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Zhang Q, Liu Y, Ren L, Li J, Lin W, Lou L, Wang M, Li C, Jiang Y. Proteomic analysis of DEN and CCl 4-induced hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8013. [PMID: 38580754 PMCID: PMC10997670 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58587-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seriously threatens human health, mostly developed from liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Since diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced HCC mouse model almost recapitulates the characteristic of HCC with fibrosis and inflammation, it is taken as an essential tool to investigate the pathogenesis of HCC. However, a comprehensive understanding of the protein expression profile of this model is little. In this study, we performed proteomic analysis of this model to elucidate its proteomic characteristics. Compared with normal liver tissues, 432 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in tumor tissues, among which 365 were up-regulated and 67 were down-regulated. Through Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) analysis and Gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis of DEPs, we identified two distinguishing features of DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model in protein expression, the upregulation of actin cytoskeleton and branched-chain amino acids metabolic reprogramming. In addition, matching DEPs from the mouse model to homologous proteins in the human HCC cohort revealed that the DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model was relatively similar to the subtype of HCC with poor prognosis. Finally, combining clinical information from the HCC cohort, we screened seven proteins with prognostic significance, SMAD2, PTPN1, PCNA, MTHFD1L, MBOAT7, FABP5, and AGRN. Overall, we provided proteomic data of the DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model and highlighted the important proteins and pathways in it, contributing to the rational application of this model in HCC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yuhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Liangliang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Junqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Weiran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Lijuan Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Minghan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Chaoying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicle Proteomics, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing, 102206, China.
- School of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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2
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Carter JK, Tsai MC, Venturini N, Hu J, Lemasters JJ, Torres Martin M, Sia D, Wang S, Lee YA, Friedman SL. Stellate cell-specific adhesion molecule protocadherin 7 regulates sinusoidal contraction. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00755. [PMID: 38373106 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Sustained inflammation and hepatocyte injury in chronic liver disease activate HSCs to transdifferentiate into fibrogenic, contractile myofibroblasts. We investigated the role of protocadherin 7 (PCDH7), a cadherin family member not previously characterized in the liver, whose expression is restricted to HSCs. APPROACH AND RESULTS We created a PCDH7 fl/fl mouse line, which was crossed to lecithin retinol acyltransferase-Cre mice to generate HSC-specific PCDH7 knockout animals. HSC contraction in vivo was tested in response to the HSC-selective vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 using intravital multiphoton microscopy. To establish a PCDH7 null HSC line, cells were isolated from PCDH7 fl/fl mice and infected with adenovirus-expressing Cre. Hepatic expression of PCDH7 was strictly restricted to HSCs. Knockout of PCDH7 in vivo abrogated HSC-mediated sinusoidal contraction in response to endothelin-1. In cultured HSCs, loss of PCDH7 markedly attenuated contractility within collagen gels and led to altered gene expression in pathways governing adhesion and vasoregulation. Loss of contractility in PCDH7 knockout cells was impaired Rho-GTPase signaling, as demonstrated by altered gene expression, reduced assembly of F-actin fibers, and loss of focal adhesions. CONCLUSIONS The stellate cell-specific cadherin, PCDH7, is a novel regulator of HSC contractility whose loss leads to cytoskeletal remodeling and sinusoidal relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Carter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ming-Chao Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Nicholas Venturini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jiangting Hu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - John J Lemasters
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Miguel Torres Martin
- Genetics Department, Clinical Genomics Unit, Clinical Genetics Service, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela Sia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Youngmin A Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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3
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Böhringer D, Bauer A, Moravec I, Bischof L, Kah D, Mark C, Grundy TJ, Görlach E, O'Neill GM, Budday S, Strissel PL, Strick R, Malandrino A, Gerum R, Mak M, Rausch M, Fabry B. Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility. Matrix Biol 2023; 124:39-48. [PMID: 37967726 PMCID: PMC10872942 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Cells cultured in 3D fibrous biopolymer matrices exert traction forces on their environment that induce deformations and remodeling of the fiber network. By measuring these deformations, the traction forces can be reconstructed if the mechanical properties of the matrix and the force-free matrix configuration are known. These requirements limit the applicability of traction force reconstruction in practice. In this study, we test whether force-induced matrix remodeling can instead be used as a proxy for cellular traction forces. We measure the traction forces of hepatic stellate cells and different glioblastoma cell lines and quantify matrix remodeling by measuring the fiber orientation and fiber density around these cells. In agreement with simulated fiber networks, we demonstrate that changes in local fiber orientation and density are directly related to cell forces. By resolving Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor-induced changes of traction forces, fiber alignment, and fiber density in hepatic stellate cells, we show that the method is suitable for drug screening assays. We conclude that differences in local fiber orientation and density, which are easily measurable, can be used as a qualitative proxy for changes in traction forces. The method is available as an open-source Python package with a graphical user interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Böhringer
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ivana Moravec
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lars Bischof
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Delf Kah
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Mark
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas J Grundy
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Geraldine M O'Neill
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Silvia Budday
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pamela L Strissel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Reiner Strick
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Malandrino
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard Gerum
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Mak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
| | - Martin Rausch
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ben Fabry
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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4
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Shalaby S, Ronzoni L, Hernandez-Gea V, Valenti L. The genetics of portal hypertension: Recent developments and the road ahead. Liver Int 2023; 43:2592-2603. [PMID: 37718732 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Portal hypertension (PH), defined as a pathological increase in the portal vein pressure, has different aetiologies and causes. Intrahepatic PH is mostly secondary to the presence of underlying liver disease leading to cirrhosis, characterized by parenchymal changes with deregulated accumulation of extracellular matrix and vascular abnormalities; liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells are key players in PH progression, able to influence each other. However, PH may also develop independently of parenchymal damage, as occur in portosinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD), a group of clinical and histological entities characterized by portal vasculature dysfunctions. In this particular group of disorders, the pathophysiology of PH is still poorly understood. In the last years, several genetic studies, based on genome-wide association studies or whole-exome sequencing analysis, have highlighted the importance of genetic heritability in PH pathogenesis, both in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic cases. The common PNPLA3 p.I148M variant, one of the main determinants of the susceptibility to steatotic liver disease, has also been associated with decompensation in patients with PH. Genetic variations at loci influencing coagulation, mainly the ABO locus, may directly contribute to the pathogenesis of PH. Rare genetic variants have been associated with familiar cases of progressive PSVD. In this review, we summarize the recent knowledges on genetic variants predisposing to PH development, contributing to better understand the role of genetic factors in PH pathogenesis.
