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Li Y, Bao Y, Guo S, Li Y, Fang W, Zhang N, He H. Farnesoid X receptor modulator 12β-( m-methyl-benzoyl)-11,12-dihydro oleanolic acid represses liver fibrosis by inhibiting ERK/p38 signaling pathways. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38685856 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2024.2349551] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process in the progression of several chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the development of medications that can repress the progress of liver fibrosis is essential. We discovered that initially, 12β-(m-methyl-benzoyl)-11,12-dihydro oleanolic acid (12d-OA), a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) modulator, possessed potential anti-fibrotic properties. Through an in-depth study, we revealed that 12d-OA not only inhibited the expression of fibrogenic markers in the LX-2 cells and HSC-T6 cells but also exhibited significant protective effects against liver injury and liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation (BDL) rats. Further exploration of its molecular mechanism indicated that 12d-OA exerted antifibrotic activity by inhibiting the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/stress-activated protein kinase (p38) signaling pathways. Consequently, the great effects of 12d-OA in vitro and in vivo suggest that it may be a good candidate for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyang Bao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Simin Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Weishuo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Na Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Dinarvand N, Afarin R, Shakerian E, Bavarsad SS, Mohammadtaghvaei N. The effect of saraglitazar on TGF-β-induced smad3 phosphorylation and expression of genes related to liver fibrosis in LX2 cell line. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:541. [PMID: 38642208 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09443-3] [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: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Liver fibrosis is a reversible liver injury that occurs as a result of many chronic inflammatory diseases and can lead to cirrhosis, which is irreversible and fatal. So, we studied the anti-fibrotic effects of saroglitazar on LX-2 cell lines, as a dual PPARα/γ agonist. METHODS Cells, after 80% confluence, were treated with TGF-β (2 ng/mL) for 24 h. Then cells were treated with saroglitazar at different doses (2.5, 5, 10 µM) for 24 h. After same incubation, the cells of control group, TGF-β group, and TGF-β + saroglitazar group were harvested for RNA and protein extraction to determine the effects of saroglitazar. RT-PCR and western blot methods were used to express genes related to fibrosis. RESULTS Our results show that the relative expression of α-SMA, collagen1α, N-cadherin, NOX (1, 2, and 4), and phosphorylated Smad3 protein was significantly higher in TGF-β-treated cells compared with the normal group, and E-cadherin expression was decreased in TGF-β-treated cells. After TGF-β-treated cells were exposed to saroglitazar, the expression of these genes was significantly reversed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results clearly show the short-term inhibitory role of saroglitazar in the expression of fibrotic factors using the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. These results suggest that saroglitazar can be considered as a suitable therapeutic strategy for fibrotic patients. Although more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Dinarvand
- Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Reza Afarin
- Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Elham Shakerian
- Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Narges Mohammadtaghvaei
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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Yaseen U, Hwang S, Park S, Kim SB, Lee HJ, Cha JY. New Insights into the Role of KLF10 in Tissue Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1276. [PMID: 38279278 PMCID: PMC10816924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021276] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix accumulation, disrupts normal tissue architecture, causes organ dysfunction, and contributes to numerous chronic diseases. This review focuses on Krüppel-like factor 10 (KLF10), a transcription factor significantly induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and its role in fibrosis pathogenesis and progression across various tissues. KLF10, initially identified as TGF-β-inducible early gene-1 (TIEG1), is involved in key biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune responses. Our analysis investigated KLF10 gene and protein structures, interaction partners, and context-dependent functions in fibrotic diseases. This review highlights recent findings that underscore KLF10 interaction with pivotal signaling pathways, such as TGF-β, and the modulation of gene expression in fibrotic tissues. We examined the dual role of KLF10 in promoting and inhibiting fibrosis depending on tissue type and fibrotic context. This review also discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting KLF10 in fibrotic diseases, based on its regulatory role in key pathogenic mechanisms. By consolidating current research, this review aims to enhance the understanding of the multifaceted role of KLF10 in fibrosis and stimulate further research into its potential as a therapeutic target in combating fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzma Yaseen
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea; (U.Y.); (S.P.); (S.-B.K.)
| | - Soonjae Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sangbin Park
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea; (U.Y.); (S.P.); (S.-B.K.)
| | - Soo-Bin Kim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea; (U.Y.); (S.P.); (S.-B.K.)
| | - Ho-Jae Lee
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea; (U.Y.); (S.P.); (S.-B.K.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ji-Young Cha
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea; (U.Y.); (S.P.); (S.-B.K.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea;
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Liu Z, Wang W, Li X, Zhao J, Zhu H, Que S, He Y, Xu J, Zhou L, Mardinoglu A, Zheng S. Multi-omics network analysis on samples from sequential biopsies reveals vital role of proliferation arrest for Macrosteatosis related graft failure in rats after liver transplantation. Genomics 2023; 115:110748. [PMID: 37984718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110748] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the molecular impact of graft MaS on post-transplant prognosis, based on multi-omics integrative analysis. Rats were fed by methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) for MaS grafts. Samples were collected from grafts by sequential biopsies. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profilings were assayed. Post-transplant MaS status showed a close association with graft failure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for in-vivo MaS were mainly enriched on pathways of cell cycle and DNA replication. Post-transplant MaS caused arrests of graft regeneration via inhibiting the E2F1 centered network, which was confirmed by an in vitro experiment. Data from metabolomics assays found insufficient serine/creatine which is located on one‑carbon metabolism was responsible for MaS-related GF. Pre-transplant MaS caused severe fibrosis in long-term survivors. DEGs for grafts from long-term survivors with pre-transplant MaS were mainly enriched in pathways of ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Transcriptional regulatory network analysis confirmed SOX9 as a key transcription factor (TF) for MaS-related fibrosis. Metabolomic assays found elevation of aromatic amino acid (AAA) was a major feature of fibrosis in long-term survivors. Graft MaS in vivo increased post-transplant GF via negative regulations on graft regeneration. Pre-transplant MaS induced severe fibrosis in long-term survivors via activations on ECM-receptor interaction and AAA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengtao Liu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Shulan Hospital (Hangzhou), Hangzhou 310 000, China.
| | - Wenchao Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xiang Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Junsheng Zhao
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hai Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | | | - Yong He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-17121 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, CAMS, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; Shulan Hospital (Hangzhou), Hangzhou 310 000, China; Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Cheng S, Zou Y, Zhang M, Bai S, Tao K, Wu J, Shi Y, Wu Y, Lu Y, He K, Sun P, Su X, Hou S, Han B. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of hepatic stellate cells and macrophages during liver fibrosis. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e378. [PMID: 37724132 PMCID: PMC10505372 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.378] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled and excessive progression of liver fibrosis is thought to be the prevalent pathophysiological cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, and there are currently no effective antifibrotic therapeutic options available. Intercellular communication and cellular heterogeneity in the liver are involved in the progression of liver fibrosis, but the exact nature of the cellular phenotypic changes and patterns of interregulatory remain unclear. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) isolated from normal and fibrotic mouse livers. We identified eight main types of cells, including endothelial cells, hepatocytes, dendritic cells, B cells, natural killer/T (NK/T) cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), cholangiocytes and macrophages, and revealed that macrophages and HSCs exhibit the most variance in transcriptional profile. Further analyses of HSCs and macrophage subpopulations and ligand-receptor interaction revealed a high heterogeneity characterization and tightly interregulated network of these two groups of cells in liver fibrosis. Finally, we uncovered a profibrotic Thbs1+ macrophage subcluster, which expands in mouse and human fibrotic livers, activating HSCs via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our findings decode unanticipated insights into the heterogeneity of HSCs and macrophages and their intercellular crosstalk at a single-cell level, and may provide potential therapeutic strategies in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Cheng
- Department of General SurgeryTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal OncologyHongqiao International Institute of MedicineTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yunhan Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell BiologyShanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and InflammationShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Man Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Center for Systems BiomedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shihao Bai
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Center for Systems BiomedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kun Tao
- Department of PathologyTongren HospitalShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Jiaoxiang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal OncologyHongqiao International Institute of MedicineTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yi Shi
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric DisordersBio‐X InstitutesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- eHealth Program of Shanghai Anti‐Doping LaboratoryShanghai University of SportShanghaiChina
| | - Yuelan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal OncologyHongqiao International Institute of MedicineTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yinzhong Lu
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal OncologyHongqiao International Institute of MedicineTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Department of AnesthesiologyTongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Kunyan He
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Center for Systems BiomedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of General SurgeryTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xianbin Su
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Center for Systems BiomedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- eHealth Program of Shanghai Anti‐Doping LaboratoryShanghai University of SportShanghaiChina
| | - Shangwei Hou
- Department of AnesthesiologyTongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Bo Han
