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Ajith A, Merimi M, Arki MK, Hossein-khannazer N, Najar M, Vosough M, Sokal EM, Najimi M. Immune regulation and therapeutic application of T regulatory cells in liver diseases. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1371089. [PMID: 38571964 PMCID: PMC10987744 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1371089] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) are a subset of the immunomodulatory cell population that can inhibit both innate and adaptive immunity by various regulatory mechanisms. In hepatic microenvironment, proliferation, plasticity, migration, and function of Tregs are interrelated to the remaining immune cells and their secreted cytokines and chemokines. In normal conditions, Tregs protect the liver from inflammatory and auto-immune responses, while disruption of this crosstalk between Tregs and other immune cells may result in the progression of chronic liver diseases and the development of hepatic malignancy. In this review, we analyze the deviance of this protective nature of Tregs in response to chronic inflammation and its involvement in inducing liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. We will also provide a detailed emphasis on the relevance of Tregs as an effective immunotherapeutic option for autoimmune diseases, liver transplantation, and chronic liver diseases including liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Ajith
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Makram Merimi
- Genetics and Immune Cell Therapy Unit, LBBES Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Mandana Kazem Arki
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nikoo Hossein-khannazer
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Najar
- Osteoarthritis Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Centre, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Etienne Marc Sokal
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Li F, Yan T, Wang S, Wen X. Exosome-associated miRNA-99a-5p targeting BMPR2 promotes hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic fibrosis. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4021-4031. [PMID: 37354366 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01122-0] [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: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a serious stage of chronic liver injury. Inhibition of hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatocytes apoptosis is important measures in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Studies have shown that exosomes are involved in regulating the information transmission between cells, but there are few studies on the interaction between exosomes from HSC and hepatocytes. This study screened miRNAs with significant differences related to liver fibrosis in the database. Then, we activated HSC applying transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and collected exosomes. The expression of miRNA in HSC-derived exosomes was verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results of cell function test showed that HSC-derived exocrine miRNA-99a-5p could inhibit hepatocytes proliferation and promote hepatocytes apoptosis. Conversely, inhibition of miRNA-99a-5p can promote hepatocytes proliferation and inhibit apoptosis. Target gene prediction and luciferase assay show that miRNA can specifically bind to BMPR2 site sequence. In addition, we also detected the expression of BMPR2 and apoptosis-related protein by qRT-PCR and Western blot (WB). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HSC-derived exocrine miRNA-99a-5p can promote hepatocytes apoptosis and participate in the process of liver fibrosis by targeting BMPR2. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of HSC-derived exocrine miRNA-99a-5p in hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, 570311, Hainan, China.
| | - Tengfei Yan
- Baoding First Central Hospital, Baoding, 071000, Heibei, China
| | - Shunlan Wang
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, 570208, Hainan, China
| | - Xiaohong Wen
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, 570208, Hainan, China.
