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Zhang H, Zhou Y, Jiang C, Jian N, Wang J. Crosstalk of ubiquitin system and non-coding RNA in fibrosis. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:3802-3822. [PMID: 39113708 PMCID: PMC11302871 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.93644] [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: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic tissue injury triggers changes in the cell type and microenvironment at the site of injury and eventually fibrosis develops. Current research suggests that fibrosis is a highly dynamic and reversible process, which means that human intervention after fibrosis has occurred has the potential to slow down or cure fibrosis. The ubiquitin system regulates the biological functions of specific proteins involved in the development of fibrosis, and researchers have designed small molecule drugs to treat fibrotic diseases on this basis, but their therapeutic effects are still limited. With the development of molecular biology technology, researchers have found that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) can interact with the ubiquitin system to jointly regulate the development of fibrosis. More in-depth explorations of the interaction between ncRNA and ubiquitin system will provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huamin Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yutong Zhou
- Department of Immunology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Canhua Jiang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Ni Jian
- Department of Immunology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Immunology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
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Zhang H, Feng CH, He S, Deng MX, Meng H, Chen M, Liu H. Leech-Centipede Granules Suppress EndMT to Improve Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Diabetes Mellitus via TGF-β/Smad Pathway. Chin J Integr Med 2023; 29:28-36. [PMID: 36542225 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-3728-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether Leech-Centipede (LC) Granules can improve erectile function in rats with diabetes mellitus-associated erectile dysfunction (DMED) through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) inhibition. METHODS Components of LC Granules were identified via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin and fed continuously for 8 weeks to establish the DMED rat model. Rats with erectile dysfunction symptoms diagnosed using apomorphine were divided into DMED and low-, medium-, and high-doses LC groups (n=6 in each). The negative control (NC, n=6) and DMED groups were given 5 mL of deionized water via intragastric gavage, and the low-, medium- and the high-doses LC groups were administered LC at 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 g/kg, respectively, via intragastric gavage for 4 weeks. The intracavernous pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in cavernous tissue were measured for each group. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of endothelial and mesenchymal markers. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe α-SMA, and Masson's trichrome staining was performed to determine the myofiber/collagen ratio. RESULTS A total of 474 active components were identified. After treatment, the ICP/MAP value and NO level were significantly higher in the medium- and high-dose LC groups than in the DMED group (P<0.05). Compared with the DMED groups, the medium- and high-dose groups LC significantly increased and decreased endothelial and mesenchymal markers expression, respectively (P<0.05). Tumor growth factor (TGF)β R II, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 levels were considerably higher following diabetes onset but reduced following LC intervention (P<0.05), except for TGF β 1 (P>0.05). α-SMA expression was significantly higher in the DMED group and was reduced in all LC intervention groups (P>0.05). The myofiber/collagen ratio in the LC groups was higher than that in the DMED group but lower than that in the NC group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS LC Granules may improve the erectile function of DMED rats by suppressing TGF-β/Smad pathway to reverse EndMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Chu-Hui Feng
- Department of Urology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Shan He
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Ming-Xia Deng
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Hao Meng
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Chan MKK, Chan ELY, Ji ZZ, Chan ASW, Li C, Leung KT, To KF, Tang PMK. Transforming growth factor-β signaling: from tumor microenvironment to anticancer therapy. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:316-343. [PMID: 37205317 PMCID: PMC10185444 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is an important pathway for promoting the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including cancer. The roles of TGF-β signaling are heterogeneous and versatile in cancer development and progression, both anticancer and protumoral actions are reported. Interestingly, increasing evidence suggests that TGF-β enhances disease progression and drug resistance via immune-modulatory actions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors. A better understanding of its regulatory mechanisms in the TME at the molecular level can facilitate the development of precision medicine to block the protumoral actions of TGF-β in the TME. Here, the latest information about the regulatory mechanisms and translational research of TGF-β signaling in the TME for therapeutic development had been summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Emily Lok-Yiu Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zoey Zeyuan Ji
