1
|
Han J, Lee C, Jeong H, Jeon S, Lee M, Lee H, Choi YH, Jung Y. Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein and its derived peptide ameliorate liver fibrosis by repressing CD44 activation in mice with alcohol-related liver disease. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:54. [PMID: 38790021 PMCID: PMC11127441 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01042-5] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major health concern worldwide, but effective therapeutics for ALD are still lacking. Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein (TSG-6), a cytokine released from mesenchymal stem cells, was shown to reduce liver fibrosis and promote successful liver repair in mice with chronically damaged livers. However, the effect of TSG-6 and the mechanism underlying its activity in ALD remain poorly understood. METHODS To investigate its function in ALD mice with fibrosis, male mice chronically fed an ethanol (EtOH)-containing diet for 9 weeks were treated with TSG-6 (EtOH + TSG-6) or PBS (EtOH + Veh) for an additional 3 weeks. RESULTS Severe hepatic injury in EtOH-treated mice was markedly decreased in TSG-6-treated mice fed EtOH. The EtOH + TSG-6 group had less fibrosis than the EtOH + Veh group. Activation of cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) was reported to promote HSC activation. CD44 and nuclear CD44 intracellular domain (ICD), a CD44 activator which were upregulated in activated HSCs and ALD mice were significantly downregulated in TSG-6-exposed mice fed EtOH. TSG-6 interacted directly with the catalytic site of MMP14, a proteolytic enzyme that cleaves CD44, inhibited CD44 cleavage to CD44ICD, and reduced HSC activation and liver fibrosis in ALD mice. In addition, a novel peptide designed to include a region that binds to the catalytic site of MMP14 suppressed CD44 activation and attenuated alcohol-induced liver injury, including fibrosis, in mice. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that TSG-6 attenuates alcohol-induced liver damage and fibrosis by blocking CD44 cleavage to CD44ICD and suggest that TSG-6 and TSG-6-mimicking peptide could be used as therapeutics for ALD with fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinsol Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanbin Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayeong Jeong
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghee Jeon
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Myunggyo Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeseung Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, Dong-Eui University College of Korean Medicine, Pusan, 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngmi Jung
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Han J, Lee C, Jung Y. Current Evidence and Perspectives of Cluster of Differentiation 44 in the Liver's Physiology and Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4749. [PMID: 38731968 PMCID: PMC11084344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094749] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a multi-functional cell surface receptor, has several variants and is ubiquitously expressed in various cells and tissues. CD44 is well known for its function in cell adhesion and is also involved in diverse cellular responses, such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, and activation. To date, CD44 has been extensively studied in the field of cancer biology and has been proposed as a marker for cancer stem cells. Recently, growing evidence suggests that CD44 is also relevant in non-cancer diseases. In liver disease, it has been shown that CD44 expression is significantly elevated and associated with pathogenesis by impacting cellular responses, such as metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and activation, in different cells. However, the mechanisms underlying CD44's function in liver diseases other than liver cancer are still poorly understood. Hence, to help to expand our knowledge of the role of CD44 in liver disease and highlight the need for further research, this review provides evidence of CD44's effects on liver physiology and its involvement in the pathogenesis of liver disease, excluding cancer. In addition, we discuss the potential role of CD44 as a key regulator of cell physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinsol Han
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea;
| | - Chanbin Lee
- Institute of Systems Biology, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea;
| | - Youngmi Jung
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu J, Liu X, Shan Y, Ting HJ, Yu X, Wang JW, Liu B. Targeted platelet with hydrogen peroxide responsive behavior for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis detection. Biomaterials 2024; 306:122506. [PMID: 38354517 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122506] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The most common chronic liver illness, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), refers to a range of abnormalities of the liver with varying degrees of steatosis. When the clinical symptoms including liver damage, inflammation, and fibrosis, are added to the initial steatosis, NAFLD becomes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the problematic and severe stage. The diagnosis of NASH at the right time could therefore effectively prevent deterioration of the disease. Considering that platelets (PLTs) could migrate to the sites of inflamed liver sinusoids with oxidative stress during the development of NASH, we purified the PLTs from fresh blood and engineered their surface with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) responsive fluorescent probe (5-DP) through lipid fusion. The engineered PLT-DPs were recruited and trapped in the inflammation foci of the liver with NASH through interaction with the extracellular matrix, including hyaluronan and Kupffer cells. Additionally, the fluorescence of 5-DP on the surface of PLT-DP was significantly enhanced upon reacting with the elevated level of H2O2 in the NASH liver. Thus, PLT-DP has great promise for NASH fluorescence imaging with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore; Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225001, China
| | - Xingang Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Yi Shan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Hui Jun Ting
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117609, Singapore
| | - Xiaodong Yu
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117609, Singapore
| | - Jiong-Wei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117609, Singapore; Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ricard-Blum S, Vivès RR, Schaefer L, Götte M, Merline R, Passi A, Heldin P, Magalhães A, Reis CA, Skandalis SS, Karamanos NK, Perez S, Nikitovic D. A biological guide to glycosaminoglycans: current perspectives and pending questions. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38500384 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17107] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), except hyaluronan (HA), are sulfated polysaccharides that are covalently attached to core proteins to form proteoglycans (PGs). This article summarizes key biological findings for the most widespread GAGs, namely HA, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), keratan sulfate (KS), and heparan sulfate (HS). It focuses on the major processes that remain to be deciphered to get a comprehensive view of the mechanisms mediating GAG biological functions. They include the regulation of GAG biosynthesis and postsynthetic modifications in heparin (HP) and HS, the composition, heterogeneity, and function of the tetrasaccharide linkage region and its role in disease, the functional characterization of the new PGs recently identified by glycoproteomics, the selectivity of interactions mediated by GAG chains, the display of GAG chains and PGs at the cell surface and their impact on the availability and activity of soluble ligands, and on their move through the glycocalyx layer to reach their receptors, the human GAG profile in health and disease, the roles of GAGs and particular PGs (syndecans, decorin, and biglycan) involved in cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis, the possible use of GAGs and PGs as disease biomarkers, and the design of inhibitors targeting GAG biosynthetic enzymes and GAG-protein interactions to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Ricard-Blum
- Univ Lyon 1, ICBMS, UMR 5246 University Lyon 1 - CNRS, Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | | | - Liliana Schaefer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Germany
| | - Rosetta Merline
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Paraskevi Heldin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Ana Magalhães
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Celso A Reis
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Spyros S Skandalis
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Nikos K Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Serge Perez
- Centre de Recherche sur les Macromolécules Végétales, University of Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, France
| | - Dragana Nikitovic
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhu H, Sharma AK, Aguilar K, Boghani F, Sarcan S, George M, Ramesh J, Van Der Eerden J, Panda CS, Lopez A, Zhi W, Bollag R, Patel N, Klein K, White J, Thangaraju M, Lokeshwar BL, Singh N, Lokeshwar VB. Simple virus-free mouse models of COVID-19 pathologies and oral therapeutic intervention. iScience 2024; 27:109191. [PMID: 38433928 PMCID: PMC10906509 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The paucity of preclinical models that recapitulate COVID-19 pathology without requiring SARS-COV-2 adaptation and humanized/transgenic mice limits research into new therapeutics against the frequently emerging variants-of-concern. We developed virus-free models by C57BL/6 mice receiving oropharyngeal instillations of a SARS-COV-2 ribo-oligonucleotide common in all variants or specific to Delta/Omicron variants, concurrently with low-dose bleomycin. Mice developed COVID-19-like lung pathologies including ground-glass opacities, interstitial fibrosis, congested alveoli, and became moribund. Lung tissues from these mice and bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissues from patients with COVID-19 showed elevated levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), HA-family members, an inflammatory signature, and immune cell infiltration. 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), an oral drug for biliary-spasm treatment, inhibits HA-synthesis. At the human equivalent dose, 4-MU prevented/inhibited COVID-19-like pathologies and long-term morbidity; 4-MU and metabolites accumulated in mice lungs. Therefore, these versatile SARS-COV-2 ribo-oligonucleotide oropharyngeal models recapitulate COVID-19 pathology, with HA as its critical mediator and 4-MU as a potential therapeutic for COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huabin Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Anuj K. Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Karina Aguilar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Faizan Boghani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Semih Sarcan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Michelle George
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Janavi Ramesh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Joshua Van Der Eerden
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Chandramukhi S. Panda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Aileen Lopez
- Clinical Trials Office, Augusta University, 1521 Pope Avenue, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Wenbo Zhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Roni Bollag
- Department of Pathology and Biorepository Alliance of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th St, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Nikhil Patel
- Department of Pathology and Biorepository Alliance of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th St, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Kandace Klein
- Department of Radiology and Imaging, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Joe White
- Department of Pathology and Biorepository Alliance of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th St, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Muthusamy Thangaraju
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Bal L. Lokeshwar
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Nagendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Vinata B. Lokeshwar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1410 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shao C, Xu H, Sun X, Pan Y, Liang X, Huang J, He Y, Guo W, Ye L, Zhang J. Jiawei Taohe Chengqi decoction inhibition of the notch signal pathway affects macrophage reprogramming to inhibit HSCs activation for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 321:117486. [PMID: 38030027 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117486] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jiawei Taohe Chengqi Tang (JTCD) is a modified formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) known as Taohe Chengqi Decoction, which has been described in the ancient TCM literature "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". As a formula that can activate blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis and regulate Yin and Yang in traditional Chinese medicine applications, JTCD has been reported to be effective in the treatment of chronic liver disease and hepatic fibrosis (HF). AIM OF STUDY The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of JTCD in modulating hepatic macrophages by regulating the Notch signal pathway, and to further investigate the mechanisms underlying macrophage reprogramming that leads to HF. MATERIALS AND METHODS Molecular assays were performed using in vitro cultures of human mononuclear THP-1 cells and human-derived hepatic stellate cells LX-2. CCl4-induced mice were utilized as an in vivo model to simulate HF. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that JTCD exhibited dual effects by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) activation and modulating the polarisation of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype while decreasing the M1 phenotype. Network pharmacological analyses and molecular docking studies revealed that the Notch signal pathway was significantly enriched and played a crucial role in the therapeutic response of JTCD against HF. Moreover, through the establishment of a co-culture model, we validated that JTCD inhibited the Notch signal pathway in macrophages, leading to alterations in macrophage reprogramming, subsequent inhibition of HSC activation, and ultimately exerting anti-HF effects. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings provide solid evidence for JTCD in treating HF, as it suppresses the Notch signal pathway in macrophages, regulates macrophage reprogramming, and inhibits HSC activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Shao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Huihui Xu
- The First College of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Xiguang Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Yun Pan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Xiaofan Liang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Jiaxin Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Yi He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Wenqin Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Linmao Ye
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Junjie Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tong M, Luo S, Gu L, Wang X, Zhang Z, Liang C, Huang H, Lin Y, Huang J. SIMarker: Cellular similarity detection and its application to diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 171:108113. [PMID: 38368754 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108113] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of single-cell technology offers a unique opportunity to explore cellular similarity and heterogeneity between precancerous diseases and solid tumors. However, there is lacking a systematic study for identifying and characterizing similarities at single-cell resolution. METHODS We developed SIMarker, a computational framework to detect cellular similarities between precancerous diseases and solid tumors based on gene expression at single-cell resolution. Taking hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a case study, we quantified the cellular and molecular connections between HCC and cirrhosis. Core analysis modules of SIMarker is publicly available at https://github.com/xmuhuanglab/SIMarker ("SIM" means "similarity" and "Marker" means "biomarkers). RESULTS We found PGA5+ hepatocytes in HCC showed cirrhosis-like characteristics, including similar transcriptional programs and gene regulatory networks. Consequently, the genes constituting the gene expression program of these cirrhosis-like subpopulations were designated as cirrhosis-like signatures (CLS). Strikingly, our utilization of CLS enabled the development of diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers based on within-sample relative expression orderings of gene pairs. These biomarkers achieved high precision and concordance compared with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides a systematic method to investigate the clinical translational significance of cellular similarities between HCC and cirrhosis, which opens avenues for identifying similar paradigms in other categories of cancers and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengsha Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China.
