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Liu J, Pi Z, Xiao Y, Zeng Z, Yu J, Zou P, Tang B, Qiu X, Tang R, Shi Y, Xiao R. Esomeprazole alleviates fibrosis in systemic sclerosis by modulating AhR/Smad2/3 signaling. Pharmacol Res 2022; 176:106057. [PMID: 34995795 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease with the involvement of complex signaling pathways, such as TGF-β/Smad2/3. SSc can lead to severe multiple organ fibrosis, but no effective therapy is currently available because of its unclear pathogenesis. Exploring new treatments is the focus of recent research on SSc. Recent studies have implied a potential antifibrotic role of esomeprazole (ESO), but with currently unidentified mechanisms. Signaling of AhR, a ligand-dependent transcription factor, has been described as a key controller of fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and immune balance. Recently, it has been reported that ESO may be an exogenous agonist of AhR signaling, while no previous study has revealed the effects of ESO on SSc and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrate that ESO suppresses the migration of SSc dermal fibroblasts, downregulates profibrotic markers, including COLIA1, α-SMA CTGF and MMP1, and limits collagen production potentially via the activation of AhR signaling. More importantly, ESO could block Smad2/3 phosphorylation concurrently with the reduction in collagen via AhR signaling. Moreover, our results from the bleomycin (BLM)-induced SSc model in skin and lung shows that ESO ameliorates fibrosis in vivo, which in keeping with our in vitro results. We conclude that ESO is a potential therapeutic drug for SSc fibrosis.
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MESH Headings
- Actins/genetics
- Animals
- Bleomycin
- Cells, Cultured
- Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain/genetics
- Connective Tissue Growth Factor/genetics
- Cytokines/genetics
- Esomeprazole/pharmacology
- Esomeprazole/therapeutic use
- Fibroblasts/drug effects
- Fibroblasts/metabolism
- Fibrosis
- Humans
- Lung/drug effects
- Lung/metabolism
- Lung/pathology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism
- Scleroderma, Systemic/drug therapy
- Scleroderma, Systemic/genetics
- Scleroderma, Systemic/metabolism
- Scleroderma, Systemic/pathology
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Skin/drug effects
- Skin/metabolism
- Skin/pathology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Zixin Pi
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yangfan Xiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhuotong Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jiangfan Yu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Puyu Zou
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Bingsi Tang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xiangning Qiu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China
| | - Yaqian Shi
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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Kunitomi C, Harada M, Kusamoto A, Azhary JM, Nose E, Koike H, Xu Z, Urata Y, Takahashi N, Wada-Hiraike O, Hirota Y, Koga K, Fujii T, Osuga Y. Induction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in granulosa cells by endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to pathology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab003. [PMID: 33493289 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have uncovered the critical role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in various diseases, including obesity and cancer progression, independent of its previously identified role as a receptor for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). We previously showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a newly recognized local factor in the follicular microenvironment, is activated in granulosa cells from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and a mouse model of the disease. By affecting diverse functions of granulosa cells, ER stress contributes to PCOS pathology. We hypothesized that expression of AHR and activation of its downstream signaling were upregulated by ER stress in granulosa cells, irrespective of the presence of EDCs, thereby promoting PCOS pathogenesis. In this study, we found that AHR, AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT), and AHR target gene cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) were upregulated in the granulosa cells of PCOS patients and model mice. We examined CYP1B1 as a representative AHR target gene. AHR and ARNT were upregulated by ER stress in human granulosa-lutein cells (GLCs), resulting in an increase in the expression and activity of CYP1B1. Administration of the AHR antagonist CH223191 to PCOS mice restored estrous cycling and decreased the number of atretic antral follicles, concomitant with downregulation of AHR and CYP1B1 in granulosa cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that AHR activated by ER stress in the follicular microenvironment contributes to PCOS pathology, and that AHR represents a novel therapeutic target for PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chisato Kunitomi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Miyuki Harada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Akari Kusamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Jerilee Mk Azhary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Emi Nose
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Koike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Zixin Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yoko Urata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Nozomi Takahashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Osamu Wada-Hiraike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yasushi Hirota
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kaori Koga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Fujii
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yutaka Osuga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
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Hammond CL, Roztocil E, Phipps RP, Feldon SE, Woeller CF. Proton pump inhibitors attenuate myofibroblast formation associated with thyroid eye disease through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222779. [PMID: 31536596 PMCID: PMC6752849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid eye disease (TED) can lead to scar formation and tissue remodeling in the orbital space. In severe cases, the scarring process leads to sight-threatening pathophysiology. There is no known effective way to prevent scar formation in TED patients, or to reverse scarring once it occurs. In this study, we show that the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), esomeprazole and lansoprazole, can prevent transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-mediated differentiation of TED orbital fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, a critical step in scar formation. Both PPIs prevent TGFβ-induced increases in alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), calponin, and collagen production and reduce TED orbital fibroblast cell proliferation and migration. Esomeprazole and lansoprazole exert these effects through an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent pathway that includes reducing β-catenin/Wnt signaling. We conclude that PPIs are potentially useful therapies for preventing or treating TED by reducing the myofibroblast accumulation that occurs in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L. Hammond
- Flaum Eye Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Elisa Roztocil
- Flaum Eye Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Richard P. Phipps
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Steven E. Feldon
- Flaum Eye Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Collynn F. Woeller
