Periostin in chronic liver diseases: Current research and future perspectives

Myocardial infarction accelerates the progression of MASH by triggering immunoinflammatory response and induction of periosti

Patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), especially advanced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Whether CVD events will, in turn, influence the pathogenesis of MASLD remains unknown. Here, we show that myocardial infarction (MI) accelerates hepatic pathological progression of MASLD. Patients with MASLD who experience CVD events after their diagnosis exhibit accelerated liver fibrosis progression. MI promotes hepatic fibrosis in mice with MASH, accompanied by elevated circulating Ly6Chi monocytes and their recruitment to damaged liver tissues. These adverse effects are significantly abrogated when deleting these cells. Meanwhile, MI substantially increases circulating and cardiac periostin levels, which act on hepatocytes and stellate cells to promote hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrosis, finally exacerbating hepatic pathological progression of MASH. These preclinical and clinical results demonstrate that MI alters systemic homeostasis and upregulates pro-fibrotic factor production, triggering cross-disease communication that accelerates hepatic pathological progression of MASLD.

Development of a Chimeric Protein BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII for Improving the Anti-Fibrotic Activity in Vivo by Targeting Fibrotic Liver and Dual Inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway

Excessive production of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) promotes liver fibrosis by activating the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Thus, specifically inhibiting the pro-fibrotic activity of TGF-β1 in aHSCs is an ideal strategy for treating liver fibrosis. Overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor β receptor (PDGFβR) has been demonstrated on the surface of aHSCs relative to normal cells in liver fibrosis. Interferon-gamma peptidomimetic (mIFNγ) and truncated TGF-β receptor type II (tTβRII) inhibit the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway by different mechanisms. In this study, we designed a chimeric protein by the conjugation of (1) mIFNγ and tTβRII coupled via plasma protease-cleavable linker sequences (FNPKTP) to (2) PDGFβR-recognizing peptide (BiPPB), namely BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII. This novel protein BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII was effectively prepared using Escherichia coli expression system. The active components BiPPB-mIFNγ and tTβRII were slowly released from BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII by hydrolysis using the plasma protease thrombin in vitro. Moreover, BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII highly targeted to fibrotic liver tissues, markedly ameliorated liver morphology and fibrotic responses in chronic liver fibrosis mice by both inhibiting the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and inducing the expression of Smad7. Meanwhile, BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII markedly reduced the deposition of collagen fibrils and expression of fibrosis-related proteins in acute liver fibrosis mice. Furthermore, BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII showed a good safety performance in both liver fibrosis mice. Taken together, BiPPB-mIFNγ-tTβRII improved the in vivo anti-liver fibrotic activity due to its high fibrotic liver-targeting potential and the dual inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, which may be a potential candidate for targeting therapy on liver fibrosis.

The Effect and Mechanism of POSTN and Its Alternative Splicing on the Apoptosis of Myocardial Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Study in Vitro

Our study aimed to investigate key molecular targets in the pathogenesis of AMI, and provide new strategy for the treatment. In this work, the myocardial ischemia and hypoxia model was constructed by using HL-1 mouse cardiomyocytes. The over-expressing POSTN wild-type, mutant and negative control lentiviruses (GV492-POSTNWT,GV492-POSTN-MUT, GV492-NC) was conducted and transfected. Cardiomyocytes were examined for cell proliferation and apoptosis to explore the effects of POSTN and its alternative splicing. The endoplasmic reticulum stess-related apoptosis proteins were selected and detected. We found that POSTN could promote the proliferation of normal and hypoxic cardiomyocytes and inhibit their apoptosis. The mechanism by which POSTN inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis may be through inhibiting the GRP78-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Alternative splicing of POSTN could inhibit the apoptosis of ischemic and hypoxic cardiomyocytes, and its mechanism needs to be confirmed by further studies. We drawed the conclusion that POSTN might be a potential therapeutic target for AMI.

Periostin contributes to the adventitial remodeling of atherosclerosis by activating adventitial fibroblasts

Background and aims

Adventitial remodeling is an important pathological process of atherosclerosis, but cues implicated in adventitial remodeling are far from fully understood. Periostin (POSTN), a matricellular protein, has been demonstrated to have multiple roles in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to explore the function of POSTN in adventitial remodeling during atherosclerosis.

