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Zhong H, Dong B, Zhu D, Fu Z, Liu J, Guan G, Jin Y. Schistosoma japonicumsja-let-7 Inhibits the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Cross-Species Regulation of Col1α2. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1165. [PMID: 39336756 PMCID: PMC11431810 DOI: 10.3390/genes15091165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis, a critical precursor to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), results from chronic liver injury and significantly contributes to HCC progression. Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, is known to cause liver fibrosis; however, this process can be modulated by schistosome-derived miRNAs. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicles (EVs) deliver sja-let-7 to hepatic stellate cells, leading to the inhibition of Col1α2 expression and alleviation of liver fibrosis. Given the well-documented antifibrotic and antiproliferative properties of the let-7 miRNA family, this study aims to preliminarily investigate the effects of the sja-let-7/Col1α2 axis on BALB/c mice and HCC cell line SNU387, providing a basis for the potential application of parasite-derived molecules in HCC therapy. In the present study, schistosome-induced fibrosis datasets were analyzed to identify the role of Col1α2 in extracellular matrix organization. Pan-cancer analysis revealed that Col1α2 is upregulated in various cancers, including HCC, with significant associations with immune cell infiltration and clinical parameters, highlighting its diagnostic importance. Functional assays demonstrated that transfection with sja-let-7 mimics significantly reduced Col1α2 expression, inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. These findings suggest that sja-let-7, by targeting Col1α2, has the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent in HCC treatment. This study indicates the pivotal role of Col1α2 in liver fibrosis and HCC, and the promising therapeutic application of helminth-derived miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
| | - Bowen Dong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
| | - Danlin Zhu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
| | - Jinming Liu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou 730046, China;
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China; (H.Z.); (B.D.); (D.Z.); (Z.F.); (J.L.)
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Zhong H, Dong B, Zhu D, Fu Z, Liu J, Jin Y. Sja-let-7 suppresses the development of liver fibrosis via Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicles. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012153. [PMID: 38598555 PMCID: PMC11034668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a fatal zoonotic parasitic disease that also threatens human health. The main pathological features of schistosomiasis are granulomatous inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis, which is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from schistosome eggs are broadly involved in host-parasite communication and act as important contributors to schistosome-induced liver fibrosis. However, it remains unclear whether substances secreted by the EVs of Schistosoma japonicum, a long-term parasitic "partner" in the hepatic portal vein of the host, also participate in liver fibrosis. Here, we report that EVs derived from S. japonicum worms attenuated liver fibrosis by delivering sja-let-7 into hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, activation of HSCs was reduced by targeting collagen type I alpha 2 chain (Col1α2) and downregulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, these results contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions and identified the sja-let-7/Col1α2/TGF-β/Smad axis as a potential target for treatment of schistosomiasis-related liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Bowen Dong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Danlin Zhu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jinming Liu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Sakaew W, Somintara S, Jongsomchai K, El-Abid J, Wongprasert K, Kovensky J, Rudtanatip T. Octanoyl esterification of low molecular weight sulfated galactan enhances the cellular uptake and collagen expression in fibroblast cells. Biomed Rep 2023; 19:99. [PMID: 37954636 PMCID: PMC10633818 DOI: 10.3892/br.2023.1681] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Low molecular weight sulfated galactan (LMSG) supplemented with octanoyl ester (Oct-LMSG) demonstrated superior wound healing activity compared to the unsupplemented LMSG in a fibroblast wound model. To test the hypothesis that the increased bioactivity of Oct-LMSG may depend on its penetration into the plasma membrane, its cellular uptake was investigated and collagen production in fibroblast cells was assessed for the first time. The cellular uptake of Oct-LMSG was examined using indirect immunofluorescence and a confocal laser scanning microscope. In addition, the degree of fibroblast activation associated with this uptake was evaluated. The results indicated increased LMSG internalization in fibroblasts treated with Oct-LMSG. Transmission electron micrographs revealed the ultrastructure of active protein production in fibroblasts upon treatment with Oct-LMSG. In addition, Oct-LMSG upregulated the expression of type I collagen mRNA and proteins, as well as related signaling molecules involved in collagen synthesis, including collagen type I α1 chain (Col1A1), Col1A2, phosphorylated (p)-Smad2/3 and p-Smad4. The current findings support the notion that the supplementation of LMSG with octanoyl enhanced its cellular uptake into fibroblasts and, as a result, regulated the expression of type I collagen in fibroblasts via the activation of the Smad signaling pathway. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Oct-LMSG in promoting tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waraporn Sakaew
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Somsuda Somintara
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Kamonwan Jongsomchai
- Division of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Jamal El-Abid
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Kanokpan Wongprasert
