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Jiang J, Gareev I, Ilyasova T, Shumadalova A, Du W, Yang B. The role of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory networks in liver fibrosis. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:463-470. [PMID: 38511056 PMCID: PMC10950566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In the dynamic realm of molecular biology and biomedical research, the significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) continues to grow, encompassing a broad spectrum of both physiological and pathological conditions. Particularly noteworthy is their pivotal role in the intricate series of events leading to the development of hepatic fibrosis, where hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role. Recent strides in scientific exploration have unveiled the intricate involvement of lncRNAs as ceRNAs in orchestrating the activation of HSCs. This not only deepens our comprehension of the functioning of proteins, DNA, and the extensive array of coding and noncoding RNAs but also sheds light on the intricate molecular interactions among these molecules. Furthermore, the well-established ceRNA networks, involving classical interactions between lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs), are not mere bystanders; they actively participate in instigating and advancing liver fibrosis. This underscores the pressing need for additional thorough research to fully grasp the potential of ceRNA. The unyielding pursuit of knowledge in this field remains a potent driving force with the capacity to enhance the quality of life for numerous individuals grappling with such diseases. It holds the promise of ushering in a new era of precision medicine, signifying a relentless dedication to unraveling the intricacies of molecular interactions that could pave the way for transformative advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhao Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, 150067, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ilgiz Gareev
- Central Research Laboratory, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 3 Lenin Street, 450008, Russia
| | - Tatiana Ilyasova
- Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 3 Lenin Street, 450008, Russia
| | - Alina Shumadalova
- Department of General Chemistry, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 3 Lenin Street, 450008, Russia
| | - Weijie Du
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, 150067, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, 150067, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
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Hu X, Shen H, Liu R, Tang B, Deng F. Mechanism of acacetin regulating hepatic stellate cell apoptosis based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28693. [PMID: 38571642 PMCID: PMC10988056 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatic fibrosis is caused by various liver diseases and eventually develops into liver cancer. There is no specific drug approved for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in the world. Acacetin (AC), a natural flavonoid, is widely present in nature in various plants, such as black locust, Damiana, Silver birch. It has been reported that acacetin can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and induce apoptosis. Purpose In this study, we investigated the effect of acacetin on hepatic stellate cell apoptosis, thereby improving hepatic fibrosis, and combined experimental validation and molecular docking to reveal the underlying mechanism. Result First, we discovered that acacetin inhibited hepatic stellate cell proliferation as well as the expression of fibrosis-related proteins α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I 1 gene (COL1A1) in LX2 cells. Acacetin was then found to promote apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells through the caspase cascade pathway. Network pharmacology screening showed that TP53, CASP3, CASP8, BCL2, PARP1, and BAX were the most important targets related to apoptosis in the PPI network. GO and KEGG analyses of these six important targets were performed, and the top 10 enriched biological processes and related signaling pathways were revealed. Further network pharmacology analysis proved that apoptosis was involved in the biological process of acacetin's action against hepatic stellate cells. Finally, molecular docking revealed that acacetin binds to the active sites of six apoptotic targets. In vitro experiments further confirmed that acacetin could promote the apoptosis of LX2 cells by inducing the activation of P53, thereby improving hepatic fibrosis. Conclusion acacetin induces P53 activation and promotes apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells thereby ameliorating hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Hu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Haotian Shen
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Rong Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Bin Tang
- Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Fengmei Deng
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
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Park KH, Makki HMM, Kim SH, Chung HJ, Jung J. Narirutin ameliorates alcohol-induced liver injury by targeting MAPK14 in zebrafish larvae. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115350. [PMID: 37633055 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115350] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) encompasses a range of hepatic abnormalities, including isolated alcoholic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis. The flavanone-7-O-glycoside narirutin (NRT), the primary flavonoid in citrus peel, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering activity. We investigated the effects of NRT on liver injury induced by alcohol and explored the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Zebrafish larvae were used to investigate the effects of NRT on acute exposure to ethanol (EtOH). Liver phenotypic, morphological, and biochemical assessments were performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of NRT. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were conducted to identify candidate targets of NRT in EtOH-induced liver injury. A drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay was conducted to evaluate the binding of NRT to mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14). The mechanism of action of NRT was validated by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS The liver phenotypic, morphological, and biochemical assessments revealed that NRT has potential therapeutic effects against acute EtOH-induced liver injury. RT-qPCR confirmed that NRT reversed the change in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress, lipogenesis, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/unfolded protein response pathway. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses identified potential targets of NRT's protective effects and confirmed that NRT regulates the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14). CONCLUSIONS NRT mitigates alcohol-induced liver injury by preventing lipid formation, protecting the antioxidant system, and suppressing ER stress-induced apoptosis through MAPK14 modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Hoon Park
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Seo-gu, Busan 49267, South Korea; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea
| | - Haytham Mohamedelfatih Mohamed Makki
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Graduation School, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea
| | - Seok-Hyung Kim
- Sarcopenia Total Solution Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, South Korea.
