1
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Somanader DVN, Zhao P, Widdop RE, Samuel CS. The involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade in fibrosis progression and its therapeutic targeting by relaxin. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 223:116130. [PMID: 38490518 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116130] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Organ scarring, referred to as fibrosis, results from a failed wound-healing response to chronic tissue injury and is characterised by the aberrant accumulation of various extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Once established, fibrosis is recognised as a hallmark of stiffened and dysfunctional tissues, hence, various fibrosis-related diseases collectively contribute to high morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Despite this, these diseases are ineffectively treated by currently-available medications. The pro-fibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, has emerged as the master regulator of fibrosis progression, owing to its ability to promote various factors and processes that facilitate rapid ECM synthesis and deposition, whilst negating ECM degradation. TGF-β1 signal transduction is tightly controlled by canonical (Smad-dependent) and non-canonical (MAP kinase- and Rho-associated protein kinase-dependent) intracellular protein activity, whereas its pro-fibrotic actions can also be facilitated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This review outlines the pathological sequence of events and contributing roles of TGF-β1 in the progression of fibrosis, and how the Wnt/β-catenin pathway contributes to tissue repair in acute disease settings, but to fibrosis and related tissue dysfunction in synergy with TGF-β1 in chronic diseases. It also outlines the anti-fibrotic and related signal transduction mechanisms of the hormone, relaxin, that are mediated via its negative modulation of TGF-β1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, but through the promotion of Wnt/β-catenin activity in acute disease settings. Collectively, this highlights that the crosstalk between TGF-β1 signal transduction and the Wnt/β-catenin cascade may provide a therapeutic target that can be exploited to broadly treat and reverse established fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deidree V N Somanader
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Peishen Zhao
- Drug Discovery Biology Program, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Robert E Widdop
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
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2
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Mohanan A, Washimkar KR, Mugale MN. Unraveling the interplay between vital organelle stress and oxidative stress in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119676. [PMID: 38242330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119676] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive lung disease characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, leading to irreversible fibrosis. Emerging evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial stress, and oxidative stress pathways play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of IPF. ER stress occurs when the protein folding capacity of the ER is overwhelmed, triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) and contributing to protein misfolding and cellular stress in IPF. Concurrently, mitochondrial dysfunction involving dysregulation of key regulators, including PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis and impairs cellular energy metabolism. This leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, release of pro-fibrotic mediators, and activation of fibrotic pathways, exacerbating IPF progression. The UPR-induced ER stress further disrupts mitochondrial metabolism, resulting in altered mitochondrial mechanisms that increase the generation of ROS, resulting in further ER stress, creating a feedback loop that contributes to the progression of IPF. Oxidative stress also plays a pivotal role in IPF, as ROS-mediated activation of TGF-β, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways promotes inflammation and fibrotic responses. This review mainly focuses on the links between ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and oxidative stress with different signaling pathways involved in IPF. Understanding these mechanisms and targeting key molecules within these pathways may offer promising avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushree Mohanan
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Kaveri R Washimkar
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Madhav Nilakanth Mugale
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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3
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Zhou X, Tan F, Zhang S, Zhang T. Combining single-cell RNA sequencing data and transcriptomic data to unravel potential mechanisms and signature genes of the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to lung adenocarcinoma and predict therapeutic agents. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:346. [PMID: 37996625 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01274-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a significantly higher prevalence of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) than normal subjects, although the underlying association is unclear. The raw data involved were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and modular signature genes (MSGs). Genes intersecting DEGs and MSGs were considered hub genes for IPF and LUAD. Machine learning algorithms were applied to capture epithelial cell-derived signature genes (EDSGs) shared. External cohort data were exploited to validate the robustness of EDSGs. Immunohistochemical staining and K-M plots were used to denote the prognostic value of EDSGs in LUAD. Based on EDSGs, we constructed a TF-gene-miRNA regulatory network. Molecular docking can validate the strength of action between candidate drugs and EDSGs. Epithelial cells, 650 DEGs, and 1773 MSGs were shared by IPF and LUAD. As for 379 hub genes, we performed pathway and functional enrichment analysis. By analyzing sc-RNA seq data, we identified 1234 marker genes of IPF epithelial cell-derived and 1481 of LUAD. And these genes shared 8 items with 379 hub genes. Through the machine learning algorithms, we further fished TRIM2, S100A14, CYP4B1, LMO7, and SFN. The ROC curves emphasized the significance of EDSGs in predicting the onset of LUAD and IPF. The TF-gene-miRNA network revealed regulatory relationships behind EDSGs. Finally, we predicted appropriate therapeutic agents. Our study preliminarily identified potential mechanisms between IPF and LUAD, which will inform subsequent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianqiang Zhou
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing'an District Central Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Jing'an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Fang Tan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230031, Anhui Province, China
| | - Suxian Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing'an District Central Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Tiansong Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing'an District Central Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Jing'an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.
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4
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Yang X, Xu Z, Hu S, Shen J. Perspectives of PDE inhibitor on treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1111393. [PMID: 36865908 PMCID: PMC9973527 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1111393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) without an identifiable cause. If not treated after diagnosis, the average life expectancy is 3-5 years. Currently approved drugs for the treatment of IPF are Pirfenidone and Nintedanib, as antifibrotic drugs, which can reduce the decline rate of forced vital capacity (FVC) and reduce the risk of acute exacerbation of IPF. However these drugs can not relieve the symptoms associated with IPF, nor improve the overall survival rate of IPF patients. We need to develop new, safe and effective drugs to treat pulmonary fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that cyclic nucleotides participate in the pathway and play an essential role in the process of pulmonary fibrosis. Phosphodiesterase (PDEs) is involved in cyclic nucleotide metabolism, so PDE inhibitors are candidates for pulmonary fibrosis. This paper reviews the research progress of PDE inhibitors related to pulmonary fibrosis, so as to provide ideas for the development of anti-pulmonary fibrosis drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudan Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | | | - Songhua Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Juan Shen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
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5
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Schuster R, Younesi F, Ezzo M, Hinz B. The Role of Myofibroblasts in Physiological and Pathological Tissue Repair. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:cshperspect.a041231. [PMID: 36123034 PMCID: PMC9808581 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are the construction workers of wound healing and repair damaged tissues by producing and organizing collagen/extracellular matrix (ECM) into scar tissue. Scar tissue effectively and quickly restores the mechanical integrity of lost tissue architecture but comes at the price of lost tissue functionality. Fibrotic diseases caused by excessive or persistent myofibroblast activity can lead to organ failure. This review defines myofibroblast terminology, phenotypic characteristics, and functions. We will focus on the central role of the cell, ECM, and tissue mechanics in regulating tissue repair by controlling myofibroblast action. Additionally, we will discuss how therapies based on mechanical intervention potentially ameliorate wound healing outcomes. Although myofibroblast physiology and pathology affect all organs, we will emphasize cutaneous wound healing and hypertrophic scarring as paradigms for normal tissue repair versus fibrosis. A central message of this review is that myofibroblasts can be activated from multiple cell sources, varying with local environment and type of injury, to either restore tissue integrity and organ function or create an inappropriate mechanical environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Schuster
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E2 Ontario, Canada
| | - Fereshteh Younesi
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E2 Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Maya Ezzo
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E2 Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E2 Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada
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6
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Yuan S, Guo D, Liang X, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Xie D. Relaxin in fibrotic ligament diseases: Its regulatory role and mechanism. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1131481. [PMID: 37123405 PMCID: PMC10134402 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1131481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrotic ligament diseases (FLDs) are diseases caused by the pathological accumulation of periarticular fibrotic tissue, leading to functional disability around joint and poor life quality. Relaxin (RLX) has been reported to be involved in the development of fibrotic lung and liver diseases. Previous studies have shown that RLX can block pro-fibrotic process by reducing the excess extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and accelerating collagen degradation in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies have shown that RLX can attenuate connective tissue fibrosis by suppressing TGF-β/Smads signaling pathways to inhibit the activation of myofibroblasts. However, the specific roles and mechanisms of RLX in FLDs remain unclear. Therefore, in this review, we confirmed the protective effect of RLX in FLDs and summarized its mechanism including cells, key cytokines and signaling pathways involved. In this article, we outline the potential therapeutic role of RLX and look forward to the application of RLX in the clinical translation of FLDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Yuan
- Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Guo
- Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinzhi Liang
- Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luhui Zhang
- Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Good Clinical Practice Development, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degeneration Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Denghui Xie, ; Qun Zhang,
| | - Denghui Xie
- Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degeneration Diseases, Academy of Orthopedics, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Denghui Xie, ; Qun Zhang,
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7
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Dooling LJ, Saini K, Anlaş AA, Discher DE. Tissue mechanics coevolves with fibrillar matrisomes in healthy and fibrotic tissues. Matrix Biol 2022; 111:153-188. [PMID: 35764212 PMCID: PMC9990088 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibrillar proteins are principal components of extracellular matrix (ECM) that confer mechanical properties to tissues. Fibrosis can result from wound repair in nearly every tissue in adults, and it associates with increased ECM density and crosslinking as well as increased tissue stiffness. Such fibrotic tissues are a major biomedical challenge, and an emerging view posits that the altered mechanical environment supports both synthetic and contractile myofibroblasts in a state of persistent activation. Here, we review the matrisome in several fibrotic diseases, as well as normal tissues, with a focus on physicochemical properties. Stiffness generally increases with the abundance of fibrillar collagens, the major constituent of ECM, with similar mathematical trends for fibrosis as well as adult tissues from soft brain to stiff bone and heart development. Changes in expression of other core matrisome and matrisome-associated proteins or proteoglycans contribute to tissue stiffening in fibrosis by organizing collagen, crosslinking ECM, and facilitating adhesion of myofibroblasts. Understanding how ECM composition and mechanics coevolve during fibrosis can lead to better models and help with antifibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence J Dooling
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karanvir Saini
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alişya A Anlaş
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dennis E Discher
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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8
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Samuel CS, Bennett RG. Relaxin as an anti-fibrotic treatment: Perspectives, challenges and future directions. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 197:114884. [PMID: 34968489 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis refers to the scarring and hardening of tissues, which results from a failed immune system-coordinated wound healing response to chronic organ injury and which manifests from the aberrant accumulation of various extracellular matrix components (ECM), primarily collagen. Despite being a hallmark of prolonged tissue damage and related dysfunction, and commonly associated with high morbidity and mortality, there are currently no effective cures for its regression. An emerging therapy that meets several criteria of an effective anti-fibrotic treatment, is the recombinant drug-based form of the human hormone, relaxin (also referred to as serelaxin, which is bioactive in several other species). This review outlines the broad anti-fibrotic and related organ-protective roles of relaxin, mainly from studies conducted in preclinical models of ageing and fibrotic disease, including its ability to ameliorate several aspects of fibrosis progression and maturation, from immune cell infiltration, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine secretion, oxidative stress, organ hypertrophy, cell apoptosis, myofibroblast differentiation and ECM production, to its ability to facilitate established ECM degradation. Studies that have compared and/or combined these therapeutic effects of relaxin with current standard of care medication have also been discussed, along with the main challenges that have hindered the translation of the anti-fibrotic efficacy of relaxin to the clinic. The review then outlines the future directions as to where scientists and several pharmaceutical companies that have recognized the therapeutic potential of relaxin are working towards, to progress its development as a treatment for human patients suffering from various fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4130, USA.