| | - Shijie Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Lin Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xinkang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Zheyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Chenyu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Huaqiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yuxiang Lin
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Jialiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Halimani N, Nesterchuk M, Tsitrina AA, Sabirov M, Andreichenko IN, Dashenkova NO, Petrova E, Kulikov AM, Zatsepin TS, Romanov RA, Mikaelyan AS, Kotelevtsev YV. Knockdown of Hyaluronan synthase 2 suppresses liver fibrosis in mice via induction of transcriptomic changes similar to 4MU treatment. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2797. [PMID: 38307876 PMCID: PMC10837461 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53089-x] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis remains a significant clinical challenge due to ineffective treatments. 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), a hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis inhibitor, has proven safe in phase one clinical trials. In this study, we aimed to ameliorate liver fibrosis by inhibiting HA synthesis. We compared two groups of mice with CCl4-induced fibrosis, treated with 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) and hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) targeting siRNA (siHAS2). The administration of 4MU and siHAS2 significantly reduced collagen and HA deposition, as well as biochemical markers of hepatic damage induced by repeated CCl4 injections. The transcriptomic analysis revealed converging pathways associated with downstream HA signalling. 4MU- and siHAS2-treated fibrotic livers shared 405 upregulated and 628 downregulated genes. These genes were associated with xenobiotic and cholesterol metabolism, mitosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, RNA processing, and myeloid cell migration. The functional annotation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in siHAS2-treated mice revealed attenuation of extracellular matrix-associated pathways. In comparison, in the 4MU-treated group, DEGs were related to lipid and bile metabolism pathways and cell cycle. These findings confirm that HAS2 is an important pharmacological target for suppressing hepatic fibrosis using siRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noreen Halimani
- Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation and Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143025, Russia.
| | - Mikhail Nesterchuk
- Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation and Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143025, Russia
| | - Alexandra A Tsitrina
- IKI-Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Nem Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Marat Sabirov
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Irina N Andreichenko
- AO Reproduction Head Centre of Agricultural Animals, Tsentralnaya Street, 3., Podolsk, Moscow Region, 142143, Russia
| | - Nataliya O Dashenkova
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Petrova
- Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation and Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143025, Russia
| | - Alexey M Kulikov
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Timofei S Zatsepin
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman A Romanov
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arsen S Mikaelyan
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Yuri V Kotelevtsev
- Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation and Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 143025, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Arnhold J. Inflammation-Associated Cytotoxic Agents in Tumorigenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:81. [PMID: 38201509 PMCID: PMC10778456 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010081] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory processes are related to all stages of tumorigenesis. As inflammation is closely associated with the activation and release of different cytotoxic agents, the interplay between cytotoxic agents and antagonizing principles is highlighted in this review to address the question of how tumor cells overcome the enhanced values of cytotoxic agents in tumors. In tumor cells, the enhanced formation of mitochondrial-derived reactive species and elevated values of iron ions and free heme are antagonized by an overexpression of enzymes and proteins, contributing to the antioxidative defense and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Through these mechanisms, tumor cells can even survive additional stress caused by radio- and chemotherapy. Through the secretion of active agents from tumor cells, immune cells are suppressed in the tumor microenvironment and an enhanced formation of extracellular matrix components is induced. Different oxidant- and protease-based cytotoxic agents are involved in tumor-mediated immunosuppression, tumor growth, tumor cell invasion, and metastasis. Considering the special metabolic conditions in tumors, the main focus here was directed on the disturbed balance between the cytotoxic agents and protective mechanisms in late-stage tumors. This knowledge is mandatory for the implementation of novel anti-cancerous therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Arnhold
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Härtelstr. 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen X, Zhao Y, Huang Y, Zhu K, Zeng F, Zhao J, Zhang H, Zhu X, Kettenmann H, Xiang X. TREM2 promotes glioma progression and angiogenesis mediated by microglia/brain macrophages. Glia 2023; 71:2679-2695. [PMID: 37641212 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24456] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2), a myeloid cell-specific signaling molecule, controls essential functions of microglia and impacts on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. TREM2 is also highly expressed in tumor-associated macrophages in different types of cancer. Here, we studied whether TREM2 influences glioma progression. We found a gender-dependent effect of glioma growth in wild-type (WT) animals injected with GL261-EGFP glioma cells. Most importantly, TREM2 promotes glioma progression in male but not female animals. The accumulation of glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) and CD31+ blood vessel density is reduced in male TREM2-deficient mice. A transcriptomic analysis of glioma tissue revealed that TREM2 deficiency suppresses immune-related genes. In an organotypic slice model devoid of functional vascularization and immune components from periphery, the tumor size was not affected by TREM2-deficiency. In human resection samples from glioblastoma, TREM2 is upregulated in GAMs. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases, the TREM2 expression levels were negatively correlated with survival. Thus, the TREM2-dependent crosstalk between GAMs and the vasculature formation promotes glioma growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuezhen Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yimin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaichuan Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fan Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junyi Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huaqiu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinzhou Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Helmut Kettenmann
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xianyuan Xiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunomodulation for Neurological Diseases, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Li B, Huang Y, Bao J, Xu Z, Yan X, Zou Q. Supramolecular Nanoarchitectonics Based on Antagonist Peptide Self-Assembly for Treatment of Liver Fibrosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304675. [PMID: 37433983 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic peptides have attracted increasing attention as anti-fibrotic drug candidates. However, the rapid degradation and insufficient liver accumulation of therapeutic peptides have seriously hampered their clinical translation. Here, the use of supramolecular nanoarchitectonics is reported to fabricate nanodrugs from therapeutic peptides for treating liver fibrosis. Self-assembling antagonist peptides are rationally designed and manipulated into uniform peptide nanoparticles with well-defined nanostructures and uniform sizes. Significantly, the peptide nanoparticles show enhanced accumulation in liver sites and limited distribution in other tissues. In vivo results show that the peptide nanoparticles exhibit greatly enhanced anti-fibrotic activity compared to the pristine antagonist along with good biocompatibility. These results indicate that self-assembly is a promising nanoarchitectonics approach to enhance the anti-fibrotic activity of therapeutic peptides for treating liver fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Yan Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Bao
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Zixuan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
| | - Xuehai Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Qianli Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, P. R. China
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, 230000, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang S, Friedman SL. Found in translation-Fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi0759. [PMID: 37792957 PMCID: PMC10671253 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi0759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a severe form of liver disease that poses a global health threat because of its potential to progress to advanced fibrosis, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recent advances in single-cell methodologies, refined disease models, and genetic and epigenetic insights have provided a nuanced understanding of MASH fibrogenesis, with substantial cellular heterogeneity in MASH livers providing potentially targetable cell-cell interactions and behavior. Unlike fibrogenesis, mechanisms underlying fibrosis regression in MASH are still inadequately understood, although antifibrotic targets have been recently identified. A refined antifibrotic treatment framework could lead to noninvasive assessment and targeted therapies that preserve hepatocellular function and restore the liver's architectural integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cogliati B, Yashaswini CN, Wang S, Sia D, Friedman SL. Friend or foe? The elusive role of hepatic stellate cells in liver cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:647-661. [PMID: 37550577 PMCID: PMC10671228 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00821-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a substantial risk factor for the development and progression of liver cancer, which includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Studies utilizing cell fate mapping and single-cell transcriptomics techniques have identified quiescent perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as the primary source of activated collagen-producing HSCs and liver cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in HCC and liver metastasis, complemented in iCCA by contributions from portal fibroblasts. At the same time, integrative computational analysis of single-cell, single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing data have revealed marked heterogeneity among HSCs and CAFs, with distinct subpopulations displaying unique gene expression signatures and functions. Some of these subpopulations have divergent roles in promoting or inhibiting liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. In this Review, we discuss the dual roles of HSC subpopulations in liver fibrogenesis and their contribution to liver cancer promotion, progression and metastasis. We review the transcriptomic and functional similarities between HSC and CAF subpopulations, highlighting the pathways that either promote or prevent fibrosis and cancer, and the immunological landscape from which these pathways emerge. Insights from ongoing studies will yield novel strategies for developing biomarkers, assessing prognosis and generating new therapies for both HCC and iCCA prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cogliati
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniela Sia
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rajeh A, Cornman HL, Gupta A, Szeto MD, Kambala A, Oladipo O, Parthasarathy V, Deng J, Wheelan S, Pritchard T, Kwatra MM, Semenov YR, Gusev A, Yegnasubramanian S, Kwatra SG. Somatic mutations reveal hyperactive Notch signaling and racial disparities in prurigo nodularis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.09.25.23295810. [PMID: 37808834 PMCID: PMC10557842 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.23295810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that disproportionately affects African Americans and is characterized by pruritic skin nodules of unknown etiology. Little is known about genetic alterations in PN pathogenesis, especially relating to somatic events which are often implicated in inflammatory conditions. We thus performed whole-exome sequencing on 54 lesional and nonlesional skin biopsies from 17 PN patients and 10 atopic dermatitis (AD) patients for comparison. Somatic mutational analysis revealed that PN lesional skin harbors pervasive somatic mutations in fibrotic, neurotropic, and cancer-associated genes. Nonsynonymous mutations were most frequent in NOTCH1 and the Notch signaling pathway, a regulator of cellular proliferation and tissue fibrosis, and NOTCH1 mutations were absent in AD. Somatic copy-number analysis, combined with expression data, showed that recurrently deleted and downregulated genes in PN lesional skin are associated with axonal guidance and extension. Follow-up immunofluorescence validation demonstrated increased NOTCH1 expression in PN lesional skin fibroblasts and increased Notch signaling in PN lesional dermis. Finally, multi-center data revealed a significantly increased risk of NOTCH1-associated diseases in PN patients. In characterizing the somatic landscape of PN, we uncover novel insights into its pathophysiology and identify a role for dysregulated Notch signaling in PN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rajeh
