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Lee B, Roh JS, Jeong H, Kim Y, Lee J, Yun C, Park J, Kim DS, Lee J, So MW, Kim A, Sohn DH, Lee SG. Ginkgo biloba extract ameliorates skin fibrosis in a bleomycin-induced mouse model of systemic sclerosis. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2024; 28:152-160. [PMID: 38645438 PMCID: PMC11028018 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2024.2337761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis and obliterative vasculopathy. Few effective treatments are currently available for fibrosis in SSc, therefore, demand persists for novel therapies. Although use of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) has been reported to improve blood circulation and alleviate liver and lung fibrosis, its effect on skin fibrosis in SSc remains unclear. In this study, the effects and underlying mechanisms of GBE on skin fibrosis in bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model of SSc was investigated. GBE significantly reduced dermal thickness and protein levels of profibrotic factors in the BLM-induced SSc mouse model. Moreover, GBE inhibited the gene expression of profibrotic factors, such as COL1A1, α-SMA, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), in fibroblasts by suppressing transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling. Furthermore, GBE inhibited the transdifferentiation of adipocytes into myofibroblasts. Thus, our findings suggest that GBE is a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beomgu Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Seong Roh
- Department of Herbal Prescription, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoim Jeong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerin Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyeon Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Changun Yun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-sol Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungsoo Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Wook So
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Aran Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Sohn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Geun Lee
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
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Yun E, Kwon BS, Kim J, Lee A. Ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2023; 27:159-170. [PMID: 37554358 PMCID: PMC10405771 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2023.2244549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive and chronic lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and fibroblast proliferation. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) serves as a source of fibroblasts and contributes to PF progression. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a steroidal saponin extracted from ginseng, is known to have pharmacological effects on vascular diseases. We have previously demonstrated that Rg3 inhibits EndMT and prevents endothelial dysfunction. Thus, we hypothesized that Rg3 may be a potential therapeutic agent for PF-targeting EndMT. EndMT occurs in the lung tissue of a bleomycin-induced PF mouse model, which was confirmed by co-staining of endothelial and mesenchymal markers in the pulmonary vasculature and changes in the expression of these markers. Rg3 administration decreased EndMT and suppressed PF development. We also examined the effect of Rg3 in an in vitro EndMT model induced by co-treatment with TGF-β2 and IL-1β. Rg3 treatment alleviated the characteristics of EndMT such as spindle-shaped morphological changes, EndMT marker expression changes, Dil-Ac-LDL uptake and migratory properties. In addition, we demonstrated the mechanism by which Rg3 inhibits EndMT by regulating the Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Collectively, Rg3 can be a potential therapeutic agent for PF using the EndMT inhibition strategy, furthermore, it can be considered Rg3 as a therapeutic candidate for various EndMT-associated vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunsik Yun
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Su Kwon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
- Research Institute for Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Aram Lee
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
- Research Institute for Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
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Yan YM, Jin MZ, Li SH, Wu Y, Wang Q, Hu FF, Shen C, Yin WH. Hub genes, diagnostic model, and predicted drugs in systemic sclerosis by integrated bioinformatics analysis. Front Genet 2023; 14:1202561. [PMID: 37501723 PMCID: PMC10369177 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1202561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma; SSc), a rare and heterogeneous connective tissue disease, remains unclear in terms of its underlying causative genes and effective therapeutic approaches. The purpose of the present study was to identify hub genes, diagnostic markers and explore potential small-molecule drugs of SSc. Methods: The cohorts of data used in this study were downloaded from the Gene Expression Complex (GEO) database. Integrated bioinformatic tools were utilized for exploration, including Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic/toxicity properties exploration. Results: Seven hub genes (THY1, SULF1, PRSS23, COL5A2, NNMT, SLCO2B1, and TIMP1) were obtained in the merged gene expression profiles of GSE45485 and GSE76885. GSEA results have shown that they are associated with autoimmune diseases, microorganism infections, inflammatory related pathways, immune responses, and fibrosis process. Among them, THY1 and SULF1 were identified as diagnostic markers and validated in skin samples from GSE32413, GSE95065, GSE58095 and GSE125362. Finally, ten small-molecule drugs with potential therapeutic effects were identified, mainly including phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (BRL-50481, dipyridamole), TGF-β receptor inhibitor (SB-525334), and so on. Conclusion: This study provides new sights into a deeper understanding the molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of SSc. More importantly, the results may offer promising clues for further experimental studies and novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Mei Yan
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Meng-Zhu Jin
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei-Fei Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Hao Yin
- Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
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Xie L, Long X, Mo M, Jiang J, Zhang Q, Long M, Li M. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes alleviate skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis by inhibiting the IL-33/ST2 axis via the delivery of microRNA-214. Mol Immunol 2023; 157:146-157. [PMID: 37028129 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)- 33 is a tissue-derive proinflammatory cytokine that promotes fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). microRNA (miR)- 214 expression has been elaborated to be downregulated in SSc patients and exert anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. This study elucidates the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (BMSC-Exos)-delivered miR-214 in SSc and the relationship between this miR and IL-33/ST2 axis. SSc clinical samples were obtained to evaluate levels of miR-214, IL-33, and ST2. Primary fibroblasts and BMSC-Exos were extracted, followed by the co-culture of PKH6-labeled BMSC-Exos and fibroblasts. Subsequently, Exos extracted from miR-214 inhibitor-transfected BMSCs were co-cultured with TGF-β1-stimulated fibroblasts, after which the expression of fibrotic markers, miR-214, IL-33, and ST2, as well as fibroblast proliferation and migration, was determined. A skin fibrosis mouse model was induced with bleomycin (BLM) and treated with BMSC-Exos. Collagen fiber accumulation, collagen content, α-SMA expression, and IL-33 and ST2 levels were examined in BLM-treated or IL-33-knockout mice. IL-33 and ST2 were upregulated and miR-214 was downregulated in SSc patients. Mechanistically, miR-214 targeted IL-33 and blocked the IL-33/ST2 axis. BMSC-Exos delivering miR-214 inhibitor augmented proliferation, migration, and fibrotic gene expression in TGF-β1-stimulated fibroblasts. Similarly, IL-33 induced migration, proliferation, and fibrotic gene expression in fibroblasts via ST2. In BLM-treated mice, IL-33 knockout suppressed skin fibrosis, and BMSC-Exos delivered miR-214 to suppress the IL-33/ST2 axis, thus mitigating skin fibrosis. Conclusively, BMSC-Exos alleviate skin fibrosis through the blockade of the IL-33/ST2 axis by delivering miR-214.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihu Xie
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Long
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Meili Mo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Jinmei Jiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Qingxiu Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Mei Long
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China.
