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Ho CH, Chang TT, Lin HC, Wang SF. Agalactosyl IgG induces liver fibrogenesis via Fc gamma receptor 3a on human hepatic stellate cells. J Pathol 2024; 263:508-519. [PMID: 38886892 DOI: 10.1002/path.6303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The relevance of aberrant serum IgG N-glycosylation in liver fibrosis has been identified; however, its causal effect remains unclear. Because hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute substantially to liver fibrosis, we investigated whether and through which mechanisms IgG N-glycosylation affects the fibrogenic properties of HSCs. Analysis of serum IgG1 N-glycome from 151 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis revealed a positive correlation between Ishak fibrosis grading and IgG1 with agalactosyl N-glycoforms on the crystallizable fragment (Fc). Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) IIIa was observed in cultured human HSCs and HSCs in human liver tissues, and levels of FcγRIIIa in HSCs correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis. Additionally, agalactosyl IgG treatment caused HSCs to have a fibroblast-like morphology, enhanced migration and invasion capabilities, and enhanced expression of the FcγRIIIa downstream tyrosine-protein kinase SYK. Furthermore, agalactosyl IgG treatment increased fibrogenic factors in HSCs, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, total collagen, platelet-derived growth factor subunit B and its receptors, pro-collagen I-α1, α-smooth muscle actin, and matrix metalloproteinase 9. These effects were more pronounced in HSCs that stably expressed FCGR3A and were reduced in FCGR3A knockout cells. Agalactosyl IgG and TGF-β1 each increased FCGR3A in HSCs. Furthermore, serum TGF-β1 concentrations in patients were positively correlated with agalactosyl IgG1 levels and liver fibrosis severity, indicating a positive feedback loop involving agalactosyl IgG, HSC-FcγRIIIa, and TGF-β1. In conclusion, agalactosyl IgG promotes fibrogenic characteristics in HSCs through FcγRIIIa. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsun Ho
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Science and Technology, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Tsung Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Chang Lin
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Fan Wang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Yang XY, Chen Z, Tan J, Xue YK, Zheng H. KLF4 Inhibits the Activation of Human Hepatic Stellate Cell In Vitro. Curr Med Sci 2024; 44:512-518. [PMID: 38789819 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-024-2860-8] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a crucial role in liver fibrosis. Early-stage liver fibrosis is reversible and intimately associated with the state of HSCs. Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) plays a pivotal role in a wide array of physiological and pathological processes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of KLF4 on the proliferation, apoptosis and phenotype of quiescent HSCs METHODS: We designed a KLF4 lentiviral vector and a KLF4 siRNA lentiviral vector, to upregulate and silence KLF4 expression in human HSC LX-2 cells via transfection. Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate. Western blotting was used to determine the levels of some quiescence and activation markers of HSCs RESULTS: Overexpression of KLF4 significantly increased the levels of E-cadherin and ZO-1, which are quiescent HSC markers, while significantly decreased the levels of N-cadherin and a-SMA, known activated HSC markers. In contrast, cell proliferation and apoptosis rates were elevated in LX-2 cells in which KLF4 expression was silenced CONCLUSION: KLF4 inhibits the proliferation and activation of human LX-2 HSCs. It might be a key regulatory protein in the maintenance of HSC quiescence and may serve as a target for the inhibition of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Yang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Jun Tan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yin-Kai Xue
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Hai Zheng
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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Hu C, Lei Y, Liu X, Yu X, Geng Z, Liu Y, Yang L, Tie X, Zhou W, Li X, Zhang Y, Liang Y. Dissecting microenvironment in cystadenomas and hepatic cysts based on single nucleus RNA-sequencing data. Comput Biol Med 2024; 176:108541. [PMID: 38744012 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108541] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic cystadenoma is a rare disease, accounting for about 5% of all cystic lesions, with a high tendency of malignant transformation. The preoperative diagnosis of cystadenoma is difficult, and some cystadenomas are easily misdiagnosed as hepatic cysts at first. Hepatic cyst is a relatively common liver disease, most of which are benign, but large hepatic cysts can lead to pressure on the bile duct, resulting in abnormal liver function. To better understand the difference between the microenvironment of cystadenomas and hepatic cysts, we performed single-nuclei RNA-sequencing on cystadenoma and hepatic cysts samples. In addition, we performed spatial transcriptome sequencing of hepatic cysts. Based on nucleus RNA-sequencing data, a total of seven major cell types were identified. Here we described the tumor microenvironment of cystadenomas and hepatic cysts, particularly the transcriptome signatures and regulators of immune cells and stromal cells. By inferring copy number variation, it was found that the malignant degree of hepatic stellate cells in cystadenoma was higher. Pseudotime trajectory analysis demonstrated dynamic transformation of hepatocytes in hepatic cysts and cystadenomas. Cystadenomas had higher immune infiltration than hepatic cysts, and T cells had a more complex regulatory mechanism in cystadenomas than hepatic cysts. Immunohistochemistry confirms a cystadenoma-specific T-cell immunoregulatory mechanism. These results provided a single-cell atlas of cystadenomas and hepatic cyst, revealed a more complex microenvironment in cystadenomas than in hepatic cysts, and provided new perspective for the molecular mechanisms of cystadenomas and hepatic cyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congxue Hu
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yongqi Lei
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xinyang Liu
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xingxin Yu
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhida Geng
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yu Liu
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Liyu Yang
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xuehong Tie
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Wenzhe Zhou
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xia Li
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhang
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Yingjian Liang
- College of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Kim JI, Cheon HG. Melatonin ameliorates hepatic fibrosis via the melatonin receptor 2-mediated upregulation of BMAL1 and anti-oxidative enzymes. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 966:176337. [PMID: 38246330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176337] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis, when left untreated, causes serious health problems that progress to cirrhosis and, in some cases, liver cancer. Activation of hepatic stellate cells may be a key characteristic in the development of hepatic fibrosis. Melatonin, a pineal hormone, exerts anti-fibrotic effects; however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the beneficial effects of melatonin against hepatic fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms were investigated using the human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2, and in vivo murine animal models. The results showed that melatonin suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced fibrosis markers and production of reactive oxygen species in LX-2 cells. Either 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin, a melatonin receptor 2 selective antagonist, or melatonin receptor 2 small interfering RNA abolished the suppressive effects of melatonin, suggesting the involvement of melatonin receptor 2 in melatonin-induced anti-fibrotic and anti-oxidative actions. Melatonin increased the expression of the brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like 1 (BMAL1), a positive circadian clock gene. BMAL1 knockdown reduced the anti-fibrotic and anti-oxidative effects of melatonin, demonstrating the protective effects of melatonin against TGF-β1-induced hepatic stellate cell activation by exhibiting melatonin receptor 2-BMAL1-anti-oxidative effects. In high-fat diet-induced and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis models, oral melatonin administration decreased the expression of hepatic fibrosis markers and increased the expression of messenger RNA and levels of proteins of BMAL1 and melatonin receptor 2. Thus, melatonin exerted protective effects against hepatic fibrosis through melatonin receptor 2 activation, followed by an upregulation of the BMAL1-anti-oxidative enzyme pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jea Il Kim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyae Gyeong Cheon
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, Republic of Korea.
