of poor targeting efficiency on HSCs and limited effect of monotherapy, it is urgent to explore a precise and efficient treatment against liver fibrosis. In the present work, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on vitamin A (VA) modified zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles was designed for co-delivery of chemical drug (Pirfenidone) and genetic drug (TGF-β1 siRNA) to achieve HSCs targeting mediated synergistic chemo-gene therapy against liver fibrosis. With the large specific surface area and acid-responsive degradation characteristics, ZIF-8 nanoparticles have great advantages to achieve high loading efficiency of Pirfenidone and enable acid-reactive drug release. After complexing siRNA, the prepared chemo-gene drug co-delivered nanocomplex (GP@ZIF-VL) proved excellent serum stability and effectively protected siRNA from degradation. Importantly, in vitro cell uptake and in vivo biodistribution demonstrated that VA functionalization markedly enhanced the delivery efficiency of GP@ZIF-VL nanocomplex into HSCs. As expected, GP@ZIF-VL significantly reduced extracellular matrix deposition and ameliorated hepatic fibrosis, as evidenced by decreased levels of liver enzymes in serum and a reduction in the hydroxyproline content in liver tissue. Therefore, GP@ZIF-VL nanocomplex displayed a bright future on the treatment of liver fibrosis with HSCs-targeting mediated chemo-gene synergetic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Wang
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Hao Chen
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Si Qin
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Shuhui Chen
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Donghua Di
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Guangyue Su
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Yue Yuan
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Functional Drug Carrier Materials, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
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Zhang Z, Lu W, Liu P, Li M, Ge X, Yu B, Wu Z, Liu G, Ding N, Cui B, Chen X. Microbial modifications with Lycium barbarum L. oligosaccharides decrease hepatic fibrosis and mitochondrial abnormalities in mice. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 120:155068. [PMID: 37690228 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lycium barbarum L. is a typical Chinese herbal and edible plant and are now consumed globally. Low molecular weight L. barbarum L. oligosaccharides (LBO) exhibit better antioxidant activity and gastrointestinal digestibility in vitro than high molecular weight polysaccharides. However, the LBO on the treatment of liver disease is not studied. PURPOSE Modification of the gut microbial ecosystem by LBO is a promising treatment for liver fibrosis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Herein, LBO were prepared and characterized. CCl4-treated mice were orally gavaged with LBO and the effects on hepatic fibrosis and mitochondrial abnormalities were evaluated according to relevant indicators (gut microbiota, faecal metabolites, and physiological and biochemical indices). RESULTS The results revealed that LBO, a potential prebiotic source, is a pyranose cyclic oligosaccharide possessing α-glycosidic and β-glycosidic bonds. Moreover, LBO supplementation restored the configuration of the bacterial community, enhanced the proliferation of beneficial species in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., Bacillus, Tyzzerella, Fournierella and Coriobacteriaceae UCG-002), improved microbial metabolic alterations (i.e., carbohydrate metabolism, vitamin metabolism and entero-hepatic circulation), and increased antioxidants, including doxepin, in mice. Finally, LBO administration reduced serum inflammatory cytokine and hepatic hydroxyproline levels, improved intestinal and hepatic mitochondrial functions, and ameliorated mouse liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that LBO can be utilized as a prebiotic and has a remarkable ability to mitigate liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Wenjia Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Mengjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Xinyi Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Bin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Zhengzong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Guimei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Nannan Ding
- Department of Nephrology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Bo Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China.
| | - Xiao Chen
- College of Health Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250353, China.
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Zhang YW, Hou LS, Xing JH, Zhang TR, Zhou SY, Zhang BL. Two-Membrane Hybrid Nanobiomimetic Delivery System for Targeted Autophagy Inhibition of Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells To Synergistically Treat Liver Fibrosis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37899504 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is one of the most common and highly prevalent chronic liver diseases caused by multiple pathogenic factors, and there is still no effective therapeutic drugs up to now. The activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the main executor in liver fibrosis, and the autophagy plays a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of aHSCs, which promotes the development of liver fibrosis. However, autophagy has the opposite effect on the different kinds of liver cells in the development of liver fibrosis, and the clinical treatment has been limited by the poor selectivity and inefficient drug delivery to aHSCs. Therefore, in this study, a liposome (Lip) and exosome (Exo) two-membrane hybrid nanobiomimetic delivery system HCQ@VA-Lip-Exo was designed, which was modified by vitamin A (VA) to target the aHSCs and carried the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The experimental results in vitro and in vivo revealed that the constructed aHSC-targeted hybrid delivery system HCQ@VA-Lip-Exo combined with the benefits of HCQ and exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. HCQ@VA-Lip-Exo had good aHSC-targeted delivery ability, effective autophagy inhibition, and synergistical anti-liver fibrosis performance, thus reducing the production and deposition of the extracellular matrix to inhibit the liver fibrosis. This combined strategy provided a potential idea for the construction and clinical application of a two-membrane hybrid delivery system as an effective targeted therapy of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Wen Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Shuang Hou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie-Hua Xing
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Tang-Rui Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Yuan Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Bang-Le Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, People's Republic of China
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21
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Li R, Zhang J, Liu Q, Tang Q, Jia Q, Xiong Y, He J, Li Y. CREKA-modified liposomes target activated hepatic stellate cells to alleviate liver fibrosis by inhibiting collagen synthesis and angiogenesis. Acta Biomater 2023; 168:484-496. [PMID: 37392933 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.06.032] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are considered the key driver of excessive extracellular matrix and abnormal angiogenesis, which are the main pathological manifestations of hepatic fibrosis. However, the absence of specific targeting moieties has rendered the development of HSC-targeted drug delivery systems a significant obstacle in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Here we have identified a notable increase in fibronectin expression on HSCs, which positively correlates with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Thus, we decorated PEGylated liposomes with CREKA, a peptide with high affinity for fibronectin, to facilitate the targeted delivery of sorafenib to activated HSCs. The CREKA-coupled liposomes exhibited enhanced cellular uptake in the human hepatic stellate cell line LX2 and selective accumulation in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver through the recognition of fibronectin. When loaded with sorafenib, the CREKA-modified liposomes effectively suppressed HSC activation and collagen accumulation in vitro. Furthermore. in vivo results demonstrated that the administration of sorafenib-loaded CREKA-liposomes at a low dose significantly mitigated CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, prevented inflammatory infiltration and reduced angiogenesis in mice. These findings suggest that CREKA-coupled liposomes have promising potential as a targeted delivery system for therapeutic agents to activated HSCs, thereby providing an efficient treatment option for hepatic fibrosis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In liver fibrosis, activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the key driver of extracellular matrix and abnormal angiogenesis. Our investigation has revealed a significant elevation in fibronectin expression on aHSCs, which is positively associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Thus, we developed PEGylated liposomes decorated with CREKA, a molecule with a high affinity for fibronectin, to facilitate the targeted delivery of sorafenib to aHSCs. The CREKA-coupled liposomes can specifically target aHSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Loading sorafenib into CREKA-Lip significantly alleviated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, angiogenesis and inflammation at low doses. These findings suggest that our drug delivery system holds promise as a viable therapeutic option for liver fibrosis with minimal risk of adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jinhang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Qinhui Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Qin Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Qingyi Jia