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hannah L Cornman
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anuj Gupta
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mindy D Szeto
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anusha Kambala
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Olusola Oladipo
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Varsha Parthasarathy
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Junwen Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Wheelan
- Present affiliation: National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Pritchard
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Madan M Kwatra
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yevgeniy R Semenov
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Gusev
- Division of Genetics, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shawn G Kwatra
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yang Q, Tan T, He Q, Guo C, Chen D, Tan Y, Feng J, Song X, Gong T, Li J. Combined Amphiphilic Silybin Meglumine Nanosuspension Effective Against Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice Model. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:5197-5211. [PMID: 37720597 PMCID: PMC10505037 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s407762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Silybin (SLB) as an effective hepatoprotective phytomedicine has been limited by its hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability and accumulation at lesion sites. Additionally, present drug loading methods are impeded by their low drug loading capacity, potential hazard of materials and poor therapeutic effects. Consequently, there is a pressing need to devise an innovative approach for preparing nanosuspensions loaded with both SLB and Silybin Meglumine salt (SLB-M), as well as to investigate the therapeutic effects of SLB nanosuspensions against hepatic fibrosis. Methods The SLB nanosuspension (NS-SLB) was prepared and further modified with a hyaluronic acid-cholesterol conjugate (NS-SLB-HC) to improve the CD44 targeting proficiency of NS-SLB. To validate the accumulation of CD44 and ensure minimal cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assessments were carried out for the nanosuspensions. Western blotting was employed to evaluate the anti-hepatic fibrosis efficacy in LX-2 cells by inhibiting the secretion of collagen I. Hepatic fibrosis mouse models were used to further confirm the effectiveness of NS-SLB and NS-SLB-HC against hepatic fibrosis in vivo. Results Uniform nanosuspensions were prepared through self-assembly, achieving high drug loading rates of 89.44% and 60.67%, respectively. Both SLB nanosuspensions showed minimal cytotoxicity in cellular environments and mitigated hepatic fibrosis in vitro. NS-SLB-HC was demonstrated to target activated hepatic stellate cells by receptor-ligand interaction between HA and CD44. They can reverse hepatic fibrosis in vivo by downregulating TGF-β and inhibiting the secretion of α-SMA and collagen I. Conclusion Designed as a medical excipient analogue, SLB-M was aimed to establish an innovative nanosuspension preparation method, characterized by high drug loading capacity and a notable impact against hepatic fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qin Yang
- School of Pharmacy, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong637100, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tiantian Tan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qin He
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenqi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yulu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaxing Feng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Song
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Li
- West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Nishi K, Yagi H, Ohtomo M, Nagata S, Udagawa D, Tsuchida T, Morisaku T, Kitagawa Y. A thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis model for pre-clinical studies in microminipig. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14996. [PMID: 37696857 PMCID: PMC10495379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42144-8] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced liver fibrosis models are used in normal and immunosuppressed small animals for transplantation and regenerative medicine to improve liver fibrosis. Although large animal models are needed for pre-clinical studies, they are yet to be established owing to drug sensitivity in animal species and difficulty in setting doses. In this study, we evaluated liver fibrosis by administering thioacetamide (TA) to normal microminipig and thymectomized microminipig; 3 times for 1 week (total duration: 8 weeks). The pigs treated with TA showed elevated blood cytokine levels and a continuous liver injury at 8 weeks. RNA-seq of the liver showed increased expression of fibrosis-related genes after TA treatment. Histopathological examination showed degenerative necrosis of hepatocytes around the central vein, and revealed fibrogenesis and hepatocyte proliferation. TA treatment caused CD3-positive T cells and macrophages scattered within the hepatic lobule to congregate near the center of the lobule and increased αSMA-positive cells. Thymectomized pigs showed liver fibrosis similar to that of normal pigs, although the clinical signs tended to be milder. This model is similar to pathogenesis of liver fibrosis reported in other animal models. Therefore, it is expected to contribute to research as a drug discovery and pre-clinical transplantation models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Nishi
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yagi
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Mana Ohtomo
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shogo Nagata
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Udagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomonori Tsuchida
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshinori Morisaku
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lam KH, Ma S. Noncellular components in the liver cancer stem cell niche: Biology and potential clinical implications. Hepatology 2023; 78:991-1005. [PMID: 35727189 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are now recognized as one of the major root causes of therapy failure and tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early studies in the field focused primarily on the intrinsic regulators of CSC maintenance, but in recent years, mounting evidence has demonstrated the presence and role of extrinsic regulators in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the control of liver CSCs. In addition to direct interaction with cellular components, noncellular components, including the extracellular matrix, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and secreted molecules within the tumor stroma and hepatitis viruses, also play a critical role in shaping the CSC niche. In this review, we highlight how various noncellular components in the TME play a role in regulating CSCs and how CSCs secrete components to interact with the TME to generate their own niche, working hand in hand to drive tumor physiology in HCC. In addition, we describe the potential clinical applications of these findings and propose perspectives on future research of noncellular components in the liver CSC niche.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Hei Lam
- School of Biomedical Sciences , Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences , Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong , Shenzhen Hospital , Hong Kong , Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Llewellyn J, Fede C, Loneker AE, Friday CS, Hast MW, Theise ND, Furth EE, Guido M, Stecco C, Wells RG. Glisson's capsule matrix structure and function is altered in patients with cirrhosis irrespective of aetiology. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100760. [PMID: 37534230 PMCID: PMC10393548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100760] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Glisson's capsule is the interstitial connective tissue that surrounds the liver. As part of its normal physiology, it withstands significant daily changes in liver size. The pathophysiology of the capsule in disease is not well understood. The aim of this study was to characterise the changes in capsule matrix, cellular composition, and mechanical properties that occur in liver disease and to determine whether these correlate with disease severity or aetiology. Methods Samples from ten control patients, and six with steatosis, seven with moderate fibrosis, and 37 with cirrhosis were collected from autopsies, intraoperative biopsies, and liver explants. Matrix proteins and cell markers were assessed by staining and second harmonic generation imaging. Mechanical tensile testing was performed on a test frame. Results Capsule thickness was significantly increased in cirrhotic samples compared with normal controls irrespective of disease aetiology (70.12 ± 14.16 μm and 231.58 ± 21.82 μm, respectively), whereas steatosis and moderate fibrosis had no effect on thickness (90.91 ± 11.40 μm). Changes in cirrhosis included an increase in cell number (fibroblasts, vascular cells, infiltrating immune cells, and biliary epithelial cells). Key matrix components (collagens 1 and 3, hyaluronan, versican, and elastin) were all deposited in the lower capsule, although only the relative amounts per area of hyaluronan and versican were increased. Organisational features, including crimping and alignment of collagen fibres, were also altered in cirrhosis. Unexpectedly, capsules from cirrhotic livers had decreased resistance to loading compared with controls. Conclusions The liver capsule, similar to the parenchyma, is an active site of disease, demonstrating changes in matrix and cell composition as well as mechanical properties. Impact and implications We assessed the changes in composition and response to stretching of the liver outer sheath, the capsule, in human liver disease. We found an increase in key structural components and numbers of cells as well as a change in matrix organisation of the capsule during the later stages of disease. This allows the diseased capsule to stretch more under any given force, suggesting that it is less stiff than healthy tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Llewellyn
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Caterina Fede
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Abigail E. Loneker
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chet S. Friday
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael W. Hast
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neil D. Theise
- Department of Pathology, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emma E. Furth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maria Guido
- Department of Pathology, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Carla Stecco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Affo S, Filliol A, Gores GJ, Schwabe RF. Fibroblasts in liver cancer: functions and therapeutic translation. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:748-759. [PMID: 37385282 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of fibroblasts in the premalignant or malignant liver is a characteristic feature of liver cancer, but has not been therapeutically leveraged despite evidence for pathophysiologically relevant roles in tumour growth. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a largely non-desmoplastic tumour, in which fibroblasts accumulate predominantly in the pre-neoplastic fibrotic liver and regulate the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma development through a balance of tumour-suppressive and tumour-promoting mediators. By contrast, cholangiocarcinoma is desmoplastic, with cancer-associated fibroblasts contributing to tumour growth. Accordingly, restoring the balance from tumour-promoting to tumour-suppressive fibroblasts and mediators might represent a strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma prevention, whereas in cholangiocarcinoma, fibroblasts and their mediators could be leveraged for tumour treatment. Importantly, fibroblast mediators regulating hepatocellular carcinoma development might exert opposite effects on cholangiocarcinoma growth. This Review translates the improved understanding of tumour-specific, location-specific, and stage-specific roles of fibroblasts and their mediators in liver cancer into novel and rational therapeutic concepts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Affo
- Department of Liver, Digestive System, and Metabolism, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aveline Filliol
