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Matsuda KM, Kotani H, Hisamoto T, Kuzumi A, Fukasawa T, Yoshizaki-Ogawa A, Sato S, Yoshizaki A. Dual blockade of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F as a therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis: Investigating the potential effect and mechanism of brodalumab. Cytokine 2024; 178:156587. [PMID: 38531177 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156587] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a terminal manifestation of various chronic liver diseases. There are no drugs that can reverse the condition. Recently, the importance of interleukin-17 (IL17) in the pathophysiology has been revealed and has attracted attention as a therapeutic target. We aimed to reveal the roles of IL17A and IL17F in liver fibrosis, and to validate the potential of their dual blockade as therapeutic strategy. First, we retrospectively reviewed the longitudinal change of FIB-4 index, a clinical indicator of liver fibrosis, among psoriasis patients treated by brodalumab, which blocks IL17 receptor A (IL17RA). Next, we examined anti-fibrotic efficacy of anti-IL17RA antibody (Ab) in two murine liver fibrosis models by histopathological investigation and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Finally, we analyzed the effect of IL17A and IL17F upon human hepatic stellate cells with RNA sequencing, real-time RT-PCR, western blotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and flow cytometry. Clinical data showed that FIB-4 index significantly decreased among psoriasis patients treated by brodalumab. In vivo studies additionally demonstrated that anti-IL17RA Ab ameliorates liver fibrosis induced by tetrachloride and methionine-choline deficient diet. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that both IL17A and IL17F enhance cell-surface expression of transforming growth factor-β receptor II and promote pro-fibrotic gene expression via the JUN pathway in human hepatic stellate cells. Our insights suggest that IL17A and IL17F share their pro-fibrotic function in the context of liver fibrosis, and moreover, dual blockade of IL17A and IL17F by anti-IL17RA Ab would be a promising strategy for the management of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki M Matsuda
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirohito Kotani
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Teruyoshi Hisamoto
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ai Kuzumi
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takemichi Fukasawa
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asako Yoshizaki-Ogawa
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayumi Yoshizaki
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Yan H, He L, Lv D, Yang J, Yuan Z. The Role of the Dysregulated JNK Signaling Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Human Diseases and Its Potential Therapeutic Strategies: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules 2024; 14:243. [PMID: 38397480 PMCID: PMC10887252 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020243] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
JNK is named after c-Jun N-terminal kinase, as it is responsible for phosphorylating c-Jun. As a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, JNK is also known as stress-activated kinase (SAPK) because it can be activated by extracellular stresses including growth factor, UV irradiation, and virus infection. Functionally, JNK regulates various cell behaviors such as cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, and metabolic reprogramming. Dysregulated JNK signaling contributes to several types of human diseases. Although the role of the JNK pathway in a single disease has been summarized in several previous publications, a comprehensive review of its role in multiple kinds of human diseases is missing. In this review, we begin by introducing the landmark discoveries, structures, tissue expression, and activation mechanisms of the JNK pathway. Next, we come to the focus of this work: a comprehensive summary of the role of the deregulated JNK pathway in multiple kinds of diseases. Beyond that, we also discuss the current strategies for targeting the JNK pathway for therapeutic intervention and summarize the application of JNK inhibitors as well as several challenges now faced. We expect that this review can provide a more comprehensive insight into the critical role of the JNK pathway in the pathogenesis of human diseases and hope that it also provides important clues for ameliorating disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Yan
- Department of Ultrasound, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; (H.Y.); (L.H.)
| | - Lanfang He
- Department of Ultrasound, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; (H.Y.); (L.H.)
| | - De Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Department of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Zhu Yuan
- Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Department of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
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Sharma N, Sistla R, Andugulapati SB. Yohimbine ameliorates liver inflammation and fibrosis by regulating oxidative stress and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155182. [PMID: 37952411 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic liver injury, caused by various aetiologies, causes recurrent tissue damage, culminating in decreased liver regenerative ability and resulting in fibrosis followed by cirrhosis. In this study, the anti-fibrotic activity of Yohimbine hydrochloride (YHC) was investigated using various in vitro models and in vivo models. METHODS To assess the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects of YHC, lipopolysaccharide or TGF-β induced differentiation or lipid-induced oxidative-stress models were employed using HLECs, HSC-LX2, and HepG2 cells. Further, thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatic inflammation/fibrosis models were utilized to validate the YHC's anti-fibrotic activity in rats. RESULTS Inflammation/differentiation experiments in HLECs and HSC-LX2 revealed that YHC treatment significantly (p < 0.001) mitigated the lipopolysaccharide or TGF-β induced upregulation of inflammatory and fibrotic markers expression respectively. In addition, YHC dose-dependently reduced the TGF-β induced migration and palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Further, TAA administration (5 weeks) in vivo rat model showed increased inflammatory marker levels/expression, oxidative stress, and pathological abnormalities. Additionally, TAA administration (9 weeks) elevated the fibrotic marker expression, collagen deposition in liver tissues, and shortened longevity in rats. Treatment with YHC dose-dependently mitigated the TAA-induced abnormalities in both inflammation and fibrosis models and improved the survival of the rats. Further mechanistic approaches revealed that TAA administration elevated the JNK, Wnt components and β-catenin expression in hepatic stellate cells and animal tissues. Further treatment with YHC significantly modulated the JNK/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, the β-catenin nuclear translocation results showed that β-catenin levels were significantly elevated in the nuclear fraction of TAA control samples and reduced in YHC-treated samples. CONCLUSION Yohimbine treatment significantly improved inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting differentiation, oxidative stress, and collagen deposition by partly modulating the JNK/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These results might serve as a foundation for proposing yohimbine as a potential lead compound for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Sharma
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500 007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh-201 002, India
| | - Ramakrishna Sistla
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500 007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh-201 002, India
| | - Sai Balaji Andugulapati
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500 007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh-201 002, India.
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Li L, Lan Y, Wang F, Gao T. Linarin Protects Against CCl 4-Induced Acute Liver Injury via Activating Autophagy and Inhibiting the Inflammatory Response: Involving the TLR4/MAPK/Nrf2 Pathway. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:3589-3604. [PMID: 38076631 PMCID: PMC10700044 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s433591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Linarin has been implicated in the inhibition of inflammatory responses and hepatoprotective effects. However, the precise mechanism by which Linarin integrates injury-induced signaling from inflammatory responses and oxidative stress remains unclear. Methods We evaluated the role of Linarin in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury. Mice were orally pretreated with Linarin or vehicle for seven consecutive days, followed by intraperitoneal injection with 0.2% (v/v) CCl4. To investigate the mechanism of action on oxidative stress, CCl4-stimulated HepG2 cells were utilized. Results Our results revealed Linarin remarkably attenuated the loss of hepatic architecture, inflammatory cell infiltration, serum transaminases, and pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by CCl4. Linarin attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative stress by increasing the expression of cytosolic Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), inducing nuclear localization of Nrf2, and increasing stress-induced protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Additionally, Linarin decreased the expression of toll-like receptors (TLR)-4, and its downstream proteins, MyD88, IRAK1, and TRAF6. Furthermore, Linarin reversed CCl4-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK. Importantly, Linarin increased the expression of both LC3II and Beclin 1, which are hallmarks of autophagic flux. Autophagy-mediated hepatoprotective effects in Linarin-treated HepG2 cells were mitigated by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA. However, combined treatment of Linarin with 3-MA failed to significantly reverse cell apoptosis and the production of transaminases and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion Linarin prevents acute liver injury, possibly by alleviating ROS-induced oxidative stress, inhibiting TLR4/MyD88 and JNK/p38/ERK-mediated inflammatory responses, and promoting Beclin 1/LC3II-mediated autophagic flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Li
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan NO.1 Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Lan
- Department of Pharmacy, Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fuqian Wang
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan NO.1 Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tiexiang Gao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
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Mohamed MR, Haybaeck J, Wu H, Su H, Bartneck M, Lin C, Boekschoten MV, Boor P, Goeppert B, Rupp C, Strnad P, Davis RJ, Cubero FJ, Trautwein C. JNKs protect from cholestatic liver disease progression by modulating Apelin signalling. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100854. [PMID: 37791376 PMCID: PMC10543210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Cholestatic liver injury is associated with c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation in distinct cell types. Its hepatocyte-specific function during cholestasis, however, has not yet been established. Therefore, in our present study, we investigated the role of JNK1/2 during cholestasis and dissected its hepatocyte-specific function. Methods A cohort of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (n = 29) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 37) was examined. Wild-type, hepatocyte-specific knockout mice for Jnk2 (Jnk2Δhepa) or Jnk1 and Jnk2 (Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa) were generated. Mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment. Finally, Apelin signalling was blocked using a specific inhibitor. As an interventional approach, Jnk1/2 were silenced in wild-type mice using lipid nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery. Results JNK activation was increased in liver specimens from patients with chronic cholestasis (primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis) and in livers of Mdr2-/- and BDL-treated animals. In Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa animals, serum transaminases increased after BDL, and liver histology demonstrated enhanced cell death, compensatory proliferation, hepatic fibrogenesis, and inflammation. Furthermore, microarray analysis revealed that hepatocytic Jnk1/2 ablation induces JNK-target genes involved in oxidative stress and Apelin signalling after BDL. Consequently, blocking Apelin signalling attenuated BDL-induced liver injury and fibrosis in Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa mice. Finally, we established an interventional small interfering RNA approach of selective Jnk1/2 targeting in hepatocytes in vivo, further demonstrating the essential protective role of Jnk1/2 during cholestasis. Conclusions Jnk1 and Jnk2 work together to protect hepatocytes from cholestatic liver disease by controlling Apelin signalling. Dual modification of JNK signalling in hepatocytes is feasible, and enhancing its expression might be an attractive therapeutic approach for cholestatic liver disease. Impact and Implications The cell-specific function of Jnk genes during cholestasis has not been explicitly explored. In this study, we showed that combined Jnk1/2, but not Jnk2 deficiency, in hepatocytes exacerbates liver damage and fibrosis by enhancing Apelin signalling, which contributes to cholestasis progression. Combined cell-specific Jnk targeting may be a new molecular strategy for treating cholestatic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hanghang Wu
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Huan Su
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Bartneck
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cheng Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mark V. Boekschoten
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology and Department of Nephrology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Goeppert