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Correspondence: Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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Tang PCT, Chung JYF, Liao J, Chan MKK, Chan ASW, Cheng G, Li C, Huang XR, Ng CSH, Lam EWF, Zhang D, Ho YP, To KF, Leung KT, Jiang X, Ko H, Lee TL, Lan HY, Tang PMK. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers a neuron-like macrophage subset associated with cancer pain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn5535. [PMID: 36206343 PMCID: PMC9544324 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn5535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Tumor innervation is a common phenomenon with unknown mechanism. Here, we discovered a direct mechanism of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) for promoting de novo neurogenesis via a subset showing neuronal phenotypes and pain receptor expression associated with cancer-driven nocifensive behaviors. This subset is rich in lung adenocarcinoma associated with poorer prognosis. By elucidating the transcriptome dynamics of TAM with single-cell resolution, we discovered a phenomenon "macrophage to neuron-like cell transition" (MNT) for directly promoting tumoral neurogenesis, evidenced by macrophage depletion and fate-mapping study in lung carcinoma models. Encouragingly, we detected neuronal phenotypes and activities of the bone marrow-derived MNT cells (MNTs) in vitro. Adoptive transfer of MNTs into NOD/SCID mice markedly enhanced their cancer-associated nocifensive behaviors. We identified macrophage-specific Smad3 as a pivotal regulator for promoting MNT at the genomic level; its disruption effectively blocked the tumor innervation and cancer-dependent nocifensive behaviors in vivo. Thus, MNT may represent a precision therapeutic target for cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jeff Yat-Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jinyue Liao
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Calvin Sze-Hang Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Eric W-F Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ho Ko
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Tin-Lap Lee
- Reproduction, Development and Endocrinology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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5
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Tang PCT, Zhang YY, Li JSF, Chan MKK, Chen J, Tang Y, Zhou Y, Zhang D, Leung KT, To KF, Tang SCW, Lan HY, Tang PMK. LncRNA-Dependent Mechanisms of Transforming Growth Factor-β: From Tissue Fibrosis to Cancer Progression. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8030036. [PMID: 35736633 PMCID: PMC9227532 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8030036] [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: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a crucial pathogenic mediator of inflammatory diseases. In tissue fibrosis, TGF-β regulates the pathogenic activity of infiltrated immunocytes and promotes extracellular matrix production via de novo myofibroblast generation and kidney cell activation. In cancer, TGF-β promotes cancer invasion and metastasis by enhancing the stemness and epithelial mesenchymal transition of cancer cells. However, TGF-β is highly pleiotropic in both tissue fibrosis and cancers, and thus, direct targeting of TGF-β may also block its protective anti-inflammatory and tumor-suppressive effects, resulting in undesirable outcomes. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in TGF-β-driven tissue fibrosis and cancer progression with a high cell-type and disease specificity, serving as an ideal target for therapeutic development. In this review, the mechanism and translational potential of TGF-β-associated lncRNAs in tissue fibrosis and cancer will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (J.S.-F.L.); (M.K.-K.C.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Ying-Ying Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China;
| | - Jane Siu-Fan Li
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (J.S.-F.L.); (M.K.-K.C.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (J.S.-F.L.); (M.K.-K.C.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Jiaoyi Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (J.C.); (S.C.-W.T.)
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
| | - Yiming Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China;
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (J.S.-F.L.); (M.K.-K.C.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Sydney Chi-Wai Tang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (J.C.); (S.C.-W.T.)
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (J.S.-F.L.); (M.K.-K.C.); (K.-F.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Sun J, Han S, Chen P. LncRNA XIST contributes to epithelial–mesenchymal transformation in posterior opacity via regulating miR-98-5p/COL5A2 axis and PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 pathway. Mol Cell Toxicol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-022-00247-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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7
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Ilieva M, Miller HE, Agarwal A, Paulus GK, Madsen JH, Bishop AJR, Kauppinen S, Uchida S. FibroDB: Expression Analysis of Protein-Coding and Long Non-Coding RNA Genes in Fibrosis. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8010013. [PMID: 35202087 PMCID: PMC8877069 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed at lower levels than protein-coding genes and their expression is often restricted to specific cell types, certain time points during development, and various stress and disease conditions, respectively. To revisit this long-held concept, we focused on fibroblasts, a common cell type in various organs and tissues. Using fibroblasts and changes in their expression profiles during fibrosis as a model system, we show that the overall expression level of lncRNA genes is significantly lower than that of protein-coding genes. Furthermore, we identified lncRNA genes whose expression is upregulated during fibrosis. Using dermal fibroblasts as a model, we performed loss-of-function experiments and show that the knockdown of the lncRNAs LINC00622 and LINC01711 result in gene expression changes associated with cellular and inflammatory responses, respectively. Since there are no lncRNA databases focused on fibroblasts and fibrosis, we built a web application, FibroDB, to further promote functional and mechanistic studies of fibrotic lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirolyuba Ilieva
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.I.); (J.H.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Henry E. Miller
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (H.E.M.); (A.J.R.B.)
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Network, Atlanta, GA 30317, USA; (A.A.); (G.K.P.)
| | - Arav Agarwal
- Bioinformatics Research Network, Atlanta, GA 30317, USA; (A.A.); (G.K.P.)
- Language Technologies Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Gabriela K. Paulus
- Bioinformatics Research Network, Atlanta, GA 30317, USA; (A.A.); (G.K.P.)
- Osthus GmbH, 52068 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jens Hedelund Madsen
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.I.); (J.H.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Alexander J. R. Bishop
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (H.E.M.); (A.J.R.B.)