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yimin Xiong
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jinhan He
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Yanping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Metabolic Diseases and Pharmacotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
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22
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Zuo T, Xie Q, Liu J, Yang J, Shi J, Kong D, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Gao H, Zeng DB, Wang X, Tao P, Wei W, Wang J, Li Y, Long Q, Li C, Chang L, Ning H, Li Y, Cui C, Ge X, Wu J, Li G, Hong X, Yang X, Dai E, He F, Wu J, Ruan Y, Lu S, Xu P. Macrophage-Derived Cathepsin S Remodels the Extracellular Matrix to Promote Liver Fibrogenesis. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:746-761.e16. [PMID: 37263311 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver fibrosis is an intrinsic wound-healing response to chronic injury and the major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, no effective diagnostic or therapeutic strategies are available, owing to its poorly characterized molecular etiology. We aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying liver fibrogenesis. METHODS We performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of clinical fibrotic liver samples to identify dysregulated proteins. Further analyses were performed on the sera of 164 patients with liver fibrosis. Two fibrosis mouse models and several biochemical experiments were used to elucidate liver fibrogenesis. RESULTS We identified cathepsin S (CTSS) up-regulation as a central node for extracellular matrix remodeling in the human fibrotic liver by proteomic screening. Increased serum CTSS levels efficiently predicted liver fibrosis, even at an early stage. Secreted CTSS cleaved collagen 18A1 at its C-terminus, releasing endostatin peptide, which directly bound to and activated hepatic stellate cells via integrin α5β1 signaling, whereas genetic ablation of Ctss remarkably suppressed liver fibrogenesis via endostatin reduction in vivo. Further studies identified macrophages as the main source of hepatic CTSS, and splenectomy effectively attenuated macrophage infiltration and CTSS expression in the fibrotic liver. Pharmacologic inhibition of CTSS ameliorated liver fibrosis progression in the mouse models. CONCLUSIONS CTSS functions as a novel profibrotic factor by remodeling extracellular matrix proteins and may represent a promising target for the diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jinfang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahui Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Degang Kong
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army Medical School, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenpeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Huixia Gao
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dao-Bing Zeng
- Bejing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Bejing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; Bejing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Long
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Chonghui Li
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army Medical School, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Huimin Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Chunping Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlan Ge
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army Medical School, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jushan Wu
- Bejing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangming Li
- Bejing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechuan Hong
- TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Erhei Dai
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fuchu He
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Junzhu Wu
- TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Ruan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shichun Lu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army Medical School, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Research Unit of Proteomics and Research and Development of New Drug, Research Unit of Proteomics Driven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China; TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China; Guizhou University, School of Medicine, Guiyang, China.
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23
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Blas-García A, Apostolova N. Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Liver Fibrosis Based on Targeting Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1567. [PMID: 37627562 PMCID: PMC10451738 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease (CLD) constitutes a growing global health issue, with no effective treatments currently available. Oxidative stress closely interacts with other cellular and molecular processes to trigger stress pathways in different hepatic cells and fuel the development of liver fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated effects and modulation of major antioxidant responses to counteract oxidative stress-induced damage have emerged as interesting targets to prevent or ameliorate liver injury. Although many preclinical studies have shown that dietary supplements with antioxidant properties can significantly prevent CLD progression in animal models, this strategy has not proved effective to significantly reduce fibrosis when translated into clinical trials. Novel and more specific therapeutic approaches are thus required to alleviate oxidative stress and reduce liver fibrosis. We have reviewed the relevant literature concerning the crucial role of alterations in redox homeostasis in different hepatic cell types during the progression of CLD and discussed current pharmacological approaches to ameliorate fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress focusing on selective modulation of enzymatic oxidant sources, antioxidant systems and ROS-mediated pathogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Blas-García
- Departamento de Fisiología, Universitat de València, Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- FISABIO (Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana), Av. de Catalunya, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
- CIBERehd (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nadezda Apostolova
- FISABIO (Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana), Av. de Catalunya, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
- CIBERehd (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Farmacología, Universitat de València, Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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24
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Hu J, Xie C, Xu S, Pu Q, Liu H, Yang L, Wang W, Mao L, Li Z, Chen W. Liver fibrosis-derived exosomal miR-106a-5p facilitates the malignancy by targeting SAMD12 and CADM2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286017. [PMID: 37228062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development induced by liver fibrosis is obscure. The objective of this study is to establish miRNAs from exosomes associated with liver fibrosis, and to identify potential biomarkers for the prediction of personalized clinical management effectiveness in HCC. Our research focused on miRNAs from exosomes and mRNA from liver fibrosis, which we found in the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) evaluated miRNAs from exosomes associated with liver fibrosis, and Wilcoxon analysis assessed differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) across liver fibrosis/normal tissues. Following that, DEGs were assessed through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). In addition, based on the screened targeted genes, including SAMD12 and CADM2, we further elucidated their correlation in HCC patients from the BEST database. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter platform was applied to evaluate the prognostic values of miRNA in HCC. In vitro and vivo experiments validated our findings. Six miRNAs associated with liver fibrosis were evaluated in our investigation. In-depth research presented exosome-derived miR-106a-5p, SAMD12 and CADM2 could exert valuable predictive implications for HCC treatment and illness assessment. Serum miR-106a-5p derived from liver fibrosis was decreased compared with healthy individuals. SAMD12 and CADM2 were diminished in liver cancer cell lines, and their knockdown of them exacerbated the proliferation capacities of liver cells in vitro. Exosome-derived miRNA of liver fibrosis modulated tumorigenesis by targeting SAMD12 and CADM2 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Cong Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shangcheng Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Qinli Pu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Neurology, Jiulongpo District People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Longchun Mao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Weixian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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25