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Rupp
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Roger J. Davis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Francisco Javier Cubero
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Petagine L, Zariwala MG, Patel VB. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Immunological mechanisms and current treatments. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:4831-4850. [PMID: 37701135 PMCID: PMC10494768 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i32.4831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) causes significant global disease burden and is a leading cause of mortality. NAFLD induces a myriad of aberrant changes in hepatocytes at both the cellular and molecular level. Although the disease spectrum of NAFLD is widely recognised, the precise triggers for disease progression are still to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, the propagation to cirrhosis is poorly understood. Whilst some progress in terms of treatment options have been explored, an incomplete understanding of the hepatic cellular and molecular alterations limits their clinical utility. We have therefore reviewed some of the key pathways responsible for the pathogenesis of NAFLD such as innate and adaptative immunity, lipotoxicity and fibrogenesis, and highlighted current trials and treatment options for NAFLD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Petagine
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W6UW, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W6UW, United Kingdom
| | - Vinood B Patel
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W6UW, United Kingdom
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Jiang B, Zhou Y, Liu Y, He S, Liao B, Peng T, Yao L, Qi L. Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of IL-37 in Liver Diseases. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:336-350. [PMID: 37582401 PMCID: PMC10620037 DOI: 10.1055/a-2153-8836] [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] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are important components of the immune system that can predict or influence the development of liver diseases. IL-37, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects inside and outside cells. IL-37 expression differs before and after liver lesions, suggesting that it is associated with liver disease; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This article mainly reviews the biological characteristics of IL-37, which inhibits hepatitis, liver injury, and liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation, and inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating the immune microenvironment. Based on additional evidence, combining IL-37 with liver disease markers for diagnosis and treatment can achieve more significant effects, suggesting that IL-37 can be developed into a powerful tool for the clinical adjuvant treatment of liver diseases, especially HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyi Jiang
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Yulin Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shunde New Rongqi Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Yanting Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Siqi He
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Baojian Liao
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Tieli Peng
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Leyi Yao
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Ling Qi
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
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Leung H, Xiong L, Ni Y, Busch A, Bauer M, Press AT, Panagiotou G. Impaired flux of bile acids from the liver to the gut reveals microbiome-immune interactions associated with liver damage. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:35. [PMID: 37286586 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00398-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, there is evidence that alteration in the gut ecosystem contributes to the development of liver diseases, however, the complex mechanisms involved are still unclear. We induced cholestasis in mice by bile duct ligation (BDL), mirroring the phenotype of a bile duct obstruction, to understand how gut microbiota alterations caused by an impaired flow of bile acid to the gut contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of liver disease. We performed longitudinal stool, heart, and liver sampling using mice receiving BDL and controls receiving sham operation (ShamOP). Shotgun metagenomics profiling using fecal samples taken before and on day 1, day 3, and day 7 after surgery was performed, and the cytokines and clinical chemistry profiles from heart blood, as well as the liver bile acids profile, were measured. The BDL surgery reshaped the microbiome of mice, resulting in highly distinct characteristics compared to the ShamOP. Our analysis of the microbiome pathways and ECs revealed that BDL reduces the production of hepatoprotective compounds in the gut, such as biotin, spermidine, arginine, and ornithine, which were negatively associated with inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-23, MCP-1). The reduction of the functional potential of the gut microbiota in producing those hepatoprotective compounds is associated with the decrease of beneficial bacteria species from Anaerotruncus, Blautia, Eubacterium, and Lachnoclostridium genera, as well as the increase of disease-associated bacteria e.g., Escherichia coli and Entercoccus faecalis. Our findings advances our knowledge of the gut microbiome-bile acids-liver triangle, which may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howell Leung
- Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Ling Xiong
- Jena University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena, Germany
| | - Yueqiong Ni
- Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Anne Busch
- Jena University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Theoretical Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Jena University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena, Germany
| | - Adrian T Press
- Jena University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena, Germany.
- Friedrich Schiller University, Medical Faculty, Jena, Germany.
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jena, Germany.
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Xiong P, Zhang F, Liu F, Zhao J, Huang X, Luo D, Guo J. Metaflammation in glucolipid metabolic disorders: Pathogenesis and treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114545. [PMID: 36948135 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The public health issue of glucolipid metabolic disorders (GLMD) has grown significantly, posing a grave threat to human wellness. Its prevalence is rising yearly and tends to affect younger people. Metaflammation is an important mechanism regulating body metabolism. Through a complicated multi-organ crosstalk network involving numerous signaling pathways such as NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1, NF-B, p38 MAPK, IL-6/STAT3, and PI3K/AKT, it influences systemic metabolic regulation. Numerous inflammatory mediators are essential for preserving metabolic balance, but more research is needed to determine how they contribute to the co-morbidities of numerous metabolic diseases. Whether controlling the inflammatory response can influence the progression of GLMD determines the therapeutic strategy for such diseases. This review thoroughly examines the role of metaflammation in GLMD and combs the research progress of related therapeutic approaches, including inflammatory factor-targeting drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and exercise therapy. Multiple metabolic diseases, including diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease, and others, respond therapeutically to anti-inflammatory therapy on the whole. Moreover, we emphasize the value and open question of anti-inflammatory-based means for treating GLMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingjie Xiong
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Fan Zhang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Fang Liu
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Jiayu Zhao
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Xiaoqiang Huang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China.
| | - Duosheng Luo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Jiao Guo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine; Key Laboratory of Glucolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, China; Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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10
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Sun Y, Liu C, Guo X, Zhao J, Xiao A, Yin K, Liu M, Sun X, Chen X, Liu M. Identification of the c-Jun/H19/miR-19/JNK1 cascade during hepatic stellate cell activation. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1106. [PMID: 36864707 PMCID: PMC9982076 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Chunyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Jiayu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Anqi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Kai Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Ming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xinlei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Minghui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life SciencesJiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and BiotechnologyNJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS)School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
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11
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Sahu R, Goswami S, Narahari Sastry G, Rawal RK. The Preventive and Therapeutic Potential of the Flavonoids in Liver Cirrhosis: Current and Future Perspectives. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202201029. [PMID: 36703592 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202201029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may vary from moderately mild non-alcohol fatty liver (NAFL) towards the malignant variant known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is marked by fatty liver inflammation and may progress to liver cirrhosis (LC), liver cancer, fibrosis, or liver failure. Flavonoids can protect the liver from toxins through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and antifibrogenic pharmacological activities. Furthermore, flavonoids protect against LC by regulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) trans-differentiation, inhibiting growth factors like TGF-β and platelets-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF), viral infections like hepatitis-B, C and D viruses (HBV, HCV & HDV), autoimmune-induced, alcohol-induced, metabolic disorder-induced, causing by apoptosis, and regulating MAPK pathways. These flavonoids may be explored in the future as a therapeutic solution for hepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Sahu
- Natural Product Chemistry Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India
| | - Sourav Goswami
- Natural Product Chemistry Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India
| | - G Narahari Sastry
- Natural Product Chemistry Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ravindra K Rawal
- Natural Product Chemistry Group, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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12
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Liebold I, Meyer S, Heine M, Kuhl A, Witt J, Eissing L, Fischer AW, Koop AC, Kluwe J, zur Wiesch JS, Wehmeyer M, Knippschild U, Scheja L, Heeren J, Bosurgi L, Worthmann A. TREM2 Regulates the Removal of Apoptotic Cells and Inflammatory Processes during the Progression of NAFLD. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030341. [PMID: 36766683 PMCID: PMC9913311 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver pathology worldwide. In mice and humans, NAFLD progression is characterized by the appearance of TREM2-expressing macrophages in the liver. However, their mechanistic contributions to disease progression have not been completely elucidated. Here, we show that TREM2+ macrophages prevent the generation of a pro-inflammatory response elicited by LPS-laden lipoproteins in vitro. Further, Trem2 expression regulates bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and Kupffer cell capacity to phagocyte apoptotic cells in vitro, which is dependent on CD14 activation. In line with this, loss of Trem2 resulted in an increased pro-inflammatory response, which ultimately aggravated liver fibrosis in murine models of NAFLD. Similarly, in a human NAFLD cohort, plasma levels of TREM2 were increased and hepatic TREM2 expression was correlated with higher levels of liver triglycerides and the acquisition of a fibrotic gene signature. Altogether, our results suggest that TREM2+ macrophages have a protective function during the progression of NAFLD, as they are involved in the processing of pro-inflammatory lipoproteins and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and, thereby, are critical contributors for the re-establishment of liver homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imke Liebold
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Heine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anastasia Kuhl
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Witt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leah Eissing
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander W. Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anja Christina Koop
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Kluwe
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Amalie Sieveking Hospital, 22359 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Malte Wehmeyer
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Knippschild
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludger Scheja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Heeren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lidia Bosurgi
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (L.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Anna Worthmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (L.B.); (A.W.)