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9
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Sriram K, Insel MB, Insel PA. Inhaled β2 Adrenergic Agonists and Other cAMP-Elevating Agents: Therapeutics for Alveolar Injury and Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome? Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:488-526. [PMID: 34795026 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhaled long-acting β-adrenergic agonists (LABAs) and short-acting β-adrenergic agonists are approved for the treatment of obstructive lung disease via actions mediated by β2 adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs) that increase cellular cAMP synthesis. This review discusses the potential of β2-AR agonists, in particular LABAs, for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We emphasize ARDS induced by pneumonia and focus on the pathobiology of ARDS and actions of LABAs and cAMP on pulmonary and immune cell types. β2-AR agonists/cAMP have beneficial actions that include protection of epithelial and endothelial cells from injury, restoration of alveolar fluid clearance, and reduction of fibrotic remodeling. β2-AR agonists/cAMP also exert anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system by actions on several types of immune cells. Early administration is likely critical for optimizing efficacy of LABAs or other cAMP-elevating agents, such as agonists of other Gs-coupled G protein-coupled receptors or cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Clinical studies that target lung injury early, prior to development of ARDS, are thus needed to further assess the use of inhaled LABAs, perhaps combined with inhaled corticosteroids and/or long-acting muscarinic cholinergic antagonists. Such agents may provide a multipronged, repurposing, and efficacious therapeutic approach while minimizing systemic toxicity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after pulmonary alveolar injury (e.g., certain viral infections) is associated with ∼40% mortality and in need of new therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the pathobiology of ARDS, focusing on contributions of pulmonary and immune cell types and potentially beneficial actions of β2 adrenergic receptors and cAMP. Early administration of inhaled β2 adrenergic agonists and perhaps other cAMP-elevating agents after alveolar injury may be a prophylactic approach to prevent development of ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Sriram
- Departments of Pharmacology (K.S., P.A.I.) and Medicine (P.A.I.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Medicine (M.B.I.) University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Michael B Insel
- Departments of Pharmacology (K.S., P.A.I.) and Medicine (P.A.I.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Medicine (M.B.I.) University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Paul A Insel
- Departments of Pharmacology (K.S., P.A.I.) and Medicine (P.A.I.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Medicine (M.B.I.) University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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10
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Yanagihara T, Scallan C, Ask K, Kolb MR. Emerging therapeutic targets for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: preclinical progress and therapeutic implications. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:939-948. [PMID: 34784834 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.2006186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive lung disease with high associated morbidity and mortality. The therapeutic landscape has significantly changed in the last 20 years with two drugs currently approved that have demonstrated the ability to slow disease progression. Despite these developments, survival in IPF is limited, so there is a major interest in therapeutic targets which could serve to open up new therapeutic avenues. AREAS COVERED We review the most recent information regarding drug targets and therapies currently being investigated in preclinical and early-stage clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION The complex pathogenesis of IPF and variability in disease course and response to therapy highlights the importance of a precision approach to therapy. Novel technologies including transcriptomics and the use of serum biomarkers, will become essential tools to guide future drug development and therapeutic decision making particularly as it pertains to combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoshi Yanagihara
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ciaran Scallan
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kjetil Ask
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Rj Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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11
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Sim C, Lamanna E, Cirnigliaro F, Lam M. Beyond TGFβ1 - novel treatment strategies targeting lung fibrosis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 141:106090. [PMID: 34601088 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a key feature of chronic lung diseases and occurs as a consequence of aberrant wound healing. TGFβ1 plays a major role in promoting fibrosis and is the primary target of current treatments that slow, but do not halt or reverse the progression of disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that additional mechanisms, including excessive airway contraction, inflammation and infections including COVID-19, can contribute to fibrosis. This review summarises experimental and clinical studies assessing the potential beneficial effects of novel drugs that possess a unique suite of complementary actions to oppose contraction, inflammation and remodelling, along with evidence that they also limit fibrosis. Translation of these promising findings is critical for the repurposing and development of improved therapeutics for fibrotic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sim
- Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emma Lamanna
- Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Maggie Lam
- Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia.
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12
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Walker M, Godin M, Pelling AE. Mechanical stretch sustains myofibroblast phenotype and function in microtissues through latent TGF-β1 activation. Integr Biol (Camb) 2021; 12:199-210. [PMID: 32877929 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Developing methods to study tissue mechanics and myofibroblast activation may lead to new targets for therapeutic treatments that are urgently needed for fibrotic disease. Microtissue arrays are a promising approach to conduct relatively high-throughput research into fibrosis as they recapitulate key biomechanical aspects of the disease through a relevant 3D extracellular environment. In early work, our group developed a device called the MVAS-force to stretch microtissues while enabling simultaneous assessment of their dynamic mechanical behavior. Here, we investigated TGF-β1-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation in microtissue cultures using our MVAS-force device through assessing α-SMA expression, contractility and stiffness. In doing so, we linked cell-level phenotypic changes to functional changes that characterize the clinical manifestation of fibrotic disease. As expected, TGF-β1 treatment promoted a myofibroblastic phenotype and microtissues became stiffer and possessed increased contractility. These changes were partially reversible upon TGF-β1 withdrawal under a static condition, while, in contrast, long-term cyclic stretching maintained myofibroblast activation. This pro-fibrotic effect of mechanical stretching was absent when TGF-β1 receptors were inhibited. Furthermore, stretching promoted myofibroblast differentiation when microtissues were given latent TGF-β1. Altogether, these results suggest that external mechanical stretch may activate latent TGF-β1 and, accordingly, might be a powerful stimulus for continued myofibroblast activation to progress fibrosis. Further exploration of this pathway with our approach may yield new insights into myofibroblast activation and more effective therapeutic treatments for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Walker
- Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N5N5, Canada
| | - Michel Godin
- Department of Physics, 150 Louis Pasteur pvt., STEM Complex, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colonel By Hall, 161 Louis Pasteur, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5, Canada.,Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Colonel By Hall, 161 Louis Pasteur, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5, Canada
| | - Andrew E Pelling
- Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N5N5, Canada.,Department of Physics, 150 Louis Pasteur pvt., STEM Complex, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.,Institute for Science Society and Policy, Simard Hall, 60 University, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N5N5, Canada.,SymbioticA, School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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13
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Ghilardi SJ, Aronson MS, Sgro AE. Ventral stress fibers induce plasma membrane deformation in human fibroblasts. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:1707-1723. [PMID: 34191528 PMCID: PMC8684729 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-03-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane are important in many eukaryotic cellular processes. During these processes, actin structures deform the cell membrane outward by applying forces parallel to the fiber’s major axis (as in migration) or they deform the membrane inward by applying forces perpendicular to the fiber’s major axis (as in the contractile ring during cytokinesis). Here we describe a novel actin–membrane interaction in human dermal myofibroblasts. When labeled with a cytosolic fluorophore, the myofibroblasts displayed prominent fluorescent structures on the ventral side of the cell. These structures are present in the cell membrane and colocalize with ventral actin stress fibers, suggesting that the stress fibers bend the membrane to form a “cytosolic pocket” that the fluorophores diffuse into, creating the observed structures. The existence of this pocket was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. While dissolving the stress fibers, inhibiting fiber protein binding, or inhibiting myosin II binding of actin removed the observed pockets, modulating cellular contractility did not remove them. Taken together, our results illustrate a novel actin–membrane bending topology where the membrane is deformed outward rather than being pinched inward, resembling the topological inverse of the contractile ring found in cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Ghilardi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Mark S Aronson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Allyson E Sgro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
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14
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Sawant M, Hinz B, Schönborn K, Zeinert I, Eckes B, Krieg T, Schuster R. A story of fibers and stress: Matrix-embedded signals for fibroblast activation in the skin. Wound Repair Regen 2021; 29:515-530. [PMID: 34081361 DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Our skin is continuously exposed to mechanical challenge, including shear, stretch, and compression. The extracellular matrix of the dermis is perfectly suited to resist these challenges and maintain integrity of normal skin even upon large strains. Fibroblasts are the key cells that interpret mechanical and chemical cues in their environment to turnover matrix and maintain homeostasis in the skin of healthy adults. Upon tissue injury, fibroblasts and an exclusive selection of other cells become activated into myofibroblasts with the task to restore skin integrity by forming structurally imperfect but mechanically stable scar tissue. Failure of myofibroblasts to terminate their actions after successful repair or upon chronic inflammation results in dysregulated myofibroblast activities which can lead to hypertrophic scarring and/or skin fibrosis. After providing an overview on the major fibrillar matrix components in normal skin, we will interrogate the various origins of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the skin. We then examine the role of the matrix as signaling hub and how fibroblasts respond to mechanical matrix cues to restore order in the confusing environment of a healing wound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mugdha Sawant
- Translational Matrix Biology, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Boris Hinz
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Katrin Schönborn
- Translational Matrix Biology, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Isabel Zeinert
- Translational Matrix Biology, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Beate Eckes
- Translational Matrix Biology, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Krieg
