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Zhang H, Zhang K, Gu Y, Tu Y, Ouyang C. Roles and Mechanisms of miRNAs in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Signaling Pathways and Clinical Insights. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2024; 26:273-287. [PMID: 38709435 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-024-01204-8] [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] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Abdominal aortic aneurysm refers to a serious medical condition that can cause the irreversible expansion of the abdominal aorta, which can lead to ruptures that are associated with up to 80% mortality. Currently, surgical and interventional procedures are the only treatment options available for treating abdominal aortic aneurysm patients. In this review, we focus on the upstream and downstream molecules of the microRNA-related signaling pathways and discuss the roles, mechanisms, and targets of microRNAs in abdominal aortic aneurysm modulation to provide novel insights for precise and targeted drug therapy for the vast number of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have highlighted that microRNAs, which are emerging as novel regulators of gene expression, are involved in the biological activities of regulating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Accumulating studies suggested that microRNAs modulate abdominal aortic aneurysm development through various signaling pathways that are yet to be comprehensively summarized. A total of six signaling pathways (NF-κB signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and P53/P21 signaling pathway), and a total of 19 miRNAs are intimately associated with the biological properties of abdominal aortic aneurysm through targeting various essential molecules. MicroRNAs modulate the formation, progression, and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm by regulating smooth muscle cell proliferation and phenotype change, vascular inflammation and endothelium function, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Because of the broad crosstalk among signaling pathways, a comprehensive analysis of miRNA-mediated signaling pathways is necessary to construct a well-rounded upstream and downstream regulatory network for future basic and clinical research of AAA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haorui Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Yuanrui Gu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Yanxia Tu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Chenxi Ouyang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100037, China.
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de Haan LR, van Golen RF, Heger M. Molecular Pathways Governing the Termination of Liver Regeneration. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:500-558. [PMID: 38697856 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.000955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver has the unique capacity to regenerate, and up to 70% of the liver can be removed without detrimental consequences to the organism. Liver regeneration is a complex process involving multiple signaling networks and organs. Liver regeneration proceeds through three phases: the initiation phase, the growth phase, and the termination phase. Termination of liver regeneration occurs when the liver reaches a liver-to-body weight that is required for homeostasis, the so-called "hepatostat." The initiation and growth phases have been the subject of many studies. The molecular pathways that govern the termination phase, however, remain to be fully elucidated. This review summarizes the pathways and molecules that signal the cessation of liver regrowth after partial hepatectomy and answers the question, "What factors drive the hepatostat?" SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Unraveling the pathways underlying the cessation of liver regeneration enables the identification of druggable targets that will allow us to gain pharmacological control over liver regeneration. For these purposes, it would be useful to understand why the regenerative capacity of the liver is hampered under certain pathological circumstances so as to artificially modulate the regenerative processes (e.g., by blocking the cessation pathways) to improve clinical outcomes and safeguard the patient's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne R de Haan
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
| | - Rowan F van Golen
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
| | - Michal Heger
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
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Burbano de Lara S, Kemmer S, Biermayer I, Feiler S, Vlasov A, D'Alessandro LA, Helm B, Mölders C, Dieter Y, Ghallab A, Hengstler JG, Körner C, Matz-Soja M, Götz C, Damm G, Hoffmann K, Seehofer D, Berg T, Schilling M, Timmer J, Klingmüller U. Basal MET phosphorylation is an indicator of hepatocyte dysregulation in liver disease. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:187-216. [PMID: 38216754 PMCID: PMC10912216 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-023-00007-4] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases are worldwide on the rise. Due to the rapidly increasing incidence, in particular in Western countries, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is gaining importance as the disease can develop into hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes has been identified as the characteristic structural change in MASLD development, but molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression remained unresolved. Here, we uncover in primary hepatocytes from a preclinical model fed with a Western diet (WD) an increased basal MET phosphorylation and a strong downregulation of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Dynamic pathway modeling of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signal transduction combined with global proteomics identifies that an elevated basal MET phosphorylation rate is the main driver of altered signaling leading to increased proliferation of WD-hepatocytes. Model-adaptation to patient-derived hepatocytes reveal patient-specific variability in basal MET phosphorylation, which correlates with patient outcome after liver surgery. Thus, dysregulated basal MET phosphorylation could be an indicator for the health status of the liver and thereby inform on the risk of a patient to suffer from liver failure after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Burbano de Lara
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Svenja Kemmer
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- FDM - Freiburg Center for Data Analysis and Modeling, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ina Biermayer
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Svenja Feiler
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Artyom Vlasov
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lorenza A D'Alessandro
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Barbara Helm
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Mölders
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Dieter
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Ghallab
- Systems Toxicology, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Systems Toxicology, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christiane Körner
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Hepatology, Clinic of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Madlen Matz-Soja
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Hepatology, Clinic of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina Götz
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Damm
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katrin Hoffmann
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Seehofer
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Berg
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Hepatology, Clinic of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marcel Schilling
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Jens Timmer
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- FDM - Freiburg Center for Data Analysis and Modeling, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Ursula Klingmüller
- Division Systems Biology of Signal Transduction, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Liver Systems Medicine against Cancer (LiSyM-Krebs), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Hanquier Z, Misra J, Baxter R, Maiers JL. Stress and Liver Fibrogenesis: Understanding the Role and Regulation of Stress Response Pathways in Hepatic Stellate Cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:1363-1376. [PMID: 37422148 PMCID: PMC10548279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Stress response pathways are crucial for cells to adapt to physiological and pathologic conditions. Increased transcription and translation in response to stimuli place a strain on the cell, necessitating increased amino acid supply, protein production and folding, and disposal of misfolded proteins. Stress response pathways, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the integrated stress response (ISR), allow cells to adapt to stress and restore homeostasis; however, their role and regulation in pathologic conditions, such as hepatic fibrogenesis, are unclear. Liver injury promotes fibrogenesis through activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which produce and secrete fibrogenic proteins to promote tissue repair. This process is exacerbated in chronic liver disease, leading to fibrosis and, if unchecked, cirrhosis. Fibrogenic HSCs exhibit activation of both the UPR and ISR, due in part to increased transcriptional and translational demands, and these stress responses play important roles in fibrogenesis. Targeting these pathways to limit fibrogenesis or promote HSC apoptosis is a potential antifibrotic strategy, but it is limited by our lack of mechanistic understanding of how the UPR and ISR regulate HSC activation and fibrogenesis. This article explores the role of the UPR and ISR in the progression of fibrogenesis, and highlights areas that require further investigation to better understand how the UPR and ISR can be targeted to limit hepatic fibrosis progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Hanquier
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jagannath Misra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Reese Baxter
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jessica L Maiers
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Immunohistochemical Expression of Tensin-4/CTEN in Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Dogs. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10020086. [PMID: 36851390 PMCID: PMC9960384 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
C-terminal tensin-like (tensin-4/TNS4/CTEN) is the fourth member of the tensin family, frequently described as displaying oncological functions, including cellular migration, invasion, adhesion, growth, metastasis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and apoptosis, in several different types of cancer. To investigate, for the first time, the clinical significance of CTEN in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of dogs, we studied a total of 45 SCC sections from various dog breeds. The mean age of the affected dogs was 8.9 ± 3.6 years. Immunohistochemistry confirmed strong cytoplasmatic CTEN expression in the basal layer of the epidermis next to the tumor. We detected high CTEN expression associated with the highest grade of the tumor (grade III) and observed 100% of immunopositivity for this tumor grading (p < 0.0001). These data suggest that CTEN is an oncogene in SCC of dogs and a promising biomarker and a therapeutic target for dogs affected by SCC.