| | - Hyung-Joo Chung
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Seo-gu, Busan 49267, South Korea.
| | - Junyang Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, Graduation School, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea; Department of Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, South Korea.
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Zheng Y, Xie L, Yang D, Luo K, Li X. Small-molecule natural plants for reversing liver fibrosis based on modulation of hepatic stellate cells activation: An update. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 113:154721. [PMID: 36870824 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154721] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis (LF) is a trauma repair process carried out by the liver in response to various acute and chronic liver injuries. Its primary pathological characteristics are excessive proliferation and improper dismissal of the extracellular matrix, and if left untreated, it will progress into cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is intimately associated to the onset of LF, and it is anticipated that addressing HSCs proliferation can reverse LF. Plant-based small-molecule medications have anti-LF properties, and their mechanisms of action involve suppression of extracellular matrix abnormally accumulating as well as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress. New targeting HSC agents will therefore be needed to provide a potential curative response. PURPOSE The most recent HSC routes and small molecule natural plants that target HSC described domestically and internationally in recent years were examined in this review. METHODS The data was looked up using resources including ScienceDirect, CNKI, Web of Science, and PubMed. Keyword searches for information on hepatic stellate cells included "liver fibrosis", "natural plant", "hepatic stellate cells", "adverse reaction", "toxicity", etc. RESULTS: We discovered that plant monomers can target and control various pathways to prevent the activation and proliferation of HSC and promote the apoptosis of HSC in order to achieve the anti-LF effect in this work by compiling the plant monomers that influence many common pathways of HSC in recent years. It demonstrates the wide-ranging potential of plant monomers targeting different routes to combat LF, with a view to supplying new concepts and new strategies for natural plant therapy of LF as well as research and development of novel pharmaceuticals. The investigation of kaempferol, physalin B, and other plant monomers additionally motivated researchers to focus on the structure-activity link between the main chemicals and LF. CONCLUSION The creation of novel pharmaceuticals can benefit greatly from the use of natural components. They are often harmless for people, non-target creatures, and the environment because they are found in nature, and they can be employed as the starting chemicals for the creation of novel medications. Natural plants are valuable resources for creating new medications with fresh action targets because they feature original and distinctive action mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Long Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Dejun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Kaipei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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Aziz S, Yalan L, Raza MA, Lemin J, Akram HMB, Zhao W. GSK126 an inhibitor of epigenetic regulator EZH2 suppresses cardiac fibrosis by regulating the EZH2-PAX6-CXCL10 pathway. Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 101:87-100. [PMID: 36469862 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2022-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological companion of various cardiovascular diseases. To date, the role of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in cancer has been well demonstrated including in renal carcinoma and its inhibitors have entered the stage of phase I/II clinical trials. However, the precise mechanism of EZH2 in cardiac diseases is largely unclear. In the current study, we first found that EZH2 expression was increased in Ang-II-treated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and mouse heart homogenates following isoproterenol (ISO) administration for 21 days, respectively. Ang-II induces CFs activation and increased collagen-I, collagen-III, α-SMA, EZH2, and trimethylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) expressions can be reversed by EZH2 inhibitor (GSK126) and EZH2 siRNA. The ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis in vivo which were also related to the upregulation of EZH2 and its downstream target, H3K27me3, could be recovered by GSK126. Furthermore, the upregulation of EZH2 induces the decrease of paired box 6 (PAX6) and C-X-C motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) "which" were also reversed by GSK126 treatment. In summary, the present evidence strongly suggests that GSK126 could be a therapeutic intervention, blunting the development and progression of myocardial fibrosis in an EZH2-PAX6-CXCL10-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shireen Aziz
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Li Yalan
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Muhammad Ahmer Raza
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jiao Lemin
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Hafiz Muhamamd Bilal Akram
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
