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Zhang W, Peng Q, Huang X, Huang Q, Zhang Z, Li F, Zheng N, Shi B, Fan Z, Maj T, Chen R. Commensal microbiome dysbiosis elicits interleukin-8 signaling to drive fibrotic skin disease. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae273. [PMID: 39081787 PMCID: PMC11287872 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Wound healing is an intensely studied topic involved in many relevant pathophysiological processes, including fibrosis. Despite the large interest in fibrosis, the network that is related to commensal microbiota and skin fibrosis remains mysterious. Here, we pay attention to keloid, a classical yet intractable skin fibrotic disease to establish the association between commensal microbiota to scaring tissue. Our histological data reveal the presence of microbiota in the keloids. 16S rRNA sequencing characterizes microbial composition and divergence between the pathological and normal skin tissues. Moreover, the data show elevation of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in both the circulation and keloid tissue, which elicited the collagen accumulation and migratory program of dermal fibroblasts via CXCR1/2 receptor. Our research provides insights into the pathology of human fibrotic diseases, advocating commensal bacteria and IL-8 signaling as useful targets in future interventions of recurrent keloid disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qili Peng
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xian Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qing Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhiliang Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Binhai Second Road 1155, Ningbo 315600, China
| | - Fuli Li
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Naisheng Zheng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Binsheng Shi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhihong Fan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Binhai Second Road 1155, Ningbo 315600, China
| | - Tomasz Maj
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pujian Road 160, Shanghai 200240, China
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2
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O'Reilly S, Tsou PS, Varga J. Senescence and tissue fibrosis: opportunities for therapeutic targeting. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00134-5. [PMID: 38890028 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.05.012] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a key hallmark of aging. It has now emerged as a key mediator in normal tissue turnover and is associated with a variety of age-related diseases, including organ-specific fibrosis and systemic sclerosis (SSc). This review discusses the recent evidence of the role of senescence in tissue fibrosis, with an emphasis on SSc, a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease. We discuss the physiological role of these cells, their role in fibrosis, and that targeting these cells specifically could be a new therapeutic avenue in fibrotic disease. We argue that targeting senescent cells, with senolytics or senomorphs, is a viable therapeutic target in fibrotic diseases which remain largely intractable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven O'Reilly
- Bioscience Department, Durham University, South Road, Durham, UK.
| | - Pei-Suen Tsou
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John Varga
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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3
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O'Reilly S. Emerging therapeutic targets in systemic sclerosis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:465-478. [PMID: 38386070 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-024-02424-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease which is characterised by vascular perturbations, inflammation, and fibrosis. Although huge progress recently into the underlying molecular pathways that are perturbed in the disease, currently no therapy exists that targets the fibrosis element of the disease and consequently there is a huge unmet medical need. Emerging studies reveal new dimensions of complexity, and multiple aberrant pathways have been uncovered that have shed light on disturbed signalling in the disease, primarily in inflammatory pathways that can be targeted with repurposed drugs. Pre-clinical animal models using these inhibitors have yielded proof of concept for targeting these signalling systems and progressing to clinical trials. This review will examine the recent evidence of new perturbed pathways in SSc and how these can be targeted with new or repurposed drugs to target a currently intractable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven O'Reilly
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, UK.
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4
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Tan Y, Mosallanejad K, Zhang Q, O’Brien S, Clements M, Perper S, Wilson S, Chaulagain S, Wang J, Abdalla M, Al-Saidi H, Butt D, Clabbers A, Ofori K, Dillon B, Harvey B, Memmott J, Negron C, Winarta D, Tan C, Biswas A, Dong F, Morales-Tirado V, Lu X, Singh G, White M, Ashley S, Knight H, Westmoreland S, Phillips L, Carr T, Reinke-Breen L, Singh R, Xu J, Wu K, Rinaldi L, Stoll B, He YD, Hazelwood L, Karman J, McCluskey A, Stine W, Correia I, Gauld S, Levesque MC, Veldman G, Hubeau C, Radstake T, Sadhukhan R, Fiebiger E. IL11-mediated stromal cell activation may not be the master regulator of pro-fibrotic signaling downstream of TGFβ. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1293883. [PMID: 38455057 PMCID: PMC10917968 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1293883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic scleroderma (SSc), are commonly associated with high morbidity and mortality, thereby representing a significant unmet medical need. Interleukin 11 (IL11)-mediated cell activation has been identified as a central mechanism for promoting fibrosis downstream of TGFβ. IL11 signaling has recently been reported to promote fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, thus leading to various pro-fibrotic phenotypic changes. We confirmed increased mRNA expression of IL11 and IL11Rα in fibrotic diseases by OMICs approaches and in situ hybridization. However, the vital role of IL11 as a driver for fibrosis was not recapitulated. While induction of IL11 secretion was observed downstream of TGFβ signaling in human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells, the cellular responses induced by IL11 was quantitatively and qualitatively inferior to that of TGFβ at the transcriptional and translational levels. IL11 blocking antibodies inhibited IL11Rα-proximal STAT3 activation but failed to block TGFβ-induced profibrotic signals. In summary, our results challenge the concept of IL11 blockade as a strategy for providing transformative treatment for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhao Tan
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Qingxiu Zhang
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Stuart Perper
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sarah Wilson
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | - Jing Wang
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Mary Abdalla
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | - Danyal Butt
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Anca Clabbers
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Kwasi Ofori
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Beth Dillon
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Bohdan Harvey
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - John Memmott
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | - David Winarta
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Catherine Tan
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Amlan Biswas
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Feng Dong
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Xiaoqing Lu
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Gurminder Singh
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Michael White
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Lucy Phillips
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Tracy Carr
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Rajeeva Singh
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jianwen Xu
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Kan Wu
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Lisa Rinaldi
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Brian Stoll
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Jozsef Karman
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | - William Stine
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ivan Correia
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Cedric Hubeau
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Edda Fiebiger
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
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5
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Braga YLL, do Carmo Neto JR, Franco PIR, Helmo FR, Dos Reis MA, de Oliveira FA, Celes MRN, da Silva MV, Machado JR. The Influence of IL-11 on Cardiac Fibrosis in Experimental Models: A Systematic Review. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024; 11:65. [PMID: 38392279 PMCID: PMC10888948 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11020065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is one of the main factors that impair the function of many organs. In the heart, fibrosis leads to contractile dysfunction and arrhythmias, which are important in the development of heart failure. Interleukin (IL)-11 is regulated in various heart diseases and has recently been reported to be an important cytokine in fibrosis in this organ. However, this topic has been little explored, and many questions persist. Thus, this systematic review aimed to report on possible IL-11 therapies evaluated in rodent model-induced cardiac fibrosis. Inclusion criteria were experimental in vivo studies that used different rodent models for cardiac fibrosis associated with IL-11 interventions, without year and language restrictions. The search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was performed in October 2022. The risk of bias assessment of the studies was based on the guidelines of the SYRCLE tool, and data from the selected articles were also presented in a table as a narrative description. This review was based on eight studies in which five different interventions were used: recombinant human IL-11 (rhIL-11), anti-IL11 (X203), recombinant mouse IL-11 (rmIL-11), lentivirus (LV)-IL-11 + lutein, and anti-IL11RA (X209). Based on the included studies, the results were variable, with IL-11 overexpression inducing cardiac fibrosis, while inhibition protected against this process, preserving the function of this organ. Therefore, IL-11 stands out as a promising therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms triggered by each treatment, as well as its safety and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarlla Loyane Lira Braga
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
| | - Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
| | | | | | - Flávia Aparecida de Oliveira
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
| | - Mara Rúbia Nunes Celes
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinícius da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliana Reis Machado
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania 74605-450, GO, Brazil
- General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
- Department of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
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6