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Godoy G, Antunes MM, Fernandes IDL, Manin LP, Zappielo C, Masi LN, Perles JVCM, Visentainer JV, Curi R, Bazotte RB. Linseed Oil Attenuates Liver Inflammation, Fatty Acid Accumulation, and Lipid Distribution in Periportal and Perivenous Hepatocytes Induced by a High-Carbohydrate Diet in Mice. J Med Food 2022; 25:1133-1145. [PMID: 36450115 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2022.0031] [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: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated whether linseed oil (LO) modulates the effects of a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) on liver inflammation, fatty acid (FA) accumulation, and lipid distribution in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes. The control group (control high-carbohydrate diet [HCD-C]) received an HCD with lard and soybean oil as the lipid source. The L10 and L100 groups received the HCD with 10% and 100% of LO as the lipid source, respectively. The animals were killed by decapitation before (day 0) and after receiving the diets. Liver FA composition, inflammation, and fibrogenesis gene expression were evaluated. Also, the percentage of lipid-occupied area in periportal end perivenous hepatocytes were measured. The L100 group exhibited a higher (P < .05) liver amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated FA (n-3 PUFA) and lower (P < .05) amounts of saturated FA (SFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and omega-6 polyunsaturated FA (n-6 PUFA) compared with L10 or HCD-C mice. On day 56, interleukin 10 and type IV collagen gene expression were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively in L100. Also, the L100 group showed lower (P < .05) FA accumulation (i.e., total FA, SFA, MUFA, and n-6 PUFA). Also, L10 and L100 presented lower (P < .05) percentage of high lipid-containing portion in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes. We concluded that LO attenuation of liver inflammation promoted by an HCD is associated with increased liver n-3 PUFA levels, so modulating FA composition, deposition, and distribution in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Godoy
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Marina Masetto Antunes
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Ingrid de Lima Fernandes
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Luciana Pelissari Manin
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Caroline Zappielo
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Laureane Nunes Masi
- Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Juliana Vanessa Colombo Martins Perles
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Jesuí Vergílio Visentainer
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
| | - Rui Curi
- Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Roberto Barbosa Bazotte
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil
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Que W, Liu H, Yang Q. CircPRKCH modulates extracellular matrix formation and metabolism by regulating the miR-145/HGF axis in osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:216. [PMID: 36068644 PMCID: PMC9447342 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02893-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease. Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is essential for OA progression. Previous studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathological process of OA. CircPRKCH has been shown to be upregulated in OA chondrocytes. The present study was aimed to explore the roles of circPRKCH in vivo and in vitro models of OA and its underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS IL-1β-induced chondrocytes and mice injected with monosodium iodoacetate were used as OA models in vitro and in vivo, respectively. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the expression of circPRKCH, miR-145, and HGF in cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. The interaction between miR-145 and circPRKCH or HGF was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Chondrocyte apoptosis, viability, and ECM-related proteins were examined by flow cytometry, MTT assay, and Western blotting, respectively. Histopathological changes were detected by HE and Safranin O-fast green staining. RESULTS The expression of circPRKCH and HGF was increased in OA cartilage tissues and IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, while miR-145 expression was decreased. IL-1β induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation in chondrocytes. Moreover, circPRKCH promoted HGF expression and activated HGF/c-MET by directly binding to miR-145. miR-145 knockdown or HGF overexpression significantly reversed circPRKCH knockdown-mediated inhibition of apoptosis and ECM degradation in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Besides, miR-145 overexpression alleviated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation by inhibiting HGF/c-MET. Finally, circPRKCH knockdown reduced ECM degradation by regulating the miR-145/HGF axis in an experimental OA model in mice. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that circPRKCH promoted chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation via the miR-145/HGF axis in OA, which may provide a novel target for OA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhong Que
- Department of Rheumatology, Fuzhou No. 1 Hospital Affiliated with Fujian Medical University, Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Huili Liu
- Department of Medical Technology, Zhangzhou Health Vocational College, Zhangzhou, 363000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qinqin Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
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Recent Advancements in Antifibrotic Therapies for Regression of Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091500. [PMID: 35563807 PMCID: PMC9104939 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cirrhosis is a severe form of liver fibrosis that results in the irreversible replacement of liver tissue with scar tissue in the liver. Environmental toxicity, infections, metabolic causes, or other genetic factors including autoimmune hepatitis can lead to chronic liver injury and can result in inflammation and fibrosis. This activates myofibroblasts to secrete ECM proteins, resulting in the formation of fibrous scars on the liver. Fibrosis regression is possible through the removal of pathophysiological causes as well as the elimination of activated myofibroblasts, resulting in the reabsorption of the scar tissue. To date, a wide range of antifibrotic therapies has been tried and tested, with varying degrees of success. These therapies include the use of growth factors, cytokines, miRNAs, monoclonal antibodies, stem-cell-based approaches, and other approaches that target the ECM. The positive results of preclinical and clinical studies raise the prospect of a viable alternative to liver transplantation in the near future. The present review provides a synopsis of recent antifibrotic treatment modalities for the treatment of liver cirrhosis, as well as a brief summary of clinical trials that have been conducted to date.
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Wilson SE, Shiju TM, Sampaio LP, Hilgert GL. Corneal fibroblast collagen type IV negative feedback modulation of TGF beta: A fibrosis modulating system likely active in other organs. Matrix Biol 2022; 109:162-172. [PMID: 35421526 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Collagen type IV (COL IV) is a major component of basement membranes (BM) in all organs. It serves functions related to BM organization and modulates the passage of growth factors from one tissue compartment to another. COL IV binds transforming growth factor (TGF) beta-1 and TGF beta-2 and, therefore, is a major modulator of TGF beta pro-fibrotic functions. After fibrotic corneal injury, TGF beta enters into the stroma from the tears, epithelium, endothelium and/or aqueous humor and markedly upregulates COL IV production in corneal fibroblasts in the adjacent stroma far removed from BMs. It is hypothesized this non-BM stromal COL IV binds TGF beta-1 (and likely TGF beta-2) in competition with the binding of the growth factors to TGF beta cognate receptors and serves as a negative feedback regulatory pathway to mitigate the effects of TGF beta on stromal cells, including reducing the developmental transition of corneal fibroblasts and fibrocytes into myofibroblasts. Losartan, a known TGF beta signaling inhibitor, when applied topically to the cornea after fibrotic injury, alters this COL IV-TGF beta pathway by down-regulating COL IV production by corneal fibroblasts. Non-BM COL IV produced in response to injuries in other organs, including the lung, skin, liver, kidney, and gut, may participate in similar COL IV-TGF beta pathways and have an important role in controlling TGF beta pro-fibrotic effects in these organs.
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Yu X, Elfimova N, Müller M, Bachurski D, Koitzsch U, Drebber U, Mahabir E, Hansen HP, Friedman SL, Klein S, Dienes HP, Hösel M, Buettner R, Trebicka J, Kondylis V, Mannaerts I, Odenthal M. Autophagy-Related Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells Reduces Cellular miR-29a by Promoting Its Vesicular Secretion. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 13:1701-1716. [PMID: 35219894 PMCID: PMC9046234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver fibrosis arises from long-term chronic liver injury, accompanied by an accelerated wound healing response with interstitial accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the main source for ECM production. MicroRNA29a (miR-29a) is a crucial antifibrotic miRNA that is repressed during fibrosis, resulting in up-regulation of collagen synthesis. METHODS Intracellular and extracellular miRNA levels of primary and immortalized myofibroblastic HSC in response to profibrogenic stimulation by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) or platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) or upon inhibition of vesicular transport and autophagy processes were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Autophagy flux was studied by electron microscopy, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. Hepatic and serum miR-29a levels were quantified by using both liver tissue and serum samples from a cohort of chronic hepatitis C virus patients and a murine CCl4 induced liver fibrosis model. RESULTS In our study, we show that TGFβ and PDGF-BB resulted in decrease of intracellular miR-29a and a pronounced increase of vesicular miR-29a release into the supernatant. Strikingly, miR-29a vesicular release was accompanied by enhanced autophagic activity and up-regulation of the autophagy marker protein LC3. Moreover, autophagy inhibition strongly prevented miR-29a secretion and repressed its targets' expression such as Col1A1. Consistently, hepatic miR-29a loss and increased LC3 expression in myofibroblastic HSC were associated with increased serum miR-29a levels in CCl4-treated murine liver fibrosis and specimens of hepatitis C virus patients with chronic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that activation-associated autophagy in HSC induces release of miR-29a, whereas inhibition of autophagy represses fibrogenic gene expression in part through attenuated miR-29a secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Yu
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Natalia Elfimova
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marion Müller
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Bachurski
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koitzsch
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Uta Drebber
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center of Integrative Oncology, University Clinic of Cologne and Bonn, Germany
| | - Esther Mahabir
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hinrich P Hansen
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center of Integrative Oncology, University Clinic of Cologne and Bonn, Germany
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sabine Klein
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hans Peter Dienes
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marianna Hösel
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Reinhard Buettner
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center of Integrative Oncology, University Clinic of Cologne and Bonn, Germany
| | - Jonel Trebicka
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure - EF CLIF, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vangelis Kondylis
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Inge Mannaerts
- Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Margarete Odenthal
- Institute for Pathology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center of Integrative Oncology, University Clinic of Cologne and Bonn, Germany.