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- May’s Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Sakari Kauppinen
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.I.); (J.H.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Shizuka Uchida
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-2450 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.I.); (J.H.M.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence: or
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8
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Yang R, Wang D, Han S, Gu Y, Li Z, Deng L, Yin A, Gao Y, Li X, Yu Y, Wang X. MiR-206 suppresses the deterioration of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and promotes sensitivity to chemotherapy by inhibiting interactions with stromal CAFs. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:43-64. [PMID: 34975317 PMCID: PMC8692143 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.62602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly malignant subtype of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) with poor prognosis. In iCCA, the interplay between the stroma and tumor cells results in resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy. Increasing evidence indicates that miR-206 participates in tumor progression, but its role in iCCA is still unclear. The aim of this study was to identify dysregulated miR-206 expression in iCCA and to further explore the underlying mechanism. Methods: MiR-206 expression was proven to be downregulated in iCCA tissues by qPCR, and its correlation with clinical characteristics and prognosis was investigated. iCCA-derived cancer-associated fibroblast cells (CAFs) and normal fibroblast cells (NFs) were isolated and identified. MiR-206 was knocked in or down in CAFs and CCA cells, respectively, to explore the role of miR-206, and coculture of these treated CCAs and CAFs was conducted to explore the effects of miR-206 on their mutual promoting effects. Exosomes carrying miR-206 and an orthotopic mouse model were used to determine the inhibitory effects of miR-206 on iCCA deterioration in vivo. Results: We confirmed that miR-206 is a suppressor of iCCA. Overexpressing miR-206 in CCA cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. When cocultured with CCA cells, NFs downregulated miR-206 expression, and NFs were susceptible to transforming into CAFs. Moreover, CAFs promoted CCA cell malignant behaviors and gemcitabine resistance. Overexpressing miR-206 in CAFs or CCA cells inhibited this mutual promoting effect. Additionally, when delivered by exosomes, miR-206 suppressed tumor deterioration. And combined with gemcitabine, this treatment resulted in a longer survival time. Conclusion: Our study explained that the interaction between CCA cells and CAFs promoted iCCA deterioration. As a suppressive factor, miR-206 inhibited aggressive characteristics and gemcitabine resistance by interfering with this mutual promoting effect. This research elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying the unfavorable chemotherapeutic response of patients with iCCA, which provided a promising target for iCCA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjie Yang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shen Han
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yichao Gu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lei Deng
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Aihong Yin
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yun Gao
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiangcheng Li
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xuehao Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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9
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Tang PC, Chung JY, Xue VW, Xiao J, Meng X, Huang X, Zhou S, Chan AS, Tsang AC, Cheng AS, Lee T, Leung K, Lam EW, To K, Tang PM, Lan H. Smad3 Promotes Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Generation via Macrophage-Myofibroblast Transition. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2101235. [PMID: 34791825 PMCID: PMC8728853 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important in tumor microenvironment (TME) driven cancer progression. However, CAFs are heterogeneous and still largely underdefined, better understanding their origins will identify new therapeutic strategies for cancer. Here, the authors discovered a new role of macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) in cancer for de novo generating protumoral CAFs by resolving the transcriptome dynamics of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) with single-cell resolution. MMT cells (MMTs) are observed in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) associated with CAF abundance and patient mortality. By fate-mapping study, RNA velocity, and pseudotime analysis, existence of novel macrophage-lineage-derived CAF subset in the TME of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model is confirmed, which is directly transited via MMT from M2-TAM in vivo and bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) in vitro. Adoptive transfer of BMDM-derived MMTs markedly promote CAF formation in LLC-bearing mice. Mechanistically, a Smad3-centric regulatory network is upregulated in the MMTs of NSCLC, where chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing(ChIP-seq) detects a significant enrichment of Smad3 binding on fibroblast differentiation genes in the macrophage-lineage cells in LLC-tumor. More importantly, macrophage-specific deletion and pharmaceutical inhibition of Smad3 effectively block MMT, therefore, suppressing the CAF formation and cancer progression in vivo. Thus, MMT may represent a novel therapeutic target of CAF for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu‐Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Jeff Yat‐Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Vivian Wei‐wen Xue
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | | | - Xiao‐Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney DiseasesGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangzhouChina
| | - Shuang Zhou
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyTongji University School of MedicineTongji University Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Alex Siu‐Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social SciencesThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Anna Chi‐Man Tsang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | | | - Tin‐Lap Lee