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Sun Y, Weng J, Chen X, Ma S, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Zhang Z, Wang F, Shao J, Zheng S. Oroxylin A activates ferritinophagy to induce hepatic stellate cell senescence against hepatic fibrosis by regulating cGAS-STING pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114653. [PMID: 37086511 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent study, the pathological mechanism of liver fibrosis has been associated with hepatic stellate cell (HSC) senescence. Targeted induction of HSC senescence is considered as a new strategy to remove activated HSC. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of ferritinophagy in cell senescence. In this study, we reported that Oroxylin A from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi can regulate HSC senescence induced by ferritinophagy through the cGAS-STING pathway to reduce liver fibrosis. We first found that Oroxylin A treatment alleviated the pathological changes of liver fibrosis, reduced collagen deposition, and significantly inhibited liver fibrosis. Interestingly, Oroxylin A treatment can activate HSC ferritinophagy and further induce HSC senescence. It is noteworthy that ferritinophagy is mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), an important selective mediator for ferritin degradation. NCOA4 siRNA causes Oroxylin A to reduce the degree of telomerase activity in HSCs and induce the expression of senescence markers, such as SA-β-Gal and related marker proteins. Importantly, the cGAS-STING pathway is crucial to the activation of HSC ferritinophagy by Oroxylin A. Specifically, Oroxylin A can promote the secretion of cytokines like IFN-β by the cGAS-STING pathway to regulate ferritinophagy. cGAS siRNA resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the expression of NCOA4, a significant reduction in the expression level of autophagy-related phenotype, and a decrease in the content of ROS and iron ions in HSCs. In conclusion, we identified the new role of ferritinophagy and the GAS-STING pathway in Oroxylin A -mediated anti-hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingdan Weng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolei Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuyao Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Feixia Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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Zhan Y, Tao Q, Meng Q, Zhang R, Lin L, Li X, Zheng L, Zheng J. LncRNA-MIAT activates hepatic stellate cells via regulating Hippo pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Commun Biol 2023; 6:285. [PMID: 36934152 PMCID: PMC10024685 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04670-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA-myocardial infarction-associated transcript (lncRNA-MIAT) has been reported to play an important role in the development of multiple cancers. However, the biological roles of MIAT in liver fibrosis are still unknown. In this study, the expression of MIAT is up-regulated during liver fibrosis. Silencing MIAT leads to the suppression of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and collagen expression. Double immunofluorescence analysis additionally demonstrates that MIAT inhibition leads to the suppression of type I collagen and α-SMA in vitro. In vivo, MIAT knockdown contributes to the inhibition of fibrosis progression and collagen accumulation. MIAT is confirmed as a target of miR-3085-5p, and the co-location of MIAT and miR-3085-5p is found in HSC cytoplasm. Interestingly, there is a negative correlation between MIAT expression and miR-3085-5p level in cirrhotic patients as well as activated HSCs. In addition, the effects of MIAT inhibition on HSC inactivation are blocked down by miR-3085-5p inhibitor. YAP is a target of miR-3085-5p. Reduced YAP caused by loss of MIAT is reversed by miR-3085-5p inhibitor. Notably, YAP knockdown results in the suppression of MIAT-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In conclusion, we demonstrate that MIAT enhances the activation of HSCs, at least in part, via miR-3085-5p/YAP/EMT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Qiqi Tao
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Qishan Meng
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Rongrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Lifan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Xinmiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jianjian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
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Menendez A, Guttman JA. From anatomy to immunity in the gastrointestinal system. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:941-946. [PMID: 36866415 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25188] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal system is classically known for its function in digesting food for nutrient uptake, but it plays a much larger role in the general health of organisms. Understanding the relationships between the gastrointestinal tract and inflammation, the nervous system, diseases caused through disregulation of molecular components as well as its association with beneficial and pathogenic microbes have been the focus of intense research over the many decades. In this Special Issue we delve into histological, molecular, and evolutionary aspects of gastrointestinal system components in healthy and diseased tissues, to give a broad perspective on the different organs that make-up this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Menendez
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julian Andrew Guttman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Zhao Q, Liang L, Zhai F, Ling G, Xiang R, Jiang X. A bibliometric and visualized analysis of liver fibrosis from 2002 to 2022. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 38:359-369. [PMID: 36459993 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis of the liver is a degenerative alteration that occurs in the majority of chronic liver disorders. Further progression can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma, which can seriously affect the health and lives of patients. The field of liver fibrosis research has flourished in the last 20 years, with approximately 9000 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database alone. In order to identify future research hotspots and potential paths in a thorough and scientifically reliable manner, it is important to organize and visualize the research on this topic from a holistic and very general perspective. This study used bibliometric analysis with CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to provide a quantitative analysis, hotspot mining, and commentary of articles published in the field of liver fibrosis over the last 20 years. This bibliometric analysis contains a total of 8994 articles with 45667 authors from 6872 institutions in 97 countries, published in 1371 journals and citing 156 309 references. The literature volume has steadily increased over the last 20 years. Research has focused on gastroenterology and hepatology, pharmacology and pharmacy, and medicine, research, and experimental areas. We found that the pathological mechanisms, diagnostic and quantitative methods, etiology, and antifibrotic strategies constitute the knowledge structure of liver fibrosis. Finding mechanisms for liver fibrosis regression, identifying precise noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and creating efficient liver fibrosis patient treatments are the main goals of current research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhao
- Faculty of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Luhua Liang
- School of Medical Equipment, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Fei Zhai
- School of Medical Equipment, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Guixia Ling
- School of Medical Equipment, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Rongwu Xiang
- School of Medical Equipment, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.,Liaoning Professional Technology Innovation Center on Medical Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xiwei Jiang
- School of Medical Equipment, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis has a high incidence worldwide and is the common pathological basis of many chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is caused by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and concomitant collagen accumulation in livers and can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. A large number of studies have provided evidence that liver fibrosis can be blocked or even reversed by appropriate medical interventions. However, the antifibrosis drugs with ideal clinical efficacy are still insufficient. The edible plant-derived natural compounds have been reported to exert effective antifibrotic effects with few side-effects, representing a kind of promising source for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of the natural compounds derived from dietary plants in the treatment of liver fibrosis, including phenolic compounds (capsaicin, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and vitamin E), flavonoid compounds (genistein, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringenin, naringin and quercetin), sulfur-containing compounds (S-allylcysteine, ergothioneine, lipoic acid and sulforaphane) and other compounds (betaine, caffeine, cucurbitacin B, lycopene, α-mangostin, γ-mangostin, ursolic acid, vitamin C and yangonin). The pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of these compounds in in-vivo and in-vitro models of liver fibrosis are focused.