- Department of General SurgeryTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal OncologyHongqiao International Institute of MedicineTongren HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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Deng J, Qin L, Zhou Z. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Reveal the Mechanism of Isodon ternifolius (D. Don) Kudo Against Liver Fibrosis. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2335-2351. [PMID: 37576085 PMCID: PMC10416792 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s412818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Many studies have demonstrated the hepatoprotective or anti-fibrotic effects of Isodon ternifolius, but its pharmacological basis and mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we used in vitro models to validate the predicted results and revealed the potential mechanism of action and active ingredients through network pharmacology methods and molecular docking. Methods The chemical components of Isodon ternifolius were identified by literatures. Potential targets of Isodon ternifolius were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. The disease targets were collected through the databases of Gene Card. Common targets of Isodon ternifolius and liver fibrosis were obtained by online tool Venny 2.1. PPI protein interaction network was obtained using String database, and target protein interaction network was drawn using Cytoscape software. Signaling pathway enrichment analysis was performed on drug-disease targets with of DAVID database. Results Twenty-one potential active ingredients and 298 potential targets were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction platform. Ninety pathways related to liver fibrosis were obtained by KEGG enrichment. The TLR4, MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways are mostly associated with liver fibrosis. Molecular docking techniques were used to validate the core target proteins TNF, Akt1, MAPK1, EGFR and TLR4 binding to the ingredients of Isodon ternifolius, which showed that a multitude of ingredients of Isodon ternifolius were able to bind to the above target proteins, especially 2α-hydroxy oleanolic acid and (-)-Lambertic acid. Our experimental validation results showed that Isodon ternifolius inhibited the activation of PI3K-Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Conclusion Through a network pharmacology approach and in vitro cell assay, we predicted and validated the active compounds of Isodon ternifolius and its potential targets for LF treatment. The results suggest that the mechanism of Isodon ternifolius treating LF by inhibiting angiogenesis may be related to the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Le Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhipin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
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McElhinney K, Irnaten M, O’Brien C. p53 and Myofibroblast Apoptosis in Organ Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076737. [PMID: 37047710 PMCID: PMC10095465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ fibrosis represents a dysregulated, maladaptive wound repair response that results in progressive disruption of normal tissue architecture leading to detrimental deterioration in physiological function, and significant morbidity/mortality. Fibrosis is thought to contribute to nearly 50% of all deaths in the Western world with current treatment modalities effective in slowing disease progression but not effective in restoring organ function or reversing fibrotic changes. When physiological wound repair is complete, myofibroblasts are programmed to undergo cell death and self-clearance, however, in fibrosis there is a characteristic absence of myofibroblast apoptosis. It has been shown that in fibrosis, myofibroblasts adopt an apoptotic-resistant, highly proliferative phenotype leading to persistent myofibroblast activation and perpetuation of the fibrotic disease process. Recently, this pathological adaptation has been linked to dysregulated expression of tumour suppressor gene p53. In this review, we discuss p53 dysregulation and apoptotic failure in myofibroblasts and demonstrate its consistent link to fibrotic disease development in all types of organ fibrosis. An enhanced understanding of the role of p53 dysregulation and myofibroblast apoptosis may aid in future novel therapeutic and/or diagnostic strategies in organ fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kealan McElhinney
- UCD Clinical Research Centre, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mustapha Irnaten
- UCD Clinical Research Centre, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm O’Brien
- UCD Clinical Research Centre, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland
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Mohammadi M, Kohan L, Saeidi M, Saghaeian Jazi M, Mohammadi S. The antifibrotic effects of naringin in a hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced mouse model of skin fibrosis. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2022; 44:704-711. [PMID: 35583493 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2022.2077217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fibrosis is a chronic inflammation caused by the loss of innate compensational mechanisms. Naringin (NR) is a flavonoid with antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we aimed to investigate the antifibrotic effects of NR and underlying mechanisms in a Hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced mouse model of skin fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 24 six-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into five groups: HOCl, Sham, PBS, HOCl + NR and DMSO and selected skin regions were treated for 6 weeks, until sacrifice. The histopathologic and collagenesis of skin resections were analyzed using H&E and PR staining. The mRNA levels of COL1, COL3 and αSMA genes were quantified. Serum samples were also used to evaluate TGF-β levels and LDH activity. RESULTS HOCl could increase the relative collagen content, while NR administration on HOCl-treated biopsies decreased collagenesis. COL1, COL3 and αSMA mRNA levels were significantly increased among HOCl-treated skin samples, while NR treatment could decrease these mRNA levels of genes to the extent equal to the levels in the Sham group. Similarly, Naringin-treated samples could decrease TGF-β levels. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that Naringin could exert protective effects against fibrotic complications of HOCL in skin tissue in vivo, by reducing the collagenesis and decreasing the levels of fibrosis-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Mohammadi
- Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, Arsanjan, Iran
| | - Leila Kohan
- Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, Arsanjan, Iran
| | - Mohsen Saeidi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- Department of Medical Immunology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Marie Saghaeian Jazi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Saeed Mohammadi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
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Guo Z, Wang Y, Wen X, Xu X, Yan L. β-Klotho Promotes the Development of Intrauterine Adhesions via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911294. [PMID: 36232594 PMCID: PMC9569898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) refers to injury to the basal layer of the endometrium, which can be caused by various factors. It is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as abnormal menstruation, infertility, recurrent abortion, and periodic abdominal pain. In recent years, a number of studies have reported the effects of β-Klotho (KLB) on the occurrence and development of human tumors and fibrotic diseases, but its relationship with endometrial fibroblasts and endometrial fibrosis has not been elucidated. In this study, we compared the expression of KLB in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from patients with IUA and normal controls. We constructed animal and cell models of IUA and conducted expression verification and functional experiments on KLB. We found that the expression of KLB was significantly increased in the ESCs of IUA patients and rat models compared with the controls. The overexpression of KLB could promote the proliferation and fibrosis of ESCs. In addition, the overexpression of KLB activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ESCs. Our study shows that KLB protein is highly expressed in the ESCs of patients with IUA and can enhance stromal cell proliferation and cell fibrosis by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus promoting the development of IUA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of Integrative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xiaoyang Wen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
- Correspondence:
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On the Core Prescriptions and Their Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hepatitis B, Liver Cirrhosis, and Liver Cancer Treatment. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:5300523. [PMID: 36193202 PMCID: PMC9525786 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5300523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background As a frequent cause of death in cancer patients, liver cancer usually occurs in hepatitis B and cirrhosis. In China, Chinese people have been using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating various chronic liver diseases, which could effectively improve the symptoms and slow down the progression of liver diseases. However, due to the complexity rules of TCM prescription, their action mechanisms are still not clearly understood, which may affect the popularization of effective prescriptions. This study aims to identify the core TCM herbs in the treatment of hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer so as to clarify the mechanism of action of the core herb networks. Methods There were 1,673 prescriptions for chronic liver diseases collected in this study, of which 854 were hepatic B prescriptions, 530 were for liver cirrhosis, and 289 were for liver cancer. The basic characteristics of herbal medicine were firstly explained via descriptive analysis, then the core prescriptions of herbal medicine were analyzed through association rule, and finally, the mechanism of core prescriptions was explored with the help of systematic network pharmacology and by applying such databases as TCMIP, HERB, OMIM, GeneCards, KEGG, and software like RStudio and Cytoscape. Results The rule of the core prescriptions in these cases was characterized by the application of herbs with both cold and warm properties, in which bitter herbs with cold property took priority. Tonifying deficiency, clearing heat, and activating blood circulations to remove stasis were common treatment principles for the three liver diseases. Turmeric Root Tuber (YuJin), White Peony Root (BaiShao), Bupleurum (ChaiHu), Salvia miltiorrhiza (DanShen), and Astragali Radix (HuangQi) were prescribed the most in hepatitis B treatment to invigorate the spleen and soothe the liver. Astragali Radix (HuangQi), Tuckahoe (FuLing), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (BaiZhu), Fructus Polygoni Orientalis (ShuiHongHuaZi), and Curcumae Rhizome (EZhu) were most frequently applied in liver cirrhosis treatment to replenish qi and activate blood. Oldenlandia (BaiHuaSheSheCao), Bearded Scutellaria (BanZhiLian), Curcumae Rhizome (EZhu), and Cardamom (DouKou) were most frequently prescribed to eliminate cancer toxin, invigorate the spleen, and activate blood. These core herbs mainly act through signal transduction and immune system pathways, in which the PI3K-Akt pathway plays a key role. The core prescription for liver cirrhosis regulated more endocrine system pathways than the hepatitis B prescription, and liver cancer prescription regulated more nervous system-related pathways. Conclusion Three core prescriptions for hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer treatment were identified, which acted mainly through signal transduction and immune system pathways to regulate immunity and cell growth and participate in inflammation inhibition, in which liver cancer prescription regulated more pathways, especially more nervous system-related pathways than the other two.
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11
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Exploration of the Potential Targets and Molecular Mechanism of Carthamus tinctorius L. for Liver Fibrosis Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Strategy. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10091735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Carthamus tinctorius L. (Honghua, HH) is an herbal medicine and functional food widely used to treat chronic liver diseases, including liver fibrosis. By using network pharmacology and molecular docking experiments, the present study aims to determine the bioactive components, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of HH for treating liver fibrosis. The components of HH were screened from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and literature, and the SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict the treatment targets of HH. Genecards and DisGeNET databases contained targets for liver fibrosis, and the STRING database provided networks of protein–protein interactions. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Database of Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. The protein–protein interactive network and drug–component–major target–pathway interactive network were visualized and analyzed by Cytoscape software. Finally, Autodock Vina and Discovery Studio software were used for molecular docking Validation. A total of 23 candidate bioactive compounds with 187 treatment targets of HH were acquired from the databases and literature. A total of 121 overlapping targets between HH and liver fibrosis were found to provide the molecular basis for HH on liver fibrosis. Quercetin, beta carotene, and lignan were identified as key components with targeting to ESR1, PIK3CA, and MTOR. HH is engaged in the intervention of various signaling cascades associated with liver fibrosis, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, MAPK pathway, and PPAR pathway. In conclusion, HH treats liver fibrosis through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanisms.
