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Habib S. Team players in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunctions-associated steatotic liver disease: The basis of development of pharmacotherapy. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2024; 15:93606. [DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v15.i4.93606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Nutrient metabolism is regulated by several factors. Social determinants of health with or without genetics are the primary regulator of metabolism, and an unhealthy lifestyle affects all modulators and mediators, leading to the adaptation and finally to the exhaustion of cellular functions. Hepatic steatosis is defined by presence of fat in more than 5% of hepatocytes. In hepatocytes, fat is stored as triglycerides in lipid droplet. Hepatic steatosis results from a combination of multiple intracellular processes. In a healthy individual nutrient metabolism is regulated at several steps. It ranges from the selection of nutrients in a grocery store to the last step of consumption of ATP as an energy or as a building block of a cell as structural component. Several hormones, peptides, and genes have been described that participate in nutrient metabolism. Several enzymes participate in each nutrient metabolism as described above from ingestion to generation of ATP. As of now several publications have revealed very intricate regulation of nutrient metabolism, where most of the regulatory factors are tied to each other bidirectionally, making it difficult to comprehend chronological sequence of events. Insulin hormone is the primary regulator of all nutrients’ metabolism both in prandial and fasting states. Insulin exerts its effects directly and indirectly on enzymes involved in the three main cellular function processes; metabolic, inflammation and repair, and cell growth and regeneration. Final regulators that control the enzymatic functions through stimulation or suppression of a cell are nuclear receptors in especially farnesoid X receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor/RXR ligands, adiponectin, leptin, and adiponutrin. Insulin hormone has direct effect on these final modulators. Whereas blood glucose level, serum lipids, incretin hormones, bile acids in conjunction with microbiota are intermediary modulators which are controlled by lifestyle. The purpose of this review is to overview the key players in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) that help us understand the disease natural course, risk stratification, role of lifestyle and pharmacotherapy in each individual patient with MASLD to achieve personalized care and target the practice of precision medicine. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used to identify publication related to metabolism of carbohydrate and fat in states of health and disease states; MASLD, cardiovascular disease and cancer. More than 1000 publications including original research and review papers were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Habib
- Department of Hepatology, Liver Institute PLLC, Tucson, AZ 85712, United States
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2
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Deng J, Long J, Yang Y, Yang F, Wei Y. Gentiana decoction inhibits liver fibrosis and the activation of hepatic stellate cells via upregulating the expression of Parkin. Fitoterapia 2024; 178:106170. [PMID: 39122121 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106170] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing process. It can be induced by various chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is characterized by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a key event. However, no effective treatment strategies to cure or alleviate liver fibrosis-induced pathologic changes have yet been developed. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exhibits a good anti-fibrosis action, with few side effects. Gentiana decoction, a TCM also called Longdan Xiegan Tang (LXT), is used for purging the liver in clinical settings. However, the role of LXT in preventing liver fibrosis and the underlying regulatory mechanism have not yet been investigated. This study demonstrates that LXT treatment can protect the liver from the injuries resulting from CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice and suppress the activation of HSCs. The mice in the LXT group exhibit litter collagen I and HSC activation marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. Transcriptome sequencing of the mouse liver tissue reveals that the level of Parkin, a mitophagy marker, decreased in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Further study shows that the injection of Parkin-overexpression adeno-associated virus (Parkin-AAV) via the tail vein can reduce CCl4-induced liver fibrogenesis in mice. We conducted a mechanistic study also, which suggests that LXT treatment suppresses the activation of HSCs by upregulating the expression of Parkin. Hence, it can be suggested that LXT inhibits liver fibrosis by activating the Parkin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Deng
- Guangzhou Institute of Cancer Research, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Hengzhi 78nd Road, Guangzhou 510095, China.
| | - Jun Long
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Center, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510310, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fengyu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yongjie Wei
- Guangzhou Institute of Cancer Research, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Hengzhi 78nd Road, Guangzhou 510095, China.
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3
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Cao M, Ke D, Zhou H. The role and molecular mechanism of CTHRC1 in fibrosis. Life Sci 2024; 350:122745. [PMID: 38834096 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122745] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis, a pathological state characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, is primarily driven by the overactivation of fibroblasts. This condition becomes particularly pronounced under chronic inflammatory conditions. Fibrosis can occur in several tissues throughout the body. Among the notable discoveries in the study of fibrosis is the role of Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing-1 (CTHRC1), a protein that has emerged as a critical regulator in the fibrotic process. CTHRC1 is rapidly expressed on the outer membrane of fibroblasts and intimal smooth muscle cells following vascular injury, such as that induced by balloon angioplasty. This expression denotes the organism efforts to repair and restructure compromised tissue, signifying a critical component of the tissue repair mechanism in reaction to fibrosis. It plays a pivotal role in promoting cell migration and aiding tissue repair post-injury, contributing significantly to various pathophysiological processes including revascularization, bone formation, developmental morphological changes, inflammatory arthritis, and the progression of cancer. Significantly, researchers have observed marked expression of CTHRC1 across a variety of fibrotic conditions, closely associating it with the progression of the disease. Intervention with CTHRC1 can affect the occurrence and progression of fibrosis. This review aims to comprehensively explore the role and underlying mechanisms of CTHRC1 in fibrotic diseases, highlighting its potential as a key target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Cao
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Da Ke
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Wang D, He R, Song Q, Diao H, Jin Y, Zhang A. Calcitriol Inhibits NaAsO 2 Triggered Hepatic Stellate Cells Activation and Extracellular Matrix Oversecretion by Activating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway Through Vitamin D Receptor. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:3601-3613. [PMID: 37968493 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-03957-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that arsenic exposure can induce liver fibrosis, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear and there is currently no effective pharmacological intervention available. Recent research has demonstrated that vitamin D supplementation can ameliorate liver fibrosis caused by various etiologies, potentially through modulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathways. However, it remains unclear whether vitamin D intervention can mitigate arsenic-caused liver fibrosis. As is known hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are pivotal in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the intervention effect of calcitriol (a form of active vitamin D) on arsenite-triggered Lx-2 cells (a human hepatic stellate cell line) activation and ECM oversecretion. Additionally, we also elucidated the role and mechanism of Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that calcitriol intervention significantly inhibits Lx-2 cell activation and ECM oversecretion induced by arsenite exposure. Additionally, calcitriol activates Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzyme expression in Lx-2 cells, thereby reducing ROS overproduction caused by arsenite exposure. Further investigation reveals that calcitriol activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibits arsenite-triggered Lx-2 cell activation and ECM oversecretion by targeting vitamin D receptor (VDR). In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that vitamin D intervention can effectively inhibit HSC activation and ECM oversecretion triggered by arsenite exposure through its antioxidant activity. This provides a novel strategy for targeted nutritional intervention in the treatment of arsenic-induced liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed By the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Rui He
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Song
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Diao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Jin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-Constructed By the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
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Guo Z, Yao Z, Huang B, Wu D, Li Y, Chen X, Lu Y, Wang L, Lv W. MAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Exploring the potent combination of immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112821. [PMID: 39088919 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112821] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity globally, and with the prevalence of metabolic-related diseases, the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) related hepatocellular carcinoma (MAFLD-HCC) continues to rise with the limited efficacy of conventional treatments, which has created a major challenge for HCC surveillance. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and molecularly targeted drugs offer new hope for advanced MAFLD-HCC, but the evidence for the use of both types of therapy in this type of tumour is still insufficient. Theoretically, the combination of immunotherapy, which awakens the body's anti-tumour immunity, and targeted therapies, which directly block key molecular events driving malignant progression in HCC, is expected to produce synergistic effects. In this review, we will discuss the progress of immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy in MAFLD-HCC and look forward to the opportunities and challenges of the combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Guo
- Department of Infection, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Ziang Yao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking University People 's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Bohao Huang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100105, China
| | - Dongjie Wu
- Department of Infection, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yanbo Li
- Department of Infection, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Department of Hematology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yanping Lu
- Department of Hepatology, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518100, China.
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Infection, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Wenliang Lv
- Department of Infection, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
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6
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Song Q, Jin Y, He R, Fan L, Tu C, Chen X, Wang D. The activation of TLR4-MyD88 signaling promotes hepatic dysfunction and fibrotic changes in SD rats resulting from prolonged exposure to sodium arsenite. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112823. [PMID: 39083929 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112823] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic, a poisonous metalloid element, is linked to liver diseases, but the exactmechanisms for this process are not yet to be completely elucidated. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), acting as a pathogenic pattern recognition receptor, plays a pivotal role in various inflammatory diseases via the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) pathway. This study aims to investigate the involvement of the TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway in liver injury induced by prolonged exposure to sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Our research findings demonstratethe activation of TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway in long-term NaAsO2-exposed rat liver tissues, leading to a significant release of inflammatory factors, which suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of NaAsO2-induced liver injury. We further administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a natural ligand of TLR4, and TAK-242, a specific inhibitor of TLR4, to rats in order to validate the specific involvement of the TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway in NaAsO2-induced liver injury. The results showed that, 1 mg/kg.bw LPS treatment significantly activated TLR4-MyD88 signalling pathway and its mediated pro-inflammatory factors, leading to up-regulation of activation indicators in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as well as increased secretion levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver, and ultimately induced liver fibrosis and dysfunction in rats. Relevantly, subsequent administration of 0.5 mg/kg.bw TAK-242 significantly attenuated the expression levels of TLR4 and its associated proteins, mitigated collagen deposition, and partially improved liver fibrosis and dysfunction caused by NaAsO2 in rats. Our study fully confirms the pivotal role of the TLR4-MyD88 signaling in promoting liver injury induced by NaAsO2, thereby providing a novel molecular target for preventing and treating patients with arsenic poisoning-related liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Song
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Ying Jin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Rui He
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Lili Fan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Chenglong Tu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Xiong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed By the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China.
| | - Dapeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed By the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, PR China.
