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Long J, Zhao W, Xiang Y, Wang Y, Xiang W, Liu X, Jiang M, Song Y, Hu J. STAT3 promotes cytoplasmic-nuclear translocation of RNA-binding protein HuR to inhibit IL-1β-induced IL-8 production. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112065. [PMID: 38608448 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112065] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) functions to regulate inflammation and immune response, but its mechanism is not fully understood. We report here that STAT3 inhibitors Stattic and Niclosamide up-regulated IL-1β-induced IL-8 production in C33A, CaSki, and Siha cervical cancer cells. As expected, IL-1β-induced IL-8 production was also up-regulated through the molecular inhibition of STAT3 by use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Unexpectedly, IL-1β induced IL-8 production via activating ERK and P38 signal pathways, but neither STAT3 inhibitors nor STAT3 knockout affected IL-1β-induced signal transduction, suggesting that STAT3 decreases IL-8 production not via inhibition of signal transduction. To our surprise, STAT3 inhibition increased the stabilization, and decreased the degradation of IL-8 mRNA, suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation of IL-1β-induced IL-8. Moreover, Dihydrotanshinone I, an inhibitor of RNA-binding protein HuR, down-regulated IL-1β-induced IL-8 dose-dependently. HuR inhibition by CRISPR/Cas9 also decreased IL-8 production induced by IL-1β. Mechanistically, co-immunoprecipitation results showed that STAT3 did not react with HuR directly, but STAT3 inhibition increased the protein levels of HuR in cytoplasm. And IL-6 activation of STAT3 induced HuR cytoplasmic-nuclear transport. Taken together, these results suggest that STAT3 contributes to HuR nuclear localization and inhibits Il-1β-induced IL-8 production through this non-transcriptional mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangwen Long
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wang Zhao
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yangen Xiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China; Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China; Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xueting Liu
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Manli Jiang
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yinghui Song
- Central Laboratory, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital/The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
| | - Jinyue Hu
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha 410004, China.
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Du X, Duan M, Kan S, Yang Y, Xu S, Wei J, Li J, Chen H, Zhou X, Xie J. TGF-β3 mediates mitochondrial dynamics through the p-Smad3/AMPK pathway. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13579. [PMID: 38012096 PMCID: PMC11056712 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well recognized that mitochondrial dynamics plays a vital role in cartilage physiology. Any perturbation in mitochondrial dynamics could cause disorders in cartilage metabolism and even lead to the occurrence of cartilage diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). TGF-β3, as an important growth factor that appears in the joints of OA disease, shows its great potential in chondrocyte growth and metabolism. Nevertheless, the role of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics is still not well understood. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics of chondrocytes and reveal its underlying bio-mechanism. By using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the number and morphology of mitochondria, western blotting for the protein expressions, immunofluorescence for the cytoplasmic distributions of proteins, and RNA sequencing for the transcriptome changes related to mitochondrial dynamics. We found that TGF-β3 could increase the number of mitochondria in chondrocytes. TGF-β3-enhanced mitochondrial number was via promoting the mitochondrial fission. The mitochondrial fission induced by TGF-β3 was mediated by AMPK signaling. TGF-β3 activated canonical p-Smad3 signaling and resultantly mediated AMPK-induced mitochondrial fission. Taken together, these results elucidate an understanding of the role of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics in chondrocytes and provide potential cues for therapeutic strategies in cartilage injury and OA disease in terms of energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmei Du
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Shiyi Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yueyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Siqun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jieya Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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Xu S, Wei J, Liu Y, Zhang L, Duan M, Li J, Niu Z, Pu X, Huang M, Chen H, Zhou X, Xie J. PDGF-AA guides cell crosstalk between human dental pulp stem cells in vitro via the PDGFR-α/PI3K/Akt axis. Int Endod J 2024; 57:549-565. [PMID: 38332717 DOI: 10.1111/iej.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
AIM To explore the influence of PDGF-AA on cell communication between human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) by characterizing gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and its potential biomechanical mechanism. METHODOLOGY Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure connexin family member expression in DPSCs. Cell migration and CCK-8 assays were utilized to examine the influence of PDGF-AA on DPSC migration and proliferation. A scrape loading/dye transfer assay was applied to evaluate GJIC triggered by PDGF-AA, a PI3K/Akt signalling pathway blocker (LY294002) and a PDGFR-α blocker (AG1296). Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to test the expression and distribution of the Cx43 and p-Akt proteins in DPSCs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunofluorescence were used to observe the morphology of GJIC in DPSCs. RESULTS PDGF-AA promoted gap junction formation and intercellular communication between human dental pulp stem cells. PDGF-AA upregulates the expression of Cx43 to enhance gap junction formation and intercellular communication. PDGF-AA binds to PDGFR-α and activates PI3K/Akt signalling to regulate cell communication. CONCLUSIONS This research demonstrated that PDGF-AA can enhance Cx43-mediated GJIC in DPSCs via the PDGFR-α/PI3K/Akt axis, which provides new cues for dental pulp regeneration from the perspective of intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jieya Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhixing Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaohua Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Minglei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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魏 洁, 徐 思, 周 学, 谢 静. [Research Progress in the Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms of Alveolar Bone Restoration]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2024; 55:31-38. [PMID: 38322519 PMCID: PMC10839478 DOI: 10.12182/20240160501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Alveolar bone, the protruding portion of the maxilla and the mandible that surrounds the roots of teeth, plays an important role in tooth development, eruption, and masticatory performance. In oral inflammatory diseases, including apical periodontitis, periodontitis, and peri-implantitis, alveolar bone defects cause the loosening or loss of teeth, impair the masticatory function, and endanger the physical and mental health of patients. However, alveolar bone restoration is confronted with great clinical challenges due to the the complicated effect of the biological, mechanical, and chemical factors in the oral microenvironment. An in-depth understanding of the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms will contribute to the exploration of new targets for alveolar bone restoration. Recent studies have shown that Notch, Wnt, Toll-like receptor (TLR), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways regulate the proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and autophagy of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, periodontal ligament cells, macrophages, and adaptive immune cells, modulate the expression of inflammatory mediators, affect the balance of the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand/receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/RANK/OPG) system, and ultimately participate in alveolar bone restoration. Additionally, alveolar bone restoration involves AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Hippo/YAP, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathways. However, current studies have failed to construct mature molecular regulatory networks for alveolar bone restoration. There is an urgent need for further research on the molecular regulatory mechanisms of alveolar bone restoration by using new technologies such as single-cell transcriptome sequencing and spatial transcriptome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- 洁雅 魏
- 口腔疾病防治全国重点实验室 国家口腔医学中心 国家口腔疾病临床医学研究中心 四川大学华西口腔医院 牙体牙髓病科 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 思群 徐
- 口腔疾病防治全国重点实验室 国家口腔医学中心 国家口腔疾病临床医学研究中心 四川大学华西口腔医院 牙体牙髓病科 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 学东 周
- 口腔疾病防治全国重点实验室 国家口腔医学中心 国家口腔疾病临床医学研究中心 四川大学华西口腔医院 牙体牙髓病科 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 静 谢
- 口腔疾病防治全国重点实验室 国家口腔医学中心 国家口腔疾病临床医学研究中心 四川大学华西口腔医院 牙体牙髓病科 (成都 610041)State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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5
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Cao X, Cai L, Guo D, Zhang D, Zhou X, Xie J. Fibroblast growth factor 8 facilitates cell-cell communication in chondrocytes via p38-MAPK signaling. Tissue Cell 2023; 83:102155. [PMID: 37451010 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is essential for regulating the development of the organism and sustaining the internal environmental homeostasis of multi-cellular tissue. Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), an indispensable regulator of the skeletal system, is implicated in regulating chondrocyte growth, differentiation, and disease occurrence. However, the influence of FGF8 on GJIC in chondrocytes is not yet known. The study aims to investigate the role of FGF8 on cell-cell communication in chondrocytes and its underlying biomechanism. We found that FGF8 facilitated cell-cell communication in living chondrocytes by the up-regulation of connexin43 (Cx43), the major fundamental component unit of gap junction channels in chondrocytes. FGF8 activated p38-MAPK signaling to increase the expression of Cx43 and promote the cell-cell communication. Inhibition of p38-MAPK signaling impaired the increase of Cx43 expression and cell-cell communication induced by FGF8, indicating the importance of p38-MAPK signaling. These results help to understand the role of FGF8 on cell communication and provide a potential cue for the treatment of cartilage diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Daimo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Zuo T, Liu Y, Duan M, Pu X, Huang M, Zhang D, Xie J. Platelet-derived growth factor PDGF-AA upregulates connexin 43 expression and promotes gap junction formations in osteoblast cells through p-Akt signaling. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 34:101462. [PMID: 37025987 PMCID: PMC10070375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions, which are mainly composed of connexin units, play an indispensable role in cell morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, adhesion and differentiation of osteoblast lineage cells, and thus mediate bone development, homeostasis and disease occurrence. Platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) is proved to have a great influence on osteoblast cell lines and is widely applied in the field of bone defect and wound healing. However, the role of PDGF-AA on gap junction formation in the osteoblast lineage remains elusive. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the impact of PDGF-AA on gap junction formation and cell-to-cell communication in the osteoblast lineage and explore its underlying biomechanism. We first found that PDGF-AA promoted cell proliferation and thus increased gap junction formations in living primary osteoblasts and MC3T3-E1 cells through scrape loading and dye transfer (SL/DT) assay. We then confirmed that PDGF-AA enhanced gap junction formations through up-regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43). We next detected the activation of p-Akt signaling in primary osteoblasts and MC3T3-E1 cells that were induced by PDGF-AA. Through inhibitory experiments, we further confirmed that PDGF-AA-mediated gap junction formation occurred via the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling. Taking together, our results provided evidences that PDGF-AA promoted gap junction formation in the osteoblast lineage through p-Akt signaling, which helped to understand the role of PDGF-AA in bone regeneration and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zuo
- Orthopedics Department, First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohua Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Minglei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Corresponding author. Principle Investigator of Bone and joint research lab, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, China.