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13
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Li K, Zheng J, Liu H, Gao Q, Yang M, Tang J, Wang H, Li S, Sun Y, Chang X. Whole-transcriptome sequencing revealed differentially expressed mRNAs and non-coding RNAs played crucial roles in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 248:114308. [PMID: 36410144 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) induced liver fibrosis, while its mechanisms associated with transcriptome remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the roles of differentially expressed (DE) messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, and further confirm whether JNK/c-Jun pathway enriched by the DE RNAs was involved in the regulation of the disease. A liver fibrosis rat model was established by intratracheal perfusion of NiONPs twice a week for 9 weeks. Whole-transcriptome sequencing was applied to obtain expression profiles of mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the model rat and control liver tissues. Comparing the RNA expression profiles of the model and control liver tissues, we identified 324 DE mRNAs, 129 DE lncRNAs, 24 DE miRNAs and 33 DE circRNAs, and the potential interactions among them were revealed by constructing two co-expression networks, including lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks. Using RT-qPCR, we verified the sequencing results of some RNAs in the networks and obtained similar expression profiles, indicating our sequencing results were reliable and referable. Through Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, we predicted the biological functions and signaling pathways potentially related to NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, such as "positive regulation of JNK cascade", "inflammatory response", "transcription factor binding", and MAPK, Wnt, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. JNK/c-Jun pathway, a subclass of MAPK signal, was selected for further investigation because it was significantly enriched by fibrosis-related DE genes and activated in animal models. In vitro, we detected the cytotoxicity of NiONPs on LX-2 cells and treated the cells with 5 μg/ml NiONPs for 12 h. The results showed NiONPs induced the up-regulated protein expression of fibrotic factors collagen-1a1 (Col-1a1) and matrix metalloproteinas2 (MMP2) and JNK/c-Jun pathway activation. While these effects were reversed after JNK/c-Jun pathway was blocked by SP600125 (JNK pathway inhibitor), indicating the pathway was involved in NiONPs-induced excessive collagen formation. In conclusion, our results revealed the DE mRNAs and ncRNAs played crucial roles in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, and JNK/c-Jun pathway mediated the development of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jinfa Zheng
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qing Gao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mengmeng Yang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jiarong Tang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Public Health, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yingbiao Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Xuhong Chang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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14
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Ye Y, Gaudy A, Thomas M, Reyes J, Burkhardt B, Horan G, Liu L, Chen J, Ghosh A, Carayannopoulos LN, Tatosian DA, Palmisano M. Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of CC-90001 (BMS-986360), a c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Inhibitor, in Phase 1 Studies in Healthy Participants. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2022; 11:1394-1404. [PMID: 36256505 PMCID: PMC10092235 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.1178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
CC-90001 selectively inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), a stress-activated protein implicated in fibrosis. In 3 phase 1 trials evaluating CC-90001 pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety, healthy adults (N = 184) received oral CC-90001 in a single dose (10-720 mg) or multiple doses (30-480 mg once daily for 7-18 days) or placebo. CC-90001 was rapidly absorbed (median time to maximum concentration, 1-4 hours) and eliminated with a mean terminal elimination half-life of 12-28 hours. Steady state was reached on day 5, with a mean accumulation ratio of 1.5- to 2-fold following daily dosing. Exposure was similar in fed versus fasted participants and in Japanese versus non-Japanese participants. CC-90001 demonstrated dose- and exposure-dependent inhibition of JNK as determined by histopathological analysis of c-Jun phosphorylation in ultraviolet-irradiated skin. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were nausea and headache; all were mild or moderate in intensity. Based on exposure-response analysis using high-quality electrocardiogram data, no clinically relevant QT prolongation liability for CC-90001 was observed. Overall, single- and multiple-dose CC-90001 were generally safe and well tolerated at the tested doses and demonstrated JNK pathway engagement. These results support further clinical evaluation of CC-90001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ye
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gerald Horan
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Liangang Liu
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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15
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Yoon JS, Lee CW. Protein phosphatases regulate the liver microenvironment in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:1799-1813. [PMID: 36380016 PMCID: PMC9722691 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00883-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a complicated heterogeneous organ composed of different cells. Parenchymal cells called hepatocytes and various nonparenchymal cells, including immune cells and stromal cells, are distributed in liver lobules with hepatic architecture. They interact with each other to compose the liver microenvironment and determine its characteristics. Although the liver microenvironment maintains liver homeostasis and function under healthy conditions, it also shows proinflammatory and profibrogenic characteristics that can induce the progression of hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis, eventually changing to a protumoral microenvironment that contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to recent studies, phosphatases are involved in liver diseases and HCC development by regulating protein phosphorylation in intracellular signaling pathways and changing the activities and characteristics of liver cells. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the importance of protein phosphatases in HCC development and in the regulation of the cellular components in the liver microenvironment and to show their significance as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Sup Yoon
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Molecular Cell Biology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Woo Lee
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Molecular Cell Biology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419 Republic of Korea ,grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
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16
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Shan S, Liu Z, Liu Z, Zhang C, Song F. MitoQ alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice through regulating JNK/YAP pathway. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2022; 11:852-862. [PMID: 36337246 PMCID: PMC9618106 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Liver fibrosis is a pathological wound-healing response caused by chronic liver damage. Mitochondria regulate hepatic energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Accumulating evidence has revealed that increased mitochondrial oxidative stress contributes to the activation of fibrogenesis. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidative stress in liver fibrosis remain unknown. Methods and results In this study, C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a model of liver fibrosis via oral gavage with CCl4 treatment for 8 weeks. Furthermore, intervention experiments were achieved by CCl4 combined with the intraperitoneal injection of mitoquinone mesylate (mitoQ). We demonstrated that the chronic CCl4 exposure resulted in severe hepatic fibrogenesis and significantly promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial abnormalities. Besides, JNK/YAP pathway was also activated. By contrast, the administration of mitoQ markedly inhibited the expression of pro-fibrogenic transforming growth factor-β as well as type I collagen. The antifibrotic effects of mitoQ were also confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Sirius red staining. Moreover, mitoQ substantially reduced CCl4-induced mitochondrial damage and the release of ROS. Further studies suggested that this protection against liver fibrosis was mechanistically related to the inhibition of phosphorylation of JNK and the nuclear translocation of YAP. Conclusion In conclusion, these findings revealed that mitoQ attenuated liver fibrosis by inhibiting ROS production and the JNK/YAP signaling pathway. Selective targeting JNK/YAP may serve as a therapeutic strategy for retarding progression of chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulin Shan
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoxiong Liu
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P. R. China
| | - Zhidan Liu
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P. R. China
| | - Cuiqin Zhang
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P. R. China
| | - Fuyong Song
- Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P. R. China
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17
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Hung CT, Su TH, Chen YT, Wu YF, Chen YT, Lin SJ, Lin SL, Yang KC. Targeting ER protein TXNDC5 in hepatic stellate cell mitigates liver fibrosis by repressing non-canonical TGFβ signalling. Gut 2022; 71:1876-1891. [PMID: 34933915 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Liver fibrosis (LF) occurs following chronic liver injuries. Currently, there is no effective therapy for LF. Recently, we identified thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5), an ER protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), as a critical mediator of cardiac and lung fibrosis. We aimed to determine if TXNDC5 also contributes to LF and its potential as a therapeutic target for LF. DESIGN Histological and transcriptome analyses on human cirrhotic livers were performed. Col1a1-GFPTg , Alb-Cre;Rosa26-tdTomato and Tie2-Cre/ERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato mice were used to determine the cell type(s) where TXNDC5 was induced following liver injury. In vitro investigations were conducted in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Col1a2-Cre/ERT2;Txndc5fl/fl (Txndc5cKO ) and Alb-Cre;Txndc5fl/fl (Txndc5Hep-cKO ) mice were generated to delete TXNDC5 in HSCs and hepatocytes, respectively. Carbon tetrachloride treatment and bile duct ligation surgery were employed to induce liver injury/fibrosis in mice. The extent of LF was quantified using histological, imaging and biochemical analyses. RESULTS TXNDC5 was upregulated markedly in human and mouse fibrotic livers, particularly in activated HSC at the fibrotic foci. TXNDC5 was induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in HSCs and it was both required and sufficient for the activation, proliferation, survival and extracellular matrix production of HSC. Mechanistically, TGFβ1 induces TXNDC5 expression through increased ER stress and ATF6-mediated transcriptional regulation. In addition, TXNDC5 promotes LF by redox-dependent JNK and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation in HSCs through its PDI activity, activating HSCs and making them resistant to apoptosis. HSC-specific deletion of Txndc5 reverted established LF in mice. CONCLUSIONS ER protein TXNDC5 promotes LF through redox-dependent HSC activation, proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix production. Targeting TXNDC5, therefore, could be a potential novel therapeutic strategy to ameliorate LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Ting Hung
- Graduate Institute and Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Hung Su
- Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ting Chen
- Graduate Institute and Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Feng Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - You-Tzung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Jan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center for Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Center for Frontier Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuei-Liong Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center for Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute and Department of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Integrated Diagnostics & Therapeutics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Chien Yang
- Graduate Institute and Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan .,Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center for Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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18
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Wang Q, Duan X, Li S, Lai H, Cheng W, Ao J, Zhang J, Duan C. Active Compounds Screening and Hepatoprotective Mechanism of Shuganning Injection Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221124756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to analyze the core active compounds and the potential mechanism of Shuganning injection (SGNI) through network pharmacology with biological experiments. Methods: Active compounds and targets of SGNI were screened from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Targetnet database, whereas the liver disease-related targets were identified through the Genecards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases. The “compound-target” and “protein-protein interaction” networks construction, core target identification, and pathway enrichment were then performed. Finally, the exploration of the mechanism of action for SGNI against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in the HepaRG cells and validation of three identified protein targets was also carried out through western blot assay, including tumor protein p53 (p53, TP53), transcription factor Jun (Jun), and Caspase 3 (CASP3). Results: The result showed that a total of 312 active compounds of SGNI and 408 liver disease-related targets, as well as 131 core targets were revealed through databases, such as prostaglandin G/H synthase 1, prostaglandin G/H synthase 2, and nuclear factor NF-kappa B (NF-kB) p65 subunit (RELA). The core targets of SGNI were involved in regulating hepatitis B signaling pathway, NF-kB signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. Moreover, results of molecular docking in this study indicated that chlorogenic acid, geniposide, baicalin, indirubin, and ganoderic acid A could act on RELA, JUN, TP53, TNF, CASP3, Caspase 8 (CASP8) and nuclear factor NF-kB p105 subunit (NFKB1). Similarly, results of western blot revealed that SGNI reduced the expression of p53, Jun, and Caspase 3 proteins in HepaRG cells as compared with the APAP group ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study verified the therapeutic effects and mechanism of SGNI on liver diseases and pointed out new directions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyi Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiaotong Duan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Shan Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Huaqing Lai
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Weina Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Jingwen Ao
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Jianyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Cancan Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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19
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Min RWM, Aung FWM, Liu B, Arya A, Win S. Mechanism and Therapeutic Targets of c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinases Activation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082035. [PMID: 36009582 PMCID: PMC9406172 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is the most common chronic liver disease. Activation of mitogen-activated kinases (MAPK) cascade, which leads to c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation occurs in the liver in response to the nutritional and metabolic stress. The aberrant activation of MAPKs, especially c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs), leads to unwanted genetic and epi-genetic modifications in addition to the metabolic stress adaptation in hepatocytes. A mechanism of sustained P-JNK activation was identified in acute and chronic liver diseases, suggesting an important role of aberrant JNK activation in NASH. Therefore, modulation of JNK activation, rather than targeting JNK protein levels, is a plausible therapeutic application for the treatment of chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bryant Liu
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Ave., HMR 612, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Aliza Arya
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Ave., HMR 612, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sanda Win
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Ave., HMR 612, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Correspondence:
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20
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Xie ZY, Xu YX, Yao L. Angiotensin II can trigger HSC-LX2 pyroptosis through both classical and non-classical pathways. Life Sci 2022; 307:120878. [PMID: 35961596 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current evidence suggests that liver fibrosis is reversible even at late stages. Pyroptosis is reportedly regulated by classical and non-classical pathways and is also involved in the activation of the human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. This study sought to identify regulatory pathways that pyroptosis of HSC during AngII-ROS-induced HSC activation and provides novel insights for anti-fibrosis therapy by targeting HSC. MATERIALS AND METHODS All experiments were conducted in HSC-LX2. The expressions of α-SMA, NLRP3, Caspases-1, -4, -5, ASC and GSDMD-N were detected in HSC-LX2 cells induced with AngII by Western blot and qRT-PCR. CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation and activity. 2'-7'dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) was used to measure ROS generation. An LDH assay kit was used to detect LDH released from damaged cells, and ELISA was used to quantify IL-18 and IL-1β levels. RESULTS After AngII stimulation, HSC-LX2 cell viability, ROS, LDH, IL-18, and IL-1β were increased compared with Control group. At the same time, the protein and mRNA levels of α-SMA, NLRP3, Caspases-1, -4, -5, ASC and GSDMD-N were increased. In addition, after NAC and NSA treatment, LDH, IL-18 and IL-1β levels and the protein and mRNA expression of α-SMA, Caspases-4 and -5, and GSDMD-N were decreased. CONCLUSION HSC-LX2 pyroptosis induced by AngII-ROS is mediated by the classical pathway involving NLRP3/Caspase-1 and the non-classical pathway involving Caspases-4 and -5. Our results provide compelling evidence that AngII could activate Caspases-4 and -5 by producing ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Yu Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 311400, China
| | - Yi-Xiao Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 311400, China
| | - Li Yao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 311400, China.