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7
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Chen Y, Hu Y, Zhou H, Jiang N, Wang Y, Zhang J, Shen Y, Yu G, Cao J. Induction of hepatic fibrosis in mice with schistosomiasis by extracellular microRNA-30 derived from Schistosoma japonicum eggs. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1425384. [PMID: 39139565 PMCID: PMC11319242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1425384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disorder induced by the infestation of schistosomes, a genus of trematodes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in egg-derived exosomes are crucial for modulating the host's immune responses and orchestrating the pathophysiological mechanisms. Although the exosomes secreted by S. japonicum contain abundant miRNAs, the specific roles of these miRNAs in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis are yet to be comprehensively elucidated. The egg exosomes of S. japonicum secrete miRNA-30, a novel miRNA. Methods In vitro, the effect of miRNA-30 was evaluated by transfecting HSCs with miRNA mimics. The target gene biosignature for miRNA-30 was predicted using the miRDB software. The effect of miRNA-30 in hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by either elevating its expression in healthy mice or by inhibiting its activity in infected mice by administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype eight vectors expressing miRNA-30 or miRNA sponges. Results This novel miRNA can activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the prinary effector cells of hepatic fibrosis, in vitro, i.e., it significantly increases the fibrogenic factors Col1(α1), Col3(α1), and α-SMA at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, miRNA-30 may activate HSCs by targeting the host RORA gene. In addition, in vivo experiments were conducted by administering a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector to modulate the expression levels of miRNA-30. The overexpression of miRNA-30 in healthy mice significantly elevated the expression of Col1(α1), Col3(α1), and α-SMA at both the transcriptomic and proteomic scales. This overexpression was coupled with a pronounced augmentation in the hepatic hydroxyproline content. Conversely, the in vivo silencing of miRNA-30 in infected mice induced a considerable reduction in the size of hepatic granulomas and areas of collagen deposition. Hence, in vivo, modulation of miRNA-30 expression may play a pivotal role in ameliorating the severity of hepatic fibrosis in mice afflicted with S. japonica. Conclusions The study results suggest that miRNA-30 may augment schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis through a probable interaction with the host RORA. Our study may improve the current theoretical framework regarding cross-species regulation by miRNAs of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Regulation, College of Life Science, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Regulation, College of Life Science, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiluo Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujuan Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Regulation, College of Life Science, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jianping Cao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- The School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zaidi S, Asalla S, Muturi HT, Russo L, Abdolahipour R, Belew GD, Iglesias MB, Feraudo M, Leon L, Kuo E, Liu X, Kumarasamy S, Ghadieh HE, Gatto-Weis C, Zarrinpar A, Duarte S, Najjar SM. Loss of CEACAM1 in hepatocytes causes hepatic fibrosis. Eur J Clin Invest 2024; 54:e14177. [PMID: 38381498 PMCID: PMC11153018 DOI: 10.1111/eci.14177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of insulin resistance in hepatic fibrosis in Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis (MASH) remains unclear. Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule1 protein (CEACAM1) promotes insulin clearance to maintain insulin sensitivity and repress de novo lipogenesis, as bolstered by the development of insulin resistance and steatohepatitis in AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice with liver-specific mouse gene encoding CEACAM1 protein (Ceacam1) deletion. We herein investigated whether these mice also developed hepatic fibrosis and whether hepatic CEACAM1 is reduced in patients with MASH at different fibrosis stages. METHODS AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice were fed a regular or a high-fat diet before their insulin metabolism and action were assessed during IPGTT, and their livers excised for histochemical, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis. Sirius red staining was used to assess fibrosis, and media transfer was employed to examine whether mutant hepatocytes activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Hepatic CEACAM1 protein levels in patients with varying disease stages were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS Hepatocytic deletion of Ceacam1 caused hyperinsulinemia-driven insulin resistance emanating from reduced hepatic insulin clearance. AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl livers showed inflammation, fibrosis and hepatic injury, with more advanced bridging and chicken-wire hepatic fibrosis under high-fat conditions. Media transferred from hepatocytes isolated from mutant mice activated control HSCs, likely owing to their elevated endothelin1 content. Interestingly, hepatic CEACAM1 levels were lower in the livers of patients with MASH and declined gradually with advanced fibrosis stage. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic CEACAM1 levels declined with progression of MASH in humans. The phenotype of AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice assigned a key role to CEACAM1 loss from hepatocytes in hepatic fibrosis independently of other liver cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobia Zaidi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Suman Asalla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Harrison T. Muturi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Lucia Russo
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Raziyeh Abdolahipour
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Getachew Debas Belew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Maria Benitez Iglesias
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Mary Feraudo
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lensay Leon
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Enoch Kuo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xiuli Liu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sivarajan Kumarasamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Hilda E. Ghadieh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Balamand, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Koura, Lebanon
| | - Cara Gatto-Weis
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ali Zarrinpar
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sergio Duarte
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sonia M. Najjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
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9
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Chen S, Zhuang D, Jia Q, Guo B, Hu G. Advances in Noninvasive Molecular Imaging Probes for Liver Fibrosis Diagnosis. Biomater Res 2024; 28:0042. [PMID: 38952717 PMCID: PMC11214848 DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response to chronic liver injury, which may lead to cirrhosis and cancer. Early-stage fibrosis is reversible, and it is difficult to precisely diagnose with conventional imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, and ultrasound imaging. In contrast, probe-assisted molecular imaging offers a promising noninvasive approach to visualize early fibrosis changes in vivo, thus facilitating early diagnosis and staging liver fibrosis, and even monitoring of the treatment response. Here, the most recent progress in molecular imaging technologies for liver fibrosis is updated. We start by illustrating pathogenesis for liver fibrosis, which includes capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, cellular and molecular processes involved in inflammation and fibrogenesis, as well as processes of collagen synthesis, oxidation, and cross-linking. Furthermore, the biological targets used in molecular imaging of liver fibrosis are summarized, which are composed of receptors on hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and even liver collagen. Notably, the focus is on insights into the advances in imaging modalities developed for liver fibrosis diagnosis and the update in the corresponding contrast agents. In addition, challenges and opportunities for future research and clinical translation of the molecular imaging modalities and the contrast agents are pointed out. We hope that this review would serve as a guide for scientists and students who are interested in liver fibrosis imaging and treatment, and as well expedite the translation of molecular imaging technologies from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofang Chen
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College,
Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Danping Zhuang
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College,
Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingyun Jia
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College,
Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Guo
- School of Science, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Carbon Materials Research and Comprehensive Application,
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Genwen Hu
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College,
Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
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10
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He L, Xu J, Huang P, Bai Y, Chen H, Xu X, Hu Y, Liu J, Zhang H. miR-9-5p and miR-221-3p Promote Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Alleviate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury by Enhancing Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Engraftment and Inhibiting Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7235. [PMID: 39000343 PMCID: PMC11241704 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential for the treatment of liver injuries, and the therapeutic efficacy greatly depends on their homing to the site of injury. In the present study, we detected significant upregulation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the serum and liver in mice with acute or chronic liver injury. In vitro study revealed that upregulation of miR-9-5p or miR-221-3p promoted the migration of human MSCs (hMSCs) toward HGF. Moreover, overexpression of miR-9-5p or miR-221-3p promoted hMSC homing to the injured liver and resulted in significantly higher engraftment upon peripheral infusion. hMSCs reduced hepatic necrosis and inflammatory infiltration but showed little effect on extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. By contrast, hMSCs overexpressing miR-9-5p or miR-221-3p resulted in not only less centrilobular necrosis and venous congestion but also a significant reduction of ECM deposition, leading to obvious improvement of hepatocyte morphology and alleviation of fibrosis around central vein and portal triads. Further studies showed that hMSCs inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) but could not decrease the expression of TIMP-1 upon acute injury and the expression of MCP-1 and TIMP-1 upon chronic injury, while hMSCs overexpressing miR-9-5p or miR-221-3p led to further inactivation of HSCs and downregulation of all three fibrogenic and proinflammatory factors TGF-β, MCP-1, and TIMP-1 upon both acute and chronic injuries. Overexpression of miR-9-5p or miR-221-3p significantly downregulated the expression of α-SMA and Col-1α1 in activated human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2, suggesting that miR-9-5p and miR-221-3p may partially contribute to the alleviation of liver injury by preventing HSC activation and collagen expression, shedding light on improving the therapeutic efficacy of hMSCs via microRNA modification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Huanxiang Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (L.H.); (J.X.)
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11
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Yang L, Wang F, Liu S, Xian Z, Yang S, Xu Y, Shu L, Yan X, He J, Li X, Peng C, Bi C, Yuan Y, Chen S, Han L, Yang R, Li Y. Unique metabolomics characteristics for distinguishing cirrhosis related to different liver diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2024; 18:103068. [PMID: 38959546 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Clinical evidence for early identification and diagnosis of liver cirrhosis (LC) caused by different types of liver disease is limited. We investigated this topic through a meta-analysis of quantitative metabolomics. METHODS Four databases were searched until October 31, 2022 for studies comparing metabolite levels between patients with different types of liver disease and control individuals. A random-effects model was applied for the meta-analysis. RESULTS This study included 55 studies with 8266 clinical participants, covering 348 metabolites. In LC related to drug-induced liver injury (DILI), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the primary bile acid biosynthesis (taurocholic acid: SMD, 1.08[0.81, 1.35]; P < 0.00001; glycocholic acid: SMD, 1.35[1.07, 1.62]; P < 0.00001; taurochenodeoxycholic acid: SMD, 1.36[0.94, 1.78]; P < 0.00001; glycochenodeoxycholic acid: SMD, 1.49[0.93, 2.06]; P < 0.00001), proline and arginine (l-proline: SMD, 1.06[0.53, 1.58]; P < 0.0001; hydroxyproline: SMD, 0.81[0.30, 1.33]; P = 0.002), and fatty acid biosynthesis (palmitic acid: SMD, 0.44[0.21, 0.67]; P = 0.0002; oleic acid: SMD, 0.46[0.19, 0.73]; P = 0.0008; stearic acid: SMD, 0.37[0.07, 0.68]; P = 0.02) metabolic pathways were significantly altered. CONCLUSION We identified key biomarkers and metabolic characteristics for distinguishing and identifying LC related to different types of liver disease, providing a new perspective for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and precise treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Fang Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Sijia Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Zicheng Xian
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Shenshen Yang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yanyan Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Lexin Shu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Xingxu Yan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Junjie He
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Xia Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Chenghao Bi
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yu Yuan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Liwen Han
- Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Rongrong Yang
- Public Health Science and Engineering College, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Yubo Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
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12
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Radosavljevic T, Vukicevic D, Djuretić J, Gopcevic K, Labudovic Borovic M, Stankovic S, Samardzic J, Radosavljevic M, Vucevic D, Jakovljevic V. The Role of Macrophage Inhibitory Factor in TAA-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice: Modulatory Effects of Betaine. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1337. [PMID: 38927544 PMCID: PMC11201963 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multipotent cytokine, involved in the inflammatory response to infections or injuries. This study investigates the role of MIF in liver fibrosis and the modulating effect of betaine on MIF in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. The wild-type and knockout MIF-/- C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: control; Bet group, which received betaine; MIF-/-; MIF-/-+Bet; TAA group, which received TAA; TAA+Bet; MIF-/-+TAA; and MIF-/-+TAA+Bet group. After eight weeks of treatment, liver tissue was collected for further analysis. The results revealed that TAA-treated MIF-deficient mice had elevated levels of hepatic TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB, as well as MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 compared to TAA-treated wild-type mice. However, the administration of betaine to TAA-treated MIF-deficient mice reduced hepatic TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB levels and also the relative activities of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, albeit less effectively than in TAA-treated mice without MIF deficiency. Furthermore, the antifibrogenic effect of MIF was demonstrated by an increase in MMP2/TIMP1 and MMP9/TIMP1 ratios. The changes in the hepatic levels of fibrogenic factors were confirmed by a histological examination of liver tissue. Overall, the dual nature of MIF highlights its involvement in the progression of liver fibrosis. Its prooxidant and proinflammatory effects may exacerbate tissue damage and inflammation initially, but its antifibrogenic activity suggests a potential protective role against fibrosis development. The study showed that betaine modulates the antifibrogenic effects of MIF in TAA-induced liver fibrosis, by decreasing TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and the deposition of ECM (Coll1 and Coll3) in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Radosavljevic
- Institute of Pathophysiology “Ljubodrag Buba Mihailović”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Dusan Vukicevic
- Uniklinik Mannheim, Theodor-Kutyer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Jasmina Djuretić
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Kristina Gopcevic
- Institute of Chemistry in Medicine “Prof. Dr. Petar Matavulj”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Milica Labudovic Borovic
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Sanja Stankovic
- Centre for Medical Biochemistry, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Janko Samardzic
- Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.)