Methods

An atherosclerosis model was constructed based on ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. The expression of POSTN in the adventitia of mouse atherosclerotic vascular specimens was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The roles of POSTN in regulating adventitial fibroblast activation were assessed by cell contractility and activation marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression evaluation in adventitial fibroblasts overexpressing POSTN. In addition, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting to examine the expression of the proinflammatory chemokines transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1), as well as some extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins, in POSTN-overexpressing adventitial fibroblasts. Finally, the integrin-related signaling pathway was detected upon POSTN overexpression in adventitial fibroblasts.

Results

POSTN was highly expressed in the adventitia of atherosclerotic aortae in the mouse atherosclerosis model and promoted the activation and contraction of adventitial fibroblasts. Meanwhile, POSTN also induced adventitial fibroblasts to express TGF-β1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1), and ECM-related proteins and activated the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that POSTN is elevated in adventitia during atherosclerosis and contributes to the adventitial remodeling of atherosclerosis by activating adventitial fibroblasts.

Molecular Advances in MAFLD—A Link between Sphingolipids and Extracellular Matrix in Development and Progression to Fibrosis

Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is a major cause of liver diseases globally and its prevalence is expected to grow in the coming decades. The main cause of MAFLD development is changed in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Increased production of matrix molecules and inflammatory processes lead to progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure. In addition, increased accumulation of sphingolipids accompanied by increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the ECM is closely related to lipogenesis, MAFLD development, and its progression to fibrosis. In our work, we will summarize all information regarding the role of sphingolipids e.g., ceramide and S1P in MAFLD development. These sphingolipids seem to have the most significant effect on macrophages and, consequently, HSCs which trigger the entire cascade of overproduction matrix molecules, especially type I and III collagen, proteoglycans, elastin, and also tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, which as a result cause the development of liver fibrosis.

A critical review on the health benefits of fish consumption and its bioactive constituents

As one of food sources, fish provides sufficient nutrition to human. Diverse nutrients in fish make fish an important nutrient source available easily across the globe. Fish is proven to possess several health benefits, such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, wound healing, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, and hepatoprotection properties. Fish proteins, such as immunoglobins, act as defense agents against viral and bacterial infections and prevent protein-calorie malnutrition. Besides, fish oil constituents, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), regulate various signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B pathway, Toll-like receptor pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway, and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. In this review, the literature about health benefits of fish consumption are accumulated from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the mechanistic action of health benefits are summarized. Fish consumption at least twice per week as part of a healthy diet is beneficial for a healthy heart. More advances in this field could pose fish as a major nutrients source of foods.

Skin atrophy caused by topical glucocorticoids is less common in patients with atopic dermatitis than in those with psoriasis

Although the long-term use of topical glucocorticoids (TGC) may induce skin atrophy including striae distensae (SD), patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) appear to have lesser degree of skin atrophy than those with psoriasis (PSO). Periostin, encoded by POSTN, is involved in tissue remodelling processes of chronic AD lesions. This study was designed to investigate the difference in the occurrence of skin atrophy in patients with AD or PSO when treated with TGC and to elucidate the association between skin atrophy and periostin. Big data analysis using Korean Health Claims Database was performed to determine the prevalence of SD in AD and PSO patients. Blood and skin eosinophils count and dermal fibrosis between AD and PSO patients were compared, and immunohistochemistry for periostin and mRNA sequencing in the dermis were performed. Animal experiments using AD and PSO murine model were conducted. Big data analysis revealed that patients with AD have significantly lesser degree of SD than patients with PSO. The ratio of the dermal fibrous tissues and eosinophil counts were significantly higher in AD patients. In AD skin, periostin was more widely distributed in the entire dermis and POSTN mRNAs were significantly upregulated. Dermal thickness and fibrosis were significantly higher in AD mice even after TGC treatment. A significant positive correlation was observed between dermal fibrosis and tissue eosinophil counts. Lesser skin atrophy in AD patients even after long-term TGC application could be resulted from skin fibrosis caused by increased tissue eosinophils and periostin deposition.