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Zhu L, Liu L, Wang A, Liu J, Huang X, Zan T. Positive feedback loops between fibroblasts and the mechanical environment contribute to dermal fibrosis. Matrix Biol 2023; 121:1-21. [PMID: 37164179 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.05.001] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Dermal fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the dermis and affects millions of people worldwide and causes limited movement, disfigurement and psychological distress in patients. Fibroblast dysfunction of plays a central role in the pathogenesis of dermal fibrosis and is controlled by distinct factors. Recent studies support the hypothesis that fibroblasts can drive matrix deposition and stiffening, which in turn can exacerbate the functional dysregulation of fibroblasts. Ultimately, through a positive feedback loop, uncontrolled pathological fibrosis develops. This review aims to summarize the phenomenon and mechanism of the positive feedback loop in dermal fibrosis, and discuss potential therapeutic targets to help further elucidate the pathogenesis of dermal fibrosis and develop therapeutic strategies. In this review, fibroblast-derived compositional and structural changes in the ECM that lead to altered mechanical properties are briefly discussed. We focus on the mechanisms by which mechanical cues participate in dermal fibrosis progression. The mechanosensors discussed in the review include integrins, DDRs, proteoglycans, and mechanosensitive ion channels. The FAK, ERK, Akt, and Rho pathways, as well as transcription factors, including MRTF and YAP/TAZ, are also discussed. In addition, we describe stiffness-induced biological changes in the ECM on fibroblasts that contribute to the formation of a positive feedback loop. Finally, we discuss therapeutic strategies to treat the vicious cycle and present important suggestions for researchers conducting in-depth research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lechen Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Aoli Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinwen Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tao Zan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhang D, Zhang J, Zhang J, Ji X, Qi Q, Xu J, Pan Y, Liu X, Sun F, Zeng R, Dong L. Identification of a novel role for TL1A/DR3 deficiency in acute respiratory distress syndrome that exacerbates alveolar epithelial disruption. Respir Res 2023; 24:182. [PMID: 37434162 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02488-1] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar epithelial barrier is a potential therapeutic target for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, an effective intervention against alveolar epithelial barrier has not been developed. Here, based on single-cell RNA and mRNA sequencing results, death receptor 3 (DR3) and its only known ligand tumor necrosis factor ligand-associated molecule 1A (TL1A) were significantly reduced in epithelium from an ARDS mice and cell models. The apparent reduction in the TL1A/DR3 axis in lungs from septic-ARDS patients was correlated with the severity of the disease. The examination of knockout (KO) and alveolar epithelium conditional KO (CKO) mice showed that TL1A deficiency exacerbated alveolar inflammation and permeability in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS. Mechanistically, TL1A deficiency decreased glycocalyx syndecan-1 and tight junction-associated zonula occludens 3 by increasing cathepsin E level for strengthening cell-to-cell permeability. Additionally, DR3 deletion aggravated barrier dysfunction and pulmonary edema in LPS-induced ARDS through the above mechanisms based on the analyses of DR3 CKO mice and DR3 overexpression cells. Therefore, the TL1A/DR3 axis has a potential value as a key therapeutic signaling for the protection of alveolar epithelial barrier.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Jianning Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Jintao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Qian Qi
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Yun Pan
- Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Fang Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China
| | - Rong Zeng
- Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Jinan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wang Z, Kim SY, Tu W, Kim J, Xu A, Yang YM, Matsuda M, Reolizo L, Tsuchiya T, Billet S, Gangi A, Noureddin M, Falk BA, Kim S, Fan W, Tighiouart M, You S, Lewis MS, Pandol SJ, Di Vizio D, Merchant A, Posadas EM, Bhowmick NA, Lu SC, Seki E. Extracellular vesicles in fatty liver promote a metastatic tumor microenvironment. Cell Metab 2023; 35:1209-1226.e13. [PMID: 37172577 PMCID: PMC10524732 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Liver metastasis is a major cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Fatty liver promotes liver metastasis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We demonstrated that hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in fatty liver enhanced the progression of CRC liver metastasis by promoting oncogenic Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Fatty liver upregulated Rab27a expression, which facilitated EV production from hepatocytes. In the liver, these EVs transferred YAP signaling-regulating microRNAs to cancer cells to augment YAP activity by suppressing LATS2. Increased YAP activity in CRC liver metastasis with fatty liver promoted cancer cell growth and an immunosuppressive microenvironment by M2 macrophage infiltration through CYR61 production. Patients with CRC liver metastasis and fatty liver had elevated nuclear YAP expression, CYR61 expression, and M2 macrophage infiltration. Our data indicate that fatty liver-induced EV-microRNAs, YAP signaling, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment promote the growth of CRC liver metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Wang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - So Yeon Kim
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Wei Tu
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030 China
| | - Jieun Kim
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexander Xu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Yoon Mee Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South Korea
| | - Michitaka Matsuda
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lien Reolizo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Takashi Tsuchiya
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Sandrine Billet
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Alexandra Gangi
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ben A Falk
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Sungjin Kim
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Wei Fan
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Mourad Tighiouart
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Michael S Lewis
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Pathology, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Stephen J Pandol
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dolores Di Vizio
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Akil Merchant
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Edwin M Posadas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Neil A Bhowmick
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Shelly C Lu
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kong M, Dong W, Kang A, Kuai Y, Xu T, Fan Z, Shi L, Sun D, Lu Y, Li Z, Xu Y. Regulatory role and translational potential of CCL11 in liver fibrosis. Hepatology 2023; 78:120-135. [PMID: 36651177 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Myofibroblasts are considered the major effector cell type of liver fibrosis and primarily derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In the present study, we investigated the contribution of C-C motif chemokine (CCL11) to HSC-myofibroblast trans -differentiation and its implication in liver fibrosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS We report that CCL11 levels were elevated in HSCs, but not in hepatocytes or Kupffer cells, isolated from mice with liver fibrosis compared with the control mice. CCL11 levels were also up-regulated by 2 pro-fibrogenic growth factors TGF-β and platelet derived growth factor in cultured HSCs. Mechanistically, zinc finger factor 281 bound to the CCL11 promoter and mediated CCL11 trans -activation in HSCs. Depletion of CCL11 attenuated whereas treatment with recombinant CCL11 promoted HSC activation. Further, global CCL11 deletion ( CCL11-/- ) or HSC/myofibroblast-specific CCL11 knockdown mitigated fibrogenesis in mice. RNA-sequencing revealed that CCL11 might regulate HSC activation by stimulating the transcription of Jagged 1. Reconstitution of Jagged 1 restored the fibrogenic response in CCL11-/- mice. Finally, several targeting strategies that aimed at blockading CCL11 signaling, either by administration of an antagonist to its receptor C-C motif chemokine receptor 3 or neutralizing antibodies against CCL11/C-C motif chemokine receptor 3, ameliorated liver fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data unveil a previously unrecognized role for CCL11 in liver fibrosis and provide proof-of-concept evidence that targeting CCL11 can be considered as an effective therapeutic approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Kong
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Aoqi Kang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yameng Kuai
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tongchang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiwen Fan
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated With Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Longqing Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Hospital Affiliated With Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Donglin Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Hospital Affiliated With Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Yunjie Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Hospital Affiliated With Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Zilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Biomedical Research and College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Meng H, Jiang L, Jia P, Niu R, Bu F, Zhu Y, Pan X, Li J, Liu J, Zhang Y, Huang C, Lv X, Li J. Inhibition of circular RNA ASPH reduces the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells in hepatic fibrosis. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115451. [PMID: 36758707 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115451] [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: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly identified form of non-coding RNA that play a crucial role in various pathological processes. However, the expression profile and function of circRNAs in hepatic fibrosis (HF) remain largely unknown. In this study, we showed that a novel circRNA ASPH (circASPH) mediates HF by targeting the miR-139-5p/Notch1 axis. We investigated the expression profile of circRNAs in hepatocyte exosomes of mice with HF using circRNA-sequencing and found significant upregulation of circASPH. Loss- and gain-of-function analysis of circASPH was performed to assess its role in HF. Furthermore, we performed luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses and confirmed that circASPH directly binds to miR-139-5p. We also found that circASPH was upregulated in liver fibrogenesis. Downregulation of circASPH expression inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and proliferation, induced apoptosis, and attenuated mouse liver fibrogenic injury. Mechanistically, circASPH directly targeted miR-139-5p to regulate the expression of Notch1 in HF. Thus, downregulation of circASPH may suppress the activation of HSCs and HF through the circASPH/miR-139-5p/Notch1 axis. Our findings indicated that circASPH may be a potential biomarker for HF diagnosis and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongwu Meng
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Lingfeng Jiang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Pengcheng Jia
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ruowen Niu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Fangtian Bu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xueyin Pan
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jinyu Liu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yilong Zhang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Xiongwen Lv
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kim J, Seki E. Hyaluronan in liver fibrosis: basic mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic targets. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0083. [PMID: 36930869 PMCID: PMC10027054 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA), also known as hyaluronic acid, is a glycosaminoglycan that is a critical component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Production and deposition of ECM is a wound-healing response that occurs during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis. ECM production is a sign of the disease progression of fibrosis. Indeed, the accumulation of HA in the liver and elevated serum HA levels are used as biomarkers of cirrhosis. However, recent studies also suggest that the ECM, and HA in particular, as a functional signaling molecule, facilitates disease progression and regulation. The systemic and local levels of HA are regulated by de novo synthesis, cleavage, endocytosis, and degradation of HA, and the molecular mass of HA influences its pathophysiological effects. However, the regulatory mechanisms of HA synthesis and catabolism and the functional role of HA are still poorly understood in liver fibrosis. This review summarizes the role of HA in liver fibrosis at molecular levels as well as its clinical implications and discusses the potential therapeutic uses of targeting HA in liver fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Kim