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Sankar K, Pearson AN, Worlikar T, Perricone MD, Holcomb EA, Mendiratta-Lala M, Xu Z, Bhowmick N, Green MD. Impact of immune tolerance mechanisms on the efficacy of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancers. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:29. [PMID: 37601739 PMCID: PMC10432235 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-23-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is a functionally unique organ with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The liver is the sixth most common site of primary cancer in humans and is a frequent site of metastasis from other solid tumors. The development of effective therapies for primary and metastatic liver cancer has been challenging due to the complex metabolic and immune microenvironment of the liver. The liver tumor microenvironment (TME) in primary and secondary (metastatic) liver cancers is heterogenous and consists of unique immune and stromal cell populations. Crosstalk between these cell populations and tumor cells creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment within the liver which potentiates cancer progression. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now clinically approved for the management of primary and secondary liver cancer and can partially overcome liver immune tolerance, but their efficacy is limited. In this review, we describe the liver microenvironment and the use of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancer. We discuss emerging combination strategies utilizing locoregional and systemic therapy approaches which may enhance efficacy of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancer. A deeper understanding of the immunosuppressive microenvironment of the liver will inform novel therapies and therapeutic combinations in order to improve outcomes of patients with primary and secondary liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamya Sankar
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ashley N. Pearson
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tejaswi Worlikar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew D. Perricone
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin A. Holcomb
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Zhen Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Neil Bhowmick
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael D. Green
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Hydrophobic Bile Salts Induce Pro-Fibrogenic Proliferation of Hepatic Stellate Cells through PI3K p110 Alpha Signaling. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152344. [PMID: 35954188 PMCID: PMC9367387 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152344] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bile salts accumulating during cholestatic liver disease are believed to promote liver fibrosis. We have recently shown that chenodeoxycholate (CDC) induces expansion of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vivo, thereby promoting liver fibrosis. Mechanisms underlying bile salt-induced fibrogenesis remain elusive. We aimed to characterize the effects of different bile salts on HSC biology and investigated underlying signaling pathways. Murine HSCs (mHSCs) were stimulated with hydrophilic and hydrophobic bile salts. Proliferation, cell mass, collagen deposition, and activation of signaling pathways were determined. Activation of the human HSC cell line LX 2 was assessed by quantification of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression. Phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent signaling was inhibited both pharmacologically and by siRNA. CDC, the most abundant bile salt accumulating in human cholestasis, but no other bile salt tested, induced Protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation and promoted HSC proliferation and subsequent collagen deposition. Pharmacological inhibition of the upstream target PI3K-inhibited activation of PKB and pro-fibrogenic proliferation of HSCs. The PI3K p110α-specific inhibitor Alpelisib and siRNA-mediated knockdown of p110α ameliorated pro-fibrogenic activation of mHSC and LX 2 cells, respectively. In summary, pro-fibrogenic signaling in mHSCs is selectively induced by CDC. PI3K p110α may be a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of bile salt-induced fibrogenesis in cholestasis.
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Satilmis B, Cicek GS, Cicek E, Akbulut S, Sahin TT, Yilmaz S. Adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases and sepsis. World J Clin Cases 2022; 10:4348-4356. [PMID: 35663078 PMCID: PMC9125284 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i14.4348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Determination of the mesenchymal stem cells is one of the greatest and most exciting achievements that tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have achieved. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) are easily isolated and cultured for a long time before losing their stem cell characteristics, which are self-renewal and pluripotency. AD-MSC are mesenchymal stem cells that have pluripotent lineage characteristics. They are easily accessible, and the fraction of stem cells in the adipose tissue lysates is highest among all other sources of mesenchymal stem cells. It is also HLA-DR negative and can be transplanted allogenically without the need for immunosuppression. These advantages have popularized its use in many fields including plastic reconstructive surgery. However, in the field of hepatology and liver transplantation, the progress is slower. AD-MSC have the potential to modulate inflammation, ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury, and support liver and biliary tract regeneration. These are very important for the treatment of various hepatobiliary diseases. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory potential of these cells has paramount importance in the treatment of sepsis. We need alternative therapeutic approaches to treat end-stage liver failure. AD-MSC can provide a means of therapy to bridge to definitive therapeutic alternatives such as liver transplantation. Here we propose to review theoretic applications of AD-MSC in the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basri Satilmis