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21
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Choudhury A, Ratna A, Lim A, Sebastian RM, Moore CL, Filliol AA, Bledsoe J, Dai C, Schwabe RF, Shoulders MD, Mandrekar P. Loss of heat shock factor 1 promotes hepatic stellate cell activation and drives liver fibrosis. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:2781-2797. [PMID: 35945902 PMCID: PMC9512451 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.2058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is an aberrant wound healing response that results from chronic injury and is mediated by hepatocellular death and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). While induction of oxidative stress is well established in fibrotic livers, there is limited information on stress‐mediated mechanisms of HSC activation. Cellular stress triggers an adaptive defense mechanism via master protein homeostasis regulator, heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), which induces heat shock proteins to respond to proteotoxic stress. Although the importance of HSF1 in restoring cellular homeostasis is well‐established, its potential role in liver fibrosis is unknown. Here, we show that HSF1 messenger RNA is induced in human cirrhotic and murine fibrotic livers. Hepatocytes exhibit nuclear HSF1, whereas stellate cells expressing alpha smooth muscle actin do not express nuclear HSF1 in human cirrhosis. Interestingly, despite nuclear HSF1, murine fibrotic livers did not show induction of HSF1 DNA binding activity compared with controls. HSF1‐deficient mice exhibit augmented HSC activation and fibrosis despite limited pro‐inflammatory cytokine response and display delayed fibrosis resolution. Stellate cell and hepatocyte‐specific HSF1 knockout mice exhibit higher induction of profibrogenic response, suggesting an important role for HSF1 in HSC activation and fibrosis. Stable expression of dominant negative HSF1 promotes fibrogenic activation of HSCs. Overactivation of HSF1 decreased phosphorylation of JNK and prevented HSC activation, supporting a protective role for HSF1. Our findings identify an unconventional role for HSF1 in liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Our results show that deficiency of HSF1 is associated with exacerbated HSC activation promoting liver fibrosis, whereas activation of HSF1 prevents profibrogenic HSC activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Choudhury
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anuradha Ratna
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arlene Lim
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca M Sebastian
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher L Moore
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aveline A Filliol
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jacob Bledsoe
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chengkai Dai
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert F Schwabe
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew D Shoulders
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pranoti Mandrekar
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Gao CC, Bai J, Han H, Qin HY. The versatility of macrophage heterogeneity in liver fibrosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:968879. [PMID: 35990625 PMCID: PMC9389038 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.968879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a highly conserved wound healing response to liver injury, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver which might lead to loss of normal functions. In most cases, many types of insult could damage hepatic parenchymal cells like hepatocytes and/or cholangiocytes, and persistent injury might lead to initiation of fibrosis. This process is accompanied by amplified inflammatory responses, with immune cells especially macrophages recruited to the site of injury and activated, in order to orchestrate the process of wound healing and tissue repair. In the liver, both resident macrophages and recruited macrophages could activate interstitial cells which are responsible for ECM synthesis by producing a variety of cytokines and chemokines, modulate local microenvironment, and participate in the regulation of fibrosis. In this review, we will focus on the main pathological characteristics of liver fibrosis, as well as the heterogeneity on origin, polarization and functions of hepatic macrophages in the setting of liver fibrosis and their underlying mechanisms, which opens new perspectives for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jian Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hua Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hong-Yan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Hong-Yan Qin,
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23
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New-Aaron M, Dagur RS, Koganti SS, Ganesan M, Wang W, Makarov E, Ogunnaike M, Kharbanda KK, Poluektova LY, Osna NA. Alcohol and HIV-Derived Hepatocyte Apoptotic Bodies Induce Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1059. [PMID: 36101437 PMCID: PMC9312505 DOI: 10.3390/biology11071059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we found that both HIV and acetaldehyde, an alcohol metabolite, induce hepatocyte apoptosis, resulting in the release of large extracellular vesicles called apoptotic bodies (ABs). The engulfment of these hepatocyte ABs by hepatic stellate cells (HSC) leads to their profibrotic activation. This study aims to establish the mechanisms of HSC activation after engulfment of ABs from acetaldehyde and HIV-exposed hepatocytes (ABAGS+HIV). In vitro experiments were performed on Huh7.5-CYP (RLW) cells to generate hepatocyte ABs and LX2 cells were used as HSC. To generate ABs, RLW cells were pretreated for 24 h with acetaldehyde, then exposed overnight to HIV1ADA and to acetaldehyde for 96 h. Thereafter, ABs were isolated from cell suspension by a differential centrifugation method and incubated with LX2 cells (3:1 ratio) for profibrotic genes and protein analyses. We found that HSC internalized ABs via the tyrosine kinase receptor, Axl. While the HIV gag RNA/HIV proteins accumulated in ABs elicited no productive infection in LX2 and immune cells, they triggered ROS and IL6 generation, which, in turn, activated profibrotic genes via the JNK-ERK1/2 and JAK-STAT3 pathways. Similarly, ongoing profibrotic activation was observed in immunodeficient NSG mice fed ethanol and injected with HIV-derived RLW ABs. We conclude that HSC activation by hepatocyte ABAGS+HIV engulfment is mediated by ROS-dependent JNK-ERK1/2 and IL6 triggering of JAK-STAT3 pathways. This can partially explain the mechanisms of liver fibrosis development frequently observed among alcohol abusing PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses New-Aaron
- Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
| | - Raghubendra Singh Dagur
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
| | - Siva Sankar Koganti
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (W.W.); (E.M.); (L.Y.P.)
| | - Edward Makarov
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (W.W.); (E.M.); (L.Y.P.)
| | - Mojisola Ogunnaike
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Kusum K. Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Larisa Y. Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (W.W.); (E.M.); (L.Y.P.)
| | - Natalia A. Osna
- Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Toxicology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (R.S.D.); (S.S.K.); (M.G.); (M.O.); (K.K.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (W.W.); (E.M.); (L.Y.P.)
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24
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Flessa C, Kyrou I, Nasiri‐Ansari N, Kaltsas G, Kassi E, Randeva HS. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in nonalcoholic (metabolic associated) fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD). J Cell Biochem 2022; 123:1585-1606. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christina‐Maria Flessa
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Coventry UK
| | - Ioannis Kyrou
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Coventry UK
- Division of Translational and Experimental Medicine, Metabolic and Vascular Health, Warwick Medical School University of Warwick Coventry UK
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Research Institute for Health & Wellbeing Coventry University Coventry UK
- Aston Medical School, College of Health and Life Sciences Aston University Birmingham UK
- Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition Agricultural University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Narjes Nasiri‐Ansari
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Gregory Kaltsas
- Endocrine Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Eva Kassi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
- Endocrine Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Harpal S. Randeva
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Coventry UK
- Division of Translational and Experimental Medicine, Metabolic and Vascular Health, Warwick Medical School University of Warwick Coventry UK
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25
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Mooli RGR, Mukhi D, Ramakrishnan SK. Oxidative Stress and Redox Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Liver Diseases. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3167-3192. [PMID: 35578969 PMCID: PMC10074426 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c200021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The increased production of derivatives of molecular oxygen and nitrogen in the form of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) lead to molecular damage called oxidative stress. Under normal physiological conditions, the ROS generation is tightly regulated in different cells and cellular compartments. Any disturbance in the balance between the cellular generation of ROS and antioxidant balance leads to oxidative stress. In this article, we discuss the sources of ROS (endogenous and exogenous) and antioxidant mechanisms. We also focus on the pathophysiological significance of oxidative stress in various cell types of the liver. Oxidative stress is implicated in the development and progression of various liver diseases. We narrate the master regulators of ROS-mediated signaling and their contribution to liver diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) are influenced by a "multiple parallel-hit model" in which oxidative stress plays a central role. We highlight the recent findings on the role of oxidative stress in the spectrum of NAFLD, including fibrosis and liver cancer. Finally, we provide a brief overview of oxidative stress biomarkers and their therapeutic applications in various liver-related disorders. Overall, the article sheds light on the significance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of the liver. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3167-3192, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Gopal Reddy Mooli
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dhanunjay Mukhi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sadeesh K Ramakrishnan
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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26
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Popmihajlov Z, Sutherland DJ, Horan GS, Ghosh A, Lynch DA, Noble PW, Richeldi L, Reiss TF, Greenberg S. CC-90001, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, in patients with pulmonary fibrosis: design of a phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open Respir Res 2022; 9:9/1/e001060. [PMID: 35058236 PMCID: PMC8783810 DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2021-001060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and often fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD); other ILDs have a progressive, fibrotic phenotype (PF-ILD). Antifibrotic agents can slow but not stop disease progression in patients with IPF or PF-ILD. c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are stress-activated protein kinases implicated in the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis, including epithelial cell death, inflammation and polarisation of profibrotic macrophages, fibroblast activation and collagen production. CC-90001, an orally administered (PO), one time per day, JNK inhibitor, is being evaluated in IPF and PF-ILD. Methods and analysis This is a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating efficacy and safety of CC-90001 in patients with IPF (main study) and patients with PF-ILD (substudy). Both include an 8-week screening period, a 24-week treatment period, up to an 80-week active-treatment extension and a 4-week post-treatment follow-up. Patients with IPF (n=165) will be randomised 1:1:1 to receive 200 mg or 400 mg CC-90001 or placebo administered PO one time per day; up to 25 patients/arm will be permitted concomitant pirfenidone use. Forty-five patients in the PF-ILD substudy will be randomised 2:1 to receive 400 mg CC-90001 or placebo. The primary endpoint is change in per cent predicted forced vital capacity from baseline to Week 24 in patients with IPF. Ethics and dissemination This study will be conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines, Declaration of Helsinki principles and local ethical and legal requirements. Results will be reported in a peer-reviewed publication. Trial registration number NCT03142191.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David A Lynch