| | - Milica Radosavljevic
- Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.)
| | - Danijela Vucevic
- Institute of Pathophysiology “Ljubodrag Buba Mihailović”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Vladimir Jakovljevic
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
- Center of Excellence for the Study of Redox Balance in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Department of Human Pathology, First Moscow State Medical University I.M. Sechenov, Trubetskaya Street 8, Str. 2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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13
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Li J, Li R, Bai X, Zhang W, Nie Y, Hu S. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into functional hepatocytes via CRISPRa activation of endogenous Gata4 and Foxa3. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1351-1359. [PMID: 38721807 PMCID: PMC11191006 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003088] [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: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to generate functional hepatocytes without relying on donor liver organs holds significant therapeutic promise in the fields of regenerative medicine and potential liver disease treatments. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activator (CRISPRa) is a powerful tool that can conveniently and efficiently activate the expression of multiple endogenous genes simultaneously, providing a new strategy for cell fate determination. The main purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of applying CRISPRa for hepatocyte reprogramming and its application in the treatment of mouse liver fibrosis. METHOD The differentiation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into functional induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) was achieved by utilizing the CRISPRa synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system, which drove the combined expression of three endogenous transcription factors- Gata4, Foxa3 , and Hnf1a -or alternatively, the expression of two transcription factors, Gata4 and Foxa3 . In vivo , we injected adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) carrying the CRISPRa SAM system into liver fibrotic Col1a1-CreER ; Cas9fl/fl mice, effectively activating the expression of endogenous Gata4 and Foxa3 in fibroblasts. The endogenous transcriptional activation of genes was confirmed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RNA-seq, and the morphology and characteristics of the induced hepatocytes were observed through microscopy. The level of hepatocyte reprogramming in vivo is detected by immunofluorescence staining, while the improvement of liver fibrosis is evaluated through Sirius red staining, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunofluorescence staining, and blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT) examination. RESULTS Activation of only two factors, Gata4 and Foxa3 , via CRISPRa was sufficient to successfully induce the transformation of MEFs into iHeps. These iHeps could be expanded in vitro and displayed functional characteristics similar to those of mature hepatocytes, such as drug metabolism and glycogen storage. Additionally, AAV6-based delivery of the CRISPRa SAM system effectively induced the hepatic reprogramming from fibroblasts in mice with live fibrosis. After 8 weeks of induction, the reprogrammed hepatocytes comprised 0.87% of the total hepatocyte population in the mice, significantly reducing liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION CRISPRa-induced hepatocyte reprogramming may be a promising strategy for generating functional hepatocytes and treating liver fibrosis caused by hepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Third Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ruopu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Xue Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
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14
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Pang S, Chen B, Li Y, Wu S, Chen L. miR-92a-3p promotes pulmonary fibrosis progression by regulating KLF2-mediated endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Cytotechnology 2024; 76:291-300. [PMID: 38736725 PMCID: PMC11082104 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-024-00617-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic lung disease that has a poor prognosis and a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. Here, we investigated the potential role of miR-92a-3p in PF. The mRNA level of miR-92a-3p was significantly increased in both the lung tissues of bleomycin (BLM)--treated mice and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). Overexpressing miR-92a-3p increased the mRNA and protein levels of α‑SMA, vimentin, and Col-1 but downregulated E-cadherin. Additionally, the protein and mRNA expression levels of KLF2 were significantly decreased in the lung tissues of BLM-treated mice, suggesting that KLF2 participated in the progression of BLM-induced PF. Downregulating miR-92a-3p upregulated the expression of KLF2 and inhibited the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) process, thus alleviating PF in vivo. Altogether, a miR-92a-3p deficiency could significantly reduce the development of myofibroblasts and ameliorate PF progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Pang
- Division of Geriatric Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Chen
- Division of Geriatric Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Division of Geriatric Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuangshuang Wu
- Division of Geriatric Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- Division of Geriatric Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029 People’s Republic of China
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15
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Liu KX, Wang ZY, Ying YT, Wei RM, Dong DL, Sun ZJ. The antiprotozoal drug nitazoxanide improves experimental liver fibrosis in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116205. [PMID: 38615918 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116205] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Nitazoxanide is an FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug. Our previous studies find that nitazoxanide and its metabolite tizoxanide affect AMPK, STAT3, and Smad2/3 signals which are involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, therefore, in the present study, we examined the effect of nitazoxanide on experimental liver fibrosis and elucidated the potential mechanisms. The in vivo experiment results showed that oral nitazoxanide (75, 100 mg·kg-1) significantly improved CCl4- and bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Oral nitazoxanide activated the inhibited AMPK and inhibited the activated STAT3 in liver tissues from liver fibrosis mice. The in vitro experiment results showed that nitazoxanide and its metabolite tizoxanide activated AMPK and inhibited STAT3 signals in LX-2 cells (human hepatic stellate cells). Nitazoxanide and tizoxanide inhibited cell proliferation and collagen I expression and secretion of LX-2 cells. Nitazoxanide and tizoxanide inhibited transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)- and IL-6-induced increases of cell proliferation, collagen I expression and secretion, inhibited TGF-β1- and IL-6-induced STAT3 and Smad2/3 activation in LX-2 cells. In mouse primary hepatic stellate cells, nitazoxanide and tizoxanide also activated AMPK, inhibited STAT3 and Smad2/3 activation, inhibited cell proliferation, collagen I expression and secretion. In conclusion, nitazoxanide inhibits liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms involve AMPK activation, and STAT3 and Smad2/3 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Xin Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeng-Yang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Ting Ying
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui-Miao Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Li Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhi-Jie Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Xiu AY, Ding Q, Zhu CP, Zhang CQ. The α-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Doxazosin Attenuates Liver Fibrosis by Alleviating Sinusoidal Capillarization and Liver Angiogenesis. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300513. [PMID: 38494421 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300513] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are caused by chronic liver injury, represent common and intractable clinical challenges of global importance. However, effective therapeutics are lacking. Therefore, the study examines the effect of doxazosin on liver fibrosis. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is injected into mice to establish a liver fibrosis model. Doxazosin (5 and 10 mg/kg) is administered daily by gavage. HE staining, Masson staining, Sirius Red staining, scanning electron microscopy, western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis are performed to estimate liver fibrosis and sinusoidal capillarization in mice. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, western blotting, immunofluorescence analysis, tube formation, and transwell migration assays are performed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HHSECs) to elucidate the potential mechanism of doxazosin. Doxazosin alleviates liver fibrosis and sinusoidal capillarization in CCl4-induced mice. Angiogenesis is attenuated by doxazosin in HUVECs and HHSECs. This study demonstrates that doxazosin attenuated liver fibrosis by alleviating sinusoidal capillarization and liver angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Yuan Xiu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Qian Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
| | - Chang-Peng Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Chun-Qing Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China
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Shen Q, Zhang J, Yang S, Liu L. A comparative study of three ultrasound techniques for liver fibrosis staging. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 36:784-792. [PMID: 38526936 PMCID: PMC11045400 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the agreement and performance of visual transient elastography (ViTE), sound touch elastography (STE), and sound touch quantification (STQ) for liver fibrosis staging using transient elastography (TE) as a standard. We finally enrolled 252 subjects with chronic liver disease (CLD) who underwent ViTE, STE, STQ, and TE examinations simultaneously in our hospital from October 2022 to July 2023. We evaluated the correlation and agreement between various technologies. And also evaluated the performances and optimal cutoffs of ViTE, STE, and STQ . The correlation coefficients of ViTE and TE, STE and TE, STQ and TE were 0.863, 0.709, and 0.727, respectively. The ICC among ViTE, STE, STQ, and TE was 0.911. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROCs) of ViTE, STE, and STQ for detection of TE of ≥5 kPa, ≥10 kPa, ≥15 kPa, and ≥20 kPa were 0.867, 0.771, 0.804; 0.972, 0.935, 0.933; 0.998, 0.973, 0.968; and 1.000, 0.960, 0.954, respectively. The AUROCs of ViTE for detection of lower stages (TE≥5 kPa and ≥10 kPa) were significantly higher than STE and STQ in the overall cohort (ViTE vs. STE: Z = 2.766, for TE ≥5 kPa; ViTE vs. STE: Z = 2.145, ; ViTE vs. STQ: Z = 2.587, for TE ≥10 kPa) (all P < 0.05). These methods all have coincided with performance in more advanced stages (TE ≥15 kPa and ≥20 kPa) (all P > 0.05). These methods showed excellent correlation and agreement. ViTE performance in more advanced fibrosis differentiation is comparable to the STE and STQ while ViTE is more accurate than STE and STQ to identify patients with mild CLD stage, and can more effectively rule out compensated advanced CLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Shen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University
- Department of Ultrasound, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University
- Department of Ultrasound, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Shangjie Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University
- Department of Ultrasound, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
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18
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Shin SK, Oh S, Chun SK, Ahn MJ, Lee SM, Kim K, Kang H, Lee J, Shin SP, Lee J, Jung YK. Immune signature and therapeutic approach of natural killer cell in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024. [PMID: 38800890 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are one of the key members of innate immunity that predominantly reside in the liver, potentiating immune responses against viral infections or malignant tumors. It has been reported that changes in cell numbers and function of NK cells are associated with the development and progression of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and chronic viral hepatitis. Also, it is known that the crosstalk between NK cells and hepatic stellate cells plays an important role in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In particular, the impaired functions of NK cells observed in CLDs consequently contribute to occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Chronic infections by hepatitis B or C viruses counteract the anti-tumor immunity of the host by producing the sheddases. Soluble major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (sMICA), released from the cell surfaces by sheddases, disrupts the interaction and affects the function of NK cells. Recently, the MICA/B-NK stimulatory receptor NK group 2 member D (NKG2D) axis has been extensively studied in HCC. HCC patients with low membrane-bound MICA or high sMICA concentration have been associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, reversing the sMICA-mediated downregulation of NKG2D has been proposed as an attractive strategy to enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses against HCC. This review aims to summarize recent studies on NK cell immune signatures and its roles in CLD and hepatocellular carcinogenesis and discusses the therapeutic approaches of MICA/B-NKG2D-based or NK cell-based immunotherapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Kak Shin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Sooyeon Oh
- Chaum Life Center, School of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Su-Kyung Chun
- Chaum Life Center, School of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min-Ji Ahn
- Center for Research and Development, CHA Advanced Research Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Min Lee
- Center for Research and Development, CHA Advanced Research Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kayun Kim
- School of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hogyeong Kang
- School of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeongwoo Lee
- School of Medicine, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suk Pyo Shin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jooho Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Young Kul Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea
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19
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Ntikoudi A, Spyrou A, Evangelou E, Dokoutsidou E, Mastorakos G. The Effect of Menopausal Status, Insulin Resistance and Body Mass Index on the Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1081. [PMID: 38891156 PMCID: PMC11171981 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111081] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common and presents in a large proportion-up to 30%-of the global adult female population. Several factors have been linked with NAFLD in women, such as age, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. To extract appropriate details about the topic, we conducted an extensive search using various medical subject headings and entry terms including 'Menopause', 'Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease', 'Insulin resistance', and 'BMI'. This exhaustive search resulted in a total of 180 studies, among which only 19 were able to meet the inclusion criteria. While most of these studies indicated a significant rise in NAFLD prevalence among postmenopausal women, two did not find strong evidence linking menopause with NAFLD. Moreover, it was observed that women with NAFLD had higher insulin resistance levels and BMIs compared to those without the condition. In summary, it is important to consider specific factors like risk profile, hormonal status, and age along with metabolic components when treating women presenting with NAFLD. There is need for data-driven research on how gender affects the sensitivity of biomarkers towards NAFLD as well as the development of sex-specific prediction models-this would help personalize management approaches for women, who stand to benefit greatly from such tailored interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Ntikoudi
- Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (E.E.); (E.D.)