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Han Y, Gao H, Gan X, Liu J, Bao C, He C. Roles of IL-11 in the regulation of bone metabolism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1290130. [PMID: 38352248 PMCID: PMC10862480 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1290130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone metabolism is the basis for maintaining the normal physiological state of bone, and imbalance of bone metabolism can lead to a series of metabolic bone diseases. As a member of the IL-6 family, IL-11 acts primarily through the classical signaling pathway IL-11/Receptors, IL-11 (IL-11R)/Glycoprotein 130 (gp130). The regulatory role of IL-11 in bone metabolism has been found earlier, but mainly focuses on the effects on osteogenesis and osteoclasis. In recent years, more studies have focused on IL-11's roles and related mechanisms in different bone metabolism activities. IL-11 regulates osteoblasts, osteoclasts, BM stromal cells, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and chondrocytes. It's involved in bone homeostasis, including osteogenesis, osteolysis, bone marrow (BM) hematopoiesis, BM adipogenesis, and bone metastasis. This review exams IL-11's role in pathology and bone tissue, the cytokines and pathways that regulate IL-11 expression, and the feedback regulations of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xinling Gan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | | | | | - Chengqi He
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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7
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Ma F, Tsou PS, Gharaee-Kermani M, Plazyo O, Xing X, Kirma J, Wasikowski R, Hile GA, Harms PW, Jiang Y, Xing E, Nakamura M, Ochocki D, Brodie WD, Pillai S, Maverakis E, Pellegrini M, Modlin RL, Varga J, Tsoi LC, Lafyatis R, Kahlenberg JM, Billi AC, Khanna D, Gudjonsson JE. Systems-based identification of the Hippo pathway for promoting fibrotic mesenchymal differentiation in systemic sclerosis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:210. [PMID: 38172207 PMCID: PMC10764940 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44645-6] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a devastating autoimmune disease characterized by excessive production and accumulation of extracellular matrix, leading to fibrosis of skin and other internal organs. However, the main cellular participants in SSc skin fibrosis remain incompletely understood. Here using differentiation trajectories at a single cell level, we demonstrate a dual source of extracellular matrix deposition in SSc skin from both myofibroblasts and endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transitioning cells (EndoMT). We further define a central role of Hippo pathway effectors in differentiation and homeostasis of myofibroblast and EndoMT, respectively, and show that myofibroblasts and EndoMTs function as central communication hubs that drive key pro-fibrotic signaling pathways in SSc. Together, our data help characterize myofibroblast differentiation and EndoMT phenotypes in SSc skin, and hint that modulation of the Hippo pathway may contribute in reversing the pro-fibrotic phenotypes in myofibroblasts and EndoMTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Ma
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pei-Suen Tsou
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mehrnaz Gharaee-Kermani
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Olesya Plazyo
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xianying Xing
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joseph Kirma
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rachael Wasikowski
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Grace A Hile
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paul W Harms
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yanyun Jiang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Enze Xing
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mio Nakamura
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Danielle Ochocki
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - William D Brodie
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shiv Pillai
- Ragon Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emanual Maverakis
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Dept of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert L Modlin
- Dept of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - John Varga
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lam C Tsoi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Robert Lafyatis
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Michelle Kahlenberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allison C Billi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dinesh Khanna
- Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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8
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Cook SA. Understanding interleukin 11 as a disease gene and therapeutic target. Biochem J 2023; 480:1987-2008. [PMID: 38054591 PMCID: PMC10754292 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin 11 (IL11) is an elusive member of the IL6 family of cytokines. While initially thought to be a haematopoietic and cytoprotective factor, more recent data show instead that IL11 is redundant for haematopoiesis and toxic. In this review, the reasons that led to the original misunderstandings of IL11 biology, which are now understandable, are explained with particular attention on the use of recombinant human IL11 in mice and humans. Following tissue injury, as part of an evolutionary ancient homeostatic response, IL11 is secreted from damaged mammalian cells to signal via JAK/STAT3, ERK/P90RSK, LKB1/mTOR and GSK3β/SNAI1 in autocrine and paracrine. This activates a program of mesenchymal transition of epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells to cause inflammation, fibrosis, and stalled endogenous tissue repair, leading to organ failure. The role of IL11 signalling in cell- and organ-specific pathobiology is described, the large unknowns about IL11 biology are discussed and the promise of targeting IL11 signalling as a therapeutic approach is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A Cook
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, U.K
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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O'Reilly S. Interleukin-11 and its eminent role in tissue fibrosis: a possible therapeutic target. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 214:154-161. [PMID: 37724596 PMCID: PMC10714194 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-11 is a cytokine from the IL-6 family of cytokines that includes IL-6 and oncostatin-M. Initially described for its role in platelet generation, it is now appreciated that this cytokine has multiple functions. Recently it has been found that IL-11 is critical in fibrosis in multiple different organ systems and systemically as in the autoimmune disease systemic sclerosis. Animal models of fibrosis have determined that animals with IL-11 receptor deletions have retarded fibrosis and that in wild-type animals IL-11 is found at the organ of fibrosis. Recent evidence suggests that IL-11 may be a master regulator of fibrosis regardless of end target organ. With the development of neutralizing antibodies targeting the cytokine in pre-clinical models this could be a possible therapeutic, in a disease in which no specific therapies exist. This review appraises the evidence of the role of IL-11 in tissue fibrosis, its signalling properties, and therapeutic targeting. The review ends with an appraisal of indications for which IL-11 modulation is targeted.
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10
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Metcalfe RD, Hanssen E, Fung KY, Aizel K, Kosasih CC, Zlatic CO, Doughty L, Morton CJ, Leis AP, Parker MW, Gooley PR, Putoczki TL, Griffin MDW. Structures of the interleukin 11 signalling complex reveal gp130 dynamics and the inhibitory mechanism of a cytokine variant. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7543. [PMID: 37985757 PMCID: PMC10662374 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42754-w] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin (IL-)11, an IL-6 family cytokine, has pivotal roles in autoimmune diseases, fibrotic complications, and solid cancers. Despite intense therapeutic targeting efforts, structural understanding of IL-11 signalling and mechanistic insights into current inhibitors are lacking. Here we present cryo-EM and crystal structures of the human IL-11 signalling complex, including the complex containing the complete extracellular domains of the shared IL-6 family β-receptor, gp130. We show that complex formation requires conformational reorganisation of IL-11 and that the membrane-proximal domains of gp130 are dynamic. We demonstrate that the cytokine mutant, IL-11 Mutein, competitively inhibits signalling in human cell lines. Structural shifts in IL-11 Mutein underlie inhibition by altering cytokine binding interactions at all three receptor-engaging sites and abrogating the final gp130 binding step. Our results reveal the structural basis of IL-11 signalling, define the molecular mechanisms of an inhibitor, and advance understanding of gp130-containing receptor complexes, with potential applications in therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley D Metcalfe
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702, USA
| | - Eric Hanssen
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Ian Holmes Imaging Centre, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ka Yee Fung
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Kaheina Aizel
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Clara C Kosasih
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Courtney O Zlatic
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Larissa Doughty
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Craig J Morton
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- CSIRO Biomedical Manufacturing Program, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Andrew P Leis
- Ian Holmes Imaging Centre, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael W Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Paul R Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Tracy L Putoczki
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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11
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Panahipour L, Abbasabadi AO, Wagner A, Kratochwill K, Pichler M, Gruber R. Bone Allograft Acid Lysates Change the Genetic Signature of Gingival Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16181. [PMID: 38003371 PMCID: PMC10671348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone allografts are widely used as osteoconductive support to guide bone regrowth. Bone allografts are more than a scaffold for the immigrating cells as they maintain some bioactivity of the original bone matrix. Yet, it remains unclear how immigrating cells respond to bone allografts. To this end, we have evaluated the response of mesenchymal cells exposed to acid lysates of bone allografts (ALBA). RNAseq revealed that ALBA has a strong impact on the genetic signature of gingival fibroblasts, indicated by the increased expression of IL11, AREG, C11orf96, STC1, and GK-as confirmed by RT-PCR, and for IL11 and STC1 by immunoassays. Considering that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is stored in the bone matrix and may have caused the expression changes, we performed a proteomics analysis, TGF-β immunoassay, and smad2/3 nuclear translocation. ALBA neither showed detectable TGF-β nor was the lysate able to induce smad2/3 translocation. Nevertheless, the TGF-β receptor type I kinase inhibitor SB431542 significantly decreased the expression of IL11, AREG, and C11orf96, suggesting that other agonists than TGF-β are responsible for the robust cell response. The findings suggest that IL11, AREG, and C11orf96 expression in mesenchymal cells can serve as a bioassay reflecting the bioactivity of the bone allografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Panahipour
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
| | - Azarakhsh Oladzad Abbasabadi
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
| | - Anja Wagner
- Core Facility Proteomics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (K.K.)