- Department of Radiology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Paul W Noble
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Luca Richeldi
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Steven Greenberg
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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27
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Tong Z, Gaudy A, Tatosian D, Ramirez-Valle F, Liu H, Chen J, Hoffmann M, Surapaneni S. Assessment of drug-drug interactions of CC-90001, a potent and selective inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Xenobiotica 2022; 51:1416-1426. [PMID: 35000550 DOI: 10.1080/00498254.2022.2027553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
CC-90001 is predominantly metabolised via glucuronidation, while oxidative metabolism is a minor pathway in human hepatocytes and liver microsomes. In vitro, CC-90001 glucuronidation was catalysed by UGT1A9, UGT1A4, and UGT1A1, while oxidative metabolism was primarily mediated by CYP3A4/5 with minor contributions from CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2B6, and CYP2D6.CC-90001 in vitro inhibits CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 ≤ 55% at 100 μM, and the inhibition was negligible at ≤30 μM. CC-90001 is not a time-dependent CYP inhibitor.In human hepatocytes CC-90001 is an inducer of CYP2B6 and CYP3A, with mRNA levels increased 34.4% to 52.8% relative to positive controls.In vitro CC-90001 is a substrate of P-gp, and an inhibitor of P-gp, BCRP, OAT3, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2k with IC50 values of 30.3, 25.8, 17.7, 0.417, 19.9, 0.605, 4.17, and 20 μM, respectively.A clinical study demonstrated that CC-90001 has no or little impact on the exposure of warfarin (CYP2C9), omeprazole (CYP2C19), midazolam (CYP3A) or metformin (OCT2, MATE1/2k). CC-90001 co-administration increases the AUCt and Cmax 176% and 339% for rosuvastatin (BCRP/OATP1B1/3), 116% and 171% for digoxin (P-gp), and 266% and 321% for nintedanib (CYP3A & P-gp), respectively.In conclusion, CC-90001 in unlikely to be a victim or perpetrator of clinically relevant interactions involving CYPs or UGTs. Weak to moderate interactions are expected in clinic with substrates of P-gp and OATP1B1 due to CC-90001 inhibition of these transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeen Tong
- Nonclinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Allison Gaudy
- Clinical Pharmacology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel Tatosian
- Clinical Pharmacology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | | | - Hong Liu
- Nonclinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- Nonclinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
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28
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Shen DF, Cheng H, Cai BZ, Cai WF, Wang B, Zhu Q, Wu YB, Liu M, Chen RJ, Gao FF, Zhang YM, Niu YD, Shi GG. N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide ameliorates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation in mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:133-145. [PMID: 33758354 PMCID: PMC8724321 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00630-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide (F2) is a novel compound that has antiproliferative and antifibrogenic activities. In this study we investigated the therapeutic potential of F2 against liver fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanisms. Two widely used mouse models of fibrosis was established in mice by injection of either carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or thioacetamide (TAA). The mice received F2 (0.75, 1.5 or 3 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip) for 4 weeks of fibrosis induction. We showed that F2 administration dose-dependently ameliorated CCl4- or TAA-induced liver fibrosis, evidenced by significant decreases in collagen deposition and c-Jun, TGF-β receptor II (TGFBR2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I expression in the liver. In transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated LX-2 cells (a human hepatic stellate cell line) and primary mouse hepatic stellate cells, treatment with F2 (0.1, 1, 10 μM) concentration-dependently inhibited the expression of α-SMA, and collagen I. In LX-2 cells, F2 inhibited TGF-β/Smad signaling through reducing the levels of TGFBR2; pretreatment with LY2109761 (TGF-β signaling inhibitor) or SP600125 (c-Jun signaling inhibitor) markedly inhibited TGF-β1-induced induction of α-SMA and collagen I. Knockdown of c-Jun decreased TGF-β signaling genes, including TGFBR2 levels. We revealed that c-Jun was bound to the TGFBR2 promoter, whereas F2 suppressed the binding of c-Jun to the TGFBR2 promoter to restrain TGF-β signaling and inhibit α-SMA and collagen I upregulation. In conclusion, the therapeutic benefit of F2 against liver fibrosis results from inhibition of c-Jun expression to reduce TGFBR2 and concomitant reduction of the responsiveness of hepatic stellate cells to TGF-β1. F2 may thus be a potentially new effective pharmacotherapy for human liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai-Fei Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - He Cheng
- Qingyuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Qingyuan, 511515, China
| | - Bo-Zhi Cai
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Wen-Feng Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yue-Bin Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Man Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Run-Ji Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Fen-Fei Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yan-Mei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yong-Dong Niu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Gang-Gang Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
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29
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Win S, Min RW, Zhang J, Kanel G, Wanken B, Chen Y, Li M, Wang Y, Suzuki A, Aung FW, Murray SF, Aghajan M, Than TA, Kaplowitz N. Hepatic Mitochondrial SAB Deletion or Knockdown Alleviates Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome, Steatohepatitis, and Hepatic Fibrosis. Hepatology 2021; 74:3127-3145. [PMID: 34331779 PMCID: PMC8639630 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The hepatic mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade leading to c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL)/NASH. In acute hepatotoxicity, we previously identified a pivotal role for mitochondrial SH3BP5 (SAB; SH3 homology associated BTK binding protein) as a target of JNK, which sustains its activation through promotion of reactive oxygen species production. Therefore, we assessed the role of hepatic SAB in experimental NASH and metabolic syndrome. APPROACH AND RESULTS In mice fed high-fat, high-calorie, high-fructose (HFHC) diet, SAB expression progressively increased through a sustained JNK/activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) activation loop. Inducible deletion of hepatic SAB markedly decreased sustained JNK activation and improved systemic energy expenditure at 8 weeks followed by decreased body fat at 16 weeks of HFHC diet. After 30 weeks, mice treated with control-antisense oligonucleotide (control-ASO) developed steatohepatitis and fibrosis, which was prevented by Sab-ASO treatment. Phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK) and phosphorylated ATF2 (p-ATF2) were markedly attenuated by Sab-ASO treatment. After 52 weeks of HFHC feeding, control N-acetylgalactosamine antisense oligonucleotide (GalNAc-Ctl-ASO) treated mice fed the HFHC diet exhibited progression of steatohepatitis and fibrosis, but GalNAc-Sab-ASO treatment from weeks 40 to 52 reversed these findings while decreasing hepatic SAB, p-ATF2, and p-JNK to chow-fed levels. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic SAB expression increases in HFHC diet-fed mice. Deletion or knockdown of SAB inhibited sustained JNK activation and steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and systemic metabolic effects, suggesting that induction of hepatocyte Sab is an important driver of the interplay between the liver and the systemic metabolic consequences of overfeeding. In established NASH, hepatocyte-targeted GalNAc-Sab-ASO treatment reversed steatohepatitis and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanda Win
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA,Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robert W.M. Min
- Rush University, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gary Kanel
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Brad Wanken
- CHLA Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yibu Chen
- USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service, Norris Medical Library, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Meng Li
- USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service, Norris Medical Library, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ayako Suzuki
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tin A. Than
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA,Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Neil Kaplowitz
- USC Research Center for Liver Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA,Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Blunting p38 MAPKα and ERK1/2 activities by empagliflozin enhances the antifibrotic effect of metformin and augments its AMPK-induced NF-κB inactivation in mice intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. Life Sci 2021; 286:120070. [PMID: 34688695 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM Metformin and empagliflozin combined therapy may have complementary effects that go beyond the well-recognized targets of their monotherapy through AMPK activation. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate for the first time the hepatoprotective effects of such combination therapy in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis model in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Determination of liver enzymes and the liver content of oxidative stress parameters, and hydroxyproline were performed biochemically. ELISA was performed to measure PDGF-BB, TNF-α, TGF-β, TIMP-1, AMPK, p-mTOR, NF-κB P65 binding activity, p38 MAPKα, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2. Real-time qPCR was conducted to determine Col1a1 and α-SMA. In addition, histopathological examination using H&E and Masson's trichrome stain were performed for determination of histopathological changes. KEY FINDINGS Empagliflozin inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 and exhibited a weak AMPKα stimulation. On the other hand, metformin exerted a more robust stimulatory action on the AMPKα that was accompanied by a notable decrease in the NF-κB nuclear binding activity and a decline in the p-mTOR levels. Nevertheless, the effect of metformin on MAPK kinases was insignificant. Our results revealed that blunting p38 MAPKα and ERK1/2 activities by empagliflozin enhanced the antifibrotic effect of metformin and augmented its AMPK-induced NF-κB inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE As diabetes is one of the most common risk factors for liver fibrosis, the use of antidiabetic drugs is expected to improve therapeutic outcome. Therefore, metformin/empagliflozin combined therapy could be promising in preventing hepatic inflammation and fibrosis via exhibiting complementary effects particularly in diabetic patients.