| | - Alketa Spyrou
- Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (E.E.); (E.D.)
| | - Eleni Evangelou
- Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (E.E.); (E.D.)
| | - Eleni Dokoutsidou
- Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (E.E.); (E.D.)
| | - George Mastorakos
- Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Aretaieion University Hospital, Medical School of Athens, Ethnikon and Kapodistriakon University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece;
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20
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Mao Y, Wu C, Wang X, Zhang F, Qi X, Li X, Li P, Tang B. Fluorescence imaging sheds light on the immune evasion mechanisms of hepatic stellate cells mediated by superoxide anion. Commun Biol 2024; 7:558. [PMID: 38730013 PMCID: PMC11087649 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06245-y] [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: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Whether and how the reactive oxygen species generated by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) promote immune evasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains mysterious. Therefore, investigating the function of superoxide anion (O2•-), the firstly generated reactive oxygen species, during the immune evasion become necessary. In this work, we establish a novel in situ imaging method for visualization of O2•- changes in HSCs based on a new two-photon fluorescence probe TPH. TPH comprises recognition group for O2•- and HSCs targeting peptides. We observe that O2•- in HSCs gradually rose, impairing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in HCC mice. Further studies reveal that the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 is deactivated by O2•-, and then cause the up-regulation of PD-L1. Our work provides molecular insights into HSC-mediated immune evasion of HCC, which may represent potential targets for HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuantao Mao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Chuanchen Wu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Fanghui Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xinru Qi
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xia Li
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
| | - Ping Li
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
- Laoshan Laboratory, 168 Wenhai Middle Rd, Aoshanwei Jimo, Qingdao, 266237, Shandong, China.
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21
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Arai J, Okumura A, Kato N, Ito K. Natural killer group 2D-major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A activation enhances natural killer cell-mediated immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma: A review. Hepatol Res 2024; 54:420-428. [PMID: 38536662 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The recent clinical introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved therapeutic outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, these therapies targeting CD8+ T lymphocytes have a response rate of approximately 30%. In addition to CD8+ T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells represent promising therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma, because they comprise 30%-50% of all lymphocytes in the liver and contribute to antitumor immunity. A recent meta-analysis revealed that the percentage of infiltrating NK cells in hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with a better patient outcome. Similarly, our previous genome-wide association study on chronic viral hepatitis showed that a single-nucleotide polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA), a ligand to the NK activating receptor, plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the regulation of MICA and NK group 2D expression in chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, we describe recent reports on MICA single-nucleotide polymorphism-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. The suppression of MICA shedding could represent a promising approach for immunosurveillance, as increased expression of membrane-bound MICA achieved through the use of a MICA shedding inhibitor also enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Arai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akinori Okumura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyoaki Ito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
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22
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Song QW, Yuan YP, Sun QS, Zhan XD, Jiang YX, Tang XN. Effects of Bulleyaconitine A on Extracellular Matrix Secretion and Expression of Related Proteins in Acetaldehyde-Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells. Bull Exp Biol Med 2024; 177:74-78. [PMID: 38955854 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-024-06134-8] [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: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells differentiate into myofibroblasts, which synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) leading to liver fibrosis. It was previously demonstrated that bulleyaconitine A (BLA), an alkaloid from Aconitum bulleyanum, inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human hepatic Lieming Xu-2 (LX-2) cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of BLA on the production of ECM and related proteins by LX-2 cells activated with acetaldehyde (AA). The cells were randomized into the control group, AA group (cells activated with 400 μM AA), and BLA+AA group (cells cultured in the presence of 400 μM AA and 18.75 μg/ml BLA). In the BLA+AA group, the contents of collagens I and III and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were statistically significantly higher than in the control, but lower than in the AA group. Expression of MMP-1 in the BLA+AA group was also significantly higher than in the AA group, but lower than in the control. Expression of TIMP-1 in the BLA+AA group was significantly higher than in the control, but lower than in the AA group. Thus, BLA suppressed activation and proliferation of LX-2 cells by inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling pathway and decreasing the content of collagens I and III by reducing the MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q W Song
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China
| | - Y P Yuan
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China
| | - Q S Sun
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China
| | - X D Zhan
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China
| | - Y X Jiang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, Zhejiang, China
| | - X N Tang
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules Research, Wannan Medical College, Anhui, China.
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23
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Dashti Z, Yousefi Z, Kiani P, Taghizadeh M, Maleki MH, Borji M, Vakili O, Shafiee SM. Autophagy and the unfolded protein response shape the non-alcoholic fatty liver landscape: decoding the labyrinth. Metabolism 2024; 154:155811. [PMID: 38309690 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2024.155811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise, mirroring a global surge in diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as its major leading causes. NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver disorders, ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can potentially progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanistically, we know the unfolded protein response (UPR) as a protective cellular mechanism, being triggered under circumstances of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The hepatic UPR is turned on in a broad spectrum of liver diseases, including NAFLD. Recent data also defines molecular mechanisms that may underlie the existing correlation between UPR activation and NAFLD. More interestingly, subsequent studies have demonstrated an additional mechanism, i.e. autophagy, to be involved in hepatic steatosis, and thus NAFLD pathogenesis, principally by regulating the insulin sensitivity, hepatocellular injury, innate immunity, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. All these findings suggest possible mechanistic roles for autophagy in the progression of NAFLD and its complications. Both UPR and autophagy are dynamic and interconnected fluxes that act as protective responses to minimize the harmful effects of hepatic lipid accumulation, as well as the ER stress during NAFLD. The functions of UPR and autophagy in the liver, together with findings of decreased hepatic autophagy in correlation with conditions that predispose to NAFLD, such as obesity and aging, suggest that autophagy and UPR, alone or combined, may be novel therapeutic targets against the disease. In this review, we discuss the current evidence on the interplay between autophagy and the UPR in connection to the NAFLD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Dashti
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Zeynab Yousefi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pouria Kiani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Motahareh Taghizadeh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Maleki
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Borji
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Omid Vakili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Autophagy Research Center, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Sayed Mohammad Shafiee
- Autophagy Research Center, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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24
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Gong Q, Wang X, Liu Y, Yuan H, Ge Z, Li Y, Huang J, Liu Y, Chen M, Xiao W, Liu R, Shi R, Wang L. Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Allicin on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis. TOXICS 2024; 12:328. [PMID: 38787107 PMCID: PMC11126064 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The global burden of liver disease is enormous, which highlights the need for effective hepatoprotective agents. It was reported that allicin exhibits protective effects against a range of diseases. In this study, we further evaluated allicin's effect and mechanism in acute hepatic injury. Liver injury in mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection with 1% CCl4 (10 mL/kg/day). When the first dose was given, CCl4 was given immediately after administration of different doses of allicin (40, 20, and 10 mg/kg/day) as well as compound glycyrrhizin (CGI, 80 mg/kg/day), and then different doses of allicin (40, 20, and 10 mg/kg/day) as well as compound glycyrrhizin (CGI, 80 mg/kg/day) were administrated every 12 h. The animals were dissected 24 h after the first administration. The findings demonstrated a significant inhibition of CCl4-induced acute liver injury following allicin treatment. This inhibition was evidenced by notable reductions in serum levels of transaminases, specifically aspartate transaminase, along with mitigated histological damage to the liver. In this protective process, allicin plays the role of reducing the amounts or the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6. Furthermore, allicin recovered the activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and reduced the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced liver Caspase 3, Caspase 8, and BAX to inhibit liver cell apoptosis. Further analysis showed that the administration of allicin inhibited the increased protein levels of Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), which is related to inflammation and oxidative stress. The in vitro study of the LPS-induced RAW264.7 inflammatory cell model confirmed that allicin can inhibit important inflammation-related factors and alleviate inflammation. This research firstly clarified that allicin has a significant protective effect on CCl4-induced liver injury via inhibiting the inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis, alleviating oxidative stress associated with the progress of liver damage, highlighting the potential of allicin as a hepatoprotective agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianmei Gong
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yongshi Liu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Heling Yuan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zifeng Ge
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yuzhou Li
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jinhu Huang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yufan Liu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ming Chen
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wenjun Xiao
- College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Ruiting Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Rongmei Shi
- College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Liping Wang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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25
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Tyczyńska M, Hunek G, Szczasny M, Brachet A, Januszewski J, Forma A, Portincasa P, Flieger J, Baj J. Supplementation of Micro- and Macronutrients-A Role of Nutritional Status in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4916. [PMID: 38732128 PMCID: PMC11085010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094916] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which the pathological cumulation of fat with coexisting inflammation and damage of hepatic cells leads to progressive dysfunctions of the liver. Except for the commonly well-known major causes of NAFLD such as obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, or diabetes, an unbalanced diet and imbalanced nutritional status should also be taken into consideration. In this narrative review, we summarized the current knowledge regarding the micro- and macronutrient status of patients suffering from NAFLD considering various diets and supplementation of chosen supplements. We aimed to summarize the knowledge indicating which nutritional impairments may be associated with the onset and progression of NAFLD at the same time evaluating the potential therapy targets that could facilitate the healing process. Except for the above-mentioned objectives, one of the most important aspects of this review was to highlight the possible strategies for taking care of NAFLD patients taking into account the challenges and opportunities associated with the micronutrient status of the patients. The current research indicates that a supplementation of chosen vitamins (e.g., vitamin A, B complex, C, or D) as well as chosen elements such as zinc may alleviate the symptoms of NAFLD. However, there is still a lack of sufficient data regarding healthy ranges of dosages; thus, further research is of high importance in this matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Tyczyńska
- Department of Correct, Clinical and Imaging Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Gabriela Hunek
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (G.H.); (A.B.)
| | - Martyna Szczasny
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.S.); (J.J.)
| | - Adam Brachet
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (G.H.); (A.B.)
| | - Jacek Januszewski
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.S.); (J.J.)
| | - Alicja Forma
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (G.H.); (A.B.)
| | - Piero Portincasa
- Clinica Medica “A. Murri”, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Jolanta Flieger
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jacek Baj
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.S.); (J.J.)