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12
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Xue L, Li X, Zhu X, Zhang J, Zhou S, Tang W, Chen D, Chen Y, Dai J, Wu M, Wu M, Wang S. Carbon tetrachloride exposure induces ovarian damage through oxidative stress and inflammatory mediated ovarian fibrosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 242:113859. [PMID: 35816842 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is widely used as a chemical intermediate and as a feedstock in the production of chlorofluorocarbons. CCL4 is highly toxic in the liver, kidney, testicle, brain and other tissues. However, the effect of CCL4 on ovarian function has not been reported. In this study, we found that the mice treated with CCL4 showed decreased ovarian function with disturbed estrus cycle, decreased serum level of 17β-estradiol and the reduced number of healthy follicles. Ovarian damage was accompanied by oxidative stress and the production of proinflammatory cytokines, especially interleukins. The indicators of oxidative stress, 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), 8-hydroxy-2´-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 3-Nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-11 were increased, while the antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were decreased in the CCL4 group. In the CCL4 treated group, the results of Sirius Red staining, immunohistochemistry and qPCR indicated that proinflammatory cytokines caused further ovarian fibrosis. And CCL4 could also promote ovarian thecal cells to secrete inflammatory cytokines, resulting in fibrosis in vitro. In addition, CCL4 inhibited oocyte development and triggered oocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, CCL4 exposure causes ovarian damage by strong oxidative stress and the high expression of the proinflammatory cytokine mediated ovarian fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liru Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoran Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Su Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Weicheng Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yingying Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Mingfu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shixuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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13
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Wang T, Zhu J, Gao L, Wei M, Zhang D, Chen L, Wu H, Ma J, Li L, Zhang N, Wang Y, Xing Q, He L, Hong F, Qin S. Identification of circular RNA biomarkers for Pien Tze Huang treatment of CCl4‑induced liver fibrosis using RNA‑sequencing. Mol Med Rep 2022; 26:309. [PMID: 36004475 PMCID: PMC9437966 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pien Tze Huang (PZH), a common hepatoprotective Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been found to be an effective treatment for carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage, including liver fibrosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve a crucial role in regulating gene expression levels via circRNA/micro (mi)RNA/mRNA networks in several human diseases and biological processes. However, whether circRNAs are involved in the underlying mechanism of the therapeutic effects of PZH on liver fibrosis remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate these effects using circRNA expression profiles from PZH-treated fibrotic livers in model mice. A case-control study on >59,476 circRNAs from CCl4-induced (control group, n=6) and PZH-treated (case group, n=6) mice was performed using circRNA sequencing in liver tissues. PZH treatment resulted in the differential expression of 91 circRNAs, including 58 upregulated and 33 downregulated circRNAs. Furthermore, the construction of competing endogenous networks also indicated that differentially expressed circRNAs acted as miRNA sponges. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of miRNA targets demonstrated that PZH-affected circRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes such as ‘positive regulation of fibroblast proliferation’, ‘cellular response to interleukin-1’ and ‘regulation of DNA-templated transcription in response to stress’ and in a number of important pathways, such as ‘TNF signaling pathway’, ‘PI3K-Akt signaling pathway’, ‘IL-17 signaling pathway’ and ‘MAPK signaling pathway’. To further validate the bioinformatics data, reverse transcription–quantitative PCR was performed on seven miRNA targets in a human hepatic stellate LX-2 cell model. The results suggested that seven of the miRNAs exhibited regulatory patterns that were consistent with those of the transcriptome sequencing results. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase and solute carrier family 7, member 11 gene were significantly associated with patient survival, 269 patients with liver hepatocellular carcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to provide evidence that PZH affects circRNA expression levels, which may serve important roles in PZH-treated fibrotic liver through the regulation of functional gene expression. In conclusion, the present study provided new insights into the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and identified potential novel, efficient, therapeutic targets against liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Jinhang Zhu
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Longhui Gao
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Muyun Wei
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Di Zhang
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Luan Chen
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wu
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Jingsong Ma
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Lixing Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P.R. China
| | - Na Zhang
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Yanjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P.R. China
| | - Qinghe Xing
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, P.R. China
| | - Lin He
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Fei Hong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Pien Tze Huang Natural Medicine Research and Development, Zhangzhou Pien Tze Huang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Zhangzhou, Fujian 363000, P.R. China
| | - Shengying Qin
- Bio‑X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
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14
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Guo X, Li Y, Wang W, Wang L, Hu S, Xiao X, Hu C, Dai Y, Zhang Y, Li Z, Li J, Ma X, Zeng J. The construction of preclinical evidence for the treatment of liver fibrosis with quercetin: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res 2022; 36:3774-3791. [PMID: 35918855 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid, is widely found in fruits and vegetables and exerts broad-spectrum pharmacological effects in the liver. Many studies have explored the bioactivity of quercetin in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Hence, through a systematic review and biological mechanism evaluation, this study aimed to construct a body of preclinical evidence for the treatment of liver fibrosis using quercetin. The literature used in this study was mainly obtained from four databases, and the SYRCLE list (10 items) was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. A meta-analysis of HA, LN, and other indicators was performed via STATA 15.0 software. Subgroup analyses based on animal species and model protocol were performed to further obtain detailed results. Moreover, the therapeutic mechanism of quercetin was summarized in a directed network form based on a comprehensive search of the literature. After screening, a total of 14 articles (comprising 15 studies) involving 254 animals were included. The results from the analysis showed that the corresponding liver function indexes, such as the levels of HA and LN, were significantly improved in the quercetin group compared with the model group, and liver function, such as the levels of AST and ALT, were also improved in the quercetin group. The species- and model-based subgroup analyses of AST and ALT revealed that quercetin exerts a significant effect. The therapeutic mechanism of quercetin was shown to be related to multiple pathways involving anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and lipid accumulation, including regulation of the TGF-β, α-SMA, ROS, and P-AMPK pathways. The results showed that quercetin exerts an obvious effect on liver fibrosis, and more prominent improvement effects on liver function and liver fibrosis indicators were obtained with a dose of 5-200 mg during a treatment course ranging from 4 to 8 weeks. Quercetin might be a promising therapeutic for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochuan Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Weizheng Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Luyao Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Sihan Hu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolin Xiao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Caiyu Hu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Dai
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiheng Zhang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziyu Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Junlin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhao Zeng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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15
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Igf2bp2 knockdown improves CCl 4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-β-activated mouse hepatic stellate cells by regulating Tgfbr1. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108987. [PMID: 35820364 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Progressive liver fibrosis is a dynamic process characterized by the net accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which could eventually develop into cirrhosis, leading to malignant transformation. In this study, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (Igf2bp2) was found to be up-regulated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Igf2bp2 knockdown in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis mice model significantly improved CCl4-induced liver damage by decreasing necrosis and fibrotic septa, reducing hydroxyproline levels, and down-regulating fibrotic markers levels. In TGF-β-activated HSCs, Igf2bp2 knockdown partially attenuated TGF-β-induced cellular effects by suppressing HSCs viability and DNA synthesis and reducing the ECM-associated factors such as α-SMA, COLLAGEN I, and COLLAGEN III. Integrative network and signaling analysis revealed that the Igf2bp2 could bind to Tgfbr1. Transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (Tgfbr1) was found to be significantly up-regulated in the fibrotic liver and activated HSCs, and positively correlated with Igf2bp2. Tgfbr1 knockdown partially eliminated TGF-β-induced fibrotic changes and Igf2bp2 overexpression effects on TGF-β-activated HSCs in vitro. Moreover, Igf2bp2 overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of SMAD2/SMAD3, AKT, and PI3K, whereas Tgfbr1 knockdown exhibited the opposite effect; Tgfbr1 knockdown also partially attenuated the effects of Igf2bp2 overexpression on the phosphorylation of SMAD2/SMAD3, AKT, and PI3K. In closing, Igf2bp2 and Tgfbr1 are up-regulated in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-β-activated mHSCs. Igf2bp2 knockdown improved CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-β-activated HSCs by targeting Tgfbr1, possibly through the PI3K/Akt pathway.
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16
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Fibroblast-Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 Mediates Extracellular Matrix Deposition and Inhibits Smooth Muscle Cell Contractility in Marfan Syndrome Aortic Aneurysm. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2022; 15:959-970. [PMID: 35414038 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-022-10239-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fibrillin 1 (Fbn1) mutation causes Marfan syndrome (MFS) with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) as the main complication. The mechanisms for extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis disruption in MFS TAA are unclear. Here, we found ECM-related gene secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1) increased in Fbn1C1041G/+ mice using transcriptome sequencing and a distinct fibroblast subcluster with Spp1 as the strongest marker was identified with analysis of the MFS mouse aortic single-cell sequencing dataset. Immunostaining confirmed elevated Spp1 in adventitial fibroblasts, and Spp1 might regulate fibroblast and smooth muscle cell (SMC) communication primarily through Itga8/Itgb1. Then, we observed Spp1 reduced contractile genes Acta2 and Tagln expression in SMCs and increased collagen expression in fibroblasts, which might contribute to TAA development. Finally, we also found elevated SPP1 plasma level was associated with an increased risk of TAA in patients. Therefore, SPP1 may serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target for TAA.