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Grants
- Commissioner for Universities and Research from the Department of Economy and Knowledge" of the "Generalitat de Catalunya" (AGAUR SGR2017_517) (VHG)
- Fondazione Patrimonio Ca' Granda, "Liver BIBLE" (PR-0361) (LV)
- Gilead_IN-IT-989-5790 (LV)
- Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 joint undertaking of European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA European Union (EU) Programme Horizon 2020 (under grant agreement No. 777377) for the project LITMUS (LV)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III" FIS PI20/00569 FEDER from the European Union (Fondos FEDER, "Una manera de hacer Europa") (VHG)
- Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Ricerca Corrente (LV)
- Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), Rete Cardiologica "CV-PREVITAL" (LV)
- Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), Ricerca Finalizzata 2016, RF-2016-02364358 ("Impact of whole exome sequencing on the clinical management of patients with advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver and cryptogenic liver disease"), Ricerca Finalizzata 2021 RF-2021-12373889, Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Finalizzata PNRR 2022 "RATIONAL: Risk strAtificaTIon Of Nonalcoholic fAtty Liver" PNRR-MAD-2022-12375656 (LV)
- Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute). PNRR PNC-E3-2022-23683266 PNC-HLS-DA, INNOVA (LV)
- The European Union, H2020-ICT-2018-20/H2020-ICT-2020-2 programme "Photonics" under grant agreement No. 101016726 - REVEAL (LV)
- The European Union, HORIZON-MISS-2021-CANCER-02-03 programme "Genial" under grant agreement "101096312" (LV)
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Shalaby
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN-Liver), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN-Liver), Padua, Italy
| | - Luisa Ronzoni
- Precision Medicine Lab, Biological Resource Center Unit, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginia Hernandez-Gea
- Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN-Liver), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Valenti
- Precision Medicine Lab, Biological Resource Center Unit, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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5
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Felli E, Selicean S, Guixé-Muntet S, Wang C, Bosch J, Berzigotti A, Gracia-Sancho J. Mechanobiology of portal hypertension. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100869. [PMID: 37841641 PMCID: PMC10568428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between mechanical stimuli and cellular mechanobiology orchestrates the physiology of tissues and organs in a dynamic balance characterized by constant remodelling and adaptative processes. Environmental mechanical properties can be interpreted as a complex set of information and instructions that cells read continuously, and to which they respond. In cirrhosis, chronic inflammation and injury drive liver cells dysfunction, leading to excessive extracellular matrix deposition, sinusoidal pseudocapillarization, vascular occlusion and parenchymal extinction. These pathological events result in marked remodelling of the liver microarchitecture, which is cause and result of abnormal environmental mechanical forces, triggering and sustaining the long-standing and progressive process of liver fibrosis. Multiple mechanical forces such as strain, shear stress, and hydrostatic pressure can converge at different stages of the disease until reaching a point of no return where the fibrosis is considered non-reversible. Thereafter, reciprocal communication between cells and their niches becomes the driving force for disease progression. Accumulating evidence supports the idea that, rather than being a passive consequence of fibrosis and portal hypertension (PH), mechanical force-mediated pathways could themselves represent strategic targets for novel therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the mechanobiology of PH, by furnishing an introduction on the most important mechanisms, integrating these concepts into a discussion on the pathogenesis of PH, and exploring potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Felli
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Selicean
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sergi Guixé-Muntet
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Spain
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jaume Bosch
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Spain
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Spain
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6
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Mitten EK, Portincasa P, Baffy G. Portal Hypertension in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Challenges and Paradigms. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:1201-1211. [PMID: 37577237 PMCID: PMC10412712 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Portal hypertension in cirrhosis is defined as an increase in the portal pressure gradient (PPG) between the portal and hepatic veins and is traditionally estimated by the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), which is the difference in pressure between the free-floating and wedged positions of a balloon catheter in the hepatic vein. By convention, HVPG≥10 mmHg indicates clinically significant portal hypertension, which is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder with a heterogeneous clinical course, which includes the development of portal hypertension. There is increasing evidence that portal hypertension in NAFLD deserves special considerations. First, elevated PPG often precedes fibrosis in NAFLD, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between these pathological processes. Second, HVPG underestimates PPG in NAFLD, suggesting that portal hypertension is more prevalent in this condition than currently believed. Third, cellular mechanoresponses generated early in the pathogenesis of NAFLD provide a mechanistic explanation for the pressure-fibrosis paradigm. Finally, a better understanding of liver mechanobiology in NAFLD may aid in the development of novel pharmaceutical targets for prevention and management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie K. Mitten
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Piero Portincasa
- Division of Internal Medicine and Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University ‘Aldo Moro’ Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - György Baffy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Bao L, Kong H, Ja Y, Wang C, Qin L, Sun H, Dai S. The relationship between cancer and biomechanics. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1273154. [PMID: 37901315 PMCID: PMC10602664 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1273154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset, development, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer involve intricate interactions among various factors, spanning the realms of mechanics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Within our bodies, cells are subject to a variety of forces such as gravity, magnetism, tension, compression, shear stress, and biological static force/hydrostatic pressure. These forces are perceived by mechanoreceptors as mechanical signals, which are then transmitted to cells through a process known as mechanical transduction. During tumor development, invasion and metastasis, there are significant biomechanical influences on various aspects such as tumor angiogenesis, interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), interactions between tumor cells and other cells, and interactions between tumor cells and the circulatory system and vasculature. The tumor microenvironment comprises a complex interplay of cells, ECM and vasculature, with the ECM, comprising collagen, fibronectins, integrins, laminins and matrix metalloproteinases, acting as a critical mediator of mechanical properties and a key component within the mechanical signaling pathway. The vasculature exerts appropriate shear forces on tumor cells, enabling their escape from immune surveillance, facilitating their dissemination in the bloodstream, dictating the trajectory of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and playing a pivotal role in regulating adhesion to the vessel wall. Tumor biomechanics plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis, as alterations in biomechanical properties throughout the malignant transformation process trigger a cascade of changes in cellular behavior and the tumor microenvironment, ultimately culminating in the malignant biological behavior of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqi Bao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongru Kong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Ja