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Le CT, Nguyen G, Park SY, Dong HN, Cho YK, Lee JH, Im SS, Choi DH, Cho EH. Phloretin Ameliorates Succinate-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Regulating Hepatic Stellate Cells. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2023; 38:395-405. [PMID: 37533177 PMCID: PMC10475967 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2023.1661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGRUOUND Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major cells which play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis. During injury, extracellular stimulators can induce HSCs transdifferentiated into active form. Phloretin showed its ability to protect the liver from injury, so in this research we would like to investigate the effect of phloretin on succinate-induced HSCs activation in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo study. METHODS In in vitro, succinate was used to induce HSCs activation, and then the effect of phloretin on activated HSCs was examined. In in vivo, succinate was used to generated liver fibrosis in mouse and phloretin co-treated to check its protection on the liver. RESULTS Phloretin can reduce the increase of fibrogenic markers and inhibits the proliferation, migration, and contraction caused by succinate in in vitro experiments. Moreover, an upregulation of proteins associated with aerobic glycolysis occurred during the activation of HSCs, which was attenuated by phloretin treatment. In in vivo experiments, intraperitoneal injection of phloretin decreased expression of fibrotic and glycolytic markers in the livers of mice with sodium succinate diet-induced liver fibrosis. These results suggest that aerobic glycolysis plays critical role in activation of HSCs and succinate can induce liver fibrosis in mice, whereas phloretin has therapeutic potential for treating hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION Intraperitoneal injection of phloretin attenuated succinate-induced hepatic fibrosis and alleviates the succinate-induced HSCs activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Thuc Le
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Giang Nguyen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - So Young Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Hanh Nguyen Dong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Lee
- Department of Physiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Seung-Soon Im
- Department of Physiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Dae-Hee Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Eun-Hee Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
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Abou Rayia DM, Ashour DS, Abo Safia HS, Abdel Ghafar MT, Amer RS, Saad AE. Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells as a potential therapy for schistosomal hepatic fibrosis: an experimental study. Pathog Glob Health 2023; 117:190-202. [PMID: 35435145 PMCID: PMC9970248 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2064795] [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: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of our study was to assess the effect of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation on schistosomal hepatic fibrosis in mice. The study animals were divided into three groups. Group I is a control group, where the mice were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and remained untreated. The mice of the other two groups were infected and treated with either praziquantel (Group II) or HUCB-MSCs (Group III). Liver function tests, as well as histopathological evaluation of liver fibrosis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stains, were performed. Additionally, an immunohistochemical study was carried out using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hepatic stellate cells. Compared to the control group, the treated (praziquantel and MSCs) groups showed a substantial improvement, with a significant difference regarding the histopathological evaluation of liver fibrosis in the MSCs-treated group. In conclusion, MSCs could be a promising and efficient cell therapy for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina M Abou Rayia
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Dalia S Ashour
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Hend S Abo Safia
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | | | - Rania S Amer
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Abeer E Saad
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.,Medical Parasitology Sub-unit, Pathology Department, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
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Rahimi A, Rasouli M, Heidari Keshel S, Ebrahimi M, Pakdel F. Is obesity-induced ECM remodeling a prelude to the development of various diseases? Obes Res Clin Pract 2023; 17:95-101. [PMID: 36863919 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Due to the increasing incidence rate of obesity worldwide and the associated complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, research on the adipose tissue physiology and the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has gained tremendous attention. The ECM, one of the most crucial components in body tissues, undergoes remodeling and regeneration of its constituents to guarantee normal tissue function. There is a crosstalk between fat tissue and various body organs, including but not limited to the liver, heart, kidney, skeletal muscle, and so forth. These organs respond to fat tissue signals through changes in ECM, function, and their secretory products. Obesity can cause ECM remodeling, inflammation, fibrosis, insulin resistance, and disrupted metabolism in different organs. However, the mechanisms underlying the reciprocal communication between various organs during obesity are still not fully elucidated. Gaining a profound knowledge of ECM alterations during the progression of obesity will pave the way toward developing potential strategies to either circumvent pathological conditions or open an avenue to treat complications associated with obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Rahimi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Rasouli
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Heidari Keshel
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Ebrahimi
- Department of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Pakdel
- Ophthalmology Department, Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Mastoridou EM, Goussia AC, Glantzounis GK, Kanavaros P, Charchanti AV. Autophagy and Exosomes: Cross-Regulated Pathways Playing Major Roles in Hepatic Stellate Cells Activation and Liver Fibrosis. Front Physiol 2022; 12:801340. [PMID: 35185602 PMCID: PMC8850693 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.801340] [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: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver injury, regardless of the underlying disease, results in gradual alteration of the physiological hepatic architecture and in excessive production of extracellular matrix, eventually leading to cirrhosis Liver cellular architecture consists of different cell populations, among which hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been found to play a major role in the fibrotic process. Under normal conditions, HSCs serve as the main storage site for vitamin A, however, pathological stimuli lead to their transdifferentiation into myofibroblast cells, with autophagy being the key regulator of their activation, through lipophagy of their lipid droplets. Nevertheless, the role of autophagy in liver fibrosis is multifaceted, as increased autophagic levels have been associated with alleviation of the fibrotic process. In addition, it has been found that HSCs receive paracrine stimuli from neighboring cells, such as injured hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, which promote liver fibrosis. These stimuli have been found to be transmitted via exosomes, which are incorporated by HSCs and can either be degraded through lysosomes or be secreted back into the extracellular space via fusion with the plasma membrane. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that autophagy and exosomes may be concomitantly or reciprocally regulated, depending on the cellular conditions. Given that increased levels of autophagy are required to activate HSCs, it is important to investigate whether autophagy levels decrease at later stages of hepatic stellate cell activation, leading to increased release of exosomes and further propagation of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria M. Mastoridou
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Anna C. Goussia
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Georgios K. Glantzounis
- Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Unit, Department of Surgery, University General Hospital of Ioannina and School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Kanavaros
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Antonia V. Charchanti
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- *Correspondence: Antonia V. Charchanti,
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Feasibility of Fetal Portal Venous System Ultrasound Assessment at the FT Anomaly Scan. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12020361. [PMID: 35204452 PMCID: PMC8871164 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12020361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the feasibility of the first trimester (FT) ultrasound scan (US) for the evaluation of the fetal portal venous system (PVS) anatomy, and to evaluate the potential of microcopy for a proper pathology evaluation for the PVS in the FT. Methods: We evaluated the PVS in 200 scan examinations performed in FT pregnancy. Half of the cases were scanned by two operators with extensive experience in obstetric ultrasound—Group I, and the other half was evaluated by two sonographers with less experience—Group II. Second-trimester US and autopsy in terminated pregnancies were used as follow-up. The pathologic evaluation was supported by microscopy. Results: all PVS features were successfully assessed by transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) in 27% of the Group I cases and 14% in Group II. These rates increased to 88% in Group I and in 72% in Group II, after rescanning and using transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). The conditions that led to rescanning and TVUS were: BMI greater than 24 in 26% cases, unfavorable fetal position (12.32%), retroverted uterus (12.32%), abdominal scar (10.96%), fibroids (4.11%), and combinations of the above (34.23%). The L-shaped UV confluence was identified transabdominally in 91% in Group I and in 79% in Group II and increased to 98% and 95%, respectively, following reevaluations. Microscopy represented a useful audit in all FT investigated cases. Conclusions: At the end of the FT, the visualization of a normal L-shaped UV confluence, that excludes major PVS abnormalities, is achievable in approx. 80%, indifferently the examiners experience. The sonographers experience, pregnant women BMI, and uterine anomalies as fibroids or retroversion significantly affect the rate of visualization, and necessitates vaginal approach and reexamination. The FT pathology, the audit of the ultrasound findings can only be performed microscopically, with relatively little resources involved and good results.
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Mitofusin-2 Restrains Hepatic Stellate Cells’ Proliferation via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Liver Fibrosis in Rats. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2022; 2022:6731335. [PMID: 35083025 PMCID: PMC8786480 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6731335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The mitochondrial GTPase mitofusin-2 (MFN2) gene can suppress the cell cycle and regulate cell proliferation in a number of cell types. However, its function in hepatic fibrosis remains largely unexplored. We attempted to understand the mechanism of MFN2 in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and the development of hepatic fibrosis. Rat HSC-T6 HSC were cultured and transfected by adenovirus- (Ad-) Mfn2 or its negative control (NC) vector (Ad-green fluorescent protein (GFP)); a rat liver cirrhosis model was established via subcutaneous injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into four groups: CCl4, Mfn2, GFP, and NC. Ad-Mfn2 or Ad-GFP was transfected into the circulation via intravenous injection at day 1, 14, 28, 42, or 56 after the first injection of CCl4 in the Mfn2/GFP groups. Biomarkers related to HSC proliferation and the development of hepatic fibrosis were detected using western blotting, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry. In vitro, Mfn2 interfered specifically with platelet-derived growth factor- (PDGF-) induced signaling pathway (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase- (PI3K-) AKT), inhibiting HSC-T6 cell activation and proliferation. During the process of hepatic fibrosis in vivo, extracellular collagen deposition and the expression of fibrosis-related proteins increased progressively, while Mfn2 expression decreased gradually. Upregulating Mfn2 expression at the early stage of fibrosis impeded the process, triggered the downregulation of type I collagen, and antagonized the formation of factors associated with liver fibrosis. Mfn2 suppresses HSC proliferation and activation and exhibits antifibrotic potential in early-stage hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, it may represent a significant therapeutic target for eradicating hepatic fibrosis.
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Zhou Y, Wu R, Cai FF, Zhou WJ, Lu YY, Zhang H, Chen QL, Sun MY, Su SB. Development of a novel anti-liver fibrosis formula with luteolin, licochalcone A, aloe-emodin and acacetin by network pharmacology and transcriptomics analysis. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2021; 59:1594-1606. [PMID: 34808067 PMCID: PMC8635660 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2021.1999275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Xiaoyaosan decoction (XYS), a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula is used to treat liver fibrosis in clinics. OBJECTIVE This study explores defined compound combinations from XYS decoction to treat liver fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Network pharmacology combined with transcriptomics analysis was used to analyze the XYS decoction and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome liver fibrosis. From the constructed XYS-Syndrome-liver fibrosis network, the top 10 active formulas were developed by topological analysis according to network stability. The most active formula was determined by in vitro study. The anti-fibrosis effect was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo studies. RESULTS According to the network XYS-Syndrome-liver fibrosis network, 8 key compounds and 255 combinations were predicted from in XYS. Luteolin, licochalcone A, aloe-emodin and acacetin formula (LLAAF) had a synergistic effect on the proliferation inhibition of hepatic stellate cells compared to individual compounds alone. The treatment of XYS and LLAAF showed a similar anti-liver fibrotic effect that reduced histopathological changes of liver fibrosis, Hyp content and levels of α-SMA and collagen I in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Transcriptomics analysis revealed LLAAF regulated PI3K-Akt, AMPK, FoxO, Jak-STAT3, P53, cell cycle, focal adhesion, and PPAR signalling. Furthermore, LLAAF was confirmed to regulate Jak-STAT and PI3K-Akt-FoxO signalling in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a novel anti-liver formula LLAAF from XYS, and demonstrated its anti-liver fibrotic activity which may be involved in the regulation of Jak-STAT and PI3K-Akt-FoxO signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhou
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Wu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei-fei Cai
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zhou
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Yu Lu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi-Long Chen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Mingyu Sun
| | - Shi-Bing Su
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- CONTACT Shi-Bing Su
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Königshofer P, Brusilovskaya K, Petrenko O, Hofer BS, Schwabl P, Trauner M, Reiberger T. Nuclear Receptors in Liver Fibrosis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166235. [PMID: 34339839 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate gene expression of a variety of key molecular signals involved in liver fibrosis. The primary cellular driver of liver fibrogenesis are activated hepatic stellate cells. Different NRs regulate the hepatic expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic cytokines that promote the transformation of hepatic stellate cells into fibrogenic myofibroblasts. Importantly, nuclear receptors regulate gene expression circuits that promote hepatic fibrogenesis and/or allow liver fibrosis regression. In this review, we highlight the direct and indirect influence of nuclear receptors on liver fibrosis, with a focus on hepatic stellate cells, and discuss potential therapeutic effects of nuclear receptor modulation in regard to anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Further research on nuclear receptors-related signaling may lead to the clinical development of effective anti-fibrotic therapies for patients with liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Königshofer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ksenia Brusilovskaya
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oleksandr Petrenko
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Silvester Hofer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Schwabl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Experimental Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab (HEPEX), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Lab for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Tang WC, Chang YW, Che M, Wang MH, Lai KK, Fueger PT, Huang W, Lin SB, Lai KKY. Thioacetamide-induced norepinephrine production by hepatocytes is associated with hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 15:454-461. [PMID: 33845730 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210412144416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Collagen production by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to encapsulate injury is part of the natural wound-healing response in injured liver. However, persistent activation of HSCs can lead to pathological fibrogenesis. Such persistent HSC activation could be mediated by norepinephrine (NE), a reaction product of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential paracrine role of NE in hepatotoxin thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. METHODS/RESULTS In TAA-treated mice, fibrotic liver tissue showed significant increases in the mRNA expression of DBH up to 14-fold and collagen up to 7-fold. Immunohistochemical staining showed increased DBH protein expression in fibrotic liver tissue. Parenchymal hepatocyte cell line HepG2 expressed DBH and secreted NE, and the conditioned medium of HepG2 cells promoted collagenesis in nonparenchymal HSC cell line LX-2. TAA treatment increased DBH expression by 170% in HepG2 cells, as well as increased NE by 120% in the conditioned medium of HepG2 cells. The conditioned medium of TAA-treated HepG2 cells was used to culture LX-2 cells, and was found to increase collagen expression by 80% in LX-2 cells. Collagen expression was reduced by pre-treating HepG2 cells with siRNA targeting DBH or by adding NE antagonists to the conditioned medium. Finally, TAA-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells was associated with induction of DBH expression. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results suggest a potential role for DBH/NE-mediated crosstalk between hepatocytes and HSCs in fibrogenesis. From a therapeutic standpoint, antagonism of DBH/NE induction in hepatocytes might be a useful strategy to suppress pathological fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chien Tang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei. Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei. Taiwan
| | - Mingtian Che
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California. United States
| | - Mei-Hui Wang
- Division of Isotope Applications, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Taoyuan. Taiwan
| | - Keith K Lai
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. United States
| | - Patrick T Fueger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California. United States
| | - Wendong Huang
- Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California. United States
| | - Shwu-Bin Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei. Taiwan
| | - Keane K Y Lai
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, and Department of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California. United States
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14
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Xu F, Tautenhahn HM, Dirsch O, Dahmen U. Modulation of Autophagy: A Novel "Rejuvenation" Strategy for the Aging Liver. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6611126. [PMID: 33628363 PMCID: PMC7889356 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6611126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a natural life process which leads to a gradual decline of essential physiological processes. For the liver, it leads to alterations in histomorphology (steatosis and fibrosis) and function (protein synthesis and energy generation) and affects central hepatocellular processes (autophagy, mitochondrial respiration, and hepatocyte proliferation). These alterations do not only impair the metabolic capacity of the liver but also represent important factors in the pathogenesis of malignant liver disease. Autophagy is a recycling process for eukaryotic cells to degrade dysfunctional intracellular components and to reuse the basic substances. It plays a crucial role in maintaining cell homeostasis and in resisting environmental stress. Emerging evidence shows that modulating autophagy seems to be effective in improving the age-related alterations of the liver. However, autophagy is a double-edged sword for the aged liver. Upregulating autophagy alleviates hepatic steatosis and ROS-induced cellular stress and promotes hepatocyte proliferation but may aggravate hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, a well-balanced autophagy modulation strategy might be suitable to alleviate age-related liver dysfunction. Conclusion. Modulation of autophagy is a promising strategy for "rejuvenation" of the aged liver. Detailed knowledge regarding the most devastating processes in the individual patient is needed to effectively counteract aging of the liver without causing obvious harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Xu
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Olaf Dirsch
- Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Chemnitz 09111, Germany
| | - Uta Dahmen
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
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15
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Chang SN, Kim SH, Dey DK, Park SM, Nasif O, Bajpai VK, Kang SC, Lee J, Park JG. 5-O-Demethylnobiletin Alleviates CCl 4-Induced Acute Liver Injury by Equilibrating ROS-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagy Induction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031083. [PMID: 33499185 PMCID: PMC7865239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymethoxyflavanoids (PMFs) have exhibited a vast array of therapeutic biological properties. 5-O-Demethylnobiletin (5-DN) is one such PMF having anti-inflammatory activity, yet its role in hepatoprotection has not been studied before. Results from in vitro study revealed that 5-DN did not exert a high level of cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells at 40 μM, and it was able to rescue HepG2 cell death induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Subsequently, we investigated acute liver injury on BALB/c mice induced by CCl4 through the intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL/kg CCl4 and co-administration of 5-DN at (1 and 2 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 15 days. The results illustrated that treatment with 5-DN attenuated CCl4-induced elevated serum aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio and significantly ameliorated severe hepatic damage such as inflammation and fibrosis evidenced through lesser aberrations in the liver histology of 5-DN dose groups. Additionally, 5-DN efficiently counteracted and equilibrated the production of ROS accelerated by CCl4 and dramatically downregulated the expression of CYP2E1 vitally involved in converting CCl4 to toxic free radicals and also enhanced the antioxidant enzymes. 5-DN treatment also inhibited cell proliferation and inflammatory pathway abnormally regulated by CCl4 treatment. Furthermore, the apoptotic response induced by CCl4 treatment was remarkably reduced by enhanced Bcl-2 expression and noticeable reduction in Bax, Bid, cleaved caspase 3, caspase 9, and apaf-1 expression. 5-DN treatment also induced the conversion of LC3 and promoted the autophagic flux. Conclusively, 5-DN exhibited hepatoprotective effects in vitro and in vivo and prevented liver fibrosis induced by CCl4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukkum Ngullie Chang
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
| | - Se Ho Kim
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
| | - Debasish Kumar Dey
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Seon Min Park
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
| | - Omaima Nasif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University (Medical City), King Khalid University Hospital, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Vivek K. Bajpai
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Seoul 04620, Korea
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
| | - Sun Chul Kang
- Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea; (S.N.C.); (D.K.D.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Jintae Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
| | - Jae Gyu Park
- Advanced Bio Convergence Center (ABCC), Pohang Technopark Foundation, Pohang 37668, Korea; (S.H.K.); (S.M.P.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.B.); (J.T.L.); (J.G.P.); Fax: +82-32-872-4046 (V.K.B.); +82-53-810-4631 (J.L.); +82-54-223-2780 (J.G.P.)
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16
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Wang R, Zhang D, Tang D, Sun K, Peng J, Zhu W, Yin S, Wu Y. Amygdalin inhibits TGFβ1-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and CCl 4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats in vivo. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 90:107151. [PMID: 33296784 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) has been considered one of the major events in hepatic fibrosis. Amygdalin has been used to treat cancers and alleviate pain; however, its role and mechanism in HSC activation and hepatic fibrosis remain unclear. In the present study, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) stimulated the activation of HSCs, as indicated by significantly increased alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), desmin, collagen I, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) protein levels. Amygdalin treatment dramatically suppressed TGF-β1-induced HSC proliferation and activation. Moreover, amygdalin treatment also reduced the TGF-β1-induced secretion of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), as well as the phosphorylation of Smad2, Smad3, and p65. In the CCl4-stimulated liver fibrosis rat model, amygdalin treatment improved liver fibrosis and liver damage by reducing focal necrosis, collagen fiber accumulation, and the protein levels of α-SMA, desmin, collagen I, and TIMP-1 in hepatic tissue samples and reducing serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. In conclusion, we demonstrated the suppressive effects of amygdalin in TGF-β1-induced HSC activation through modulating proliferation, fibrogenesis, and inflammation signaling in vitro and the antifibrotic effects of amygdalin in CCl4-stimulated hepatic fibrosis in rats in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Hepatology, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519015, China
| | - Dan Tang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Kewei Sun
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Jianping Peng
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Wenfang Zhu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Sihan Yin
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Yunan Wu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China.
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17
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Can Walnut Serve as a Magic Bullet for the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app11010218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Walnut contains many nutrients and bioactive components such as essential fatty acids, polyphenols, fiber, ɤ-tocopherol, folate, minerals, and vegetable protein, and has therefore been regarded as a natural functional food. Walnut-enriched diets have been demonstrated to be useful for heart health, cancer prevention, and metabolic disorders owing to their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties as well as for the maintenance of a healthy metabolism and immune function. Walnut extracts, either phenolic or lipid, also demonstrated the health effects in animal and cultured cell studies. More recently, the beneficial effects of walnut consumption on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a hepatic manifestation of obesity, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome with substantial hepatic accumulation of triglyceride, have been proposed because walnut and a walnut-containing diet can modulate the etiologic mechanism such as ameliorating systemic and hepatic dyslipidemia, reducing lipotoxicity and inflammation, enhancing immune function, and maintaining gut microbiota balance. Through the extensive literature review we discuss the preventive roles of walnut in the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and provide mechanistic insights into these effects.
