The Role of RECK in Hepatobiliary Neoplasia Reveals Its Therapeutic Potential in NASH

Association between the Reduced Expression of RECK and Neutrophilic Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

INTRODUCTION

Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), a recently discovered inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). There is a large number of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients worldwide; however, the role of RECK on COPD has not been studied. This study explored the expression of RECK in COPD patients and its effect on neutrophil function to provide a new scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of COPD.

METHOD

Fifty patients with acute exacerbation of COPD and fifty healthy controls were enrolled in the study. RECK was detected in lung tissue, sputum, and plasma of subjects as well as in BEAS-2B cells stimulated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, lung function (FEV1%pred) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) were examined, and correlation analysis was performed with RECK expression. The effect of RECK on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and inflammatory cytokines and its potential mechanism was further quantified by neutrophil stimulated with recombinant human RECK protein (rhRECK) combined with CSE using CCK8, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western analysis.

RESULTS

RECK was mainly expressed on airway epithelial cells in normal lung tissue and was significantly diminished in COPD patients. The levels of RECK in sputum and plasma were also significantly decreased in COPD patients. Pearson correlation analysis showed that RECK level in plasma was positively correlated with FEV1%pred (r = 0.458, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with IL-6 and IL-8 (r = -0.386, -0.437; p = 0.006, 0.002) in COPD patients. The expression of RECK was decreased in BEAS-2B stimulated with CSE. The migration, inflammation, and MMP-9 expression of neutrophils were promoted by CSE, while inhibited by rhRECK.

CONCLUSION

RECK is low expressed in COPD patients and negatively correlated with inflammation. It may inhibit the inflammation and migration of neutrophils by downregulating MMP-9.

FXR agonists INT-787 and OCA increase RECK and inhibit liver steatosis and inflammation in diet-induced ob/ob mouse model of NASH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We have previously shown in a model of hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury that the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) restores reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), an inverse modulator of metalloproteases (MMPs) and inhibitor of the sheddases ADAM10 and ADAM17 involved in inflammation and fibrogenesis. Here, the effects of FXR agonists OCA and INT-787 on hepatic levels of RECK, MMPs, ADAM10 and ADAM17 were compared in a diet-induced ob/ob mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODS

Lep ob/ob NASH mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or control diet (CD) for 9 weeks (wks) were treated with OCA or INT-787 0.05% dosed via HFD admixture (30 mg/kg/day) or HFD for further 12 wks. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and inflammatory cytokines, liver RECK, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity as well as ADAM10, ADAM17, collagen deposition (Sirius red), hepatic stellate cell activation (α-SMA) and pCK+ reactive biliary cells were quantified.

RESULTS

Only INT-787 significantly reduced serum ALT, IL-1β and TGF-β. A downregulation of RECK expression and protein levels observed in HFD groups (at 9 and 21 wks) was counteracted by both OCA and INT-787. HFD induced a significant increase in liver MMP-2 and MMP-9; OCA administration reduced both MMP-2 and MMP-9 while INT-787 markedly reduced MMP-2 expression. OCA and INT-787 reduced both ADAM10 and ADAM17 expression and number of pCK+ cells. INT-787 was superior to OCA in decreasing collagen deposition and α-SMA levels.

CONCLUSION

INT-787 is superior to OCA in controlling specific cell types and clinically relevant anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic molecular mechanisms in NASH.