Cytokines, paraoxonase-1, periostin and non-invasive liver fibrosis scores in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and persistently elevated aminotransferases: A pilot study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between paraoxonase-1 (PON1), periostin (POSTN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 serum concentration with non-invasive liver fibrosis scores, in a cohort of patients with NAFLD. We studied a cohort of 52 patients diagnosed with NAFLD. The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) and BARD scores were calculated for each patient. We determined the PON1, POSTN, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 serum values using ELISA kits. There was no correlation between PON1 or POSTN serum levels and non-invasive liver fibrosis. The TNF-α serum values were independently associated with the liver fibrosis scores (P=0.02 for NFS and P=0.002 for FIB-4). Age and metabolic syndrome were also independently linked to the fibrosis scores. In conclusion, serum levels of TNF-α, age and metabolic syndrome were associated with the non-invasive liver fibrosis scores.

Periostin Circulating Levels and Genetic Variants in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Circulating periostin has been suggested as a possible biomarker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian studies. In the present study, we aimed to test its still controversial relevance in a Caucasian population. In patients with histologically-proven NAFLD (N. = 74; 10 with hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) plasma periostin concentrations were analyzed. POSTN haplotype analysis was based on rs9603226, rs3829365, and rs1029728. Hepatitis C patients (N. = 81, 7 HCC) and healthy subjects (N. = 27) were used as controls. The median plasma periostin concentration was 11.6 ng/mL without differences amongst groups; it was not influenced by age, liver fibrosis or steatosis. However, possession of haplotype two (rs9603226 = G, rs3829365 = C, rs1028728 = A) was associated with lower circulating periostin compared to other haplotypes. Moreover, periostin was higher in HCC patients. At multivariate analysis, HCC remained the only predictor of high periostin. In conclusion, plasma periostin concentrations in Caucasians NAFLD patients are not influenced by the degree of liver disease, but are significantly higher in HCC. Genetically-determined differences may account for some of the variability. These data suggest extreme caution in predicting a possible future role of periostin antagonists as a rational therapeutic alternative for NAFLD, but show a potential periostin role in the management of NAFLD-associated HCC.

Fasciola hepatica serine protease inhibitor family (serpins): Purposely crafted for regulating host proteases

Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) regulate proteolytic events within diverse biological processes, including digestion, coagulation, inflammation and immune responses. The presence of serpins in Fasciola hepatica excretory-secretory products indicates that the parasite exploits these to regulate proteases encountered during its development within vertebrate hosts. Interrogation of the F. hepatica genome identified a multi-gene serpin family of seven members that has expanded by gene duplication and divergence to create an array of inhibitors with distinct specificities. We investigated the molecular properties and functions of two representatives, FhSrp1 and FhSrp2, highly expressed in the invasive newly excysted juvenile (NEJ). Consistent with marked differences in the reactive centre loop (RCL) that executes inhibitor-protease complexing, the two recombinant F. hepatica serpins displayed distinct inhibitory profiles against an array of mammalian serine proteases. In particular, rFhSrp1 efficiently inhibited kallikrein (K_i = 40 nM) whilst rFhSrp2 was a highly potent inhibitor of chymotrypsin (K_i = 0.07 nM). FhSrp1 and FhSrp2 are both expressed on the NEJ surface, predominantly around the oral and ventral suckers, suggesting that these inhibitors protect the parasites from the harmful proteolytic effects of host proteases, such as chymotrypsin, during invasion. Furthermore, the unusual inhibition of kallikrein suggests that rFhSrp1 modulates host responses such as inflammation and vascular permeability by interfering with the kallikrein-kinin system. A vaccine combination of rFhSrp1 and rFhSrp2 formulated in the adjuvant Montanide ISA 206VG elicited modest but non-significant protection against a challenge infection in a rat model, but did induce some protection against liver pathogenesis when compared to a control group and a group vaccinated with two well-studied vaccine candidates, F. hepatica cathepsin L2 and L3. This work highlights the importance of F. hepatica serpins to regulate host responses that enables parasite survival during infection and, coupled with the vaccine data, encourages future vaccine trials in ruminants.