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18
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Choi MS, Choi JY, Kwon EY. Fisetin Alleviates Hepatic and Adipocyte Fibrosis and Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obese Mice. J Med Food 2020; 23:1019-1032. [PMID: 32856978 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2019.4619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of the flavonoid fisetin (FI) on inflammation-mediated metabolic diseases, especially tissue fibrosis and insulin resistance (IR) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal-fat diet, HFD (40 kcal% fat), or HFD +0.02% (w/w) FI for 16 weeks. Dietary FI supplementation improved hepatic steatosis by restricting lipogenesis, while promoting lipolysis in the liver. FI also prevented adiposity via an increase in the expression of genes involved in FA oxidation and a decrease in the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis in white adipose tissue. In addition, FI increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle weights, thermogenic gene mRNA expression in BAT, and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related gene expression in skeletal muscle, which may be linked to the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as well as adiposity. Moreover, FI supplementation decreased excessive reactive oxygen species production by increasing paraoxonase activity, adipokine dysregulation, proinflammatory cytokine production, and extracellular matrix amassment in the liver. FI supplementation ameliorated IR, in part, by normalizing pancreatic islet dysfunction, and it declined hepatic gluconeogenesis and proinflammatory responses. Taken together, the present findings indicate that FI can protect against HFD-induced inflammation-mediated disorders, including fibrosis and IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Sook Choi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ji-Young Choi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun-Young Kwon
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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19
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Markby GR, Macrae VE, Summers KM, Corcoran BM. Disease Severity-Associated Gene Expression in Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease Is Dominated by TGFβ Signaling. Front Genet 2020; 11:372. [PMID: 32395121 PMCID: PMC7197751 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired canine cardiovascular disease and shares many similarities with human mitral valvulopathies. While transcriptomic datasets are available for the end-stage disease in both species, there is no information on how gene expression changes as the disease progresses, such that it cannot be stated with certainty if the changes seen in end-stage disease are casual or consequential. In contrast to humans, the disease in dogs can be more readily examined as it progresses, and this allows an opportunity for insight into disease pathogenesis relevant to both species. The aim of this study was to identify changes in valve gene expression as canine MMVD advances over an entire life-time, from normal (grade 0) to severely affected (grade 4), and differences in gene expression comparing normal and disease areas of the same valve. Transcriptomic profiling identified 1002 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across all four disease grades when compared with normal valves with the greatest number of DEGs in grade 3 (673) and grade 4 (507). DEGs were associated with a large number of gene families, including genes encoding cytoskeletal filaments, peptidases, extra-cellular matrix (ECM) proteins, chemokines and integrins. Gene enrichment analysis identified significant grade-dependent changes in gene clustering, with clusters trending both up and down as disease progressed. Significant grade-dependent changes in hallmark disease gene expression intensity were identified, including ACTA2, HTR2B, MMP12, and CDKN2A. Gene Ontology terms were dominated by terms for ECM and inflammation with TGFβ1, TNF, IFGN identified as the top up-stream regulators in both whole and dissected diseased valve samples. These data show that while disease progression in MMVD is associated with increasing numbers of DEGs, TGFβ appears to be the dominant signaling pathway controlling pathogenesis irrespective of disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg R Markby
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Vicky E Macrae
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Kim M Summers
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan M Corcoran
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.,Royal Dick, School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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20
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Abstract
Magnesium is a vital cation that takes part in many cellular processes. Magnesium balance can be disturbed in multiple conditions, and differences in magnesium concentration can be responsible for numerous physiological and pathological processes. Magnesium deficiency is commonly associated with liver diseases, and may result from low nutrient uptake, greater urinary secretion, low serum albumin concentration, or hormone inactivation. In turn, low magnesium content in serum and liver tissue can lead to the progression of these diseases, due to a disruption in mitochondrial function, defective protein kinase C (PKC) translocation, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, or metabolic disorders. Furthermore, magnesium supplementation can improve liver function in certain liver diseases. This paper comprehensively reviews the changes in magnesium concentrations associated with liver cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), liver cancer, and viral hepatitis, and explains how such changes may in turn impact these disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixi Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
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21
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McCoin CS, Von Schulze A, Allen J, Fuller KNZ, Xia Q, Koestler DC, Houchen CJ, Maurer A, Dorn GW, Shankar K, Morris EM, Thyfault JP. Sex modulates hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to high-fat diet and physical activity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 317:E298-E311. [PMID: 31039007 PMCID: PMC6732468 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00098.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The impact of sexual dimorphism and mitophagy on hepatic mitochondrial adaptations during the treatment of steatosis with physical activity are largely unknown. Here, we tested if deficiencies in liver-specific peroxisome proliferative activated-receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), a transcriptional coactivator of biogenesis, and BCL-2/ADENOVIRUS EIB 19-kDa interacting protein (BNIP3), a mitophagy regulator, would impact hepatic mitochondrial adaptations (respiratory capacity, H2O2 production, mitophagy) to a high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD plus physical activity via voluntary wheel running (VWR) in both sexes. Male and female wild-type (WT), liver-specific PGC-1α heterozygote (LPGC-1α), and BNIP3 null mice were thermoneutral housed (29-31°C) and divided into three groups: sedentary-low-fat diet (LFD), 16 wk of (HFD), or 16 wk of HFD with VWR for the final 8 wk (HFD + VWR) (n = 5-7/sex/group). HFD did not impair mitochondrial respiratory capacity or coupling in any group; however, HFD + VWR significantly increased maximal respiratory capacity only in WT and PGC-1α females. Males required VWR to elicit mitochondrial adaptations that were inherently present in sedentary females including greater mitochondrial coupling control and reduced H2O2 production. Females had overall reduced markers of mitophagy, steatosis, and liver damage. Steatosis and markers of liver injury were present in sedentary male mice on the HFD and were effectively reduced with VWR despite no resolution of steatosis. Overall, reductions in PGC-1α and loss of BNIP3 only modestly impacted mitochondrial adaptations to HFD and HFD + VWR with the biggest effect seen in BNIP3 females. In conclusion, hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to HFD and treatment of HFD-induced steatosis with VWR are more dependent on sex than PGC-1α or BNIP3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin S McCoin
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Alex Von Schulze
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Julie Allen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Kelly N Z Fuller
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Qing Xia
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Devin C Koestler
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Claire J Houchen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Adrianna Maurer
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Gerald W Dorn
- Center for Pharmacogenomics, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kartik Shankar
- Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and the Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock, Arizona
| | - E Matthew Morris
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas
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22
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Tu Y, Zhu S, Wang J, Burstein E, Jia D. Natural compounds in the chemoprevention of alcoholic liver disease. Phytother Res 2019; 33:2192-2212. [PMID: 31264302 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Much effort has been expended to explore the pathogenesis of ALD. Hepatic cell injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, regeneration, and bacterial translocation are all involved in the pathogenesis of ALD. Immediate abstinence is the most important therapeutic treatment for affected individuals. However, the medical treatment for ALD had not advanced in a long period. Intriguingly, an increasing body of research indicates the potential of natural compounds in the targeted therapy of ALD. A plethora of dietary natural products such as flavonoids, resveratrol, saponins, and β-carotene are found to exert protective effects on ALD. This occurs through various mechanisms composed of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, iron chelation, pro-apoptosis, and/or antiproliferation of hepatic stellate cells and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatments of ALD and focus on the potential of natural compounds in ALD therapies and underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingfeng Tu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Paediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shu Zhu
- Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Foresight and Evaluation Research, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Paediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ezra Burstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Da Jia
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Department of Paediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Humanized Mouse Models for the Study of Hepatitis C and Host Interactions. Cells 2019; 8:cells8060604. [PMID: 31213010 PMCID: PMC6627916 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly attributed as a major cause of chronic hepatotropic diseases, such as, steatosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As HCV infects only humans and primates, its narrow host tropism hampers in vivo studies of HCV-mammalian host interactions and the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. In this context, we will focus our discussion on humanized mice in HCV research. Here, these humanized mice are defined as animal models that encompass either only human hepatocytes or both human liver and immune cells. Aspects related to immunopathogenesis, anti-viral interventions, drug testing and perspectives of these models for future HCV research will be discussed.
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Human Liver-Derived Stem Cells Improve Fibrosis and Inflammation Associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:6351091. [PMID: 31281379 PMCID: PMC6589210 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6351091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy may be regarded as a feasible alternative to whole organ transplantation to treat end-stage liver diseases. Human liver stem cells (HLSCs) are a population of cells easily obtainable and expandable from a human adult liver biopsy. HLSCs share with mesenchymal stromal cells the same phenotype, gene expression profile, and differentiation capabilities. In addition, HLSCs show a specific commitment to the hepatic phenotype. Injection of HLSCs into immunodeficient mice fed with a methionine-choline-deficient diet to induce nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ameliorates liver function and morphology. In particular, HLSC treatment induced a reduction of liver fibrosis and inflammation at morphological and molecular levels. Moreover, HLSCs were able to persist for up to 3 weeks after the injection. In conclusion, HLSCs have healing effects in a model of chronic liver disease.
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25
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Ullah A, Wang K, Wu P, Oupicky D, Sun M. CXCR4-targeted liposomal mediated co-delivery of pirfenidone and AMD3100 for the treatment of TGFβ-induced HSC-T6 cells activation. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:2927-2944. [PMID: 31118614 PMCID: PMC6501422 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s171280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease associated with an excessive accumulation of extracellualr matrix (ECM) proteins which ultimately lead to cirrohosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Purpose: Liver fibrosis therapies that use combination approaches with the ability to affect multiple disease pathways have proven higher efficacies. This study aimed at optimizing and characterizing the co-encapsulation of pirfenidone (PF) and AMD3100 (AMD) into CXCR4-targeted combination liposomes (CTC liposome) for CXCR4 targeting, and the inhibition of major molecular culprits ie α-SMA, CXCR4, TGFβ, and P-p38 involved in liver fibrosis in-vitro. Methods: The CTC liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method. The concentration of encapsulated AMD and PF was measured by HPLC and UV spectrophotometry, respectively. Tramsmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to determine the liposomal morphology. The CXCR4 targeting ability was determined by CXCR4 redistribution assay. Confocal microscopy and flowcytometry were used to determine the CXCR4 mediated cell uptake. The apoptosis inducing and protein downreguating ability of CTC liposomes were determined by apoptosis assay and western blot analysis, respectively. In-vivo biodistribution and Hoechst staining were used to confirm the feasibility of CTC liposome for the in-vivo applications and drug targeted accumulation, respectively. Results: The TEM studies revealed that CTC liposomes were spherical in shape. The cumulative release of AMD and PF from CTC liposome was 67% and 84%, respectively, at 48 h. Compared to the free drug counterparts, encapsulated drugs displayed higher cell viability. The CXCR4 redistribution assay confirmed the CXCR4 targeting and antagonistic ability of CTC liposomes. The CTC liposomes were internalized more effectively via caveolae-mediated endocytic pathways. CTC liposomes displayed aggressive apoptosis (87.3%) in TGFβ-induced activated HSC-T6 cells suggesting a propensity to fibrosis regression. Also, CTC liposomes significantly reduced α-SMA (65%), CXCR4 (77%), TGFβ (89%), and P-p38 (66%) expressions, better than free drugs. CTC@IR780 liposomes (CTC liposomes incorporating IR780 dye) were more accumulated in fibrotic livers compared to free IR780, as judged by in-vivo imaging, biodistribution analysis, and Hoechst staining. These findings suggest that this simple and stable CTC liposomal system holds a great promise for the treatment and prevention of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aftab Ullah
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaikai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengkai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - David Oupicky
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China.,Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Minjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Yu J, He JQ, Chen DY, Pan QL, Yang JF, Cao HC, Li LJ. Dynamic changes of key metabolites during liver fibrosis in rats. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:941-954. [PMID: 30833800 PMCID: PMC6397726 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i8.941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrosis is the single most important predictor of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Established non-invasive tests for monitoring fibrosis are lacking, and new biomarkers of liver fibrosis and function are needed.