- Translational Matrix Biology, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ronen Schuster
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,PhenomicAI, MaRS Centre, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Canada
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15
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Sassoli C, Nistri S, Chellini F, Bani D. Human Recombinant Relaxin (Serelaxin) as Anti-fibrotic Agent: Pharmacology, Limitations and Actual Perspectives. Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:196-208. [PMID: 33687895 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210309113650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin (recombinant human relaxin-2 hormone; RLX-2; serelaxin) had raised expectations as a new medication for fibrotic diseases. A plethora of in vitro and in vivo studies have offered convincing demonstrations that relaxin promotes remodelling of connective tissue extracellular matrix mediated by inhibition of multiple fibrogenic pathways, especially the downstream signalling of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a major pro-fibrotic cytokine, and the recruitment and activation of myofibroblast, the main fibrosis-generating cells. However, all clinical trials with relaxin in patients with fibrotic diseases gave inconclusive results. In this review, we have summarized the molecular mechanisms of fibrosis, highlighting those which can be effectively targeted by relaxin. Then, we have performed a critical reappraisal of the clinical trials performed to-date with relaxin as anti-fibrotic drug, in order to highlight their key points of strength and weakness and to identify some future opportunities for the therapeutic use of relaxin, or its analogues, in fibrotic diseases and pathologic scarring which, in our opinion, deserve to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sassoli
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy & Histology, Research Unit of Human Anatomy. Italy
| | - Silvia Nistri
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy & Histology, Research Unit of Histology & Embryology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
| | - Flaminia Chellini
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy & Histology, Research Unit of Human Anatomy. Italy
| | - Daniele Bani
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy & Histology, Research Unit of Histology & Embryology, University of Florence, Florence. Italy
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16
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Tocchetti GN, Domínguez CJ, Zecchinati F, Arana MR, Rigalli JP, Ruiz ML, Villanueva SSM, Mottino AD. Intraluminal nutrients acutely strengthen rat intestinal MRP2 barrier function by a glucagon-like peptide-2-mediated mechanism. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2020; 230:e13514. [PMID: 32476256 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM MRP2 is an intestinal ABC transporter that prevents the absorption of dietary xenobiotics. The aims of this work were: (1) to evaluate whether a short-term regulation of intestinal MRP2 barrier function takes place in vivo after luminal incorporation of nutrients and (2) to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS MRP2 activity and localization were assessed in an in vivo rat model with preserved irrigation and innervation. Nutrients were administered into distal jejunum. After 30-minutes treatments, MRP2 activity was assessed in proximal jejunum by quantifying the transport of the model substrate 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione. MRP2 localization was determined by quantitative confocal microscopy. Participation of extracellular mediators was evaluated using selective inhibitors and by immunoneutralization. Intracellular pathways were explored in differentiated Caco-2 cells. RESULTS Oleic acid, administered intraluminally at dietary levels, acutely stimulated MRP2 insertion into brush border membrane. This was associated with increased efflux activity and, consequently, enhanced barrier function. Immunoneutralization of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) prevented oleic acid effect on MRP2, demonstrating the participation of this trophic factor as a main mediator. Further experiments using selective inhibitors demonstrated that extracellular adenosine synthesis and its subsequent binding to enterocytic A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) take place downstream GLP-2. Finally, studies in intestinal Caco-2 cells revealed the participation of A2BAR/cAMP/PKA intracellular pathway, ultimately leading to increased MRP2 localization in apical domains. CONCLUSION These findings reveal an on-demand, acute regulation of MRP2-associated barrier function, constituting a novel physiological mechanism of protection against the absorption of dietary xenobiotics in response to food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo N. Tocchetti
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology University of Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
| | - Camila J. Domínguez
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
| | - Felipe Zecchinati
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
| | - Maite R. Arana
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
| | - Juan P. Rigalli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology University of Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
| | - María L. Ruiz
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
| | - Silvina S. M. Villanueva
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
| | - Aldo D. Mottino
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)National University of Rosario (UNR) Rosario Argentina
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17
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Hinz B, Lagares D. Evasion of apoptosis by myofibroblasts: a hallmark of fibrotic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2020; 16:11-31. [PMID: 31792399 PMCID: PMC7913072 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-019-0324-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Organ fibrosis is a lethal outcome of autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as systemic sclerosis. Myofibroblasts are scar-forming cells that are ultimately responsible for the excessive synthesis, deposition and remodelling of extracellular matrix proteins in fibrosis. Advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms that keep myofibroblasts in an activated state and control myofibroblast functions. However, the mechanisms that help myofibroblasts to persist in fibrotic tissues remain poorly understood. Myofibroblasts evade apoptosis by activating molecular mechanisms in response to pro-survival biomechanical and growth factor signals from the fibrotic microenvironment, which can ultimately lead to the acquisition of a senescent phenotype. Growing evidence suggests that myofibroblasts and senescent myofibroblasts, rather than being resistant to apoptosis, are actually primed for apoptosis owing to concomitant activation of cell death signalling pathways; these cells are poised to apoptose when survival pathways are inhibited. This knowledge of apoptotic priming has paved the way for new therapies that trigger apoptosis in myofibroblasts by blocking pro-survival mechanisms, target senescent myofibroblast for apoptosis or promote the reprogramming of myofibroblasts into scar-resolving cells. These novel strategies are not only poised to prevent progressive tissue scarring, but also have the potential to reverse established fibrosis and to regenerate chronically injured tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Hinz
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Lagares
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Fibrosis Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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18
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Chow BSM, Kocan M, Shen M, Wang Y, Han L, Chew JY, Wang C, Bosnyak S, Mirabito-Colafella KM, Barsha G, Wigg B, Johnstone EKM, Hossain MA, Pfleger KDG, Denton KM, Widdop RE, Summers RJ, Bathgate RAD, Hewitson TD, Samuel CS. AT1R-AT2R-RXFP1 Functional Crosstalk in Myofibroblasts: Impact on the Therapeutic Targeting of Renal and Cardiac Fibrosis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2019; 30:2191-2207. [PMID: 31511361 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2019060597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recombinant human relaxin-2 (serelaxin), which has organ-protective actions mediated via its cognate G protein-coupled receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), has emerged as a potential agent to treat fibrosis. Studies have shown that serelaxin requires the angiotensin II (AngII) type 2 receptor (AT2R) to ameliorate renal fibrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Whether its antifibrotic actions are affected by modulation of the AngII type 1 receptor (AT1R), which is expressed on myofibroblasts along with RXFP1 and AT2R, is unknown. METHODS We examined the signal transduction mechanisms of serelaxin when applied to primary rat renal and human cardiac myofibroblasts in vitro, and in three models of renal- or cardiomyopathy-induced fibrosis in vivo. RESULTS The AT1R blockers irbesartan and candesartan abrogated antifibrotic signal transduction of serelaxin via RXFP1 in vitro and in vivo. Candesartan also ameliorated serelaxin's antifibrotic actions in the left ventricle of mice with cardiomyopathy, indicating that candesartan's inhibitory effects were not confined to the kidney. We also demonstrated in a transfected cell system that serelaxin did not directly bind to AT1Rs but that constitutive AT1R-RXFP1 interactions could form. To potentially explain these findings, we also demonstrated that renal and cardiac myofibroblasts expressed all three receptors and that antagonists acting at each receptor directly or allosterically blocked the antifibrotic effects of either serelaxin or an AT2R agonist (compound 21). CONCLUSIONS These findings have significant implications for the concomitant use of RXFP1 or AT2R agonists with AT1R blockers, and suggest that functional interactions between the three receptors on myofibroblasts may represent new targets for controlling fibrosis progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryna S M Chow
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and
| | - Martina Kocan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.,Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Shen
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Yan Wang
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Lei Han
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Jacqueline Y Chew
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Chao Wang
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Sanja Bosnyak
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Katrina M Mirabito-Colafella
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Giannie Barsha
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Belinda Wigg
- Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth K M Johnstone
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Kevin D G Pfleger
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, ARC Centre for Personalised Therapeutic Technologies, Melbourne, Australia; and.,Dimerix Limited, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert E Widdop
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Roger J Summers
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and
| | - Tim D Hewitson
- Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and .,Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology and
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19