- Flaum Eye Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
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Zhang S. The role of transforming growth factor β in T helper 17 differentiation. Immunology 2018; 155:24-35. [PMID: 29682722 PMCID: PMC6099164 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
T helper 17 (Th17) cells play critical roles in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The lineage-specific transcription factor RORγt is the key regulator for Th17 cell fate commitment. A substantial number of studies have established the importance of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) -dependent pathways in inducing RORγt expression and Th17 differentiation. TGF-β superfamily members TGF-β1 , TGF-β3 or activin A, in concert with interleukin-6 or interleukin-21, differentiate naive T cells into Th17 cells. Alternatively, Th17 differentiation can occur through TGF-β-independent pathways. However, the mechanism of how TGF-β-dependent and TGF-β-independent pathways control Th17 differentiation remains controversial. This review focuses on the perplexing role of TGF-β in Th17 differentiation, depicts the requirement of TGF-β for Th17 development, and underscores the multiple mechanisms underlying TGF-β-promoted Th17 generation, pathogenicity and plasticity. With new insights and comprehension from recent findings, this review specifically tackles the involvement of the canonical TGF-β signalling components, SMAD2, SMAD3 and SMAD4, summarizes diverse SMAD-independent mechanisms, and highlights the importance of TGF-β signalling in balancing the reciprocal conversion of Th17 and regulatory T cells. Finally, this review includes discussions and perspectives and raises important mechanistic questions about the role of TGF-β in Th17 generation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesNankai UniversityTianjinChina
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Pérez Sáez JM, Bussmann LE, Barañao JL, Bussmann UA. Improvement of Chicken Primordial Germ Cell Maintenance In Vitro by Blockade of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Endogenous Activity. Cell Reprogram 2016; 18:154-61. [PMID: 27253627 PMCID: PMC4900192 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2016.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the undifferentiated progenitors of gametes. Germline competent PGCs can be developed as a cell-based system for genetic modification in chickens, which provides a valuable tool for transgenic technology with both research and industrial applications. This implies manipulation of PGCs, which, in recent years, encouraged a lot of research focused on the study of PGCs and the way of improving their culture. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that besides mediating toxic responses to environmental contaminants plays pivotal physiological roles in various biological processes. Since a novel compound that acts as an antagonist of this receptor has been reported to promote expansion of hematopoietic stem cells, we conducted the present study with the aim of determining whether addition of an established AHR antagonist to the standard culture medium used nowadays for in vitro chicken PGCs culture improves ex vivo expansion. We have found that addition of α-naphthoflavone in culture medium promotes the amplification of undifferentiated cells and that this effect is exerted by the blockade of AHR action. Our results constitute the first report of the successful use of a readily available AHR antagonist to improve avian PGCs expansion, and they further extend the knowledge of the effects of AHR modulation in undifferentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M. Pérez Sáez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - J. Lino Barañao
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ursula A. Bussmann
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulates cockroach allergen-induced immune responses through active TGFβ1 release. Mediators Inflamm 2014; 2014:591479. [PMID: 24795504 PMCID: PMC3984807 DOI: 10.1155/2014/591479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a multifunctional regulator that senses and responds to environmental stimuli, plays a role in normal cell development and immune regulation. Recent evidence supports a significant link between environmental exposure and AhR in the development of allergic diseases. We sought to investigate whether AhR plays a role in mediating cockroach allergen-induced allergic immune responses. Methods. AhR expression in human lung fibroblasts from asthmatic and healthy individuals and in cockroach extract (CRE) treated human lung fibroblasts (WI-38) was examined. The role of AhR in modulating CRE induced TGFβ1 production was investigated by using AhR agonist, TCDD, antagonist CH122319, and knockdown of AhR. The role of latent TGFβ1 binding protein-1 (LTBP1) in mediating TCDD induced active TGFβ1 release was also examined. Results. AhR expression was higher in airway fibroblasts from asthmatic subjects as compared to healthy controls. AhR in fibroblasts was activated by TCDD with an increased expression of cyp1a1 and cyp1b1. Increased AhR expression was observed in CRE-treated fibroblasts. Importantly, CRE induced TGFβ1 production in fibroblasts was significantly enhanced by TCDD but inhibited by CH122319. Reduced TGFβ1 production was further confirmed in fibroblasts with AhR knockdown. Moreover, AhR knockdown inhibited CRE induced fibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, TCDD induced active TGFβ1 release was significantly inhibited by LTBP1 knockdown. Conclusion. These results provide evidence for the role of AhR in modulating cockroach allergen-induced immune responses through controlling the active TGFβ1 release, suggesting a possible synergistic effect between exposure to allergens and environmental chemicals on the development of allergic diseases.
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Bussmann UA, Pérez Sáez JM, Bussmann LE, Barañao JL. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation leads to impairment of estrogen-driven chicken vitellogenin promoter activity in LMH cells. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:111-8. [PMID: 23103859 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 10/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates most of the toxic effects of environmental contaminants. Among the multiple pleiotropic responses elicited by AHR agonists, the antiestrogenic and endocrine-disrupting action of the receptor activation is one of the most studied. It has been demonstrated that some AHR agonists disrupt estradiol-induced vitellogenin synthesis in the fish liver via a mechanism that involves crosstalk between the AHR and the estrogen receptor (ER). Chicken hepatocytes have become a model for the study of AHR action in birds and the induction of the signal and its effect in these cells are well established. However, the impact of AHR activation on estradiol-regulated responses in the chicken liver remains to be demonstrated. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to determine the effect of AHR action on ER-driven transcription in a convenient model of chicken liver cells. For this purpose, we designed a reporter construct bearing the 5' regulatory region of the chicken vitellogenin II gene and used it to transfect chicken hepatoma LMH cells. We found that β-naphthoflavone represses ER-driven vitellogenin promoter activity and that this action is mediated by the AHR. This inhibitory crosstalk between both pathways appears to be unidirectional, since estradiol did not alter the transcript levels of an AHR target gene. Besides, and highly relevant, we show that LMH cell line transfected with a reporter construct bearing the chicken vitellogenin promoter sequence is a useful and convenient model for the study of AHR-ER interaction in chicken liver-derived cells.
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