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Ali FEM, Abd El-Aziz MK, Sharab EI, Bakr AG. Therapeutic interventions of acute and chronic liver disorders: A comprehensive review. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:19-40. [PMID: 36744165 PMCID: PMC9896501 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i1.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disorders are one of the most common pathological problems worldwide. It affects more than 1.5 billion worldwide. Many types of hepatic cells have been reported to be involved in the initiation and propagation of both acute and chronic liver diseases, including hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In addition, oxidative stress, cytokines, fibrogenic factors, microRNAs, and autophagy are also involved. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver diseases leads to discovering new therapeutic interventions that can be used in clinics. Recently, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-HSCs therapy, gene therapy, cell therapy, gut microbiota, and nanoparticles have great potential for preventing and treating liver diseases. Here, we explored the recent possible molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic liver diseases. Besides, we overviewed the recent therapeutic interventions that targeted liver diseases and summarized the recent studies concerning liver disorders therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares EM Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | | | - Elham I Sharab
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Adel G Bakr
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut 71524, Egypt
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Hao Y, Song K, Tan X, Ren L, Guo X, Zhou C, Li H, Wen J, Meng Y, Lin M, Zhang Y, Huang H, Wang L, Zheng W. Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Polypeptide Drug Delivery System Targeted Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells to Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis. ACS NANO 2022; 16:20739-20757. [PMID: 36454190 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver disease that lacks effective pharmacotherapeutic treatments. As part of the disease's mechanism, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are activated by damage-related stimuli to secrete excessive extracellular matrix, leading to collagen deposition. Currently, the drug delivery system that targets HSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis remains an urgent challenge due to the poor controllability of drug release. Since the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increases sharply in activated HSCs (aHSCs), we designed ROS-responsive micelles for the HSC-specific delivery of a traditional Chinese medicine, resveratrol (RES), for treatment of liver fibrosis. The micelles were prepared by the ROS-responsive amphiphilic block copolymer poly(l-methionine-block-Nε-trifluoro-acetyl-l-lysine) (PMK) and a PEG shell modified with a CRGD peptide insertion. The CRGD-targeted and ROS-responsive micelles (CRGD-PMK-MCs) could target aHSCs and control the release of RES under conditions of high intracellular ROS in aHSCs. The CRGD-PMK-MCs treatment specifically enhanced the targeted delivery of RES to aHSCs both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments show that CRGD-PMK-MCs could significantly promote ROS consumption, reduce collagen accumulation, and avert activation of aHSCs. In vivo results demonstrate that CRGD-PMK-MCs could alleviate inflammatory infiltration, prevent fibrosis, and protect hepatocytes from damage in fibrotic mice. In conclusion, CRGD-PMK-MCs show great potential for targeted and ROS-responsive controlled drug release in the aHSCs of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Faculty of Kidney Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Kaichao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaochuan Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Ling Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiuping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Chuchu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - He Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jin Wen
- Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Beijing 100022, China
| | - Ya Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Mingbao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yujia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Hongdong Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Faculty of Kidney Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Lulu Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Wensheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
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Hartanto MM, Prajoko YW, Putra A, Amalina ND. The Combination of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Bovine Colostrum in Reducing α-SMA Expression and NLR Levels in Wistar Rats After 50% Fibrotic Liver Resection. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.10557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver fibrogenesis will produce α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and a continuous inflammatory process, seen through the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The combination of mesenchymal stem cells and bovine colostrum is a novel strategy for repairing hepatic fibrosis tissue. To assess the combination of mesenchymal stem cells and bovine colostrum to reduce α-SMA expression and NLR levels in Wistar rats after 50% fibrotic liver resection.
Methods: Thirty-six Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (sham, control, colostrum, MSCs, and colostrum and MSCs combination). Rats were injected with CCl4 for 8 weeks to induce liver fibrosis then underwent liver resection. NLR levels was determined using Hematology Analyzer, α-SMA expression of myofibroblast was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining.
Results: A significant reduction in NLR levels on day 3 in the treatment group I (1.10), treatment II (0.83), treatment III (0.93) compared to the control group. A significant reduction in NLR levels on day 10 in the treatment group I (0.76), treatment II (0.64), treatment III (0.54) compared to the control group. A significant decrease in α-SMA in treatment group I (0.134), treatment II (0.68), treatment III (0.42) compared to the control group.
Conclusion: In this study, it was found that α-SMA expression, NLR levels on the 3rd and 10th day of administration were reduced in group receiving combination of mesenchymal stem cells and bovine colostrum in the liver of post-resection Wistar rats by 50%.