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17
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Feng X, Cheng Q, Fang L, Liu W, Liu L, Sun C, Lu Z, Li G, Gu R. Corn oligopeptides inhibit Akt/
NF‐κB
signaling pathway and inflammatory factors to ameliorate
CCl
4
‐induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14162. [DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Wen Feng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing‐Li Cheng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Fang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen‐Ying Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Agro Biomass Recycling & Valorizing, College of Engineering China Agricultural University Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang‐Wei Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
- College of Food Science Northeast Agricultural University Harbin People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuan‐Qiang Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
- College of Food Science Northeast Agricultural University Harbin People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhi‐Hao Lu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo‐Ming Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui‐Zeng Gu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Protein and Functional Peptides China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Beijing People’s Republic of China
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18
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Ye Y, Wu W, Zheng J, Zhang L, Wang B. Role of long non-coding RNA-adducin 3 antisense RNA1 in liver fibrosis of biliary atresia. Bioengineered 2022; 13:6222-6230. [PMID: 35246014 PMCID: PMC8974046 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2041321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating liver disease in neonates. Liver fibrosis is regarded as a universal and prominent feature of BA. Studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate cellular processes during the development of liver fibrosis in BA. Long non-coding RNA-adducin 3 antisense RNA1 (lnc-ADD3-AS1) has been shown to increase susceptibility to BA. However, the role of lnc-ADD3-AS1 in liver fibrosis in BA remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of lnc-ADD3-AS1 in the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of the immortalized human hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line, LX-2. We successfully overexpressed and silenced lnc-ADD3-AS1 in LX-2 cells using adenovirus vectors and evaluated the proliferation of transfected cells using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Cell apoptosis was detected using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and flow cytometry. We then analyzed cell migration by performing wound-scratch and transwell migration assays. Our results show that lnc-ADD3-AS1 significantly promoted LX-2 cell proliferation and attenuated apoptosis. More importantly, lncRNA-ADD3-AS1 significantly accelerated the migration of LX-2 cells. Our data indicated that lncRNA-ADD3-AS1 plays a role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in patients with BA and may serve as a potential diagnostic marker for monitoring liver fibrosis in BA or as a therapeutic target for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Ye
- Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weifang Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jiachen Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lihui Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- CONTACT Lihui Zhang Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Bin Wang Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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19
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Yamazaki K, Igarashi-Takeuchi H, Numabe Y. Hepatocyte growth factor exhibits anti-fibrotic effects in an in vitro model of nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth. J Oral Sci 2022; 64:99-104. [PMID: 34980825 DOI: 10.2334/josnusd.21-0419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro model of nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth and characterize the anti-fibrotic effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) using this model. METHODS Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured-treated with 0.1, 1, or 10 µg/mL nifedipine or 10 ng/mL IL-1β + 0.1, 1, or 10 µg/mL nifedipine (0.1N, 1N, 10N, IL + 0.1N, IL + 1N, IL + 10N). Cell proliferation and levels of type I collagen, TGF-β1, CCN2/CTGF, and α-SMA were measured 48 h after the simultaneous addition of 10 and 50 ng/mL HGF (10 and 50HGF) along with IL-1β and nifedipine. Type I collagen was measured after administration of anti-HGF neutralizing antibody. RESULTS Significant increases in type I collagen, TGF-β1, and CCN2/CTGF were observed after treatment in the 1N and IL + 0.1N groups. Levels of type I collagen and CCN2/CTGF differed significantly between the IL + 0.1N group and the IL + 0.1N + 50HGF group. Production of type I collagen increased significantly following addition of anti-HGF antibody. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the establishment of an in vitro model of nifedipine-induced gingival overgrowth by showing increased collagen levels. Experiments using this model suggested that HGF exerts anti-fibrotic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Yamazaki
- Department of Periodontology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University
| | - Hiroko Igarashi-Takeuchi
- Department of Periodontology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University.,Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Science, The Jikei University School of Medicine
| | - Yukihiro Numabe
- Department of Periodontology, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University
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20
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Satilmis B, Sahin TT, Cicek E, Akbulut S, Yilmaz S. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Microenvironment and Its Implications in Terms of Anti-tumor Immunity: Future Perspectives for New Therapeutics. J Gastrointest Cancer 2021; 52:1198-1205. [PMID: 34625923 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-021-00725-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular cancer is an insidious tumor that is often diagnosed in a later stage of life. The tumor microenvironment is the key to tumorigenesis and progression. Many cellular and non-cellular components orchestrate the intricate process of hepatocarcinogenesis. The most important feature of hepatocellular cancer is the immune evasion process. The present review aims to summarize the key components of the tumor microenvironment in the immune evasion process. METHODS Google Scholar and PubMed databases have been searched for the mesh terms "Hepatocellular carcinoma" or "Liver Cancer" and "microenvironment." The articles were reviewed and the components of the tumor microenvironment were summarized. RESULTS The tumor microenvironment is composed of tumor cells and non-tumoral stromal and immune cells. HCC tumor microenvironment supports aggressive tumor behavior, provides immune evasion, and is an obstacle for current immunotherapeutic strategies. The components of the tumor microenvironment are intratumoral macrophages (tumor-associated macrophages (TAM)), bone marrow-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN), fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, and the activated hepatic stellate cells. CONCLUSION There are intricate mechanisms that drive hepatocarcinogenesis. The tumor microenvironment is at the center of all the complex and diverse mechanisms. Effective and multistep immunotherapies should be developed to target different components of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basri Satilmis
- Liver Transplant Institute and Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery, Inonu University, Battalgazi, 44000, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Tevfik Tolga Sahin
- Liver Transplant Institute and Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery, Inonu University, Battalgazi, 44000, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - Egemen Cicek
- Liver Transplant Institute and Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery, Inonu University, Battalgazi, 44000, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sami Akbulut
- Liver Transplant Institute and Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery, Inonu University, Battalgazi, 44000, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sezai Yilmaz
- Liver Transplant Institute and Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery, Inonu University, Battalgazi, 44000, Malatya, Turkey
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21
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Chen L, Huang Y, Duan Z, Huang P, Yao H, Zhou Y, Ji Q, Liu X. Exosomal miR-500 Derived From Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Macrophage Accelerates Liver Fibrosis by Suppressing MFN2. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:716209. [PMID: 34676206 PMCID: PMC8525629 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.716209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is an outcome of chronic hepatic injury, which can eventually result in cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer. The activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is a prominent driver of liver fibrosis. Recently, it has been found that the crosstalk between HSCs and immune cells, including hepatic macrophages, plays an important role in the initiation and development of liver fibrosis. As a vital vehicle of intercellular communication, exosomes transfer specific cargos into HSCs from macrophages. Here, we show that exosomes derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages has higher expression level of miR-500. And overexpression or inhibition of miR-500 in macrophage exosomes could promote or suppress HSC proliferation and activation. Treatment of exosomes with miR-500 overexpression can accelerate liver fibrosis in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model. miR-500 promotes HSC activation and liver fibrosis via suppressing MFN2. Moreover, miR-500 in serum exosomes could be a biomarker for liver fibrosis. Taken together, exosomal miR-500 derived from LPS-activated macrophages promotes HSC proliferation and activation by targeting MFN2 in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Chen
- Central Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Hunan Normal University, The Fourth Hospital of Changsha, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Changsha, Changsha, China
| | - Zhixi Duan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peiqi Huang
- Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Hunan Normal University, The Fourth Hospital of Changsha, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Changsha, Changsha, China
| | - Hongbing Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qin Ji
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangfeng Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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22
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Yang A, Yan X, Xu H, Fan X, Zhang M, Huang T, Li W, Chen W, Jia J, You H. Selective depletion of hepatic stellate cells-specific LOXL1 alleviates liver fibrosis. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21918. [PMID: 34569648 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100374r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The role of LOXL1 in fibrosis via mediating ECM crosslinking and stabilization is well established; however, the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)-specific LOXL1 in the development of fibrosis remains unknown. We generated HSCs-specific Loxl1-depleted mice (Loxl1Gfap-cre mice) to investigate the HSCs-specific contribution of LOXL1 in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Loxl1fl/fl mice were used as the control. Furthermore, we used RNA sequencing to explore the underlying changes in the transcriptome. Results of the sirius red staining, type I collagen immunolabeling, and hydroxyproline content analysis, coupled with the reduced expression of profibrogenic genes revealed that Loxl1Gfap-cre mice with CCl4 -induced fibrosis exhibited decreased hepatic fibrosis. In addition, Loxl1Gfap-cre mice exhibited reduced macrophage tissue infiltration by CD68-positive cells and decreased expression of inflammatory genes compared with the controls. RNA sequencing identified integrin α8 (ITGA8) as a key modulator of LOXL1-mediated liver fibrosis. Functional analyses showed that siRNA silencing of Itga8 in cultured fibroblasts led to a decline in the LOXL1 expression and inhibition of fibroblast activation. Mechanistic analyses indicated that LOXL1 activated the FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a signaling pathway, and the addition of inhibitors of FAK or PI3K reversed these results via downregulation of LOXL1. Furthermore, HIF1a directly interacted with LOXL1 and upregulated its expression, indicating that LOXL1 can positively self-regulate by forming a positive feedback loop with the FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a pathway. We demonstrated that HSCs-specific Loxl1 deficiency prevented fibrosis, inflammation and that ITGA8/FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a was essential for the function and expression of LOXL1. Knowledge of this approach can provide novel mechanisms and targets to treat fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiting Yang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xuzhen Yan
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hufeng Xu
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xu Fan
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengyang Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weiyu Li
- National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hong You
- Beijing Clinical Medicine Institute, Beijing, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, P.R. China.,Liver Research Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
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Amygdalin isolated from Amygdalus mongolica protects against hepatic fibrosis in rats. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2021; 71:459-471. [PMID: 36654093 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2021-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of amygdalin on hepatic fibrosis in rats. Amygdalin was purified and identified from the seeds of Amygdalus mongo lica. Sprague Dawley rats in the control and model groups were administered water. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the low-, middle-, and high-dose amygdalin groups that received 20, 40, and 80 mg kg-1 amygdalin, respectively. whereas the silymarin group was treated with 50 mg kg-1 silymarin. The control and model groups were administered water. Liver tissue analysis revealed significantly lower activities of ALT, AST, ALP, SOD, and MDA in the drug-treated groups compared to the model group. Serum analysis revealed significantly lower HYC and C-IV in the middle-dose amygdalin-treated group compared to the model group. The histopathological changes were less severe in the drug-treated groups as observed by the formation of pseudolobuli and decreased collagen fiber deposition. Hepatic fibrosis-related genes were expressed at significantly lower levels in the amygdalin-treated groups than in the model group. Amygdalin from A. mongolica represents a therapeutic candidate for hepatic fibrosis prevention and treatment.
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Effect of Quercetin on the Expression of NOXs and P-Smad3C in TGF-Β-Activated Hepatic Stellate Cell Line LX-2. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.116875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a primary role in liver fibrogenesis. NOXs are the main origin of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver. Among them, NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 are expressed more in HSCs and are involved in the development of liver fibrosis. Quercetin, an abundant citrus flavonoid, is known to have beneficial effects on liver injury and hepatic fibrosis. Objectives: In this study, the effect of quercetin on NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 expression and Smad3 phosphorylation induced by TGF-β in the human hepatic LX2 cell line was investigated. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of quercetin on the cells were determined by MTT assay. The cells were activated with 2 ng/mL of TGF-β for 24 h and then treated with different concentrations of Quercetin. The mRNA expression rates of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and phosphorylated Smad 3C (p-Smad3C) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot assays. Results: TGF-β increased the mRNA expression of NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 and the protein level of p-Smad3C in the LX2 cell line. Quercetin significantly decreased the mRNA expression of NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 in the LX-2 cells. Moreover, quercetin significantly diminished the p-Smad3C level in the LX-2 cell line activated with TGF-β. Conclusions: Quercetin may be effective in improving hepatic fibrosis via the reduction of NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 expression in activated HSCs. The main mechanism through which quercetin reduces the expression of these target genes may be related to the reduction of the p-Smad3C level.