- Hepatology Research Laboratory, Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
| | - Gizem Selen Cicek
- Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Malatya Training and Research Hospital, Malatya 44000, Yesilyurt, Turkey
| | - Egemen Cicek
- Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
| | - Sami Akbulut
- Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
| | - Tevfik Tolga Sahin
- Hepatology Research Laboratory, Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
- Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
| | - Sezai Yilmaz
- Hepatology Research Laboratory, Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
- Liver Transplant Institute, Inonu University, Malatya 44000, Battalgazi, Turkey
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Yu Z, Li H, Zhu J, Wang H, Jin X. The roles of E3 ligases in Hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:1179-1214. [PMID: 35411231 PMCID: PMC8984888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex multistep biological process involving genetic and epigenetic alterations that are accompanied by activation of oncoproteins and inactivation of tumor suppressors, which in turn results in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the common tumors with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the key to protein degradation and regulation of physiological and pathological processes, and E3 ligases are key enzymes in the UPS that contain a variety of subfamily proteins involved in the regulation of some common signal pathways in HCC. There is growing evidence that many structural or functional dysfunctions of E3 are engaged in the development and progression of HCC. Herein, we review recent research advances in HCC-associated E3 ligases, describe their structure, classification, functional roles, and discuss some mechanisms of the abnormal activation or inactivation of the HCC-associated signal pathway due to the binding of E3 to known substrates. In addition, given the success of proteasome inhibitors in the treatment of malignant cancers, we characterize the current knowledge and future prospects for targeted therapies against aberrant E3 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongdong Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haibiao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, China
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Wang FD, Zhou J, Chen EQ. Molecular Mechanisms and Potential New Therapeutic Drugs for Liver Fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:787748. [PMID: 35222022 PMCID: PMC8874120 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.787748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the pathological process of excessive extracellular matrix deposition after liver injury and is a precursor to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is essentially a wound healing response to liver tissue damage. Numerous studies have shown that hepatic stellate cells play a critical role in this process, with various cells, cytokines, and signaling pathways engaged. Currently, the treatment targeting etiology is considered the most effective measure to prevent and treat liver fibrosis, but reversal fibrosis by elimination of the causative agent often occurs too slowly or too rarely to avoid life-threatening complications, especially in advanced fibrosis. Liver transplantation is the only treatment option in the end-stage, leaving us with an urgent need for new therapies. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of liver fibrosis could identify new targets for the treatment. Most of the drugs targeting critical cells and cytokines in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis are still in pre-clinical trials and there are hardly any definitive anti-fibrotic chemical or biological drugs available for clinical use. In this review, we will summarize the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, focusing on the role of key cells, associated mechanisms, and signaling pathways, and summarize various therapeutic measures or drugs that have been trialed in clinical practice or are in the research stage.
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Dan Zeng CD, Tong YX, Xiao AT, Gao C, Zhang S. Peripheral Lymphocyte Subsets Absolute Counts as Feasible Clinical Markers for Predicting Surgical Outcome in Gastric Cancer Patients After Laparoscopic D2 Gastrectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:5633-5646. [PMID: 34744447 PMCID: PMC8565983 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s335847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune function influenced patients’ recovery from major abdominal surgery. The aim of this study is to explore the clinical feasibility of peripheral lymphocyte absolute counts for predicting short-term surgical outcomes in gastric cancer patients after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy. Methods This is a prospective cohort study from a single tertiary referral hospital. Patients diagnosed with gastric cancer who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. We collected the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of included patients. We monitored perioperative dynamics of absolute counts of peripheral lymphocyte subsets. Predictive factors for length of postoperative hospital stay and complications were investigated in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results A total of 137 gastric cancer patients were included. Decreased preoperative absolute counts of peripheral lymphocyte subsets were correlated with advanced clinical stage. In multivariate analysis, independent predictive factors for prolonged