- ReproductionDevelopment and Endocrinology ProgramSchool of Biomedical SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Kam‐Tong Leung
- Department of PaediatricsPrince of Wales HospitalThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Eric W.‐F. Lam
- Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510060China
| | - Ka‐Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Patrick Ming‐Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular PathologyState Key Laboratory of Translational OncologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Hui‐Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and TherapeuticsLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong‐Guangdong Academy of Sciences/Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Joint Research Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney DiseasesThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongChina
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10
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Zaafan MA, Abdelhamid AM. Dasatinib ameliorates thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis: modulation of miR-378 and miR-17 and their linked Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β/smads pathways. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 37:118-124. [PMID: 34894966 PMCID: PMC8667920 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1995379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells activation (HSCs) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Specific microRNAs have been suggested to affect the activation of HSCs via various signalling pathways including TGF-β/smads and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Dasatinib is a multitarget inhibitor of many tyrosine kinases has recently studied for its anti-fibrotic effects in a variety of fibrous diseases. This study investigated the role of modulation of miRNA-378 and miRNA-17 in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis through altering Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β/smads pathways and evaluated the beneficial effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, dasatinib, in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis model in mice. Treatment with dasatinib down-regulated miRNA-17 expression, leading to the restoration of WiF-1 and smad-7 which cause the inhibition of both Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β/smads signalling. In addition, it upregulated miRNA-378 leading to the decrease of Wnt-10 which contributes to the suppression of activated HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai A Zaafan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Dokki, Egypt
| | - Amr M Abdelhamid
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Biochemistry Department, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Dokki, Egypt
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11
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Zhang YY, Tan RZ, Yu Y, Niu YY, Yu C. LncRNA GAS5 protects against TGF-β-induced renal fibrosis via the Smad3/miRNA-142-5p axis. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2021; 321:F517-F526. [PMID: 34486400 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00085.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in kidney disease. In this study, we investigated the role of the lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. We found that GAS5 was markedly decreased in the fibrotic kidney of a unilateral ureteral obstructive nephropathy mouse model. In addition, GAS5 was expressed in mouse tubular epithelial cells (mTECs) and interstitial fibroblasts in normal renal tissue and was especially highly expressed in the cytoplasm. In vitro experiments showed that GAS5 was downregulated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Overexpression of GAS5 blocked TGF-β1-induced collagen type I and fibronectin expression and vice versa. Mechanistic experiments revealed that Smad3 but not Smad2 drove the regulation of GAS5. More importantly, GAS5 interacted with miR-142-5p and was involved in the renoprotective effect by participating in the competing endogenous RNA network. Finally, we also found that knockdown of GAS5 promoted TGF-β1-induced mouse tubular epithelial cell apoptosis via the Smad3 pathway. Taken together, our results uncovered a lncRNA/miRNA competing endogenous RNA network-based mechanism that modulates extracellular matrix formation and cell apoptosis via the Smad3 pathway.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this work, we mainly discuss long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5), acting in a renoprotective role via the Smad3/miRNA-142-5p axis, that modulates extracellular matrix formation and cell apoptosis. Overexpression of GAS5 effectively blocked renal fibrosis in vitro. This study reveals that GAS5 may represent as a novel and precision therapeutic target for alleviating renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Ying Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui-Zhi Tan
- Research Center of Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Traditional Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang-Yang Niu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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12
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Gwon MG, An HJ, Gu H, Kim YA, Han SM, Park KK. Apamin inhibits renal fibrosis via suppressing TGF-β1 and STAT3 signaling in vivo and in vitro. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:1265-1277. [PMID: 34031696 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02087-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a progressive and chronic process that influences kidneys with chronic kidney disease (CKD), irrespective of cause, leading to irreversible failure of renal function and end-stage kidney disease. Among the signaling related to renal fibrosis, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling is a major pathway that induces the activation of myofibroblasts and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. Apamin, a component of bee venom (BV), has been studied in relation to various diseases. However, the effect of apamin on renal interstitial fibrosis has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to estimate the beneficial effect of apamin in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblast activation. This study revealed that obstructive kidney injury induced an inflammatory response, tubular atrophy, and ECM accumulation. However, apamin treatment suppressed the increased expression of fibrotic-related genes, including α-SMA, vimentin, and fibronectin. Administration of apamin also attenuated the renal tubular cells injury and tubular atrophy. In addition, apamin attenuated fibroblast activation, ECM synthesis, and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by suppressing the TGF-β1-canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways. This study showed that apamin inhibits UUO-induced renal fibrosis in vivo and TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblasts activation in vitro. Apamin inhibited the inflammatory response, tubular atrophy, ECM accumulation, fibroblast activation, and renal interstitial fibrosis through suppression of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and STAT3 signaling pathways. These results suggest that apamin might be a potential therapeutic agent for renal fibrosis. KEY MESSAGES: UUO injury can induce renal dysfunction; however, apamin administration prevents renal failure in UUO mice. Apamin inhibited renal inflammatory response and ECM deposition in UUO-injured mice. Apamin suppressed the activation of myofibroblasts in vivo and in vitro. Apamin has the anti-fibrotic effect on renal fibrosis via regulation of TGF-β1 canonical and non-canonical signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Gyeong Gwon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin An
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Gu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ah Kim
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Mi Han
- National Academy of Agricultural Science, Jeonjusi, Jeonbuk, 54875, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Identification of plasma lncRNA-ATB levels in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis and non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients. Virus Res 2021; 303:198503. [PMID: 34331990 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA-ATB (LncRNA-ATB) which is activated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), is a key regulator of TGF-β signaling pathway. TGF-β plays an important role in various pathogenic processes, from inflammation and fibrosis to cirrhosis and cancer. In this study, we evaluated the plasma levels of lncRNA-ATB in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis and non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and investigated the clinical values. Plasma samples were collected from 44 HBV-related cirrhosis patients, 45 non-cirrhotic CHB and 75 healthy controls. Briefly, after total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect plasma lncRNA-ATB levels. Results show the plasma levels of lncRNA-ATB in HBV-related cirrhosis patients were significantly higher in comparison to healthy controls (Fold change=2.60, p value=0.04). Also, we determined plasma levels of lncRNA-ATB as a specific biomarker of HBV-related cirrhosis (AUC=0.65, p value=0.03, Sensitivity 61.36%; Specificity 70.00%). In addition to, we investigated the plasma levels of lncRNA-ATB in non-cirrhotic CHB patients were significantly lower than healthy controls (Fold change= 0.33, p value=0.01). We also indicated plasma lncRNA-ATB levels were as a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis of non-cirrhotic CHB patients compared with healthy (AUC=0.66, p value=0.00, Sensitivity 71.11%; Specificity 57.78%). According to our results, circulating lncRNA-ATB has good specificity for diagnosing hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis and good sensitivity for diagnosis of non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
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14
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Fu S, Zheng Y, Sun Y, Lai M, Qiu J, Gui F, Zeng Q, Liu F. Suppressing long noncoding RNA OGRU ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation via miR-320/USP14 axis. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 169:361-381. [PMID: 33762162 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in various diseases including diabetic retinopathy (DR). In this study, DR patients exhibited significantly increased expression of serum LncRNA-OGRU compared with normal individuals. Streptozotocin (STZ)-challenged rats with DR also had higher OGRU expression in retinas than that of the control group, which was confirmed in Müller cells upon high glucose (HG) stimulation. OGRU knockdown remarkably decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression in HG-incubated Müller cells. HG-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in vitro were markedly mitigated by OGRU knockdown through restraining IκBɑ/nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) and improving nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways, respectively. Further studies indicated that OGRU suppression greatly restored miR-320 expression, and a negative correlation between them was detected in DR patients. We also found that miR-320 over-expression considerably restrained TGF-β1 signaling, and hindered inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HG-stimulated Müller cells. Additionally, OGRU knockdown or miR-320 over-expression could dramatically down-regulate ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14 (USP14) expression levels in HG-incubated Müller cells, and miR-320 could directly target USP14. Notably, OGRU/miR-320 axis-mediated TGF-β1 signaling, inflammation and ROS were largely dependent on USP14. Intriguingly, our results showed that USP14 directly interacted with transforming growth factor-beta type 1 receptor (TβR1), and impeded TβR1 ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, USP14 could also facilitate IκBɑ deubiquitination and degradation, exacerbating IκBɑ phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. Finally, our in vivo studies confirmed that OGRU knockdown considerably ameliorated DR progression in STZ-challenged rats through mediating the mechanisms observed in vitro. Collectively, these findings implicated that LncRNA-OGRU mediated DR progression through competing for miR-320 to regulate USP14 expression, and thus LncRNA-OGRU/miR-320/USP14 axis may be considered as a therapeutic target for DR treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhua Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China.