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25
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Reduces Cholesterol-Induced Hepatic Fibrogenesis by Inhibiting TGF-β/Smad3C Signaling Pathway in LX2 Cells. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.113321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Liver fibrosis is often attributed to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and excessive scar formation in the liver. Advanced stages of the disease often lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a secreted protein, which has anti-diabetic and lipocaic effects. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the ability of FGF21 to reduce hepatic fibrogenesis due to the accumulation of free cholesterol in the LX2 cell line (a type of HSC-derived cell line) and its mechanism of action. Methods: Cells were treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM concentrations of cholesterol for 24 and 48 h. The mRNA expression of genes of TGF-β, αSMA, and collagen1α and the level of Smad3C protein were measured to assess liver fibrosis. Next, the cells were treated with FGF21 for 24 h, and the expression levels of TGF-β, αSMA, collagen 1α, and Smad3C protein were measured. Results: The results showed that the expression of TGF-β, αSMA, collagen 1α genes, and also the level of Smad3C protein in the presence of cholesterol increased significantly compared to the control group. Treatment with FGF-21 also significantly reduced the expression of TGF-β, αSMA, and collagen 1α genes. Conclusions: Cholesterol by increasing the level of Smad3C protein and activating the TGF-β signaling pathway increases major proteins involved in the production of extracellular matrix, including collagen 1α. Besides, FGF21 inhibits the further activation of HSCs by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad3C signaling pathway and thus can prevent the progression of liver fibrosis.
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26
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Yang X, Lou J, Shan W, Ding J, Jin Z, Hu Y, Du Q, Liao Q, Xie R, Xu J. Pathophysiologic Role of Neurotransmitters in Digestive Diseases. Front Physiol 2021; 12:567650. [PMID: 34194334 PMCID: PMC8236819 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.567650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are special molecules that serve as messengers in chemical synapses between neurons, cells, or receptors, including catecholamines, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters, which play an important role in both human physiology and pathology. Compelling evidence has indicated that neurotransmitters have an important physiological role in various digestive diseases. They act as ligands in combination with central or peripheral receptors, and transmits signals through chemical synapses, which are involved in regulating the physiological and pathological processes of the digestive tract organs. For instance, neurotransmitters regulate blood circulation and affect intestinal movement, nutrient absorption, the gastrointestinal innate immune system, and the microbiome. In this review, we will focus on the role of neurotransmitters in the pathogenesis of digestive tract diseases to provide novel therapeutic targets for new drug development in digestive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rui Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jingyu Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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27
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Yao J, Lin C, Jiang J, Zhang X, Li F, Liu T, Diao H. lncRNA-HEIM Facilitated Liver Fibrosis by Up-Regulating TGF- β Expression in Long-Term Outcome of Chronic Hepatitis B. Front Immunol 2021; 12:666370. [PMID: 34168644 PMCID: PMC8217658 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.666370] [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: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic liver fibrosis is an inevitable stage for the development of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, anti-fibrotic therapies have been unsuccessful so far. The biological functions and molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the host immune system during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, especially in fibrosis, are still largely unknown. Method The total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from asymptomatic carriers (ASCs) or CHB receiving at least 8 years of anti-viral treatments was analyzed using Arraystar microarray and validated via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Correlation analysis was conducted based on correlation coefficients, Clusterprofile, and RNA Interactome Database (RAID). The functions of lncRNA in monocytes were determined via loss-of-function RNAi or gain-of-function lentivirus assays. The expression levels of mRNAs or proteins were evaluated using qRT-PCR, western blotting assay, or enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results A total of 1,042 mRNA transcripts (630 up-regulated and 412 down-regulated) were identified being differentially expressed between ASC and CHB patients. Through enrichment analysis we focused on the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway and validated their expression in a larger cohort. Moreover, we found that lncRNA ENST00000519726 (lncRNA-HEIM) was highly expressed in monocytes and further up-regulated upon HBV infection. LncRNA-HEIM played an important role in CHB patients with long-term antiviral treatments, and its elevated expression was remarkably correlated with the TGF-β signaling pathway, especially with the two members namely TGF-β and SMAD4. Furthermore, altering the endogenous lncRNA-HEIM level in monocytes significantly affected the production of TGF-β, as well as the fibrosis of hepatic stellate cells by affecting the expression of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Conclusion These findings not only added knowledge to the understanding of the roles of which lncRNA-HEIM played in the activation of HSCs in CHB patients with long-term medication, but also provided a promising therapeutic target in the future treatment for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenhong Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xujun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fengxia Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianxing Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hongyan Diao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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28
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Zhu Y, Xu W, Hu W, Wang F, Zhou Y, Xu J, Gong W. Discovery and validation of novel protein markers in mucosa of portal hypertensive gastropathy. BMC Gastroenterol 2021; 21:214. [PMID: 33971821 PMCID: PMC8111717 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-021-01787-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Portal hypertension induced esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding is the main cause of death among patients of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Therefore, a standardized, biomarker-based test, to make an early-stage non-invasive risk assessment of portal hypertension, is highly desirable. However, no fit-for-purpose biomarkers have yet been identified. Methods We conducted a pilot study consisting of 5 portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) patients and 5 normal controls, sampling the gastric mucosa of normal controls and PHG patients before and after endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection, using label-free quantitative (LFQ) mass spectrometry, to identify potential biomarker candidates in gastric mucosa from PHG patients and normal controls. Then we further used parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) to verify the abundance of the targeted protein. Results LFQ analyses identified 423 significantly differentially expressed proteins. 17 proteins that significantly elevated in the gastric mucosa of PHG patients were further validated using PRM. Conclusions This is the first application of an LFQ-PRM workflow to identify and validate PHG–specific biomarkers in patient gastric mucosa samples. Our findings lay the foundation for comprehending the molecular mechanisms of PHG pathogenesis, and provide potential applications for useful biomarkers in early diagnosis and treatment. Trial registration and ethics approval: Trial registration was completed (ChiCTR2000029840) on February 25, 2020. Ethics Approvals were completed on July 17, 2017 (NYSZYYEC20180003) and February 15, 2020 (NYSZYYEC20200005). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-021-01787-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Information Management Section, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Department of Liver Disease Center, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Wei Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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29
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Tu Y, Yang Y, Li Y, He C. Naturally occurring coumestans from plants, their biological activities and therapeutic effects on human diseases. Pharmacol Res 2021; 169:105615. [PMID: 33872808 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring coumestans are known as a collection of plant-derived polycyclic aromatic secondary metabolites which are characterized by the presence of an oxygen heterocyclic four-ring system comprising a coumarin moiety and a benzofuran moiety sharing a C˭C bond. Recently, there is an increasing attention in excavating the medicinal potential of coumestans, particularly coumestrol, wedelolactone, psoralidin and glycyrol, in a variety of diseases. This review is a comprehensive inventory of the chemical structures of coumestans isolated from various plant sources during the period of 1956-2020, together with their reported biological activities. 120 molecules were collected and further classified as coumestans containing core skeleton, dimethylpyranocoumestans, furanocoumestans, O-glycosylated coumestans and others, which showed a wide range of pharmacological activities including estrogenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, organ protective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, antioxidant and skin-protective activities. Furthermore, this review focuses on the counteraction of coumestans against bone diseases and organ damages, and the involved molecular mechanisms, which could provide important information to better understand the medicinal values of these compounds. This review is intended to be instructive for the rational design and development of less toxic and more effective drugs with a coumestan scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Yanfang Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Chengwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China.
