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Perricone C, Bartoloni E, Bursi R, Cafaro G, Guidelli GM, Shoenfeld Y, Gerli R. COVID-19 as part of the hyperferritinemic syndromes: the role of iron depletion therapy. Immunol Res 2020; 68:213-224. [PMID: 32681497 PMCID: PMC7366458 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-020-09145-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by a protean clinical picture that can range from asymptomatic patients to life-threatening conditions. Severe COVID-19 patients often display a severe pulmonary involvement and develop neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and strikingly elevated levels of IL-6. There is an over-exuberant cytokine release with hyperferritinemia leading to the idea that COVID-19 is part of the hyperferritinemic syndrome spectrum. Indeed, very high levels of ferritin can occur in other diseases including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, macrophage activation syndrome, adult-onset Still's disease, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome and septic shock. Numerous studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of ferritin and its association with mortality and sustained inflammatory process. High levels of free iron are harmful in tissues, especially through the redox damage that can lead to fibrosis. Iron chelation represents a pillar in the treatment of iron overload. In addition, it was proven to have an anti-viral and anti-fibrotic activity. Herein, we analyse the pathogenic role of ferritin and iron during SARS-CoV-2 infection and propose iron depletion therapy as a novel therapeutic approach in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Perricone
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elena Bartoloni
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Bursi
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cafaro
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, 5265601, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- The Mosaic of Autoimmunity Project, Saint Petersburg University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roberto Gerli
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 1, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
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Iron chelation by deferasirox confers protection against concanavalin A-induced liver fibrosis: A mechanistic approach. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 382:114748. [PMID: 31499193 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.114748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic iron overload is one of the causative factors for chronic liver injury and fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the potential antifibrotic effect of the iron chelator; deferasirox (DFX) in experimentally-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered concanavalin A (Con A) and/or DFX for 6 consecutive weeks. Con A injection induced significant hepatotoxicity as was evident by the elevated transaminases activity, and decreased albumin level. Also, it disturbed the iron homeostasis through increasing C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), decreasing phosphorylated cAMP responsive element binding protein(P-CREB) and hepcidin levels leading to significant serum and hepatic iron overload. In addition, it induced an imbalance in the oxidative status of the liver via upregulating NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), together with a marked decrease in anti-oxidant enzymes' activities. As a consequence, upregulation of nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-κB) and the downstream inflammatory mediators was observed. Those events all together precipitated in initiation of liver fibrosis as confirmed by the elevation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and liver collagen content. Co-treatment with DFX protected against experimentally-induced liver fibrosis in rats via its iron chelating, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings imply that DFX can attenuate the progression of liver fibrosis.
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Expression of neuropeptide Y is increased in an activated human HSC cell line. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9500. [PMID: 31263154 PMCID: PMC6602956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45932-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an abundant neuropeptide in the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems. Transgenic mice overexpressing NPY in noradrenergic neurons have increased level of hepatic triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol, which contributed to the development of hepatosteatosis. However, the roles of NPY in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression and secretion of NPY in human immortalized HSC LX-2 cells and the regulatory function of NPY on the fibrogenic response in LX-2 cells, to explore the potential association between NPY and LX-2 activation. The results showed an increase in the expression and secretion of NPY(1–36) in activated LX-2 cells. Both endogenous and exogenous NPY(1–36) induced the phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K, and 4EBP1 and promoted the fibrogenic response via NPY Y1 receptor subtype (NPY1R), as these responses were blocked by either an NPY1R antagonist (BIBP3226) or NPY1R knockdown. Moreover, NPY(1–36) serum levels were increased in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and presented a positive relationship with MELD scores in LC patients. These findings suggest that immortalized HSCs LX-2 have the potential to produce NPY(1–36). High serum levels of NPY(1–36) is correlated with hepatic dysfunction in cirrhotic patients.