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26
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Liu QQ, Chen J, Ma T, Huang W, Lu CH. DCDC2 inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and ameliorates CCl 4-induced liver fibrosis by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9425. [PMID: 38658618 PMCID: PMC11043443 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59698-w] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis, as a consequence of chronic liver disease, involves the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) caused by various chronic liver injuries. Emerging evidence suggests that activation of HSC during an inflammatory state can lead to abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Investigating novel strategies to inhibit HSC activation and proliferation holds significant importance for the treatment of liver fibrosis. As a member of the doublecortin domain-containing family, doublecortin domain containing 2 (DCDC2) mutations can lead to neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, but its involvement in liver fibrosis remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the role of DCDC2 in liver fibrosis. Our findings revealed a reduction in DCDC2 expression in both human fibrotic liver tissues and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse liver fibrotic tissues. Furthermore, exposure to transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1) stimulation resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in DCDC2 expression. The overexpression of DCDC2 inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen alpha 1 (Col1α1), and reduced the activation of HSC stimulated with TGF-β1. Additionally, we provided evidence that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was involved in this process, wherein DCDC2 was observed to inhibit β-catenin activation, thereby preventing its nuclear translocation. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that DCDC2 could attenuate the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like processes of HSC. In vivo, exogenous DCDC2 could ameliorate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. In summary, DCDC2 was remarkably downregulated in liver fibrotic tissues of both humans and mice, as well as in TGF-β1-activated HSC. DCDC2 inhibited the activation of HSC induced by TGF-β1 in vitro and fibrogenic changes in vivo, suggesting that it is a promising therapeutic target for liver fibrosis and warrants further investigation in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Qing Liu
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Cui-Hua Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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27
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Hong A, Umar A, Chen H, Yu Z, Huang J. Advances in the study of the interaction between schistosome infections and the host's intestinal microorganisms. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:185. [PMID: 38600604 PMCID: PMC11007984 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06245-1] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, also called bilharziasis, is a neglected tropical disease induced by schistosomes that infects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In the life cycle of schistosomiasis, eggs are regarded as the main pathogenic factor, causing granuloma formation in the tissues and organs of hosts, which can cause severe gastrointestinal and liver granulomatous immune responses and irreversible fibrosis. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences the progression of schistosomiasis and plays a central role in liver disease via the gut-liver axis. When used as pharmaceutical supplements or adjunctive therapy, probiotics have shown promising results in preventing, mitigating, and even treating schistosomiasis. This review elucidates the potential mechanisms of this three-way parasite-host-microbiome interaction by summarizing schistosome-mediated intestinal flora disorders, local immune changes, and host metabolic changes, and elaborates the important role of the gut microbiome in liver disease after schistosome infection through the gut-liver axis. Understanding the mechanisms behind this interaction may aid in the discovery of probiotics as novel therapeutic targets and sustainable control strategies for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Hong
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Abdulrahim Umar
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Yu
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Mekala S, Rai R, Reed SL, Bowen B, Michalopoulos GK, Locker J, Raeman R, Oertel M. Antagonizing Activin A/p15 INK4b Signaling as Therapeutic Strategy for Liver Disease. Cells 2024; 13:649. [PMID: 38607090 PMCID: PMC11011318 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070649] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Activin A is involved in the pathogenesis of human liver diseases, but its therapeutic targeting is not fully explored. Here, we tested the effect of novel, highly specific small-molecule-based activin A antagonists (NUCC-474/555) in improving liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy and halting fibrosis progression in models of chronic liver diseases (CLDs). METHODS Cell toxicity of antagonists was determined in rat hepatocytes and Huh-7 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were treated with activin A and NUCC-555 and analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Partial hepatectomized Fisher (F)344 rats were treated with NUCC-555, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation was determined at 18/24/36/120/240 h. NUCC-555 was administered into thioacetamide- or carbon tetrachloride-treated F344 rats or C57BL/6 mice, and the fibrosis progression was studied. RESULTS NUCC-474 showed higher cytotoxicity in cultured hepatic cells; therefore, NUCC-555 was used in subsequent studies. Activin A-stimulated overexpression of cell cycle-/senescence-related genes (e.g., p15INK4b, DEC1, Glb1) was near-completely reversed by NUCC-555 in hepatocytes. Activin A-mediated HSC activation was blocked by NUCC-555. In partial hepatectomized rats, antagonizing activin A signaling resulted in a 1.9-fold and 2.3-fold increase in BrdU+ cells at 18 and 24 h, respectively. Administration of NUCC-555 in rats and mice with progressing fibrosis significantly reduced collagen accumulation (7.9-fold), HSC activation indicated by reduced alpha smooth muscle actin+ and vimentin+ cells, and serum aminotransferase activity. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate that activin A antagonist NUCC-555 promotes liver regeneration and halts fibrosis progression in CLD models, suggesting that blocking activin A signaling may represent a new approach to treating people with CLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sowmya Mekala
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
| | - Ravi Rai
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
| | - Samantha Loretta Reed
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
| | - Bill Bowen
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
| | - George K. Michalopoulos
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Reben Raeman
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Michael Oertel
- Department of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street—BST S-404, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA (R.R.); (G.K.M.); (R.R.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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Muturi HT, Ghadieh HE, Asalla S, Lester SG, Verhulst S, Stankus HL, Zaidi S, Abdolahipour R, Belew GD, van Grunsven LA, Friedman SL, Schwabe RF, Hinds TD, Najjar SM. Conditional deletion of CEACAM1 causes hepatic stellate cell activation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.02.586238. [PMID: 38617330 PMCID: PMC11014538 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.02.586238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Hepatic CEACAM1 expression declines with advanced hepatic fibrosis stage in patients with MASH. Global and hepatocyte-specific deletions of Ceacam1 impair insulin clearance to cause hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis. They also cause hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, a condition characterized by excessive collagen production from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Given the positive effect of PPARγ on CEACAM1 transcriptoin and on HSCs quiescence, the current studies investigated whether CEACAM1 loss from HSCs causes their activation. Methods We examined whether lentiviral shRNA-mediated CEACAM1 donwregulation (KD-LX2) activates cultured human LX2 stellate cells. We also generated LratCre+Cc1 fl/fl mutants with conditional Ceacam1 deletion in HSCs and characterized their MASH phenotype. Media transfer experiments were employed to examine whether media from mutant human and murine HSCs activate their wild-type counterparts. Results LratCre+Cc1 fl/fl mutants displayed hepatic inflammation and fibrosis but without insulin resistance or hepatic steatosis. Their HSCs, like KD-LX2 cells, underwent myofibroblastic transformation and their media activated wild-type HDCs. This was inhibited by nicotinic acid treatment which stemmed the release of IL-6 and fatty acids, both of which activate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. Gefitinib inhibition of EGFR and its downstream NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 inflammatory and MAPK-proliferation pathways also blunted HSCs activation in the absence of CEACAM1. Conclusions Loss of CEACAM1 in HSCs provoked their myofibroblastic transformation in the absence of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. This response is mediated by autocrine HSCs activation of the EGFR pathway that amplifies inflammation and proliferation.
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Guo C, Lai L, Ma B, Huang Q, Wang Z. Notoginsenoside R1 targets PPAR-γ to inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation and ameliorates liver fibrosis. Exp Cell Res 2024; 437:113992. [PMID: 38492634 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.113992] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic fibrosis, a common pathological process that occurs in end-stage liver diseases, is a serious public health problem and lacks effective therapy. Notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) is a small molecule derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Sanqi, exhibiting great potential in treating diverse metabolie disorders. Here we aimed to enquired the role of NR1 in liver fibrosis and its underlying mechanism in hepatoprotective effects. METHODS We investigated the anti-fibrosis effect of NR1 using CCl4-induced mouse mode of liver fibrosis as well as TGF-β1-activated JS-1, LX-2 cells and primary hepatic stellate cell. Cell samples treated by NR1 were collected for transcriptomic profiling analysis. PPAR-γ mediated TGF-β1/Smads signaling was examined using PPAR-γ selective inhibitors and agonists intervention, immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. Additionally, we designed and studied the binding of NR1 to PPAR-γ using molecular docking. RESULTS NR1 obviously attenuated liver histological damage, reduced serum ALT, AST levels, and decreased liver fibrogenesis markers in mouse mode. Mechanistically, NR1 elevated PPAR-γ and decreased TGF-β1, p-Smad2/3 expression. The TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and fibrotic phenotype were altered in JS-1 cells after using PPAR-γ selective inhibitors and agonists respectively, confirming PPAR-γ played a pivotal protection role inNR1 treating liver fibrosis. Further molecular docking indicated NR1 had a strong binding tendency to PPAR-γ with minimum free energy. CONCLUSIONS NR1 attenuates hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis by elevating PPAR-γ to inhibit TGF-β1/Smads signalling. NR1 may be a potential candidate compound for reliving liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Guo
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Linying Lai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Boyu Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Shanghai Pudong Weifang Community Health Center, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Zhirong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Lv YF, Xie CS, Liu ZX, Kang MD, Liu Y, Liao ZQ, Ji YL, Zhao R, Li YS, Wei XY, Luo RG, Tang Q. Sevelamer reverses liver fibrosis by deactivation of hepatic stellate cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116121. [PMID: 38461906 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116121] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by a progressive wound healing response caused by chronic liver injury. Currently, there are no approved clinical treatments for liver fibrosis. Sevelamer is used clinically to treat hyperphosphatemia and has shown potential therapeutic effects on liver diseases. However, there have been few studies evaluating the therapeutic effects of sevelamer on liver fibrosis, and the specific mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic effects of sevelamer-induced low inorganic phosphate (Pi) stress in vitro and in vivo and analyzed the detailed mechanisms. We found that low Pi stress could inhibit the proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by promoting apoptosis, effectively suppressing the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatic stellate cells. Additionally, low Pi stress significantly increased the antioxidant stress response. It is worth noting that low Pi stress indirectly inhibited the activation and migration of HSCs by suppressing transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expression in macrophages. In a rat model of liver fibrosis, oral administration of sevelamer significantly decreased blood phosphorus levels, improved liver function, reduced liver inflammation, and increased the antioxidant stress response in the liver. Our study revealed that the key mechanism by which sevelamer inhibited liver fibrosis involved binding to gastrointestinal phosphate, resulting in a decrease in blood phosphorus levels, the downregulation of TGF-β expression in macrophages, and the inhibition of HSC migration and fibrosis-related protein expression. Therefore, our results suggest that sevelamer-induced low Pi stress can attenuate hepatic stellate cell activation and inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis, making it a potential option for the treatment of liver fibrosis and other refractory chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Feng Lv
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Institute for Advanced Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Chuan-Sheng Xie
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhi-Xing Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Mei-Diao Kang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zi-Qiang Liao
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Institute for Advanced Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yu-Long Ji
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Yan-Shu Li
- Jiangxi Center of Medical Device Testing, Nanchang 330029, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang 330029, China
| | - Rong-Guang Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Qun Tang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Institute for Advanced Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