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7
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Duan M, Xia S, Liu Y, Pu X, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Huang M, Pi C, Zhang D, Xie J. Stiffened fibre-like microenvironment based on patterned equidistant micropillars directs chondrocyte hypertrophy. Mater Today Bio 2023; 20:100682. [PMID: 37304578 PMCID: PMC10251154 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Articular cartilage, composed of collagen type II as a major extracellular matrix and chondrocyte as a unique cell type, is a specialized connective tissue without blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves. This distinctive characteristic of articular cartilage determines its very limited ability to repair when damaged. It is well known that physical microenvironmental signals regulate many cell behaviors such as cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation and cell communication even determine chondrocyte fate. Interestingly, with increasing age or progression of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA), the major collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage become larger in diameter, leading to stiffening of articular tissue and reducing its resistance to external tension, which in turn aggravates joint damage or progression of joint diseases. Therefore, designing a physical microenvironment closer to the real tissue and thus obtaining data closer to the real cellular behaviour, and then revealing the biological mechanisms of chondrocytes in pathological states is of crucial importance for the treatment of OA disease. Here we fabricated micropillar substrates with the same topology but different stiffnesses to mimic the matrix stiffening that occurs in the transition from normal to diseased cartilage. It was first found that chondrocytes responded to stiffened micropillar substrates by showing a larger cell spreading area, a stronger enhancement of cytoskeleton rearrangement and more stability of focal adhesion plaques. The activation of Erk/MAPK signalling in chondrocytes was detected in response to the stiffened micropillar substrate. Interestingly, a larger nuclear spreading area of chondrocytes at the interface layer between the cells and top surfaces of micropillars was observed in response to the stiffened micropillar substrate. Finally, it was found that the stiffened micropillar substrate promoted chondrocyte hypertrophy. Taken together, these results revealed the cell responses of chondrocytes in terms of cell morphology, cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, nuclei and cell hypertrophy, and may be beneficial for understanding the cellular functional changes affected by the matrix stiffening that occurs during the transition from a normal state to a state of osteoarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shuang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohua Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yukun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yilin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Minglei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Caixia Pi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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8
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Zhang X, Pu X, Pi C, Xie J. The role of fibroblast growth factor 7 in cartilage development and diseases. Life Sci 2023:121804. [PMID: 37245839 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), also known as keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), shows a crucial biological significance in tissue development, wound repair, tumorigenesis, and immune reconstruction. In the skeletal system, FGF7 directs the cellular synaptic extension of individual cells and facilities functional gap junction intercellular communication of a collective of cells. Moreover, it promotes the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells via a cytoplasmic signaling network. For cartilage, reports have indicated the potential role of FGF7 on the regulation of key molecules Cx43 in cartilage and Runx2 in hypertrophic cartilage. However, the molecular mechanism of FGF7 in chondrocyte behaviors and cartilage pathological process remains largely unknown. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent biological function of FGF7 and its regulatory role on chondrocytes and cartilage diseases, especially through the hot focus of two key molecules, Runx2 and Cx43. The current knowledge of FGF7 on the physiological and pathological processes of chondrocytes and cartilage provides us new cues for wound repair of cartilage defect and therapy of cartilage diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohua Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Caixia Pi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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