AIM To depict the process of liver fibrosis and look for novel biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring fibrosis progression.
METHODS CCl4 was used to establish the rat liver fibrosis model. Liver fibrosis process was measured by liver chemical tests, liver histopathology, and Masson’s trichrome staining. The expression levels of two fibrotic markers including α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor β1 were assessed using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Dynamic changes in metabolic profiles and biomarker concentrations in rat serum during liver fibrosis progression were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The discriminatory capability of potential biomarkers was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
RESULTS To investigate the dynamic changes of metabolites during the process of liver fibrosis, sera from control and fibrosis model rats based on pathological results were analyzed at five different time points. We investigated the association of liver fibrosis with 21 metabolites including hydroxyethyl glycine, L-threonine, indoleacrylic acid, β-muricholic acid (β-MCA), cervonoyl ethanolamide (CEA), phosphatidylcholines, and lysophosphatidylcholines. Two metabolites, CEA and β-MCA, differed significantly in the fibrosis model rats compared to controls (P < 0.05) and showed prognostic value for fibrosis. ROC curve analyses performed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) revealed that CEA and β-MCA differed significantly in the fibrosis group compared to controls with AUC values exceeding 0.8, and can clearly differentiate early stage from late stage fibrosis or cirrhosis.
CONCLUSION This study identified two novel biomarkers of fibrosis, CEA and β-MCA, which were effective for diagnosing fibrosis in an animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Yu
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jian-Qin He
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - De-Ying Chen
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qiao-Ling Pan
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jin-Feng Yang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hong-Cui Cao
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lan-Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
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27
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Wu B, Wang R, Li S, Wang Y, Song F, Gu Y, Yuan Y. Antifibrotic effects of Fraxetin on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis by targeting NF-κB/IκBα, MAPKs and Bcl-2/Bax pathways. Pharmacol Rep 2019; 71:409-416. [PMID: 31003150 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a chronic lesion which ultimately results in cirrhosis and possible death. Although the high incidence and lethality, few therapies are effective for liver fibrosis. Fraxetin (7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy coumarin), a natural product extracted from cortex fraxini, has exhibited a significant hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic properties. However, the underlying mechanism of the anti-hepatic fibrotic property remains unknown. METHODS 48 Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups at random which were named as normal group, model group, fraxetin 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg group. The experimental model of liver fibrosis was founded by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) rats which were simultaneously treated with fraxetin (25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg). Normal groups received equal volumes of saline and peanut oil. RESULTS Results showed that fraxetin ameliorated CCl4 induced liver damage and fibrosis. Furthermore, histopathology examinations revealed that fraxetin improved the morphology and alleviated collagen deposition in fibrotic liver. Fraxetin inhibited inflammation and hepatocytes apoptosis by modulating the NF-κB/IκBα, MAPKs and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that fraxetin is effective in preventing liver fibrosis through inhibiting inflammation and hepatocytes apoptosis which is associated with regulating NF-κB/IκBα, MAPKs and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengnan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuxing Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqiu Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongfang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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28
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Kwon EY, Shin SK, Choi MS. Ursolic Acid Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis, Fibrosis, and Insulin Resistance by Modulating the Circadian Rhythm Pathway in Diet-Induced Obese Mice. Nutrients 2018; 10:E1719. [PMID: 30423963 PMCID: PMC6266464 DOI: 10.3390/nu10111719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to elucidate the effects of long-term supplementation with dietary ursolic acid (UR) on obesity and associated comorbidities by analyzing transcriptional and metabolic responses, focusing on the role of UR in the modulation of the circadian rhythm pathway in particular. C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups and fed a normal diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat + 0.05% (w/w) UR diet for 16 weeks. Oligonucleotide microarray profiling revealed that UR is an effective regulator of the liver transcriptome, and canonical pathways associated with the "circadian rhythm" and "extracellular matrix (ECM)⁻receptor interactions" were effectively regulated by UR in the liver. UR altered the expression of various clock and clock-controlled genes (CCGs), which may be linked to the improvement of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis via lipid metabolism control and detoxification enhancement. UR reduced excessive reactive oxygen species production, adipokine/cytokine dysregulation, and ECM accumulation in the liver, which also contributed to improve hepatic lipotoxicity and fibrosis. Moreover, UR improved pancreatic islet dysfunction, and suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis, thereby reducing obesity-associated insulin resistance. Therapeutic approaches targeting hepatic circadian clock and CCGs using UR may ameliorate the deleterious effects of diet-induced obesity and associated complications such as hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Young Kwon
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungpook National University, 1370 San-Kyuk Dong Puk-Ku, Daegu 41566, Korea.
- Center for Food and Nutritional Genomics Research, Kyungpook National University, 1370 San-Kyuk Dong Puk-Ku, Daegu 41566, Korea.
| | - Su-Kyung Shin
- Department of Physiology & Obesity-Mediated Disease Research Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu 82601, Korea.
| | - Myung-Sook Choi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungpook National University, 1370 San-Kyuk Dong Puk-Ku, Daegu 41566, Korea.
- Center for Food and Nutritional Genomics Research, Kyungpook National University, 1370 San-Kyuk Dong Puk-Ku, Daegu 41566, Korea.
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Hepatic stellate cells derived from the nestin-positive cells in septum transversum during rat liver development. Med Mol Morphol 2018; 51:199-207. [PMID: 29380061 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-018-0183-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a principal role in Vitamin A metabolism and are considered the major matrix-producing cell type in the diseased liver. Rat HSCs are identified by immunohistochemistry with myogenic or mesenchymal (desmin, vimentin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin) or neural (e.g., GFAP or neuronal cell adhesion molecule) markers. Embryonic origin of rat HSCs was determined using these markers. Nestin, an intermediate filament protein originally identified in neuronal stem or progenitor cells, is widely used as a stem cell marker, including hepatic stem cells in adult rat livers. Additionally, nestin is reportedly expressed in activated HSCs during liver injury and hepatic regeneration. However, little is known about nestin expression in rat fetal liver HSCs. The present study aimed to clarify nestin-positive HSC expression during rat liver development. At embryonic day (ED) 10.5, nestin expression in mesenchymal cells adjacent to the liver bud was detected by immunohistochemistry. At ED 11.5, nestin-positive cells were also detected in desmin-positive cells appearing and increasing in intensity by ED 16.5. However, nestin-positive cells in the parenchyma decreased by ED 20.5 or later. These findings reveal that the nestin-positive HSCs during rat liver development originate from nestin-positive mesenchymal cells in the septum transversum.