hospital stay were age (p=0.04), decreased preoperative B cell counts (p=0.05), decreased preoperative NK cell counts (p=0.05) and complications (p<0.01). For postoperative complication, independent predictive factors were age (p=0.02), operation time (p=0.05), lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (p=0.01) and decreased preoperative B cell counts (p=0.01). Conclusion Our findings for the first time revealed that absolute counts of peripheral lymphocyte subsets are independent predictive factors for surgical outcomes in gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy. We suggested that patients with impaired immune state should receive both preoperative immune modulator and nutritional support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ci Dian Dan Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Xin Tong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ai Tang Xiao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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Gok Yavuz B, Hasanov E, Lee SS, Mohamed YI, Curran MA, Koay EJ, Cristini V, Kaseb AO. Current Landscape and Future Directions of Biomarkers for Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:1195-1207. [PMID: 34595140 PMCID: PMC8478438 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s322289] [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] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Multiple immunotherapeutic approaches have been investigated to date, and immunotherapy has become the new standard of care therapy in HCC. However, the current role of immunotherapy in HCC remains non-curative. Given this context, a high priority for oncology is understanding the biomarkers that predict clinical response to immunotherapy, have the potential to improve patient selection to maximize the clinical benefit, and spare unnecessary toxicity. In this review, we summarize the key predictive and prognostic biomarkers investigated in immunotherapy clinical trials in HCC and the emerging biomarkers to serve as a roadmap for future clinical trials. Biomarkers from tumoral tissues including PDL-1 expression, tissue infiltrating lymphocytes, tumor mutational burden (TMB) and specific immune signatures, and from peripheral blood including neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and specific cytokines, along with gut microbiota are among the studied biomarkers to date in the HCC era. More integrative approaches, including mathematical biomarkers to predict immunotherapy outcomes, are yet to be studied in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Gok Yavuz
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elshad Hasanov
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunyoung S Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yehia I Mohamed
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael A Curran
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eugene J Koay
- Department of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Natural Killer Cells and Type 1 Innate Lymphoid Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22169044. [PMID: 34445750 PMCID: PMC8396475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) are specific innate lymphoid cell subsets that are key for the detection and elimination of pathogens and cancer cells. In liver, while they share a number of characteristics, they differ in many features. These include their developmental pathways, tissue distribution, phenotype and functions. NK cells and ILC1 contribute to organ homeostasis through the production of key cytokines and chemokines and the elimination of potential harmful bacteria and viruses. In addition, they are equipped with a wide range of receptors, allowing them to detect “stressed cells’ such as cancer cells. Our understanding of the role of innate lymphoid cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is growing owing to the development of mouse models, the progress in immunotherapeutic treatment and the recent use of scRNA sequencing analyses. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of NK cells and ILC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and discuss future strategies to take advantage of these innate immune cells in anti-tumor immunity. Immunotherapies hold great promise in HCC, and a better understanding of the role and function of NK cells and ILC1 in liver cancer could pave the way for new NK cell and/or ILC1-targeted treatment.
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The TGF-β Pathway: A Pharmacological Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133248. [PMID: 34209646 PMCID: PMC8268320 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily members are essential for tissue homeostasis and consequently, dysregulation of their signaling pathways contributes to the development of human diseases. In the liver, TGF-β signaling participates in all the stages of disease progression from initial liver injury to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During liver carcinogenesis, TGF-β plays a dual role on the malignant cell, behaving as a suppressor factor at early stages, but contributing to later tumor progression once cells escape from its cytostatic effects. Moreover, TGF-β can modulate the response of the cells forming the tumor microenvironment that may also contribute to HCC progression, and drive immune evasion of cancer cells. Thus, targeting the TGF-β pathway may constitute an effective therapeutic option for HCC treatment. However, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that allow to predict the response of the tumors and appropriately select the patients that could benefit from TGF-β inhibitory therapies. Here we review the functions of TGF-β on HCC malignant and tumor microenvironment cells, and the current strategies targeting TGF-β signaling for cancer therapy. We also summarize the clinical impact of TGF-β inhibitors in HCC patients and provide a perspective on its future use alone or in combinatorial strategies for HCC treatment.