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Stress Research in Peritoneal Dialysis, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Kratochwill
- Core Facility Proteomics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (K.K.)
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Stress Research in Peritoneal Dialysis, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Reinhard Gruber
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
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12
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Leask A, Naik A, Stratton RJ. Back to the future: targeting the extracellular matrix to treat systemic sclerosis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:713-723. [PMID: 37789119 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-01032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is the excessive deposition of a stable extracellular matrix (ECM); fibrotic tissue is composed principally of highly crosslinked type I collagen and highly contractile myofibroblasts. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by skin and organ fibrosis. The fibrotic process has been recognized in SSc for >40 years, but drugs with demonstrable efficacy against SSc fibrosis in ameliorating the lung involvement have only recently been identified. Unfortunately, these treatments are ineffective at improving the skin score in patients with SSc. Previous clinical trials in SSc have largely focused on the cross-purposing of anti-inflammatory drugs and the use of immunosuppressive drugs from the transplantation field, which address inflammatory and/or autoimmune processes. Limited examination has taken place of specific anti-fibrotic agents developed through their ability to directly target the ECM in SSc by, for example, alleviating the persistent matrix stiffness and mechanotransduction that might be required for both the initiation and maintenance of fibrosis, including in SSc. However, because of the importance of the ECM in the SSc phenotype, attempts have now been made to identify drugs that specifically target the ECM, including some drugs that are currently under consideration for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Leask
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Angha Naik
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Richard J Stratton
- Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK
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13
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Ye W, Wang Q, Zhao L, Wang C, Zhang D, Zhou M, Chen F, Wang W, Zhu Z, Guo W, Liu Y, Zou H, Xue Y. Blockade of IL-11 Trans-Signaling or JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Ameliorates the Profibrotic Effect of IL-11. Immunol Invest 2023; 52:703-716. [PMID: 37401665 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2222746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare rheumatic disease characterized by vascular damage, dysregulated immune response, and fibrosis. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is upregulated in SSc. This study aimed to investigate the pathological and therapeutic role of the IL-11 trans-signaling pathway in SSc. METHODS Plasma IL-11 level was evaluated in 32 patients with SSc and 15 healthy controls, while the expression levels of ADAM10, ADAM17, IL-11, IL-11 Rα, or IL-11 co-stained with CD3 or CD163 in the skin of SSc patients and healthy controls were analyzed. Fibroblasts were treated with IL-11 and ionomycin to evaluate the profibrotic effect of IL-11 trans-signaling pathway. TJ301 (sgp130Fc) and WP1066 (a JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor) intervention groups were set up to investigate the antifibrotic effect of targeting IL-11. RESULTS Levels of plasma IL-11 were extremely low in most SSc patients and healthy controls. In contrast, levels of IL-11, IL-11 Rα, and ADAM10, but not ADAM17, were significantly elevated in the skin of SSc patients. Moreover, the numbers of IL-11+ CD3+ cells and IL-11+ CD163+ cells were increased in the skin of SSc patients. Besides, IL-11 and ADAM10 were also elevated in the skin and pulmonary of bleomycin-induced SSc mouse. Fibroblasts co-stimulated with IL-11 and ionomycin showed increased expression of COL3 and phosphorylation of STAT3, which could be inhibited by TJ301 or WP1066. TJ301 also ameliorated skin and lung fibrosis in BLM-induced SSc mouse. CONCLUSIONS IL-11 induces fibrosis in SSc by regulating the trans-signaling pathway. Blockage of sgp130Fc or inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway could ameliorate the profibrotic effect of IL-11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Ye
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changcheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengyu Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiguo Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zaihua Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyu Guo
- Clinical Development, I-Mab Biopharma, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hejian Zou
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Xue
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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14
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Panahipour L, Abbasabadi AO, Gruber R. Gingival Fibroblasts Are Sensitive to Oral Cell Lysates Indicated by Their IL11 Expression. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1193. [PMID: 37892923 PMCID: PMC10604186 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10101193] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Damaged cells that appear as a consequence of invasive dental procedures or in response to dental materials are supposed to release damage-associated signals. These damage-associated signals not only support tissue regeneration but might also contribute to unwanted fibrosis. The aim of this study was to identify a molecular target that reflects how fibroblasts respond to necrotic oral tissue cells. To simulate the cell damage, we prepared necrotic cell lysates by sonication of the osteocytic cell line IDG-SW3 and exposed them to gingival fibroblasts. RNAseq revealed a moderate increase in IL11 expression in the gingival fibroblasts, a pleiotropic cytokine involved in fibrosis and inflammation, and also in regeneration following trauma. Necrotic lysates of the human squamous carcinoma cell lines HSC2 and TR146, as well as of gingival fibroblasts, however, caused a robust increase in IL11 expression in the gingival fibroblasts. Consistently, immunoassay revealed significantly increased IL11 levels in the gingival fibroblasts when exposed to the respective lysates. Considering that IL11 is a TGF-β target gene, IL11 expression was partially blocked by SB431542, a TGF-β receptor type I kinase inhibitor. Moreover, lysates from the HSC2, TR146, and gingival fibroblasts caused a moderate smad2/3 nuclear translocation in the gingival fibroblasts. Taken together and based on IL11 expression, our findings show that fibroblasts are sensitive to damaged oral tissue cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Panahipour
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
| | - Azarakhsh Oladzad Abbasabadi
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
| | - Reinhard Gruber
- Department of Oral Biology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (L.P.); (A.O.A.)