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengchao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengjie Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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8
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Velliou RI, Legaki AI, Nikolakopoulou P, Vlachogiannis NI, Chatzigeorgiou A. Liver endothelial cells in NAFLD and transition to NASH and HCC. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:314. [PMID: 37798474 PMCID: PMC11072568 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04966-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, which is characterised by obesity, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. NAFLD is the most frequent liver disease worldwide and more than 10% of NAFLD patients progress to the inflammatory and fibrotic stage of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to end-stage liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most frequent primary malignant liver tumor. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) are strategically positioned at the interface between blood and hepatic parenchyma. LSECs are highly specialized cells, characterised by the presence of transcellular pores, called fenestrae, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic characteristics under physiological conditions. However, during NAFLD development they undergo capillarisation and acquire a phenotype similar to vascular endothelial cells, actively promoting all pathophysiological aspects of NAFLD, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. LSEC dysfunction is critical for the progression to NASH and HCC while restoring LSEC homeostasis appears to be a promising approach to prevent NAFLD progression and its complications and even reverse tissue damage. In this review we present current information on the role of LSEC throughout the progressive phases of NAFLD, summarising in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence and data from human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rallia-Iliana Velliou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Aigli-Ioanna Legaki
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Polyxeni Nikolakopoulou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos I Vlachogiannis
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios Chatzigeorgiou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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9
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Hijazi N, Shi Z, Rockey DC. Paxillin regulates liver fibrosis via actin polymerization and ERK activation in hepatic stellate cells. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261122. [PMID: 37667902 PMCID: PMC10560551 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver injury leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The primary mechanism underlying the fibrogenic response is the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are 'quiescent' in normal liver but become 'activated' after injury by transdifferentiating into extracellular matrix (ECM)-secreting myofibroblasts. Given that integrins are important in HSC activation and fibrogenesis, we hypothesized that paxillin, a key downstream effector in integrin signaling, might be critical in the fibrosis pathway. Using a cell-culture-based model of HSC activation and in vivo models of liver injury, we found that paxillin is upregulated in activated HSCs and fibrotic livers. Overexpression of paxillin (both in vitro and in vivo) led to increased ECM protein expression, and depletion of paxillin in a novel conditional mouse injury model reduced fibrosis. The mechanism by which paxillin mediated this effect appeared to be through the actin cytoskeleton, which signals to the ERK pathway and induces ECM protein production. These data highlight a novel role for paxillin in HSC biology and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Hijazi
- Digestive Disease Research Center Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Zengdun Shi
- Digestive Disease Research Center Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Don C. Rockey
- Digestive Disease Research Center Core, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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10
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Di X, Gao X, Peng L, Ai J, Jin X, Qi S, Li H, Wang K, Luo D. Cellular mechanotransduction in health and diseases: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:282. [PMID: 37518181 PMCID: PMC10387486 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular mechanotransduction, a critical regulator of numerous biological processes, is the conversion from mechanical signals to biochemical signals regarding cell activities and metabolism. Typical mechanical cues in organisms include hydrostatic pressure, fluid shear stress, tensile force, extracellular matrix stiffness or tissue elasticity, and extracellular fluid viscosity. Mechanotransduction has been expected to trigger multiple biological processes, such as embryonic development, tissue repair and regeneration. However, prolonged excessive mechanical stimulation can result in pathological processes, such as multi-organ fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and cancer immunotherapy resistance. Although the associations between mechanical cues and normal tissue homeostasis or diseases have been identified, the regulatory mechanisms among different mechanical cues are not yet comprehensively illustrated, and no effective therapies are currently available targeting mechanical cue-related signaling. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of typical mechanical cues in normal conditions and diseases with the updated evidence. The key effectors responding to mechanical stimulations are listed, such as Piezo channels, integrins, Yes-associated protein (YAP) /transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). We also reviewed the key signaling pathways, therapeutic targets and cutting-edge clinical applications of diseases related to mechanical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingpeng Di
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoshuai Gao
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Liao Peng
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Jianzhong Ai
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xi Jin
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Kunjie Wang
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
| | - Deyi Luo
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
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11