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30
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Chen L, Guo P, Li W, Fang F, Zhu W, Fan J, Wang F, Gao Y, Zhao Q, Wang Q, Xiao Y, Xing X, Li D, Shi T, Yu D, Aschner M, Zhang L, Chen W. Perturbation of Specific Signaling Pathways Is Involved in Initiation of Mouse Liver Fibrosis. Hepatology 2021; 73:1551-1569. [PMID: 32654205 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS To identify the regulatory role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the development of liver disease, we generated a mouse model with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Ppp2r1a gene (encoding PP2A Aα subunit). APPROACH AND RESULTS Homozygote (HO) mice and matched wild-type littermates were investigated at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months of age. Pathological examination showed that PP2A Aα deficiency in hepatocytes resulted in progressive liver fibrosis phenotype from 9 months of age. No hepatocyte death was observed in HO mice. However, perturbation of pathways including epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR1), amino acid metabolism, and translation factors as well as leptin and adiponectin led to pronounced hepatic fibrosis. In vitro studies demonstrated the involvement of specific B subunit complexes in the regulation of EGFR1 signaling pathway and cross talk between defected hepatocytes and stimulation of interstitial hyperplasia. It is noteworthy that HO mice failed to develop hepatocellular carcinoma for as long as 22 months of age. We further demonstrate that PP2A Aβ-containing holoenzymes played a critical role in preventing hepatocyte apoptosis and antagonizing tumorigenesis through specific pathways on Aα loss. Furthermore, PP2A Aα and Aβ were functionally distinct, and the Aβ isoform failed to substitute for Aα in the development of inflammation and liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS These observations identify pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and provide putative therapeutic targets for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenxue Li
- Department of Toxicology, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Fang
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Toxicology, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junling Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangping Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongmei Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiumei Xing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Daochuan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tieliu Shi
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianke Yu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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31
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Liang Q, Hu Y, Zhang M, Lin C, Zhang W, Li Y, Zhu P, Xue P, Chen Y, Li Q, Wang K. The T Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Protects the Liver From Reconsitution. Front Immunol 2020; 11:584979. [PMID: 33391261 PMCID: PMC7775400 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.584979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant immune cell infiltrates and microcircumstances represent characteristic features of liver fibrosis. In this study, we profiled the transcriptomes of intrahepatic CD45+ immune cells, from mice, using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology to understand the landscape of intrahepatic immune cells during the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Analysis of approximately 10,000 single-cell transcriptomes revealed an increase in dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and neutrophils and a decrease in T and natural killer T (NKT) cells. In addition, we report changes in the transcriptomes of diverse immune cell types, implying a deteriorating intrahepatic immune microcircumstance. Furthermore, we uncovered a novel fibrosis-associated CD8 T (Ccl5+, Ccl4+) and CD4 T (mt-Co1+) cell subpopulation, which infiltrates fibrotic liver and is characterized by abnormal activation or inactivation as well as a TCR decline. The results from scRNA-seq and bulk immune repertoire sequencing (IR-seq) revealed an obvious decline in T cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes combined with shrinking VJ and VDJ segment usage, as well as lower complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) amino acid (AA) diversity from fibrotic liver. Interestingly, a deficiency of TCR IR (TcrbKO mice) led to a deterioration of liver fibrosis, coupled with activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by the upregulation of macrophage and γδ T cell distribution in fibrotic TcrbKO livers. Our findings reveal the landscape and dynamics of single immune cells in liver fibrosis, and clarify the protective role of TCR IR in response to chronic liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liang
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yudi Hu
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Meina Zhang
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chunjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The 971 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Navy, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Pathology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Ping Zhu
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The 971 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Navy, Qingdao, China
| | - Pengxin Xue
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiyuan Li
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Kejia Wang
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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32
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Dual Pharmacological Targeting of HDACs and PDE5 Inhibits Liver Disease Progression in a Mouse Model of Biliary Inflammation and Fibrosis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123748. [PMID: 33322158 PMCID: PMC7763137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Chronic liver injury and inflammation leads to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, known as liver fibrosis, and the distortion of the hepatic parenchyma. Liver fibrosis may progress to cirrhosis, a condition in which hepatic function is impaired and most cases of liver tumors occur. Currently, there are no effective therapies to inhibit and reverse the progression of liver fibrosis, and therefore, chronic liver disease remains a global health problem. In this study we have tested the efficacy of a new class of molecules that simultaneously target two molecular pathways known to be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. In a clinically relevant mouse model of liver injury and inflammation we show that the combined inhibition of histones deacetylases and the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) results in potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Our findings open new avenues for the treatment of liver fibrosis and therefore, the prevention of hepatic carcinogenesis. Abstract Liver fibrosis, a common hallmark of chronic liver disease (CLD), is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix secreted by activated hepatic fibroblasts and stellate cells (HSC). Fibrogenesis involves multiple cellular and molecular processes and is intimately linked to chronic hepatic inflammation. Importantly, it has been shown to promote the loss of liver function and liver carcinogenesis. No effective therapies for liver fibrosis are currently available. We examined the anti-fibrogenic potential of a new drug (CM414) that simultaneously inhibits histone deacetylases (HDACs), more precisely HDAC1, 2, and 3 (Class I) and HDAC6 (Class II) and stimulates the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway activity through phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibition, two mechanisms independently involved in liver fibrosis. To this end, we treated Mdr2-KO mice, a clinically relevant model of liver inflammation and fibrosis, with our dual HDAC/PDE5 inhibitor CM414. We observed a decrease in the expression of fibrogenic markers and collagen deposition, together with a marked reduction in inflammation. No signs of hepatic or systemic toxicity were recorded. Mechanistic studies in cultured human HSC and cholangiocytes (LX2 and H69 cell lines, respectively) demonstrated that CM414 inhibited pro-fibrogenic and inflammatory responses, including those triggered by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). Our study supports the notion that simultaneous targeting of pro-inflammatory and fibrogenic mechanisms controlled by HDACs and PDE5 with a single molecule, such as CM414, can be a new disease-modifying strategy.
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Zhu Y, Tian Y, Wang N, Chang Y, Xue C, Wang J. Structure-function relationship analysis of fucoidan from sea cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa) on ameliorating metabolic inflammation. J Food Biochem 2020; 45:e13500. [PMID: 33300146 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The structure-function relationships of sea cucumber fucoidan has been seldom investigated. In this study, the effect of fucoidan which extracted from sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa (Ht-FUC) with different molecular weight and chain conformation (Ht1/2/3/4) in metabolic inflammation was investigated. A co-cultured system comprising adipocytes and macrophages was used to explore the impact in vitro. The high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFD)-fed obese mice model was established to verified the effect of Ht-FUC in vivo. The results demonstrated that all examined Ht-FUC attenuated the productions of inflammatory cytokines, promoted the M2 phenotypic polarization of co-cultured macrophage by activating PPARγ. Furthermore Ht-FUC impressed lipolysis of the co-cultured adipocytes by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB-dependent pathway. In vivo, Ht-FUC especially reduced serum inflammation level, attenuated M1/M2 polarization of liver Kupffer cells, and attenuated inflammatory infiltration of epididymal adipose tissue. Consistently, Ht3 played the best effect, and may be more beneficial for the intervention of metabolic disease. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this study, the structure-function relationships of fucoidan extracted from Holothuria tubulosa (Ht-FUC) on ameliorating metabolic inflammation was investigated for the first time. In this research, we reported that Ht-FUC ameliorating metabolic inflammation by improving FFA-induced macrophage polarization and lipolysis in both co-cultured system and obese mice. The study provides some theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of Ht-FUC with different molecular weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingying Tian
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Na Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaoguang Chang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Changhu Xue
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingfeng Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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Zhu X, Kong X, Ma S, Liu R, Li X, Gao S, Ren D, Zheng Y, Tang J. TGFβ/Smad mediated the polyhexamethyleneguanide areosol-induced irreversible pulmonary fibrosis in subchronic inhalation exposure. Inhal Toxicol 2020; 32:419-430. [PMID: 33148071 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2020.1836091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) is widely used as a disinfectant with broad spectra of bactericidal activity and low oral toxicity. However, inhalation of PHMG can cause pulmonary injury and severe pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanism underlying PHMG aerosol induced pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the subchronic lung injury and determine potential cytokines involved in PHMG aerosol induced fibrosis. METHODS C57BL/6N mice were exposed to 1.03 mg/m3 PHMG through aerosol inhalation for 3 weeks, or 3 weeks followed by other 3 weeks recovery. RESULTS The results indicated that the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) and extracellular matrix remodeling markers were up-regulated in the PHMG-treated mice and these parameters were aggravated after 3 weeks recovery. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) analysis showed that the number of total cells was significantly decreased in exposure group. The percentage of macrophages in BALFs decreased significantly whereas the percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes increased. Extensive collagen deposition was observed in the peribronchiolar and interstitial areas in the PHMG exposed lungs. CONCLUSION In conclusion, even low-does PHMG aerosol exposure could induce mice pulmonary local inflammation and irreversible fibrosis. In addition, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway mediated the extracellular matrix remodeling involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zhu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao Kong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Sai Ma
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shaobo Gao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dunqiang Ren
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxin Zheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinglong Tang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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35
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Ahodantin J, Lekbaby B, Bou Nader M, Soussan P, Kremsdorf D. Hepatitis B virus X protein enhances the development of liver fibrosis and the expression of genes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and tumor progenitor cells. Carcinogenesis 2020; 41:358-367. [PMID: 31175830 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgz109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has pleiotropic biological effects, which underlies its potential role in cell transformation. However, its involvement in hepatic fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we wanted to clarify, in vivo, the role of HBx protein in the development of liver fibrosis. Mice transgenic for the full-length HBx (FL-HBx) were used. To create liver fibrosis, FL-HBx transgenic and control mice were chronically exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Modulation of the expression of proteins involved in matrix remodeling, hepatic metabolism and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated. In transgenic mice, FL-HBx expression potentiates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis with increased expression of proteins involved in matrix remodeling (Collagen1a, α-Sma, PdgfR-β, MMP-13). In FL-HBx transgenic mice, an increase in EMT was observed with a higher transcription of two inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and TGF-β) and a decrease of glutamine synthetase expression level. This was associated with a sustained cell cycle and hepatocyte polyploidy alteration consistent with p38 and ERK1/2 overactivation, increase of PLK1 transcription, accumulation of SQSTM1/p62 protein and increase expression of Beclin-1. This correlates with a higher expression of tumor progenitor cell markers (AFP, Ly6D and EpCam), indicating a higher risk of progression from fibrosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the presence of FL-HBx protein. In conclusion, our results show that FL-HBx protein enhances the development of liver fibrosis and contributes to the progression of liver disease from chronic hepatitis to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Ahodantin
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, ERL8255), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Bouchra Lekbaby
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, ERL8255), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Myriam Bou Nader
- Team Proliferation Stress and Liver Physiopathology, Genome and Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm), Paris, France.,Sorbonne Unversité, USPC, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Soussan
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, ERL8255), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Dina Kremsdorf
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, ERL8255), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
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Jin H, Li C, Dong P, Huang J, Yu J, Zheng J. Circular RNA cMTO1 Promotes PTEN Expression Through Sponging miR-181b-5p in Liver Fibrosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:714. [PMID: 32850833 PMCID: PMC7413143 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as key regulators of cancer biology. Recently, cMTO1 (a circRNA derived from MTO1 gene, hsa_circ_0007874) has been demonstrated to act as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the roles of cMTO1 in liver fibrosis are largely unknown. Methods Expressions and roles of cMTO1 were examined in vivo and in vitro during liver fibrosis. The interaction between microRNA-181b-5p (miR-181b-5p) and cMTO1 was analyzed by luciferase activity assays and pull down assays. Results cMTO1 was shown to be reduced in the liver from patients with cirrhosis. In addition, cMTO1 was down-regulated in the mouse fibrotic livers as well as activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Restoring of cMTO1 led to a reduction in HSC proliferation. Results of immunofluorescence analysis showed that cMTO1 suppressed the expressions of α-SMA and type I collagen. cMTO1 was found to be expressed in the cytoplasm of HSCs. Further studies confirmed that cMTO1 and miR-181b-5p were co-located in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, there was an interaction between cMTO1 and miR-181b-5p. Results of luciferase reporter assays and pull down assays confirmed that miR-181b-5p could bind to cMTO1. cMTO1-inhibited HSC activation was blocked down by miR-181b-5p or PTEN. Meanwhile, PTEN was a target of miR-181b-5p. Conclusion cMTO1 inhibits HSC activation, at least in part, through miR-181b-5p-mediated PTEN expression. Our results also suggest that cMTO1 may be a novel therapeutic target in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jin
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chunxue Li
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Peihong Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Junting Huang
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jinglu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Lishui, China
| | - Jianjian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Elucidating Potential Profibrotic Mechanisms of Emerging Biomarkers for Early Prognosis of Hepatic Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134737. [PMID: 32635162 PMCID: PMC7369895 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis has been associated with a series of pathophysiological processes causing excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Several cellular processes and molecular mechanisms have been implicated in the diseased liver that augments fibrogenesis, fibrogenic cytokines and associated liver complications. Liver biopsy remains an essential diagnostic tool for histological evaluation of hepatic fibrosis to establish a prognosis. In addition to being invasive, this methodology presents with several limitations including poor cost-effectiveness, prolonged hospitalizations, and risks of peritoneal bleeding, while the clinical use of this method does not reveal underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Several alternate noninvasive diagnostic strategies have been developed, to determine the extent of hepatic fibrosis, including the use of direct and indirect biomarkers. Immediate diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis by noninvasive means would be more palatable than a biopsy and could assist clinicians in taking early interventions timely, avoiding fatal complications, and improving prognosis. Therefore, we sought to review some common biomarkers of liver fibrosis along with some emerging candidates, including the oxidative stress-mediated biomarkers, epigenetic and genetic markers, exosomes, and miRNAs that needs further evaluation and would have better sensitivity and specificity. We also aim to elucidate the potential role of cardiotonic steroids (CTS) and evaluate the pro-inflammatory and profibrotic effects of CTS in exacerbating hepatic fibrosis. By understanding the underlying pathogenic processes, the efficacy of these biomarkers could allow for early diagnosis and treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, once validated.