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Simon J, Nemeth E, Nemes A, Husveth-Toth M, Radovits T, Foldes G, Kiss L, Bagyura Z, Skopal J, Merkely B, Gara E. Circulating Relaxin-1 Level Is a Surrogate Marker of Myocardial Fibrosis in HFrEF. Front Physiol 2019; 10:690. [PMID: 31231242 PMCID: PMC6558211 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Relaxin-1 (RLN1) has emerged as a possible therapeutic target in myocardial fibrosis due to its anti-fibrotic effects. Previous randomized clinical trials investigated therapeutic role of exogenous relaxin in patients with acute-on-chronic heart failure (HF) and failed to meet clinical endpoints. Here, we aimed to assess endogenous, circulating RLN1 levels in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) of ischemic origin. Furthermore, we analyzed relation of RLN1 and left ventricular diastolic function, left and right ventricular fibrosis, and invasive hemodynamic measurements. Unique feature of our study is the availability of ex vivo human myocardial tissue. Methods: Human myocardial samples were available from the Transplantation Biobank of the Heart and Vascular Center at Semmelweis University after local ethical approval and informed consent of all participants (n = 47). Tissue was collected immediately after heart explantations; peripheral blood was collected before induction of anesthesia. Myocardial sections were stained for Masson’s trichrome and Picrosirius red staining to quantify fibrosis. Medical records were analyzed (ECG, anthropometry, blood tests, medication, echocardiography, and invasive hemodynamic measurements). Results: Average RLN1 levels in HFrEF population were significantly higher than measured in age and gender matched healthy control human subjects (702 ± 283 pg/ml in HFrEF vs. 44 ± 27 pg/ml in control n = 47). We found a moderate inverse correlation between RLN1 levels and degree of myocardial fibrosis in both ventricles (r = −0.357, p = 0.014 in the right ventricle vs. r = −0.321, p = 0.028 in the left ventricle with Masson’s trichrome staining). Parallel, a moderate positive correlation was found in left ventricular diastolic function (echocardiography, E/A wave values) and RLN1 levels (r = 0.456, p = 0.003); a negative correlation with RLN1 levels and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (r = −0.373, p = 0.023), and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (r = −0.894, p < 0.001). RLN1 levels showed moderate correlation with RLN2 levels (r = 0.453, p = 0.0003). Conclusion: Increased RLN1 levels were accompanied by lower myocardial fibrosis rate, which is a novel finding in our patient population with coronary artery disease and HFrEF. RLN1 can have a biomarker role in ventricular fibrosis; furthermore, it may influence hemodynamic and vasomotor activity via neurohormonal mechanisms of action. Given these valuable findings, RLN1 may be targeted in anti-fibrotic therapeutics and in perioperative care of heart transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Simon
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Endre Nemeth
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Annamaria Nemes
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Tamas Radovits
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabor Foldes
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Loretta Kiss
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Bagyura
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Skopal
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bela Merkely
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edit Gara
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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20
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Valkovic AL, Bathgate RA, Samuel CS, Kocan M. Understanding relaxin signalling at the cellular level. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:24-33. [PMID: 30592984 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin mediates many biological actions including anti-fibrotic, vasodilatory, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and organ protective effects across a range of tissues. At the cellular level, relaxin binds to the G protein-coupled receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) to activate a variety of downstream signal transduction pathways. This signalling cascade is complex and also varies in diverse cellular backgrounds. Moreover, RXFP1 signalling shows crosstalk with other receptors to mediate some of its physiological functions. This review summarises known signalling pathways induced by acute versus chronic treatment with relaxin across a range of cell types, it describes RXFP1 crosstalk with other receptors, signalling pathways activated by other ligands targeting RXFP1, and it also outlines physiological relevance of RXFP1 signalling outputs. Comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of relaxin actions in fibrosis, vasodilation, as well as organ protection, will further support relaxin's clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Valkovic
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ross Ad Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Martina Kocan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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21
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Ng HH, Shen M, Samuel CS, Schlossmann J, Bennett RG. Relaxin and extracellular matrix remodeling: Mechanisms and signaling pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:59-65. [PMID: 30660699 PMCID: PMC7384500 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is associated with accumulation of excess fibrillar collagen, leading to tissue dysfunction. Numerous processes, including inflammation, myofibroblast activation, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, play a role in the establishment and progression of fibrosis. Relaxin is a peptide hormone with well-known antifibrotic properties that result from its action on numerous cellular targets to reduce fibrosis. Relaxin activates multiple signal transduction pathways as a mechanism to suppress inflammation and myofibroblast activation in fibrosis. In this review, the general mechanisms underlying fibrotic diseases are described, along with the current state of knowledge regarding cellular targets of relaxin. Finally, an overview is presented summarizing the signaling pathways activated by relaxin and other relaxin family peptide receptor agonists to suppress fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooi Hooi Ng
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Matthew Shen
- Cardiovascular Disease Theme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Theme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jens Schlossmann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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22
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Bahudhanapati H, Tan J, Dutta JA, Strock SB, Sembrat J, Àlvarez D, Rojas M, Jäger B, Prasse A, Zhang Y, Kass DJ. MicroRNA-144-3p targets relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) expression in lung fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5008-5022. [PMID: 30709904 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The hormone relaxin is considered a potential therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We have previously shown that a potential limitation to relaxin-based IPF therapy is decreased expression of a relaxin receptor, relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), in IPF fibroblasts. The mechanism that down-regulates RXFP1 in IPF remains unclear. To determine whether microRNAs (miRs) regulate RXFP1 gene expression, here we employed a bioinformatics approach to identify miRs predicted to target RXFP1 and identified a putative miR-144-3p target site in the RXFP1 mRNA. In situ hybridization of IPF lung biopsies revealed that miR-144-3p is expressed in fibroblastic foci. Furthermore, we found that miR-144-3p is up-regulated in IPF fibroblasts compared with lung fibroblasts from healthy donors. Transforming growth factor β increased miR-144-3p expression in both healthy and IPF lung fibroblasts in a SMAD family 2/3 (SMAD2/3)-dependent manner, and Jun proto-oncogene AP-1 transcription factor subunit (AP-1) was required for constitutive miR-144-3p expression. Overexpression of an miR-144-3p mimic significantly reduced RXFP1 mRNA and protein levels and increased expression of the myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in healthy lung fibroblasts. IPF lung fibroblasts transfected with anti-miR-144-3p had increased RXFP1 expression and reduced α-SMA expression. Of note, a lentiviral luciferase reporter carrying the WT 3' UTR of RXFP1 was significantly repressed in IPF lung fibroblasts, whereas a reporter carrying a mutated miR-144-3p-binding site exhibited less sensitivity toward endogenous miR-144-3p expression, indicating that miR-144-3p down-regulates RXFP1 in IPF lung fibroblasts by targeting its 3' UTR. We conclude that miR-144-3p directly represses RXFP1 mRNA and protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harinath Bahudhanapati
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Jiangning Tan
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Justin A Dutta
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Stephen B Strock
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - John Sembrat
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Diana Àlvarez
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Mauricio Rojas
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Benedikt Jäger
- Fraunhofer ITEM, Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL) BREATH, Nicolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Antje Prasse
- Fraunhofer ITEM, Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL) BREATH, Nicolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,the Department of Pulmonology, Hannover Medical School, Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL) BREATH, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany, and
| | - Yingze Zhang
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Daniel J Kass
- From the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213,
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23
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Saito S, Zhuang Y, Suzuki T, Ota Y, Bateman ME, Alkhatib AL, Morris GF, Lasky JA. HDAC8 inhibition ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 316:L175-L186. [PMID: 30358439 PMCID: PMC6383499 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00551.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibroproliferative lung disease, and fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation (FMD) is thought to be a key event in the pathogenesis of IPF. Histone deacetylase-8 (HDAC8) has been shown to associate with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA; a marker of FMD) and regulates cell contractility in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the role of HDAC8 in FMD or pulmonary fibrosis has never been reported. This study investigated the role of HDAC8 in pulmonary fibrosis with a focus on FMD. We observed that HDAC8 expression was increased in IPF lung tissue as well as transforming growth factor (TGF)β1-treated normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs). Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that HDAC8 was associated with α-SMA in TGFβ1-treated NHLFs. HDAC8 inhibition with NCC170 (HDAC8-selective inhibitor) repressed TGFβ1-induced fibroblast contraction and α-SMA protein expression in NHLFs cultured in collagen gels. HDAC8 inhibition with HDAC8 siRNA also repressed TGFβ1-induced expression of profibrotic molecules such as fibronectin and increased expression of antifibrotic molecules such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). Chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR using an antibody against H3K27ac (histone H3 acetylated at lysine 27; a known HDAC8 substrate and a marker for active enhancers) suggested that HDAC8 inhibition with NCC170 ameliorated TGFβ1-induced loss of H3K27ac at the PPARγ gene enhancer. Furthermore, NCC170 treatment significantly decreased fibrosis measured by Ashcroft score as well as expression of type 1 collagen and fibronectin in bleomycin-treated mouse lungs. These data suggest that HDAC8 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis and that there is a therapeutic potential for HDAC8 inhibitors to treat IPF as well as other fibrotic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Saito
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
- Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center, Roadmap Scholars Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Yan Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto , Japan
| | - Yosuke Ota
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto , Japan
| | - Marjorie E Bateman
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Ala L Alkhatib
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Gilbert F Morris
- Department of Pathology, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Joseph A Lasky
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Science Center , New Orleans, Louisiana
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24
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Paliogiannis P, Fois AG, Collu C, Bandinu A, Zinellu E, Carru C, Pirina P, Mangoni AA, Zinellu A. Oxidative stress-linked biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomark Med 2018; 12:1175-1184. [PMID: 30191745 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2018-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate associations between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and markers of oxidative stress (OS) measured in different biological samples. METHODS A systematic search of publications listed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar from inception to December 2017 was conducted. RESULTS Significant differences between IPF patients and controls were observed for all biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides and glutathione), barring systemic isoprostanes. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed a consistent increase in the concentrations of OS markers or a reduction in antioxidant markers, in patients with IPF, independent of the type of biological sample. Pending the results of further studies, OS biomarkers might be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Paliogiannis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandro G Fois
- Department of Clinical, Surgical & Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Collu