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Barnes HW, Demirdjian S, Haddock NL, Kaber G, Martinez HA, Nagy N, Karmouty-Quintana H, Bollyky PL. Hyaluronan in the pathogenesis of acute and post-acute COVID-19 infection. Matrix Biol 2023; 116:49-66. [PMID: 36750167 PMCID: PMC9899355 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recently emerged as the cause of a global pandemic. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can result in COVID-19 with both acute and chronic disease manifestations that continue to impact many patients long after the resolution of viral replication. There is therefore great interest in understanding the host factors that contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis. In this review, we address the role of hyaluronan (HA), an extracellular matrix polymer with roles in inflammation and cellular metabolism, in COVID-19 and critically evaluate the hypothesis that HA promotes COVID-19 pathogenesis. We first provide a brief overview of COVID-19 infection. Then we briefly summarize the known roles of HA in airway inflammation and immunity. We then address what is known about HA and the pathogenesis of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (COVID-19 ARDS). Next, we examine potential roles for HA in post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as "long COVID" as well as in COVID-associated fibrosis. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutics that target HA as a means to treat COVID-19, including the repurposed drug hymecromone (4-methylumbelliferone). We conclude that HA is a promising potential therapeutic target for the treatment of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry W Barnes
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sally Demirdjian
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Naomi L Haddock
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gernot Kaber
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hunter A Martinez
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nadine Nagy
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Harry Karmouty-Quintana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Beckman Center, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zhu L, Luo S, Zhu Y, Tang S, Li C, Jin X, Wu F, Jiang H, Wu L, Xu Y. The Emerging Role of Ferroptosis in Various Chronic Liver Diseases: Opportunity or Challenge. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:381-389. [PMID: 36748023 PMCID: PMC9899014 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s385977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently identified iron-dependent form of intracellular lipid peroxide accumulation-mediated cell death. Different from other types of cell death mechanisms, it exhibits distinct biological and morphological features characterized by the loss of lipid peroxidase repair activity caused by glutathione peroxidase 4, the presence of redox-active iron, and the oxidation of phospholipids-containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. In recent years, studies have shown that ferroptosis plays a key role in various liver diseases such as alcoholic liver injury, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. However, the mechanism of ferroptosis and its regulation on chronic liver disease are controversial among different types of cells in the liver. Herein, we summarize the current studies on mechanism of ferroptosis in chronic liver disease, aiming to outline the blueprint of ferroptosis as an effective option for chronic liver disease therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lujian Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengnan Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yin Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Taizhou Enze Medical Center (Group), Enze Hospital, Taizhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiyue Tang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenge Li
- College of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaozhi Jin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Faling Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huimian Jiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lina Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yejin Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Yejin Xu, Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China, Email
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Liu Y, Li L, Wang L, Lu L, Li Y, Huang G, Song J. 'Two-faces' of hyaluronan, a dynamic barometer of disease progression in tumor microenvironment. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 36698043 PMCID: PMC9877274 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00618-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear polysaccharide consisting of disaccharide units which are the D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. As the largest component of the extracellular matrix in microenvironment, HA polymers with different molecular weights vary in properties to molecular biology function. High molecular weight HA (HMW-HA) is mainly found in normal tissue or physiological condition, and exhibits lubrication and protection properties due to its good water retention and viscoelasticity. On the other hand, an increase in HA catabolism leads to the accumulation of low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA) under pathological circumstances such as inflammation, pre-cancerous and tumor microenvironment. LMW-HA acts as extracellular signals to enhance tumorigenic and metastatic phenotype, such as energy reprogramming, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This review discusses the basic properties of this simplest carbohydrate molecule in ECM with enormous potential, and its regulatory role between tumorigenesis and microenvironmental homeostasis. The extensive discoveries of the mechanisms underlying the roles of HA in various physiological and pathological processes would provide more information for future research in the fields of biomimetic materials, pharmaceutical and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Lu
- School of Medicine & Health, Guangxi Vocational & Technical Institute of Industry, Nanning, 530001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Orthopaedics and Traumatology Hospital, Nanning, 530012, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Guolin Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, 530022, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, 530022, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
4-Methylumbelliferone Targets Revealed by Public Data Analysis and Liver Transcriptome Sequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032129. [PMID: 36768453 PMCID: PMC9917189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) is a well-known hyaluronic acid synthesis inhibitor and an approved drug for the treatment of cholestasis. In animal models, 4MU decreases inflammation, reduces fibrosis, and lowers body weight, serum cholesterol, and insulin resistance. It also inhibits tumor progression and metastasis. The broad spectrum of effects suggests multiple and yet unknown targets of 4MU. Aiming at 4MU target deconvolution, we have analyzed publicly available data bases, including: 1. Small molecule library Bio Assay screening (PubChemBioAssay); 2. GO pathway databases screening; 3. Protein Atlas Database. We also performed comparative liver transcriptome analysis of mice on normal diet and mice fed with 4MU for two weeks. Potential targets of 4MU public data base analysis fall into two big groups, enzymes and transcription factors (TFs), including 13 members of the nuclear receptor superfamily regulating lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Transcriptome analysis revealed changes in the expression of genes involved in bile acid metabolism, gluconeogenesis, and immune response. It was found that 4MU feeding decreased the accumulation of the glycogen granules in the liver. Thus, 4MU has multiple targets and can regulate cell metabolism by modulating signaling via nuclear receptors.
Collapse
|
30
|
Nokkeaw A, Thamjamrassri P, Tangkijvanich P, Ariyachet C. Regulatory Functions and Mechanisms of Circular RNAs in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030378. [PMID: 36766720 PMCID: PMC9913196 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver injury induces the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which produce excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in tissue fibrosis. If the injury persists, these fibrous scars could be permanent and disrupt liver architecture and function. Currently, effective anti-fibrotic therapies are lacking; hence, understanding molecular mechanisms that control HSC activation could hold a key to the development of new treatments. Recently, emerging studies have revealed roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs that was initially assumed to be the result of splicing errors, as new regulators in HSC activation. These circRNAs can modulate the activity of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their interacting protein partners involved in regulating fibrogenic signaling cascades. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of this class of non-coding RNAs for their molecular function in HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Archittapon Nokkeaw
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Medical Biochemistry Program, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Pannathon Thamjamrassri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Medical Biochemistry Program, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Pisit Tangkijvanich
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Correspondence: (P.T.); (C.A.)
| | - Chaiyaboot Ariyachet
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Correspondence: (P.T.); (C.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Reolizo L, Matsuda M, Seki E. Experimental Workflow for Preclinical Studies of Human Antifibrotic Therapies. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2669:285-306. [PMID: 37247068 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3207-9_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases accompanied by liver fibrosis have caused significant morbidity and mortality in the world with increasing prevalence. Nonetheless, there are no approved antifibrotic therapies. Although numerous preclinical studies showed satisfactory results in targeting fibrotic pathways, these animal studies have not led to success in humans. In this chapter, we summarize the experimental approaches currently available, including in vitro cell culture models, in vivo animal models, and new experimental tools relevant to humans, and discuss how we translate laboratory results to clinical trials. We will also address the obstacles in transitioning promising therapies from preclinical studies to human antifibrotic treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lien Reolizo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michitaka Matsuda
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Niu ZS, Wang WH, Niu XJ. Recent progress in molecular mechanisms of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6433-6477. [PMID: 36569275 PMCID: PMC9782839 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i46.6433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatectomy is currently considered the most effective option for treating patients with early and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the postoperative prognosis of patients with HCC remains unsatisfactory, predominantly because of high postoperative metastasis and recurrence rates. Therefore, research on the molecular mechanisms of postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence will help develop effective intervention measures to prevent or delay HCC metastasis and recurrence and to improve the long-term survival of HCC patients. Herein, we review the latest research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence to lay a foundation for improving the understanding of HCC metastasis and recurrence and for developing more precise prevention and intervention strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Shan Niu
- Laboratory of Micromorphology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wen-Hong Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Niu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Qingdao Shibei District People's Hospital, Qingdao 266033, Shandong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
LncRNA CCAT2, involving miR-34a/TGF-β1/Smad4 signaling, regulate hepatic stellate cells proliferation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21199. [PMID: 36482069 PMCID: PMC9732356 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25738-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
miR-34a targeting on Smad4 plays important role in TGF-β1 pathway which is a dominant factor for balancing collagen production and degradation in hepatic stellate cells. TGF-β1/Smad4 regulated collagen deposition is a hallmark of hepatic fibrosis. The potential regulation on miR-34a by LncRNAs in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is still reserved to be revealed. In current study, it was hypothesized that a miR-34a interactor, lncRNA CCAT2 may regulate TGF-β1 pathway in liver fibrotic remodeling. The interaction between CCAT2 and miR-34a-5p was checked by dual luciferase assay. the effects of CCAT2 and miR-34a-5p on cell proliferation and apoptosis were verified by MTT assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry assay. Dual luciferase activity showed CCAT2 are targets of miR-34a-5p. Sh-CCAT2 transfection prohibit HSCs proliferation and induce HSCs apoptosis, also inhibited ECM protein synthesis in HSCs. Decreased miR-34a-5p enhanced HSCs proliferation, blocked HSCs apoptosis and promoted ECM protein production. miR-34a-5p inhibitor undo protective regulation of sh-CCAT2 in liver fibrosis. Furthermore, clinical investigation showed that CCAT2 and Smad4 expression level were significantly induced, while miR-34a-5p was significantly decreased in HBV related liver fibrosis serum. In conclusion, activated HSCs via TGF-β1/Smad4 signaling pathway was successfully alleviated by CCAT2 inhibition through miR-34a-5p elevation.