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11
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Kimura Y, Ohzawa H, Miyato H, Kaneko Y, Saito A, Takahashi K, Tojo M, Yamaguchi H, Kurashina K, Saito S, Hosoya Y, Lefor AK, Sata N, Kitayama J. MiR-29b may suppresses peritoneal metastases through inhibition of the mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) of human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:205. [PMID: 34997082 PMCID: PMC8742040 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04065-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal dissemination is a major metastatic pathway for gastrointestinal and ovarian malignancies. The miR-29b family is downregulated in peritoneal fluids in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM). We examined the effect of miR-29b on mesothelial cells (MC) which play critical a role in the development of PM through mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT). Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) were isolated from surgically resected omental tissue and MMT induced by stimulation with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1. MiR-29b mimics and negative control miR were transfected by lipofection using RNAiMAX and the effects on the MMT evaluated in vitro. HPMC produced substantial amounts of miR-29b which was markedly inhibited by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 stimulation of HPMC induced morphological changes with decreased expression of E-cadherin and calretinin, and increased expression of vimentin and fibronectin. TGF-β1 also enhanced proliferation and migration of HPMC as well as adhesion of tumor cells in a fibronectin dependent manner. However, all events were strongly abrogated by simultaneous transfection of miR-29b. MiR-29b inhibits TGF-β1 induced MMT and replacement of miR-29b in the peritoneal cavity might be effective to prevent development of PM partly through the effects on MC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kimura
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Ohzawa
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hideyo Miyato
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yuki Kaneko
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Akira Saito
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Kazuya Takahashi
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Mineyuki Tojo
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hironori Yamaguchi
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kurashina
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Shin Saito
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Hosoya
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Alan Kawarai Lefor
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Naohiro Sata
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Joji Kitayama
- Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
- Center for Clinical Research, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
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12
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Baghaei K, Mazhari S, Tokhanbigli S, Parsamanesh G, Alavifard H, Schaafsma D, Ghavami S. Therapeutic potential of targeting regulatory mechanisms of hepatic stellate cell activation in liver fibrosis. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:1044-1061. [PMID: 34952225 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a manifestation of different etiologies of liver disease with the involvement of multiple mediators in complex network interactions. Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the central driver of hepatic fibrosis, given their potential to induce connective tissue formation and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein accumulation. Therefore, identifying the cellular and molecular pathways involved in the activation of HSCs is crucial in gaining mechanistic and therapeutic perspectives to more effectively target the disease. In addition to a comprehensive summary of our current understanding of the role of HSCs in liver fibrosis, we also discuss here the proposed therapeutic strategies based on targeting HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaveh Baghaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran; Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran
| | - Sogol Mazhari
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran
| | - Samaneh Tokhanbigli
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran
| | - Gilda Parsamanesh
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran
| | - Helia Alavifard
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1985717413, Iran
| | | | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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13
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Cao D, Shamsan E, Jiang B, Fan H, Zhang Y, Dehwah MAS. Structural changes and expression of hepatic fibrosis-related proteins in coculture of Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces and human hepatic stellate cells. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:593. [PMID: 34857049 PMCID: PMC8641223 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of human hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). AE can cause damage to several organs, primarily the liver, and have severe outcomes, such as hepatic failure and encephalopathy. The main purpose of this study was to explore the interactions between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and E. multilocularis protoscoleces (PSCs). The results of this study provide an experimental basis for further examination of the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis due to AE infection. Methods We investigated the role of Echinococcus multilocularis (Echinococcus genus) PSCs in hepatic fibrosis by examining structural changes and measuring hepatic fibrosis-related protein levels in cocultures of PSCs and human HSCs. Structural changes were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and levels of the hepatic fibrosis-related proteins collagen I (Col-I), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and osteopontin (OPN) were measured by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Under coculture (1) both PSCs and HSCs exhibited morphological changes, as observed by TEM; (2) Col-I, α-SMA, and OPN expression levels, which were determined by western blotting and ELISA, significantly increased after 3 days of incubation. Conclusions The results of this study provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of AE-induced hepatic fibrosis. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Deping Cao
- Department of Human Parasitology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi Zhuang, China.
| | - Emad Shamsan
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, 810001, Qinghai, China. .,Laboratories Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Taiz University, Turba Branch, 70270, Taiz, Yemen.
| | - Bofan Jiang
- The Key Echinococcosis Laboratory, Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, 810001, Qinghai, China
| | - Haining Fan
- The Key Echinococcosis Laboratory, Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, 810001, Qinghai, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, 810001, Qinghai, China
| | - Yaogang Zhang
- The Key Echinococcosis Laboratory, Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, 810001, Qinghai, China
| | - Mustafa Abdo Saif Dehwah
- Laboratories Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Taiz University, Turba Branch, 70270, Taiz, Yemen
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14
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Andrews TS, Atif J, Liu JC, Perciani CT, Ma X, Thoeni C, Slyper M, Eraslan G, Segerstolpe A, Manuel J, Chung S, Winter E, Cirlan I, Khuu N, Fischer S, Rozenblatt‐Rosen O, Regev A, McGilvray ID, Bader GD, MacParland SA. Single-Cell, Single-Nucleus, and Spatial RNA Sequencing of the Human Liver Identifies Cholangiocyte and Mesenchymal Heterogeneity. Hepatol Commun 2021; 6:821-840. [PMID: 34792289 PMCID: PMC8948611 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The critical functions of the human liver are coordinated through the interactions of hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptional approaches have enabled an examination of the human liver with unprecedented resolution. However, dissociation-related cell perturbation can limit the ability to fully capture the human liver's parenchymal cell fraction, which limits the ability to comprehensively profile this organ. Here, we report the transcriptional landscape of 73,295 cells from the human liver using matched single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). The addition of snRNA-seq enabled the characterization of interzonal hepatocytes at a single-cell resolution, revealed the presence of rare subtypes of liver mesenchymal cells, and facilitated the detection of cholangiocyte progenitors that had only been observed during in vitro differentiation experiments. However, T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells were only distinguishable using scRNA-seq, highlighting the importance of applying both technologies to obtain a complete map of tissue-resident cell types. We validated the distinct spatial distribution of the hepatocyte, cholangiocyte, and mesenchymal cell populations by an independent spatial transcriptomics data set and immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Our study provides a systematic comparison of the transcriptomes captured by scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq and delivers a high-resolution map of the parenchymal cell populations in the healthy human liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallulah S. Andrews
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Jawairia Atif
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada,Department of ImmunologyUniversity of TorontoMedical Sciences Building1 King’s College CircleTorontoONCanada
| | - Jeff C. Liu
- Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,The Donnelly CentreTorontoONCanada
| | - Catia T. Perciani
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada,Department of ImmunologyUniversity of TorontoMedical Sciences Building1 King’s College CircleTorontoONCanada,Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Xue‐Zhong Ma
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Cornelia Thoeni
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Michal Slyper
- Klarman Cell ObservatoryBroad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Gökcen Eraslan
- Klarman Cell ObservatoryBroad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Asa Segerstolpe
- Klarman Cell ObservatoryBroad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Justin Manuel
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Sai Chung
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Erin Winter
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Iulia Cirlan
- Princess Margaret Genome CentreUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Nicholas Khuu
- Princess Margaret Genome CentreUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Sandra Fischer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Orit Rozenblatt‐Rosen
- Klarman Cell ObservatoryBroad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA,Present address:
Genentech1 DNA WaySouth San FranciscoCA94080USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Klarman Cell ObservatoryBroad Institute of Harvard and MITCambridgeMAUSA,Howard Hughes Medical InstituteChevy ChaseMDUSA,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer ResearchDepartment of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA,Present address:
Genentech1 DNA WaySouth San FranciscoCA94080USA
| | - Ian D. McGilvray
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | - Gary D. Bader
- Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,The Donnelly CentreTorontoONCanada
| | - Sonya A. MacParland
- Ajmera Transplant CentreToronto General Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada,Department of ImmunologyUniversity of TorontoMedical Sciences Building1 King’s College CircleTorontoONCanada,Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
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15
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Xu Y, Niu Y, Wu B, Cao X, Gong T, Zhang ZR, Fu Y. Extended-release of therapeutic microRNA via a host-guest supramolecular hydrogel to locally alleviate renal interstitial fibrosis. Biomaterials 2021; 275:120902. [PMID: 34087588 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Activated fibroblasts are critical contributors to renal interstitial fibrosis thus becoming the cellular target for fibrosis treatment. Previously, microRNA 29 b (miR-29 b) is shown to be down-regulated in various animal models of renal fibrosis. Herein, we describe a facile strategy to achieve localized and sustained delivery of therapeutic microRNA to the kidney via a host-guest supramolecular hydrogel. Specifically, cationic bovine serum albumin is used to complex with miR-29 b to afford nanocomplexes (cBSA/miR-29 b), which is proven to specifically inhibit fibroblast activation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Following unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, a single injection of the hydrogel loaded with cBSA/miR-29 b in vivo, significantly down-regulated proteins and genes related to fibrosis for up to 21 days without affecting the normal liver or kidney functions. Overall, the localized delivery of cBSA/miR-29 b via a host-guest supramolecular hydrogel represents a safe and effective intervention strategy to delay and reverse the progression of interstitial renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Xu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yining Niu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Beibei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xi Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, and the Grade 3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of State Administrate of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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16
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Xiang Y, Qin Z, Yang Y, Fisher GJ, Quan T. Age-related elevation of HGF is driven by the reduction of fibroblast size in a YAP/TAZ/CCN2 axis-dependent manner. J Dermatol Sci 2021; 102:36-46. [PMID: 33648801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aged human skin is primarily attributable to the loss of collagen. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) acts as an anti-fibrotic factor by suppression of collagen production. In aged human skin, HGF is elevated in dermal fibroblasts and thus contributes to dermal aging (thin dermis) by suppression of collagen production. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of age-related elevation of HGF expression. METHODS Collagen fibrils in the aged skin dermis are fragmented and disorganized, which impairs collagen-fibroblast interaction, resulting in reduced fibroblast spreading and size. To explore the connection between reduced dermal fibroblast size and age-related elevation of HGF expression, we manipulate dermal fibroblast size, and cell-size dependent regulation of HGF was investigated by laser capture microdissection, immunostaining, capillary electrophoresis immunoassay, and quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS We found that reduced fibroblast size is responsible for age-related elevation of HGF expression. Further investigation indicated that cell size-dependent upregulation of HGF expression was mediated by impeded YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation and their target gene, CCN2. Conversely, restoration of dermal fibroblast size rapidly reversed cell-size-dependent upregulation of HGF in a YAP/TAZ-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that elevated HGF expression is accompanied by the reduced expression of YAP/TAZ and CCN2 in the aged human skin in vivo. CONCLUSION Age-related elevation of HGF is driven by the reduction of fibroblast size in a YAP/TAZ/CCN2 axis-dependent manner. These data reveal a novel mechanism by which reduction of fibroblast size upregulates HGF expression, which in turn contributes to loss of collagen, a prominent feature of aged human skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Xiang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhaoping Qin
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary J Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Taihao Quan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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17
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Research Trends in the Efficacy of Stem Cell Therapy for Hepatic Diseases Based on MicroRNA Profiling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010239. [PMID: 33383629 PMCID: PMC7795580 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases, despite the organ’s high regenerative capacity, are caused by several environmental factors and persistent injuries. Their optimal treatment is a liver transplantation. However, this option is limited by donor shortages and immune response issues. Therefore, many researchers have been interested in identifying the therapeutic potential in treating irreversible liver damage based on stem cells and developing suitable therapeutic agents. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are representative multipotent stem cells, are known to be highly potential stem cell therapy compared to other stem cells in the clinical trial worldwide. MSCs have therapeutic potentials for several hepatic diseases such as anti-fibrosis, proliferation of hepatocytes injured, anti-inflammation, autophagic mechanism, and inactivation of hepatic stellate cells. There are much data regarding clinical treatments, however, the data for examining the efficacy of stem cell treatment and the correlation between the stem cell engraftment and the efficacy in liver diseases is limited due to the lack of monitoring system for treatment effectiveness. Therefore, this paper introduces the characteristics of microRNAs (miRNAs) and liver disease-specific miRNA profiles, and the possibility of a biomarker that miRNA can monitor stem cell treatment efficacy by comparing miRNAs changed in liver diseases following stem cell treatment. Additionally, we also discuss the miRNA profiling in liver diseases when treated with stem cell therapy and suggest the candidate miRNAs that can be used as a biomarker that can monitor treatment efficacy in liver diseases based on MSCs therapy.