| | - Yunyao Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Yawen Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Meichen Lai
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Jingjing Qiu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Fu Gui
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Qinqin Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, PR China
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15
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Gu YY, Dou JY, Huang XR, Liu XS, Lan HY. Transforming Growth Factor-β and Long Non-coding RNA in Renal Inflammation and Fibrosis. Front Physiol 2021; 12:684236. [PMID: 34054586 PMCID: PMC8155637 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.684236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is one of the most characterized pathological features in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Progressive fibrosis eventually leads to renal failure, leaving dialysis or allograft transplantation the only clinical option for CKD patients. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the key mediator in renal fibrosis and is an essential regulator for renal inflammation. Therefore, the general blockade of the pro-fibrotic TGF-β may reduce fibrosis but may risk promoting renal inflammation and other side effects due to the diverse role of TGF-β in kidney diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts with more than 200 nucleotides and have been regarded as promising therapeutic targets for many diseases. This review focuses on the importance of TGF-β and lncRNAs in renal inflammation, fibrogenesis, and the potential applications of TGF-β and lncRNAs as the therapeutic targets and biomarkers in renal fibrosis and CKD are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Yu Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing-Yun Dou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Nephrology, Weihai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weihai, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu-Sheng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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16
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Fortier SM, Penke LR, King D, Pham TX, Ligresti G, Peters-Golden M. Myofibroblast dedifferentiation proceeds via distinct transcriptomic and phenotypic transitions. JCI Insight 2021; 6:144799. [PMID: 33561015 PMCID: PMC8026183 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.144799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are the major cellular source of collagen, and their accumulation - via differentiation from fibroblasts and resistance to apoptosis - is a hallmark of tissue fibrosis. Clearance of myofibroblasts by dedifferentiation and restoration of apoptosis sensitivity has the potential to reverse fibrosis. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and mitogens such as FGF2 have each been shown to dedifferentiate myofibroblasts, but - to our knowledge - the resultant cellular phenotypes have neither been comprehensively characterized or compared. Here, we show that PGE2 elicited dedifferentiation of human lung myofibroblasts via cAMP/PKA, while FGF2 utilized MEK/ERK. The 2 mediators yielded transitional cells with distinct transcriptomes, with FGF2 promoting but PGE2 inhibiting proliferation and survival. The gene expression pattern in fibroblasts isolated from the lungs of mice undergoing resolution of experimental fibrosis resembled that of myofibroblasts treated with PGE2 in vitro. We conclude that myofibroblast dedifferentiation can proceed via distinct programs exemplified by treatment with PGE2 and FGF2, with dedifferentiation occurring in vivo most closely resembling the former.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Loka R. Penke
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and
| | - Dana King
- BCRF Bioinformatics Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tho X. Pham
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Giovanni Ligresti
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Tang PCT, Chan ASW, Zhang CB, García Córdoba CA, Zhang YY, To KF, Leung KT, Lan HY, Tang PMK. TGF-β1 Signaling: Immune Dynamics of Chronic Kidney Diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:628519. [PMID: 33718407 PMCID: PMC7948440 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.628519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing a great burden on the healthcare system. Regrettably, effective CKD therapeutic strategies are yet available due to their elusive pathogenic mechanisms. CKD is featured by progressive inflammation and fibrosis associated with immune cell dysfunction, leading to the formation of an inflammatory microenvironment, which ultimately exacerbating renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is an indispensable immunoregulator promoting CKD progression by controlling the activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of immunocytes via both canonical and non-canonical pathways. More importantly, recent studies have uncovered a new mechanism of TGF-β1 for de novo generation of myofibroblast via macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT). This review will update the versatile roles of TGF-β signaling in the dynamics of renal immunity, a better understanding may facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies against CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Cai-Bin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Cristina Alexandra García Córdoba
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ying-Ying Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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18
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Saadat S, Noureddini M, Mahjoubin-Tehran M, Nazemi S, Shojaie L, Aschner M, Maleki B, Abbasi-Kolli M, Rajabi Moghadam H, Alani B, Mirzaei H. Pivotal Role of TGF-β/Smad Signaling in Cardiac Fibrosis: Non-coding RNAs as Effectual Players. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 7:588347. [PMID: 33569393 PMCID: PMC7868343 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.588347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Unintended cardiac fibroblast proliferation in many pathophysiological heart conditions, known as cardiac fibrosis, results in pooling of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the heart muscle. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) as a pivotal cytokine/growth factor stimulates fibroblasts and hastens ECM production in injured tissues. The TGF-β receptor is a heterodimeric receptor complex on the plasma membrane, made up from TGF-β type I, as well as type II receptors, giving rise to Smad2 and Smad3 transcription factors phosphorylation upon canonical signaling. Phosphorylated Smad2, Smad3, and cytoplasmic Smad4 intercommunicate to transfer the signal to the nucleus, culminating in provoked gene transcription. Additionally, TGF-β receptor complex activation starts up non-canonical signaling that lead to the mitogen-stimulated protein kinase cascade activation, inducing p38, JNK1/2 (c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2), and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2) signaling. TGF-β not only activates fibroblasts and stimulates them to differentiate into myofibroblasts, which produce ECM proteins, but also promotes fibroblast proliferation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are important regulators of numerous pathways along with cellular procedures. MicroRNAs and circular long ncRNAs, combined with long ncRNAs, are capable of affecting TGF-β/Smad signaling, leading to cardiac fibrosis. More comprehensive knowledge based on these processes may bring about new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for different cardiac disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Saadat