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Zhong H, Dong B, Zhu D, Fu Z, Liu J, Jin Y. Sja-let-7 suppresses the development of liver fibrosis via Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicles. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012153. [PMID: 38598555 PMCID: PMC11034668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012153] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a fatal zoonotic parasitic disease that also threatens human health. The main pathological features of schistosomiasis are granulomatous inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis, which is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from schistosome eggs are broadly involved in host-parasite communication and act as important contributors to schistosome-induced liver fibrosis. However, it remains unclear whether substances secreted by the EVs of Schistosoma japonicum, a long-term parasitic "partner" in the hepatic portal vein of the host, also participate in liver fibrosis. Here, we report that EVs derived from S. japonicum worms attenuated liver fibrosis by delivering sja-let-7 into hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, activation of HSCs was reduced by targeting collagen type I alpha 2 chain (Col1α2) and downregulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, these results contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions and identified the sja-let-7/Col1α2/TGF-β/Smad axis as a potential target for treatment of schistosomiasis-related liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Bowen Dong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Danlin Zhu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jinming Liu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Xie L, Chen H, Zhang L, Ma Y, Zhou Y, Yang YY, Liu C, Wang YL, Yan YJ, Ding J, Teng X, Yang Q, Liu XP, Wu J. JCAD deficiency attenuates activation of hepatic stellate cells and cholestatic fibrosis. Clin Mol Hepatol 2024; 30:206-224. [PMID: 38190829 PMCID: PMC11016487 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2023.0506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Cholestatic liver diseases including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are associated with active hepatic fibrogenesis, which ultimately progresses to cirrhosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main fibrogenic effectors in response to cholangiocyte damage. JCAD regulates cell proliferation and malignant transformation in nonalcoholic steatoheaptitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC). However, its participation in cholestatic fibrosis has not been explored yet. METHODS Serial sections of liver tissue of PBC patients were stained with immunofluorescence. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in wild-type (WT), global JCAD knockout mice (JCAD-KO) and HSC-specific JCAD knockout mice (HSC-JCAD-KO), and evaluated by histopathology and biochemical tests. In situ-activated HSCs isolated from BDL mice were used to determine effects of JCAD on HSC activation. RESULTS In consistence with staining of liver sections from PBC patients, immunofluorescent staining revealed that JCAD expression was identified in smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA)-positive fibroblast-like cells and was significantly up-regulated in WT mice with BDL. JCAD deficiency remarkably ameliorated BDL-induced hepatic injury and fibrosis, as documented by liver hydroxyproline content, when compared to WT mice with BDL. Histopathologically, collagen deposition was dramatically reduced in both JCAD-KO and HSC-JCAD-KO mice compared to WT mice, as visualized by Trichrome staining and semi-quantitative scores. Moreover, JCAD deprivation significantly attenuated in situ HSC activation and reduced expression of fibrotic genes after BDL. CONCLUSION JCAD deficiency effectively suppressed hepatic fibrosis induced by BDL in mice, and the underlying mechanisms are largely through suppressed Hippo-YAP signaling activity in HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xie
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Yu Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Li Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Jun Yan
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jing’an District Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Teng
- HistoIndex Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qiang Yang
- Hangzhou Choutu Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiu-Ping Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
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Shamsan E, Almezgagi M, Gamah M, Khan N, Qasem A, Chuanchuan L, Haining F. The role of PI3k/AKT signaling pathway in attenuating liver fibrosis: a comprehensive review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1389329. [PMID: 38590313 PMCID: PMC10999701 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1389329] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components within the liver leads to a pathological condition known as liver fibrosis. Alcohol abuse, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune issues, and viral hepatitis cause chronic liver injury. Exploring potential therapeutic targets and understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in liver fibrosis are essential for the development of effective interventions. The goal of this comprehensive review is to explain how the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway contributes to the reduction of liver fibrosis. The potential of this pathway as a therapeutic target is investigated through a summary of results from in vivo and in vitro studies. Studies focusing on PI3K/AKT activation have shown a significant decrease in fibrosis markers and a significant improvement in liver function. The review emphasizes how this pathway may prevent ECM synthesis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, ultimately reducing the fibrotic response. The specific mechanisms and downstream effectors of the PI3K/AKT pathway in liver fibrosis constitute a rapidly developing field of study. In conclusion, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a significant role in attenuating liver fibrosis. Its complex role in regulating HSC activation and ECM production, demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo, underscores its potential as a effective therapeutic approach for managing liver fibrosis and slowing disease progression. A comprehensive review of this field provides valuable insights into its future developments and implications for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Shamsan
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- College of Medical Science, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen
| | - Maged Almezgagi
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Mohammed Gamah
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Naveed Khan
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | | | - Liu Chuanchuan
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, China
| | - Fan Haining
- College of Clinical Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, China
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Kuo YR, Tsai CY, Lin WS, Chang CI, Lai CS, Pan MH. Trans-2-nonadecyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane (TNHD) purified from freshwater clams markedly alleviates dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis. J Food Drug Anal 2024; 32:1-20. [PMID: 38526593 PMCID: PMC10962651 DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3491] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis occurs due to injury or inflammation, which results in the excessive production of collagen and the formation of fibrotic scar tissue that impairs liver function. Despite the limited treatment options available, freshwater clams may hold promise in the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of ethanol extract of freshwater clam (FCE), ethyl acetate extract of FCE (EA-FCE), and trans-2-nonadecyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane (TNHD) on liver fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). Administration of FCE and TNHD alleviated liver injury, including tissue damage, necrosis, inflammation scores, fibrosis scores, serum enzymes, and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of fibrosis-related proteins, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β), as well as the hydroxyproline content, which decreased after treatment with FCE and TNHD. Animal experiments revealed that FCE and TNHD can reduce liver fibrosis by inhibiting cytokines that activate stellate cells and decreasing extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion. Cell experiments have shown that TNHD inhibits the MAPK/Smad signaling pathway and TGF-β1 activation, resulting in a reduction in the expression of fibrosis-related proteins. Therefore, freshwater clam extracts, particularly TNHD, may have potential therapeutic and preventive effects for the amelioration of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ru Kuo
- Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617,
Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yu Tsai
- Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157,
Taiwan
| | - Wei-Sheng Lin
- Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617,
Taiwan
| | - Chi-I Chang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201,
Taiwan
| | - Ching-Shu Lai
- Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157,
Taiwan
| | - Min-Hsiung Pan
- Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617,
Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402,
Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 41354,
Taiwan
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36
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Choi H, Oh D, Kim HJ, Chambugong M, Kim MH, Lee MO, Park HG. An RORα agonist, ODH-08, inhibits fibrogenic activation of hepatic stellate cells via suppression of SMAD3. Life Sci 2024; 340:122443. [PMID: 38242496 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122443] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatic fibrosis is a dynamic process characterized by the net accumulation of an extracellular matrix resulting from chronic liver injury such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a role in transdifferentiation of quiescent cells into fibrogenic myofibroblasts. We aimed to examine the function of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) and its novel agonistic ligand, 1-(4-benzyloxybenzyl)-3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-thiourea (ODH-08) against activation of HSCs using hepatic fibrosis mouse models. MAIN METHODS Chemical synthesis, a reporter gene assay, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and a docking study were performed to evaluate ODH-08 as a ligand of RORα. In vivo experiments with mice fed a Western diet were performed to evaluate the effect of ODH-08. The human HSC line, Lx-2, and primary mouse HSCs were employed to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the antifibrogenic effect of ODH-08. KEY FINDINGS A novel RORα-selective ligand, ODH-08, was developed based on modification of JC1-40, an analog of N-methylthiourea. Administration of ODH-08 to the Western diet-fed mice reduced hepatic collagen deposition and expression levels of fibrogenic markers such as α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I alpha 1 chain. Activation of RORα-either by transient overexpression of RORα or treatment with ODH-08-suppressed the expression of fibrogenic proteins in HSCs. The activation of RORα suppressed the activity of SMAD2 and 3, which are the primary downstream proteins of transforming growth factor β. SIGNIFICANCE RORα and its agonist ODH-08 have a potent antifibrotic effect, which could provide a novel antifibrotic strategy against hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haena Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehyun Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Ji Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Melody Chambugong
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Hyun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Ock Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyeung-Geun Park
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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37
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La Sala L, Carlini V, Conte C, Macas-Granizo MB, Afzalpour E, Martin-Delgado J, D'Anzeo M, Pedretti RFE, Naselli A, Pontiroli AE, Cappato R. Metabolic disorders affecting the liver and heart: Therapeutic efficacy of miRNA-based therapies? Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107083. [PMID: 38309383 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Liver and heart disease are major causes of death worldwide. It is known that metabolic alteration causing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) coupled with a derangement in lipid homeostasis, may exacerbate hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. Some pharmacological treatments can mitigate organ dysfunctions but the important side effects limit their efficacy leading often to deterioration of the tissues. It needs to develop new personalized treatment approaches and recent progresses of engineered RNA molecules are becoming increasingly viable as alternative treatments. This review outlines the current use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA genome editing as treatment for rare metabolic disorders. However, the potential for small non-coding RNAs to serve as therapeutic agents for liver and heart diseases is yet to be fully explored. Although miRNAs are recognized as biomarkers for many diseases, they are also capable of serving as drugs for medical intervention; several clinical trials are testing miRNAs as therapeutics for type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver as well as cardiac diseases. Recent advances in RNA-based therapeutics may potentially facilitate a novel application of miRNAs as agents and as druggable targets. In this work, we sought to summarize the advancement and advantages of miRNA selective therapy when compared to conventional drugs. In particular, we sought to emphasise druggable miRNAs, over ASOs or other RNA therapeutics or conventional drugs. Finally, we sought to address research questions related to efficacy, side-effects, and range of use of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, we covered hurdles and examined recent advances in the use of miRNA-based RNA therapy in metabolic disorders such as diabetes, liver, and heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia La Sala
- IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Caterina Conte
- IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy; Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Elham Afzalpour
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Clinic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Jimmy Martin-Delgado
- Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficiencia de Guayaquil, 090603 Guayaquil, Ecuador; Instituto de Investigacion e Innovacion en Salud Integral, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil 090603, Ecuador
| | - Marco D'Anzeo
- AUO delle Marche, SOD Medicina di Laboratorio, Ancona, Italy
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38
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Bates EA, Kipp ZA, Lee WH, Martinez GJ, Weaver L, Becker KN, Pauss SN, Creeden JF, Anspach GB, Helsley RN, Xu M, Bruno MEC, Starr ME, Hinds TD. FOXS1 is increased in liver fibrosis and regulates TGFβ responsiveness and proliferation pathways in human hepatic stellate cells. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105691. [PMID: 38280429 PMCID: PMC10878791 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105691] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis commences with liver injury stimulating transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), causing scarring and irreversible damage. TGFβ induces expression of the transcription factor Forkhead box S1 (FOXS1) in hepatocytes and may have a role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, no studies have determined how it affects HSCs. We analyzed human livers with cirrhosis, HCC, and a murine fibrosis model and found that FOXS1 expression is significantly higher in fibrotic livers but not in HCC. Next, we treated human LX2 HSC cells with TGFβ to activate fibrotic pathways, and FOXS1 mRNA was significantly increased. To study TGFβ-FOXS1 signaling, we developed human LX2 FOXS1 CRISPR KO and scrambled control HSCs. To determine differentially expressed gene transcripts controlled by TGFβ-FOXS1, we performed RNA-seq in the FOXS1 KO and control cells and over 400 gene responses were attenuated in the FOXS1 KO HSCs with TGFβ-activation. To validate the RNA-seq findings, we used our state-of-the-art PamGene PamStation kinase activity technology that measures hundreds of signaling pathways nonselectively in real time. Using our RNA-seq data, kinase activity data, and descriptive measurements, we found that FOXS1 controls pathways mediating TGFβ responsiveness, protein translation, and proliferation. Our study is the first to identify that FOXS1 may serve as a biomarker for liver fibrosis and HSC activation, which may help with early detection of hepatic fibrosis or treatment options for end-stage liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn A Bates
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Zachary A Kipp
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Wang-Hsin Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Genesee J Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Lauren Weaver
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kathryn N Becker
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | - Sally N Pauss
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Justin F Creeden
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | - Garrett B Anspach