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
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15
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Acuto S, Lo Iacono M, Baiamonte E, Lo Re R, Maggio A, Cavalieri V. An optimized procedure for preparation of conditioned medium from Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from umbilical cord. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1273814. [PMID: 37854039 PMCID: PMC10580810 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1273814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free therapy based on conditioned medium derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has gained attention in the field of protective and regenerative medicine. However, the exact composition and properties of MSC-derived conditioned media can vary greatly depending on multiple parameters, which hamper standardization. In this study, we have optimized a procedure for preparation of conditioned medium starting from efficient isolation, propagation and characterization of MSCs from human umbilical cord, using a culture medium supplemented with human platelet lysate as an alternative source to fetal bovine serum. Our procedure successfully maximizes the yield of viable MSCs that maintain canonical key features. Importantly, under these conditions, the compositional profile and biological effects elicited by the conditioned medium preparations derived from these MSC populations do not depend on donor individuality. Moreover, approximately 120 L of conditioned medium could be obtained from a single umbilical cord, which provides a suitable framework to produce industrial amounts of toxic-free conditioned medium with predictable composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santina Acuto
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Melania Lo Iacono
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elena Baiamonte
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosa Lo Re
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cavalieri
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STeBiCeF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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16
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Steadman T, O'Reilly S. Elevated interleukin-11 in systemic sclerosis and role in disease pathogenesis. J Dermatol 2023; 50:1255-1261. [PMID: 37291792 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease in which there is elevated inflammation, aberrant cytokine expression, and subsequent fibrosis. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a recently described profibrotic cytokine that can mediate fibrosis in the heart, lungs, and skin and is upregulated by transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β1). The objective of this study was to quantify the serum levels of IL-11 in early diffuse SSc patients. Also, if IL-11 could regulate the alarmin IL-33 in dermal fibroblasts was quantified. Early diffuse SSc patient sera was isolated and IL-11 was quantified by specific commercial ELISA compared to healthy control (n = 17). Healthy dermal fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and then serum starved and incubated with or without recombinant IL-11. At specific early and late time points the supernatant was quantified for the alarmin IL-33 by specific ELISA. In early diffuse SSc patients it was demonstrated that they have elevated IL-11 in their sera. In a subgroup of SSc patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) this elevation was particularly pronounced compared to those devoid of fibrotic lung disease. In vitro incubation of healthy dermal fibroblasts led to a significant induction of IL-33 cytokine release into the cell media. IL-11 is a profibrotic cytokine that is elevated in early diffuse SSc and is particularly elevated in those with ILD. This suggests that IL-11 could be a possible biomarker of ILD in SSc. It was also found that IL-11 led to release of the cytokine alarmin IL-33 in fibroblasts at earlier time points but not late time points, suggesting early stimulation elicits an inflammatory response in the local microenvironment but prolonged stimulation leads to fibrosis.
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17
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Caven LT, Carabeo RA. The role of infected epithelial cells in Chlamydia-associated fibrosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1208302. [PMID: 37265500 PMCID: PMC10230099 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1208302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular, genital, and anogenital infection by the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis have been consistently associated with scar-forming sequelae. In cases of chronic or repeated infection of the female genital tract, infection-associated fibrosis of the fallopian tubes can result in ectopic pregnancy or infertility. In light of this urgent concern to public health, the underlying mechanism of C. trachomatis-associated scarring is a topic of ongoing study. Fibrosis is understood to be an outcome of persistent injury and/or dysregulated wound healing, in which an aberrantly activated myofibroblast population mediates hypertrophic remodeling of the basement membrane via deposition of collagens and other components of the extracellular matrix, as well as induction of epithelial cell proliferation via growth factor signaling. Initial study of infection-associated immune cell recruitment and pro-inflammatory signaling have suggested the cellular paradigm of chlamydial pathogenesis, wherein inflammation-associated tissue damage and fibrosis are the indirect result of an immune response to the pathogen initiated by host epithelial cells. However, recent work has revealed more direct routes by which C. trachomatis may induce scarring, such as infection-associated induction of growth factor signaling and pro-fibrotic remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, C. trachomatis infection has been shown to induce an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in host epithelial cells, prompting transdifferentiation into a myofibroblast-like phenotype. In this review, we summarize the field's current understanding of Chlamydia-associated fibrosis, reviewing key new findings and identifying opportunities for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam T. Caven
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Rey A. Carabeo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
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18
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Xiao R, Gu L, Li AM, Gan YL, He CY, Liao JX, Li YS, Xu L, Guo SL. IL-11 drives the phenotypic transformation of tracheal epithelial cells and fibroblasts to enhance abnormal repair after tracheal injury. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119438. [PMID: 36758859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Tracheal stenosis (TS) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease that can easily lead to respiratory failure and even death. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) has recently received increased attention as a fibrogenic factor, but its function in TS is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-11 in TS regulation based on clinical samples from patients with TS and a rat model of TS produced by nylon brush scraping. Using lentiviral vectors expressing shRNA (lentivirus-shRNA) targeting the IL-11 receptor (IL-11Rα), we lowered IL-11Rα levels in the rat trachea. Histological and immunostaining methods were used to evaluate the effects of IL-11Rα knockdown on tracheal injury, molecular phenotype, and fibrosis in TS rats. We show that IL-11 was significantly elevated in circulating serum and granulation tissue in patients with TS. In vitro, TGFβ1 dose-dependently stimulated IL-11 secretion from human tracheal epithelial cells (Beas-2b) and primary rat tracheal fibroblasts (PRTF). IL-11 transformed the epithelial cell phenotype to the mesenchymal cell phenotype by activating the β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, IL-11 activated the atypical ERK signaling pathway, stimulated fibroblasts proliferation, and transformed fibroblasts into alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) positive myofibroblasts. IL-11-neutralizing antibodies (IL-11NAb) or ERK inhibitors (U0126) inhibited IL-11 activity and downregulated fibrotic responses involving TGFβ/SMAD signaling. In vivo, IL-11Rα knockdown rats showed unobstructed tracheal lumen, relatively intact epithelial structure, and significantly reduced granulation tissue proliferation and collagen fiber deposition. Our findings confirm that IL-11 may be a target for future drug prevention and treatment of tracheal stenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Lei Gu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - An-Mao Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Yi-Ling Gan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Chun-Yan He
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Jia-Xin Liao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Yi-Shi Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Li Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
| | - Shu-Liang Guo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
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19
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Peng B, Hu Q, He R, Hou H, Lian D, Chen Y, Li H, Song L, Gao Y, Chen T, Zhang G, Li J. Baicalein alleviates fibrosis and inflammation in systemic sclerosis by regulating B-cell abnormalities. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:62. [PMID: 36810081 PMCID: PMC9942410 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03885-1] [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: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic sclerosis (SSc; also known as "scleroderma") is an autoimmune disorder characterized by extensive fibrosis, vascular changes, and immunologic dysregulation. Baicalein (phenolic flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) has been used to treat the pathological processes of various fibrotic and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of baicalein on the major pathologic characteristics of SSc: fibrosis, B-cell abnormalities, and inflammation. METHODS The effect of baicalein on collagen accumulation and expression of fibrogenic markers in human dermal fibroblasts were analyzed. SSc mice were produced by injecting bleomycin and treated with baicalein (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg). The antifibrotic features of baicalein and its mechanisms were investigated by histologic examination, hydroxyproline assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting and flow cytometry. RESULTS Baicalein (5-120 μM) significantly inhibited the accumulation of the extracellular matrix and fibroblast activation in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1- and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced human dermal fibroblasts, as evidenced by abrogated deposition of total collagen, decreased secretion of soluble collagen, reduced collagen contraction capability and downregulation of various fibrogenesis molecules. In a bleomycin-induced model of dermal fibrosis in mice, baicalein (25-100 mg/kg) restored dermal architecture, ameliorated inflammatory infiltrates, and attenuated dermal thickness and collagen accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. According to flow cytometry, baicalein reduced the proportion of B cells (B220+ lymphocytes) and increased the proportion of memory B cells (B220+CD27+ lymphocytes) in the spleens of bleomycin-induced mice. Baicalein treatment potently attenuated serum levels of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α), chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta) and autoantibodies (anti-scleroderma 70 (Scl-70), anti-polymyositis-scleroderma (PM-Scl), anti-centromeres, anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA). In addition, baicalein treatment can significantly inhibit the activation of TGF-β1 signaling in dermal fibroblasts and bleomycin-induce mice of SSc, evidenced by reducing the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-11, as well as inhibiting both small mother against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) activation. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that baicalein has therapeutic potential against SSc, exerting modulating B-cell abnormalities, anti-inflammatory effects, and antifibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qin Hu
