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Im S, Song MH, Elangovan M, Woo KM, Park WJ. The matricellular protein CCN5 prevents anti-VEGF drug-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelium. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13920. [PMID: 38886213 PMCID: PMC11183261 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63565-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major causes of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs have been widely used to treat the neovascular type of AMD (nAMD). However, VEGF acts not only as a pro-angiogenic factor but also as an anti-apoptotic factor in the eyes. In this study, we found that anti-VEGF drugs, including bevacizumab (Bev), ranibizumab (Ran), and aflibercept (Afl), induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ARPE-19 cells in vitro, accompanied by the induction of CCN2, a potent pro-fibrotic factor. Similarly, intravitreal injection of Afl into mouse eyes resulted in EMT in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Co-treatment with CCN5, an anti-fibrotic factor that down-regulates CCN2 expression, significantly attenuated the adverse effects of the anti-VEGF drugs both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of the VEGF signaling pathway with antagonists of VEGF receptors, SU5416 and ZM323881, induced EMT and up-regulated CCN2 in ARPE-19 cells. Additionally, knock-down of CCN2 with siRNA abolished the adverse effects of the anti-VEGF drugs in ARPE-19 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that anti-VEGF drugs induce EMT in RPE through the induction of CCN2 and that co-treatment with CCN5 attenuates the adverse effects of anti-VEGF drugs in mouse eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sora Im
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Min Ho Song
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Muthukumar Elangovan
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Kee Min Woo
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Woo Jin Park
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
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2
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Song MH, Yoo J, Kwon DA, Chepurko E, Cho S, Fargnoli A, Hajjar RJ, Park WJ, Zangi L, Jeong D. Modified mRNA-Mediated CCN5 Gene Transfer Ameliorates Cardiac Dysfunction and Fibrosis without Adverse Structural Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6262. [PMID: 38892449 PMCID: PMC11172546 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116262] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Modified mRNAs (modRNAs) are an emerging delivery method for gene therapy. The success of modRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines has demonstrated that modRNA is a safe and effective therapeutic tool. Moreover, modRNA has the potential to treat various human diseases, including cardiac dysfunction. Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cardiac disorder that currently lacks curative treatment options, and MI is commonly accompanied by fibrosis and impaired cardiac function. Our group previously demonstrated that the matricellular protein CCN5 inhibits cardiac fibrosis (CF) and mitigates cardiac dysfunction. However, it remains unclear whether early intervention of CF under stress conditions is beneficial or more detrimental due to potential adverse effects such as left ventricular (LV) rupture. We hypothesized that CCN5 would alleviate the adverse effects of myocardial infarction (MI) through its anti-fibrotic properties under stress conditions. To induce the rapid expression of CCN5, ModRNA-CCN5 was synthesized and administrated directly into the myocardium in a mouse MI model. To evaluate CCN5 activity, we established two independent experimental schemes: (1) preventive intervention and (2) therapeutic intervention. Functional analyses, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with molecular assays, demonstrated that modRNA-mediated CCN5 gene transfer significantly attenuated cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function in both preventive and therapeutic models, without causing left ventricular rupture or any adverse cardiac remodeling. In conclusion, early intervention in CF by ModRNA-CCN5 gene transfer is an efficient and safe therapeutic modality for treating MI-induced heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Ho Song
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea; (M.H.S.)
| | - Jimeen Yoo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10019, USA; (J.Y.); (E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Do-A Kwon
- Department of Medicinal & Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University-ERICA, Ansan-si 15588, Republic of Korea; (D.-A.K.); (S.C.)
| | - Elena Chepurko
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10019, USA; (J.Y.); (E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Sunghye Cho
- Department of Medicinal & Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University-ERICA, Ansan-si 15588, Republic of Korea; (D.-A.K.); (S.C.)
| | - Anthony Fargnoli
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10019, USA; (J.Y.); (E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Roger J. Hajjar
- Mass General Brigham Gene and Cell Therapy Institute, Boston, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Woo Jin Park
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea; (M.H.S.)
| | - Lior Zangi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10019, USA; (J.Y.); (E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Dongtak Jeong
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10019, USA; (J.Y.); (E.C.); (A.F.)
- Department of Medicinal & Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University-ERICA, Ansan-si 15588, Republic of Korea; (D.-A.K.); (S.C.)
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Birkeness LB, Banerjee S, Quadir M, Banerjee SK. The role of CCNs in controlling cellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:35-45. [PMID: 35674933 PMCID: PMC10030743 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-022-00682-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cellular communication network (CCN) family of growth regulatory factors comprises six secreted matricellular proteins that promote signal transduction through cell-cell or cell-matrix interaction. The diversity of functionality between each protein is specific to the many aspects of healthy and cancer biology. For example, CCN family proteins modulate cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasiveness, apoptosis, and survival. In addition, the expression of each protein regulates many biological and pathobiological processes within its microenvironment to regulate angiogenesis, inflammatory response, chondrogenesis, fibrosis, and mitochondrial integrity. The collective range of CCN operation remains fully comprehended; however, understanding each protein's microenvironment may draw more conclusions about the abundance of interactions and signaling cascades occurring within such issues. This review observes and distinguishes the various roles a CCN protein may execute within distinct tumor microenvironments and the biological associations among them. Finally. We also review how CCN-family proteins can be used in nano-based therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren B Birkeness
- Cancer Research Unit, Research Division, VA Medical Center, 4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64128, USA
| | - Snigdha Banerjee
- Cancer Research Unit, Research Division, VA Medical Center, 4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64128, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66106, USA
| | - Mohiuddin Quadir
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - Sushanta K Banerjee
- Cancer Research Unit, Research Division, VA Medical Center, 4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64128, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66106, USA.