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Liu T, Gonzalez De Los Santos F, Hirsch M, Wu Z, Phan SH. Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2021; 65:489-499. [PMID: 34107237 PMCID: PMC8641847 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0499oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway initiates a signaling cascade that is critical in cell differentiation and the normal development of multiple organ systems. The reactivation of this pathway has been documented in experimental and human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, wherein Wnt/β-catenin activation has been implicated in epithelial-cell repair. Furthermore, the canonical ligand Wnt3a is known to induce myofibroblast differentiation; however, the role of noncanonical Wnt ligands remains unclear. This study showed significantly higher levels of Wnt11 expression in cells from both patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and bleomycin-treated mice, as well as in TGFβ-treated mouse lung fibroblasts. Moreover, Wnt11 induced myofibroblast differentiation as manifested by increased α-SMA (ACTA2) expression, which was similar to that induced by canonical Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. Further investigation revealed that Wnt11 induction of α-SMA was associated with the activation of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase)/c-Jun signaling and was inhibited by a JNK inhibitor. The potential importance of this signaling pathway was supported by in vivo evidence showing significantly increased levels of Wnt11 and activated JNK in the lungs of mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Interestingly, fibroblasts did not express canonical Wnt3a, but treatment of these cells with exogenous Wnt3a induced endogenous Wnt11 and Wnt5a, resulting in repression of the Wnt3a/β-catenin target gene Axin2. These findings suggested that the noncanonical Wnt induction of myofibroblast differentiation mediated by the JNK/c-Jun pathway might play a significant role in pulmonary fibrosis, in addition to or in synergy with canonical Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, Wnt3a activation of noncanonical Wnt signaling might trigger a switch from canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling to induce myofibroblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mitchell Hirsch
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zhe Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Sánchez PS, Rigual MDM, Djouder N. Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Mechanisms Controlling Cirrhosis Development. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205045. [PMID: 34680192 PMCID: PMC8534267 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The liver is continuously exposed to several harmful factors, subsequently activating sophisticated mechanisms set-up in order to repair and regenerate the damaged liver and hence to prevent its failure. When the injury becomes chronic, the regenerative response becomes perpetual and goes awry, leading to cirrhosis with a fatal liver dysfunction. Cirrhosis is a well-known risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common, usually lethal, human primary liver neoplasm with very limited therapeutic options. Considering the pivotal role of immune factors in the development of cirrhosis, here we review and discuss the inflammatory pathways and components implicated in the development of cirrhosis. A better understanding of these circuits would help the design of novel strategies to prevent and treat cirrhosis and HCC, two lethal diseases. Abstract Because the liver is considered to be one of the most important metabolic organs in the body, it is continuously exposed to damaging environmental agents. Upon damage, several complex cellular and molecular mechanisms in charge of liver recovery and regeneration are activated to prevent the failure of the organ. When liver injury becomes chronic, the regenerative response goes awry and impairs the liver function, consequently leading to cirrhosis, a liver disorder that can cause patient death. Cirrhosis has a disrupted liver architecture and zonation, along with the presence of fibrosis and parenchymal nodules, known as regenerative nodules (RNs). Inflammatory cues contribute to the cirrhotic process in response to chronic damaging agents. Cirrhosis can progress to HCC, the most common and one of the most lethal liver cancers with unmet medical needs. Considering the essential role of inflammatory pathways in the development of cirrhosis, further understanding of the relationship between immune cells and the activation of RNs and fibrosis would guide the design of innovative therapeutic strategies to ameliorate the survival of cirrhotic and HCC patients. In this review, we will summarize the inflammatory mechanisms implicated in the development of cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nabil Djouder
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-3-491-732-8000 (ext. 3830); Fax: +34-3-491-224-6914
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Up-regulation of miR-34b/c by JNK and FOXO3 protects from liver fibrosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025242118. [PMID: 33649241 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025242118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a common genetic disease presenting with lung and liver diseases. AAT deficiency results from pathogenic variants in the SERPINA1 gene encoding AAT and the common mutant Z allele of SERPINA1 encodes for Z α1-antitrypsin (ATZ), a protein forming hepatotoxic polymers retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. PiZ mice express the human ATZ and are a valuable model to investigate the human liver disease of AAT deficiency. In this study, we investigated differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) between PiZ and control mice and found that miR-34b/c was up-regulated and its levels correlated with intrahepatic ATZ. Furthermore, in PiZ mouse livers, we found that Forkhead Box O3 (FOXO3) driving microRNA-34b/c (miR-34b/c) expression was activated and miR-34b/c expression was dependent upon c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation on Ser574 Deletion of miR-34b/c in PiZ mice resulted in early development of liver fibrosis and increased signaling of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a target of miR-34b/c. Activation of FOXO3 and increased miR-34c were confirmed in livers of humans with AAT deficiency. In addition, JNK-activated FOXO3 and miR-34b/c up-regulation were detected in several mouse models of liver fibrosis. This study reveals a pathway involved in liver fibrosis and potentially implicated in both genetic and acquired causes of hepatic fibrosis.
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Jiang JX, Tomilov A, Montgomery C, Hui CK, Török NJ, Cortopassi G. Shc inhibitor idebenone ameliorates liver injury and fibrosis in dietary NASH in mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2021; 35:e22876. [PMID: 34369032 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Shc expression rises in human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) livers, and Shc-deficient mice are protected from NASH-thus Shc inhibition could be a novel therapeutic strategy for NASH. Idebenone was recently identified as the first small-molecule Shc inhibitor drug. We tested idebenone in the fibrotic methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet and the metabolic fast food diet (FFD) mouse models of NASH. In the fibrotic MCD NASH model, idebenone reduced Shc expression and phosphorylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Shc expression in the liver; decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase; and attenuated liver fibrosis as observed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and hydroxyproline quantification. In the metabolic FFD model, idebenone administration improved insulin resistance, and reduced inflammation and fibrosis shown with qPCR, hydroxyproline measurement, and histology. Thus, idebenone ameliorates NASH in two mouse models. As an approved drug with a benign safety profile, Idebenone could be a reasonable human NASH therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy X Jiang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alexey Tomilov
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
| | - Claire Montgomery
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chun Kui Hui
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
| | - Natalie J Török
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.,VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Gino Cortopassi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA
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35
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Chen X, Ma J, He Y, Xue J, Song Z, Xu Q, Lin G. Characterization of liver injury induced by a pyrrolizidine alkaloid in rats. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 89:153595. [PMID: 34153877 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are common phytotoxins. PA intoxication is reported to cause severe acute liver damage, typically known as hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS), but it remains obscure whether the acute liver damage may progress into chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic fibrosis. PURPOSE This study aims to characterize the biochemical markers of liver injury and histological features of regressive and progressive liver fibrosis, and to examine changes in hepatic gene expression that may underpin mechanisms of fibrogenesis in rats induced by retrorsine (RTS), a representative toxic PA. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS Rats were gavaged with RTS via two dosing regimens, i.e. a single dose of 40 mg/kg (Group 1) and two doses of 40 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg on day 0 and day 7 (Group 2), respectively. Rats receiving one (Group 3) or two (Group 4) doses of vehicle served as negative controls. The animals were followed for up to 16 weeks by serum biochemical analyses and histological examination, and gene expression assays of liver tissues. RESULTS Acute liver injury on day 2 manifested as HSOS, characterized by sinusoidal dilation, endothelial cell damage, and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase activity and bilirubin levels. In Group 1, mild liver fibrosis developed at sinusoids and perisinusoidal space surrounding the central veins at week 1 and 2, and thereafter, all liver injury resolved gradually. In Group 2, liver fibrosis progressed within the 16-week observation period. No apparent liver injury was observed in Groups 3 and 4. Compared with negative control groups, RTS induced myofibroblastic activation, TGF-β1 signaling, and changes in expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). These dynamic changes differed in Groups 1 and 2, corresponding with the regression and progression of liver fibrosis, respectively, in these groups. CONCLUSION This study has provided in-vivo proof of concept that "one hit" and "two hits" of RTS lead to acute resolving liver injury and chronic progressive liver fibrosis, respectively. These animal models may serve as powerful tools for studying RTS toxicology and related preventive and therapeutic strategies and as positive controls for studying other PA- and non-PA-induced liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmeng Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiang Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yisheng He
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junyi Xue
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zijing Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qihe Xu
- Renal Sciences and Integrative Chinese Medicine Laboratory, Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Ge Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Lu S, Zhao H, Zhou Y, Xu F. Curcumin Affects Leptin-Induced Expression of Methionine Adenosyltransferase 2A in Hepatic Stellate Cells by Inhibition of JNK Signaling. Pharmacology 2021; 106:426-434. [PMID: 34148046 DOI: 10.1159/000516892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obese patients are often accompanied by hyperleptinemia and prone to develop liver fibrosis. Accumulating data including those obtained from human studies suggested the promotion role of leptin in liver fibrosis. The remodeling of the DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for regulating gene expression and is essential for hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, a key step in liver fibrogenesis. Leptin increases the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) which is associated with DNA methylation and HSC activation. Curcumin, an active polyphenol of the golden spice turmeric, inhibits leptin-induced HSC activation and liver fibrogenesis. Thus, the present research aimed to investigate the influence of curcumin on the roles of leptin in MAT2A expression in HSCs. METHODS The in vivo experiments were conducted by using leptin-deficient obese mice. The gene expressions were examined by Western blot, real-time PCR, promoter activity assay, and immunostaining analysis. RESULTS Curcumin reduced leptin-induced MAT2A expression. JNK signaling contributed to leptin-induced increase in MAT2A level, which could be interrupted by curcumin treatment. Curcumin inhibited leptin-induced MAT2A promoter activity by influencing MAT2A promoter fragments between -2,847 bp and - 2,752 bp and between -2,752 bp and +49 bp. The effect of curcumin on leptin-induced MAT2A expression paralleled the reductions in leptin-induced activated HSCs and liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION These results might have implications for curcumin inhibition of the liver fibrogenesis in obese patients with hyperleptinemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Lu
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hongsheng Zhao
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yajun Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Feifan Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, China
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A20 Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation Through MAPK/ERK/JNK Pathway in LX-2 Cells. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.114050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are liver-specific pericytes that transform into myofibroblasts, which are involved in pathological vascularization in liver fibrosis. We previously suggested that A20 overexpression suppresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in HSC. We aimed to determine the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory role of A20 in LX-2 cells. Methods: LX-2 cells were transfected with A20-siRNA or control-siRNA and control adenovirus or A20-carrying adenovirus. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis was employed to quantify mRNA levels of α-SMA, col-I, col-III, IL-6, TGF-β, and PDGF in A20-siRNA LX-2 cells stimulated with LPS. Multiple molecular indices of MAPK/ERK/JNK signal pathway were performed by using Western blotting. Results: Relative to control, the fibrosis-related mRNA levels of α-SMA, col-I, and col-III were increased in A20-siRNA LX-2 cells. Meanwhile, A20-siRNA cells significantly increased IL-6, TGF-β, and PDGF mRNA levels. Relative to controls, stimulating A20 overexpressing LX-2 cells with LPS for 5 and 30 minutes significantly reduced the levels of phosphorylated ERK and JNK, respectively. A20 knockdown in LX-2 cells promotes phosphorylated ERK and JNK levels with LPS for 30 minutes. Conclusions: Our data indicate that A20 could be functional in HSCs through the MAPK/ERK/JNK signaling pathway, highlighting a potential novel therapeutic strategy against liver fibrosis.