- Physiology Research Centre, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Noureddini
- Physiology Research Centre, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Maryam Mahjoubin-Tehran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sina Nazemi
- Vascular and Thorax Surgery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Layla Shojaie
- Department of Medicine, Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Behnaz Maleki
- Physiology Research Centre, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasan Rajabi Moghadam
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Behrang Alani
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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19
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Chang L, Wang Q, Ju J, Li Y, Cai Q, Hao L, Zhou Y. Magnoflorine Ameliorates Inflammation and Fibrosis in Rats With Diabetic Nephropathy by Mediating the Stability of Lysine-Specific Demethylase 3A. Front Physiol 2020; 11:580406. [PMID: 33414721 PMCID: PMC7785030 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.580406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents one of the most devastating complications for patients with diabetes. The anti-diabetic activities of Magnoflorine (MF) were reported, with underlying mechanism unknown. Lysine-specific demethylase 3A (KDM3A) was identified in the renal injuries. In the current study, we investigated the functional role of MF in DN progression with the involvement of KDM3A. We reported that in the animal model of DN induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection, MF attenuated inflammatory response and fibrosis in the kidneys. In cultured mesangial cells, MF similarly ameliorated abnormal proliferation and lowered the expression of inflammation- and fibrosis-related factors stimulated by high glucose (HG) treatment. Upon MF treatment, there was a decline in KDM3A-positive cells in renal tissues of rats, accompanying an augment in KDM3A ubiquitination. KDM3A upregulation in vitro by a proteasome inhibitor MG132 comparably dampened the inhibitory role of MF in inflammatory response and fibrosis. Further analyses revealed that MF increased transforming growth factor β-induced factor 1 (TGIF1) transcriptional activity by promoting ubiquitination and degradation of KDM3A, thus inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. TGIF1 silencing weakened the repressive role of MF in mesangial cells as well. In conclusion, MF contributes to TGIF1 transcription via an epigenetic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiannan Ju
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qiao Cai
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lirong Hao
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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20
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Zhang Y, Tang PMK, Niu Y, García Córdoba CA, Huang XR, Yu C, Lan HY. Long Non-coding RNA LRNA9884 Promotes Acute Kidney Injury via Regulating NF-kB-Mediated Transcriptional Activation of MIF. Front Physiol 2020; 11:590027. [PMID: 33192605 PMCID: PMC7658631 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.590027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common complications affecting hospitalized patients associated with an extremely high mortality rate. However, the underlying pathogenesis of AKI remains unclear that largely limits its effective management in clinic. Increasing evidence demonstrated the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of AKI, because of their regulatory roles in transcription, translation, chromatin modification, and cellular organization. Here, we reported a new role of LRNA9884 in AKI. Using experimental cisplatin-induced AKI model, we found that LRNA9884 was markedly up-regulated in the nucleus of renal tubular epithelium in mice with AKI. We found that silencing of LRNA9884 effectively inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in the mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (mTECs) under IL-1β stimulation in vitro. Mechanistically, LRNA9884 was involved into NF-κB-mediated inflammatory cytokines production especially on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Collectedly, our study suggested LRNA9884 promoted MIF-triggered the production of inflammatory cytokines via NF-κB pathway after AKI injury. This study uncovered LRNA9884 has an adverse impact in AKI, and targeting LRNA9884 might represent a potential therapeutic target for AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yangyang Niu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cristina Alexandra García Córdoba
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chen Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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21
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Tang PCT, Zhang YY, Chan MKK, Lam WWY, Chung JYF, Kang W, To KF, Lan HY, Tang PMK. The Emerging Role of Innate Immunity in Chronic Kidney Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114018. [PMID: 32512831 PMCID: PMC7312694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common fate of chronic kidney diseases. Emerging studies suggest that unsolved inflammation will progressively transit into tissue fibrosis that finally results in an irreversible end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal inflammation recruits and activates immunocytes, which largely promotes tissue scarring of the diseased kidney. Importantly, studies have suggested a crucial role of innate immunity in the pathologic basis of kidney diseases. This review provides an update of both clinical and experimental information, focused on how innate immune signaling contributes to renal fibrogenesis. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may uncover a novel therapeutic strategy for ESRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Ying-Ying Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China;
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Winson Wing-Yin Lam
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Jeff Yat-Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (P.C.-T.T.); (M.K.-K.C.); (J.Y.-F.C.); (W.W.-Y.L.); (W.K.); (K.-F.T.)