Collapse
|
34
|
Liu X, Geng Y, Liang J, Coelho AL, Yao C, Deng N, Wang Y, Dai K, Huang G, Xie T, Liu N, Rowan SC, Taghavifar F, Kulur V, Liu Z, Stripp BR, Hogaboam CM, Jiang D, Noble PW. HER2 drives lung fibrosis by activating a metastatic cancer signature in invasive lung fibroblasts. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20220126. [PMID: 35980387 PMCID: PMC9391950 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20220126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive tissue fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is characterized by excessive recruitment of fibroblasts to sites of tissue injury and unremitting extracellular matrix deposition associated with severe morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms that control progressive IPF have yet to be fully determined. Previous studies suggested that invasive fibroblasts drive disease progression in IPF. Here, we report profiling of invasive and noninvasive fibroblasts from IPF patients and healthy donors. Pathway analysis revealed that the activated signatures of the invasive fibroblasts, the top of which was ERBB2 (HER2), showed great similarities to those of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma cancer cells. Activation of HER2 in normal lung fibroblasts led to a more invasive genetic program and worsened fibroblast invasion and lung fibrosis, while antagonizing HER2 signaling blunted fibroblast invasion and ameliorated lung fibrosis. These findings suggest that HER2 signaling may be a key driver of fibroblast invasion and serve as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in IPF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yan Geng
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiurong Liang
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ana Lucia Coelho
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Changfu Yao
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Nan Deng
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center and Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Genomics Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kristy Dai
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Guanling Huang
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ting Xie
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ningshan Liu
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Simon C. Rowan
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Forough Taghavifar
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Vrishika Kulur
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Zhenqiu Liu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center and Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Barry R. Stripp
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Cory M. Hogaboam
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Dianhua Jiang
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Paul W. Noble
- Department of Medicine and Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
S1PR1 serves as a viable drug target against pulmonary fibrosis by increasing the integrity of the endothelial barrier of the lung. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 13:1110-1127. [PMID: 36970190 PMCID: PMC10031262 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with unclear etiology and limited treatment options. The median survival time for IPF patients is approximately 2-3 years and there is no effective intervention to treat IPF other than lung transplantation. As important components of lung tissue, endothelial cells (ECs) are associated with pulmonary diseases. However, the role of endothelial dysfunction in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is incompletely understood. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor highly expressed in lung ECs. Its expression is markedly reduced in patients with IPF. Herein, we generated an endothelial-conditional S1pr1 knockout mouse model which exhibited inflammation and fibrosis with or without bleomycin (BLM) challenge. Selective activation of S1PR1 with an S1PR1 agonist, IMMH002, exerted a potent therapeutic effect in mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis by protecting the integrity of the endothelial barrier. These results suggest that S1PR1 might be a promising drug target for IPF therapy.
Collapse
|
36
|
Xu D, Qu X, Tian Y, Jie Z, Xi Z, Xue F, Ma X, Zhu J, Xia Q. Macrophage Notch1 inhibits TAK1 function and RIPK3-mediated hepatocyte necroptosis through activation of β-catenin signaling in liver ischemia and reperfusion injury. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:144. [PMID: 36114543 PMCID: PMC9479434 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00901-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Notch signaling is highly conserved and critically involved in cell differentiation, immunity, and survival. Activation of the Notch pathway modulates immune cell functions during the inflammatory response. However, it remains unknown whether and how the macrophage Notch1 may control the innate immune signaling TAK1, and RIPK3-mediated hepatocyte necroptosis in liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of macrophage Notch1 in modulating TAK1-mediated innate immune responses and RIPK3 functions in liver IRI. Methods Myeloid-specific Notch1 knockout (Notch1M−KO) and floxed Notch1 (Notch1FL/FL) mice (n = 6/group) were subjected to 90 min partial liver warm ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. In a parallel in vitro study, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were isolated from these conditional knockout mice and transfected with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated β-catenin knockout (KO) vector followed by LPS (100 ng/ml) stimulation. Results IR stress-induced Notch1 activation evidenced by increased nuclear Notch intracellular domain (NICD) expression in liver macrophages. Myeloid Notch1 deficiency exacerbated IR-induced liver damage, with increased serum ALT levels, macrophage/neutrophil accumulation, and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines production compared to the Notch1FL/FL controls. Unlike in the Notch1FL/FL controls, Notch1M−KO enhanced TRAF6, TAK1, NF-κB, RIPK3, and MLKL but reduced β-catenin activation in ischemic livers. However, adoptive transfer of lentivirus β-catenin-modified macrophages markedly improved liver function with reduced TRAF6, p-TAK1, RIPK3 and p-MLKL in IR-challenged livers. Moreover, disruption of RIPK3 in Notch1M−KO mice with an in vivo mannose-mediated RIPK3 siRNA delivery system diminished IR-triggered hepatocyte death. In vitro studies showed that macrophage NICD and β-catenin co-localized in the nucleus, whereby β-catenin interacted with NICD in response to LPS stimulation. Disruption of β-catenin with a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated β-catenin KO in Notch1FL/FL macrophage augmented TRAF6 activation leading to enhanced TAK1 function. While CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TRAF6 KO in Notch1M−KO macrophage inhibited RIPK3-mediated hepatocyte necroptosis after co-culture with primary hepatocytes. Conclusions Macrophage Notch1 controls TAK1-mediated innate immune responses and RIPK3-mediated hepatocyte necroptosis through activation of β-catenin. β-catenin is required for the macrophage Notch1-mediated immune regulation in liver IRI. Our findings demonstrate that the macrophage Notch1-β-catenin axis is a crucial regulatory mechanism in IR-triggered liver inflammation and provide novel therapeutic potential in organ IRI and transplant recipients. Video abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00901-8.
Collapse
|
37
|
Duizendstra AA, De Knegt RJ, Nagtzaam NMA, Betjes MGH, Dik WA, Litjens NHR, Kwekkeboom J. Minimal Development of Liver Fibrosis in Adult Tolerant Liver Transplant Recipients Late After Immunosuppressive Drug Weaning and Transplantation. Transplant Proc 2022; 54:1874-1880. [PMID: 36100485 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Operationally tolerant liver transplant (LTx)-recipients can be weaned off immunosuppressive (IS) drugs without development of graft rejection. However, it is feared that liver fibrosis might develop after complete IS weaning. The purpose of this small single-center study was to assess liver fibrosis in adult tolerant LTx recipients long after LTx and IS weaning. METHODS Liver fibrosis was assessed in adult tolerant LTx-recipients (n = 9) using noninvasive transient elastography and measurements of multiple pro- and antifibrotic serum markers associated with liver fibrosis. The data was collected for 2 subsequent years; 8 and 9 years after IS weaning and 19 and 20 years after transplantation. Healthy individuals (n = 9) matched for age and sex were included as a reference for fibrosis-related serum markers. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the medical ethics committee of our institution. RESULTS Transient elastography indicated that 7 of 9 tolerant LTx recipients had no or minimal liver fibrosis (F0-F1), whereas 2 recipients had moderate or severe liver fibrosis (F2-F3). Most fibrosis-related serum markers in tolerant LTx recipients were within or close to the range obtained for healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS The results from this small, single-center study indicated that most adult tolerant LTx recipients have no or minimal liver graft fibrosis long after transplantation and IS weaning, and their fibrosis-related serum marker profile indicates an absence of a profibrotic status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aafke A Duizendstra
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert J De Knegt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole M A Nagtzaam
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel G H Betjes
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem A Dik
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolle H R Litjens
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Kwekkeboom
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abati E, Manini A, Comi GP, Corti S. Inhibition of myostatin and related signaling pathways for the treatment of muscle atrophy in motor neuron diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:374. [PMID: 35727341 PMCID: PMC9213329 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04408-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth secreted by skeletal myocytes. In the past years, myostatin inhibition sparked interest among the scientific community for its potential to enhance muscle growth and to reduce, or even prevent, muscle atrophy. These characteristics make it a promising target for the treatment of muscle atrophy in motor neuron diseases, namely, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which are rare neurological diseases, whereby the degeneration of motor neurons leads to progressive muscle loss and paralysis. These diseases carry a huge burden of morbidity and mortality but, despite this unfavorable scenario, several therapeutic advancements have been made in the past years. Indeed, a number of different curative therapies for SMA have been approved, leading to a revolution in the life expectancy and outcomes of SMA patients. Similarly, tofersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, is now undergoing clinical trial phase for use in ALS patients carrying the SOD1 mutation. However, these therapies are not able to completely halt or reverse progression of muscle damage. Recently, a trial evaluating apitegromab, a myostatin inhibitor, in SMA patients was started, following positive results from preclinical studies. In this context, myostatin inhibition could represent a useful strategy to tackle motor symptoms in these patients. The aim of this review is to describe the myostatin pathway and its role in motor neuron diseases, and to summarize and critically discuss preclinical and clinical studies of myostatin inhibitors in SMA and ALS. Then, we will highlight promises and pitfalls related to the use of myostatin inhibitors in the human setting, to aid the scientific community in the development of future clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Abati
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Manini
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Neuromuscular and Rare Diseases Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Hyaluronan synthase 2, a target of miR-200c, promotes carbon tetrachloride-induced acute and chronic liver inflammation via regulation of CCL3 and CCL4. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:739-752. [PMID: 35662287 PMCID: PMC9256637 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00781-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis occurs during wound healing after repeated liver injury and is characterized by extensive extracellular matrix deposition. We previously identified hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) as a driver of liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Developing strategies to suppress HSC activation is key to alleviating liver fibrosis, and HAS2 is an attractive candidate for intervention. To gain insight into the molecular function of HAS2, we investigated its posttranscriptional regulation. We found that miR-200c directly targets the 3' untranslated regions of HAS2. Moreover, miR-200c and HAS2 were inversely expressed in fibrotic human and mouse livers. After establishing the direct interaction between miR-200c and HAS2, we investigated the functional outcome of regulating HAS2 expression in three murine models: CCl4-induced acute liver injury, CCl4-induced chronic liver fibrosis, and bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis. Hepatic Has2 expression was induced by acute and chronic CCl4 treatment. In contrast, miR-200c expression was decreased after CCl4 treatment. HSC-specific Has2 deletion reduced the expression of inflammatory markers and infiltration of macrophages in the models. Importantly, hyaluronidase-2 (HYAL2) but not HYAL1 was overexpressed in fibrotic human and murine livers. HYAL2 is an enzyme that can cleave the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan. We found that low-molecular-weight hyaluronan stimulated the expression of inflammatory genes. Treatment with the HA synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone alleviated bile duct ligation-induced expression of these inflammatory markers. Collectively, our results suggest that HAS2 is negatively regulated by miR-200c and contributes to the development of acute liver injury and chronic liver inflammation via hyaluronan-mediated immune signaling.