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Wu X, Shu L, Zhang Z, Li J, Zong J, Cheong LY, Ye D, Lam KSL, Song E, Wang C, Xu A, Hoo RLC. Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein Promotes the Onset and Progression of Liver Fibrosis via Mediating the Crosstalk between Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Hepatic Stellate Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2003721. [PMID: 34105268 PMCID: PMC8188197 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Development of liver fibrosis results in drastic changes in the liver microenvironment, which in turn accelerates disease progression. Although the pathological function of various hepatic cells in fibrogenesis is identified, the crosstalk between them remains obscure. The present study demonstrates that hepatic expression of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is induced especially in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in mice after bile duct ligation (BDL). Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition of A-FABP attenuate BDL- or carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice associating with reduced collagen accumulation, LSEC capillarization, and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Mechanistically, elevated A-FABP promotes LSEC capillarization by activating Hedgehog signaling, thus impairs the gatekeeper function of LSEC on HSC activation. LSEC-derived A-FABP also acts on HSCs in paracrine manner to potentiate the transactivation of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) by activating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/c-Jun signaling. Elevated TGFβ1 subsequently exaggerates liver fibrosis. These findings uncover a novel pathological mechanism of liver fibrosis in which LSEC-derived A-FABP is a key regulator modulating the onset and progression of the disease. Targeting A-FABP may represent a potential approach against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Lingling Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of MedicineLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Jiuyu Zong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Lai Yee Cheong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of MedicineLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Dewei Ye
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong and Hong Kong on Metabolic DiseasesGuangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou510000China
| | - Karen S. L. Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of MedicineLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Erfei Song
- Department of Metabolic and Bariatric SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510630China
| | - Cunchuan Wang
- Department of Metabolic and Bariatric SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510630China
| | - Aimin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of MedicineLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
| | - Ruby L. C. Hoo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacyLKS Faculty of Medicinethe University of Hong KongHong Kong999077China
- HKU‐Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU‐SIRI)Shenzhen518057China
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Yun HH, Park S, Chung MJ, Son JY, Park JM, Jung SJ, Yim JH, Kang KK, Byeon S, Baek SM, Lee SW, Lee AR, Kim TH, Park JK, Jeong KS. Effects of losartan and l-serine in a mouse liver fibrosis model. Life Sci 2021; 278:119578. [PMID: 33965379 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a common liver disease caused by excessive collagen deposition in the liver. Since liver transplantation is the only current treatment for cirrhosis with worsened fibrosis, a new strategy to develop anti-fibrosis drugs with no adverse effects is necessary. In recent studies, amino acids have been applied as a type of therapy in various fields. l-serine plays a major role in antioxidant production via the maintenance of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydride production in the mitochondria. l-serine may reduce fibrotic lesions in a mouse model of chronic liver injury. This study used 27 six-week-old C57BL/6 mice and injected them three times a week for eight weeks with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1.5 mg/kg, 10% v/v CCl4 in olive oil) to create a hepatic fibrosis mouse model. The mice, which weighed approximately 20-30 g, were randomly classified into four groups: 1) the olive oil group, which received intraperitoneal injection of olive oil (1.5 mg/kg, 3 times per week for 8 weeks); 2) the CCl4-only group; 3) the CCl4 + losartan (10 mg/kg, PO, 5 days on, weekend off for 8 weeks) group; and 4) the CCl4 + l-serine (100 g/L, free access for 8 weeks) group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining showed reduced inflammatory cell deposition and collagen deposition in the liver tissue in the l-serine supplemented group. l-serine was found to reduce the spread of hepatic fibrosis and has potential use in clinical settings. Based on these histopathological observations, l-serine is a potential anti-fibrosis drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ho Yun
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunyoung Park
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Jin Chung
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yoon Son
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Min Park
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jun Jung
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Ku Kang
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongrim Byeon
- Kainos Medicine Institute Inc., Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Min Baek
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoung-Woo Lee
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Rang Lee
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hwan Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Kyu Park
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Shik Jeong
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea; Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41566 Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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Wu H, Chen C, Ziani S, Nelson LJ, Ávila MA, Nevzorova YA, Cubero FJ. Fibrotic Events in the Progression of Cholestatic Liver Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051107. [PMID: 34062960 PMCID: PMC8147992 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholestatic liver diseases including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are associated with active hepatic fibrogenesis, which can ultimately lead to the development of cirrhosis. However, the exact relationship between the development of liver fibrosis and the progression of cholestatic liver disease remains elusive. Periductular fibroblasts located around the bile ducts seem biologically different from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The fibrotic events in these clinical conditions appear to be related to complex crosstalk between immune/inflammatory mechanisms, cytokine signalling, and perturbed homeostasis between cholangiocytes and mesenchymal cells. Several animal models including bile duct ligation (BDL) and the Mdr2-knockout mice have improved our understanding of mechanisms underlying chronic cholestasis. In the present review, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of fibrosis in order to help to identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanghang Wu
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology & ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (H.W.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (Y.A.N.)
| | - Chaobo Chen
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology & ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (H.W.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (Y.A.N.)
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
- Department of General Surgery, Wuxi Xishan People’s Hospital, Wuxi 214000, China
| | - Siham Ziani
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology & ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (H.W.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (Y.A.N.)
| | - Leonard J. Nelson
- Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE), School of Engineering, Faraday Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3 JL, Scotland, UK;
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
| | - Matías A. Ávila
- Hepatology Program, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red, Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Yulia A. Nevzorova
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology & ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (H.W.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (Y.A.N.)
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red, Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Francisco Javier Cubero
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology & ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (H.W.); (C.C.); (S.Z.); (Y.A.N.)
- Health Research Institute Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red, Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-91-394-1385; Fax: +34-91-394-1641
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Fallowfield JA, Jimenez-Ramos M, Robertson A. Emerging synthetic drugs for the treatment of liver cirrhosis. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2021; 26:149-163. [PMID: 33856246 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2021.1918099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The number of deaths and prevalent cases of cirrhosis are increasing worldwide, but there are no licensed antifibrotic or pro-regenerative medicines and liver transplantation is a limited resource. Cirrhosis is characterized by extreme liver fibrosis, organ dysfunction, and complications related to portal hypertension. Advances in our understanding of liver fibrosis progression and regression following successful etiological therapy betray vulnerabilities in common and disease-specific mechanisms that could be targeted pharmacologically.Area covered: This review summarizes the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of cirrhosis as a preface to discussion of the current drug development landscape. The dominant indication for global pharma R&D pipelines is cirrhosis related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We searched Clinicaltrials.gov, GlobalData, Pharmaprojects and PubMed for pertinent information on emerging synthetic drugs for cirrhosis, with a focus on compounds listed in phase 2 and phase 3 trials.Expert opinion: Although cirrhosis can regress following successful etiological treatment, there are no specific antifibrotic or pro-regenerative drugs approved for this condition. Obstacles to drug development in cirrhosis include intrinsic biological factors, a heterogeneous patient population, and lack of acceptable surrogate endpoints. Nevertheless, several synthetic drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials and the NASH field is rapidly embracing a drug combination approach.
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Lin L, Yang S, Xiao Z, Hong P, Sun S, Zhou C, Qian ZJ. The Inhibition Effect of the Seaweed Polyphenol, 7-Phloro-Eckol from Ecklonia Cava on Alcohol-Induced Oxidative Stress in HepG2/CYP2E1 Cells. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:158. [PMID: 33802989 PMCID: PMC8002839 DOI: 10.3390/md19030158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is vulnerable to oxidative stress-induced damage, which leads to many diseases, including alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Liver disease endanger people's health, and the incidence of ALD is increasing; therefore, prevention is very important. 7-phloro-eckol (7PE) is a seaweed polyphenol, which was isolated from Ecklonia cava in a previous study. In this study, the antioxidative stress effect of 7PE on HepG2/CYP2E1 cells was evaluated by alcohol-induced cytotoxicity, DNA damage, and expression of related inflammation and apoptosis proteins. The results showed that 7PE caused alcohol-induced cytotoxicity to abate, reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and effectively inhibited DNA damage in HepG2/CYP2E1 cells. Additionally, the expression levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Akt increased, while γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Bcl-2 related x (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and JNK decreased. Finally, molecular docking proved that 7PE could bind to BCL-2 and GSH protein. These results indicate that 7PE can alleviate the alcohol-induced oxidative stress injury of HepG2 cells and that 7PE may have a potential application prospect in the future development of antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Lin
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
| | - Shengtao Yang
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
| | - Zhenbang Xiao
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
| | - Pengzhi Hong
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
| | - Shengli Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
| | - Chunxia Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
| | - Zhong-Ji Qian
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524-088, China; (L.L.); (S.Y.); (Z.X.); (P.H.); (S.S.); (C.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524-088, China
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Neferine Exerts Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting the MAPK and NF- κB/I κB α Pathways. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:4136019. [PMID: 33680053 PMCID: PMC7929649 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4136019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Reversible liver fibrosis is the consequence of diverse liver injuries. Oxidative stress combined with inflammation is the primary cause of carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced liver fibrosis. Neferine is a bibenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid, which has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study attempted to find its antiliver fibrosis effect and explore the potential mechanism to relieve oxidative stress and inflammation in rats with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Herein, we found that neferine noticeably mitigated fibrosis and improved liver function. Furthermore, neferine increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and catalase (CAT), but decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Neferine also decreased the levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and inflammatory factors. These results may demonstrate that neferine could effectively inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation in liver fibrosis. To account for the potential mechanism by which neferine relieves oxidative stress and inflammation in liver fibrosis rats, immunohistochemistry analyses and western blotting were performed. The results showed that neferine inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, as evidenced by the reduced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK 1/2, and JNK. And it inhibited the nuclear factor- (NF-) κB/IκBα pathway, as evidenced by preventing the translocation of NF-κB into nuclei. Our findings indicated a protective role for neferine, acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.
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Cicuéndez B, Ruiz-Garrido I, Mora A, Sabio G. Stress kinases in the development of liver steatosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Metab 2021; 50:101190. [PMID: 33588102 PMCID: PMC8324677 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important component of metabolic syndrome and one of the most prevalent liver diseases worldwide. This disorder is closely linked to hepatic insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and inflammation. Although the mechanisms that cause steatosis and chronic liver injury in NAFLD remain unclear, a key component of this process is the activation of stress-activated kinases (SAPKs), including p38 and JNK in the liver and immune system. This review summarizes findings which indicate that the dysregulation of stress kinases plays a fundamental role in the development of steatosis and are important players in inducing liver fibrosis. To avoid the development of steatohepatitis and liver cancer, SAPK activity must be tightly regulated not only in the hepatocytes but also in other tissues, including cells of the immune system. Possible cellular mechanisms of SAPK actions are discussed. Hepatic JNK triggers steatosis and insulin resistance, decreasing lipid oxidation and ketogenesis in HFD-fed mice. Decreased liver expression of p38α/β in HFD increases lipogenesis. Hepatic p38γ/δ drive insulin resistance and inhibit autophagy, which may lead to steatosis. Macrophage p38α/β promote cytokine production and M1 polarization, leading to lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Myeloid p38γ/δ contribute to cytokine production and neutrophil migration, protecting against steatosis, diabetes and NAFLD. JNK1 and p38γ induce HCC while p38α blocks it. However, deletion of hepatic JNK1/2 induces cholangiocarcinoma. SAPK are potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders, steatohepatitis and liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cicuéndez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Ruiz-Garrido
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Mora
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Guadalupe Sabio
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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Signaling Nodes Associated with Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress during NAFLD Progression. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020242. [PMID: 33567666 PMCID: PMC7915814 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Excess and sustained endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, paired with a failure of initial adaptive responses, acts as a critical trigger of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. Unfortunately, there is no drug currently approved for treatment, and the molecular basis of pathogenesis by ER stress remains poorly understood. Classical ER stress pathway molecules have distinct but inter-connected functions and complicated effects at each phase of the disease. Identification of the specific molecular signal mediators of the ER stress-mediated pathogenesis is, therefore, a crucial step in the development of new treatments. These signaling nodes may be specific to the cell type and/or the phase of disease progression. In this review, we highlight the recent advancements in knowledge concerning signaling nodes associated with ER stress and NAFLD progression in various types of liver cells.