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Li ZX, Sheng XD, Wang YL, Wen Lv X. Blocking P2X4 purinergic receptor attenuates alcohol-related liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 113:109326. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Martínez JA, Alonso-Bernáldez M, Martínez-Urbistondo D, Vargas-Nuñez JA, Ramírez de Molina A, Dávalos A, Ramos-Lopez O. Machine learning insights concerning inflammatory and liver-related risk comorbidities in non-communicable and viral diseases. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6230-6248. [PMID: 36504554 PMCID: PMC9730439 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i44.6230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a key organ involved in a wide range of functions, whose damage can lead to chronic liver disease (CLD). CLD accounts for more than two million deaths worldwide, becoming a social and economic burden for most countries. Among the different factors that can cause CLD, alcohol abuse, viruses, drug treatments, and unhealthy dietary patterns top the list. These conditions prompt and perpetuate an inflammatory environment and oxidative stress imbalance that favor the development of hepatic fibrogenesis. High stages of fibrosis can eventually lead to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the advances achieved in this field, new approaches are needed for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CLD. In this context, the scientific com-munity is using machine learning (ML) algorithms to integrate and process vast amounts of data with unprecedented performance. ML techniques allow the integration of anthropometric, genetic, clinical, biochemical, dietary, lifestyle and omics data, giving new insights to tackle CLD and bringing personalized medicine a step closer. This review summarizes the investigations where ML techniques have been applied to study new approaches that could be used in inflammatory-related, hepatitis viruses-induced, and coronavirus disease 2019-induced liver damage and enlighten the factors involved in CLD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alfredo Martínez
- Precision Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health, Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies-Food Institute, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Marta Alonso-Bernáldez
- Precision Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health, Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies-Food Institute, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Juan A Vargas-Nuñez
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid 28222, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Ana Ramírez de Molina
- Molecular Oncology and Nutritional Genomics of Cancer, Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies-Food Institute, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Alberto Dávalos
- Laboratory of Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism, Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies-Food Institute, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Omar Ramos-Lopez
- Medicine and Psychology School, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, Baja California, Mexico
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Wang C, Ma C, Fu K, Liu Y, Gong L, Peng C, Li Y. Hepatoprotective effect of phillygenin on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and its effects on short chain fatty acid and bile acid metabolism. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 296:115478. [PMID: 35716920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Forsythiae fructus, the dried fruit of Oleaceae plant Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in clinical practice and has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and hepatoprotection. AIM OF THE STUDY Phillygenin (PHI), an important fingerprint lignan component of Forsythiae fructus, has prominent hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Previously, it was shown that PHI could exert anti-fibrotic effects by modulating inflammation and gut microbiota. Therefore, given the important roles of SCFAs and BAs in the development of liver fibrosis, as well as their close links with gut microbiota, we aimed to determine the protective effects of PHI on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and its effects on the metabolism of SCFAs and BAs based on metabolomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS In C57BL/6J mice, liver fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of olive oil containing 10% CCl4 for 4 weeks. Firstly, the mouse liver tissues were subjected to histological analysis and biochemical index assay to evaluate the protective effect of PHI on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Subsequently, the effects of PHI on the metabolism of SCFAs and BAs in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mice were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for metabolomics analysis. Finally, the levels of the closely related proteins and genes were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to explore the underlying mechanisms of the protective effect of PHI on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. RESULTS The histological analysis and the determination of relevant biochemical indexes of liver tissues showed that PHI could attenuate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The metabolomic analysis on SCFAs showed that PHI could promote SCFA production in the gut of mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, especially acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. It has been reported that the increased production of SCFAs was possibly beneficial to health. The metabolomic analysis on BAs found that PHI could restore the disturbance of BA metabolism in mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR results confirmed that PHI could ameliorate intestinal epithelial barrier disruption, and reverse the expression of BA metabolism-related genes in mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Promoting the production of SCFAs in the gut and restoring the disturbance of BA metabolism may be the potential mechanisms by which PHI alleviated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Ke Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Lihong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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Zhang LF, Wang XH, Zhang CL, Lee J, Duan BW, Xing L, Li L, Oh YK, Jiang HL. Sequential Nano-Penetrators of Capillarized Liver Sinusoids and Extracellular Matrix Barriers for Liver Fibrosis Therapy. ACS NANO 2022; 16:14029-14042. [PMID: 36036898 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c03858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During liver fibrogenesis, liver sinusoidal capillarization and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition construct dual pathological barriers to drug delivery. Upon capillarization, the vanished fenestrae in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) significantly hinder substance exchange between blood and liver cells, while excessive ECM further hinders the delivery of nanocarriers to activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Herein, an efficient nanodrug delivery system was constructed to sequentially break through the capillarized LSEC barrier and the deposited ECM barrier. For the first barrier, LSEC-targeting and fenestrae-repairing nanoparticles (named HA-NPs/SMV) were designed on the basis of the modification with hyaluronic acid and the loading of simvastatin (SMV). For the second barrier, collagenase I and vitamin A codecorated nanoparticles with collagen-ablating and HSC-targeting functions (named CV-NPs/siCol1α1) were prepared to deliver siCol1α1 with the goal of inhibiting collagen generation and HSC activation. Our in vivo results showed that upon encountering the capillarized LSEC barrier, HA-NPs/SMV rapidly released SMV and exerted a fenestrae-repairing function, which allowed more CV-NPs/siCol1α1 to enter the space of Disse to degrade deposited collagen and finally to achieve higher accumulation in activated HSCs. Scanning electronic microscopy images showed the recovery of liver sinusoids, and analysis of liver tissue sections demonstrated that HA-NPs/SMV and CV-NPs/siCol1α1 had a synergetic effect. Our pathological barrier-normalization strategy provides an antifibrotic therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xing-Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Cheng-Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jaiwoo Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bo-Wen Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lei Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hu-Lin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Zhou L, Liang Q, Li Y, Cao Y, Li J, Yang J, Liu J, Bi J, Liu Y. Collagenase-I decorated co-delivery micelles potentiate extracellular matrix degradation and hepatic stellate cell targeting for liver fibrosis therapy. Acta Biomater 2022; 152:235-254. [PMID: 36087869 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.08.