Serpins are protease inhibitors that regulate various biological processes, including digestion, blood coagulation, inflammation and immune responses. The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, produces an array of inhibitors to regulate proteolytic enzymes they encounter during development within the mammalian host. In this study, we identified seven different serpins that have evolved to inhibit a range of host proteases. In particular, we characterized two representatives, FhSrp1 and FhSrp2, that we found highly expressed on the surface of the invasive newly excysted juvenile (NEJ), suggesting that they protect the parasites from harmful proteolytic effects during invasion. Contrasting inhibitory profiles were observed; while recombinant FhSrp1 inhibited kallikrein, recombinant FhSrp2 was a highly potent inhibitor of chymotrypsin. The unusual inhibition of kallikrein suggests that rFhSrp1 influences host responses such as inflammation and vascular permeability by interfering with the kallikrein-kinin system. Conversely, chymotrypsin is typically inhibited by trematode-specific serpins, implying a conserved mechanism to regulate digestive enzymes. The ability of the liver fluke serpin family to inhibit such an array of proteases highlights the importance of these inhibitors in parasite-host interactions and encourages future investigations of serpins as candidate anti-parasite vaccine targets for the control of fasciolosis in ruminants.

Hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of Ixeris denticulate water extract on liver cirrhosis in experimental rat

BACKGROUND

To explore the protective effect and mechanisms of Ixeris denticulate water extract (IDWE) in the development of liver cirrhosis in experimental rat.

METHODS

Sixty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group and IDWE (2, 4 and 8 g/kg) treatment groups. Alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin (ALB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in serum and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue were evaluated, respectively. The liver index, liver morphology and liver histopathological analysis were detected as a supportive data. The liver protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were assessed by western blot, and NF-κB p65 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry analysis.

RESULTS

The result showed that a significantly decrease in the levels of serum AST, ALT and serum inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in IDWE-treated rats. The levels of serum ALB and SOD in liver tissue were markedly increased after IDWE treated, compared with model rats. Furthermore, IDWE-treated group also exhibited a down-regulated protein expression of NF-κB p65 and Bax, up-regulated Bcl-2 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

IDWE could effectively alleviate the course of liver cirrhosis in rat model, which may be a potent hepatoprotective agent in clinical therapy in the future.

Blockade of periostin-dependent migration and adhesion by curcumol via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B signaling in hepatic stellate cells

OBJECTIVES

Curcumol, a guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid hemiketal extracted from the herb Rhizoma Curcumae, exhibits multiple-pharmacological activities. We previously reported that curcumol ameliorated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumol on HSC migration and adhesion, and reveal its regulation mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cellular viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell migration was detected by boyden chamber and cell scratch experiment. Recombinant human periostin (rh POSTN) and adeno-associated viral (AAV)-GFP-periostin were used to achieve POSTN overexpression in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-p65 overexpression was achieved by using plasmid. ELISA was conducted to detect POSTN level. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed to assess associated factor expression.

RESULTS

Curcumol suppressed HSC migration and adhesion, and reduced the secretion and expression of POSTN. By gain of function POSTN in HSCs, using rh POSTN, we found that the inhibition of HSC migration and adhesion by curcumol depended on the decrease of POSTN. Besides, curcumol protection against chronic CCl₄-caused hepatic fibrosis could be impaired by POSTN overexpression. Moreover, we showed that curcumol repressed NF-κB signaling and the production of pro-inflammatory factor. Importantly, curcumol down-regulation of POSTN was rescued by knock-in of NF-κB, as well as the inhibition of HSC migration and adhesion.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal the molecular mechanism of curcumol-reduced HSC migration and adhesion, by which points to the possibility of using curcumol based on NF-κB dependent POSTN for the treatment of fibrogenesis.

Periostin interaction with discoidin domain receptor-1 (DDR1) promotes cartilage degeneration

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage accompanied by the new bone formation and, often, a synovial proliferation that culminates in pain, loss of joint function, and disability. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of OA progression and the relative contributions of cartilage, bone, and synovium remain unclear. We recently found that the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein periostin (Postn, or osteoblast-specific factor, OSF-2) is expressed at high levels in human OA cartilage. Multiple groups have also reported elevated expression of Postn in several rodent models of OA. We have previously reported that in vitro Postn promotes collagen and proteoglycan degradation in human chondrocytes through AKT/β-catenin signaling and downstream activation of MMP-13 and ADAMTS4 expression. Here we show that Postn induces collagen and proteoglycan degradation in cartilage by signaling through discoidin domain receptor-1 (DDR1), a receptor tyrosine kinase. The genetic deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of DDR1 in mouse chondrocytes blocks Postn-induced MMP-13 expression. These data show that Postn is signaling though DDR1 is mechanistically involved in OA pathophysiology. Specific inhibitors of DDR1 may provide therapeutic opportunities to treat OA.