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30
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Del Campo JA, Gallego P, Grande L. Role of inflammatory response in liver diseases: Therapeutic strategies. World J Hepatol 2018; 10:1-7. [PMID: 29399273 PMCID: PMC5787673 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation and tumorigenesis are tightly linked pathways impacting cancer development. Inflammasomes are key signalling platforms that detect pathogenic microorganisms, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and sterile stressors (oxidative stress, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity) able to activate pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and IL-18. Most of the inflammasome complexes that have been described to date contain a NOD-like receptor sensor molecule. Redox state and autophagy can regulate inflammasome complex and, depending on the conditions, can be either pro- or anti-apoptotic. Acute and chronic liver diseases are cytokine-driven diseases as several proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-6) are critically involved in inflammation, steatosis, fibrosis, and cancer development. NLRP3 inflammasome gain of function aggravates liver disease, resulting in severe liver fibrosis and highlighting this pathway in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. On the other hand, HCV infection is the primary catalyst for progressive liver disease and development of liver cancer. It is well established that HCV-induced IL-1β production by hepatic macrophages plays a critical and central process that promotes liver inflammation and disease. In this review, we aim to clarify the role of the inflammasome in the aggravation of liver disease, and how selective blockade of this main pathway may be a useful strategy to delay fibrosis progression in liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Del Campo
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Valme University Hospital and CIBERehd, Sevilla 41014, Spain
| | - Paloma Gallego
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Valme University Hospital and CIBERehd, Sevilla 41014, Spain
| | - Lourdes Grande
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Valme University Hospital and CIBERehd, Sevilla 41014, Spain
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31
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Chen L, Brigstock DR. Cellular or Exosomal microRNAs Associated with CCN Gene Expression in Liver Fibrosis. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1489:465-480. [PMID: 27734397 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6430-7_38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis occurs during chronic injury and represents, in large part, an exaggerated matrigenic output by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) which become activated as a result of injury-induced signaling pathways in parenchymal and inflammatory cells (hepatocytes, macrophages, etc.). The molecular components in these pathways (e.g., CCN proteins) are modulated by transcription factors as well as by factors such as microRNAs (miRs) that act posttranscriptionally. MiRs are small (~23 nt) noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by specifically interacting with the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of target gene mRNA to repress translation or enhance mRNA cleavage. As well as acting in their cells of production, miRs (and other cellular constituents such as mRNAs and proteins) can be liberated from their cells of origin in nanovesicular membrane exosomes, which traverse the intercellular spaces, and can be delivered to neighboring cells into which they release their molecular payload, causing alterations in gene expression in the target cells. Here we summarize some of the experimental approaches for studying miR action and exosomal trafficking between hepatic cells. Insights into the mechanisms involved will yield new information about how hepatic fibrosis is regulated and, further, may identify new points of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Research Building 2, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
| | - David R Brigstock
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Research Building 2, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.,Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA.,Department of Surgery, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA
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Yin L, Qi Y, Xu Y, Xu L, Han X, Tao X, Song S, Peng J. Dioscin Inhibits HSC-T6 Cell Migration via Adjusting SDC-4 Expression: Insights from iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:665. [PMID: 29033837 PMCID: PMC5627034 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) migration, an important bioprocess, contributes to the development of liver fibrosis. Our previous studies have found the potent activity of dioscin against liver fibrosis by inhibiting HSCs proliferation, triggering the senescence and inducing apoptosis of activated HSCs, but the molecular mechanisms associated with cell migration were not clarified. In this work, iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolution quantitation)-based quantitative proteomics study was carried out, and a total of 1566 differentially expressed proteins with fold change ≥2.0 and p < 0.05 were identified in HSC-T6 cells treated by dioscin (5.0 μg/mL). Based on Gene Ontology classification, String and KEGG pathway assays, the effects of dioscin to inhibit cell migration via regulating SDC-4 were carried out. The results of wound-healing, cell migration and western blotting assays indicated that dioscin significantly inhibit HSC-T6 cell migration through SDC-4-dependent signal pathway by affecting the expression levels of Fn, PKCα, Src, FAK, and ERK1/2. Specific SDC-4 knockdown by shRNA also blocked HSC-T6 cell migration, and dioscin slightly enhanced the inhibiting effect. Taken together, the present work showed that SDC-4 played a crucial role on HSC-T6 cell adhesion and migration of dioscin against liver fibrosis, which may be one potent therapeutic target for fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianhong Yin
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Yan Qi
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Youwei Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Lina Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Xu Han
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Xufeng Tao
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Shasha Song
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
| | - Jinyong Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical UniversityDalian, China
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Kim SM, Choi JE, Hur W, Kim JH, Hong SW, Lee EB, Lee JH, Li TZ, Sung PS, Yoon SK. RAR-Related Orphan Receptor Gamma (ROR-γ) Mediates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Of Hepatocytes During Hepatic Fibrosis. J Cell Biochem 2017; 118:2026-2036. [PMID: 27791279 PMCID: PMC5488206 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in many different types of cellular behavior, including liver fibrosis. In this report, we studied a novel function of RAR‐related orphan receptor gamma (ROR‐γ) in hepatocyte EMT during liver fibrosis. To induce EMT in vitro, primary hepatocytes and FL83B cells were treated with TGF‐β1. Expression of ROR‐γ was analyzed by Western blot in the fibrotic mouse livers and human livers with cirrhosis. To verify the role of ROR‐γ in hepatocyte EMT, we silenced ROR‐γ in FL83B cells using a lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vector. The therapeutic effect of ROR‐γ silencing was investigated in a mouse model of TAA‐induced fibrosis by hydrodynamic injection of plasmids. ROR‐γ expression was elevated in hepatocyte cells treated with TGF‐β1, and ROR‐γ protein levels were elevated in the fibrotic mouse livers and human livers with cirrhosis. Knockdown of ROR‐γ resulted in the attenuation of TGF‐β1‐induced EMT in hepatocytes. Strikingly, ROR‐γ bound to ROR‐specific DNA response elements (ROREs) in the promoter region of TGF‐β type I receptor (Tgfbr1) and Smad2, resulting in the downregulation of Tgfbr1 and Smad2 after silencing of ROR‐γ. Therapeutic delivery of shRNA against ROR‐γ attenuated hepatocyte EMT and ameliorated liver fibrosis in a mouse model of TAA‐induced liver fibrosis. Overall, our results suggest that ROR‐γ regulates TGF‐β‐induced EMT in hepatocytes during liver fibrosis. We suggest that ROR‐γ may become a potential therapeutic target in treating liver fibrosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2026–2036, 2017. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Min Kim
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Eun Choi
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonhee Hur
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hee Kim
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Woo Hong
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Byul Lee
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Ho Lee
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Tian Zhu Li
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, School of Medical Science, Chifeng University, Chifeng, 024000, China
| | - Pil Soo Sung
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, #505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-gu, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Kew Yoon
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center and WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, #505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-gu, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
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Therapeutic Effect and Location of GFP-Labeled Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:1798260. [PMID: 28491093 PMCID: PMC5405597 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1798260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Liver fibrosis is a chronic progressive liver disease, but no established effective treatment exists except for liver transplantation. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of human placenta mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) on carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced liver fibrosis in rats. Methods. Liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection with CCl4; hPMSCs were directly transplanted into rats through the caudal vein. The therapeutic efficacy of hPMSCs on liver fibrosis was measured by liver function tests, liver elastography, histopathology, Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining, and immunohistochemical studies. The expression levels of fibrotic markers, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. We demonstrated that liver fibrosis was significantly dampened in the hPMSC transplantation group according to the Laennec fibrosis scoring system and histological data. The Sirius red-stained collagen area and the elastography score were significantly reduced in the hPMSC-treated group. Meanwhile, hPMSC administration significantly decreased TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression and enhanced liver functions in CCl4-induced fibrotic rats. Conclusion. This study indicates that transplantation of hPMSCs could repair liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats, which may serve as a valuable therapeutic approach to treat liver diseases.
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Han M, Liu X, Liu S, Su G, Fan X, Chen J, Yuan Q, Xu G. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and liver fibrosis in C57BL6 mouse via activating Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. Toxicol Lett 2017; 273:10-19. [PMID: 28302560 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a widespread environmental pollutant that could induce serious toxic effects in both humans and rodents. Some studies suggested that TCDD exposure may facilitate the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver injury. However, the underlying molecular mechanism by which environmental pollutants promote liver injury remains poorly understood. In the present study, we established an animal model of TCDD exposure by intraperitoneal injection of TCDD in male C57BL/6J mice. As revealed by Sirius red staining and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining evaluation, we found that TCDD-exposed mice showed extensive disruption of liver architecture, including hepatocellular necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis. Furthermore, we showed that TCDD up-regulated the expression and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner in cultured HSCs. The effects of TCDD on cytokine secretion were very likely mediated by protein kinase B/Akt and Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways, as indicated by the fact that TCDD markedly increased Akt phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in HSCs. Furthermore, LY294002, an Akt inhibitor, significantly attenuated TCDD-triggered HSC activation through blocking Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. These results indicate that HSCs are susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of TCDD and chronic TCDD exposure may contribute to liver fibrosis by activating HSC Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Han
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China; Chuzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chuzhou, 239499 Anhui, PR China
| | - Xipeng Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China; Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Huangpu, 200011 Shanghai, PR China
| | - Suyi Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Guanglei Su
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xikang Fan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Qianting Yuan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Guangfei Xu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Wen SL, Feng S, Tang SH, Gao JH, Zhang LH, Tong H, Yan ZP, Fang DZ. Collapsed Reticular Network and its Possible Mechanism during the Initiation and/or Progression of Hepatic Fibrosis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35426. [PMID: 27739503 PMCID: PMC5064391 DOI: 10.1038/srep35426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the researches on hepatic fibrosis, great attention was paid to both hepatocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM). However, little focus was drawn on reticular fibrous network, which is important for demarcation and support of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the change pattern of reticular fibers in hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis and its underlying mechanism. In this study, thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL) were utilized to induce rat hepatic fibrosis respectively, and Human liver cirrhotic microassay was analyzed with IHC to confirm the results in animal experiment and to detect the metalloproteinases (MMPs) expressions. As a result, the reticular fibers decreased markedly after 1 week in TAA and 1 day in BDL treated rats. Multiple representative regulators of MMPs and MMPs increased significantly in their expressions and activities. Further more, in human liver cirrhotic microassay, MMPs expressions also showed similar patterns as that of animal experiment. In Conclusions: Degradation or collapse of reticular fibers in hepatic sinusoid can be considered as a pathological feature during the initiation and/or progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, such degradation is associated with and probably caused by the over/dysregulated expression of MMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Lei Wen
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Shi Feng
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Shi-Hang Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jin-Hang Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
- Department of Peptides Related to Human Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Lin-hao Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Huan Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Zhao-Ping Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Ding Zhi Fang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