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a pathological process of multiple chronic liver diseases progressing to cirrhosis for which there are currently no effective treatment options. During fibrosis progression, the overproduction of extracellular matrix (ECM) collagen secreted by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) greatly impedes drug delivery and reduces drug therapeutic effects. In this study, a glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-conjugated prodrug micellar system with collagenase I (COL) decoration (COL-HA-GA, abbreviated as CHG) was designed to codelivery sorafenib (Sora/CHG, abbreviated as S/CHG) for potentiating ECM degradation and HSCs targeting on liver fibrosis therapy. In ECM barrier models established in vitro or in vivo, CHG micelles efficiently degraded pericellular collagen and demonstrated enormous ECM penetration abilities as well as superior HSCs internalization. Moreover, CHG micelles exhibited more Sora & GA accumulations and activated HSCs targeting efficiencies in the fibrotic livers than those in the normal livers. More importantly, S/CHG micelles were more effective in anti-liver fibrosis by lowering the collagen content, inhibiting the HSCs activation, as well as down-regulating the fibrosis-related factors, leading to reverse the fibrotic liver to normal liver through the multi-mechanisms including angiogenesis reduction, liver fibrosis microenvironment regulation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition inhibition. In conclusion, the developed COL decorated nano-codelivery system with fibrotic ECM collagen degradation and activated HSCs targeting dual-functions exhibited great potential for liver fibrosis therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-conjugated prodrug with collagenase I (COL) decoration (CHG) was designed for codelivery with sorafenib (S/CHG), potentiating extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation-penetration and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) targeting on liver fibrosis therapy. In ECM barrier models, CHG micelles efficiently degraded pericellular collagen and demonstrated ECM penetration abilities, as well as displayed superior HSCs internalization. Moreover, S/CHG micelles were more effective in anti-liver fibrosis by lowering the collagen content, inhibiting the HSCs activation, as well as down-regulating cytokines, reversing the fibrotic liver to normal through various mechanisms. In conclusion, the developed fibrotic ECM degradation and HSCs targeting dual-functional nano-codelivery system provided a prospective potentiality in liver fibrosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyue Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Qiangwei Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yongjing Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jiayu Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jiawei Bi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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Bu FT, Jia PC, Zhu Y, Yang YR, Meng HW, Bi YH, Huang C, Li J. Emerging therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy in liver fibrosis. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:191-206. [PMID: 35859692 PMCID: PMC9271983 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.06.009] [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] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response that results from various chronic damages. If the causes of damage are not removed or effective treatments are not given in a timely manner, it will progress to cirrhosis, even liver cancer. Currently, there are no specific medical therapies for liver fibrosis. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy, one of the frontiers of modern medicine, has gained more attention in many fields due to its high safety profile, low immunogenicity, long-term efficacy in mediating gene expression, and increasingly known tropism. Notably, increasing evidence suggests a promising therapeutic potential for AAV-mediated gene therapy in different liver fibrosis models, which helps to correct abnormally changed target genes in the process of fibrosis and improve liver fibrosis at the molecular level. Moreover, the addition of cell-specific promoters to the genome of recombinant AAV helps to limit gene expression in specific cells, thereby producing better therapeutic efficacy in liver fibrosis. However, animal models are considered to be powerless predictive of tissue tropism, immunogenicity, and genotoxic risks in humans. Thus, AAV-mediated gene therapy will face many challenges. This review systemically summarizes the recent advances of AAV-mediated gene therapy in liver fibrosis, especially focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms of transferred genes, and presents prospective challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Tian Bu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Jia
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Ru Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hong-Wu Meng
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Hui Bi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Faccioli LA, Dias ML, Paranhos BA, dos Santos Goldenberg RC. Liver cirrhosis: An overview of experimental models in rodents. Life Sci 2022; 301:120615. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Hepatic Myofibroblasts: A Heterogeneous and Redox-Modulated Cell Population in Liver Fibrogenesis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071278. [PMID: 35883770 PMCID: PMC9311931 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During chronic liver disease (CLD) progression, hepatic myofibroblasts (MFs) represent a unique cellular phenotype that plays a critical role in driving liver fibrogenesis and then fibrosis. Although they could originate from different cell types, MFs exhibit a rather common pattern of pro-fibrogenic phenotypic responses, which are mostly elicited or sustained both by oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and several mediators (including growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and others) that often operate through the up-regulation of the intracellular generation of ROS. In the present review, we will offer an overview of the role of MFs in the fibrogenic progression of CLD from different etiologies by focusing our attention on the direct or indirect role of ROS and, more generally, oxidative stress in regulating MF-related phenotypic responses. Moreover, this review has the purpose of illustrating the real complexity of the ROS modulation during CLD progression. The reader will have to keep in mind that a number of issues are able to affect the behavior of the cells involved: a) the different concentrations of reactive species, b) the intrinsic state of the target cells, as well as c) the presence of different growth factors, cytokines, and other mediators in the extracellular microenvironment or of other cellular sources of ROS.
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Zhang K, Lin L, Zhu Y, Zhang N, Zhou M, Li Y. Saikosaponin d Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Negatively Regulating the ROS/NLRP3 Inflammasome Through Activating the ERβ Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:894981. [PMID: 35694250 PMCID: PMC9174603 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.894981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims: Saikosaponin d (SSd) has a steroidal structure and significant anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying SSd’s inhibitory effects on liver fibrosis. Methods: Wild-type and estrogen receptor knockout (ERKO) mice were treated with CCl4 to establish liver fibrosis mouse models. The effects of SSd on hepatic fibrogenesis were studied in these mouse models. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were activated by H2O2 to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. The establishment of the models and the degrees of inflammation and liver tissue fibrosis were evaluated by detecting changes in serum liver enzymes and liver histopathology. The expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression and significance of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins were explored by RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses. The mitochondrial ROS-related indexes were evaluated by MitoSOX Red. Results: In wild-type and ERKO mice treated with CCl4, the fluorescence expression of mitochondrial ROS was up-regulated, while the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content were decreased, suggesting that the mitochondria were damaged. In addition, the expression of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, TGF-β, TIMP-1, MMP-2, and Vimentin) in liver tissue increased. Furthermore, the above indexes showed the same expression trend in activated HSCs. In addition, the peripheral serum ALT and AST levels increased in CCl4-induced liver injury model mice. And HE staining showed a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver of model mice. Picric acid-Sirius staining and Masson staining showed that there was significant collagen fibrous tissue deposition in mice liver sections. IHC and WB detection confirmed that the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 increased. Liver fibrosis scores were also elevated. Then, after SSd intervention, the expression of ROS in wild-type mice and αERKO mice decreased, mitochondrial membrane potential recovered, ATP level increased, NLRP3 inflammasome and fibrosis indexes decreased, liver enzyme levels decreased, and liver pathology showed liver inflammation. The damage and collagen deposition were significantly relieved, the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 was decreased, and the fibrosis score was also decreased. More importantly, the effect of SSd in alleviating liver injury and liver fibrosis had no effect on βERKO mice. Conclusion: SSd alleviated liver fibrosis by negatively regulating the ROS/NLRP3 inflammasome through activating the ERβ pathway. By establishing liver fibrosis models using wild-type and ERKO mice, we demonstrated that SSd could alleviate liver fibrosis by inhibiting the ROS/NLRP3 inflammasome axis through activating the ERβ pathway.