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Zhao YQ, Deng XW, Xu GQ, Lin J, Lu HZ, Chen J. Mechanical homeostasis imbalance in hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatic fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1183808. [PMID: 37152902 PMCID: PMC10157180 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1183808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease or repeated damage to hepatocytes can give rise to hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process of excessive sedimentation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans (PGs) in the hepatic parenchyma. Changes in the composition of the ECM lead to the stiffness of the matrix that destroys its inherent mechanical homeostasis, and a mechanical homeostasis imbalance activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which can overproliferate and secrete large amounts of ECM proteins. Excessive ECM proteins are gradually deposited in the Disse gap, and matrix regeneration fails, which further leads to changes in ECM components and an increase in stiffness, forming a vicious cycle. These processes promote the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. In this review, the dynamic process of ECM remodeling of HF and the activation of HSCs into mechanotransduction signaling pathways for myofibroblasts to participate in HF are discussed. These mechanotransduction signaling pathways may have potential therapeutic targets for repairing or reversing fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Quan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Xi-Wen Deng
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Guo-Qi Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Hua-Ze Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
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12
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Frtús A, Smolková B, Uzhytchak M, Lunova M, Jirsa M, Petrenko Y, Dejneka A, Lunov O. Mechanical Regulation of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Function in a 3D-Engineered Liver Tumor Microenvironment. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:2408-2425. [PMID: 37001010 PMCID: PMC10170482 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
It has become evident that physical stimuli of the cellular microenvironment transmit mechanical cues regulating key cellular functions, such as proliferation, migration, and malignant transformation. Accumulating evidence suggests that tumor cells face variable mechanical stimuli that may induce metabolic rewiring of tumor cells. However, the knowledge of how tumor cells adapt metabolism to external mechanical cues is still limited. We therefore designed soft 3D collagen scaffolds mimicking a pathological mechanical environment to decipher how liver tumor cells would adapt their metabolic activity to physical stimuli of the cellular microenvironment. Here, we report that the soft 3D microenvironment upregulates the glycolysis of HepG2 and Alexander cells. Both cell lines adapt their mitochondrial activity and function under growth in the soft 3D microenvironment. Cells grown in the soft 3D microenvironment exhibit marked mitochondrial depolarization, downregulation of mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I, and slow proliferation rate in comparison with stiff monolayer cultures. Our data reveal the coupling of liver tumor glycolysis to mechanical cues. It is proposed here that soft 3D collagen scaffolds can serve as a useful model for future studies of mechanically regulated cellular functions of various liver (potentially other tissues as well) tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Frtús
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Smolková
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Mariia Uzhytchak
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Mariia Lunova
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague 14021, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Jirsa
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague 14021, Czech Republic
| | - Yuriy Petrenko
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg Lunov
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czech Republic
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13
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Chen G, Deng Y, Xia B, Lv Y. In Situ Regulation and Mechanisms of 3D Matrix Stiffness on the Activation and Reversion of Hepatic Stellate Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 12:e2202560. [PMID: 36519640 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key event in the progression of liver fibrosis. HSCs transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and secrete large amounts of extracellular matrix, resulting in increased liver stiffness. It is difficult for platforms constructed in vitro to simulate the structure, composition, and stiffness of the 3D microenvironment of HSCs in vivo. Here, 3D scaffolds with different stiffness are constructed by decellularizing rat livers at different stages of fibrosis. The effects of matrix stiffness on the proliferation, activation, and reversion of HSCs are studied. The results demonstrate these scaffolds have good cytocompatibility. It is also found that the high stiffness can significantly promote the activation of HSCs, and this process is accompanied by the activation of integrin β1 as well as the nucleation and activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP). Moreover, the low stiffness of the scaffold can promote the reversion of activated HSCs, which is associated with cell apoptosis and accompanied by the inactivation of integrin β1 and YAP. These results suggest that YAP may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and the theoretical feasibility of inducing activated HSCs reversion to the resting state by regulating matrix stiffness of liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Chen
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Yaxin Deng
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China
| | - Bin Xia
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, P. R. China
| | - Yonggang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
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14
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Mitten EK, Baffy G. Mechanotransduction in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1642-1656. [PMID: 36063966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mechanobiology is a domain of interdisciplinary research that aims to explore the impact of physical force, applied externally or internally, on cell and tissue function, including development, growth, and differentiation. Mechanotransduction is a term that describes how cells sense physical forces (such as compression, stretch, and shear stress), convert them into biochemical signals, and mount adaptive responses integrated by the nucleus. There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces extensively inform the biological behaviour of liver cells in health and disease. Recent research has elucidated many cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this process including the pleiotropic control and diverse effects of the paralogous transcription co-activators YAP/TAZ, which play a prominent role in mechanotransduction. The liver sinusoids represent a unique microenvironment in which cells are exposed to mechanical cues originating in the cytoskeleton and at interfaces with adjacent cells, the extracellular matrix, and vascular or interstitial fluids. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatocellular lipid accumulation and ballooning, activation of inflammatory responses, dysfunction of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells into a pro-contractile and pro-fibrotic phenotype have been associated with aberrant cycles of mechanosensing and mechanoresponses. The downstream consequences of disrupted mechanical homeostasis likely contribute to the progression of NAFLD and promote the development of portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Identification of molecular targets involved in pathogenic mechanotransduction will allow for the development of novel strategies to prevent the progression of liver disease in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie K Mitten
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - György Baffy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA.