- Department of Clinical, Surgical & Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonietta Bandinu
- Department of Clinical, Surgical & Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zinellu
- Department of Clinical, Surgical & Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pietro Pirina
- Department of Clinical, Surgical & Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Arduino A Mangoni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy
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25
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Yuan Y, Li M, To CH, Lam TC, Wang P, Yu Y, Chen Q, Hu X, Ke B. The Role of the RhoA/ROCK Signaling Pathway in Mechanical Strain-Induced Scleral Myofibroblast Differentiation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 59:3619-3629. [PMID: 30029249 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-23580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chi Ho To
- Laboratory of Experimental Optometry, Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, China
| | - Thomas Chuen Lam
- Laboratory of Experimental Optometry, Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunjie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingzhong Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojun Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bilian Ke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
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26
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Tocchetti GN, Domínguez CJ, Zecchinati F, Arana MR, Ruiz ML, Villanueva SSM, Weiss J, Mottino AD, Rigalli JP. Biphasic modulation of cAMP levels by the contraceptive nomegestrol acetate. Impact on P-glycoprotein expression and activity in hepatic cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 154:118-126. [PMID: 29684377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
ABC transporters are key players in drug excretion with alterations in their expression and activity by therapeutic agents potentially leading to drug-drug interactions. The interaction potential of nomegestrol acetate (NMGA), a synthetic progestogen increasingly used as oral contraceptive, had never been explored. In this work we evaluated (1) the effect of NMGA on ABC transporters in the human hepatic cell line HepG2 and (2) the underlying molecular mechanism. NMGA (5, 50 and 500 nM) increased P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression at both protein and mRNA levels and reduced intracellular calcein accumulation, indicating an increase also in transporter activity. This up-regulation of P-gp was corroborated in Huh7 cells and was independent of the classical progesterone receptor. Instead, using a siRNA-mediated silencing approach, we demonstrated the involvement of membrane progesterone receptor α. Moreover, we found that the activation of this receptor by NMGA led to a falling-rising profile in intracellular cAMP levels and protein kinase A activity over time, ultimately leading to transcriptional P-gp up-regulation. Finally, we identified inhibitory G protein and phosphodiesterases as mediators of this novel biphasic modulation. These results demonstrate the ability of NMGA to selectively up-regulate hepatic P-gp expression and activity and constitute the first report of ABC transporter modulation by membrane progesterone receptor α. If a similar regulation took place in vivo, decreased bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of NMGA-coadministered P-gp substrates could be expected. This holds special importance considering long-term administration of NMGA and broad substrate specificity of P-gp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Nicolás Tocchetti
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Camila Juliana Domínguez
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Felipe Zecchinati
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Maite Rocío Arana
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - María Laura Ruiz
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | | | - Johanna Weiss
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aldo Domingo Mottino
- Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE-CONICET), Rosario National University, Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Rigalli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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27
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Fois AG, Paliogiannis P, Sotgia S, Mangoni AA, Zinellu E, Pirina P, Carru C, Zinellu A. Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and therapeutic applications: a systematic review. Respir Res 2018; 19:51. [PMID: 29587761 PMCID: PMC5872514 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-018-0754-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal lung disease of unknown origin, is characterized by chronic and progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia which progressively impairs lung function. Oxidative stress is one of the main pathogenic pathways in IPF. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the type of markers of oxidative stress identified in different biological specimens and the effects of antioxidant therapies in patients with IPF. METHODS We conducted a systematic search of publications listed in electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar) from inception to October 2017. Two investigators independently reviewed all identified articles to determine eligibility. RESULTS After a substantial proportion of the initially identified articles (n = 554) was excluded because they were duplicates, abstracts, irrelevant, or did not meet the selection criteria, we identified 30 studies. In each study, we critically appraised the type, site (systemic vs. local, e.g. breath, sputum, expired breath condensate, epithelial lining fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissue specimens), and method used for measuring the identified oxidative stress biomarkers. Furthermore, the current knowledge on antioxidant therapies in IPF was summarized. CONCLUSIONS A number of markers of oxidative stress, with individual advantages and limitations, have been described in patients with IPF. Nevertheless, trials of antioxidant treatments have been unable to demonstrate consistent benefits, barring recent pharmacogenomics data suggesting different results in specific genotype subgroups of patients with IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro G Fois
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. .,Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy.
| | | | - Salvatore Sotgia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Arduino A Mangoni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Elisabetta Zinellu
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy
| | - Pietro Pirina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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28
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Lam M, Royce SG, Samuel CS, Bourke JE. Serelaxin as a novel therapeutic opposing fibrosis and contraction in lung diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 187:61-70. [PMID: 29447958 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The most common therapies for asthma and other chronic lung diseases are anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. While these drugs oppose disease symptoms, they do not reverse established structural changes in the airways and their therapeutic efficacy is reduced with increasing disease severity. The peptide hormone, relaxin, is a Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1) receptor agonist with unique combined effects in the lung that differentiates it from these existing therapies. Relaxin has previously been reported to have cardioprotective effects in acute heart failure as well anti-fibrotic actions in several organs. This review focuses on recent experimental evidence of the beneficial effects of chronic relaxin treatment in animal models of airways disease demonstrating inhibition of airway hyperresponsiveness and reversal of established fibrosis, consistent with potential therapeutic benefit. Of particular interest, accumulating evidence demonstrates that relaxin can also acutely oppose contraction by reducing the release of mast cell-derived bronchoconstrictors and by directly eliciting bronchodilation. When used in combination, chronic and acute treatment with relaxin has been shown to enhance responsiveness to both glucocorticoids and β2-adrenoceptor agonists respectively. While the mechanisms underlying these beneficial actions remain to be fully elucidated, translation of these promising combined preclinical findings is critical in the development of relaxin as a novel alternative or adjunct therapeutic opposing multiple aspects of airway pathology in lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Lam
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon G Royce
- Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jane E Bourke
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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29
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Pushkarsky I, Tseng P, Black D, France B, Warfe L, Koziol-White CJ, Jester WF, Trinh RK, Lin J, Scumpia PO, Morrison SL, Panettieri RA, Damoiseaux R, Di Carlo D. Elastomeric sensor surfaces for high-throughput single-cell force cytometry. Nat Biomed Eng 2018; 2:124-137. [PMID: 31015629 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0193-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
As cells with aberrant force-generating phenotypes can directly lead to disease, cellular force-generation mechanisms are high-value targets for new therapies. Here, we show that single-cell force sensors embedded in elastomers enable single-cell force measurements with ~100-fold improvement in throughput than was previously possible. The microtechnology is scalable and seamlessly integrates with the multi-well plate format, enabling highly parallelized time-course studies. In this regard, we show that airway smooth muscle cells isolated from fatally asthmatic patients have innately greater and faster force-generation capacity in response to stimulation than healthy control cells. By simultaneously tracing agonist-induced calcium flux and contractility in the same cell, we show that the calcium level is ultimately a poor quantitative predictor of cellular force generation. Finally, by quantifying phagocytic forces in thousands of individual human macrophages, we show that force initiation is a digital response (rather than a proportional one) to the proper immunogen. By combining mechanobiology at the single-cell level with high-throughput capabilities, this microtechnology can support drug-discovery efforts for clinical conditions associated with aberrant cellular force generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Pushkarsky
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Tseng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Dylan Black
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bryan France
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lyndon Warfe
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia J Koziol-White
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, Child Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - William F Jester
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, Child Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Ryan K Trinh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and The Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Philip O Scumpia
- Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sherie L Morrison
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and The Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Reynold A Panettieri
- Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, Child Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Medicinal Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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30
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Organ fibrosis is a lethal component of scleroderma. The hallmark of scleroderma fibrosis is extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by activated myofibroblasts, specialized hyper-contractile cells that promote ECM remodeling and matrix stiffening. The purpose of this review is to discuss novel mechanistic insight into myofibroblast activation in scleroderma. RECENT FINDINGS Matrix stiffness, traditionally viewed as an end point of organ fibrosis, is now recognized as a critical regulator of tissue fibrogenesis that hijacks the normal physiologic wound-healing program to promote organ fibrosis. Here, we discuss how matrix stiffness orchestrates fibrosis by controlling three fundamental pro-fibrotic mechanisms: (a) mechanoactivation of myofibroblasts, (b) integrin-mediated latent transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) activation, and (c) activation of non-canonical TGF-β1 signaling pathways. We also summarize novel therapeutic targets for anti-fibrotic therapy based on the mechanobiology of scleroderma. Future research on mechanobiology of scleroderma may lead to important clinical applications such as improved diagnosis and treatment of patients with scleroderma and other fibrotic-related diseases.