Collapse
|
40
|
Yang C, Pan J, Luo X, Li J, Jiang Z. Hypoxia-induced mesenchymal stem cells inhibit corneal fibroblast proliferation by regulating the WWP2/Notch1 axis. Regen Med 2022; 17:375-388. [PMID: 35545948 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2021-0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to explore the role of hypoxic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in corneal alkali burns and the underlying mechanism. Materials & methods: Rat corneal fibroblasts were incubated with IL-6, followed by treatment with hypoxic MSC supernatant. A rat corneal alkali burn model was implemented and processed with hypoxic MSCs. The associated factors were detected by corresponding methods. Results: Hypoxic MSCs reduced the Notch1 level and the proliferation of rat corneal fibroblasts. Hypoxic MSCs or WWP2 overexpression in MSCs enhanced ubiquitination of Notch1. WWP2 interacted with Notch1, and WWP2 silencing reversed the effects of the hypoxic MSCs. Hypoxic MSC treatment in vivo decreased the corneal neovascularization scores and opacity scores. Conclusion: Hypoxic MSCs inhibited inflammation and alleviated corneal injury in alkali burns via the WWP2/Notch1 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chongmeng Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbaixiang, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Jian Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbaixiang, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Burn & Wound Healing Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.,Wound Repair Department, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 324000, China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbaixiang, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Zipei Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Nanbaixiang, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Hong DG, Song GY, Eom CB, Ahn JH, Kim SM, Shim A, Han YH, Roh YS, Han CY, Bae EJ, Ko HJ, Yang YM. Loss of ERdj5 exacerbates oxidative stress in mice with alcoholic liver disease via suppressing Nrf2. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 184:42-52. [PMID: 35390453 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease is the major cause of chronic liver diseases. Excessive alcohol intake results in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ERdj5, a member of DNAJ family, is an ER-resident chaperone protein, whose role in alcoholic liver disease remains to be investigated. In this study, we aim to address the effect of ERdj5 on alcoholic liver disease and the underlying mechanism. Hepatic Dnajc10 (ERdj5) mRNA expression was elevated in both human and mouse alcoholic hepatitis. In mice subjected to chronic and binge ethanol feeding, ERdj5 levels were also markedly increased. Hepatic Dnajc10 correlated with Xbp1s mRNA. Tunicamycin, an ER stress inducer, increased ERdj5 levels. Dnajc10 knockout mice exhibited exacerbated alcohol-induced liver injury and hepatic steatosis. However, the macrophage numbers and chemokine levels were similar to those in wild-type mice. Depletion of Dnajc10 promoted oxidative stress. Ethanol feeding increased hepatic H2O2 levels, and these were further increased in Dnajc10 knockout mice. Additionally, Dnajc10-deficient hepatocytes produced large amounts of reactive oxygen species. Notably, Nrf2, a central regulator of oxidative stress, was decreased by depletion of Dnajc10 in the nuclear fraction of ethanol-treated mouse liver. Consistently, liver tissues from ethanol-fed Dnajc10 knockout mice had reduced expression of downstream antioxidant genes. Furthermore, hepatic glutathione content in the liver of knockout mice declined compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ethanol-induced ERdj5 may regulate the Nrf2 pathway and glutathione contents, and have protective effects on liver damage and alcohol-mediated oxidative stress in mice. These suggest that ERdj5 has the potential to protect against alcoholic liver disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Gyun Hong
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga Yeon Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Bin Eom
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hee Ahn
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Myoung Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Aeri Shim
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hyun Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Seok Roh
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Yeob Han
- School of Pharmacy, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Bae
- School of Pharmacy, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jeong Ko
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Mee Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; KNU Researcher Training Program for Developing Anti-Viral Innovative Drugs, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Menko AS, Romisher A, Walker JL. The Pro-fibrotic Response of Mesenchymal Leader Cells to Lens Wounding Involves Hyaluronic Acid, Its Receptor RHAMM, and Vimentin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:862423. [PMID: 35386200 PMCID: PMC8977891 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.862423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronic Acid/Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the provisional matrix deposited by cells post-wounding with roles both in regulating cell migration to repair a wound and in promoting a fibrotic outcome to wounding. Both are mediated through its receptors CD44 and RHAMM. We now showed that HA is present in the provisional matrix assembled on the substrate surface in a lens post-cataract surgery explant wound model in which mesenchymal leader cells populate the wound edges to direct migration of the lens epithelium across the adjacent culture substrate onto which this matrix is assembled. Inhibiting HA expression with 4-MU blocked assembly of FN-EDA and collagen I by the wound-responsive mesenchymal leader cells and their migration. These cells express both the HA receptors CD44 and RHAMM. CD44 co-localized with HA at their cell-cell interfaces. RHAMM was predominant in the lamellipodial protrusions extended by the mesenchymal cells at the leading edge, and along HA fibrils organized on the substrate surface. Within a few days post-lens wounding the leader cells are induced to transition to αSMA+ myofibroblasts. Since HA/RHAMM is implicated in both cell migration and inducing fibrosis we examined the impact of blocking HA synthesis on myofibroblast emergence and discovered that it was dependent on HA. While RHAMM has not been previously linked to the intermediate filament protein vimentin, our studies with these explant cultures have shown that vimentin in the cells’ lamellipodial protrusions regulate their transition to myofibroblast. PLA studies now revealed that RHAMM was complexed with both HA and vimentin in the lamellipodial protrusions of leader cells, implicating this HA/RHAMM/vimentin complex in the regulation of leader cell function post-wounding, both in promoting cell migration and in the transition of these cells to myofibroblasts. These results increase our understanding of how the post-wounding matrix environment interacts with receptor/cytoskeletal complexes to determine whether injury outcomes are regenerative or fibrotic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Sue Menko
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alison Romisher
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Janice L Walker
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Kratochvil MJ, Kaber G, Demirdjian S, Cai PC, Burgener EB, Nagy N, Barlow GL, Popescu M, Nicolls MR, Ozawa MG, Regula DP, Pacheco-navarro AE, Yang S, de Jesus Perez VA, Karmouty-quintana H, Peters AM, Zhao B, Buja ML, Johnson PY, Vernon RB, Wight TN, Milla CE, Rogers AJ, Spakowitz AJ, Heilshorn SC, Bollyky PL, Stanford COVID-19 Biobank Study Group. Biochemical, Biophysical, and Immunological Characterization of Respiratory Secretions in Severe SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infections.. [PMID: 35411348 PMCID: PMC8996635 DOI: 10.1101/2022.03.28.22272848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Thick, viscous respiratory secretions are a major pathogenic feature of COVID-19 disease, but the composition and physical properties of these secretions are poorly understood. We characterized the composition and rheological properties (i.e. resistance to flow) of respiratory secretions collected from intubated COVID-19 patients. We find the percent solids and protein content are greatly elevated in COVID-19 compared to heathy control samples and closely resemble levels seen in cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease known for thick, tenacious respiratory secretions. DNA and hyaluronan (HA) are major components of respiratory secretions in COVID-19 and are likewise abundant in cadaveric lung tissues from these patients. COVID-19 secretions exhibit heterogeneous rheological behaviors with thicker samples showing increased sensitivity to DNase and hyaluronidase treatment. In histologic sections from these same patients, we observe increased accumulation of HA and the hyaladherin versican but reduced tumor necrosis factor–stimulated gene-6 (TSG6) staining, consistent with the inflammatory nature of these secretions. Finally, we observed diminished type I interferon and enhanced inflammatory cytokines in these secretions. Overall, our studies indicate that increases in HA and DNA in COVID-19 respiratory secretion samples correlate with enhanced inflammatory burden and suggest that DNA and HA may be viable therapeutic targets in COVID-19 infection.