- grid.28703.3e0000 0000 9040 3743College of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100024 People’s Republic of China
| | - Rong He
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongping Hou
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongyin Lian
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Chen
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Han Li
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Song
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yunhang Gao
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Tengfei Chen
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangping Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianrong Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Effenberger M, Widjaja AA, Grabherr F, Schaefer B, Grander C, Mayr L, Schwaerzler J, Enrich B, Moser P, Fink J, Pedrini A, Jaschke N, Kirchmair A, Pfister A, Hausmann B, Bale R, Putzer D, Zoller H, Schafer S, Pjevac P, Trajanoski Z, Oberhuber G, Adolph T, Cook S, Tilg H. Interleukin-11 drives human and mouse alcohol-related liver disease. Gut 2023; 72:168-179. [PMID: 35365572 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) reflects acute exacerbation of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and is a growing healthcare burden worldwide. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a profibrotic, proinflammatory cytokine with increasingly recognised toxicities in parenchymal and epithelial cells. We explored IL-11 serum levels and their prognostic value in patients suffering from AH and cirrhosis of various aetiology and experimental ALD. DESIGN IL-11 serum concentration and tissue expression was determined in a cohort comprising 50 patients with AH, 110 patients with cirrhosis and 19 healthy volunteers. Findings were replicated in an independent patient cohort (n=186). Primary human hepatocytes exposed to ethanol were studied in vitro. Ethanol-fed wildtype mice were treated with a neutralising murine IL-11 receptor-antibody (anti-IL11RA) and examined for severity signs and markers of ALD. RESULTS IL-11 serum concentration and hepatic expression increased with severity of liver disease, mostly pronounced in AH. In a multivariate Cox-regression, a serum level above 6.4 pg/mL was a model of end-stage liver disease independent risk factor for transplant-free survival in patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. In mice, severity of alcohol-induced liver inflammation correlated with enhanced hepatic IL-11 and IL11RA expression. In vitro and in vivo, anti-IL11RA reduced pathogenic signalling pathways (extracellular signal-regulated kinases, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, NADPH oxidase 4) and protected hepatocytes and murine livers from ethanol-induced inflammation and injury. CONCLUSION Pathogenic IL-11 signalling in hepatocytes plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ALD and could serve as an independent prognostic factor for transplant-free survival. Blocking IL-11 signalling might be a therapeutic option in human ALD, particularly AH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Felix Grabherr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Benedikt Schaefer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Grander
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lisa Mayr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julian Schwaerzler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Barbara Enrich
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrizia Moser
- INNPATH, Innsbruck Medical University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julia Fink
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alisa Pedrini
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nikolai Jaschke
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Kirchmair
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Pfister
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reto Bale
- Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology-Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniel Putzer
- Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology-Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zlatko Trajanoski
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Georg Oberhuber
- INNPATH, Innsbruck Medical University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timon Adolph
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stuart Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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21
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Nanri Y, Nunomura S, Honda Y, Takedomi H, Yamaguchi Y, Izuhara K. A positive loop formed by SOX11 and periostin upregulates TGF-β signals leading to skin fibrosis. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 143:989-998.e7. [PMID: 36584910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic, heterogenous disease of connective tissue characterized by organ fibrosis together with vascular injury and autoimmunity. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays a central role in generating fibrosis, including SSc. Periostin is a matricellular protein playing a key role in the generation of fibrosis by amplifying the TGF-β signals. SOX (SRY-related HMG box) 11 is a transcription factor playing several important roles in organ development in embryos. We have previously shown that SOX11 induces periostin expression. However, the roles of the interactions among the TGF-β signals, periostin, and SOX11 remain unknown in the pathogenesis of SSc. In this study, we found that most clones of dermal fibroblasts derived from SSc patients showed constitutive, high expression of SOX11, which is significantly induced by TGF-β1. SOX11 forms a positive loop with periostin to activate the TGF-β signals in SSc dermal fibroblasts. Genetic deletion of Sox11 in Postn-expressing fibroblasts impairs dermal fibrosis by bleomycin. Moreover, using the DNA microarray method, we identified several fibrotic factors dependent on the TGF-β/SOX11/periostin pathway in SSc dermal fibroblasts. Our findings, taken together, show that a positive loop formed by SOX11 and periostin in fibroblasts upregulates the TGF-β signals, leading to skin fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Nanri
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Saga, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nunomura
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Saga, Japan
| | - Yuko Honda
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Saga, Japan
| | | | - Yukie Yamaguchi
- Department of Environmental Immuno-Dermatology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kenji Izuhara
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Saga, Japan.
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22
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Widjaja AA, Viswanathan S, Shekeran SG, Adami E, Lim WW, Chothani S, Tan J, Goh JWT, Chen HM, Lim SY, Boustany-Kari CM, Hawkins J, Petretto E, Hübner N, Schafer S, Coffman TM, Cook SA. Targeting endogenous kidney regeneration using anti-IL11 therapy in acute and chronic models of kidney disease. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7497. [PMID: 36470928 PMCID: PMC9723120 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The kidney has large regenerative capacity, but this is compromised when kidney damage is excessive and renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) undergo SNAI1-driven growth arrest. Here we investigate the role of IL11 in TECs, kidney injury and renal repair. IL11 stimulation of TECs induces ERK- and p90RSK-mediated GSK3β inactivation, SNAI1 upregulation and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Mice with acute kidney injury upregulate IL11 in TECs leading to SNAI1 expression and kidney dysfunction, which is not seen in Il11 deleted mice or in mice administered a neutralizing IL11 antibody in either preemptive or treatment modes. In acute kidney injury, anti-TGFβ reduces renal fibrosis but exacerbates inflammation and tubule damage whereas anti-IL11 reduces all pathologies. Mice with TEC-specific deletion of Il11ra1 have reduced pathogenic signaling and are protected from renal injury-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and failure. In a model of chronic kidney disease, anti-IL11 therapy promotes TEC proliferation and parenchymal regeneration, reverses fibroinflammation and restores renal mass and function. These data highlight IL11-induced mesenchymal transition of injured TECs as an important renal pathology and suggest IL11 as a therapeutic target for restoring stalled endogenous regeneration in the diseased kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shamini G Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eleonora Adami
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sonia Chothani
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joyce Wei Ting Goh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Mei Chen
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sze Yun Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Julie Hawkins
- Boehringer Ingelheim, CardioMetabolic Disease Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Norbert Hübner
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, 13347, Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thomas M Coffman
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore. .,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
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23
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Horn G, Schäfers C, Thiermann H, Völkl S, Schmidt A, Rothmiller S. Sulfur mustard single-dose exposure triggers senescence in primary human dermal fibroblasts. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:3053-3066. [PMID: 35906424 PMCID: PMC9525386 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chronic wounds, skin blisters, and ulcers are the result of skin exposure to the alkylating agent sulfur mustard (SM). One potential pathomechanism is senescence, which causes permanent growth arrest with a pro-inflammatory environment and may be associated with a chronic wound healing disorder. SM is known to induce chronic senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells which are subsequently unable to fulfill their regenerative function in the wound healing process. As dermal fibroblasts are crucial for cutaneous wound healing by being responsible for granulation tissue formation and synthesis of the extracellular matrix, SM exposure might also impair their function in a similar way. This study, therefore, investigated the SM sensitivity of primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) by determining the dose-response curve. Non-lethal concentrations LC1 (3 µM) to LC25 (65 µM) were used to examine the induction of senescence. HDF were exposed once to 3 µM, 13 µM, 24 µM, 40 µM or 65 μM SM, and were then cultured for 31 days. Changes in morphology as well as at the genetic and protein level were investigated. For the first time, HDF were shown to undergo senescence in a time- and concentration-dependent manner after SM exposure. They developed a characteristic senescence phenotype and expressed various senescence markers. Proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly altered in SM-exposed HDF as part of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype. The senescent fibroblasts can thus be considered a contributor to the SM-induced chronic wound healing disorder and might serve as a new therapeutic target in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Horn
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Catherine Schäfers
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Völkl
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Annette Schmidt
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Sport Science, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577, Neubiberg, Germany
| | - Simone Rothmiller
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, Munich, Germany.
