1
|
Stefanovic B, Manojlovic Z, Vied C, Badger CD, Stefanovic L. Discovery and evaluation of inhibitor of LARP6 as specific antifibrotic compound. Sci Rep 2019; 9:326. [PMID: 30674965 PMCID: PMC6344531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36841-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterized by excessive production of type I collagen. Biosynthesis of type I collagen in fibrosis is augmented by binding of protein LARP6 to the 5' stem-loop structure (5'SL), which is found exclusively in type I collagen mRNAs. A high throughput screen was performed to discover inhibitors of LARP6 binding to 5'SL, as potential antifibrotic drugs. The screen yielded one compound (C9) which was able to dissociate LARP6 from 5' SL RNA in vitro and to inactivate the binding of endogenous LARP6 in cells. Treatment of hepatic stellate cells (liver cells responsible for fibrosis) with nM concentrations of C9 reduced secretion of type I collagen. In precision cut liver slices, as an ex vivo model of hepatic fibrosis, C9 attenuated the profibrotic response at 1 μM. In prophylactic and therapeutic animal models of hepatic fibrosis C9 prevented development of fibrosis or hindered the progression of ongoing fibrosis when administered at 1 mg/kg. Toxicogenetics analysis revealed that only 42 liver genes changed expression after administration of C9 for 4 weeks, suggesting minimal off target effects. Based on these results, C9 represents the first LARP6 inhibitor with significant antifibrotic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Branko Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
| | - Zarko Manojlovic
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy Street, NRT 4510, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Cynthia Vied
- Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Crystal-Dawn Badger
- Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Colorado State University, 401 West Pitkin Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Lela Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lessa AS, Paredes BD, Dias JV, Carvalho AB, Quintanilha LF, Takiya CM, Tura BR, Rezende GFM, Campos de Carvalho AC, Resende CMC, Goldenberg RCS. Ultrasound imaging in an experimental model of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis in rats. BMC Vet Res 2010; 6:6. [PMID: 20113491 PMCID: PMC2835689 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-6-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2009] [Accepted: 01/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Domestic dogs and cats are very well known to develop chronic hepatic diseases, including hepatic lipidosis and cirrhosis. Ultrasonographic examination is extensively used to detect them. However, there are still few reports on the use of the ultrasound B-mode scan in correlation with histological findings to evaluate diffuse hepatic changes in rodents, which represent the most important animal group used in experimental models of liver diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of ultrasound findings in the assessment of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis when compared to histological results in Wistar rats by following up a murine model of chronic hepatic disease. RESULTS Forty Wistar rats (30 treated, 10 controls) were included. Liver injury was induced by dual exposure to CCl4 and ethanol for 4, 8 and 15 weeks. Liver echogenicity, its correlation to the right renal cortex echogenicity, measurement of portal vein diameter (PVD) and the presence of ascites were evaluated and compared to histological findings of hepatic steatosis and cirrhosis. Liver echogenicity correlated to hepatic steatosis when it was greater or equal to the right renal cortex echogenicity, with a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 100%, positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 76.9% respectively, and accuracy of 92.5%. Findings of heterogeneous liver echogenicity and irregular surface correlated to liver cirrhosis with a sensitivity of 70.6%, specificity of 100%, positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 82.1% respectively, and accuracy of 87.5%. PVD was significantly increased in both steatotic and cirrhotic rats; however, the later had greater diameters. PVD cut-off point separating steatosis from cirrhosis was 2.1 mm (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90.5%). One third of cirrhotic rats presented with ascites. CONCLUSION The use of ultrasound imaging in the follow-up of murine diffuse liver disease models is feasible and efficient, especially when the studied parameters are used in combination. The potential implication of this study is to provide a non-invasive method that allows follow-up studies of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis of individual rats for pre-clinical drug or cell based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andréia S Lessa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rua Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913, Brasil
| | - Bruno D Paredes
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco G, Sala G2-053, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Juliana V Dias
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rua Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913, Brasil
| | - Adriana B Carvalho
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco G, Sala G2-053, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Luiz Fernando Quintanilha
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rua Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913, Brasil
| | - Christina M Takiya
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco F2-024, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Bernardo R Tura
- National Institute of Cardiology, Rua das Laranjeiras, 374, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22240-006, Brasil
| | - Guilherme FM Rezende
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rua Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913, Brasil
| | - Antonio C Campos de Carvalho
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco G, Sala G2-053, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brasil
- National Institute of Cardiology, Rua das Laranjeiras, 374, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22240-006, Brasil
| | - Célia MC Resende
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rua Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913, Brasil
| | - Regina CS Goldenberg
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco G, Sala G2-053, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Plummer JL, Hall PM, Cmielewski PL, Ilsley AH, Ahern MJ. Use of artificial sweeteners to promote alcohol consumption by rats. Pathology 1997; 29:57-9. [PMID: 9094179 DOI: 10.1080/00313029700169544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cirrhosis may be reliably produced in rats by exposing them intermittently to low levels of carbon tetrachloride vapour while feeding alcohol in the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet. Providing the alcohol in drinking water that has been sweetened with sucrose is a cheaper and more convenient method but it does not yield reliable results. This study aimed to determine whether alcohol in drinking water sweetened with artificial sweeteners would give adequate alcohol intake to achieve the desired hepatic effects. Rats were fed alcohol (8% v/v) in drinking water sweetened with sucrose (5% w/v) (n = 12), or with one of the artificial sweeteners aspartame (0.025%), saccharin (0.025%) or cyclamate (0.05%) (n = 8 per agent). During the alcohol treatment the animals were exposed to carbon tetrachloride vapour, 40 ppm, six hours per night for five nights per week, over a period of 14 weeks. All groups achieved good alcohol intakes of 5-6 g/kg/day. Only one rat, in the aspartame group, became cirrhotic; all the others had varying degrees of fibrosis which did not differ significantly among the treatments. Although it was not effective in reliably achieving cirrhosis, sweetening the alcohol solution with artificial sweeteners led to reasonable alcohol intakes with resultant hepatic fibrosis, and without the high carbohydrate intake which occurs when sucrose is used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Plummer
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Flinders Medical Centre, SA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|