- Correspondence:
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22
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Huang Y, Wang Y, Wang X, Lin L, Wang P, Sun J, Jiang L. The Effects of the Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) Signaling Pathway on Cell Proliferation and Cell Migration are Mediated by Ubiquitin Specific Protease 4 (USP4) in Hypertrophic Scar Tissue and Primary Fibroblast Cultures. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e920736. [PMID: 32308208 PMCID: PMC7191961 DOI: 10.12659/msm.920736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertrophic scar results from an abnormal repair response to trauma in the skin and involves fibroblasts proliferation with increased collagen deposition. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and TGF-ß receptor type I (TGF-ßR1) are involved in tissue repair and are increased by ubiquitin-specific protease 4 (USP4). This study aimed to investigate the effects of TGF-ßR1 and USP4 in human tissue samples of hypertrophic scar and on cell proliferation and cell migration in primary fibroblast cultures in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS Skin excision tissue samples with adjacent normal skin were obtained from 15 patients with hypertrophic scar, which provided tissue sections and primary fibroblast culture for analysis. Immunohistochemistry detected the expression of USP4 and TGF-ßR1 in tissue sections. MicroRNA (miRNAs) expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot was performed to measure protein expression levels. Cultured skin fibroblasts were investigated using immunofluorescence staining. Fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were measured with the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, and a wound-healing assay, respectively. RESULTS The expression of USP4 and TGF-ßR1 in hypertrophic scar were increased compared with normal skin. Fibroblasts cultured from hypertrophic scar tissue showed increased expression of of USP4 and TGF-ßR1. Fibroblast transfection with USP4 short-interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in reduced fibroblast proliferation and migration, and increased apoptosis. Downregulation of USP4 inhibited the expression of TGF-ßR1 protein and increased the expression levels of Smad7 protein. CONCLUSIONS USP4 regulated the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts by regulating the TGF-ß1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Huang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Xueming Wang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Lixin Lin
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Junjun Sun
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Lei Jiang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China (mainland)
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23
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Regis S, Dondero A, Caliendo F, Bottino C, Castriconi R. NK Cell Function Regulation by TGF-β-Induced Epigenetic Mechanisms. Front Immunol 2020; 11:311. [PMID: 32161594 PMCID: PMC7052483 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine that severely affects the function of NK cells. Tumor cells can take advantage of this ability, enriching their surrounding microenvironment with TGF-β. TGF-β can alter the expression of effector molecules and of activating and chemokine receptors, influence metabolism, induce the NK cell conversion toward the less cytolytic ILC1s. These and other changes possibly occur by the induction of complex gene expression programs, involving epigenetic mechanisms. While most of these programs are at present unexplored, the role of certain transcription factors, microRNAs and chromatin changes determined by TGF-β in NK cells start to be elucidated in human and/or mouse NK cells. The deep understanding of these mechanisms will be useful to design therapies contributing to restore the full NK function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Regis
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Caliendo
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Cristina Bottino
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Castriconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, CEBR, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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24
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Dewidar B, Meyer C, Dooley S, Meindl-Beinker N. TGF-β in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrogenesis-Updated 2019. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111419. [PMID: 31718044 PMCID: PMC6912224 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is an advanced liver disease condition, which could progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To date, there is no direct approved antifibrotic therapy, and current treatment is mainly the removal of the causative factor. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a master profibrogenic cytokine and a promising target to treat fibrosis. However, TGF-β has broad biological functions and its inhibition induces non-desirable side effects, which override therapeutic benefits. Therefore, understanding the pleiotropic effects of TGF-β and its upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms will help to design better TGF-β based therapeutics. Here, we summarize recent discoveries and milestones on the TGF-β signaling pathway related to liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, emphasizing research of the last five years. This comprises impact of TGF-β on liver fibrogenesis related biological processes, such as senescence, metabolism, reactive oxygen species generation, epigenetics, circadian rhythm, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and endothelial-mesenchymal transition. We also describe the influence of the microenvironment on the response of HSC to TGF-β. Finally, we discuss new approaches to target the TGF-β pathway, name current clinical trials, and explain promises and drawbacks that deserve to be adequately addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bedair Dewidar
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (B.D.); (C.M.); (S.D.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt
| | - Christoph Meyer
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (B.D.); (C.M.); (S.D.)
| | - Steven Dooley
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (B.D.); (C.M.); (S.D.)
| | - Nadja Meindl-Beinker
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (B.D.); (C.M.); (S.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-383-4983; Fax: +49-621-383-1467
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25
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Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1 Acts as a Competing Endogenous RNA to Regulate TGF- β2 Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lens Epithelial Cells by a MicroRNA-26a-Dependent Mechanism. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1569638. [PMID: 31143769 PMCID: PMC6501259 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1569638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to characterize whether the long noncoding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1)/miR-26a/Smad4 axis is involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs). Primary human LECs were separated and cultured. Microarray analysis showed that a total of 568 lncRNAs are differentially expressed in primary HLECs in the presence of TGF-β2 and MALAT1 is mostly significantly dysregulated lncRNAs, which is increased by nearly 17-fold. In addition, upregulation of MALAT1 and downregulation of miR-26a were detected in human posterior capsule opacification (PCO) attached LECs and the LECs obtained from patients with anterior polar cataracts by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Next, our results showed that TGF-β2 induces overexpression of EMT markers in primary HLECs via a MALAT1-dependent mechanism. The mechanism is that MALAT1 negatively regulates miR-26a and miR-26a directly targets Smad4 by luciferase reporter assays and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assay. In summary, TGF-β2 induces MALAT1 overexpression, which in turn MALAT1 acts as a ceRNA targeting Smad4 by binding miR-26a and promotes the progression of EMT of LECs.
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