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18
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Fan X, Gao Y, Zhang X, Lughmani HY, Kennedy DJ, Haller ST, Pierre SV, Shapiro JI, Tian J. A strategic expression method of miR-29b and its anti-fibrotic effect based on RNA-sequencing analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244065. [PMID: 33332475 PMCID: PMC7746150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue fibrosis is a significant health issue associated with organ dysfunction and failure. Increased deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the interstitial area is a major process in tissue fibrosis. The microRNA-29 (miR-29) family has been demonstrated as anti-fibrotic microRNAs. Our recent work showed that dysregulation of miR-29 contributes to the formation of cardiac fibrosis in animal models of uremic cardiomyopathy, whereas replenishing miR-29 attenuated cardiac fibrosis in these animals. However, excessive overexpression of miR-29 is a concern because microRNAs usually have multiple targets, which could result in unknown and unexpected side effect. In the current study, we constructed a novel Col1a1-miR-29b vector using collagen 1a1 (Col1a1) promoter, which can strategically express miR-29b-3p (miR-29b) in response to increased collagen synthesis and reach a dynamic balance between collagen and miR-29b. Our experimental results showed that in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF cells) transfected with Col1a1-miR-29b vector, the miR-29b expression is about 1000 times less than that in cells transfected with CMV-miR-29b vector, which uses cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a promoter for miR-29b expression. Moreover, TGF-β treatment increased the miR-29b expression by about 20 times in cells transfected with Col1a1-miR-29b, suggesting a dynamic response to fibrotic stimulation. Western blot using cell lysates and culture media demonstrated that transfection of Col1a1-miR-29b vector significantly reduced TGF-β induced collagen synthesis and secretion, and the effect was as effective as the CMV-miR-29b vector. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found that 249 genes were significantly altered (180 upregulated and 69 downregulated, at least 2-fold change and adjusted p-value <0.05) after TGF-β treatment in MEF cells transfected with empty vector. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis using GAGE R-package showed that the top 5 upregulated pathways after TGF-β treatment were mostly fibrosis-related, including focal adhesion, ECM reaction, and TGF-β signaling pathways. As expected, transfection of Col1a1-miR-29b or CMV-miR-29b vector partially reversed the activation of these pathways. We also analyzed the expression pattern of the top 100 miR-29b targeting genes in these cells using the RNA-sequencing data. We identified that miR-29b targeted a broad spectrum of ECM genes, but the inhibition effect is mostly moderate. In summary, our work demonstrated that the Col1a1-miR-29b vector can be used as a dynamic regulator of collagen and other ECM protein expression in response to fibrotic stimulation, which could potentially reduce unnecessary side effect due to excessive miR-29b levels while remaining an effective potential therapeutic approach for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Fan
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Yingnyu Gao
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Haroon Y. Lughmani
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - David J. Kennedy
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Steven T. Haller
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sandrine V. Pierre
- Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Joseph I. Shapiro
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jiang Tian
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, United States of America
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19
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Chen L, Huang W, Wang L, Zhang Z, Zhang F, Zheng S, Kong D. The effects of epigenetic modification on the occurrence and progression of liver diseases and the involved mechanism. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 14:259-270. [PMID: 32124651 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2020.1736042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Epigenetic modification is a type of gene expression and regulation that does not involve changes in DNA sequences. An increasing number of studies have proven that epigenetic modifications play an important role in the occurrence and progression of liver diseases through the gene regulation and protein expressions of hepatocellular lipid metabolism, inflammatory reaction, cell proliferation, and activation, etc.Areas covered: In this study, we elaborated and analyzed the underlying functional mechanism of epigenetic modification in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis (LF), viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and research progress of recent years.Expert opinion: The further understanding of epigenetic mechanisms that can regulate gene expression and cell phenotype leads to new insights in epigenetic control of chronic liver disease. Currently, hepatologists are exploring the role of DNA methylation, histone/chromatin modification, and non-coding RNA in specific liver pathology. These findings have led to advances in direct epigenetic biomarker testing of patient tissue or body fluid specimens, as well as quantitative analysis. Based on these findings, drug validation of some targets involved in the epigenetic mechanism of liver disease is gradually being carried out clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Chen
- Chinese Medicine Modernization and Big Data Research Center, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Weifang Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Integral Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Desong Kong
- Chinese Medicine Modernization and Big Data Research Center, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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20
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Duan P, Chen S, Zeng Y, Xu H, Liu Y. Osteopontin Upregulates Col IV Expression by Repressing miR-29a in Human Retinal Capillary Endothelial Cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 20:242-251. [PMID: 32182570 PMCID: PMC7078126 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), especially collagen type IV (Col IV), in human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCECs) and resultant basement membrane (BM) thickening is the most prominent and characteristic feature of early diabetic retinopathy (DR). Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR and specifically, found to be critically involved in diabetic nephropathy, as it can upregulate many factors, like collagen IV. However, the precise role of OPN in the pathogenesis of DR and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 51 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs; 42 miRNAs upregulated and 9 miRNAs downregulated) were first identified in retina of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with DR. Among these miRNAs, we identified miRNA (miR)-29a as a prominent miRNA that targeted and directly downregulated Col IV expression through database prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay, which was further confirmed in HRCECs using miR-29a mimic, miR-29a inhibitor, and pre-miR-29a transfection. Furthermore, OPN upregulated Col IV expression via a miR-29a-repressed pathway in HRCECs. Taken together, these results provided a miR-29a-repressing mechanism through which OPN plays roles in abnormal synthesis of Col IV in HRCECs and resultant BM thickening, contributing to the pathogenesis of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Duan
- Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Amy Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Amy Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Amy Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Amy Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Amy Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China; Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
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21
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Ji D, Chen GF, Wang JC, Ji SH, Wu XW, Lu XJ, Chen JL, Li JT. Hsa_circ_0070963 inhibits liver fibrosis via regulation of miR-223-3p and LEMD3. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:1643-1655. [PMID: 32003753 PMCID: PMC7053641 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Previous circular RNA (circRNA) microarray analyses have uncovered an abnormal expression of hsa_circ_0070963 in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the specific role of hsa_circ_0070963 in liver fibrosis remains unknown. Here, we show that hsa_circ_0070963 inhibits liver fibrosis via regulation of miR-223-3p and LEMD3. Moreover, we demonstrated that hsa_circ_0070963 levels were reduced during liver fibrosis while restoring hsa_circ_0070963 levels abolished HSC activation, with a reduction in α-SMA and type I collagen levels both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0070963 overexpression suppressed both cell proliferation and the cell cycle of HSCs. MiR-223-3p was confirmed as a target of hsa_circ_0070963 and was shown to be involved in the effects of hsa_circ_0070963 on HSC activation. Furthermore, LEMD3 was confirmed as a target of miR-223-3p and was shown to be responsible for the activation of HSCs. The interactions between hsa_circ_0070963, miR-223-3p, and LEMD3 were validated via bioinformatic analysis, luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments. Collectively, hsa_circ_0070963 appeared to function as a miR-223-3p sponge that inhibited HSC activation in liver fibrosis via regulation of miR-223-3p and LEMD3. Therefore, hsa_circ_0070963 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Ji
- Second Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Feng Chen
- Second Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Cheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Si-Han Ji
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Sparkfire Scientific Research Group of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xue-Wen Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fengxian Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital (South), Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin-Lian Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fengxian Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital (South), Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Tao Li
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
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22
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Nam H, Kundu A, Brinkley GJ, Chandrashekar DS, Kirkman RL, Chakravarthi BVSK, Orlandella RM, Norian LA, Sonpavde G, Ghatalia P, Fei F, Wei S, Varambally S, Sudarshan S. PGC1α suppresses kidney cancer progression by inhibiting collagen-induced SNAIL expression. Matrix Biol 2020; 89:43-58. [PMID: 31982456 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional events that promote invasive and metastatic phenotypes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain poorly understood. Here we report that the decreased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) and the increased expression of several genes encoding collagen family members are associated with RCC tumor progression. PGC1α restoration attenuates invasive phenotypes and suppresses tumor progression in vivo. In contrast, collagens produced by RCC cells promote invasive and migratory phenotypes. PGC1α restoration suppresses the expression of collagens and tumor phenotypes via the induction of miR-29a. Furthermore, decreased collagens via the PGC1α/miR-29a axis suppresses collagen-mediated activation of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1)/ERK signaling. In turn, the suppression of collagen/DDR1 signaling by PGC1α leads to decreased levels of the known EMT regulators SNAIL1 and 2. Collectively, our results demonstrate a novel role for PGC1α in the regulation of proinvasive SNAIL proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyoung Nam
- Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Anirban Kundu
- Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Garrett J Brinkley
- Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | | | - Richard L Kirkman
- Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | | | - Rachael M Orlandella
- Graduate Biomedical Science, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Lyse A Norian
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Guru Sonpavde
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Pooja Ghatalia
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Fei Fei
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Shi Wei
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Sooryanarayana Varambally
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Sunil Sudarshan
- Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
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23
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Ren S, Chen J, Wang Q, Li X, Xu Y, Zhang X, Mu Y, Zhang H, Huang S, Liu P. MicroRNA-744/transforming growth factor β1 relationship regulates liver cirrhosis. Hepatol Int 2019; 13:814-825. [PMID: 31643031 PMCID: PMC7400990 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-019-09993-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs have added a new dimension to our understanding of liver cirrhosis (LC) and associated processes like the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS Serum samples were collected from 40 LC patients and 30 healthy donors. CCl4-induced LC mouse model in vivo and in vitro human HSC LX-2 and murine HSC JS-1 cells were researched. RESULTS The levels of serum microRNA (miR)-744 is inversely correlated with the severity of LC and is a reliable biomarker of LC. In CCl4-induced LC model, the abundance of miR-744 was reduced in both sera and livers compared with sham controls. Importantly, increasing miR-744 abundance with synthetic miR-744 Agomir alleviated liver fibrosis, a critical component of LC, while reducing miR-744 with Antagomir exacerbated it. To elucidate molecular mechanism underlying the suppressive role of miR-744 in LC, we observed that miR-744 and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) are inversely correlated in LC patients' sera as well as sera/livers from CCl4-induced LC mice. We demonstrated that miR-744 Agomir downregulated the expression of TGFβ1 and further confirmed that TGFβ1 mRNA was a bona fide miR-744 target in HSCs. Moreover, miR-744 Agomir reduced the degree of F-actin formation and cell proliferation while miR-744 Antagomir promoted these events, suggesting that miR-744 is a negative regulator of HSC activation. CONCLUSIONS MiR-744-led suppression in HSC activation is most likely through TGFβ1 because exogenous TGFβ1 nearly negated miR-744 Agomir's action. This study suggests that reduction of miR-744 is a reliable biomarker for LC and miR-744/TGFβ1 relationship is a key regulator of LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 201203, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiamei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qinglan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xuewei Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yongping Mu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shuang Huang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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24
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Niu F, Chong S, Qin M, Li S, Wei R, Zhao Y. Mechanism of Fibrosis Induced by Echinococcus spp. Diseases 2019; 7:diseases7030051. [PMID: 31409055 PMCID: PMC6787674 DOI: 10.3390/diseases7030051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with Echinococcus spp. causes fibrosis in various vital organs, including the liver and lungs. Hepatic fibrosis is a pathological feature of Echinococcus infection that destroys normal liver tissue, leading to jaundice, cholecystitis, portal hypertension, etc. Severe Echinococcus multilocularis infections lead to liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy. The formation of peripheral fiberboards around the metacestode is a major reason as to why antiparasitic drugs fail to be effectively transported to the lesion site. Studies on the mechanism of hepatic fibrosis caused by Echinococcus are important for treatment in patients. Recent studies have focused on miRNA and TGF-β. More recent findings have focused on the generation of collagen fibers around the metacestode. In this review paper we focus on the mechanism by which the Echinococcus parasite induces fibrosis in liver and some other organs in intermediate hosts—animals as well as human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiu Niu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Shigui Chong
- School of Stomatology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Mingqun Qin
- School of Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Shenmei Li
- School of Stomatology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Riming Wei
- Department of Nursing teaching and Research, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China.
| | - Yumin Zhao
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi 541004, China.
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25
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Genz B, Coleman MA, Irvine KM, Kutasovic JR, Miranda M, Gratte FD, Tirnitz-Parker JEE, Olynyk JK, Calvopina DA, Weis A, Cloonan N, Robinson H, Hill MM, Al-Ejeh F, Ramm GA. Overexpression of miRNA-25-3p inhibits Notch1 signaling and TGF-β-induced collagen expression in hepatic stellate cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8541. [PMID: 31189969 PMCID: PMC6561916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44865-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During chronic liver injury hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic liver, transdifferentiate into pro-fibrotic myofibroblast-like cells - a process potentially regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we found serum miRNA-25-3p (miR-25) levels were upregulated in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) without liver disease, compared to children with CF-associated liver disease and healthy individuals. Here we examine the role of miR-25 in HSC biology. MiR-25 was detected in the human HSC cell line LX-2 and in primary murine HSCs, and increased with culture-induced activation. Transient overexpression of miR-25 inhibited TGF-β and its type 1 receptor (TGFBR1) mRNA expression, TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and subsequent collagen1α1 induction in LX-2 cells. Pull-down experiments with biotinylated miR-25 revealed Notch signaling (co-)activators ADAM-17 and FKBP14 as miR-25 targets in HSCs. NanoString analysis confirmed miR-25 regulation of Notch- and Wnt-signaling pathways. Expression of Notch signaling pathway components and endogenous Notch1 signaling was downregulated in miR-25 overexpressing LX-2 cells, as were components of Wnt signaling such as Wnt5a. We propose that miR-25 acts as a negative feedback anti-fibrotic control during HSC activation by reducing the reactivity of HSCs to TGF-β-induced collagen expression and modulating the cross-talk between Notch, Wnt and TGF-β signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Genz
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Mater Research, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Miranda A Coleman
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katharine M Irvine
- Mater Research, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jamie R Kutasovic
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Personalised Medicine Team, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mariska Miranda
- Personalised Medicine Team, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francis D Gratte
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.,School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Janina E E Tirnitz-Parker
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - John K Olynyk
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Diego A Calvopina
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anna Weis
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Cloonan
- Genomic Biology Lab, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Harley Robinson
- Precision & Systems Biomedicine, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michelle M Hill
- Precision & Systems Biomedicine, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fares Al-Ejeh
- Personalised Medicine Team, QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Grant A Ramm
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. .,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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26
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Alizadeh M, Safarzadeh A, Beyranvand F, Ahmadpour F, Hajiasgharzadeh K, Baghbanzadeh A, Baradaran B. The potential role of miR‐29 in health and cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:19280-19297. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
| | - Ali Safarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
| | - Fatemeh Beyranvand
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy Lorestan University of Medical Sciences Khorramabad Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ahmadpour
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Iran
| | | | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
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27
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28
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Huang YH, Kuo HC, Yang YL, Wang FS. MicroRNA-29a is a key regulon that regulates BRD4 and mitigates liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation. Int J Med Sci 2019; 16:212-220. [PMID: 30745801 PMCID: PMC6367521 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.29930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-29a is a key regulon that regulates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and mitigates liver fibrosis. However, the mechanism by which it does so remains largely undefined. The inhibition of bromodomain-4 protein (BRD4) represents a novel therapeutic target in hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the miR-29a regulation of BRD4 signaling in a bile duct-ligation (BDL) animal model with regard to developing cholestatic liver fibrosis. Hepatic tissue in miR-29a transgenic mice (miR-29aTg mice) displayed weak fibrotic matrix, as shown by α-smooth muscle actin staining within affected tissues compared to wild-type mice. miR-29a overexpression reduced the BDL exaggeration of BRD4 and SNAI1 expression. Increased miR-29a signaling caused the downregulation of EZH2, MeCP2, and SNAI1, as well as the upregulation of PPAR-γ expression, in primary HSCs. We further demonstrated that the administration of JQ1, a BRD4 inhibitor, could inhibit BRD4, C-MYC, EZH2, and SNAI1 expression, while both JQ1 and a miR-29a mimic could inhibit the migration and proliferation of HSCs. In short, our research demonstrates that miR-29a negatively regulates HSC activation by inhibiting BRD4 and EZH2 function, thus making it a promising target for the pharmacologic treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsien Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Chun Kuo
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Reseach Fellow, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology and Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ling Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 833
| | - Feng-Sheng Wang
- Core Laboratory for Phenomics & Diagnostics, Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 833