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Liao J, Zhang Z, Yuan Q, Luo L, Hu X. The Mouse Anxa6/miR-9-5p/Anxa2 Axis Modulates TGF-β1-induced Mouse Hepatic Stellate Cell (mHSC) Activation and CCl 4-caused Liver Fibrosis. Toxicol Lett 2022; 362:38-49. [PMID: 35483553 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.04.004] [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: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver disease such as hepatic fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and has been related to high individual risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is a central event of hepatic fibrosis progression. In this study, the up-regulation of lncRNA ANXA2P2 (mouse Anxa6) was found in liver fibrosis. Within CCl4-caused liver fibrosis murine model, Anxa6 knockdown partially ameliorated CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and blocked the PI3K/Akt signaling activation. In TGF-β1-stimulated HSCs, Anxa6 knockdown partially inhibited TGF-β1-induced HSC activation and blocked the PI3K/Akt signaling activation. Mouse Anxa6 downstream mmu-miR-9-5p directly targeted Anxa2; Anxa6 negatively regulated mmu-miR-9-5p, and mmu-miR-9-5p negatively regulated mouse Anxa2. In TGF-β1-stimulated HSCs, miR-9-5p inhibitor promoted TGF-β1-induced HSC activation and PI3K/Akt signaling activation, whereas Anxa2 knockdown exerted opposite effects; Anxa2 knockdown significantly attenuated miR-9-5p inhibitor effects upon TGF-β1-stimulated HSCs. In conclusion, lncRNA ANXA2P2 (mouse Anxa6) expression is up-regulated in hepatic fibrosis and exerts pro-fibrotic effects on CCl4-caused liver fibrosis model mice and TGF-β1-stimulated HSCs. The mouse Anxa6/miR-9-5p/Anxa2 axis and the PI3K/Akt pathway might participate in the functions of lncRNA ANXA2P2 (mouse Anxa6) on hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmao Liao
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Qi Yuan
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Lidan Luo
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Hu
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, China.
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43
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Wu P, Luo X, Sun M, Sun B, Sun M. Synergetic regulation of kupffer cells, extracellular matrix and hepatic stellate cells with versatile CXCR4-inhibiting nanocomplex for magnified therapy in liver fibrosis. Biomaterials 2022; 284:121492. [PMID: 35395456 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-targeted delivery is an attractive strategy for liver fibrosis therapy, but the efficacy is hampered by poor delivery of nanomaterials and complicated microenvironments of the fibrotic liver. Here, we report a versatile CXCR4-inhibiting nanocomplex composed of polymeric CXCR4 antagonism (PAMD, PA), CLD (clodronate) and siPAI-1 (siRNA of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) that surmounts multiple barriers to improve the outcome by co-regulating Kupffer cells (KCs), extracellular matrix (ECM) and HSCs. Upon encountering biological barriers, the nanocomplex exerted penetrating and targeting functions, efficiently overcoming KCs capture, ECM trapping and nonspecific recognition of HSCs, finally contributing to the enhanced HSCs uptake. Moreover, an enlarged antifibrotic activity is realized through synergetic regulation of KCs apoptosis, ECM degradation and HSCs inactivation. Overall, such a versatile nanocomplex provides a framework for designing HSC-targeted delivery system and has valuable potential as a novel antifibrotic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengkai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xinping Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Meiling Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Minjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Ma Y, Chang N, Liu Y, Liu F, Dong C, Hou L, Qi C, Yang L, Li L. Silencing IQGAP1 alleviates hepatic fibrogenesis via blocking bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell recruitment to fibrotic liver. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:471-483. [PMID: 35036058 PMCID: PMC8728523 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
IQ motif-containing guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a cytosolic scaffolding protein involved in cell migration. Our previous studies suggest sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) triggers bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) to damaged liver, thereby promoting liver fibrosis. However, the role of IQGAP1 in S1P-induced BMSC migration and liver fibrogenesis remains unclear. Chimeric mice of BM cell labeled by EGFP were used to build methionine-choline-deficient and high-fat (MCDHF)-diet-induced mouse liver fibrosis. IQGAP1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) was utilized to silence IQGAP1 in vivo. IQGAP1 expression is significantly elevated in MCDHF-diet-induced mouse fibrotic livers. Positive correlations are presented between IQGAP1 and fibrosis hallmarks expressions in human and mouse fibrotic livers. In vitro, depressing IQGAP1 expression blocks S1P-induced motility and cytoskeleton remodeling of BMSCs. S1P facilitates IQGAP1 aggregating to plasma membrane via S1P receptor 3 (S1PR3) and Cdc42/Rac1. In addition, IQGAP1 binds to Cdc42/Rac1, regulating S1P-induced activation of Cdc42/Rac1 and mediating BMSC migration in concert. In vivo, silencing IQGAP1 reduces the recruitment of BMSCs to impaired liver and effectively alleviates liver fibrosis induced by MCDHF diet. Together, silencing IQGAP1 relieves liver fibrosis by blocking BMSC migration, providing an effective therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehan Ma
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Na Chang
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yuran Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Fuquan Liu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Chengbin Dong
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Lei Hou
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Changbo Qi
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Liying Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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Shen M, Guo M, Li Y, Wang Y, Qiu Y, Shao J, Zhang F, Xu X, Yin G, Wang S, Chen A, Zhang Z, Zheng S. m 6A methylation is required for dihydroartemisinin to alleviate liver fibrosis by inducing ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 182:246-259. [PMID: 35248719 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a central event in the development of liver fibrosis, and the elimination of activated HSCs is considered to be an effective anti-fibrotic strategy. Here, we report that dihydroartemisinin (DHA) prevented the activation of HSCs via ferroptosis pathway. Importantly, DHA treatment increased the level of autophagy in HSCs. The inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA dramatically abolished the DHA-induced ferroptosis in HSCs. Mechanistically, the up-regulated m6A modification is essential for the activation of autophagy by DHA through the reduction of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO). Down-regulation of m6A modification by FTO overexpression could impair autophagy and the classical ferroptotic events. Interestingly, the m6A modification of BECN1 mRNA was evidently up-regulated compared with other autophagy-related genes. More importantly, YTHDF1 was identified as a key m6A reader protein for BECN1 mRNA stability, and knockdown of YTHDF1 could prevent DHA-induced HSC ferroptosis. Noteworthy, YTH domain was essential for YTHDF1 to prolong the half-life of BECN1 mRNA in DHA-induced HSC ferroptosis. In mice, DHA treatment alleviated liver fibrosis by triggering HSC ferroptosis. HSC-specific inhibition of m6A modification and autophagy could impair DHA-induced HSC ferroptosis in murine liver fibrosis. Overall, these results provided novel implications to reveal the molecular mechanism of DHA-induced ferroptosis, by which pointed to m6A modification-dependent ferroptosis as a potential target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mei Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yujia Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yingqian Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yangling Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xuefen Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guoping Yin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shijun Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250035, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Rahman SR, Roper JA, Grove JI, Aithal GP, Pun KT, Bennett AJ. Integrins as a drug target in liver fibrosis. Liver Int 2022; 42:507-521. [PMID: 35048542 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As the worldwide prevalence of chronic liver diseases is high and continuing to increase, there is an urgent need for treatment to prevent cirrhosis-related morbidity and mortality. Integrins are heterodimeric cell-surface proteins that are promising targets for therapeutic intervention. αv integrins are central in the development of fibrosis as they activate latent TGFβ, a known profibrogenic cytokine. The αv subunit can form heterodimers with β1, β3, β5, β6 or β8 subunits and one or more of these integrins are central to the development of liver fibrosis, however, their relative importance is not understood. This review summarises the current knowledge of αv integrins and their respective β subunits in different organs, with a focus on liver fibrosis and the emerging preclinical and clinical data with regards to αv integrin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syedia R Rahman