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Wang C, Zhang F, Cao Y, Zhang M, Wang A, Xu M, Su M, Zhang M, Zhuge Y. Etoposide Induces Apoptosis in Activated Human Hepatic Stellate Cells via ER Stress. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34330. [PMID: 27680712 PMCID: PMC5041150 DOI: 10.1038/srep34330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a vital role in the progression of liver fibrosis, and the induction of HSCs apoptosis may attenuate or reverse fibrogenesis. The therapeutic effects of etoposide(VP-16), a widely used anticancer agent, on HSCs apoptosis and liver fibrosis resolution are still unclear. Here, we report that VP-16 reduced the proliferation of LX-2 cells and led to significantly high levels of apoptosis, as indicated by Annexin V staining and the proteolytic cleavage of the executioner caspase-3 and PARP. Additionally, the unfolded protein response regulators CHOP, BIP, caspase-12, p-eIF2α and IRE1α, which are considered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, were upregulated by VP-16. The strong inhibitory effect of VP-16 on LX-2 cells was mainly dependent on ER stress, which activated JNK signaling pathway. Remarkably, VP-16 treatment decreased the expression of α-SMA and type I collagen and simultaneously increased the ratio of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). In contrast, VP-16 induced significantly more apoptosis in HSCs than in normal hepatocytes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that VP-16 exerts a proapoptotic effect on LX-2 cells and has an antifibrogenic effect on collagen deposition, suggesting a new strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Aixiu Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingcui Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Drum Tower Clinical Medical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuzheng Zhuge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Liu H, Liu J, Zhang Y, Liao J, Tong Q, Gao F, Hu Y, Wang W. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and computerized tomography perfusion imaging of a liver fibrosis-early cirrhosis in dogs. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 31:1604-10. [PMID: 26878817 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM To assess liver fibrosis stages in a liver fibrosis-early cirrhosis model in dogs, the clinical efficiency of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging were compared. METHODS Hepatic vein arriving time (HVAT), hepatic artery arriving time, and hepatic artery to vein transit time (HA-VTT) were measured on CEUS. Total liver perfusion (TLP), portal vein perfusion (PVP), hepatic artery perfusion, and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) were measured on CT perfusion imaging. Histologic examination of liver specimens of the animals was performed to assess the fibrosis stage. RESULTS For assessment of liver fibrosis, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CEUS indexes HVAT and HA-VTT were 0.865 and 0.930, respectively; the perfusion CT indexes TLP, PVP, and HPI were 0.797, 0.800, and 0.220, respectively; the serological index hyaluronic acid was 0.793. While for assessment of early cirrhosis, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CEUS indexes HVAT and HA-VTT were 0.915 and 0.948, respectively; the perfusion CT indexes TLP, PVP, and HPI were 0.737, 0.765, and 0.218, respectively; the serological index hyaluronic acid was 0.627. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that both CEUS and CT perfusion imaging have the potential to be complementary imaging tools in the evaluation of liver fibrosis. While CEUS is the better choice and the index HA-VTT can be considered as non-invasive semi-quantitative indexes for diagnosing liver fibrosis and early cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanghui Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yaqin Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jian Liao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiongjuan Tong
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuequn Hu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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Song YN, Zhang GB, Lu YY, Chen QL, Yang L, Wang ZT, Liu P, Su SB. Huangqi decoction alleviates dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis: An analysis of bile acids metabolic mechanism. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 189:148-156. [PMID: 27196295 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Revised: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used to treating liver injury in China. The aim of the study is to investigate mechanisms of HQD against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis underlying metabolic profiles of bile acids. MATERIALS AND METHODS DMN-induced liver fibrosis rats were administrated HQD and its compounds, astragalosides (AS), glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and their combination. The anti-fibrosis effects were evaluated and targeted metabolomics by UPLC-MS was used to examine whether HQD had an influence on bile acid metabolism. The levels of mRNAs associated with bile acid metabolism were expressed by RT-PCR. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) proliferation and activation were examined using MTS assay and Western blot. RESULTS Histopathological changes and serum liver function in HQD group had significant improvements (P<0.01). Concentrations of free bile acids and taurine conjugates were significantly increased in DMN group (P<0.05). HQD and its compounds restored the increased bile acids to normal levels, and HQD was more effected on parts of bile acids. Furthermore, the levels of mRNAs related bile acid synthesis and reabsorption such as CYP7A1, CYP8B1, CYP27A1, OATP2, OATP3, OATP4 and NTCP were significantly down-regulated in DMN group (P<0.05), mRNAs related excretion such as MRP3 and BESP were up-regulated (P<0.01), and CYP7A1, CYP8B1, OATP3, OATP4, NTCP and MRP3 restored to normal levels by HQD treatment. Moreover, CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation were weaken by HQD (P<0.05) with down-regulated α-SMA, TGF-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 expressions. CONCLUSIONS HQD alleviated DMN-induced liver fibrosis with a better effect than its compounds, which may be involved in the regulation of bile acid metabolism enzyme. Moreover, HQD may inhibit CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Astragalus propinquus
- Bile Acids and Salts/blood
- Biomarkers/blood
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/enzymology
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/genetics
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/pathology
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
- Dimethylnitrosamine
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/drug effects
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/enzymology
- Hepatic Stellate Cells/pathology
- Hydroxyproline/metabolism
- Liver/drug effects
- Liver/enzymology
- Liver/pathology
- Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/chemically induced
- Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/enzymology
- Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/genetics
- Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/pathology
- Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/prevention & control
- Male
- Mass Spectrometry
- Metabolomics/methods
- Protective Agents/pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats, Wistar
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Song
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Gui-Biao Zhang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Yi-Yu Lu
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Qi-Long Chen
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Li Yang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and System biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203 China.
| | - Zheng-Tao Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Ping Liu
- E-institutes of Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Shi-Bing Su
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Mußbach F, Ungefroren H, Günther B, Katenkamp K, Henklein P, Westermann M, Settmacher U, Lenk L, Sebens S, Müller JP, Böhmer FD, Kaufmann R. Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) in hepatic stellate cells - evidence for a role in hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vivo. Mol Cancer 2016; 15:54. [PMID: 27473374 PMCID: PMC4966804 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-016-0538-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have established that proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) promotes migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, suggesting a role in HCC progression. Here, we assessed the impact of PAR2 in HCC stromal cells on HCC growth using LX-2 hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and Hep3B cells as model. METHODS PAR2 expression and function in LX-2 cells was analysed by RT-PCR, confocal immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and [Ca(2+)]i measurements, respectively. The impact of LX-2-expressed PAR2 on tumour growth in vivo was monitored using HCC xenotransplantation experiments in SCID mice, in which HCC-like tumours were induced by coinjection of LX-2 cells and Hep3B cells. To characterise the effects of PAR2 activation in LX-2 cells, various signalling pathways were analysed by immunoblotting and proteome profiler arrays. RESULTS Following verification of functional PAR2 expression in LX-2 cells, in vivo studies showed that these cells promoted tumour growth and angiogenesis of HCC xenografts in mice. These effects were significantly reduced when F2RL1 (encoding PAR2) was downregulated by RNA interference (RNAi). In vitro studies confirmed these results demonstrating RNAi mediated inhibition of PAR2 attenuated Smad2/3 activation in response to TGF-β1 stimulation in LX-2 cells and blocked the pro-mitotic effect of LX-2 derived conditioned medium on Hep3B cells. Furthermore, PAR2 stimulation with trypsin or a PAR2-selective activating peptide (PAR2-AP) led to activation of different intracellular signalling pathways, an increased secretion of pro-angiogenic and pro-mitotic factors and proteinases, and an enhanced migration rate across a collagen-coated membrane barrier. Silencing F2RL1 by RNAi or pharmacological inhibition of Src, hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), p42/p44 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) blocked PAR2-AP-induced migration. CONCLUSION PAR2 in HSCs plays a crucial role in promoting HCC growth presumably by mediating migration and secretion of pro-angiogenic and pro-mitotic factors. Therefore, PAR2 in stromal HSCs may have relevance as a therapeutic target of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Mußbach
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, UKSH and University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Bernd Günther
- Service Unit Small Animal, Research Center Lobeda (FZL), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Utz Settmacher
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Lennart Lenk
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jörg P Müller
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Frank-Dietmar Böhmer
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Roland Kaufmann
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747, Jena, Germany.
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The Effect of rhCygb on CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrogenesis in Rat. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23508. [PMID: 27006085 PMCID: PMC4804332 DOI: 10.1038/srep23508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate whether the use of recombinant human cytoglobin (rhCygb) impact on hepatic fibrogenesis caused by CCl4. SD (n = 150) rats were randomly divided into three groups of normal, CCl4 model and rhCygb groups. After model establishment, rats in rhCygb groups were administered daily with rhCygb (2 mg/kg, s.c.). Histological lesions were staged according to metavir. Serum parameters including ALT, AST, HA, LN, Col III and Col IV were determined. The liver proteins were separated by 2-DE and identified. As a result, the stage of hepatic damage and liver fibrosis in rhCygb groups were significantly milder than that in CCl4 model groups. Meanwhile, rhCygb dramatically reversed serum levels of ALT and AST, and also markedly decreased the liver fibrosis markers levels of LN, HA, Col III and Col IV. In 2-DE, 33 proteins among three groups with the same changing tendency in normal and rhCygb treated groups compared with CCl4 model group were identified. GO analysis showed that several identified proteins involved in oxidative stress pathway. The study provides new insights and data for administration of rhCygb reversing CCl4-induced liver fibrosis suggesting that rhCygb might be used in the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Chow LN, Schreiner P, Ng BYY, Lo B, Hughes MR, Scott RW, Gusti V, Lecour S, Simonson E, Manisali I, Barta I, McNagny KM, Crawford J, Webb M, Underhill TM. Impact of a CXCL12/CXCR4 Antagonist in Bleomycin (BLM) Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis and Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151765. [PMID: 26998906 PMCID: PMC4801399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 has been implicated in attenuation of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. In pulmonary fibrosis, published reports suggest that collagen production in the injured lung is derived from fibrocytes recruited from the circulation in response to release of pulmonary CXCL12. Conversely, in hepatic fibrosis, resident hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the key cell type in progression of fibrosis, upregulate CXCR4 expression in response to activation. Further, CXCL12 induces HSC proliferation and subsequent production of collagen I. In the current study, we evaluated AMD070, an orally bioavailable inhibitor of CXCL12/CXCR4 in alleviating BLM-induced pulmonary and CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. Similar to other CXCR4 antagonists, treatment with AMD070 significantly increased leukocyte mobilization. However, in these two models of fibrosis, AMD070 had a negligible impact on extracellular matrix deposition. Interestingly, our results indicated that CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling has a role in improving mortality associated with BLM induced pulmonary injury, likely through dampening an early inflammatory response and/or vascular leakage. Together, these findings indicate that the CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling axis is not an effective target for reducing fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leola N. Chow
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (LNC); (TMU)
| | - Petra Schreiner
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Betina Y. Y. Ng
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bernard Lo
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael R. Hughes
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - R. Wilder Scott
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vionarica Gusti
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samantha Lecour
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Simonson
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Irina Manisali
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ingrid Barta
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kelly M. McNagny
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Crawford
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Murray Webb
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - T. Michael Underhill
- The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (LNC); (TMU)
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Plumbagin Ameliorates CCl 4 -Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats via the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2015; 2015:645727. [PMID: 26550019 PMCID: PMC4624924 DOI: 10.1155/2015/645727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its signaling molecules, EGFreceptor (EGFR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3), have been considered to play a role in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Plumbagin (PL) is an extracted component from the plant and has been used to treat different kinds of cancer. However, its role in regulation of EGFR and STAT3 during liver fibrosis has not been investigated. In this study, the effects of PL on the regulation of EGFR and STAT3 were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). PL significantly attenuated liver injury and fibrosis in CCl4 treated rats. At concentrations of 2 to 6 μM, PL did not induce significant cytotoxicity of HSC-T6 cells. Moreover, PL reduced phosphorylation of EGFR and STAT3 in both fibrotic liver and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) treated HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, PL reduced the expression of α-SMA, EGFR, and STAT3 in both fibrotic liver and HB-EGF treated HSC-T6 cells. In conclusion, plumbagin could ameliorate the development of hepatic fibrosis through its downregulation of EGFR and STAT3 in the liver, especially in hepatic stellate cells.