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29
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Sendi H, Mehrab-Mohseni M, Russo MW, Steuerwald N, Jacobs C, Clemens MG, Bonkovsky HL. Baseline Hepatic Levels of miR-29b and Claudin are Respectively Associated with the Stage of Fibrosis and HCV RNA in Hepatitis C. CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY 2019; 1:105. [PMID: 30957098 PMCID: PMC6448799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We sought to determine if the baseline hepatic levels of miR-122, miR-29b, Claudin, Occludin, Protein Kinase R (PKR) or PKR activator (PRKRA) were correlated with HCV RNA or stage of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). A total of 25 CHC patients (genotype 1) who were treatment naive at the time of sample collection enrolled in this study. By multivariate analysis, CLDN RNA was found as the single independent factor positively correlated with HCV RNA levels (p=0.003), while hepatic miR-29b levels was found as the single independent factor for predicting advanced stage of fibrosis (p=0.028). Conclusion: Our results highlight miR-29b and CLDN as novel predictors of advanced stage of liver fibrosis and baseline HCV RNA in CHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Sendi
- The Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA,Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, UNC School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Corresponding author: Hossein Sendi, Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, UNC School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;
| | | | - Mark W. Russo
- The Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Nury Steuerwald
- The Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Carl Jacobs
- Department of pathology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Mark G. Clemens
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Herbert L. Bonkovsky
- The Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Wang T, Li Y, Chen J, Xie L, Xiao T. TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling promotes collagen synthesis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle by down-regulating miR-29b. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2018; 11:5592-5601. [PMID: 31949646 PMCID: PMC6963096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Deposition of fibronectin and collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the proliferation, migration, and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) result in pulmonary arterial (PA) hypertrophy and muscularization, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). MicroRNA29 (miR-29) is reported to be associated with diseases such as liver fibrosis, renal fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and cardiac fibrosis in which collagen synthesis plays an important role. Due to the possible link between PAH and collagen, in this study, we examined the role and therapeutic potential of miR-29b in vitro and in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT). Results revealed that miR-29b treatment PAH rats showed a lower level of collagen synthesis. Furthermore, in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling negatively regulated the expression of miR-29b, and miR-29b suppressed collagen synthesis by directly targeting collagen I and blocking PI3K/AKT signaling. In addition, TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling promoted collagen synthesis in PASMCs by down-regulating miR-29b. Interestingly, Smad3 decreased the expression of miR-29b by interacting with its promotor. In conclusion, our results revealed that miR-29b plays an important role in collagen synthesis and may be a therapeutic target for PAH when regulated by the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingxia Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
| | - Lijian Xie
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Xiao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
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Renal Injury during Long-Term Crizotinib Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102902. [PMID: 30257437 PMCID: PMC6213486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Crizotinib is highly effective against anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive and c-ros oncogen1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Renal dysfunction is associated with crizotinib therapy but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we report a case of anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small cell lung cancer showing multiple cysts and dysfunction of the kidneys during crizotinib administration. We also present results demonstrating that long-term crizotinib treatment induces fibrosis and dysfunction of the kidneys by activating the tumor necrosis factor-α/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study shows the renal detrimental effects of crizotinib, suggesting the need of careful monitoring of renal function during crizotinib therapy.
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Roy S, Trautwein C, Luedde T, Roderburg C. A General Overview on Non-coding RNA-Based Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for Liver Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:805. [PMID: 30158867 PMCID: PMC6104154 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases contribute to the global mortality and morbidity and still represent a major health problem leading to the death of people worldwide. Although there are several treatment options available for Hepatitis C infections, for most liver disease the pharmacological options are still limited. Therefore, the development of new targets against liver diseases is of high interest. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) such as microRNA (miRNA) or long ncRNA (lncRNA) have been shown to be deeply involved in the pathophysiology of almost all acute and chronic liver diseases. The emerging evidence showed the potential therapeutic use of miRNA associated with different steps of hepatic pathophysiology. In the present review, we summarize emerging insights of ncRNA in liver diseases. We also highlight example of ncRNAs participating in the pathogenesis of different forms of liver disease and how they can be used as potential therapeutic targets for novel treatment paradigms. Furthermore, we describe an overview of up-to-date clinical trials and discuss about its future in clinical applications. Finally, we highlight the role of circulating ncRNAs in diagnosis of liver diseases and discuss the challenges and drawbacks of the usage of ncRNAs in clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchari Roy
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Abstract
Fibrosis is a common pathological state characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, but the pathogenesis of the disease is still not clear. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-29 (miR-29) can play pivotal roles in the regulation of a variety of organ fibrosis, including cardiac fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, lung fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and keloid. In this review, we outline the structure, expression, and regulation of miR-29 as well as its role in fibrotic diseases.
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Schueller F, Roy S, Vucur M, Trautwein C, Luedde T, Roderburg C. The Role of miRNAs in the Pathophysiology of Liver Diseases and Toxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19010261. [PMID: 29337905 PMCID: PMC5796207 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Both acute and chronic liver toxicity represents a major global health burden and an important cause of morbidity and lethality worldwide. Despite epochal progress in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infections, pharmacological treatment strategies for most liver diseases are still limited and new targets for prevention or treatment of liver disease are urgently needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a new class of highly conserved small non-coding RNAs that are involved in the regulation of gene expression by targeting whole networks of so called “targets”. Previous studies have shown that the expression of miRNAs is specifically altered in almost all acute and chronic liver diseases. In this context, it was shown that miRNA can exert causal roles, being pro- or anti-inflammatory, as well as pro- or antifibrotic mediators or being oncogenes as well as tumor suppressor genes. Recent data suggested a potential therapeutic use of miRNAs by targeting different steps in the hepatic pathophysiology. Here, we review the function of miRNAs in the context of acute and chronic liver diseases. Furthermore, we highlight the potential role of circulating microRNAs in diagnosis of liver diseases and discuss the major challenges and drawbacks that currently prevent the use of miRNAs in clinical routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schueller
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Sanchari Roy
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Hepatobiliary Oncology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Liu H, Wang X, Han R, Zuo K, Yuan X, Li Y, Zhou J, Yan L, Chu Y. Isolation and molecular cloning of hepatocyte growth factor from guinea pig (gHGF), and expression of truncated variant of gHGF with improved anti-fibrotic activity in Escherichia coli. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 106:908-916. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.08.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 08/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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PU.1-deficient mice are resistant to thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis: PU.1 finely regulates Sirt1 expression via transcriptional promotion of miR-34a and miR-29c in hepatic stellate cells. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20170926. [PMID: 29162670 PMCID: PMC5725609 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20170926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PU box binding protein (PU.1) is a critical transcription factor involved in many pathological processes. However, its exact role in activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver fibrosis was rarely reported. Here, we found that, in HSCs of PU.1+/− mice, Sirt1 mRNA expression was not changed but Sirt1 protein was significantly increased, suggesting its promoting role in Sirt1 translation. We then isolated HSCs from wild-type (WT) and PU.1+/− mice, and the pcDNA-PU.1 expression vector was transfected into PU.1+/− HSCs. We checked the levels of miR-34a and miR-29c, two Sirt1-targetting miRNAs, and protein levels of PU.1 and Sirt1. The results showed that miR-34a/-29c were significantly reduced and Sirt1 protein was increased in PU.1+/− HSCs, compared with WT HSCs. Besides, PU.1 overexpression inversed the reduction in miR-34a/-29c levels and the increase in Sirt1 protein in both PU.1+/- HSCs and WT HSCs. Additionally, ChIP-quantitive real-time PCR (qPCR) assay comfirmed that PU.1 was directly bound to both the promoter regions of miR-34a and miR-29c. Importantly, PU.1 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, activation, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in WT HSCs, while the promotion could be inversed by either overexpression of Sirt1 or inhibition of miR-34a/-29c. Moreover, animal model of liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (TAA) in WT and PU.1+/− mice, respectively. Compared with the WT mice, PU.1+/− mice displayed a lower fibrotic score, less collagen content, better liver function, and lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response. In conclusion, PU.1 suppresses Sirt1 translation via transcriptional promotion of miR-34a/-29c, thus promoting Sirt1-mediated HSC activation and TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis.