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24
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Fu S, Lu Z, Ye W. TGF- β1 Induces Interlukin-11 Expression and Pro-Fibrotic Effect by DNA Demethylation in Subconjunctival Fibroblasts. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:7729827. [PMID: 35865343 PMCID: PMC9296281 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7729827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Objective To assess Interlukin-11 (IL11) expression in the tears of patients after filtration surgery and to find out its pro-transdifferentiational and pro-fibrotic functions and mechanisms on subconjunctival human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs) induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1). Methods Tears were collected from glaucoma patients with or without filtration surgery. The expression of IL11 in tears was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Primary HTFs were prepared as an expansion culture of human Tenon's explants from patients undergoing cataract surgery. TGF-β1 and IL11 were used to stimulate the cultured HTFs. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analyzed the roles of TGF-β1 in IL11 and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) expression and the effects of IL11 on collagen-1A1 and α-smooth muscle actin expression. The effects of IL11 on human HTFs' migration were tested via the scratch-wound assay. MassARRAY platform of Sequenom was applied for analyzing the quantitative methylation of the IL11 promoter region. Result Our data presented significantly high levels of IL11 in the tears of patients who underwent filtration surgery with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with those who underwent filtration surgery with controlled IOP. The up-regulation of IL11 was related to TGF-β1. We also found that TGF-β induced IL11 up-regulation in the HTFs, which activates the HTFs and enhanced the translation of the pro-fibrotic protein expression. This is correlated with inhibiting the activity and expression of DNMTs and demethylating the IL11 promoter. Therefore, IL11 may be an ideal target to be regulated to control the filtering pathway scar formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zhaozeng Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Wen Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
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25
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Rokni M, Sadeghi Shaker M, Kavosi H, Shokoofi S, Mahmoudi M, Farhadi E. The role of endothelin and RAS/ERK signaling in immunopathogenesis-related fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis: an updated review with therapeutic implications. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:108. [PMID: 35562771 PMCID: PMC9102675 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02787-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease of connective tissue with high rate of morbidity and mortality highlighted by extreme fibrosis affecting various organs such as the dermis, lungs, and heart. Until now, there is no specific cure for the fibrosis occurred in SSc disease. The SSc pathogenesis is yet unknown, but transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and Ras-ERK1/2 cascade are the main factors contributing to the tissue fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Several studies have hallmarked the association of ET-1 with or without TGF-β and Ras-ERK1/2 signaling in the development of SSc disease, vasculopathy, and fibrosis of the dermis, lungs, and several organs. Accordingly, different clinical and experimental studies have indicated the potential therapeutic role of ET-1 and Ras antagonists in these situations in SSc. In addition, ET-1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a cofactor of the TGF-β cascade play a substantial initiative role in inducing fibrosis. Once initiated, TGF-β alone or in combination with ET-1 and CTGF can activate several kinase proteins such as the Ras-ERK1/2 pathway that serve as the fundamental factor for developing fibrosis. Furthermore, Salirasib is a synthetic small molecule that is able to inhibit all Ras forms. Therefore, it can be used as a potent therapeutic factor for fibrotic disorders. So, this review discusses the role of TGF-β/ET-1/Ras signaling and their involvement in SSc pathogenesis, particularly in its fibrotic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Rokni
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Sadeghi Shaker
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hoda Kavosi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Shokoofi
- Rheumatology Department, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Elham Farhadi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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26
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Widjaja A, Shekeran S, Adami E, Goh J, Tan J, Viswanathan S, Lim SY, Tan PH, Hubner N, Coffman T, Cook S. A Neutralizing IL-11 Antibody Improves Renal Function and Increases Lifespan in a Mouse Model of Alport Syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:718-730. [PMID: 35140116 PMCID: PMC8970448 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021040577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alport syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by a defective glomerular basement membrane, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and progressive renal failure. IL-11 was recently implicated in fibrotic kidney disease but its role in Alport syndrome is unknown Methods: We determined IL-11 expression by molecular analyses and in an Alport syndrome mouse model. We assessed the effects of a neutralizing IL-11 antibody (X203) versus an IgG control in Col4a3-/- mice (lacking the gene encoding a type IV collagen component) on renal tubule damage, function, fibrosis, and inflammation. Effects on lifespan of X203, the IgG control, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ramipril), or ramipril+X203 were also studied. RESULTS In Col4a3 mice, as kidney failure advanced, renal IL-11 levels increased and IL-11 expression localized to tubular epithelial cells. The IL-11 receptor IL11RA is expressed in tubular epithelial cells and podocytes and is upregulated in tubular epithelial cells of Col4a3 mice. Administration of X203 reduced albuminuria, improved renal function, and preserved podocyte numbers and levels of key podocyte proteins that are reduced in Col4a3 mice; these effects were accompanied by reduced fibrosis and inflammation, attenuation of epithelial-tomesenchymal transition, and increased expression of regenerative markers. X203 attenuated pathogenic ERK and STAT3 pathways, which were activated in Col4a3 mice. Median lifespan of Col4a3 mice was prolonged 22% by ramapril, 44% with X203, and 99% with amipril+X203. CONCLUSIONS In an Alport syndrome mouse model, renal IL-11 is upregulated, and neutralization of IL-11 reduces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, fibrosis, and inflammation, while improving renal function. Anti-IL-11 combined with ACE inhibition synergistically extends lifespan. This suggests that a therapeutic approach targeting IL-11 holds promise for progressive kidney disease in Alport syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Widjaja
- A Widjaja, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shamini Shekeran
- S Shekeran, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eleonora Adami
- E Adami, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joyce Goh
- J Goh, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- J Tan, National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- S Viswanathan, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sze Yun Lim
- S Lim, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Puay Hoon Tan
- P Tan, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Norbert Hubner
- N Hubner, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbruck Centre for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Coffman
- T Coffman, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart Cook
- S Cook, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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27