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Robert N Helsley
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Mei Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Maria E C Bruno
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Marlene E Starr
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Division of Research, Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Terry D Hinds
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
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39
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Liu B, Xie X, Yang X, Dou C, Tang H, Liu J. The miR-3074/BMP7 axis regulates TGF-β-caused activation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro and CCl 4-caused murine liver fibrosis in vivo. Hum Cell 2024; 37:435-450. [PMID: 38218754 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-01017-y] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Continuously progressive hepatic fibrosis might cause chronic liver diseases, resulting in hepatic failure. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) residing in the liver might induce and influence hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, microRNA 3074 (miR-3074) was found increased within transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-activated HSCs and enriched within the TGF-β signaling. In activated HSCs by TGF-β, miR-3074 overexpression aggravated TGF-β-induced fibrotic changes, whereas miR-3074 inhibition exerted opposite effects. miR-3074 directly targeted bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) and inhibited BMP7 expression. Under TGF-β induction, overexpressed BMP7 notably attenuated the promotive roles of miR-3074 overexpression in TGF-β-activated HSCs. Within carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-caused liver fibrosis murine model, miR-3074 agomir administration promoted, while LV-BMP7 administration alleviated CCl4-induced fibrotic changes; LV-BMP7 significantly attenuated the effects of miR-3074 agomir. Lastly, mmu-miR-3074 also targeted mouse BMP7 and inhibited mouse BMP7 expression. In conclusion, the miR-3074/BMP7 axis regulates TGF-β-caused activation of HSCs in vitro and CCl4-caused murine liver fibrosis in vivo. BMP7-mediated Smad1/5/8 activation might be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xia Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Chengyun Dou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Haibo Tang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
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40
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Fattahi N, Gorgannezhad L, Masoule SF, Babanejad N, Ramazani A, Raoufi M, Sharifikolouei E, Foroumadi A, Khoobi M. PEI-based functional materials: Fabrication techniques, properties, and biomedical applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 325:103119. [PMID: 38447243 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103119] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Cationic polymers have recently attracted considerable interest as research breakthroughs for various industrial and biomedical applications. They are particularly interesting due to their highly positive charges, acceptable physicochemical properties, and ability to undergo further modifications, making them attractive candidates for biomedical applications. Polyethyleneimines (PEIs), as the most extensively utilized polymers, are one of the valuable and prominent classes of polycations. Owing to their flexible polymeric chains, broad molecular weight (MW) distribution, and repetitive structural units, their customization for functional composites is more feasible. The specific beneficial attributes of PEIs could be introduced by purposeful functionalization or modification, long service life, biocompatibility, and distinct geometry. Therefore, PEIs have significant potential in biotechnology, medicine, and bioscience. In this review, we present the advances in PEI-based nanomaterials, their transfection efficiency, and their toxicity over the past few years. Furthermore, the potential and suitability of PEIs for various applications are highlighted and discussed in detail. This review aims to inspire readers to investigate innovative approaches for the design and development of next-generation PEI-based nanomaterials possessing cutting-edge functionalities and appealing characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Fattahi
- Drug Design and Development Research Center, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran
| | - Lena Gorgannezhad
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Shabnam Farkhonde Masoule
- Drug Design and Development Research Center, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
| | - Niloofar Babanejad
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Ali Ramazani
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Raoufi
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 13169-43551, Iran
| | - Elham Sharifikolouei
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin (TO), Italy
| | - Alireza Foroumadi
- Drug Design and Development Research Center, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Khoobi
- Drug Design and Development Research Center, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran; Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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41
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Yuan Q, Fang Y, Guo J, Zhang Z, Liao J, Kuang J. Therapeutic potential and mechanisms of Rifaximin in ameliorating iron overload-induced ferroptosis and liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 484:116845. [PMID: 38331104 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116845] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis could progress to liver cirrhosis with several contributing factors, one being iron overload which triggers ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death. Rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, has shown promise in mitigating fibrosis, primarily by modulating gut microbiota. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of rifaximin on iron overload-related hepatic fibrosis and ferroptosis. In an iron overload-induced liver fibrosis model in mice and in ferric ammonium citrate (FAC)-stimulated primary hepatocytes, treatment with rifaximin showed significant therapeutic effects. Specifically, it ameliorated the processes of ferroptosis triggered by iron overload, reduced liver injury, and alleviated fibrosis. This was demonstrated by decreased iron accumulation in the liver, improved liver function, and reduced fibrotic area and collagen deposition. Rifaximin also modulated key proteins related to iron homeostasis and ferroptosis, including reduced expression of TFR1, a protein facilitating cellular iron uptake, and increased expression of Fpn and FTH, proteins involved in iron export and storage. In the context of oxidative stress, rifaximin treatment led to a decrease in lipid peroxidation, evidenced by reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and an increase in the reduced glutathione (GSH) and decrease in oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Notably, rifaximin's potential functions were associated with the TGF-β pathway, evidenced by suppressed Tgfb1 protein levels and ratios of phosphorylated to total Smad2 and Smad3, whereas increased Smad7 phosphorylation. These findings indicate rifaximin's therapeutic potential in managing liver fibrosis by modulating the TGF-β pathway and reducing iron overload-induced damage. Further research is required to confirm these results and explore their clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yuan
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China.
| | - Jingyun Guo
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
| | - Jinmao Liao
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
| | - Jia Kuang
- Department of Hepatopathy, The Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China
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42
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Sun YD, Zhang H, Li YM, Han JJ. Abnormal metabolism in hepatic stellate cells: Pandora's box of MAFLD related hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189086. [PMID: 38342420 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189086] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), as key mediators in liver injury response, are believed to play a crucial role in the repair process of liver injury. However, in MAFLD patients, the normal metabolic and immunoregulatory mechanisms of HSCs become disrupted, leading to disturbances in the local microenvironment. Abnormally activated HSCs are heavily involved in the initiation and progression of HCC. The metabolic disorders and abnormal activation of HSCs not only initiate liver fibrosis but also contribute to carcinogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of recent research progress on the relationship between the abnormal metabolism of HSCs and the local immune system in the liver, elucidating the mechanisms of immune imbalance caused by abnormally activated HSCs in MAFLD patients. Based on this understanding, we discuss the potential and challenges of metabolic-based and immunology-based mechanisms in the treatment of MAFLD-related HCC, with a specific focus on the role of HSCs in HCC progression and their potential as targets for anti-cancer therapy. This review aims to enhance researchers' understanding of the importance of HSCs in maintaining normal liver function and highlights the significance of HSCs in the progression of MAFLD-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Dong Sun
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Yuan-Min Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China
| | - Jian-Jun Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
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43
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Trogisch FA, Abouissa A, Keles M, Birke A, Fuhrmann M, Dittrich GM, Weinzierl N, Wink E, Cordero J, Elsherbiny A, Martin-Garrido A, Grein S, Hemanna S, Hofmann E, Nicin L, Bibli SI, Airik R, Kispert A, Kist R, Quanchao S, Kürschner SW, Winkler M, Gretz N, Mogler C, Korff T, Koch PS, Dimmeler S, Dobreva G, Heineke J. Endothelial cells drive organ fibrosis in mice by inducing expression of the transcription factor SOX9. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eabq4581. [PMID: 38416842 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic disease. Although fibroblasts are involved, it is unclear to what extent endothelial cells also might contribute. We detected increased expression of the transcription factor Sox9 in endothelial cells in several different mouse fibrosis models. These models included systolic heart failure induced by pressure overload, diastolic heart failure induced by high-fat diet and nitric oxide synthase inhibition, pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin treatment, and liver fibrosis due to a choline-deficient diet. We also observed up-regulation of endothelial SOX9 in cardiac tissue from patients with heart failure. To test whether SOX9 induction was sufficient to cause disease, we generated mice with endothelial cell-specific overexpression of Sox9, which promoted fibrosis in multiple organs and resulted in signs of heart failure. Endothelial Sox9 deletion prevented fibrosis and organ dysfunction in the two mouse models of heart failure as well as in the lung and liver fibrosis mouse models. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse endothelial cells across multiple vascular beds revealed that SOX9 induced extracellular matrix, growth factor, and inflammatory gene expression, leading to matrix deposition by endothelial cells. Moreover, mouse endothelial cells activated neighboring fibroblasts that then migrated and deposited matrix in response to SOX9, a process partly mediated by the secreted growth factor CCN2, a direct SOX9 target; endothelial cell-specific Sox9 deletion reversed these changes. These findings suggest a role for endothelial SOX9 as a fibrosis-promoting factor in different mouse organs during disease and imply that endothelial cells are an important regulator of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix A Trogisch
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- CFPM (Core Facility Platform Mannheim), Cardiac Imaging Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Aya Abouissa
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- CFPM (Core Facility Platform Mannheim), Cardiac Imaging Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Merve Keles
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- CFPM (Core Facility Platform Mannheim), Cardiac Imaging Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anne Birke
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Manuela Fuhrmann
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gesine M Dittrich
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nina Weinzierl
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Elvira Wink
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Julio Cordero
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- ECAS, Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Adel Elsherbiny
- ECAS, Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Abel Martin-Garrido
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Steve Grein
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Shruthi Hemanna
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ellen Hofmann
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Luka Nicin
- Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Cardiopulmonary Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- DZHK, partner site Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sofia-Iris Bibli
- Cardiopulmonary Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- DZHK, partner site Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Vascular Signaling, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Rannar Airik
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ralf Kist
- School of Dental Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK
| | - Sun Quanchao
- Medical Research Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sina W Kürschner
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, and Center of Excellence in Dermatology, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- ECAS, Adjunct Faculty, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Manuel Winkler
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, and Center of Excellence in Dermatology, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- ECAS, Adjunct Faculty, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Norbert Gretz
- Medical Research Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carolin Mogler
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Korff
- ECAS, Adjunct Faculty, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp-Sebastian Koch
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, and Center of Excellence in Dermatology, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- ECAS, Adjunct Faculty, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stefanie Dimmeler
- Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Cardiopulmonary Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- DZHK, partner site Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- ECAS, Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Joerg Heineke
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- CFPM (Core Facility Platform Mannheim), Cardiac Imaging Center, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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He QJ, Li YF, Zhao LT, Lin CT, Yu CY, Wang D. Recent advances in age-related metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:652-662. [PMID: 38515956 PMCID: PMC10950625 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i7.652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects approximately 25% of the world's population and has become a leading cause of chronic liver disease. In recent years, an increasing amount of data suggests that MASLD is associated with aging. As the population ages, age-related MASLD will become a major global health problem. Targeting an aging will become a new approach to the treatment of MASLD. This paper reviews the current studies on the role of aging-related factors and therapeutic targets in MASLD, including: Oxidative stress, autophagy, mitochondrial homeostasis, bile acid metabolism homeostasis, and dysbiosis. The aim is to identify effective therapeutic targets for age-related MASLD and its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Jun He