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Jin XY, Zhao P. Hepatic stellate cell-targeted therapy for hepatic fibrosis. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2017; 25:2495-2502. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v25.i28.2495] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is the ultimate pathological feature of all forms of chronic hepatic damage. There is currently no clinical cure for advanced liver fibrosis. Activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key step in the development of liver fibrosis, and therefore, HSCs are target cells for hepatic fibrosis treatment. Targeted delivery of drugs to activated HSCs would increase the drug concentration in the liver at the sites of active fibrogenesis and avoid undesirable systemic effects. Mannose 6-phosphate modified human serum albumin, vitamin A, and hyaluronic acid are three kinds of the most investigated carriers that deliver drugs to the activated HSCs specifically. Conjugation of these carriers with molecules with anti-fibrosis activity such as angiotensin receptor blockers, activin-like kinase 5 inhibitors, Rho-kinase inhibitors, small interfering RNAs, hepatocyte growth factor gene, or nitrogen monoxide can lead to specific distribution and effects in HSCs. This review will focus on these preclinical developments of HSCs-targeted drug conjugates for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yuan Jin
- International Center for Liver Disease Treatment, the 302nd Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- International Center for Liver Disease Treatment, the 302nd Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100039, China
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38
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Qin Z, Worthen CA, Quan T. Cell-size-dependent upregulation of HGF expression in dermal fibroblasts: Impact on human skin connective tissue aging. J Dermatol Sci 2017; 88:289-297. [PMID: 28826691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aged human skin is primarily attributable to loss of collagen, the main structural component of skin. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) acts as an anti-fibrotic factor by suppression of collagen production. It is not known whether HGF is involved in age-related collagen deficit in human skin. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of HGF in human skin, and the underlying mechanisms of age-related elevation of HGF expression. METHODS The expression of HGF in young (25±5years, six subjects) and aged (75±6years, six subjects) human skin was determined by laser capture microdissection (LCM) coupled real-time PCR and immunohistology. The underlying mechanisms of age-related elevation of HGF were investigated by reducing dermal fibroblast size, which is a prominent feature of aged skin fibroblast in vivo. RESULTS HGF is predominantly expressed in human skin dermal fibroblasts, the major cells responsible for collagen production, and is significantly elevated in aged human skin in vivo. Mechanistically, reduced fibroblast size, which is a prominent feature of aged skin fibroblasts in vivo, is responsible for age-related elevation of HGF expression. Cell-size-dependent upregulation of HGF expression is driven by increased c-Jun and impaired TGF-β signaling. Restoration of fibroblast size normalizes increased c-Jun expression and impaired TGF-β signaling, and thus reversed the elevated HGF expression. Finally, we confirmed that application of retinoid (ROL), which has been shown to improve aged human skin, significantly reduced elevated HGF mRNA expression in aged human skin in vivo (78±4years, six subjects). CONCLUSION These data reveal a novel mechanism by which reduction of fibroblast size upregulates HGF expression, which in turn contributes to loss of collagen, a prominent feature of aged skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoping Qin
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christal A Worthen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Taihao Quan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Abstract
Fibrosis is a major player in cardiovascular disease, both as a contributor to the development of disease, as well as a post-injury response that drives progression. Despite the identification of many mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular fibrosis, to date no treatments have emerged that have effectively reduced the excess deposition of extracellular matrix associated with fibrotic conditions. Novel treatments have recently been identified that hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases associated with fibrosis, as well as other fibrotic conditions. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of emerging antifibrotic agents that have shown encouraging results in preclinical or early clinical studies, but have not yet been approved for use in human disease. One of these agents is bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7), which has beneficial effects in multiple models of fibrotic disease. Another approach discussed involves altering the levels of micro-RNA (miR) species, including miR-29 and miR-101, which regulate the expression of fibrosis-related gene targets. Further, the antifibrotic potential of agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors will be discussed. Finally, evidence will be reviewed in support of the polypeptide hormone relaxin. Relaxin is long known for its extracellular remodeling properties in pregnancy, and is rapidly emerging as an effective antifibrotic agent in a number of organ systems. Moreover, relaxin has potent vascular and renal effects that make it a particularly attractive approach for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In each case, the mechanism of action and the applicability to various fibrotic diseases will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benita L McVicker
- Research Service, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, OmahaNE, United States.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, OmahaNE, United States
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, OmahaNE, United States.,The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, OmahaNE, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, OmahaNE, United States
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Rashid HO, Kim HK, Junjappa R, Kim HR, Chae HJ. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the regulation of liver diseases: Involvement of Regulated IRE1α and β-dependent decay and miRNA. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 32:981-991. [PMID: 27774654 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Compromised protein folding capacity in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to a protein traffic jam that produces a toxic environment called ER stress. However, the ER smartly handles such a critical situation by activating a cascade of proteins responsible for sensing and responding to the noxious stimuli of accumulated proteins. The ER protein load is higher in secretory cells, such as liver hepatocytes, which are thus prone to stress-mediated toxicity and various diseases, including alcohol-induced liver injury, fatty liver disease, and viral hepatitis. Therefore, we discuss the molecular cues that connect ER stress to hepatic diseases. Moreover, we review the literature on ER stress-regulated miRNA in the pathogenesis of liver diseases to give a comprehensive overview of mechanistic insights connecting ER stress and miRNA in the context of liver diseases. We also discuss currently discovered regulated IRE1 dependent decay in regulation of hepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harun-Or Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology and New Drug Development Institute, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Hyun-Kyoung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and New Drug Development Institute, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Raghupatil Junjappa
- Department of Pharmacology and New Drug Development Institute, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Hyung-Ryong Kim
- Graduate School and Institute of Science and Technology, DGIST, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Jung Chae
- Department of Pharmacology and New Drug Development Institute, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
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Panel of three novel serum markers predicts liver stiffness and fibrosis stages in patients with chronic liver disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173506. [PMID: 28301573 PMCID: PMC5354278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Latest data suggest that placental growth factor (PLGF), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and hepatic growth factor (HGF) are involved in hepatic fibrogenesis. Diagnostic performance of these markers for non-invasive liver fibrosis prediction was evaluated based on liver histology and stiffness. In total 834 patients were recruited. Receiver-operating-characteristics were used to define cut-offs for markers correlating to fibrosis stages. Odds-ratios were calculated for the presence/absence of fibrosis/cirrhosis and confirmed in the sub-group of patients phenotyped by elastography only. Logistic and uni- and multivariate regression analyses were used to test for association of markers with liver fibrosis stages and for independent prediction of liver histology and stiffness. Marker concentrations correlated significantly (P<0.001) with histology and stiffness. Cut-offs for liver fibrosis (≥F2) were PLGF = 20.20 pg/ml, GDF15 = 1582.76 pg/ml and HGF = 2598.00 pg/ml. Logistic regression confirmed an increase of ORs from 3.6 over 33.0 to 108.4 with incremental (1–3) markers positive for increased liver stiffness (≥12.8kPa; all P<0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed associations with advanced fibrosis for HCV (three markers positive: OR = 59.9, CI 23.4–153.4, P<0.001) and non-HCV patients (three markers positive: OR = 144, CI 59–3383, P<0.001). Overall, serum markers identified additional 50% of patients at risk for advanced fibrosis presenting with low elastography results. In conclusion, this novel combination of markers reflects the presence of significant liver fibrosis detected by elastography and histology and may also identify patients at risk presenting with low elastography values.
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Rogler CE, Matarlo JS, Kosmyna B, Fulop D, Rogler LE. Knockdown of miR-23, miR-27, and miR-24 Alters Fetal Liver Development and Blocks Fibrosis in Mice. Gene Expr 2017; 17:99-114. [PMID: 27938504 PMCID: PMC8751183 DOI: 10.3727/105221616x693891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cell fate selection and cellular differentiation. miRNAs of the miR23b polycistron (miR-23b, miR-27b, and miR-24) target components of the TGF-β signaling pathway and affect murine bile ductular and hepatocyte cell fate selection in vitro. Here we show that miR-23b polycistron miRNAs directly target murine Smad4, which is required for TGF-β signaling. Injection of antagomirs against these miRNAs directly into E16.5 murine fetuses caused increased cytokeratin expression in sinusoids and primitive ductular elements throughout the parenchyma of newborn mice. Similar antagomir injection in newborn mice increased bile ductular differentiation in the liver periphery and reduced hepatocyte proliferation. Antagomir injection in newborn Alb/TGF-β1 transgenic mice that develop fibrosis inhibited the development of fibrosis, and injection of older mice caused the resolution of existing fibrosis. Furthermore, murine stellate cell activation, including ColA1 and ACTA2 expression, is regulated by miR-23b cluster miRNAs. In summary, knockdown of miR-23b cluster miRNAs in fetal and newborn liver promotes bile duct differentiation and can block or revert TGF-β-induced liver fibrosis that is dependent on stellate cell activation. These data may find practical application in the highly needed development of therapies for the treatment of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Rogler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joe S. Matarlo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Brian Kosmyna
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Fulop
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Leslie E. Rogler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Fan X, Xie J, Tian J. Reducing Cardiac Fibrosis: Na/K-ATPase Signaling Complex as a Novel Target. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 6. [PMID: 29034264 DOI: 10.4172/2329-6607.1000204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological process in cardiac disease and may lead to heart failure. It can also cause sudden death even in those without cardiac symptoms. Tissue fibrosis can be categorized into two categories: replacement fibrosis (also called reparative fibrosis) and reactive fibrosis. In replacement fibrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells and accumulation of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) proteins are the initial steps in forming scarlike fibrotic tissue after acute cardiac injury and cardiac cell necrosis. Reactive fibrosis can be formed in response to hormonal change and pressure or volume overload. Experimental studies in animals have identified important pathways such as the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) and the endothelin pathway that contribute to fibrosis formation. Despite the fact that clinical trials using RAAS inhibitors as therapies for reducing cardiac fibrosis and improving cardiac function have been promising, heart failure is still the leading cause of deaths in the United States. Intensive efforts have been made to find novel targets and to develop new treatments for cardiac fibrosis and heart failure in the past few decades. The Na/K-ATPase, a canonical ion transporter, has been shown to also function as a signal transducer and prolonged activation of Na/K-ATPase signaling has been found to promote the formation of cardiac fibrosis. Novel tools that block the activation of Na/K-ATPase signaling have been developed and have shown promise in reducing cardiac fibrosis. This review will discuss the recent development of novel molecular targets, focusing on the Na/K-ATPase signaling complex as a therapeutic target in treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Fan
- Department of Medicine, Center for Hypertension and Personalized Medicine, University of Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
| | - J Xie
- Department of Medicine, Center for Hypertension and Personalized Medicine, University of Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
| | - J Tian
- Department of Medicine, Center for Hypertension and Personalized Medicine, University of Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
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MicroRNA-29a Alleviates Bile Duct Ligation Exacerbation of Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice through Epigenetic Control of Methyltransferases. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010192. [PMID: 28106784 PMCID: PMC5297823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-29 (miR-29) is found to modulate hepatic stellate cells’ (HSCs) activation and, thereby, reduces liver fibrosis pathogenesis. Histone methyltransferase regulation of epigenetic reactions reportedly participates in hepatic fibrosis. This study is undertaken to investigate the miR-29a regulation of the methyltransferase signaling and epigenetic program in hepatic fibrosis progression. miR-29a transgenic mice (miR-29aTg mice) and wild-type littermates were subjected to bile duct-ligation (BDL) to develop cholestatic liver fibrosis. Primary HSCs were transfected with a miR-29a mimic and antisense inhibitor. Profibrogenic gene expression, histone methyltransferases and global genetic methylation were probed with real-time quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemical stain, Western blot and ELISA. Hepatic tissue in miR-29aTg mice displayed weak fibrotic matrix as evidenced by Sirius Red staining concomitant with low fibrotic matrix collagen 1α1 expression within affected tissues compared to the wild-type mice. miR-29a overexpression reduced the BDL exaggeration of methyltransferases, DNMT1, DNMT3b and SET domain containing 1A (SET1A) expression. It also elevated phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) signaling within liver tissue. In vitro, miR-29a mimic transfection lowered collagen 1α1, DNMT1, DNMT3b and SET1A expression in HSCs. Gain of miR-29a signaling resulted in DNA hypomethylation and high PTEN expression. This study shines a new light on miR-29a inhibition of methyltransferase, a protective effect to maintain the DNA hypomethylation state that decreases fibrogenic activities in HSC. These robust analyses also highlight the miR-29a regulation of epigenetic actions to ameliorate excessive fibrosis during cholestatic liver fibrosis development.