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31
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Pushkarsky I. FLECS Technology for High-Throughput Single-Cell Force Biology and Screening. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2018; 16:7-11. [PMID: 29266960 PMCID: PMC5775112 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2017.825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Dr. Ivan Pushkarsky from the Department of Bioengineering at UCLA and Forcyte Biotechnologies, Inc. was awarded The President's Innovation Award at the Annual Society of Biomolecular Imaging and Informatics meeting held in San Diego, September 2017. All cell types produce mechanical forces to serve important physiological roles. Since aberrant force-generating phenotypes directly lead to disease, cellular force-generation mechanisms are high-value targets for new therapies. Despite knowledge of their significance in disease, drug developers have had limited access to force-generating cellular phenotypes, especially in the context of high-throughput screening. To serve this valuable need, we have developed a platform microtechnology called "FLECS" that can acquire robust contractility data from 1000s of uniformly patterned single cells simultaneously and seamlessly integrates with the 96- and 384-well plate formats to facilitate large-scale drug screens. This perspective discusses the challenges facing existing laboratory methods for measuring cellular force in the context of drug discovery. It then provides an overview of the FLECS platform, describes how it was designed to overcome many of these challenges, and discusses some exciting work already accomplished with FLECS. It concludes by highlighting the platform nature of the technology and the potential value that it promises for a myriad of drug development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Pushkarsky
- Department of Bioengineering, UCLA , Los Angeles, California
- Forcyte Biotechnologies, Inc., Los Angeles, California
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32
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Hurtado-Aguilar LG, Mulderrig S, Moreira R, Hatam N, Spillner J, Schmitz-Rode T, Jockenhoevel S, Mela P. Ultrasound for In Vitro, Noninvasive Real-Time Monitoring and Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Heart Valves. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2017; 22:974-981. [PMID: 27673356 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2016.0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-engineered heart valves are developed in bioreactors where biochemical and mechanical stimuli are provided for extracellular matrix formation. During this phase, the monitoring possibilities are limited by the need to maintain the sterility and integrity of the valve. Therefore, noninvasive and nondestructive techniques are required. As such, optical imaging is commonly used to verify valve's functionality in vitro. It provides important information (i.e., leaflet symmetry, geometric orifice area, and closing and opening times), which is, however, usually limited to a singular view along the central axis from the outflow side. In this study, we propose ultrasound as a monitoring method that, in contrast to established optical imaging, can assess the valve from different planes, scanning the whole three-dimensional geometry. We show the potential benefits associated with the application of ultrasound to bioreactors, in advancing heart valve tissue engineering from design to fabrication and in vitro maturation. Specifically, we demonstrate that additional information, otherwise unavailable, can be gained to evaluate the valve's functionality (e.g., coaptation length, and effective cusp height and shape). Furthermore, we show that Doppler techniques provide qualitative visualization and quantitative evaluation of the flow through the valve, in real time and throughout the whole in vitro fabrication phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Hurtado-Aguilar
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Shane Mulderrig
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Ricardo Moreira
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Nima Hatam
- 2 Department for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Spillner
- 2 Department for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitz-Rode
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany .,3 Institute for Textile Engineering, RWTH Aachen University , Aachen, Germany
| | - Petra Mela
- 1 Department of Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen , Aachen, Germany
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33
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Wasik AA, Schiller HB. Functional proteomics of cellular mechanosensing mechanisms. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 71:118-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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34
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Tan J, Tedrow JR, Dutta JA, Juan-Guardela B, Nouraie M, Chu Y, Trejo Bittar H, Ramani K, Biswas PS, Veraldi KL, Kaminski N, Zhang Y, Kass DJ. Expression of RXFP1 Is Decreased in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Implications for Relaxin-based Therapies. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 194:1392-1402. [PMID: 27310652 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201509-1865oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Relaxin is a hormone that has been considered as a potential therapy for patients with fibrotic diseases. OBJECTIVES To gauge the potential efficacy of relaxin-based therapies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), we studied gene expression for relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) in IPF lungs and controls. METHODS We analyzed gene expression data obtained from the Lung Tissue Research Consortium and correlated RXFP1 gene expression data with cross-sectional clinical and demographic data. We also employed ex vivo donor and IPF lung fibroblasts to test RXFP1 expression in vitro. We tested CGEN25009, a relaxin-like peptide, in lung fibroblasts and in bleomycin injury. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We found that RXFP1 is significantly decreased in IPF. In patients with IPF, the magnitude of RXFP1 gene expression correlated directly with diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (P < 0.0001). Significantly less RXFP1 was detected in vitro in IPF fibroblasts than in donor controls. Transforming growth factor-β decreased RXFP1 in both donor and IPF lung fibroblasts. CGEN25009 was effective at decreasing bleomycin-induced, acid-soluble collagen deposition in vivo. The relaxin-like actions of CGEN25009 were abrogated by RXFP1 silencing in vitro, and, in comparison with donor lung fibroblasts, IPF lung fibroblasts exhibited decreased sensitivity to the relaxin-like effects of CGEN25009. CONCLUSIONS IPF is characterized by the loss of RXFP1 expression. RXFP1 expression is directly associated with pulmonary function in patients with IPF. The relaxin-like effects of CGEN25009 in vitro are dependent on expression of RXFP1. Our data suggest that patients with IPF with the highest RXFP1 expression would be predicted to be most sensitive to relaxin-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangning Tan
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - John R Tedrow
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Justin A Dutta
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Brenda Juan-Guardela
- 3 Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mehdi Nouraie
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Yanxia Chu
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | | | - Kritika Ramani
- 5 Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Partha S Biswas
- 5 Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Kristen L Veraldi
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Naftali Kaminski
- 3 Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yingze Zhang
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Daniel J Kass
- 1 Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.,2 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
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Burgstaller G, Oehrle B, Gerckens M, White ES, Schiller HB, Eickelberg O. The instructive extracellular matrix of the lung: basic composition and alterations in chronic lung disease. Eur Respir J 2017; 50:50/1/1601805. [PMID: 28679607 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01805-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 283] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM) determines the tissue architecture of the lung, and provides mechanical stability and elastic recoil, which are essential for physiological lung function. Biochemical and biomechanical signals initiated by the ECM direct cellular function and differentiation, and thus play a decisive role in lung development, tissue remodelling processes and maintenance of adult homeostasis. Recent proteomic studies have demonstrated that at least 150 different ECM proteins, glycosaminoglycans and modifying enzymes are expressed in the lung, and these assemble into intricate composite biomaterials. These highly insoluble assemblies of interacting ECM proteins and their glycan modifications can act as a solid phase-binding interface for hundreds of secreted proteins, which creates an information-rich signalling template for cell function and differentiation. Dynamic changes within the ECM that occur upon injury or with ageing are associated with several chronic lung diseases. In this review, we summarise the available data about the structure and function of the pulmonary ECM, and highlight changes that occur in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung cancer. We discuss potential mechanisms of ECM remodelling and modification, which we believe are relevant for future diagnosis and treatment of chronic lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Burgstaller
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Oehrle
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Gerckens
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Eric S White
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Herbert B Schiller
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Oliver Eickelberg
- Division of Respiratory Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
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Bagnell CA, Ho TY, George AF, Wiley AA, Miller DJ, Bartol FF. Maternal lactocrine programming of porcine reproductive tract development. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:957-968. [PMID: 28407326 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The lactocrine hypothesis for maternal programming of female reproductive tract development is based on the idea that non-nutritive, milk-borne bioactive factors (MbFs), delivered from mother to offspring during nursing, play a role in determining the trajectory of development with long-term consequences in the adult. Porcine female reproductive tract development is completed postnatally, and the period during which maternal support of neonatal growth derives exclusively from colostrum/milk defines a window of opportunity for lactocrine programming of reproductive tissues. Beyond nutrition, milk serves as a delivery system for a variety of bioactive factors. Porcine relaxin is a prototypical MbF. Present in colostrum at highest concentrations at birth, relaxin is transmitted into the circulation of nursing piglets where it can act on Relaxin receptors found in neonatal female reproductive tract tissues. This process is facilitated by the physiology of the maternal-neonatal dyad and the fact that the neonatal gastrointestinal tract is open to absorb macromolecules for a period of time postnatally. Age at first nursing and duration of nursing from birth are also important for porcine female reproductive tract development. These parameters affect both the quality and quantity of colostrum consumed. Disruption of lactocrine signaling by feeding milk replacer from birth altered porcine uterine, cervical, and testicular development by postnatal Day 2. Moreover, insufficient colostrum consumption in nursing piglets can impair uterine capacity to support viable litters of optimal size in adulthood. In the pig, lactocrine signaling supports neonatal organizational events associated with normal reproductive development and may program adult uterine capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol A Bagnell
- Department of Animal Sciences, Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Teh-Yuan Ho
- Department of Animal Sciences, Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Ashley F George
- Department of Animal Sciences, Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Anne A Wiley
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Program, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Dori J Miller
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Program, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Frank F Bartol
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Program, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
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Samuel CS, Royce SG, Hewitson TD, Denton KM, Cooney TE, Bennett RG. Anti-fibrotic actions of relaxin. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:962-976. [PMID: 27250825 PMCID: PMC5406285 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis refers to the hardening or scarring of tissues that usually results from aberrant wound healing in response to organ injury, and its manifestations in various organs have collectively been estimated to contribute to around 45-50% of deaths in the Western world. Despite this, there is currently no effective cure for the tissue structural and functional damage induced by fibrosis-related disorders. Relaxin meets several criteria of an effective anti-fibrotic based on its specific ability to inhibit pro-fibrotic cytokine and/or growth factor-mediated, but not normal/unstimulated, fibroblast proliferation, differentiation and matrix production. Furthermore, relaxin augments matrix degradation through its ability to up-regulate the release and activation of various matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinases and/or being able to down-regulate tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase activity. Relaxin can also indirectly suppress fibrosis through its other well-known (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hypertrophic, anti-apoptotic, angiogenic, wound healing and vasodilator) properties. This review will outline the organ-specific and general anti-fibrotic significance of exogenously administered relaxin and its mechanisms of action that have been documented in various non-reproductive organs such as the cardiovascular system, kidney, lung, liver, skin and tendons. In addition, it will outline the influence of sex on relaxin's anti-fibrotic actions, highlighting its potential as an emerging anti-fibrotic therapeutic. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PharmacologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - S G Royce
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PharmacologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - T D Hewitson