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Zhang J, Liu Q, He J, Li Y. Novel Therapeutic Targets in Liver Fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:766855. [PMID: 34805276 PMCID: PMC8602792 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.766855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is end-stage liver disease that can be rescued. If irritation continues due to viral infection, schistosomiasis and alcoholism, liver fibrosis can progress to liver cirrhosis and even cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drugs that act directly against liver fibrosis. The only treatments currently available are drugs that eliminate pathogenic factors, which show poor efficacy; and liver transplantation, which is expensive. This highlights the importance of clarifying the mechanism of liver fibrosis and searching for new treatments against it. This review summarizes how parenchymal, nonparenchymal cells, inflammatory cells and various processes (liver fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell activation, cell death and proliferation, deposition of extracellular matrix, cell metabolism, inflammation and epigenetics) contribute to liver fibrosis. We highlight discoveries of novel therapeutic targets, which may provide new insights into potential treatments for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhang Zhang
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Qinhui Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinhan He
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanping Li
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
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Zhang Y, Xu C. Integrative analysis of miRNA-mRNA expression profiles in esophageal fibrosis after ESD. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1176. [PMID: 34504621 PMCID: PMC8393932 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of esophageal fibrosis and benign esophageal stricture (BES) has increased in recent years due to the curative therapy for early-stage esophageal carcinoma, including partial esophagectomy and esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The aim of the present study was to identify key genes and associated pathways of esophageal fibrosis after the ESD procedure. During the esophageal ESD procedure, the esophageal tissue in the remaining submucosal layer, referred to as normal esophageal (NE) tissue, was collected, and 1 week thereafter, post-operative esophageal (PE) tissue was obtained. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) between NE and PE tissues. According to the differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs, putative target genes were predicted. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis and DEmiRNA interaction network analysis were performed. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to validate the RNA-sequencing results. A total of 199 miRNAs were determined to be DE between NE and PE tissues. Compared with the expression in the NE group, 83 miRNAs were significantly upregulated, while 116 miRNAs were significantly downregulated. According to these DE miRNAs, forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), paired box 6 (PAX6), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) and adrenoceptor β1 (ADRB1) were DE genes regulated by five DE miRNAs, including miR-223-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-582-5p, miR-21-3p and miR-218-5p. The results suggested that certain pathways were markedly dysregulated, including FOXO, MAPK, AMP-activated protein kinase and signaling pathways regulating the pluripotency of stem cells and proteoglycans in cancer. According to the RT-qPCR results, the expression levels of FOXO1, PAX6, ADRB1, miR-223-3p, miR-582-5p, miR-21-3p and miR-218-5p were consistent with the integrated analysis. In conclusion, FOXO1, PAX6, PIK3CA and ADRB1 may have a role in esophageal fibrosis, regulated by miR-223-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-582-5p, miR-21-3p and miR-218-5p. The present results provided an improved understanding of the changes in the microenvironment during the process of esophageal fibrosis, as well as novel potential targets for the treatment of esophageal fibrosis and BES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China.,Department of Digestive Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Chunfang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China
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Acharya P, Chouhan K, Weiskirchen S, Weiskirchen R. Cellular Mechanisms of Liver Fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:671640. [PMID: 34025430 PMCID: PMC8134740 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.671640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a central organ in the human body, coordinating several key metabolic roles. The structure of the liver which consists of the distinctive arrangement of hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoids, the hepatic artery, portal vein and the central vein, is critical for its function. Due to its unique position in the human body, the liver interacts with components of circulation targeted for the rest of the body and in the process, it is exposed to a vast array of external agents such as dietary metabolites and compounds absorbed through the intestine, including alcohol and drugs, as well as pathogens. Some of these agents may result in injury to the cellular components of liver leading to the activation of the natural wound healing response of the body or fibrogenesis. Long-term injury to liver cells and consistent activation of the fibrogenic response can lead to liver fibrosis such as that seen in chronic alcoholics or clinically obese individuals. Unidentified fibrosis can evolve into more severe consequences over a period of time such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is well recognized now that in addition to external agents, genetic predisposition also plays a role in the development of liver fibrosis. An improved understanding of the cellular pathways of fibrosis can illuminate our understanding of this process, and uncover potential therapeutic targets. Here we summarized recent aspects in the understanding of relevant pathways, cellular and molecular drivers of hepatic fibrosis and discuss how this knowledge impact the therapy of respective disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragyan Acharya
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Komal Chouhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sabine Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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