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Wu S, Liu M, Zhang M, Ye X, Gu H, Jiang C, Zhu H, Ye X, Li Q, Huang X, Cao M. The gene expression of CALD1, CDH2, and POSTN in fibroblast are related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1275064. [PMID: 38370408 PMCID: PMC10869495 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1275064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive lung dysfunction due to excessive collagen production and tissue scarring. Despite recent advancements, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods RNA sequencing identified 475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the TGF-β1-induced primary lung fibrosis model. Gene expression chips GSE101286 and GSE110147 from NCBI gene expression omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed using GEO2R, revealing 94 DEGs in IPF lung tissue samples. The gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment, Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) scoring were performed. Experimental validation included RT-qPCR, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western Blot, with siRNA used for gene knockdown. A co-expression network was constructed by GeneMANIA. Results GO enrichment highlighted significant enrichment of DEGs in TGF-β cellular response, connective tissue development, extracellular matrix components, and signaling pathways such as the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and ECM-receptor interaction. PPI network analysis identified hub genes, including FN1, COL1A1, POSTN, KIF11, and ECT2. CALD1 (Caldesmon 1), CDH2 (Cadherin 2), and POSTN (Periostin) were identified as dysregulated hub genes in both the RNA sequencing and GEO datasets. Validation experiments confirmed the upregulation of CALD1, CDH2, and POSTN in TGF-β1-treated fibroblasts and IPF lung tissue samples. IHC experiments probed tissue-level expression patterns of these three molecules. Knockdown of CALD1, CDH2, and POSTN attenuated the expression of fibrotic markers (collagen I and α-SMA) in response to TGF-β1 stimulation in primary fibroblasts. Co-expression analysis revealed interactions between hub genes and predicted genes involved in actin cytoskeleton regulation and cell-cell junction organization. Conclusions CALD1, CDH2, and POSTN, identified as potential contributors to pulmonary fibrosis, present promising therapeutic targets for IPF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufei Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengying Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingrui Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Ye
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huimin Gu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huihui Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoling Ye
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinmei Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Nanjing Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengshu Cao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Nanjing, China
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Ezzo M, Hinz B. Novel approaches to target fibroblast mechanotransduction in fibroproliferative diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 250:108528. [PMID: 37708995 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cells to sense and respond to changes in mechanical environment is vital in conditions of organ injury when the architecture of normal tissues is disturbed or lost. Among the various cellular players that respond to injury, fibroblasts take center stage in re-establishing tissue integrity by secreting and organizing extracellular matrix into stabilizing scar tissue. Activation, activity, survival, and death of scar-forming fibroblasts are tightly controlled by mechanical environment and proper mechanotransduction ensures that fibroblast activities cease after completion of the tissue repair process. Conversely, dysregulated mechanotransduction often results in fibroblast over-activation or persistence beyond the state of normal repair. The resulting pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix is called fibrosis, a condition that has been associated with over 40% of all deaths in the industrialized countries. Consequently, elements in fibroblast mechanotransduction are scrutinized for their suitability as anti-fibrotic therapeutic targets. We review the current knowledge on mechanically relevant factors in the fibroblast extracellular environment, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion structures, stretch-activated membrane channels, stress-regulated cytoskeletal structures, and co-transcription factors. We critically discuss the targetability of these elements in therapeutic approaches and their progress in pre-clinical and/or clinical trials to treat organ fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Ezzo
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Ferrell PD, Oristian KM, Puranam I, Pizzo SV. Serum Pro-N-Cadherin Is a Marker of Subclinical Heart Failure in the General Population. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e028234. [PMID: 36892069 PMCID: PMC10111553 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.028234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Background We recently reported aberrant processing and localization of the precursor PNC (pro-N-cadherin) protein in failing heart tissues and detected elevated PNC products in the plasma of patients with heart failure. We hypothesize that PNC mislocalization and subsequent circulation is an early event in the pathogenesis of heart failure, and therefore circulating PNC is an early biomarker of heart failure. Methods and Results In collaboration with the Duke University Clinical and Translational Science Institute's MURDOCK (Measurement to Understand Reclassification of Disease of Cabarrus and Kannapolis) study, we queried enrolled individuals and sampled 2 matched cohorts: a cohort of individuals with no known heart failure at the time of serum collection and no heart failure development in the following 13 years (n=289, cohort A) and a matching cohort of enrolled individuals who had no known heart failure at the time of serum collection but subsequently developed heart failure within the following 13 years (n=307, cohort B). Serum PNC and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide) concentrations in each population were quantified by ELISA. We detected no significant difference in NT-proBNP rule-in or rule-out statistics between the 2 cohorts at baseline. In participants who developed heart failure, serum PNC is significantly elevated relative to those who did not report development of heart failure (P<0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic analyses of PNC demonstrate diagnostic value for subclinical heart failure. Additionally, PNC has diagnostic potential when comparing participants with no reported heart failure risk factors from cohort A to at-risk participants from cohort B over the 13-year follow-up. Participants whose PNC levels measure >6 ng/mL have a 41% increased risk of all-cause mortality independent of age, body mass index, sex, NT-proBNP, blood pressure, previous heart attack, and coronary artery disease (P=0.044, n=596). Conclusions These data suggest that PNC is an early marker of heart failure and has the potential to identify patients who would benefit from early therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ishaan Puranam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Duke University Pratt School of Engineering Durham NC