- Department of NephrologyRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - K M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PhysiologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - T E Cooney
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) HamotEriePAUSA
| | - R G Bennett
- Research Service 151VA Nebraska‐Western Iowa Health Care SystemOmahaNEUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNEUSA
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Lin YC, Sung YK, Jiang X, Peters-Golden M, Nicolls MR. Simultaneously Targeting Myofibroblast Contractility and Extracellular Matrix Cross-Linking as a Therapeutic Concept in Airway Fibrosis. Am J Transplant 2017; 17:1229-1241. [PMID: 27804215 PMCID: PMC5409855 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis after solid organ transplantation is considered an irreversible process and remains the major cause of graft dysfunction and death with limited therapies. This remodeling is characterized by aberrant accumulation of contractile myofibroblasts that deposit excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) and increase tissue stiffness. Studies demonstrate, however, that a stiff ECM itself promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, stimulating further ECM production. This creates a positive feedback loop that perpetuates fibrosis. We hypothesized that simultaneously targeting myofibroblast contractility with relaxin and ECM stiffness with lysyl oxidase inhibitors could break the feedback loop, reversing established fibrosis. To test this, we used the orthotopic tracheal transplantation (OTT) mouse model, which develops robust fibrotic airway remodeling. Mice with established fibrosis were treated with saline, mono-, or combination therapies. Although monotherapies had no effect, combining these agents decreased collagen deposition and promoted re-epithelialization of remodeled airways. Relaxin inhibited myofibroblast differentiation and contraction in a matrix-stiffness-dependent manner through prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ). Furthermore, the effect of combination therapy was lost in PGE2 receptor knockout and PGE2 -inhibited OTT mice. This study revealed the important synergistic roles of cellular contractility and tissue stiffness in the maintenance of fibrotic tissue and suggests a new therapeutic principle for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-chun Lin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California; USA, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Yon K. Sung
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Xinguo Jiang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California; USA, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Marc Peters-Golden
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark R. Nicolls
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California; USA, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA, Corresponding author: Mark R. Nicolls, MD, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Medical Service 111P, 3801 Miranda Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304
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Royce SG, Bathgate RAD, Samuel CS. Promise and Limitations of Relaxin-based Therapies in Chronic Fibrotic Lung Diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016; 194:1434-1435. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201606-1256le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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40
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Serelaxin improves the therapeutic efficacy of RXFP1-expressing human amnion epithelial cells in experimental allergic airway disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 2016; 130:2151-2165. [PMID: 27647937 DOI: 10.1042/cs20160328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Current asthma therapies primarily target airway inflammation (AI) and suppress episodes of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) but fail to treat airway remodelling (AWR), which can develop independently of AI and contribute to irreversible airway obstruction. The present study compared the anti-remodelling and therapeutic efficacy of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to that of human amnion epithelial stem cells (AECs) in the setting of chronic allergic airways disease (AAD), in the absence or presence of an anti-fibrotic (serelaxin; RLX). Female Balb/c mice subjected to the 9-week model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced chronic AAD, were either vehicle-treated (OVA alone) or treated with MSCs or AECs alone [intranasally (i.n.)-administered with 1×106 cells once weekly], RLX alone (i.n.-administered with 0.8 mg/ml daily) or a combination of MSCs or AECs and RLX from weeks 9-11 (n=6/group). Measures of AI, AWR and AHR were then assessed. OVA alone exacerbated AI, epithelial damage/thickness, sub-epithelial extracellular matrix (ECM) and total collagen deposition, markers of collagen turnover and AHR compared with that in saline-treated counterparts (all P<0.01 compared with saline-treated controls). RLX or AECs (but not MSCs) alone normalized epithelial thickness and partially diminished the OVA-induced fibrosis and AHR by ∼40-50% (all P<0.05 compared with OVA alone). Furthermore, the combination treatments normalized epithelial thickness, measures of fibrosis and AHR to that in normal mice, and significantly decreased AI. Although AECs alone demonstrated greater protection against the AAD-induced AI, AWR and AHR, compared with that of MSCs alone, combining RLX with MSCs or AECs reversed airway fibrosis and AHR to an even greater extent.
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Xu Q, Jiang X, Zhu W, Chen C, Hu G, Li Q. Synthesis, preliminary biological evaluation and 3D-QSAR study of novel 1,5-disubstituted-2(1H)-pyridone derivatives as potential anti-lung cancer agents. ARAB J CHEM 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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42
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Sarwar M, Du XJ, Dschietzig TB, Summers RJ. The actions of relaxin on the human cardiovascular system. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:933-949. [PMID: 27239943 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like peptide relaxin, originally identified as a hormone of pregnancy, is now known to exert a range of pleiotropic effects including vasodilatory, anti-fibrotic, angiogenic, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in both males and females. Relaxin produces these effects by binding to a cognate receptor RXFP1 and activating a variety of signalling pathways including cAMP, cGMP and MAPKs as well as by altering gene expression of TGF-β, MMPs, angiogenic growth factors and endothelin receptors. The peptide has been shown to be effective in halting or reversing many of the adverse effects including fibrosis in animal models of cardiovascular disease including ischaemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Relaxin given to humans is safe and produces favourable haemodynamic changes. Serelaxin, the recombinant form of relaxin, is now in extended phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure. Previous clinical studies indicated that a 48 h infusion of relaxin improved 180 day mortality, yet the mechanism underlying this effect is not clear. This article provides an overview of the cellular mechanism of effects of relaxin and summarizes its beneficial actions in animal models and in the clinic. We also hypothesize potential mechanisms for the clinical efficacy of relaxin, identify current knowledge gaps and suggest new ways in which relaxin could be useful therapeutically. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Sarwar
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Australia
| | - Xiao-Jun Du
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas B Dschietzig
- Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany.,Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Relaxera Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Bensheim, Germany
| | - Roger J Summers
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Australia
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Qu J, Chen H, Zhu L, Ambalavanan N, Girkin CA, Murphy-Ullrich JE, Downs JC, Zhou Y. High-Magnitude and/or High-Frequency Mechanical Strain Promotes Peripapillary Scleral Myofibroblast Differentiation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 56:7821-30. [PMID: 26658503 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-17848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the effects of altered mechanical strain on human peripapillary scleral (ppSc) fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. METHODS Eight human ppSc fibroblast cultures were isolated from three paired eyes and two unilateral eyes of five donors using an explant approach. Human ppSc fibroblast isolates were subjected to 1% and 4% cyclic strain at 0.05 to 5 Hz for 24 hours. Levels of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) mRNA and protein were determined by real-time PCR and immunoblot. Incorporation of αSMA into actin stress fibers was evaluated by confocal immunofluorescent microscopy. Myofibroblast contractility was measured by fibroblast-populated three-dimensional collagen gel contraction assay and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20). RESULTS Human ppSc fibroblasts contained 6% to 47% fully differentiated myofibroblasts before strain application; 4% cyclic strain increased αSMA mRNA and protein expression in ppSc fibroblasts compared with 1% strain applied at 5 Hz, but not at lower frequencies. Seven of eight ppSc fibroblast isolates responded to high-magnitude and high-frequency strain with increased cellular contractility and increased MLC20 phosphorylation. In addition, increasing strain frequency promoted αSMA expression in ppSc fibroblasts under both 1% and 4% strain conditions. CONCLUSIONS High-magnitude and/or high-frequency mechanical strain promotes differentiation of human ppSc fibroblasts into contractile myofibroblasts, a fibroblast phenotypic change known to be key to tissue injury-repair responses. These findings suggest that the cellular constituent of ppSc may play an important role in the regulation of optic nerve head biomechanics in response to injurious IOP fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qu
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Huaping Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Lanyan Zhu
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States 2The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Namasivayam Ambalavanan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Christopher A Girkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Joanne E Murphy-Ullrich
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States 5Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - J Crawford Downs
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States 6Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States 4Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States 6Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alab
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Patel KP, Giraud AS, Samuel CS, Royce SG. Combining an epithelial repair factor and anti-fibrotic with a corticosteroid offers optimal treatment for allergic airways disease. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:2016-29. [PMID: 27060978 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We evaluated the extent to which individual versus combination treatments that specifically target airway epithelial damage [trefoil factor-2 (TFF2)], airway fibrosis [serelaxin (RLX)] or airway inflammation [dexamethasone (DEX)] reversed the pathogenesis of chronic allergic airways disease (AAD). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Following induction of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced chronic AAD in 6–8 week female Balb/c mice, animals were i.p. administered naphthalene (NA) on day 64 to induce epithelial damage, then received daily intranasal administration of RLX (0.8 mg·mL(−1)), TFF2 (0.5 mg·mL(−1)), DEX (0.5 mg·mL(−1)), RLX + TFF2 or RLX + TFF2 + DEX from days 67–74. On day 75, lung function was assessed by invasive plethysmography, before lung tissue was isolated for analyses of various measures. The control group was treated with saline + corn oil (vehicle for NA). KEY RESULTS OVA + NA-injured mice demonstrated significantly increased airway inflammation, airway remodelling (AWR) (epithelial damage/thickness; subepithelial myofibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix accumulation and fibronectin deposition; total lung collagen concentration), and significantly reduced airway dynamic compliance (cDyn). RLX + TFF2 markedly reversed several measures of OVA + NA-induced AWR and normalized the reduction in cDyn. The combined effects of RLX + TFF2 + DEX significantly reversed peribronchial inflammation score, airway epithelial damage, subepithelial extracellular matrix accumulation/fibronectin deposition and total lung collagen concentration (by 50–90%) and also normalized the reduction of cDyn. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Combining an epithelial repair factor and anti-fibrotic provides an effective means of treating the AWR and dysfunction associated with AAD/asthma and may act as an effective adjunct therapy to anti-inflammatory corticosteroids
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Patel
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Vic., Australia
| | - A S Giraud
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - C S Samuel
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Vic., Australia
| | - S G Royce
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Vic., Australia.,Respiratory Pharmacology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Vic., Australia
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Darby IA, Zakuan N, Billet F, Desmoulière A. The myofibroblast, a key cell in normal and pathological tissue repair. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1145-57. [PMID: 26681260 PMCID: PMC11108523 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are characterized by their expression of α-smooth muscle actin, their enhanced contractility when compared to normal fibroblasts and their increased synthetic activity of extracellular matrix proteins. Myofibroblasts play an important role in normal tissue repair processes, particularly in the skin where they were first described. During normal tissue repair, they appear transiently and are then lost via apoptosis. However, the chronic presence and continued activity of myofibroblasts characterize many fibrotic pathologies, in the skin and internal organs including the liver, kidney and lung. More recently, it has become clear that myofibroblasts also play a role in many types of cancer as stromal or cancer-associated myofibroblast. The fact that myofibroblasts are now known to be key players in many pathologies makes understanding their functions, origin and the regulation of their differentiation important to enable them to be regulated in normal physiology and targeted in fibrosis, scarring and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Darby
- School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3083, Australia.