- College of Basic Medicine, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yi-Fei Li
- Department of Traumatic Surgery, Jilin Central Hospital, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ling-Tong Zhao
- College of Basic Medicine, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chun-Tong Lin
- College of Basic Medicine, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chun-Yan Yu
- College of Basic Medicine, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
| | - Dan Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin Province, China
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Dumitru A, Matei E, Cozaru GC, Chisoi A, Alexandrescu L, Popescu RC, Butcaru MP, Dumitru E, Rugină S, Tocia C. Endotoxin Inflammatory Action on Cells by Dysregulated-Immunological-Barrier-Linked ROS-Apoptosis Mechanisms in Gut-Liver Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2472. [PMID: 38473721 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Our study highlighted the immune changes by pro-inflammatory biomarkers in the gut-liver-axis-linked ROS-cell death mechanisms in chronic and acute inflammations when gut cells are exposed to endotoxins in patients with hepatic cirrhosis or steatosis. In duodenal tissue samples, gut immune barrier dysfunction was analyzed by pro-inflammatory biomarker expressions, oxidative stress, and cell death by flow cytometry methods. A significant innate and adaptative immune system reaction was observed as result of persistent endotoxin action in gut cells in chronic inflammation tissue samples recovered from hepatic cirrhosis with the A-B child stage. Instead, in patients with C child stage of HC, the endotoxin tolerance was installed in cells, characterized by T lymphocyte silent activation and increased Th1 cytokines expression. Interesting mechanisms of ROS-cell death were observed in chronic and acute inflammation samples when gut cells were exposed to endotoxins and immune changes in the gut-liver axis. Late apoptosis represents the chronic response to injury induction by the gut immune barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and liver-dysregulated barrier. Meanwhile, necrosis represents an acute and severe reply to endotoxin action on gut cells when the immune system reacts to pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th2 cytokines releasing, offering protection against PAMPs/DAMPs by monocytes and T lymphocyte activation. Flow cytometric analysis of pro-inflammatory biomarkers linked to oxidative stress-cell death mechanisms shown in our study recommends laboratory techniques in diagnostic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Dumitru
- Gastroenterology Department, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Elena Matei
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medical Sciences Academy, 1 I.C. Bratianu Street, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Chisoi
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Clinical Service of Pathology, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medical Sciences Academy, 1 I.C. Bratianu Street, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Luana Alexandrescu
- Gastroenterology Department, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Răzvan Cătălin Popescu
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mihaela Pundiche Butcaru
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Eugen Dumitru
- Gastroenterology Department, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientist, 3 Ilfov Street, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorin Rugină
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientist, 3 Ilfov Street, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristina Tocia
- Gastroenterology Department, "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania
- Medicine Faculty, "Ovidius" University of Constanta, 1 Universitatii Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania
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Seino K, Nakano T, Tanaka T, Hozumi Y, Topham MK, Goto K, Iseki K. Ablation of DGKα facilitates α-smooth muscle actin expression via the Smad and PKCδ signaling pathways during the acute phase of CCl 4 -induced hepatic injury. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:300-308. [PMID: 38105414 PMCID: PMC10839370 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13749] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) is constitutive in vascular smooth muscle cells, but is induced in nonmuscle cells such as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs play important roles in both physiological homeostasis and pathological response. HSC activation is characterized by αSMA expression, which is regulated by the TGFβ-induced Smad pathway. Recently, protein kinase C (PKC) was identified to regulate αSMA expression. Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) metabolizes a second-messenger DG, thereby controlling components of DG-mediated signaling, such as PKC. In the present study we aimed to investigate the putative role of DGKα in αSMA expression. Use of a cellular model indicated that the DGK inhibitor R59949 promotes αSMA expression and PKCδ phosphorylation. It also facilitates Smad2 phosphorylation after 30 min of TGFβ stimulation. Furthermore, immunocytochemical analysis revealed that DGK inhibitor pretreatment without TGFβ stimulation engenders αSMA expression in a granular pattern, whereas DGK inhibitor pretreatment plus TGFβ stimulation significantly induces αSMA incorporation in stress fibers. Through animal model experiments, we observed that DGKα-knockout mice exhibit increased expression of αSMA in the liver after 48 h of carbon tetrachloride injection, together with enhanced phosphorylation levels of Smad2 and PKCδ. Together, these findings suggest that DGKα negatively regulates αSMA expression by acting on the Smad and PKCδ signaling pathways, which differentially regulate stress fiber incorporation and protein expression of αSMA, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Seino
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyYamagata University School of MedicineJapan
| | - Tomoyuki Nakano
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyYamagata University School of MedicineJapan
| | - Toshiaki Tanaka
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyYamagata University School of MedicineJapan
| | - Yasukazu Hozumi
- Department of Cell Biology and MorphologyAkita University Graduate School of MedicineJapan
| | | | - Kaoru Goto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyYamagata University School of MedicineJapan
| | - Ken Iseki
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of MedicineFukushima Medical UniversityFukushimaJapan
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Martini A, Turato C, Cannito S, Quarta S, Biasiolo A, Ruvoletto M, Novo E, Marafatto F, Guerra P, Tonon M, Clemente N, Bocca C, Piano SS, Guido M, Gregori D, Parola M, Angeli P, Pontisso P. The polymorphic variant of SerpinB3 (SerpinB3-PD) is associated with faster cirrhosis decompensation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2024; 59:380-392. [PMID: 37990490 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SerpinB3 is a cysteine protease inhibitor involved in liver disease progression due to its proinflammatory and profibrogenic properties. The polymorphic variant SerpinB3-PD (SB3-PD), presents a substitution in its reactive centre loop, determining the gain of function. AIMS To disclose the clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients with cirrhosis in relation to the presence of SB3-PD and to assess the effect of this genetic variant on fibrogenic and inflammatory cytokines in vitro. METHODS We assessed SB3 polymorphism in 90 patients with cirrhosis, prospectively followed up in our referral centre. We used HepG2 and HuH-7 cells transfected to overexpress either wild-type SB3 (SB3-WT) or SB3-PD to assess their endogenous effect, while LX2 and THP-1 cells were treated with exogenous SB3-WT or SB3-PD proteins. RESULTS Patients carrying SB3-PD had more severe portal hypertension and higher MELD scores, than patients carrying SB3-WT. In multivariate analysis, SB3-PD was an independent predictor of cirrhosis complications. Patients with SB3-PD polymorphism presented with more severe liver fibrosis and inflammatory features. Hepatoma cells overexpressing SB3-PD showed higher TGF-β1 expression than controls. The addition of recombinant SB3-PD induced an up-regulation of TGF-β1 in LX2 cells and a more prominent inflammatory profile in THP-1 cells, compared to the effect of SB3-WT protein. CONCLUSIONS The polymorphic variant SB3-PD is highly effective in determining activation of TGF-β1 and inflammation in vitro. Patients with cirrhosis who carry SB3-PD polymorphism may be more prone to develop severe liver disease progression. However, further validation studies are warranted to support the in vivo relevance of this polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martini
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristian Turato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Cannito
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Santina Quarta
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Biasiolo
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Ruvoletto
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Erica Novo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Filippo Marafatto
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro Guerra
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Tonon
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Nausicaa Clemente
- Department of Health Science, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Claudia Bocca
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Salvatore Silvio Piano
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Guido
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Dario Gregori
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Parola
- Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Angeli
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pontisso
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
- European Reference Network - ERN RARE-LIVER, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università, Padova, Italy
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López CAM, Freiberger RN, Sviercz FA, Quarleri J, Delpino MV. HIV-Infected Hepatic Stellate Cells or HCV-Infected Hepatocytes Are Unable to Promote Latency Reversal among HIV-Infected Mononuclear Cells. Pathogens 2024; 13:134. [PMID: 38392872 PMCID: PMC10893349 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020134] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to a common mode of transmission through infected human blood, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is relatively prevalent. In alignment with this, HCV co-infection is associated with an increased size of the HIV reservoir in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated individuals. Hence, it is crucial to comprehend the physiological mechanisms governing the latency and reactivation of HIV in reservoirs. Consequently, our study delves into the interplay between HCV/HIV co-infection in liver cells and its impact on the modulation of HIV latency. We utilized the latently infected monocytic cell line (U1) and the latently infected T-cell line (J-Lat) and found that mediators produced by the infection of hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes with HIV and HCV, respectively, were incapable of inducing latency reversal under the studied conditions. This may favor the maintenance of the HIV reservoir size among latently infected mononuclear cells in the liver. Further investigations are essential to elucidate the role of the interaction between liver cells in regulating HIV latency and/or reactivation, providing a physiologically relevant model for comprehending reservoir microenvironments in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jorge Quarleri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina; (C.A.M.L.); (R.N.F.)
| | - María Victoria Delpino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina; (C.A.M.L.); (R.N.F.)
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49
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Li Q, Huang D, Liao W, Su X, Li J, Zhang J, Fang M, Liu Y. Tanshinone IIA regulates CCl 4 induced liver fibrosis in C57BL/6J mice via the PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23648. [PMID: 38348705 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23648] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases caused by various factors may develop into liver fibrosis (LF). Early stage of LF could be reversible. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), an extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been reported to be hepatoprotective. However, the potential targets and mechanism of Tan IIA in the treatment of LF are still unclear. Our study aims at the anti-LF mechanism of Tan IIA through network pharmacological analysis combined with LF-related experiments. Serum biochemical indicators and histopathological examination showed that Tan IIA could ameliorate the process of LF in the CCl4 -induced mouse model. Western blot and immunohistochemical assays showed that Tan IIA decreased the expression of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1). Compared with the model group, the Tan IIA groups increased the decreased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content, while decreasing the increased malondialdehyde content. These results indicate that Tan IIA may play an antioxidant role by inhibiting the expression of KRAS, PI3K/Akt, and Nrf2/HO-1 to ameliorate the progression of LF, which to some extent explains the pharmacological mechanism of Tan IIA in LF. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that Tan IIA could regulate LF via PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. It may be an effective therapeutic compound for the treatment of LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Li
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongrui Huang
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjing Liao
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyue Su
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Li
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinwei Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Fang
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuwei Liu
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
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50
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Yao Y, Yang K, Wang Q, Zhu Z, Li S, Li B, Feng B, Tang C. Prediction of CAF-related genes in immunotherapy and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multi-database analysis. Genes Immun 2024; 25:55-65. [PMID: 38233508 PMCID: PMC10873201 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-024-00252-z] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to identify the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF)-related genes that can affect immunotherapy and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Expression data and survival data associated with HCC were obtained in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) analysis was performed to obtain CAF-related genes. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used for regression analysis and risk models. Subsequently, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) analysis, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) analysis and drug sensitivity analysis were performed on the risk models. Survival analysis of CAF scores showed that the survival rate was lower in samples with high CAF scores than those with low scores. However, this difference was not significant, suggesting CAF may not directly influence the prognosis of HCC patients. Further screening of CAF-related genes yielded 33 CAF-related genes. Seven risk models constructed based on CDR2L, SPRED1, PFKP, ENG, KLF2, FSCN1 and VCAN, showed significant differences in immunotherapy and partial drug sensitivity in HCC. Seven CAF-related genes may have important roles in immunotherapy, drug sensitivity and prognostic survival in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yao
- Division 1, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - KaiQing Yang
- Division 1, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Division 1, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Zeming Zhu
- Division 2, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Division 1, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Bin Li
- Division 1, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.
| | - Caixi Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.
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