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Moskalik A, Ratajska A, Majchrzak B, Jankowska-Steifer E, Bartkowiak K, Bartkowiak M, Niderla-Bielińska J. miR-31-5p-Modified RAW 264.7 Macrophages Affect Profibrotic Phenotype of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13193. [PMID: 36361979 PMCID: PMC9657882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac lymphatic vessel (LyV) remodeling as a contributor to heart failure has not been extensively evaluated in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our studies have shown structural changes in cardiac LyV in MetS that contribute to the development of edema and lead to myocardial fibrosis. Tissue macrophages may affect LyV via secretion of various substances, including noncoding RNAs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of macrophages modified by miR-31-5p, a molecule that regulates fibrosis and lymphangiogenesis, on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in vitro. The experiments were carried out on the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and primary dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. RAW 264.7 macrophages were transfected with miR-31-5p and supernatant from this culture was used for LEC stimulation. mRNA expression levels for genes associated with lymphangiogenesis and fibrosis were measured with qRT-PCR. Selected results were confirmed with ELISA or Western blotting. miR-31-5p-modified RAW 264.7 macrophages secreted increased amounts of VEGF-C and TGF-β and a decreased amount of IGF-1. The supernatant from miR-31-5p-modified RAW 264.7 downregulated the mRNA expression for genes regulating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and fibrosis in LECs. Our results suggest that macrophages under the influence of miR-31-5p show the potential to inhibit LEC-dependent fibrosis. However, more studies are needed to confirm this effect in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Moskalik
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ratajska
- Department of Pathology, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Majchrzak
- Department of Pathology, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Jankowska-Steifer
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Bartkowiak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Bartkowiak
- Department of History of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-581 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Niderla-Bielińska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Collegium Anatomicum, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
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Alpinetin Suppresses Effects of TGF-β1 on Stimulating the Production and Organization of Fibrotic Markers in Human Primary Dermal Fibroblasts. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172731. [PMID: 36078140 PMCID: PMC9455016 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Overgrowths of dermal fibroblasts and myofibroblast phenoconversion in response to TGF-β stimulation are the hallmarks of skin fibrosis. Constitutive activation of dermal fibroblasts by TGF-β induces the excessive production of extracellular matrix as well as certain key intracellular proteins which form a complex interaction network. Current therapies include monoclonal anti-bodies against TGF-β and surgery, but these treatments generally elicit a limited effect on certain kinds of skin fibrosis. In the current study, we investigated the effects of alpinetin (AP) on human primary dermal fibroblasts (HPDFs) stimulated with TGF-β1. Results demonstrated that AP exhibited strong inhibitory effects on TGF-β1-induced proliferation and migration of HPDFs. AP also inhibited TGF-β1-induced morphological changes of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and these were found to be from its effects on blocking actin stress fiber formation and organization. The expression of major fibrotic molecules including α-SMA and type I collagen upon TGF-β1 stimulation was also inhibited by AP. In addition, AP attenuated TGF-β1-induced production and organization of vimentin, β-catenin, and N-cadherin, important for the pathophysiology of skin fibrosis. In conclusion, we revealed that AP has an ability to reverse the fibrotic effects of TGF-β1 at the cellular level, and this discovery suggests the therapeutic potential of AP for skin fibrosis.
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Chen Y, Sun Q, Hao C, Guo R, Wang C, Yang W, Zhang Y, Wang F, Li W, Guo J. Identification of a novel variant in N-cadherin associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:944950. [PMID: 36111109 PMCID: PMC9468813 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.944950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is a major cause of heart failure, is a primary cardiac muscle disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. DCM is a genetically heritable disease and more than 10 gene ontologies have been implicated in DCM. CDH2 encodes N-cadherin and belongs to a superfamily of transmembrane proteins that mediate cell–cell adhesion in a calcium-dependent manner. Deficiency of CDH2 is associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (OMIM: 618920) and agenesis of the corpus callosum, cardiac, ocular, and genital syndrome (OMIM: 618929). However, there have been no reports of isolated DCM associated with CDH2 deficiency. Methods We performed whole exome sequencing in a 12-year-old girl with non-syndromic DCM and her unaffected parents. Variants in both known DCM-related genes and novel candidate genes were analyzed and pathogenicity confirmation experiments were performed. Results No pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in known DCM-related genes was identified in the patient. We found a de novo variant in a candidate gene CDH2 in the patient, namely, c.474G>C/p.Lys158Asn (NM_001792.5). This variant has not been reported in the ClinVar or Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD). CDH2 p.Lys158Asn was found in the conserved domain of N-cadherin, which is associated with the hydrolysis of the precursor segment and interference with adhesiveness. Furthermore, we tested the expression and efficiency of cell–cell adhesion while overexpressing the CDH2 Lys158Asn mutant and two previously reported variants in CDH2 as positive controls. The adhesion efficiency was considerably reduced in the presence of the mutated CDH2 protein compared with wild-type CDH2 protein, which suggested that the mutated CDH2 protein's adhesion capacity was impaired. The variant was probably pathogenic after integrating clinical manifestations, genetic analysis, and functional tests. Conclusion We identified a CDH2 variant in DCM. We observed a new clinical symptom associated with N-cadherin deficiency and broadened the genetic spectra of DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanying Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiqing Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chanjuan Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruolan Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chentong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weili Yang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fangjie Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Capital Medical University, Center of Rare Diseases, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Guo
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