| | - Noraina Zakuan
- School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Fabrice Billet
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 2 rue du Dr. Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France
- EA 6309 Myelin Maintenance and Peripheral Neuropathies, University of Limoges, 87000, Limoges, France
| | - Alexis Desmoulière
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 2 rue du Dr. Marcland, 87025, Limoges Cedex, France.
- EA 6309 Myelin Maintenance and Peripheral Neuropathies, University of Limoges, 87000, Limoges, France.
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Royce SG, Shen M, Patel KP, Huuskes BM, Ricardo SD, Samuel CS. Mesenchymal stem cells and serelaxin synergistically abrogate established airway fibrosis in an experimental model of chronic allergic airways disease. Stem Cell Res 2015; 15:495-505. [PMID: 26426509 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This study determined if the anti-fibrotic drug, serelaxin (RLN), could augment human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated reversal of airway remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) associated with chronic allergic airways disease (AAD/asthma). Female Balb/c mice subjected to the 9-week model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced chronic AAD were either untreated or treated with MSCs alone, RLN alone or both combined from weeks 9-11. Changes in airway inflammation (AI), epithelial thickness, goblet cell metaplasia, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation, subepithelial and total lung collagen deposition, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, and AHR were then assessed. MSCs alone modestly reversed OVA-induced subepithelial and total collagen deposition, and increased MMP-9 levels above that induced by OVA alone (all p<0.05 vs OVA group). RLN alone more broadly reversed OVA-induced epithelial thickening, TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation, airway fibrosis and AHR (all p<0.05 vs OVA group). Combination treatment further reversed OVA-induced AI and airway/lung fibrosis compared to either treatment alone (all p<0.05 vs either treatment alone), and further increased MMP-9 levels. RLN appeared to enhance the therapeutic effects of MSCs in a chronic disease setting; most likely a consequence of the ability of RLN to limit TGF-β1-induced matrix synthesis complemented by the MMP-promoting effects of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon G Royce
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Matthew Shen
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Krupesh P Patel
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Brooke M Huuskes
- Kidney Regeneration and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Sharon D Ricardo
- Kidney Regeneration and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Fibrosis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Abstract
Myofibroblasts are activated in response to tissue injury with the primary task to repair lost or damaged extracellular matrix. Enhanced collagen secretion and subsequent contraction - scarring - are part of the normal wound healing response and crucial to restore tissue integrity. Due to myofibroblasts ability to repair but not regenerate, accumulation of scar tissue is always associated with reduced organ performance. This is a fair price to pay by the body for not falling apart. Whereas myofibroblasts typically vanish after successful repair, dysregulation of the normal repair process can lead to persistent myofibroblast activation, for instance by chronic inflammation or mechanical stress in the tissue. Excessive repair leads to the accumulation of stiff collagenous ECM contractures - fibrosis - with dramatic consequences for organ function. The clinical need to terminate detrimental myofibroblast activities has stimulated researchers to answer a number of essential questions: where do myofibroblasts come from, what are the factors leading to their activation, how do we discriminate myofibroblasts from other cells, what is the molecular basis for their contractile activity, and how can we stop or at least control them? This article reviews the current state of the myofibroblast literature by emphasizing their role in ocular repair and fibrosis. It appears that although the eye is quite an extraordinary organ, ocular myofibroblasts behave or misbehave just like their siblings in other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Hinz
- Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Matrix Dynamics Group, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, 150 College Street, FitzGerald Building, Room 234, Toronto, M5S 3E2 Ontario, Canada.
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Luzina IG, Todd NW, Sundararajan S, Atamas SP. The cytokines of pulmonary fibrosis: Much learned, much more to learn. Cytokine 2015; 74:88-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2014] [Revised: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Royce SG, Lim CXF, Patel KP, Wang B, Samuel CS, Tang MLK. Intranasally administered serelaxin abrogates airway remodelling and attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic airways disease. Clin Exp Allergy 2015; 44:1399-408. [PMID: 25113628 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The peptide hormone relaxin plays a key role in the systemic hemodynamic and renovascular adaptive changes that occur during pregnancy, which is linked to its antiremodelling effects. Serelaxin (a recombinant form of human gene-2 relaxin) has been shown to inhibit lung fibrosis in various disease models and reverse airway remodelling and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in allergic airways disease (AAD). OBJECTIVE Although continuous systemic delivery of exogenous serelaxin alleviates allergic fibrosis and AHR, more direct routes for administration into the lung have not been investigated. Thus, intranasal administration of serelaxin was evaluated for its ability to reverse airway remodelling and AHR associated with AAD. METHODS Female Balb/c mice were subjected to a 9-week model of chronic AAD. Subgroups of animals (n = 12/group) were then treated intranasally with serelaxin (0.8 mg/mL) or vehicle once daily for 14 days (from weeks 9-11). Saline-sensitized/challenged mice treated with intranasal saline served as additional controls. Differential bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell counts, ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE levels, tissue inflammation, parameters of airway remodelling and AHR were then assessed. RESULTS Chronic AAD was associated with significant increases in differential BAL cell counts, OVA-specific IgE levels, inflammation, epithelial thickening, goblet cell metaplasia, TGF-β1 expression, epithelial Smad2 phosphorylation (pSmad2), subepithelial collagen thickness, total lung collagen concentration and AHR (all P < 0.05 vs. respective measurements from saline-treated mice). Daily intranasal delivery of serelaxin significantly diminished AAD-induced epithelial thickening, epithelial pSmad2, subepithelial and total lung collagen content (fibrosis) and AHR (all P < 0.05 vs. vehicle-treated AAD mice). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Intranasal delivery of serelaxin can effectively reduce airway remodelling and AHR, when administered once daily. Respirable preparations of serelaxin may have therapeutic potential for the prevention and/or reversal of established airway remodelling and AHR in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Royce
- Allergy and Immune Disorders, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia; Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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Squecco R, Sassoli C, Garella R, Chellini F, Idrizaj E, Nistri S, Formigli L, Bani D, Francini F. Inhibitory effects of relaxin on cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition: an electrophysiological study. Exp Physiol 2015; 100:652-66. [PMID: 25786395 DOI: 10.1113/ep085178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition is a key mechanism in the reparative response to tissue damage, but myofibroblast persistence in the wound leads to fibrosis and organ failure. The role of relaxin as an antifibrotic agent capable of counteracting the acquisition of biophysical features of differentiated myofibroblasts deserves further investigation. What is the main finding and its importance? Electrophysiological analysis showed that relaxin, administered during profibrotic treatment, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential and attenuates delayed rectifier and inwardly rectifying K(+) currents, which usually increase in the transition to myofibroblasts. These findings provide further clues to the therapeutic potential of relaxin in fibrosis. The hormone relaxin (RLX) is produced by the heart and may be involved in endogenous mechanisms of cardiac protection against ischaemic injury and fibrosis. Recent findings in cultured cardiac stromal cells suggest that RLX can inhibit fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, thereby counteracting fibrosis. In order to explore its efficiency as an antifibrotic agent further, we designed the present study to investigate whether RLX may influence the electrophysiological events associated with differentiation of cardiac stromal cells to myofibroblasts. Primary cardiac proto-myofibroblasts and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were induced to myofibroblasts by transforming growth factor-β1, and the electrophysiological features of both cell populations were investigated by whole-cell patch clamp. We demonstrated that proto-myofibroblasts and myofibroblasts express different membrane passive properties and K(+) currents. Here, we have shown, for the first time, that RLX (100 ng ml(-1) ) significantly reduced both voltage- and Ca(2+) -dependent delayed-rectifier and inward-rectifying K(+) currents that are typically increased in myofibroblasts compared with proto-myofibroblasts, suggesting that this hormone can antagonize the biophysical effects of transforming growth factor-β1 in inducing myofibroblast differentiation. These newly recognized effects of RLX on the electrical properties of cardiac stromal cell membrane correlate well with its well-known ability to suppress myofibroblast differentiation, further supporting the possibility that RLX may be used for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Squecco
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy.,Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Sassoli
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy.,Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Rachele Garella
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Flaminia Chellini
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Eglantina Idrizaj
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Nistri
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Formigli
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy.,Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Bani
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Francini
- Section of Physiological Sciences, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy.,Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
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