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38
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Alatas FS, Matsuura T, Pudjiadi AH, Wijaya S, Taguchi T. Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Agonist Attenuates Liver Fibrosis by Several Fibrogenic Pathways in an Animal Model of Cholestatic Fibrosis. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2020; 23:346-355. [PMID: 32704495 PMCID: PMC7354870 DOI: 10.5223/pghn.2020.23.4.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) has a key role in hepatic fibrogenesis by virtue of its effect on the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Although many studies have shown that PPAR-γ agonists inhibit liver fibrosis, the mechanism remains largely unclear, especially regarding the cross-talk between PPAR-γ and other potent fibrogenic factors. METHODS This experimental study involved 25 male Wistar rats. Twenty rats were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis, further divided into an untreated group (BDL; n=10) and a group treated with the PPAR-γ agonist thiazolidinedione (TZD), at 14 days post-operation (BDL+TZD; n=10). The remaining 5 rats had a sham operation (sham; n=5). The effect of PPAR-γ agonist on liver fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology, protein immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Histology and immunostaining showed markedly reduced collagen deposition, bile duct proliferation, and HSCs in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p<0.001). Similarly, significantly lower mRNA expression of collagen α-1(I), matrix metalloproteinase-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B chain, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evident in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p=0.0002, p<0.035, p<0.0001, and p=0.0123 respectively). Moreover, expression of the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) was also downregulated in the BDL+TZD group (p=0.0087). CONCLUSION The PPAR-γ agonist inhibits HSC activation in vivo and attenuates liver fibrosis through several fibrogenic pathways. Potent fibrogenic factors such as PDGF, CTGF, and TGF-β1 were downregulated by the PPAR-γ agonist. Targeting PPAR-γ activity may be a potential strategy to control liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Safira Alatas
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Toshiharu Matsuura
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Antonius Hocky Pudjiadi
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Stephanie Wijaya
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tomoaki Taguchi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Dong Z, Li S, Si L, Ma R, Bao L, Bo A. Identification lncRNA LOC102551149/miR-23a-5p pathway in hepatic fibrosis. Eur J Clin Invest 2020; 50:e13243. [PMID: 32306379 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic fibrosis is a worldwide incurable disease; due to the complex and unclear mechanism, there lack the effective therapeutic targets. However, the mechanism of miR-23a-5p underling this pathological process is largely not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of miR-23a-5p in hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation. METHODS The content of miR-23a-5p in hepatic fibrosis induced by N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and HSC activation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was detected by qRT-PCR. H&E staining, Masson staining and Shear wave electrography (SWE) were used to detect the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry staining, qRT-PCR and Western blot detect the related markers of liver fibrosis or HSC activation, as well as the related pathway genes and proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter system verifies the interaction between miR-23a-5p with PTEN or miR-23a-5p with lncRNA LOC102551149 in HSC-T6. siRNA and miRNA mimic transfer to HSC-T6 to detect the function of lncRNA LOC102551149 and miR-23a-5p on HSC activation. RESULTS After hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation happened, the expression of miR-23a-5p was up-regulated, whereas anti-miR-23a-5p can alleviate hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation. Further research shows miR-23a-5p can target PTEN and degrade it, causing activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/Snail pathway. lncRNA LOC102551149 can be used as a competition endogenous RNA (ceRNA) targeting miR-23a-5p through base pairing, and siRNA LOC102551149 or exogenous miR-23a-5p can induce HSC activation through PI3K/Akt/mTOR/Snail pathway. CONCLUSION We demonstrate mechanism pathway of miR-23a-5p on hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation, which may develop a therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Dong
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lengge Si
- Mongolian Medicine School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Ruilian Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lidao Bao
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Agula Bo
- Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
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Kurtoğlu EL, Kayhan B, Gül M, Kayhan B, Akdoğan Kayhan M, Karaca ZM, Yeşilada E, Yılmaz S. A bioactive product lipoxin A4 attenuates liver fibrosis in an experimental model by regulating immune response and modulating the expression of regeneration genes. TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2020; 30:745-757. [PMID: 31418419 DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2019.18276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), an anti-inflammatory lipid mediator, regulates leukocyte cellular activity and activates gene transcription. The therapeutic effect of LXA4 on liver fibrosis and its mechanism on the immune system are largely unknown. Because the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes in acute and chronic liver failure models of mouse increases by silencing MKK4, we aimed to investigate the effect of parenteral administration of LXA4 on the genes responsible for regeneration of liver, namely MKK4, MKK7, and ATF2, and visualize the therapeutic effects in an experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fibrosis was induced in mice by administration of thioacetamide (TAA). LXA4 was administered during the last two weeks of fibrosis induction. The fibrosis level was measured by Knodell scoring. The liver function was measured by analyzing serum ALT, AST, and AP levels. Expression levels of genes responsible for liver fibrosis (TGF-α) and cell regeneration (MKK4, MKK7, and ATF2) have been measured by RT-PCR analysis. Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured in serum samples and liver homogenates by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Ultrathin sections were examined using a transmission electron microscope and analyzed. RESULTS We observed significant healing in liver of the LXA4-treated group, histologically. This finding was in parallel with reduction of serum ALT, AST, but not AP levels. TGF-α and MKK4 expressions were significantly reduced in the LXA4-treated group. Administration of LXA4 caused significant elevation of IL-10 in systemic circulation; however, that elevation was not detected in liver homogenates. Nevertheless, significant reductions in TNF-α and IL-17 have been observed. CONCLUSION The anti-inflammatory effect of LXA4 maintains the regenerative capacity of liver during fibrosis in an experimental liver fibrosis model. LXA4 may be therapeutically beneficial in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elçin Latife Kurtoğlu
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Başak Kayhan
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey;Transplantation Immunology Laboratory, Department of General Surgery, Institute of Liver Transplantation, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Gül
- Department of Histology and Embryology, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Burçak Kayhan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Karabük University School of Medicine, Karabük, Turkey
| | - Meral Akdoğan Kayhan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Abant İzzet Baysal School of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Zeynal Mete Karaca
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Elif Yeşilada
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sezai Yılmaz
- Department of Surgery, Liver Transplantation Institute, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
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Singh L, Joshi T, Tewari D, Echeverría J, Mocan A, Sah AN, Parvanov E, Tzvetkov NT, Ma ZF, Lee YY, Poznański P, Huminiecki L, Sacharczuk M, Jóźwik A, Horbańczuk JO, Feder-Kubis J, Atanasov AG. Ethnopharmacological Applications Targeting Alcohol Abuse: Overview and Outlook. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1593. [PMID: 32116660 PMCID: PMC7034411 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of several diseases and thus is of a major concern for society. Worldwide alcohol consumption has increased by many folds over the past decades. This urgently calls for intervention and relapse counteract measures. Modern pharmacological solutions induce complete alcohol self-restraint and prevent relapse, but they have many side effects. Natural products are most promising as they cause fewer adverse effects. Here we discuss in detail the medicinal plants used in various traditional/folklore medicine systems for targeting alcohol abuse. We also comprehensively describe preclinical and clinical studies done on some of these plants along with the possible mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laxman Singh
- Centre for Biodiversity Conservation & Management, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development, Almora, India
| | - Tanuj Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Kumaun University Bhimtal Campus, Nainital, India
| | - Devesh Tewari
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Javier Echeverría
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrei Mocan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Archana N. Sah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Kumaun University Bhimtal Campus, Nainital, India
| | - Emil Parvanov
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Division BIOCEV, Prague, Czechia
| | - Nikolay T. Tzvetkov
- Institute of Molecular Biology “Roumen Tsanev”, Department of Biochemical Pharmacology and Drug Design, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department Global R&D, NTZ Lab Ltd., Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Zheng Feei Ma
- Department of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Yeong Yeh Lee
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Piotr Poznański
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Lukasz Huminiecki
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Mariusz Sacharczuk
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Artur Jóźwik
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Jarosław O. Horbańczuk
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Joanna Feder-Kubis
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Atanas G. Atanasov
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Geng W, Zhou G, Zhao B, Xiao Q, Li C, Fan S, Dong P, Zheng J. Liquiritigenin suppresses the activation of hepatic stellate cells via targeting miR-181b/PTEN axis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 66:153108. [PMID: 31790896 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.153108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liquiritigenin (LQ), an aglycone of liquiritin in licorice, has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. Previously, LQ was found to inhibit liver fibrosis progression. PURPOSE Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been reported to act as a negative regulator of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. However, the roles of PTEN in the effects of LQ on liver fibrosis have not been identified to date. METHODS The effects of LQ on liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mice as well as primary HSCs were examined. Moreover, the roles of PTEN and microRNA-181b (miR-181b) in the effects of LQ on liver fibrosis were examined. RESULTS LQ markedly ameliorated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, with a reduction in collagen deposition as well as α-SMA level. Moreover, LQ induced an increase in PTEN and effectively inhibited HSC activation including cell proliferation, α-SMA and collagen expression, which was similar with curcumin (a positive control). Notably, loss of PTEN blocked down the effects of LQ on HSC activation. PTEN was confirmed as a target of miR-181b and miR-181b-mediated PTEN was involved in the effects of LQ on liver fibrosis. LQ led to a significant reduction in miR-181b expression. LQ-inhibited HSC activation could be restored by over-expression of miR-181b. Further studies demonstrated that LQ down-regulated miR-181b level via Sp1. Collectively, we demonstrate that LQ inhibits liver fibrosis, at least in part, via regulation of miR-181b and PTEN. CONCLUSION LQ down-regulates miR-181b level, leading to the restoration of PTEN expression, which contributes to the suppression of HSC activation. LQ may be a potential candidate drug against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wujun Geng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Guangyao Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Binyu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Qingqing Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Chunxue Li