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Yu F, Chen B, Dong P, Zheng J. HOTAIR Epigenetically Modulates PTEN Expression via MicroRNA-29b: A Novel Mechanism in Regulation of Liver Fibrosis. Mol Ther 2017; 25:205-217. [PMID: 28129115 PMCID: PMC5363197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2016.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Homeobox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), as a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA), is upregulated in various cancers and involved in diverse cellular functions. However, its role in liver fibrosis is unclear. In this study, HOTAIR expression was upregulated in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vivo and in vitro during liver fibrosis. HOTAIR knockdown suppressed HSC activation including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and typeIcollagen in vitro and in vivo. Both HSC proliferation and cell cycle were inhibited by HOTAIR knockdown. Notably, inhibition of HOTAIR led to an increase in PTEN, associated with the loss of DNA methylation. miR-29b-mediated control of PTEN methylation was involved in the effects of HOTAIR knockdown. HOTAIR was confirmed a target of miR-29b and lack of the miR-29b binding site in HOTAIR prevented the suppression of miR-29b, suggesting HOTAIR contributes to PTEN expression downregulation via sponging miR-29b. Interestingly, increased HOTAIR was also observed in hepatocytes during liver fibrosis. Loss of HOTAIR additionally led to the increase in PTEN and the reduction in typeIcollagen in hepatocytes. Collectively, we demonstrate that HOTAIR downregulates miR-29b expression and attenuates its control on epigenetic regulation, leading to enhanced PTEN methylation, which contributes to the progression of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujun Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201600, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Bicheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Peihong Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
| | - Jianjian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
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Murakami Y, Kawada N. MicroRNAs in hepatic pathophysiology. Hepatol Res 2017; 47:60-69. [PMID: 27101519 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that range in length from 20 to 25 nucleotides. MicroRNAs are specific for multiple cellular functions, including cell generation, differentiation, multiplication, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis. Many researchers have recently reported that the aberrant expression of miRNAs in hepatic tissue was related to the pathogenesis of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and fatty liver disease. Multiple studies have proposed that an analysis of circulating miRNAs may be useful for diagnosing etiologies or staging the progression of liver disease, as well as for therapeutic purposes, for example, nucleic acid therapy. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in the knowledge of miRNAs for chronic liver diseases, with special interest in viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiki Murakami
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norifumi Kawada
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
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47
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El Taghdouini A, van Grunsven LA. Epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 10:1397-1408. [PMID: 27762150 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2016.1251309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic liver injury to hepatocytes or cholangiocytes, when left unmanaged, leads to the development of liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by the excessive intrahepatic deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Activated hepatic stellate cells constitute the predominant source of extracellular matrix in fibrotic livers and their transition from a quiescent state during fibrogenesis is associated with important alterations in their transcriptional and epigenetic landscape. Areas covered: We briefly describe the processes involved in hepatic stellate cell activation and discuss our current understanding of alterations in the epigenetic landscape, i.e DNA methylation, histone modifications and the functional role of non-coding RNAs that accompany this key event in the development of chronic liver disease. Expert commentary: Although great progress has been made, our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation is limited and, thus far, insufficient to allow the development of epigenetic drugs that can selectively interrupt liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil El Taghdouini
- a Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy , Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium.,b Liver Cell Biology Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- b Liver Cell Biology Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels , Belgium
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48
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Vasconcellos R, Alvarenga ÉC, Parreira RC, Lima SS, Resende RR. Exploring the cell signalling in hepatocyte differentiation. Cell Signal 2016; 28:1773-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Yang C, Zheng SD, Wu HJ, Chen SJ. Regulatory Mechanisms of the Molecular Pathways in Fibrosis Induced by MicroRNAs. Chin Med J (Engl) 2016; 129:2365-72. [PMID: 27647197 PMCID: PMC5040024 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.190677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play critical roles in the fibrotic process in different organs. We summarized the latest research progress on the roles and mechanisms of miRNAs in the regulation of the molecular signaling pathways involved in fibrosis. DATA SOURCES Papers published in English from January 2010 to August 2015 were selected from the PubMed and Web of Science databases using the search terms "microRNA", "miR", "transforming growth factor β", "tgf β", "mitogen-activated protein kinase", "mapk", "integrin", "p38", "c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase", "jnk", "extracellular signal-regulated kinase", "erk", and "fibrosis". STUDY SELECTION Articles were obtained and reviewed to analyze the regulatory effects of miRNAs on molecular signaling pathways involved in the fibrosis. RESULTS Recent evidence has shown that miRNAs are involved in regulating fibrosis by targeting different substrates in the molecular processes that drive fibrosis, such as immune cell sensitization, effector cell activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Moreover, several important molecular signaling pathways involve in fibrosis, such as the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and the integrin pathway are regulated by miRNAs. Third, regulation of the fibrotic pathways induced by miRNAs is found in many other tissues in addition to the heart, lung, liver, and kidney. Interestingly, the actions of many drugs on the human body are also induced by miRNAs. It is encouraging that the fibrotic process can be blocked or reversed by targeting specific miRNAs and their signaling pathways, thereby protecting the structures and functions of different organs. CONCLUSIONS miRNAs not only regulate molecular signaling pathways in fibrosis but also serve as potential targets of novel therapeutic interventions for fibrosing diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Huairou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 101400, China
| | - Si-Dao Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Hong-Jin Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Haidian Hospital, Haidian Section of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shao-Jun Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Huairou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 101400, China
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Protective effects of miR-29a on diabetic glomerular dysfunction by modulation of DKK1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30575. [PMID: 27460630 PMCID: PMC4962465 DOI: 10.1038/srep30575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of specific microRNAs or Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critically implicated in the pathogenesis of various renal diseases. However, the relationship between microRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in diabetes-induced glomerular sclerosis remains unknown. Here, we found that decreased miR-29a expression and attenuated Wnt/β-catenin signaling were concomitantly detected in glomeruli of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Gain of miR-29a function in diabetic mice substantially increased the expression of β-catenin and blocked the expressions of profibrotic gene markers, including DKK1 (a Wnt antagonist), TGF-β1 and fibronectin, in glomerular mesangium. Moreover, in the normal mice treated with miR-29a inhibitor, renal fibrosis was induced with an attenuated Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. Consistently, the constructed miR-29a transgenic mice that supported sustained Wnt/β-catenin signaling had the ability to block the expressions of profibrotic genes after induction of diabetes. We also demonstrated that miR-29a acts as a positive regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cultured mesangial cells and functions to protect cell apoptosis and fibrosis. Importantly, we showed that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cultured mesangial cells by transfecting the β-catenin (Δ45) mutant or by a GSK-3β inhibitor reversely upregulated miR29a. Our findings suggest that the reciprocal relationship between miR-29a and DKK1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling may play an important part in protecting renal fibrogenesis.
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