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Chen L, Chen R, Kemper S, Charrier A, Brigstock DR. Suppression of fibrogenic signaling in hepatic stellate cells by Twist1-dependent microRNA-214 expression: Role of exosomes in horizontal transfer of Twist1. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2015; 309:G491-9. [PMID: 26229009 PMCID: PMC4572411 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00140.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of liver fibrosis is the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which results in their production of fibrotic molecules, a process that is largely regulated by connective tissue growth factor (CCN2). CCN2 is increasingly expressed during HSC activation because of diminished expression of microRNA-214 (miR-214), a product of dynamin 3 opposite strand (DNM3os) that directly suppresses CCN2 mRNA. We show that an E-box in the miR-214 promoter binds the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Twist1, which drives miR-214 expression and results in CCN2 suppression. Twist1 expression was suppressed in HSC of fibrotic livers or in cultured HSC undergoing activation in vitro or after treatment with ethanol. Furthermore, Twist1 decreasingly interacted with DNM3os as HSC underwent activation in vitro. Nanovesicular exosomes secreted by quiescent but not activated HSC contained high levels of Twist1, thus reflecting the suppression of cellular Twist1 during HSC activation. Exosomal Twist1 was intercellularly shuttled between HSC and stimulated expression of miR-214 in the recipient cells, causing expression of CCN2 and its downstream effectors to be suppressed. Additionally, the miR-214 E-box in HSC was also regulated by hepatocyte-derived exosomes, showing that functional transfer of exosomal Twist1 occurs between different cell types. Finally, the levels of Twist1, miR-214, or CCN2 in circulating exosomes from fibrotic mice reflected fibrosis-induced changes in the liver itself, highlighting the potential utility of these and other constituents in serum exosomes as novel circulating biomarkers for liver fibrosis. These findings reveal a unique function for cellular or exosomal Twist1 in CCN2-dependent fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- 1The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio;
| | - Ruju Chen
- 1The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio;
| | - Sherri Kemper
- 1The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio;
| | - Alyssa Charrier
- 1The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; ,2Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio;
| | - David R. Brigstock
- 1The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; ,2Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; ,3Department of Surgery, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Receptor channel TRPC6 orchestrate the activation of human hepatic stellate cell under hypoxia condition. Exp Cell Res 2015; 336:66-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Williams AS, Kang L, Wasserman DH. The extracellular matrix and insulin resistance. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2015; 26:357-66. [PMID: 26059707 PMCID: PMC4490038 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a highly-dynamic compartment that undergoes remodeling as a result of injury and repair. Over the past decade, mounting evidence in humans and rodents suggests that ECM remodeling is associated with diet-induced insulin resistance in several metabolic tissues. In addition, integrin receptors for the ECM have also been implicated in the regulation of insulin action. This review addresses what is currently known about the ECM, integrins, and insulin action in the muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. Understanding how ECM remodeling and integrin signaling regulate insulin action may aid in the development of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S Williams
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Li Kang
- Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - David H Wasserman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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47
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Single-nucleotide polymorphism of Toll-like receptor 4 and interleukin-10 in response to interferon-based therapy in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients. Arch Virol 2015; 160:2181-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-015-2493-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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48
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Ye L, Yu H, Li C, Hirsch ML, Zhang L, Samulski RJ, Li W, Liu Z. Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Mediated Delivery of the HBV Genome Induces Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Liver Fibrosis in Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130052. [PMID: 26075890 PMCID: PMC4468063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas are major health problems of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To date, rare model has reproduced liver fibrosis associated with long-term HBV infection which in turn has hindered both the understanding of HBV biology and the development of new treatment options. Here, using adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) mediated delivery of a 1.2-kb HBV genome, we successfully generated a chronic HBV infectious mouse model that presents the associated liver fibrosis observed following human infection. After AAV8/HBV1.2 vector administration, mice demonstrated effective HBV replication and transcription which resulted in HBV antigen expression and viremia over 6 months. Although no obvious acute inflammatory response was noted, these mice still developed chronic liver disease and hepatic fibrogenesis as demonstrated by increased ground glass-like hepatocytes, an increasing trend of collagen deposition and upregulated fibrosis markers, including type I collagen, type III collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1). Taken together, AAV-mediated HBV gene delivery to the mouse liver, induced HBV persistent infection accompanied by liver fibrosis which can serve as a model for investigating the precise mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis following chronic HBV infection as well as for the potential development of novel therapeutics.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology
- Cells, Cultured
- Dependovirus/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genome, Viral
- HEK293 Cells
- Hepatitis B virus/genetics
- Hepatitis B, Chronic/genetics
- Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology
- Humans
- Liver Cirrhosis/genetics
- Liver Cirrhosis/virology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/virology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Viremia/genetics
- Viremia/virology
- Virus Replication
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ye
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Haisheng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengwen Li
- Gene Therapy Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Matthew L. Hirsch
- Gene Therapy Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Wuping Li
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Zhong Liu
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China
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Kurita T, Sato K, Chitose SI, Fukahori M, Sueyoshi S, Umeno H. Origin of Vocal Fold Stellate Cells in the Human Macula Flava. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2015; 124:698-705. [DOI: 10.1177/0003489415578710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: There is growing evidence that vocal fold stellate cells (VFSCs) in the human maculae flavae are tissue stem cells of the human vocal fold and that the maculae flavae are a stem cell niche. The origin of the cells in the human maculae flavae (CHMF) and the relationship with bone marrow–derived cells were investigated. Methods: Five human adult vocal fold mucosae were investigated. The CHMF were subcultured and morphological features were assessed. Immunoreactivity to antibodies directed to cytokeratin, desmin, GFAP, vimentin, CD34, CD45, and collagen type I was investigated. Results: Cultured CHMF formed a colony-forming unit, indicating they are mesenchymal stem cells or stromal stem cells in the bone marrow. The CHMF expressed hematopoietic markers (CD34, CD45) and collagen type I, which are the major makers for bone marrow–derived circulating fibrocytes. The cultured CHMF expressed epithelium-associated, muscle-associated, neural-associated, and mesenchymal cell–associated proteins, indicating the CHMF are undifferentiated and express proteins of all 3 germ layers. Conclusions: The CHMF are undifferentiated cells derived from the differentiation of bone marrow cells. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the VFSCs are tissue stem cells or progenitor cells of the human vocal fold mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kurita
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Kiminori Sato
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Chitose
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Mioko Fukahori
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Shintaro Sueyoshi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Hirohito Umeno
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
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50
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Tuohetahuntila M, Spee B, Kruitwagen HS, Wubbolts R, Brouwers JF, van de Lest CH, Molenaar MR, Houweling M, Helms JB, Vaandrager AB. Role of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 in formation of polyunsaturated lipid species in hepatic stellate cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2014; 1851:220-30. [PMID: 25500141 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a critical step in the development of chronic liver disease. We previously observed that the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) species containing long polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are increased in in vitro activated HSCs. Here we investigated the cause and consequences of the rise in PUFA-TAGs by profiling enzymes involved in PUFA incorporation. We report that acyl CoA synthetase (ACSL) type 4, which has a preference for PUFAs, is the only upregulated ACSL family member in activated HSCs. Inhibition of the activity of ACSL4 by siRNA-mediated knockdown or addition of rosiglitazone specifically inhibited the incorporation of deuterated arachidonic acid (AA-d8) into TAG in HSCs. In agreement with this, ACSL4 was found to be partially localized around lipid droplets (LDs) in HSCs. Inhibition of ACSL4 also prevented the large increase in PUFA-TAGs in HSCs upon activation and to a lesser extent the increase of arachidonate-containing phosphatidylcholine species. Inhibition of ACSL4 by rosiglitazone was associated with an inhibition of HSC activation and prostaglandin secretion. Our combined data show that upregulation of ACSL4 is responsible for the increase in PUFA-TAG species during activation of HSCs, which may serve to protect cells against a shortage of PUFAs required for eicosanoid secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maidina Tuohetahuntila
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Bart Spee
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Hedwig S Kruitwagen
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Richard Wubbolts
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jos F Brouwers
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Chris H van de Lest
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Martijn R Molenaar
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Martin Houweling
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - J Bernd Helms
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Arie B Vaandrager
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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