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Sinuo Fan
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Peihong Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
| | - Jianjian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
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Stremmel W, Staffer S, Fricker G, Weiskirchen R. The Bile Acid-Phospholipid Conjugate Ursodeoxycholyl-Lysophosphatidylethanolamide (UDCA-LPE) Disintegrates the Lipid Backbone of Raft Plasma Membrane Domains by the Removal of the Membrane Phospholipase A2. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225631. [PMID: 31717968 PMCID: PMC6888454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The bile acid-phospholipid conjugate ursodeoxycholyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamide (UDCA-LPE) was shown to have anti-inflammatory, antisteatotic, and antifibrotic properties, rendering it as a drug targeting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). On a molecular level, it disrupted the heterotetrameric fatty acid uptake complex localized in detergent-resistant membrane domains of the plasma membrane (DRM-PM). However, its mode of action was unclear. Methodologically, UDCA-LPE was incubated with the liver tumor cell line HepG2 as well as their isolated DRM-PM and all other cellular membranes (non-DRM). The membrane cholesterol and phospholipids were quantified as well as the DRM-PM protein composition by Western blotting. The results show a loss of DRM-PM by UDCA-LPE (50 µM) with a 63.13 ± 7.14% reduction of phospholipids and an 81.94 ± 8.30% reduction of cholesterol in relation to mg total protein. The ratio of phospholipids to cholesterol changed from 2:1 to 4:1, resembling those of non-DRM fractions. Among the members of the fatty acid uptake complex, the calcium-independent membrane phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) abandoned DRM-PM most rapidly. As a consequence, the other members of this transport system disappeared as well as the DRM-PM anchored fibrosis regulating proteins integrin β-1 and lysophospholipid receptor 1 (LPAR-1). It is concluded that UDCA-LPE executes its action by iPLA2β removal from DRM-PM and consequent dissolution of the raft lipid platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Stremmel
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-152-34349907
| | - Simone Staffer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
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Rajshankar D, Wang B, Worndl E, Menezes S, Wang Y, McCulloch CA. Focal adhesion kinase regulates tractional collagen remodeling, matrix metalloproteinase expression, and collagen structure, which in turn affects matrix‐induced signaling. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:3096-3111. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Baiyu Wang
- Faculty of Dentistry University of Toronto Toronto Ontario
| | | | - Sara Menezes
- Faculty of Dentistry University of Toronto Toronto Ontario
| | - Yongqiang Wang
- Faculty of Dentistry University of Toronto Toronto Ontario
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Active Ingredients and Action Mechanisms of Yi Guan Jian Decoction in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Liver Fibrosis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:2408126. [PMID: 31565062 PMCID: PMC6745137 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2408126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aim The progression of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is currently insufficiently controlled worldwide. The Yi Guan Jian decoction (YGJD) has been widely used in the treatment of liver fibrosis in CHB cases. Although animal studies have reported the antifibrotic effects of the decoction, the active ingredients of the YGJD remain unknown. This study aimed at identifying the potential active ingredients and exploring the mechanisms of action (MOA) of the decoction when treating CHB patients with fibrosis. Methods Using data mining techniques and a structural clustering analysis, the potential active ingredients were determined. A network analysis of the differentially expressed genes was conducted to identify the potential targets. Selected compounds were docked to the potential targets for the compound-target interaction simulation. In vitro validation, including a cell proliferation assay and Western blot analysis, was conducted to evaluate the prediction results. Results In the microarray data, 224 differentially expressed genes related to liver fibrosis were considered to be potential targets. Thirty active ingredients of the YGJD and 15 main targets and relevant pathways were identified. Among them, two active ingredients, methylophiopogonone A and 8-geranyloxypsoralen, were validated as exhibiting antifibrotic effects on hepatic stellate cells. Conclusions We identified the potential active ingredients of the YGJD and proposed the possible explanation for the MOA in the treatment of CHB patients with liver fibrosis. Moreover, this study provides a methodological reference for the systematic investigation of the bioactive compounds and related MOA of a traditional Chinese medicine formula in a clinical context.
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Isorhamnetin Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Reducing Autophagy and Inhibiting Extracellular Matrix Formation via the TGF- β1/Smad3 and TGF- β1/p38 MAPK Pathways. Mediators Inflamm 2019; 2019:6175091. [PMID: 31467486 PMCID: PMC6701280 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6175091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Liver fibrosis is a consequence of wound-healing responses to chronic liver insult and may progress to liver cirrhosis if not controlled. This study investigated the protection against liver fibrosis by isorhamnetin. Methods Mouse models of hepatic fibrosis were established by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or bile duct ligation (BDL). Isorhamnetin 10 or 30 mg/kg was administered by gavage 5 days per week for 8 weeks in the CCl4 model and for 2 weeks in the BDL model. Protein and mRNA expressions were assayed by western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Isorhamnetin significantly inhibited liver fibrosis in both models, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and autophagy. The effects were associated with downregulation of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) mediation of Smad3 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Conclusion Isorhamnetin protected against liver fibrosis by reducing ECM formation and autophagy via inhibition of TGF-β1-mediated Smad3 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.
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Du Y, Liu P, Chen Z, He Y, Zhang B, Dai G, Xia W, Liu Y, Chen X. PTEN improve renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo through inhibiting FAK/AKT signaling pathway. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:17887-17897. [PMID: 31144376 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Du
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Peihua Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Yao He
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Guoyu Dai
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Weiping Xia
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan PR China
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Shafie F, Nabavizadeh F, Shafie Ardestani M, Panahi M, Adeli S, Samandari H, Ashabi G. Sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer attenuates liver fibrosis and its complications in bile-duct-ligated rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2019; 97:691-698. [PMID: 31071278 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2019-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the effect of sorafenib-loaded polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Male Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups: intact, sham, DMSO + BDL, BDL, sorafenib (30 mg/kg), sorafenib (60 mg/kg), PAMAM + BDL, sorafenib (30 mg/kg) + PAMAM + BDL, sorafenib (60 mg/kg) + PAMAM + BDL. BDL was induced and then rats were treated daily with sorafenib and (or) PAMAM for 4 weeks. Improvement of liver was detected via assessment of ascites formation, collagen deposition, liver blood flow, vascular endothelial growth factor level, and blood cells count. Sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer in both 30 and 60 mg/kg doses reduced ascites formation, reduced collagen deposition, and improved drug-induced hematological side effects of sorafenib alone in comparison with sorafenib-alone treatment. Sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer increased liver blood flow compared with sorafenib-received groups. Sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer reduced BDL-induced liver injury compared with sorafenib-received groups. Moreover, sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer decreased vascular endothelial growth factor level in serum and liver tissue in comparison with sorafenib-received groups. Sorafenib-loaded PAMAM dendrimer profoundly improved the therapeutic effects of sorafenib in BDL rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Shafie
- a Department of Physiology, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Nabavizadeh
- a Department of Physiology, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shafie Ardestani
- b Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Panahi
- c Department of Pathology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Adeli
- d Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hedayat Samandari
- a Department of Physiology, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghorbangol Ashabi
- a Department of Physiology, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Peng Y, Li L, Zhang X, Xie M, Yang C, Tu S, Shen H, Hu G, Tao L, Yang H. Fluorofenidone affects hepatic stellate cell activation in hepatic fibrosis by targeting the TGF-β1/Smad and MAPK signaling pathways. Exp Ther Med 2019; 18:41-48. [PMID: 31258636 PMCID: PMC6566051 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present research was to study the therapeutic impacts of fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) on pig serum (PS)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and the complex molecular mechanisms of its effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, PS and PS/AKF-PD treatment groups. The activated human HSC LX-2 cell line was also treated with AKF-PD. The expression of collagen I and III, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was determined by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Western blotting and/or RT-qPCR analyses were used to determine the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, α-SMA, collagen I, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)-3, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). AKF-PD attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis and liver injury in vivo, which was associated with the downregulation of collagen I and III, and α-SMA at the mRNA and protein levels. In vitro, AKF-PD treatment significantly reduced the TGF-β1-induced activation of HSCs, as determined by the reduction in collagen I and α-SMA protein expression. The TGF-β1-induced upregulation of the phosphorylation of Smad 3, ERK1/2, p38 and JNK was attenuated by AKF-PD treatment. These findings suggested that AKF-PD attenuated the progression of hepatic fibrosis by suppressing HSCs activation via the TGF-β1/Smad and MAPK signaling pathways, and therefore that AKF-PD may be suitable for use as a novel therapeutic agent against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Peng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, Hunan 415000, P.R. China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of General Practice, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu 222000, P.R. China
| | - Mingyan Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, Hunan 415000, P.R. China
| | - Congying Yang
- Department of Endoscopy Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Sha Tu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Hong Shen
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Gaoyun Hu
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Lijian Tao
- Department of Nephropathy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Huixiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
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Abstract
Fibrosis is a dynamic process with the potential for reversibility and restoration of near-normal tissue architecture and organ function. Herein, we review mechanisms for resolution of organ fibrosis, in particular that involving the lung, with an emphasis on the critical roles of myofibroblast apoptosis and clearance of deposited matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Horowitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Victor J Thannickal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
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