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Ishikane S, Arioka M, Takahashi-Yanaga F. Promising small molecule anti-fibrotic agents: Newly developed or repositioned drugs targeting myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 214:115663. [PMID: 37336252 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis occurs in all organs and tissues except the brain, and its progression leads to dysfunction of affected organs. Fibrosis-induced organ dysfunction results from the loss of elasticity, strength, and functionality of tissues due to the extracellular matrix secreted by myofibroblasts that express smooth muscle-type actin as a marker. Myofibroblasts, which play a major role in fibrosis, were once thought to originate exclusively from activated fibroblasts; however, it is now clear that myofibroblasts are diverse in origin, from epithelial cells, endothelial cells, adipocytes, macrophages, and other cells. Fibrosis of vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, is a serious chronic disease that ultimately leads to death. Currently, anti-cancer drugs have made remarkable progress, as evidenced by the development of many molecular-targeted drugs, and are making a significant contribution to improving the prognosis of cancer treatment. However, the development of anti-fibrotic agents, which also play an important role in prognosis, has lagged. In this review, the current knowledge regarding myofibroblasts is summarized, with particular attention given to their origin and transdifferentiation signaling pathways (e.g., TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, YAP/TAZ and AMPK signaling pathways). The development of new small molecule anti-fibrotic agents and the repositioning of existing drugs targeting myofibroblast transdifferentiation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ishikane
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Masaki Arioka
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Fumi Takahashi-Yanaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
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Fang XD, He JK, Chen YX, Ke B, Zhu SY, Fan CQ, Tu WP, Li P. MiR-449a downregulation alleviates the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Int Urol Nephrol 2023:10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6. [PMID: 36781680 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) seriously threatens the health of individuals. MiRNAs regulate the progression of fibrosis. Nevertheless, the detailed function of miR-449a in RIF is largely unknown. METHODS In vitro and in vivo models of RIF were developed to evaluate the function of miR-449a. The relationship among miR-449a, KLF4, and MFN2 was explored using a dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Additionally, the pathological changes in the mice were detected using Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. RESULTS TGF-β1 downregulated the expressions of KLF4 and MFN2 in TCMK-1 cells, but upregulated the level of miR-449a. The downregulation of miR-449a significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced upregulation of fibrotic proteins in TCMK-1 cells. Meanwhile, miR-449a directly targeted KLF4. Moreover, KLF4 overexpression activated MFN2 transcription and reversed TGF-β1-induced fibrosis by positively regulating MFN2. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-449a could obviously alleviate the symptoms of RIF in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. CONCLUSION MiR-449a downregulation attenuated the development of RIF by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Therefore, miR-449a might act as a target in treating RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Dong Fang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jia-Ke He
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yan-Xia Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ben Ke
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shu-Ying Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Fan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wei-Ping Tu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Fan JF, Wang W, Tan X, Ye P, Li JK, Niu LY, Li WY, Wang WZ, Wang YK. Contribution of cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression to enhancement in tonically active glutamatergic inputs to the rostral ventrolateral medulla in hypertension. J Hypertens 2022; 40:2394-2405. [PMID: 36189462 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cyclooxygenase (COX) is critical in regulating cardiovascular function, but its role involved in the central control of blood pressure (BP) is uncovered. The tonic glutamatergic inputs to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are enhanced in hypertension. Here, the present study was designed to investigate the effect and mechanism of central COX on tonic glutamatergic inputs to the RVLM and BP regulation. METHODS Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) received RVLM microinjection of adeno-associated viral vectors to promote or inhibit the COX2 expression were subjected to subsequent experiments. Glutamate level and glutaminase expression were detected by ELISA and western blot, respectively. The function of tonic glutamatergic inputs was assessed by BP response to microinjection of the glutamate receptor antagonist into the RVLM. PC12 cells were used to detect the underlying signal pathway. RESULTS The RVLM COX2 expression and prostaglandin E2 level were significant higher in SHRs than in WKY rats. Overexpression of COX2 in the RVLM produced an increase in basal BP, RVLM glutamate level, and glutaminase expression in WKY rats, while they were significantly reduced by interfering with COX2 expression in SHRs. Microinjections of the glutamate receptor antagonist into the RVLM produced a significant BP decrease in WKY rats with COX2 overexpression pretreatment. Furthermore, the increased levels of BP, glutamate content, and glutaminase activity in the RVLM evoked by central infusion of angiotensin II were attenuated in COX2 knockout mice. It was also found that prostaglandin E2 increased supernatant glutamate level and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in PC12 cells. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that upregulated COX2 expression enhances the tonically active glutamatergic inputs to the RVLM, which is associated with cardiovascular regulation in hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Fu Fan
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China
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Ikushima E, Ishikane S, Kishigami T, Matsunaga H, Igawa K, Tomooka K, Nishimura Y, Takahashi-Yanaga F. 2,5-Dimethylcelecoxib attenuates cardiac fibrosis caused by cryoinjury-induced myocardial infarction by suppressing the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation via inhibition of the TGF-β signaling pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 197:114950. [PMID: 35143754 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib (DM-C), a derivative of celecoxib, lacks cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory effects and suppresses cardiac remodeling by activating glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). However, it remains unclear whether DM-C attenuates fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation (FMT), which plays a key role in cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of DM-C on FMT using a cryoinjury-induced myocardial infarction (CMI) mouse model. We found that DM-C attenuated the deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction after CMI by decreasing cardiac fibrosis. Analysis of the expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker for myofibroblasts, indicated that DM-C decreased FMT at the cardiac injury site. To investigate the mechanism by which DM-C attenuated FMT, fibroblasts obtained from the heart were stimulated with TGF-β to induce FMT, and the effect of DM-C was analyzed. DM-C suppressed the expression of α-SMA and the phosphorylation levels of Smad 2/3 and GSK-3, indicating that DM-C suppressed α-SMA expression by inhibiting the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway via activation of GSK-3. DM-C decreased the expression of collagen, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and Snail, which are also known to accelerate cardiac fibrosis. These results suggested that DM-C attenuated cardiac fibrosis by suppressing FMT at the injured site after CMI by inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway via activation of GSK-3. Thus, DM-C has potential against cardiac disease as a novel anti-fibrotic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eigo Ikushima
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shin Ishikane
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Kishigami
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Matsunaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazunobu Igawa
- Department of Molecular and Material Science, Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Tomooka
- Department of Molecular and Material Science, Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yosuke Nishimura
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Fumi Takahashi-Yanaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan.