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15
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Kaur S, Kidambi S, Ortega-Ribera M, Thuy LTT, Nieto N, Cogger VC, Xie WF, Tacke F, Gracia-Sancho J. In Vitro Models for the Study of Liver Biology and Diseases: Advances and Limitations. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:559-571. [PMID: 36442812 PMCID: PMC9868680 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In vitro models of liver (patho)physiology, new technologies, and experimental approaches are progressing rapidly. Based on cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells or primary cells derived from mouse or human liver as well as whole tissue (slices), such in vitro single- and multicellular models, including complex microfluidic organ-on-a-chip systems, provide tools to functionally understand mechanisms of liver health and disease. The International Society of Hepatic Sinusoidal Research (ISHSR) commissioned this working group to review the currently available in vitro liver models and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each in the context of evaluating their use for the study of liver functionality, disease modeling, therapeutic discovery, and clinical applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savneet Kaur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Srivatsan Kidambi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Martí Ortega-Ribera
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Le Thi Thanh Thuy
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Victoria C Cogger
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wei-Fen Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Liver Vascular Biology, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland.
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16
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Li N, Zhang X, Zhou J, Li W, Shu X, Wu Y, Long M. Multiscale biomechanics and mechanotransduction from liver fibrosis to cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114448. [PMID: 35820602 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of multiscale biomechanical studies has been proposed to highlight the mechanical cues in the development of hepatic fibrosis and cancer. At the cellular level, changes in mechanical microenvironment induce phenotypic and functional alterations of hepatic cells, initiating a positive feedback loop that promotes liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. Tumor mechanical microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma facilitates tumor cell growth and metastasis, and hinders the drug delivery and immunotherapy. At the molecular level, mechanical forces are sensed and transmitted into hepatic cells via allosteric activation of mechanoreceptors on the cell membrane, leading to the activation of various mechanotransduction pathways including integrin and YAP signaling and then regulating cell function. Thus, the application of mechanomedicine concept in the treatment of liver diseases is promising for rational design and cell-specific delivery of therapeutic drugs. This review mainly discusses the correlation between biomechanical cues and liver diseases from the viewpoint of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wang Li
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinyu Shu
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mian Long
- Center for Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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17
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Ferdek PE, Krzysztofik D, Stopa KB, Kusiak AA, Paw M, Wnuk D, Jakubowska MA. When healing turns into killing ‐ the pathophysiology of pancreatic and hepatic fibrosis. J Physiol 2022; 600:2579-2612. [DOI: 10.1113/jp281135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pawel E. Ferdek
- Department of Cell Biology Faculty of Biochemistry Biophysics and Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
| | - Daria Krzysztofik
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
| | - Kinga B. Stopa
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
| | - Agnieszka A. Kusiak
- Department of Cell Biology Faculty of Biochemistry Biophysics and Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
| | - Milena Paw
- Department of Cell Biology Faculty of Biochemistry Biophysics and Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
| | - Dawid Wnuk
- Department of Cell Biology Faculty of Biochemistry Biophysics and Biotechnology Jagiellonian University Krakow Poland
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18
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Huang Z, Khalifa MO, Gu W, Li TS. Hydrostatic pressure induces pro-fibrotic properties in hepatic stellate cells via the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1230-1240. [PMID: 35357779 PMCID: PMC9157409 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure is commonly observed in diseased livers. We herein examined the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure induces hepatic stellate cells to acquire pro-fibrotic properties under pathological conditions. Human hepatic stellate cells were exposed to 50 mmHg pressure for 24 hours. Although we observed few changes of cell growth and morphology, PCR array data on the expression of fibrosis-associated genes suggested the acquisition of pro-fibrotic properties. The exposure of hepatic stellate cells to 50 mmHg pressure for 24 hours also significantly enhanced the expression of RhoA, ROCK1, α-SMA, TGF-β1 , p-MLC and p-Smad2, and this was effectively attenuated by ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. Our ex vivo experimental data suggests that elevated interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure under pathological conditions may promote liver fibrosis by inducing acquisition of pro-fibrotic properties of hepatic stellate cells through the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zisheng Huang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Mahmoud Osman Khalifa
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Weili Gu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, China
| | - Tao-Sheng Li
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
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19
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Targeting extracellular matrix stiffness and mechanotransducers to improve cancer therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:34. [PMID: 35331296 PMCID: PMC8943941 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01252-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer microenvironment is critical for tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The extracellular matrix (ECM) interacts with tumor and stromal cells to promote cancer cells proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and immune evasion. Both ECM itself and ECM stiffening-induced mechanical stimuli may activate cell membrane receptors and mechanosensors such as integrin, Piezo1 and TRPV4, thereby modulating the malignant phenotype of tumor and stromal cells. A better understanding of how ECM stiffness regulates tumor progression will contribute to the development of new therapeutics. The rapidly expanding evidence in this research area suggests that the regulators and effectors of ECM stiffness represent potential therapeutic targets for cancer. This review summarizes recent work on the regulation of ECM stiffness in cancer, the effects of ECM stiffness on tumor progression, cancer immunity and drug resistance. We also discuss the potential targets that may be druggable to intervene ECM stiffness and tumor progression. Based on these advances, future efforts can be made to develop more effective and safe drugs to interrupt ECM stiffness-induced oncogenic signaling, cancer progression and drug resistance.