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Hu HJ, Wang XH, Liu Y, Zhang TQ, Chen ZR, Zhang C, Tang ZH, Qu SL, Tang HF, Jiang ZS. Hydrogen Sulfide Ameliorates Angiotensin II-Induced Atrial Fibrosis Progression to Atrial Fibrillation Through Inhibition of the Warburg Effect and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:690371. [PMID: 34950023 PMCID: PMC8689064 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.690371] [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: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrosis is the basis for the occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and is closely related to the Warburg effect, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and mitochondrion dysfunctions-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signalling molecule with cardioprotective, anti-myocardial fibrosis and improved energy metabolism effects. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism by which H2S improves the progression of atrial fibrosis to AF remains unclear. A case-control study of patients with and without AF was designed to assess changes in H2S, the Warburg effect, and ERS in AF. The results showed that AF can significantly reduce cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate thiotransferase (3-MST) expression and the H2S level, induce cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) expression; increase the Warburg effect, ERS and atrial fibrosis; and promote left atrial dysfunction. In addition, AngII-treated SD rats had an increased Warburg effect and ERS levels and enhanced atrial fibrosis progression to AF compared to wild-type SD rats, and these conditions were reversed by sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), dichloroacetic acid (DCA) or 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) supplementation. Finally, low CSE levels in AngII-induced HL-1 cells were concentration- and time-dependent and associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, the Warburg effect and ERS, and these effects were reversed by NaHS, DCA or 4-PBA supplementation. Our research indicates that H2S can regulate the AngII-induced Warburg effect and ERS and might be a potential therapeutic drug to inhibit atrial fibrosis progression to AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Jing Hu
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Postdoctoral Research Station of Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiu-Heng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine Lab, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Tian-Qing Zhang
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zheng-Rong Chen
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhi-Han Tang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shun-Lin Qu
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Hui-Fang Tang
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhi-Sheng Jiang
- Department of Cardiology Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Postdoctoral Research Station of Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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5
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Lee MA, Raad N, Song MH, Yoo J, Lee M, Jang SP, Kwak TH, Kook H, Choi EK, Cha TJ, Hajjar RJ, Jeong D, Park WJ. The matricellular protein CCN5 prevents adverse atrial structural and electrical remodelling. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:11768-11778. [PMID: 32885578 PMCID: PMC7579720 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial structural remodelling including atrial hypertrophy and fibrosis is a key mediator of atrial fibrillation (AF). We previously demonstrated that the matricellular protein CCN5 elicits anti‐fibrotic and anti‐hypertrophic effects in left ventricles under pressure overload. We here determined the utility of CCN5 in ameliorating adverse atrial remodelling and arrhythmias in a murine model of angiotensin II (AngII) infusion. Advanced atrial structural remodelling was induced by AngII infusion in control mice and mice overexpressing CCN5 either through transgenesis (CCN5 Tg) or AAV9‐mediated gene transfer (AAV9‐CCN5). The mRNA levels of pro‐fibrotic and pro‐inflammatory genes were markedly up‐regulated by AngII infusion, which was significantly normalized by CCN5 overexpression. In vitro studies in isolated atrial fibroblasts demonstrated a marked reduction in AngII‐induced fibroblast trans‐differentiation in CCN5‐treated atria. Moreover, while AngII increased the expression of phosphorylated CaMKII and ryanodine receptor 2 levels in HL‐1 cells, these molecular features of AF were prevented by CCN5. Electrophysiological studies in ex vivo perfused hearts revealed a blunted susceptibility of the AAV9‐CCN5–treated hearts to rapid atrial pacing‐induced arrhythmias and concomitant reversal in AngII‐induced atrial action potential prolongation. These data demonstrate the utility of a gene transfer approach targeting CCN5 for reversal of adverse atrial structural and electrophysiological remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ah Lee
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Nour Raad
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Min Ho Song
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jimeen Yoo
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miyoung Lee
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Seung Pil Jang
- Bethphagen, S3-203, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Tae Hwan Kwak
- Bethphagen, S3-203, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hyun Kook
- Basic Research Laboratory, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea
| | - Eun-Kyoung Choi
- Division of Cardiology, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Tae-Joon Cha
- Division of Cardiology, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | | | - Dongtak Jeong
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Molecular and Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University ERICA Campus, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Woo Jin Park
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea.,Bethphagen, S3-203, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
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