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,FRAME Alternatives Laboratory, Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - James A Roper
- Novel Human Genetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Jane I Grove
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Guruprasad P Aithal
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - K Tao Pun
- Novel Human Genetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Andrew J Bennett
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,FRAME Alternatives Laboratory, Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Zhou L, Li Y, Liang Q, Liu J, Liu Y. Combination therapy based on targeted nano drug co-delivery systems for liver fibrosis treatment: A review. J Drug Target 2022; 30:577-588. [PMID: 35179094 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2022.2044485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the hallmark of liver disease and occurs prior to the stages of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Any type of liver damage or inflammation can result in fibrosis. Fibrosis does not develop overnight, but rather as a result of the long-term action of injury factors. At present, however, there are no good treatment methods or specific drugs other than removing the pathogenic factors. Drug application is still limited, which means that drugs with good performance in vitro cannot achieve good therapeutic effects in vivo, owing to various factors such as poor drug targeting, large side effects, and strong hydrophobicity. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the primary effector cells in liver fibrosis. The nano-drug delivery system is a new and safe drug delivery system that has many advantages which are widely used in the field of liver fibrosis. Drug resistance and side effects can be reduced when two or more drugs are used in combination drug delivery. Combination therapy of drugs with different targets has emerged as a novel approach to treating liver fibrosis, and the nano co-delivery system enhances the benefits of combination therapy. While nano co-delivery systems can maximize benefits while avoiding drug side effects, this is precisely the advantage of the nano co-delivery system. This review briefly described the pathogenesis and current treatment strategies, the different co-delivery systems of combination drugs in the nano delivery system, and targeting strategies for nano delivery systems on liver fibrosis therapy. Because of their superior performance, nano delivery systems and targeting drug delivery systems have received a lot of attention in the new drug delivery system. The new delivery systems offer a new pathway in the treatment of liver fibrosis, and it is believed that it can be a new treatment for fibrosis in the future. Nano co-delivery system of combination drugs and targeting strategies has proven the effectiveness of anti-fibrosis at the experimental level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyue Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Qiangwei Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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Tong G, Chen X, Lee J, Fan J, Li S, Zhu K, Hu Z, Mei L, Sui Y, Dong Y, Chen R, Jin Z, Zhou B, Li X, Wang X, Cong W, Huang P, Jin L. Fibroblast growth factor 18 attenuates liver fibrosis and HSCs activation via the SMO-LATS1-YAP pathway. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Ubiquitin specific peptidase 1 promotes hepatic fibrosis through positive regulation of CXCL1 by deubiquitinating SNAIL. Dig Liver Dis 2022; 54:91-102. [PMID: 33926817 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic fibrosis is attributed to an imbalance of extracellular matrix production and lysis. Human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been uncovered to converge through complex interactions with hepatocytes and immune cells, causing scarring in liver damage. AIMS We aimed to investigate the expression status of ubiquitin specific peptidase 1 (USP1) and its potential mechanisms on HSCs and hepatic fibrosis. METHODS Hepatic fibrosis animal and cell models were generated using mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment and HSCs LX-2 with TGF-β1 treatment. Relationships among USP1, SNAIL, and CXCL1 were identified via dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, co-immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. With gain- and loss-of-experiments, CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays were employed for cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS USP1 upregulated SNAIL expression through deubiquitination to increase CXCL1 expression. USP1 downregulation decreased expressions of fibrosis-related genes, suppressed proliferation, and promoted apoptosis in TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells, which were reversed by SNAIL overexpression. The pro-fibrosis role caused by SNAIL upregulation was abolished by CXCL1 reduction. Promotive function of USP1/SNAIL/CXCL1 axis in hepatic fibrosis was further confirmed in vivo. CONCLUSION These data supported siRNA-mediated silencing of USP1 improved hepatic fibrosis through inhibition of SNAIL and CXCL1, which yields a new therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis treatment.
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Ren L, Li J, Liu L, Wu W, Zhao D, Zhang K, Xin X, Yang L, Yin L. Resolving hepatic fibrosis via suppressing oxidative stress and an inflammatory response using a novel hyaluronic acid modified nanocomplex. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:8259-8269. [PMID: 34761752 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01499d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis remains a serious threat to human health globally and there are no effective antifibrotic pharmacotherapeutic strategies, to date. Upon the activation of hepatic stellate cells, excess deposition of the extracellular matrix occurs, acting as a trigger that generates reactive oxygen species and an inflammatory response, thereby exacerbating the development of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. In this study, we incorporated an idea that targets key pathways for developing novel anti-fibrosis nanomedicine. Previous studies have reported the potential of LY294002 (LY) as a PI3K/Akt inhibitor that suppresses the HSC activation and fibrosis development; however, its poor water solubility impedes further investigation. Moreover, the proliferation of HSC, severe oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions could be undermined by oridonin (ORD) treatment. Herein, we developed an HA-ORD/LY-Lips nanocomplex, where LY294002 was encapsulated into liposomes to prepare LY-Lips while ORD was conjugated with a hyaluronic acid (HA) polymer acting as a prodrug HA-ORD. The complex exerts great potential in improving the liver-targeted drug release. We adopted a series of in vitro and in vivo evaluations which demonstrate that HA-ORD/LY-Lips can significantly avert activation of hepatic stellate cells via scavenging reactive oxygen species and suppressing an inflammatory response. Our work implements a proof of concept strategy for fibrosis treatment based on the dual antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which may be applicable to treat liver fibrosis associated with a dysregulated inflammatory microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianjie Ren
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Center for Drug Evaluation, NMPA, Beijing 100022, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Lisha Liu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Wantao Wu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Di Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Kai Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Xiaofei Xin
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Lei Yang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Lifang Yin
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for R&D and Evaluation of Intelligent Drugs and Key Functional Excipients, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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