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20
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Baffy G, Bosch J. Overlooked subclinical portal hypertension in non-cirrhotic NAFLD: Is it real and how to measure it? J Hepatol 2022; 76:458-463. [PMID: 34606912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and experimental advances related to the detection, magnitude and pathobiology of subclinical portal hypertension in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), primarily observed in the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), prompt us to revisit current disease paradigms. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) has been reported to underestimate portal pressure in NASH-related cirrhosis, while inaccuracy is more likely in non-cirrhotic livers, indicating a potential need for new and preferably non-invasive methods of measurement. Although clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG ≥10 mmHg) retains its prognostic significance in NASH, subclinical portal hypertension (HVPG 6.0-9.5 mmHg) has been repeatedly detected in patients with NAFLD in the absence of cirrhosis or even significant fibrosis whereas the impact of these findings on disease outcomes remains unclear. Mechanocrine signalling pathways in various types of liver cell reveal a molecular basis for the adverse effects of subclinical portal hypertension and suggest a bidirectional relationship between portal pressure and fibrosis. These findings may guide efforts to improve risk assessment and identify novel therapeutic targets in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyorgy Baffy
- Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Jaume Bosch
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer and CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Spain
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21
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Kostallari E, Wei B, Sicard D, Li J, Cooper SA, Gao J, Dehankar M, Li Y, Cao S, Yin M, Tschumperlin DJ, Shah VH. Stiffness is associated with hepatic stellate cell heterogeneity during liver fibrosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2022; 322:G234-G246. [PMID: 34941452 PMCID: PMC8793867 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00254.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The fibrogenic wound-healing response in liver increases stiffness. Stiffness mechanotransduction, in turn, amplifies fibrogenesis. Here, we aimed to understand the distribution of stiffness in fibrotic liver, how it impacts hepatic stellate cell (HSC) heterogeneity, and identify mechanisms by which stiffness amplifies fibrogenic responses. Magnetic resonance elastography and atomic force microscopy demonstrated a heterogeneous distribution of liver stiffness at macroscopic and microscopic levels, respectively, in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mouse model of liver fibrosis as compared with controls. High stiffness was mainly attributed to extracellular matrix dense areas. To identify a stiffness-sensitive HSC subpopulation, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on primary HSCs derived from healthy versus CCl4-treated mice. A subcluster of HSCs was matrix-associated with the most upregulated pathway in this subpopulation being focal adhesion signaling, including a specific protein termed four and a half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2). In vitro, FHL2 expression was increased in primary human HSCs cultured on stiff matrix as compared with HSCs on soft matrix. Moreover, FHL2 knockdown inhibited fibronectin and collagen 1 expression, whereas its overexpression promoted matrix production. In summary, we demonstrate stiffness heterogeneity at the whole organ, lobular, and cellular level, which drives an amplification loop of fibrogenesis through specific focal adhesion molecular pathways.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The fibrogenic wound-healing response in liver increases stiffness. Here, macro and microheterogeneity of liver stiffness correlate with HSC heterogeneity in a hepatic fibrosis mouse model. Fibrogenic HSCs localized in stiff collagen-high areas upregulate the expression of focal adhesion molecule FHL2, which, in turn, promotes extracellular matrix protein expression. These results demonstrate that stiffness heterogeneity at the whole organ, lobular, and cellular level drives an amplification loop of fibrogenesis through specific focal adhesion molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enis Kostallari
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Bo Wei
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota,2Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Delphine Sicard
- 3Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jiahui Li
- 4Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Shawna A. Cooper
- 5Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jinhang Gao
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota,2Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mrunal Dehankar
- 6Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Ying Li
- 6Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Sheng Cao
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Meng Yin
- 4Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Vijay H. Shah
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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22
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Rusyn I, Arzuaga X, Cattley RC, Christopher Corton J, Ferguson SS, Godoy P, Guyton KZ, Kaplowitz N, Khetani SR, Roberts R, Roth RA, Smith MT. Key Characteristics of Human Hepatotoxicants as a Basis for Identification and Characterization of the Causes of Liver Toxicity. Hepatology 2021; 74:3486-3496. [PMID: 34105804 PMCID: PMC8901129 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hazard identification regarding adverse effects on the liver is a critical step in safety evaluations of drugs and other chemicals. Current testing paradigms for hepatotoxicity rely heavily on preclinical studies in animals and human data (epidemiology and clinical trials). Mechanistic understanding of the molecular and cellular pathways that may cause or exacerbate hepatotoxicity is well advanced and holds promise for identification of hepatotoxicants. One of the challenges in translating mechanistic evidence into robust decisions about potential hepatotoxicity is the lack of a systematic approach to integrate these data to help identify liver toxicity hazards. Recently, marked improvements were achieved in the practice of hazard identification of carcinogens, female and male reproductive toxicants, and endocrine disrupting chemicals using the key characteristics approach. Here, we describe the methods by which key characteristics of human hepatotoxicants were identified and provide examples for how they could be used to systematically identify, organize, and use mechanistic data when identifying hepatotoxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Xabier Arzuaga
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - J. Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Stephen S. Ferguson
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Patricio Godoy
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kathryn Z. Guyton
- Monographs Programme, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Neil Kaplowitz
- Research Center for Liver Disease, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ruth Roberts
- ApconiX, Alderley Edge, United Kingdom
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A. Roth
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lancing, MI, USA
| | - Martyn T. Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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23
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Long Y, Niu Y, Liang K, Du Y. Mechanical communication in fibrosis progression. Trends Cell Biol 2021; 32:70-90. [PMID: 34810063 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical hallmarks of fibrotic microenvironments are both outcomes and causes of fibrosis progression. Understanding how cells sense and transmit mechanical cues in the interplay with extracellular matrix (ECM) and hemodynamic forces is a significant challenge. Recent advances highlight the evolvement of intracellular mechanotransduction pathways responding to ECM remodeling and abnormal hemodynamics (i.e., low and disturbed shear stress, pathological stretch, and increased pressure), which are prevalent biomechanical characteristics of fibrosis in multiple organs (e.g., liver, lung, and heart). Here, we envisage the mechanical communication in cell-ECM, cell-hemodynamics and cell-ECM-cell crosstalk (namely paratensile signaling) during fibrosis expansion. We also provide a comprehensive overview of in vitro and in silico engineering systems for disease modeling that will aid the identification and prediction of mechano-based therapeutic targets to ameliorate fibrosis progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Long