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Yu FF, Yang GH, Chen SB, Niu XL, Cai W, Tao YY, Wang XJ, Li M, Li YM, Zhao JH. Pseudolaric Acid B Attenuates High Salt Intake-Induced Hypertensive Left Ventricular Remodeling by Modulating Monocyte/Macrophage Phenotypes. Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932404. [PMID: 34493698 PMCID: PMC8434772 DOI: 10.12659/msm.932404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies in ApoE knockout mice have shown that pseudolaric acid B (PB) can act as an immunomodulatory drug and attenuate atherosclerosis progression by modulating monocyte/macrophage phenotypes. Our previous study demonstrated that high salt intake could shift the phenotype of monocytes/macrophages to an inflammatory phenotype, and that this shift was related to hypertension and hypertensive left ventricular (LV) remodeling. However, no comprehensive assessment of the effects of PB on hypertensive LV remodeling has been conducted. Material/Methods In this study, RAW264.7 macrophages cultured with different concentrations of NaCl were used to investigate the modulating effects of PB on macrophage phenotype. Furthermore, N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hypertensive mice were used to investigate the modulating effects of PB on monocyte phenotype. LV remodeling was investigated by echocardiography. LV morphologic staining (for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and collagen deposition) was performed at the time of sacrifice. Results The results showed that PB significantly improved the viability of RAW264.7 cells, suppressed their phagocytic and migration abilities, and inhibited their phenotypic shift to M1 macrophages. In addition, the blood pressure of PB-treated mice was significantly decreased relative to that of control mice. Furthermore, after PB treatment, the percentage of Ly6Chi monocytes was significantly decreased while that of Ly6Clo monocytes was apparently increased. Moreover, PB preserved LV function and alleviated myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as measured at the end of the experimental period. The transfer of monocytes from PB-treated mice to hypertensive mice achieved the same effects. Conclusions Together, these findings indicate that PB exerts its protective effects on hypertensive LV remodeling by modulating monocyte/macrophage phenotypes and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Fang Yu
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Guo-Hong Yang
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Shao-Bo Chen
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Xiu-Long Niu
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Wei Cai
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Yan-Yan Tao
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Xiu-Juan Wang
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Ming Li
- Institute of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases in Alpine Environment of Plateau, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Yu-Ming Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Ji-Hong Zhao
- Military General Medical Department, Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China (mainland)
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Sobolewski C, Legrand N. Celecoxib Analogues for Cancer Treatment: An Update on OSU-03012 and 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11071049. [PMID: 34356673 PMCID: PMC8302000 DOI: 10.3390/biom11071049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important enzyme involved in prostaglandins biosynthesis from arachidonic acid. COX-2 is frequently overexpressed in human cancers and plays a major tumor promoting function. Accordingly, many efforts have been devoted to efficiently target the catalytic site of this enzyme in cancer cells, by using COX-2 specific inhibitors such as celecoxib. However, despite their potent anti-tumor properties, the myriad of detrimental effects associated to the chronic inhibition of COX-2 in healthy tissues, has considerably limited their use in clinic. In addition, increasing evidence indicate that these anti-cancerous properties are not strictly dependent on the inhibition of the catalytic site. These findings have led to the development of non-active COX-2 inhibitors analogues aiming at preserving the antitumor effects of COX-2 inhibitors without their side effects. Among them, two celecoxib derivatives, 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib and OSU-03012, have been developed and suggested for the treatment of viral (e.g., recently SARS-CoV-2), inflammatory, metabolic diseases and cancers. These molecules display stronger anti-tumor properties than celecoxib and thus may represent promising anti-cancer molecules. In this review, we discuss the impact of these two analogues on cancerous processes but also their potential for cancer treatment alone or in combination with existing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Sobolewski
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-22-379-5421
| | - Noémie Legrand
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
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