Collapse
|
44
|
Ravichandra A, Bhattacharjee S, Affò S. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression and therapeutic resistance. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:201-226. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
45
|
Kocurkova A, Nesporova K, Sandanusova M, Kerberova M, Lehka K, Velebny V, Kubala L, Ambrozova G. Endogenously-Produced Hyaluronan and Its Potential to Regulate the Development of Peritoneal Adhesions. Biomolecules 2021; 12:biom12010045. [PMID: 35053193 PMCID: PMC8773905 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of peritoneal adhesions (PA) is one of the major complications following intra-abdominal surgery. It is primarily caused by activation of the mesothelial layer and underlying tissues in the peritoneal membrane resulting in the transition of mesothelial cells (MCs) and fibroblasts to a pro-fibrotic phenotype. Pro-fibrotic transition of MCs—mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT), and fibroblasts activation to myofibroblasts are interconnected to changes in cellular metabolism and culminate in the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the form of fibrotic tissue between injured sides in the abdominal cavity. However, ECM is not only a mechanical scaffold of the newly synthetized tissue but reciprocally affects fibrosis development. Hyaluronan (HA), an important component of ECM, is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan consisting of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and D-glucuronic acid (GlcUA) that can affect the majority of processes involved in PA formation. This review considers the role of endogenously produced HA in the context of different fibrosis-related pathologies and its overlap in the development of PA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kocurkova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Nesporova
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Miriam Sandanusova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Kerberova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
| | - Katerina Lehka
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Vladimir Velebny
- Contipro a.s., Dolní Dobrouč 401, 561 02 Dolní Dobrouč, Czech Republic; (K.N.); (K.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Lukas Kubala
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Ambrozova
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (M.S.); (M.K.); (L.K.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Bi X, Yang N, Ke Y, Liu H, Ma W, Fang B, Sun L, Li L, Lü G, Lin R. An improved experimental method for simultaneously isolating hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells in mouse liver infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e24084. [PMID: 34724252 PMCID: PMC8649337 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis parasitizing in the human liver, causing local pathological changes in the liver and manifesting as hyperplasia, liver fibrosis, atrophy, degeneration, and necrosis. Here, we report a method that can simultaneously isolate hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. METHODS A mouse model of AE was established. Hepatocytes and HSCs were isolated from mouse liver using a two-step method combining in situ collagenase perfusion and gradient centrifugation. Expressions of Alb, Desmin, and α-SMA were detected with immunofluorescence to identify the isolated hepatocytes and HSCs. RESULTS The viability and purity of hepatocytes and HSCs both reached 90% or above. For hepatocytes, clear cell boundaries were observed, and the nuclei were round or oval, with clear nucleoli. There was a homogeneous distribution of the hepatocyte marker Alb in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Lipid droplets and Desmin expression were observed in the cytoplasm of freshly isolated HSCs. During the activation of HSCs, the lipid droplets gradually decreased and disappeared with a high expression of α-SMA. CONCLUSION Hepatocytes and HSCs are simultaneously isolated. This may provide a research tool to investigate the interaction between hepatocytes and HSCs and to investigate the mechanism of Echinococcus multilocularis infection-induced liver pathological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Bi
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Ning Yang
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Ying Ke
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Wenmei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Bingbing Fang
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Li Sun
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Liang Li
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Guodong Lü
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
- Department of Epidemiology and Health StatisticsSchool of Public HealthXinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Renyong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
- Basic Medical CollegeXinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqiChina
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mukherjee S, Chakraborty M, Ulmasov B, McCommis K, Zhang J, Carpenter D, Msengi EN, Haubner J, Guo C, Pike DP, Ghoshal S, Ford DA, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Chakraborty A. Pleiotropic actions of IP6K1 mediate hepatic metabolic dysfunction to promote nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis. Mol Metab 2021; 54:101364. [PMID: 34757046 PMCID: PMC8609165 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Obesity and insulin resistance greatly increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH). We have previously discovered that whole-body and adipocyte-specific Ip6k1deletion protects mice from high-fat-diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance due to improved adipocyte thermogenesis and insulin signaling. Here, we aimed to determine the impact of hepatocyte-specific and whole-body Ip6k1 deletion (HKO and Ip6k1-KO or KO) on liver metabolism and NAFLD/NASH. METHODS Body weight and composition; energy expenditure; glycemic profiles; and serum and liver metabolic, inflammatory, fibrotic and toxicity parameters were assessed in mice fed Western and high-fructose diet (HFrD) (WD: 40% kcal fat, 1.25% cholesterol, no added choline and HFrD: 60% kcal fructose). Mitochondrial oxidative capacity was evaluated in isolated hepatocytes. RNA-Seq was performed in liver samples. Livers from human NASH patients were analyzed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. RESULTS HKO mice displayed increased hepatocyte mitochondrial oxidative capacity and improved insulin sensitivity but were not resistant to body weight gain. Improved hepatocyte metabolism partially protected HKO mice from NAFLD/NASH. In contrast, enhanced whole-body metabolism and reduced body fat accumulation significantly protected whole-body Ip6k1-KO mice from NAFLD/NASH. Mitochondrial oxidative pathways were upregulated, whereas gluconeogenic and fibrogenic pathways were downregulated in Ip6k1-KO livers. Furthermore, IP6K1 was upregulated in human NASH livers and interacted with the enzyme O-GlcNAcase that reduces protein O-GlcNAcylation. Protein O-GlcNAcylation was found to be reduced in Ip6k1-KO and HKO mouse livers. CONCLUSION Pleiotropic actions of IP6K1 in the liver and other metabolic tissues mediate hepatic metabolic dysfunction and NAFLD/NASH, and thus IP6K1 deletion may be a potential treatment target for this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandip Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Molee Chakraborty
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Barbara Ulmasov
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Kyle McCommis
- Department of Biochemistry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Jinsong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Danielle Carpenter
- Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Eliwaza Naomi Msengi
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Jake Haubner
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Chun Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Daniel P Pike
- Department of Biochemistry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Sarbani Ghoshal
- Department of Biological Sc. and Geology, QCC-CUNY, Bayside, NY, USA
| | - David A Ford
- Department of Biochemistry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Brent A Neuschwander-Tetri
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Anutosh Chakraborty
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Zhang J, Liu Q, He J, Li Y. Novel Therapeutic Targets in Liver Fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:766855. [PMID: 34805276 PMCID: PMC8602792 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.766855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is end-stage liver disease that can be rescued. If irritation continues due to viral infection, schistosomiasis and alcoholism, liver fibrosis can progress to liver cirrhosis and even cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drugs that act directly against liver fibrosis. The only treatments currently available are drugs that eliminate pathogenic factors, which show poor efficacy; and liver transplantation, which is expensive. This highlights the importance of clarifying the mechanism of liver fibrosis and searching for new treatments against it. This review summarizes how parenchymal, nonparenchymal cells, inflammatory cells and various processes (liver fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell activation, cell death and proliferation, deposition of extracellular matrix, cell metabolism, inflammation and epigenetics) contribute to liver fibrosis. We highlight discoveries of novel therapeutic targets, which may provide new insights into potential treatments for liver fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinhang Zhang
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Qinhui Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinhan He
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanping Li
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Adverse Drug Reaction, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Zhou Z, Liu Y, Gao S, Zhou M, Qi F, Ding N, Zhang J, Li R, Wang J, Shi J, Yu R, Wang Y, Li Y, Pan J, Du J, Wang D. Excessive DNA damage mediates ECM degradation via the RBBP8/NOTCH1 pathway in sporadic aortic dissection. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1868:166303. [PMID: 34780912 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Stanford type A aortic dissection (TA-AD) is a life-threatening disease. Most cases of aortic dissection (AD) are sporadic rather than inherited. Unlike that of inherited AD, the pathogenesis of sporadic AD is still unclear. In the current study, we aimed to explore the pathogenesis of sporadic AD through transcriptome sequencing data analyses. We downloaded sporadic TA-AD transcriptome profiles from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and found response to DNA damage stimulus was activated in AD. Furthermore, by conducting mouse AD tissue single cell RNA sequencing and immunostaining, we found that DNA damage mainly occurred in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts. Next, we examined the repair patterns in response to DNA damage and found the linker molecules RBBP8/NOTCH1 between DNA damage/repair and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization through protein-protein interaction analysis. Thus, we proposed that DNA damage could contribute to AD by regulating ECM changes. To explore the underlying mechanism, we knocked down the DNA repair-related gene RBBP8 in aortic SMCs, which could exacerbate DNA damage, and observed decreased expression level of NOTCH1. Inhibition of NOTCH1 with crenigacestat in vivo accelerated β-aminopropionitrile-induced formation of AD and increased mortality. Meanwhile, phenotype switching of SMCs was induced by Notch1 knockdown or inhibition; this switching occurred via a pathway involving downregulation of contractile marker gene expression and upregulation of MMP2 expression, which might aggravate ECM degradation. In conclusion, excessive DNA damage is a characteristic pathological change of sporadic aortic dissection, which might contribute to ECM changes and AD development via action on the NOTCH1 pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeyi Zhou
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shijuan Gao
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mei Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Feiran Qi
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ningyu Ding
- Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100016, China
| | - Junmeng Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, the First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100016, China
| | - Ruisha Li
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Junxia Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ronghuang Yu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yulin Li
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jun Pan
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Jie Du
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Dongjin Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Institute of Cardiothoracic Vascular Disease, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Garantziotis S. Modulation of hyaluronan signaling as a therapeutic target in human disease. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 232:107993. [PMID: 34587477 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107993] [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: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix is an active participant, modulator and mediator of the cell, tissue, organ and organismal response to injury. Recent research has highlighted the role of hyaluronan, an abundant glycosaminoglycan constituent of the extracellular matrix, in many fundamental biological processes underpinning homeostasis and disease development. From this basis, emerging studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of strategies which target hyaluronan synthesis, biology and signaling, with significant promise as therapeutics for a variety of inflammatory and immune diseases. This review summarizes the state of the art in this field and discusses challenges and opportunities in what could emerge as a new class of therapeutic agents, that we term "matrix biologics".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Garantziotis
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
| |
Collapse
|