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Myzithras M, Lin S, Radden L, Hess Kenny C, Cai Z, MacDonald A, Binetti R, Marlow M, Fracasso P, Gibson G, Bartlett C, Hawkins J, Hansel S. Development of novel ultra-sensitive IL-11 target engagement assays to support mechanistic PK/PD modeling for an anti-IL-11 antibody therapeutic. MAbs 2022; 14:2104153. [PMID: 35916739 PMCID: PMC9348130 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2104153] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An in-house antibody generation campaign identified a diverse, high affinity set of anti-interleukin-11 (IL-11) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to enable successful development of novel, custom ultra-sensitive target engagement assays for detection of “free” (unbound to the dosed anti-IL-11 therapeutic mAb) and “total” (free and mAb-IL-11 complexed form) IL-11 in preclinical species and human. Antibody hits from distinct epitope communities were screened on various platforms, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Meso Scale Discovery, Simoa HD-1 and Simoa Planar Array (SP-X), and used for assay development and sensitivity optimization. The ultra-sensitive SP-X format achieved a lower limit of quantitation of 0.006 pg/mL, enabling the first reported baseline levels of IL-11 in healthy control plasma determined by custom bioanalytical assays. These newly established baseline levels supported mechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling in mouse, cynomolgus monkey, and human for a greater understanding of preclinical study design and in vivo dynamic interaction of soluble IL-11 with an anti-IL-11 antibody therapeutic candidate. Modeling and simulation also helped refine the utility of assays with respect to their potential use as target engagement biomarkers in the clinic. Abbreviations IL-11: Interleukin-11, TE: Target engagement, PK/PD: Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic, mAb: Monoclonal antibody, NHP: Non-human primate, IgG: Immunoglobulin G, Cyno: Cynomolgulus monkey, GFR: Glomerular filtration rate, BQL: Below quantitation levels, DRM: Disease relevant model, kDa: kilodaltons, SPR: Surface plasmon resonance, pSTAT3: phosphorylated STAT3, IL-11R: Interleukin-11 receptor, TPP: Target product protein, LLOQ: Lower limit of quantitation, RLU: Relative light units
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siqi Lin
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Zheng Cai
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | | | - Ralph Binetti
- Immunology & Respiratory, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Michael Marlow
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Paul Fracasso
- Cardiometabolic Diseases, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Glenn Gibson
- Cardiometabolic Diseases, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | | | - Julie Hawkins
- Cardiometabolic Diseases, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Steven Hansel
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Research, Ridgefield, CT, USA
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28
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Wu P, Lin B, Huang S, Meng J, Zhang F, Zhou M, Hei X, Ke Y, Yang H, Huang D. IL-11 Is Elevated and Drives the Profibrotic Phenotype Transition of Orbital Fibroblasts in Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:846106. [PMID: 35273577 PMCID: PMC8902078 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.846106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Orbital fibrosis is a hallmark of tissue remodeling in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Previous studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-11 plays a pivotal profibrotic role in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, the expression pattern of IL-11 in patients with TAO and whether IL-11 is mechanistically linked with pathological fibrosis remains unknown. In this study, we investigated IL-11 levels in the serum and orbital connective tissue of patients with TAO, and evaluated the correlation of these levels with the patient's clinical activity score. We also evaluated the expression pattern of IL-11Rα in orbital connective tissue. Furthermore, we elucidated the regulatory factors, profibrotic function, and downstream signaling pathways for IL-11 in TAO using in vitro studies. IL-11 levels in serum and orbital connective tissues were increased in patients with TAO, as compared with healthy controls. In addition, both levels were positively correlated with disease activity. Single-cell RNA sequencing of orbital connective tissue indicated that IL-11Rα was dominantly expressed in orbital fibroblasts (OFs). RNA sequencing of paired unstimulated and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-stimulated samples demonstrated that upregulation of IL-11 expression defined the dominant transcriptional response. IL-11 signaling was also confirmed to be downstream of TGF-β1 and IL-1β. Therefore, we deduced that IL-11 protein is secreted in an autocrine loop in TAO. We also indicated that IL-11 mediated the profibrotic phenotype switch by inducing the expression of myofibroblast differentiation markers, including α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I α1, which could be abrogated by an anti-IL-11 neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, we revealed that extracellular regulated protein kinase may be a crucial factor in the pro-fibrotic, translationally specific signaling activity of IL-11. These data demonstrate that IL-11 plays a crucial role in orbital fibroblast phenotype switching and may be a potential therapeutic target candidate for the treatment of TAO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengsen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingying Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangqing Hei
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huasheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
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Lai Y, Wei X, Ye T, Hang L, Mou L, Su J. Interrelation Between Fibroblasts and T Cells in Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:747335. [PMID: 34804029 PMCID: PMC8602099 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.747335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium. The interrelations between multiple immune cells and stromal cells participate in the pathogenesis of ILDs. While fibroblasts contribute to the development of ILDs through secreting extracellular matrix and proinflammatory cytokines upon activation, T cells are major mediators of adaptive immunity, as well as inflammation and autoimmune tissue destruction in the lung of ILDs patients. Fibroblasts play important roles in modulating T cell recruitment, differentiation and function and conversely, T cells can balance fibrotic sequelae with protective immunity in the lung. A more precise understanding of the interrelation between fibroblasts and T cells will enable a better future therapeutic design by targeting this interrelationship. Here we highlight recent work on the interactions between fibroblasts and T cells in ILDs, and consider the implications of these interactions in the future development of therapies for ILDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinru Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lilin Hang
- Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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30
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Fung KY, Louis C, Metcalfe RD, Kosasih CC, Wicks IP, Griffin MDW, Putoczki TL. Emerging roles for IL-11 in inflammatory diseases. Cytokine 2021; 149:155750. [PMID: 34689057 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a cytokine that has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases and solid malignancies. Elevated IL-11 expression is also associated with several non-malignant inflammatory diseases where its function remains less well-characterized. Here, we summarize current literature surrounding the contribution of IL-11 to the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and systemic sclerosis, as well as other chronic inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, psoriasis and colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Yee Fung
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia.
| | - Cynthia Louis
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia; Inflammation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Riley D Metcalfe
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Technology Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Clara C Kosasih
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Technology Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ian P Wicks
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia; Inflammation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria 3052, Australia; Rheumatology Unit, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Technology Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tracy L Putoczki
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia.