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - José Kovensky
- Laboratory of Glycochemistry and Agroresources UR 7378, Picardie Institute of Chemistry FR 3085, University of Picardie Jules Verne, 80000 Amiens, France
| | - Tawut Rudtanatip
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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Do NT, Lee SY, Lee YS, Shin C, Kim D, Lee TG, Son JG, Kim SH. Time-sequential fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition in elastin-variable 3D hydrogel environments by collagen networks. Biomater Res 2023; 27:103. [PMID: 37848974 PMCID: PMC10583321 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00439-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrosis plays an important role in both normal physiological and pathological phenomena as fibroblasts differentiate to myofibroblasts. The activation of fibroblasts is determined through interactions with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). However, how this fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) is regulated and affected by elastin concentration in a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment has not been investigated. METHODS We developed an insoluble elastin-gradient 3D hydrogel system for long-lasting cell culture and studied the molecular mechanisms of the FMT in embedded cells by nanoflow LC-MS/MS analysis along with validation through real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS By optimizing pH and temperature, four 3D hydrogels containing fibroblasts were successfully fabricated having elastin concentrations of 0, 20, 50, and 80% in collagen. At the low elastin level (20%), fibroblast proliferation was significantly increased compared to others, and in particular, the FMT was clearly observed in this condition. Moreover, through mass spectrometry of the hydrogel environment, it was confirmed that differentiation proceeded in two stages. In the early stage, calcium-dependent proteins including calmodulin and S100A4 were highly associated. On the other hand, in the late stage after several passages of cells, distinct markers of myofibroblasts were presented such as morphological changes, increased production of ECM, and increased α-SMA expression. We also demonstrated that the low level of elastin concentration induced some cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) markers, including PDGFR-β, and fibrosis-related disease markers, including THY-1. CONCLUSION Using our developed 3D elastin-gradient hydrogel system, we evaluated the effect of different elastin concentrations on the FMT. The FMT was induced even at a low concentration of elastin with increasing CAF level via calcium signaling. With this system, we were able to analyze varying protein expressions in the overall FMT process over several cellular passages. Our results suggest that the elastin-gradient system employing nonlinear optics imaging provides a good platform to study activated fibroblasts interacting with the microenvironment, where the ECM plays a pivotal role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhuan T Do
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- BioMedical Measurement, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Young Lee
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Seo Lee
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - ChaeHo Shin
- Interdisciplinary Materials Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- Nanoconvergence Measurement, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Daeho Kim
- Bruker Nano Surface & Metrology, Bruker Korea, Seongnam, 13493, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Geol Lee
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- Nanoconvergence Measurement, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Gyeong Son
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Se-Hwa Kim
- Safety Measurement Institute, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 267 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
- BioMedical Measurement, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
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Kanda N. Editorial: Special Issue, “Molecular Advances in Skin Diseases”. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012396. [PMID: 36293252 PMCID: PMC9604500 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Kanda
- Department of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Kamagari 1715, Inzai 270-1694, Chiba, Japan
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Human Cytomegalovirus and Human Herpesvirus 6 Coinfection of Dermal Fibroblasts Enhances the Pro-Inflammatory Pathway Predisposing to Fibrosis: The Possible Impact on Systemic Sclerosis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081600. [PMID: 36014018 PMCID: PMC9415275 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081600] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disease likely triggered by genetic and environmental factors, including viral infections. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human herpesvirus 6A species (HHV-6A) have been associated with SSc, based on in vivo and in vitro evidence, but the data are still inconclusive. Furthermore, despite both viruses being highly prevalent in humans and able to exacerbate each other’s effects, no data are available on their joint effects. Hence, we aimed to study their simultaneous impact on the expression of cell factors correlated with fibrosis and apoptosis in in vitro coinfected fibroblasts, representing the main target cell type in SSc. The results, obtained by a microarray detecting 84 fibrosis/apoptosis-associated factors, indicated that coinfected cells underwent higher and more sustained expression of fibrosis-associated parameters compared with single-infected cells. Thus, the data, for the first time, suggest that HCMV and HHV-6A may cooperate in inducing alterations potentially leading to cell fibrosis, thus further supporting their joint role in SSc. However, further work is required to definitively answer whether β-herpesviruses are causally linked to the disease and to enable the possible use of targeted antiviral treatments to improve clinical outcomes.
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