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Joint Graduate Program of Peking-Tsinghua-National Institute of Biological Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yudi Niu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Kaini Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yanan Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Joint Graduate Program of Peking-Tsinghua-National Institute of Biological Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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24
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Christ B, Collatz M, Dahmen U, Herrmann KH, Höpfl S, König M, Lambers L, Marz M, Meyer D, Radde N, Reichenbach JR, Ricken T, Tautenhahn HM. Hepatectomy-Induced Alterations in Hepatic Perfusion and Function - Toward Multi-Scale Computational Modeling for a Better Prediction of Post-hepatectomy Liver Function. Front Physiol 2021; 12:733868. [PMID: 34867441 PMCID: PMC8637208 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.733868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver resection causes marked perfusion alterations in the liver remnant both on the organ scale (vascular anatomy) and on the microscale (sinusoidal blood flow on tissue level). These changes in perfusion affect hepatic functions via direct alterations in blood supply and drainage, followed by indirect changes of biomechanical tissue properties and cellular function. Changes in blood flow impose compression, tension and shear forces on the liver tissue. These forces are perceived by mechanosensors on parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells of the liver and regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions as well as cellular signaling and metabolism. These interactions are key players in tissue growth and remodeling, a prerequisite to restore tissue function after PHx. Their dysregulation is associated with metabolic impairment of the liver eventually leading to liver failure, a serious post-hepatectomy complication with high morbidity and mortality. Though certain links are known, the overall functional change after liver surgery is not understood due to complex feedback loops, non-linearities, spatial heterogeneities and different time-scales of events. Computational modeling is a unique approach to gain a better understanding of complex biomedical systems. This approach allows (i) integration of heterogeneous data and knowledge on multiple scales into a consistent view of how perfusion is related to hepatic function; (ii) testing and generating hypotheses based on predictive models, which must be validated experimentally and clinically. In the long term, computational modeling will (iii) support surgical planning by predicting surgery-induced perfusion perturbations and their functional (metabolic) consequences; and thereby (iv) allow minimizing surgical risks for the individual patient. Here, we review the alterations of hepatic perfusion, biomechanical properties and function associated with hepatectomy. Specifically, we provide an overview over the clinical problem, preoperative diagnostics, functional imaging approaches, experimental approaches in animal models, mechanoperception in the liver and impact on cellular metabolism, omics approaches with a focus on transcriptomics, data integration and uncertainty analysis, and computational modeling on multiple scales. Finally, we provide a perspective on how multi-scale computational models, which couple perfusion changes to hepatic function, could become part of clinical workflows to predict and optimize patient outcome after complex liver surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Christ
- Cell Transplantation/Molecular Hepatology Lab, Department of Visceral, Transplant, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Collatz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Optisch-Molekulare Diagnostik und Systemtechnologié, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Uta Dahmen
- Experimental Transplantation Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Herrmann
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Höpfl
- Faculty of Engineering Design, Production Engineering and Automotive Engineering, Institute for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Matthias König
- Systems Medicine of the Liver Lab, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lena Lambers
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Daria Meyer
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Nicole Radde
- Faculty of Engineering Design, Production Engineering and Automotive Engineering, Institute for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen R. Reichenbach
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Ricken
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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25
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Passi M, Zahler S. Mechano-Signaling Aspects of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Cancer 2021; 12:6411-6421. [PMID: 34659531 PMCID: PMC8489129 DOI: 10.7150/jca.60102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HCC is one of the leading causes of cancer related death worldwide and comprises about 90% of the cases of primary liver cancer. It is generally accompanied by chronic liver fibrosis characterised by deposition of collagen fibres, which, in turn, causes enhanced stiffness of the liver tissue. Changes of tissue stiffness give rise to alterations of signalling pathways that are associated to mechanical properties of the cells and the extracellular matrix, and that can be subsumed as "mechano-signaling pathways", like, e.g., the YAP/TAZ pathway, or the SRF pathway. Stiffness of the liver tissue modulates mechanical regulation of many genes involved in HCC progression. However, mechano-signaling is still rather underrepresented in our concepts of cancer in comparison to "classical" biochemical signalling pathways. This review aims to give an overview of various stiffness induced mechano-biological aspects of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Passi
- Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Zahler
- Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
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26
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Baffy G. An engineered mayhem: YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling and hepatocarcinogenesis in NAFLD. EXPLORATION OF MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.37349/emed.2021.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gyorgy Baffy
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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27
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Selman M, Pardo A. When things go wrong: exploring possible mechanisms driving the progressive fibrosis phenotype in interstitial lung diseases. Eur Respir J 2021; 58:13993003.04507-2020. [PMID: 33542060 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.04507-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a large and heterogeneous group of disorders of known and unknown aetiology characterised by diffuse damage of the lung parenchyma. In recent years it has become evident that patients with different types of ILD are at risk of developing progressive pulmonary fibrosis, known as progressive fibrosing ILD (PF-ILD). This is a phenotype that behaves similar to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the archetypical example of progressive fibrosis. PF-ILD is not a distinct clinical entity but describes a group of ILDs with similar clinical behaviour. This phenotype may occur in diseases displaying distinct aetiologies and different biopathology during their initiation and development. Importantly, these entities may have the potential for improvement or stabilisation prior to entering the progressive fibrosing phase. The crucial questions are: 1) why does a subset of patients develop a progressive and irreversible fibrotic phenotype even with appropriate treatment? and 2) what are the possible pathogenic mechanisms driving progression? Here, we provide a framework highlighting putative mechanisms underlying progression, including genetic susceptibility, ageing, epigenetics, structural fibrotic distortion, aberrant composition and stiffness of the extracellular matrix, and the emergence of distinct pro-fibrotic cell subsets. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind PF-ILD will provide the basis for identifying risk factors and appropriate therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Selman