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Chang SN, Kim SH, Dey DK, Park SM, Nasif O, Bajpai VK, Kang SC, Lee J, Park JG. 5-O-Demethylnobiletin Alleviates CCl 4-Induced Acute Liver Injury by Equilibrating ROS-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagy Induction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031083. [PMID: 33499185 PMCID: PMC7865239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymethoxyflavanoids (PMFs) have exhibited a vast array of therapeutic biological properties. 5-O-Demethylnobiletin (5-DN) is one such PMF having anti-inflammatory activity, yet its role in hepatoprotection has not been studied before. Results from in vitro study revealed that 5-DN did not exert a high level of cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells at 40 μM, and it was able to rescue HepG2 cell death induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Subsequently, we investigated acute liver injury on BALB/c mice induced by CCl4 through the intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL/kg CCl4 and co-administration of 5-DN at (1 and 2 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 15 days. The results illustrated that treatment with 5-DN attenuated CCl4-induced elevated serum aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio and significantly ameliorated severe hepatic damage such as inflammation and fibrosis evidenced through lesser aberrations in the liver histology of 5-DN dose groups. Additionally, 5-DN efficiently counteracted and equilibrated the production of ROS accelerated by CCl4 and dramatically downregulated the expression of CYP2E1 vitally involved in converting CCl4 to toxic free radicals and also enhanced the antioxidant enzymes. 5-DN treatment also inhibited cell proliferation and inflammatory pathway abnormally regulated by CCl4 treatment. Furthermore, the apoptotic response induced by CCl4 treatment was remarkably reduced by enhanced Bcl-2 expression and noticeable reduction in Bax, Bid, cleaved caspase 3, caspase 9, and apaf-1 expression. 5-DN treatment also induced the conversion of LC3 and promoted the autophagic flux. Conclusively, 5-DN exhibited hepatoprotective effects in vitro and in vivo and prevented liver fibrosis induced by CCl4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukkum Ngullie Chang
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
| | - Se Ho Kim
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
| | - Debasish Kumar Dey
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Seon Min Park
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
| | - Omaima Nasif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University (Medical City), King Khalid University Hospital, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Vivek K. Bajpai
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Seoul 04620, Korea
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
| | - Sun Chul Kang
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Jintae Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
| | - Jae Gyu Park
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
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Engin A. Bile Acid Toxicity and Protein Kinases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1275:229-258. [PMID: 33539018 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-49844-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
If the bile acids reach to pathological concentrations due to cholestasis, accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids within the hepatocyte may result in cell death. Thus, hydrophobic bile acids induce apoptosis in hepatocytes, while hydrophilic bile acids increase intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways to protect hepatocytes from apoptosis.Two apoptotic pathways have been described in bile acids-induced death. Both are controlled by multiple protein kinase signaling pathways. In mitochondria-controlled pathway, caspase-8 is activated with death domain-independent manner, whereas, Fas-dependent classical pathway involves ligand-independent oligomerization of Fas.Hydrophobic bile acids dose-dependently upregulate the inflammatory response by further stimulating production of inflammatory cytokines. Death receptor-mediated apoptosis is regulated at the cell surface by the receptor expression, at the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) by expression of procaspase-8, the death receptors Fas-associated death domain (FADD), and cellular FADD-like interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β)-converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (cFLIP). Bile acids prevent cFLIP recruitment to the DISC and thereby enhance initiator caspase activation and lead to cholestatic apoptosis. At mitochondria, the expression of B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins contribute to apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial cytochrome c release via Bcl-2, Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) interacting domain death agonist (Bid), or Bcl-2 associated protein x (Bax). Fas receptor CD95 activation by hydrophobic bile acids is initiated by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. However, activation of necroptosis by ligands of death receptors requires the kinase activity of receptor interacting protein1 (RIP1), which mediates the activation of RIP3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). In this chapter, mainly the effect of protein kinases signal transduction on the mechanisms of hydrophobic bile acids-induced inflammation, apoptosis, necroptosis and necrosis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atilla Engin
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
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Yoon YC, Fang Z, Lee JE, Park JH, Ryu JK, Jung KH, Hong SS. Selonsertib Inhibits Liver Fibrosis via Downregulation of ASK1/ MAPK Pathway of Hepatic Stellate Cells. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2020; 28:527-536. [PMID: 32451370 PMCID: PMC7585640 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2020.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis constitutes a significant health problem worldwide due to its rapidly increasing prevalence and the absence of specific and effective treatments. Growing evidence suggests that apoptosis-signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is activated in oxidative stress, which causes hepatic inflammation and apoptosis, leading to liver fibrogenesis through a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) downstream signals. In this study, we investigated whether selonsertib, a selective inhibitor of ASK1, shows therapeutic efficacy for liver fibrosis, and elucidated its mechanism of action in vivo and in vitro. As a result, selonsertib strongly suppressed the growth and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and induced apoptosis by increasing Annexin V and TUNEL-positive cells. We also observed that selonsertib inhibited the ASK1/MAPK pathway, including p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HSCs. Interestingly, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis was significantly alleviated by selonsertib treatment in rats. Furthermore, selonsertib reduced collagen deposition and the expression of extracellular components such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, and collagen type I in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, selonsertib suppressed fibrotic response such as HSC proliferation and extracellular matrix components by blocking the ASK1/MAPK pathway. Therefore, we suggest that selonsertib may be an effective therapeutic drug for ameliorating liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Chan Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenghuan Fang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Eun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hee Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Kan Ryu
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Jung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Sun Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
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Hamada-Tsutsumi S, Onishi M, Matsuura K, Isogawa M, Kawashima K, Sato Y, Tanaka Y. Inhibitory Effect of a Human MicroRNA, miR-6133-5p, on the Fibrotic Activity of Hepatic Stellate Cells in Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197251. [PMID: 33019495 PMCID: PMC7583928 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently identified 39 human microRNAs, which effectively suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in hepatocytes. Chronic HBV infection often results in active, hepatitis-related liver fibrosis; hence, we assessed whether any of these microRNAs have anti-fibrotic potential and predicted that miR-6133-5p may target several fibrosis-related genes. METHODS The hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 was transfected with an miR-6133-5p mimic and subsequently treated with Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The mRNA and protein products of the COL1A1 gene, encoding collagen, and the ACTA2 gene, an activation marker of hepatic stellate cells, were quantified. RESULTS The expression of COL1A1 and ACTA2 was markedly reduced in LX-2 cells treated with miR-6133-5p. Interestingly, phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was also significantly decreased by miR-6133-5p treatment. The expression of several predicted target genes of miR-6133-5p, including TGFBR2 (which encodes Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 2) and FGFR1 (which encodes Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1), was also reduced in miR-6133-5p-treated cells. The knockdown of TGFBR2 by the corresponding small interfering RNA greatly suppressed the expression of COL1A1 and ACTA2. Treatment with the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, also suppressed COL1A1 and ACTA2 expression, indicating that TGFBR2 and JNK mediate the anti-fibrotic effect of miR-6133-5p. The downregulation of FGFR1 may result in a decrease of phosphorylated Akt, ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), and JNK. CONCLUSION miR-6133-5p has a strong anti-fibrotic effect, mediated by inactivation of TGFBR2, Akt, and JNK.
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MESH Headings
- Actins/genetics
- Actins/metabolism
- Anthracenes/pharmacology
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Collagen Type I/genetics
- Collagen Type I/metabolism
- Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain
- Fibroblasts/drug effects
- Fibroblasts/metabolism
- Fibroblasts/pathology
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/cytology
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/drug effects
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/metabolism
- Humans
- MAP Kinase Kinase 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- MAP Kinase Kinase 4/genetics
- MAP Kinase Kinase 4/metabolism
- MicroRNAs/agonists
- MicroRNAs/antagonists & inhibitors
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/genetics
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/genetics
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism
- Oligoribonucleotides/genetics
- Oligoribonucleotides/metabolism
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/genetics
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II/genetics
- Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Hamada-Tsutsumi
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (S.H.-T.); (M.O.); (M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Masaya Onishi
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (S.H.-T.); (M.O.); (M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Kentaro Matsuura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan;
| | - Masanori Isogawa
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (S.H.-T.); (M.O.); (M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Keigo Kawashima
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (S.H.-T.); (M.O.); (M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Laboratory of Innovative Nanomedicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan;
| | - Yasuhito Tanaka
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (S.H.-T.); (M.O.); (M.I.); (K.K.)
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-96-373-5146
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George PM, Wells AU, Jenkins RG. Pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19: the potential role for antifibrotic therapy. THE LANCET. RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2020; 8:807-815. [PMID: 32422178 PMCID: PMC7228727 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(20)30225-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 674] [Impact Index Per Article: 168.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In December, 2019, reports emerged from Wuhan, China, of a severe acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). By the end of April, 2020, over 3 million people had been confirmed infected, with over 1 million in the USA alone, and over 215 000 deaths. The symptoms associated with COVID-19 are diverse, ranging from mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. The major risk factors for severe COVID-19 are shared with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), namely increasing age, male sex, and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. However, the role of antifibrotic therapy in patients with IPF who contract SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the scientific rationale for their continuation or cessation, is poorly defined. Furthermore, several licensed and potential antifibrotic compounds have been assessed in models of acute lung injury and viral pneumonia. Data from previous coronavirus infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome, as well as emerging data from the COVID-19 pandemic, suggest there could be substantial fibrotic consequences following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antifibrotic therapies that are available or in development could have value in preventing severe COVID-19 in patients with IPF, have the potential to treat severe COVID-19 in patients without IPF, and might have a role in preventing fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M George
- Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Athol U Wells
- Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - R Gisli Jenkins
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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