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31
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Widjaja AA, Viswanathan S, Jinrui D, Singh BK, Tan J, Wei Ting JG, Lamb D, Shekeran SG, George BL, Schafer S, Carling D, Adami E, Cook SA. Molecular Dissection of Pro-Fibrotic IL11 Signaling in Cardiac and Pulmonary Fibroblasts. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:740650. [PMID: 34651016 PMCID: PMC8505966 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.740650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In fibroblasts, TGFβ1 stimulates IL11 upregulation that leads to an autocrine loop of IL11-dependent pro-fibrotic protein translation. The signaling pathways downstream of IL11, which acts via IL6ST, are contentious with both STAT3 and ERK implicated. Here we dissect IL11 signaling in fibroblasts and study IL11-dependent protein synthesis pathways in the context of approved anti-fibrotic drug mechanisms of action. We show that IL11-induced ERK activation drives fibrogenesis and while STAT3 phosphorylation (pSTAT3) is also seen, this appears unrelated to fibroblast activation. Ironically, recombinant human IL11, which has been used extensively in mouse experiments to infer STAT3 activity downstream of IL11, increases pSTAT3 in Il11ra1 null mouse fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, inhibition of STAT3 was found to induce severe proteotoxic ER stress, generalized fibroblast dysfunction and cell death. In contrast, inhibition of ERK prevented fibroblast activation in the absence of ER stress. IL11 stimulated an axis of ERK/mTOR/P70RSK protein translation and its selectivity for Collagen 1 synthesis was ascribed to an EPRS-regulated, ribosome stalling mechanism. Surprisingly, the anti-fibrotic drug nintedanib caused dose-dependent ER stress and lesser pSTAT3 expression. Pirfenidone had no effect on ER stress whereas anti-IL11 specifically inhibited the ERK/mTOR axis while reducing ER stress. These studies define the translation-specific signaling pathways downstream of IL11, intersect immune and metabolic signaling and reveal unappreciated effects of nintedanib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dong Jinrui
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Brijesh K Singh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joyce Goh Wei Ting
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Lamb
- Boehringer Ingelheim, Immunology and Respiratory, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Shamini G Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin L George
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Carling
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleonora Adami
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
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32
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Lokau J, Kespohl B, Kirschke S, Garbers C. The role of proteolysis in interleukin-11 signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1869:119135. [PMID: 34624437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although interleukin-11 (IL-11) was discovered more than 30 years ago, it remains an understudied member of the IL-6 family of cytokines. While it was originally discovered as a secreted factor that could foster megakaryocyte maturation and was therefore used as a recombinant protein to increase platelet production in patients with thrombocytopenia, recent research has established important roles for IL-11 in inflammation, fibrosis and cancer. In order to initiate signal transduction, IL-11 binds first to a non-signaling membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R, classic signaling), which subsequently induces the formation of a heterodimer of the signal-transducing receptor gp130 that is shared with the other family members. Complex formation initiates several intracellular signaling cascades, most notably the Janus kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway. We have recently identified a trans-signaling mechanism, in which IL-11 binds to soluble forms of the IL-11R (sIL-11R) and the agonistic IL-11/sIL-11R complex can activate cells that do not express the IL-11R and would usually not respond to IL-11. The generation of sIL-11R and thus the initiation of IL-11 trans-signaling is mediated by proteolytic cleavage. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding IL-11R cleavage, highlight recent developments in IL-11 biology and discuss therapeutic opportunities and challenges in the light of IL-11 classic and trans-signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Lokau
- Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Birte Kespohl
- Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Kirschke
- Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Garbers
- Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany.
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33
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Huang X, Gu S, Liu C, Zhang L, Zhang Z, Zhao Y, Khoong Y, Li H, Gao Y, Liu Y, Wang Z, Zhao D, Li Q, Zan T. CD39 + Fibroblasts Enhance Myofibroblast Activation by Promoting IL-11 Secretion in Hypertrophic Scars. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:1065-1076.e19. [PMID: 34537192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblasts (Fbs) are critical to hypertrophic scar (HTS) formation and were recently shown to be highly heterogeneous. However, Fb heterogeneity in HTSs has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we observed an increased fraction of CD39+ Fbs in HTS after screening four Fb subtypes (CD26+, CD36+, FAP+, and CD39+). CD39+ Fbs, enriched in the upper dermis, were positively correlated with scar severity. The transcriptional analysis of CD39+ and CD39- Fbs sorted from HTS revealed that IL-11 was more highly expressed in CD39+ Fbs. We then showed that IL-11 was upregulated in HTSs and that its expression was induced by TGFβ1 in vitro. TGFβ1 also stimulated the expression of CD39 at the transcriptional and protein levels, mediating the maintenance of the CD39+ phenotype. Furthermore, IL-11 facilitated myofibroblast activation and extracellular matrix production in both CD39+ and CD39- Fbs. Interestingly, CD39+ Fbs secreted more IL-11 on TGFβ1 treatment and were less responsive to IL-11 than CD39- Fbs. Notably, a CD39 inhibitor effectively reduced stretch-induced scar formation and attenuated bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis, suggesting an antiscarring approach by targeting CD39+ Fbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuchen Gu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Caiyue Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Changzheng Hospital Joint Center for Translational Research, Institutes for Translational Research (CAS-SMMU), Shanghai, China
| | - Zewei Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yixuan Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yimin Khoong
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haizhou Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yashan Gao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhan Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danyang Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingfeng Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Zan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Giordo R, Thuan DTB, Posadino AM, Cossu A, Zinellu A, Erre GL, Pintus G. Iloprost Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Dependent Activation of Collagen Synthesis Induced by Sera from Scleroderma Patients in Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Molecules 2021; 26:4729. [PMID: 34443317 PMCID: PMC8399120 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell injury is an early event in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis and several studies indicate oxidative stress as the trigger of SSc-associated vasculopathy. Here, we show that circulating factors present in sera of SSc patients increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and collagen synthesis in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). In addition, the possibility that iloprost, a drug commonly used in SSc therapy, might modulate the above-mentioned biological phenomena has been also investigated. In this regard, as compared to sera of SSc patients, sera of iloprost-treated SSc patients failed to increased ROS levels and collagen synthesis in HPMEC, suggesting a potential antioxidant mechanism of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Giordo
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Duong Thi Bich Thuan
- Faculty of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Vinhomes Ocean Park, Gia Lam District, Hanoi 132002, Vietnam;
| | - Anna Maria Posadino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.P.); (A.C.); (A.Z.)
| | - Annalisa Cossu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.P.); (A.C.); (A.Z.)
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.P.); (A.C.); (A.Z.)
| | - Gian Luca Erre
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital (AOUSS) and University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.P.); (A.C.); (A.Z.)
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, University City Rd, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
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35
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Duffy L, Henderson J, Brown M, Pryzborski S, Fullard N, Summa L, Distler JHW, Stratton R, O'Reilly S. Bone Morphogenetic Protein Antagonist Gremlin-1 Increases Myofibroblast Transition in Dermal Fibroblasts: Implications for Systemic Sclerosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:681061. [PMID: 34150776 PMCID: PMC8213337 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.681061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Systemic Sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease which results in fibrosis of the skin and lungs. The disease is characterized by activation of myofibroblasts but what governs this is unknown. Gremlin-1 is a BMP antagonist that is developmentally regulated and we sought to investigate its role in Systemic Sclerosis. Methods Dermal fibroblasts were transfected with Grem1pcDNA3.1 expression vectors or empty vectors. Various markers of myofibroblasts were measured at the mRNA and protein levels. Scratch wound assays were also performed. Media Transfer experiments were performed to evaluate cytokine like effects. Various inhibitors of TGF-β signaling and MAPK signaling were used post-transfection. siRNA to Gremlin-1 in SSc dermal fibroblasts were performed to evaluate the role of Gremlin-1. Different cytokines were incubated with fibroblasts and Gremlin-1 measured. Bleomycin was used as model of fibrosis and immunohistochemistry performed. Results Overexpression of Gremlin-1 was achieved in primary dermal fibroblasts and lead to activation of quiescent cells to myofibroblasts indicated by collagen and α-Smooth muscle actin. Overexpression also led to functional effects. This was associated with increased TGF-β1 levels and SBE luciferase activity but not increased Thrombospondin-1 expression. Inhibition of Gremlin-1 overexpression cells with antibodies to TGF-β1 but not isotype controls led to reduced collagen and various TGF-β pathway chemical inhibitors also led to reduced collagen levels. In SSc cells siRNA mediated reduction of Gremlin-1 reduced collagen expression and CTGF gene and protein levels in these cells. IL-13 did not lead to elevated Gremlin-1 expression nor did IL-11. Gremlin-1 was elevated in an animal model of fibrosis compared to NaCl-treated mice. Conclusion Gremlin-1 is a key regulator of myofibroblast transition leading to enhanced ECM deposition. Strategies that block Gremlin-1 maybe a possible therapeutic target in fibrotic diseases such as SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Duffy
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - John Henderson
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Max Brown
- Biosciences Department, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nicola Fullard
- Biosciences Department, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Lena Summa
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany
| | - Jorg H W Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany
| | - Richard Stratton
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven O'Reilly
- Biosciences Department, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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