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Mehta KJ, Farnaud SJ, Sharp PA. Iron and liver fibrosis: Mechanistic and clinical aspects. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:521-538. [PMID: 30774269 PMCID: PMC6371002 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i5.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is characterised by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix that interrupts normal liver functionality. It is a pathological stage in several untreated chronic liver diseases such as the iron overload syndrome hereditary haemochromatosis, viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and diabetes. Interestingly, regardless of the aetiology, iron-loading is frequently observed in chronic liver diseases. Excess iron can feed the Fenton reaction to generate unquenchable amounts of free radicals that cause grave cellular and tissue damage and thereby contribute to fibrosis. Moreover, excess iron can induce fibrosis-promoting signals in the parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, which accelerate disease progression and exacerbate liver pathology. Fibrosis regression is achievable following treatment, but if untreated or unsuccessful, it can progress to the irreversible cirrhotic stage leading to organ failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, where resection or transplantation remain the only curative options. Therefore, understanding the role of iron in liver fibrosis is extremely essential as it can help in formulating iron-related diagnostic, prognostic and treatment strategies. These can be implemented in isolation or in combination with the current approaches to prepone detection, and halt or decelerate fibrosis progression before it reaches the irreparable stage. Thus, this review narrates the role of iron in liver fibrosis. It examines the underlying mechanisms by which excess iron can facilitate fibrotic responses. It describes the role of iron in various clinical pathologies and lastly, highlights the significance and potential of iron-related proteins in the diagnosis and therapeutics of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosha J Mehta
- School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- Division of Human Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien Je Farnaud
- Faculty Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 2DS, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Sharp
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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Sousos N, Sinakos E, Klonizakis P, Adamidou D, Daniilidis A, Gigi E, Vetsiou E, Tsioni K, Mandala E, Vlachaki E. Deferasirox improves liver fibrosis in beta-thalassaemia major patients. A five-year longitudinal study from a single thalassaemia centre. Br J Haematol 2017; 181:140-142. [PMID: 28106901 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Sousos
- Adults Thalassaemia Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Sinakos
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Philippos Klonizakis
- Adults Thalassaemia Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despoina Adamidou
- Blood Bank Centre, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos Daniilidis
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Gigi
- Adults Thalassaemia Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evaggelia Vetsiou
- Adults Thalassaemia Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantina Tsioni
- Haematology Laboratory, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eudokia Mandala
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Adults Thalassaemia Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Sikorska K, Bernat A, Wroblewska A. Molecular pathogenesis and clinical consequences of iron overload in liver cirrhosis. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2016; 15:461-479. [PMID: 27733315 DOI: 10.1016/s1499-3872(16)60135-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The liver, as the main iron storage compartment and the place of hepcidin synthesis, is the central organ involved in maintaining iron homeostasis in the body. Excessive accumulation of iron is an important risk factor in liver disease progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we review the literature on the molecular pathogenesis of iron overload and its clinical consequences in chronic liver diseases. DATA SOURCES PubMed was searched for English-language articles on molecular genesis of primary and secondary iron overload, as well as on their association with liver disease progression. We have also included literature on adjuvant therapeutic interventions aiming to alleviate detrimental effects of excessive body iron load in liver cirrhosis. RESULTS Excess of free, unbound iron induces oxidative stress, increases cell sensitivity to other detrimental factors, and can directly affect cellular signaling pathways, resulting in accelerated liver disease progression. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis is, in turn, often associated with the identification of a pathological accumulation of iron, even in the absence of genetic background of hereditary hemochromatosis. Iron depletion and adjuvant therapy with antioxidants are shown to cause significant improvement of liver functions in patients with iron overload. Phlebotomy can have beneficial effects on liver histology in patients with excessive iron accumulation combined with compensated liver cirrhosis of different etiology. CONCLUSION Excessive accumulation of body iron in liver cirrhosis is an important predictor of liver failure and available data suggest that it can be considered as target for adjuvant therapy in this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Sikorska
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9b, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland.
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Darwish SF, El-Bakly WM, El-Naga RN, Awad AS, El-Demerdash E. Antifibrotic mechanism of deferoxamine in concanavalin A induced-liver fibrosis: Impact on interferon therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 98:231-42. [PMID: 26358138 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Iron-overload is a well-known factor of hepatotoxicity and liver fibrosis, which found to be a common finding among hepatitis C virus patients and related to interferon resistance. We aimed to elucidate the potential antifibrotic effect of deferoxamine; the main iron chelator, and its additional usefulness to interferon-based therapy in concanavalin A-induced immunological model of liver fibrosis. Rats were treated with deferoxamine and/or pegylated interferon-α for 6 weeks. Hepatotoxicity indices, oxidative stress, inflammatory and liver fibrosis markers were assessed. Concanavalin A induced a significant increase in hepatotoxicity indices and lipid peroxidation accompanied with a significant depletion of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity. Besides, it increased CD4(+) T-cells content and the downstream inflammatory cascades, including NF-κB, TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ. Furthermore, α-SMA, TGF-β1 and hydroxyproline were increased markedly, which confirmed by histopathology. Treatment with either deferoxamine or pegylated interferon-α alone reduced liver fibrosis markers significantly and improved liver histology. However, some of the hepatotoxicity indices and oxidative stress markers did not improve upon pegylated interferon-α treatment alone, besides the remarkable increase in IL-6. Combination therapy of deferoxamine with pegylated interferon-α further improved all previous markers, ameliorated IL-6 elevation, as well as increased hepcidin expression. In conclusion, our study provides evidences for the potent antifibrotic effects of deferoxamine and the underlying mechanisms that involved attenuating oxidative stress and subsequent inflammatory cascade, as well as the production of profibrogenic factors. Addition of deferoxamine to interferon regimen for HCV patients may offer a promising adjuvant modality to enhance therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar F Darwish
- Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Affairs, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wesam M El-Bakly
- Pharmacology & Therapeutic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Reem N El-Naga
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Azza S Awad
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ebtehal El-Demerdash
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
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