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12
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The Dual Role of the GABA A Receptor in Peripheral Inflammation and Neuroinflammation: A Study in Hyperammonemic Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136772. [PMID: 34202516 PMCID: PMC8268725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive and motor impairment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) are mediated by neuroinflammation, which is induced by hyperammonemia and peripheral inflammation. GABAergic neurotransmission in the cerebellum is altered in rats with chronic hyperammonemia. The mechanisms by which hyperammonemia induces neuroinflammation remain unknown. We hypothesized that GABAA receptors can modulate cerebellar neuroinflammation. The GABAA antagonist bicuculline was administrated daily (i.p.) for four weeks in control and hyperammonemic rats. Its effects on peripheral inflammation and on neuroinflammation as well as glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in the cerebellum were assessed. In hyperammonemic rats, bicuculline decreases IL-6 and TNFα and increases IL-10 in the plasma, reduces astrocyte activation, induces the microglia M2 phenotype, and reduces IL-1β and TNFα in the cerebellum. However, in control rats, bicuculline increases IL-6 and decreases IL-10 plasma levels and induces microglial activation. Bicuculline restores the membrane expression of some glutamate and GABA transporters restoring the extracellular levels of GABA in hyperammonemic rats. Blocking GABAA receptors improves peripheral inflammation and cerebellar neuroinflammation, restoring neurotransmission in hyperammonemic rats, whereas it induces inflammation and neuroinflammation in controls. This suggests a complex interaction between GABAergic and immune systems. The modulation of GABAA receptors could be a suitable target for improving neuroinflammation in MHE.
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Zou LL, Li JR, Li H, Tan JL, Wang MX, Liu NN, Gao RM, Yan HY, Wang XK, Dong B, Li YH, Peng ZG. TGF-β isoforms inhibit hepatitis C virus propagation in transforming growth factor beta/SMAD protein signalling pathway dependent and independent manners. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:3498-3510. [PMID: 33682288 PMCID: PMC8034461 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) plays an important role in the viral liver disease progression via controlling viral propagation and mediating inflammation‐associated responses. However, the antiviral activities and mechanisms of TGF‐β isoforms, including TGF‐β1, TGF‐β2 and TGF‐β3, remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that all of the three TGF‐β isoforms were increased in Huh7.5 cells infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), but in turn, the elevated TGF‐β isoforms could inhibit HCV propagation with different potency in infectious HCV cell culture system. TGF‐β isoforms suppressed HCV propagation through interrupting several different stages in the whole HCV life cycle, including virus entry and intracellular replication, in TGF‐β/SMAD signalling pathway–dependent and TGF‐β/SMAD signalling pathway–independent manners. TGF‐β isoforms showed additional anti‐HCV activities when combined with each other. However, the elevated TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β2, not TGF‐β3, could also induce liver fibrosis with a high expression of type I collagen alpha‐1 and α‐smooth muscle actin in LX‐2 cells. Our results showed a new insight into TGF‐β isoforms in the HCV‐related liver disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Zou
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Rui Li
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hu Li
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Li Tan
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mei-Xi Wang
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan-Nan Liu
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Rong-Mei Gao
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Yan Yan
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Kai Wang
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Biao Dong
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Huan Li
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zong-Gen Peng
- CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Antibiotics, The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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14
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Burvenich IJG, Goh YW, Guo N, Gan HK, Rigopoulos A, Cao D, Liu Z, Ackermann U, Wichmann CW, McDonald AF, Huynh N, O'Keefe GJ, Gong SJ, Scott FE, Li L, Geng W, Zutshi A, Lan Y, Scott AM. Radiolabelling and preclinical characterization of 89Zr-Df-radiolabelled bispecific anti-PD-L1/TGF-βRII fusion protein bintrafusp alfa. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 48:3075-3088. [PMID: 33608805 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-021-05251-0] [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: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Τhis study aimed to optimize the 89Zr-radiolabelling of bintrafusp alfa investigational drug product and controls, and perform the in vitro and in vivo characterization of 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa and 89Zr-Df-control radioconjugates. METHODS Bintrafusp alfa (anti-PD-L1 human IgG1 antibody fused to TGF-β receptor II (TGF-βRII), avelumab (anti-PD-L1 human IgG1 control antibody), isotype control (mutated inactive anti-PD-L1 IgG1 control antibody), and trap control (mutated inactive anti-PD-L1 human IgG1 fused to active TGF-βRII) were chelated with p-isothiocyanatobenzyl-desferrioxamine (Df). After radiolabelling with zirconium-89 (89Zr), radioconjugates were assessed for radiochemical purity, immunoreactivity, antigen binding affinity, and serum stability in vitro. In vivo biodistribution and imaging studies were performed with