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosío Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Annie Pardo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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28
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Melissari MT, Chalkidi N, Sarris ME, Koliaraki V. Fibroblast Reprogramming in Gastrointestinal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:630. [PMID: 32760726 PMCID: PMC7373725 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers are a significant cause of cancer mortality worldwide and have been strongly linked with chronic inflammation. Current therapies focus on epithelial/cancer cells; however, the importance of the tumor microenvironment in the development and treatment of the disease is also now well established. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment, and are actively participating in tumor initiation, promotion and metastasis. They structurally and functionally affect cancer cell proliferation, tumor immunity, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling and metastasis through a variety of signaling pathways. CAFs originate predominantly from resident mesenchymal cells, which are activated and reprogrammed in response to cues from cancer cells. In recent years, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract has also proven an important driver of mesenchymal cell activation and subsequent CAF development, which in turn are capable of regulating the transition from acute to chronic inflammation and cancer. In this review, we will provide a concise overview of the mechanisms that drive fibroblast reprogramming in cancer and the recent advances on the downstream signaling pathways that regulate the functional properties of the activated mesenchyme. This new mechanistic insight could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies and better prognosis for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Theodora Melissari
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece
| | - Niki Chalkidi
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece
| | - Michalis E Sarris
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Koliaraki
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece
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29
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Özkan A, Stolley D, Cressman ENK, McMillin M, DeMorrow S, Yankeelov TE, Rylander MN. The Influence of Chronic Liver Diseases on Hepatic Vasculature: A Liver-on-a-chip Review. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E487. [PMID: 32397454 PMCID: PMC7281532 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma, the cells and extracellular matrix of the liver undergo significant alteration in response to chronic injury. Recent literature has highlighted the critical, but less studied, role of the liver vasculature in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Recent advancements in liver-on-a-chip systems has allowed in depth investigation of the role that the hepatic vasculature plays both in response to, and progression of, chronic liver disease. In this review, we first introduce the structure, gradients, mechanical properties, and cellular composition of the liver and describe how these factors influence the vasculature. We summarize state-of-the-art vascularized liver-on-a-chip platforms for investigating biological models of chronic liver disease and their influence on the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells of the hepatic vasculature. We conclude with a discussion of how future developments in the field may affect the study of chronic liver diseases, and drug development and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alican Özkan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Danielle Stolley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Erik N K Cressman
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew McMillin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
| | - Sharon DeMorrow
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Thomas E Yankeelov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Departments of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Marissa Nichole Rylander
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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30
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Sun X, Harris EN. New aspects of hepatic endothelial cells in physiology and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020; 318:C1200-C1213. [PMID: 32374676 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00062.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the central metabolic hub for carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. It is composed of four major types of cells, including hepatocytes, endothelial cells (ECs), Kupffer cells, and stellate cells. Hepatic ECs are highly heterogeneous in both mice and humans, representing the second largest population of cells in liver. The majority of them line hepatic sinusoids known as liver sinusoidal ECs (LSECs). The structure and biology of LSECs and their roles in physiology and liver disease were reviewed recently. Here, we do not give a comprehensive review of LSEC structure, function, or pathophysiology. Instead, we focus on the recent progress in LSEC research and other hepatic ECs in physiology and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other hepatic fibrosis-related conditions. We discuss several current areas of interest, including capillarization, scavenger function, autophagy, cellular senescence, paracrine effects, and mechanotransduction. In addition, we summarize the strengths and weaknesses of evidence for the potential role of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghui Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beadle Center, Lincoln, Nebraska.,Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.,Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Edward N Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beadle Center, Lincoln, Nebraska.,Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.,Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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31
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Yang N, Chen T, Wang L, Liu R, Niu Y, Sun L, Yao B, Wang Y, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K, Liu Z. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:5790-5801. [PMID: 32483419 PMCID: PMC7255012 DOI: 10.7150/thno.44789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rational: Increasing evidence indicates that the physical environment is a critical mediator of tumor behavior. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in an altered biomechanical environment, and increased matrix stiffness is a strong predictor of HCC development. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is known to trigger HCC progression. However, CXCR4 as a mediator of mechanical cues in HCC is not well characterized. Methods: qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC were used to detect the CXCR4 expression in different matrix stiffness gels. MTT was used to measure the cell proliferation of HCC cells. Immunoblotting was used for detection of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness on the matrix stiffness. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear location in HCC cells. IP was used to show the interaction between YAP, UbcH5c and β-TrCP. Results: We identified CXCR4 as a critical intracellular signal transducer that relays matrix stiffness signals to control mechano-sensitive cellular activities through ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1 (UBTD1)-mediated YAP signaling pathway. We found that CXCR4 expression was remarkably up-regulated in HCC cells with increasing matrix stiffness and mediated proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and stemness. Mechanistically, matrix stiffness acts through CXCR4 to decrease the levels of UBTD1, which is involved in the proteasome-dependent degradation of YAP, a major cell mechano-transducer. UBTD1 interacted with components of the YAP degradation complex and promoted the interaction between YAP and its E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP. UBTD1 knockdown decreased YAP ubiquitylation and resulted in the activation of YAP-targeted genes and YAP downstream signaling. Downregulation of UBTD1 in HCC tissues correlated with malignant prognostic features and overall survival. Finally, luteolin, a natural product, suppressed matrix stiffness-induced biological effects and CXCR4-mediated YAP signaling pathway in HCC cells. Conclusion: Our findings reveal CXCR4 as a molecular switch in mechano-transduction, thereby defining a mechano-signaling pathway from matrix stiffness to the nucleus.
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