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Um H, Jeong H, Lee B, Kim Y, Lee J, Roh JS, Lee SG, Park HR, Robinson WH, Sohn DH. FAT10 Induces cancer cell migration by stabilizing phosphorylated ABI3/NESH. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2023; 27:53-60. [PMID: 36926204 PMCID: PMC10013321 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2023.2186486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) is involved in various cellular processes by regulating actin polymerization. The dysregulation of WRC components is associated with cancer development. ABI family member 3 (ABI3)/new molecule including SH3 (NESH) is one of the WRC components and it has been reported that ABI3 phosphorylation can affect WRC function. Although several residues of ABI3 have been reported to be possible phosphorylation sites, it is still unclear which residues are important for the function of ABI3. Furthermore, it is unclear how the phosphorylated form of ABI3 is regulated. Here, we demonstrate that ABI3 is stabilized by its interaction with human leukocyte antigen-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10). Using phospho-dead or phospho-mimetic mutants of ABI3, we showed that serine 213 and 216 are important phosphorylation sites of ABI3. In particular, FAT10 has a higher affinity for the phosphorylated form of ABI3 than the non-phosphorylated form, and it stabilizes the phosphorylated form more than the non-phosphorylated form through this differential affinity. The interaction between FAT10 and the phosphorylated form of ABI3 promoted cancer cell migration. Therefore, our results suggest that FAT10 stabilizes the phosphorylated form of ABI3, which may lead to WRC activation, thereby promoting cancer cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojin Um
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoim Jeong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Beomgu Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerin Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyeon Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Seong Roh
- Department of Herbal Prescription, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Geun Lee
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.,Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Ryoun Park
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - William H Robinson
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Dong Hyun Sohn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
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Fang X, He C, Ni X, Zhang T, Li Q, Luo Y, Long W, Wu R. A potential model of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline plus bleomycin. Clin Exp Hypertens 2022; 44:507-513. [PMID: 35621164 DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2022.2079665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The lack of a well-established animal model limits the clarification of the detailed mechanisms of the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary hypertension (SSc-PH) and the development of effective treatments for it. METHODS In this study, New Zealand rabbits were injected with monocrotaline (MCT), bleomycin (BLM), and MCT plus BLM, respectively. Three and six weeks after the first injection, the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was measured. Skin and lung samples were isolated and the histological changes were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining or Masson's trichrome staining. RESULTS All groups of rabbits showed an increased mean mPAP compared with the saline-injected rabbits. The high mPAP persisted until week six only in the MCT and MCT + BLM groups. Furthermore, persistent high Fulton's indices were found in the MCT and MCT + BLM groups, indicating that these treatments successfully induced right ventricular hypertrophy. The rabbits in the MCT + BLM group developed severe lung inflammation, as evidenced by a high level of neutrophil infiltration in the pulmonary interstitium. Importantly, pathological changes of the skin in the MCT + BLM group were observed, and further damage to the skin was caused by additional exposure to MCT plus BLM. Meanwhile, an excessive production of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), were detected in the MCT + BLM group. CONCLUSION These data indicate that SSc-PH induced by co-injection with MCT plus BLM shows persistent fibrosis and progressive PH, constituting a potential study model for SSc-PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Fang
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, China
| | - Chao He
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, JiangXi PingXiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang, JX, China
| | - Xudong Ni
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, JX, China
| | - Tianli Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Qianyu Li
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, China
| | - Wei Long
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, China
| | - Rui Wu
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, China
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Kim HJ, Kim J, Choi J, Sun W. Chemical fluorescence-based dye staining for 3-dimensional histopathology analysis. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2022; 26:45-51. [PMID: 35479512 PMCID: PMC9037194 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2022.2049641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue clearing for 3-dimensional (3D) imaging is increasingly utilized in many biomedical applications, including the pathological examination of human biopsy specimens. Although many protocols offer rapid and efficient tissue clearing (>1 d), immunofluorescence labeling of thick specimens is a highly time-consuming process. The use of low molecular weight chemical dyes has potential benefits in terms of speed and quality of 3D labeling. Accordingly, we tested several chemical dyes to assess their potential applications in 3D imaging. The combination of SYTO 16 and eosin (S&E) was found to be a potential fluorescent version of the hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) stain. Furthermore, picrosirius red (for collagen), Congo red (for senile plaques), and fluorescent Nissl (for neurons in the normal brain or blood vessels in the injured brain) stains can be used alone or in combination with antibody labeling. As chemical labeling requires a relatively short incubation time (<1 d), fluorescent chemical dyes could expedite the 3D imaging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jeongah Kim
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jungyoon Choi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
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