PET/CT to identify and quantitate 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa tumour uptake in a PD-L1/TGF-β-positive murine breast cancer model (EMT-6). Specificity of 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa was assessed via a combined biodistribution and imaging experiment in the presence of competing cold bintrafusp alfa (1 mg/kg). RESULTS Nanomolar affinities for PD-L1 were achieved with 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa and 89Zr-avelumab. Biodistribution and imaging studies in PD-L1- and TGF-β-positive EMT-6 tumour-bearing BALB/c mice demonstrated the biologic similarity of 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa and 89Zr-avelumab indicating the in vivo distribution pattern of bintrafusp alfa is driven by its PD-L1 binding arm. Competition study with 1 mg of unlabelled bintrafusp alfa or avelumab co-administered with trace dose of 89Zr-labelled bintrafusp alfa demonstrated the impact of dose and specificity of PD-L1 targeting in vivo. CONCLUSION Molecular imaging of 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa biodistribution was achievable and allows non-invasive quantitation of tumour uptake of 89Zr-Df-bintrafusp alfa, suitable for use in bioimaging clinical trials in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Julienne Georgette Burvenich
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yit Wooi Goh
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Nancy Guo
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Hui Kong Gan
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Angela Rigopoulos
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Diana Cao
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhanqi Liu
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Uwe Ackermann
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christian Werner Wichmann
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Franklin McDonald
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nhi Huynh
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Graeme Joseph O'Keefe
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sylvia Jie Gong
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Fiona Elizabeth Scott
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia.,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Linghui Li
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Wanping Geng
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Anup Zutshi
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Yan Lan
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Mark Scott
- Tumour Targeting Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia. .,School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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15
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Vyas AK, Lslam M, Garg G, Singh AK, Trehanpati N. Humoral Immune Responses and Hepatitis B Infection. Dig Dis 2021; 39:516-525. [PMID: 33429386 DOI: 10.1159/000514274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronicity or seroclearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens is determined by the host immune responses. Current approaches to treat HBV patients are based on inhibition of replication using different antivirals (nucleoside or nucleotide analogs) as monotherapy, or along with immune modulators as combination therapy is being used worldwide for reducing the viral load. Understanding the role of immune cellular therapies with currently available treatments for persistent viral-mediated responses in HBV patients is unexplored. However, the generation of antibodies against a surface (HBs) and envelop (HBe) antigen of hepatitis B remains an issue for future studies and needs to be explored. SUMMARY Humoral immunity, specifically T follicular helper (TFh) cells, may serve as a target for therapy for HBsAg seroconversion. In this review, we have been engrossed in the importance and role of the humoral immune responses in CHBV infection and vertical transmission. Key Message: TFh cells have been suggested as the potential target of immunotherapy which lead to seroconversion of HBe and HBs antigens of HBV. HBsAg seroconversion and eradication of covalently closed circular DNA are the main challenges for existing and forthcoming therapies in HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kumar Vyas
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - Mojahidul Lslam
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Garima Garg
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - Anirudh K Singh
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - Nirupma Trehanpati
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
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16
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Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: Current Applications and Future Directions in the Regeneration of Multiple Tissues. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:8810813. [PMID: 33488736 PMCID: PMC7787857 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8810813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can maintain self-renewal and enhanced multidifferentiation potential through the release of a variety of paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles, allowing them to repair damaged organs and tissues. Consequently, considerable attention has increasingly been paid to their application in tissue engineering and organ regeneration. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of ADSC preparation, including harvesting, isolation, and identification. The advances in preclinical and clinical evidence-based ADSC therapy for bone, cartilage, myocardium, liver, and nervous system regeneration as well as skin wound healing are also summarized. Notably, the perspectives, potential challenges, and future directions for ADSC-related researches are discussed. We hope that this review can provide comprehensive and standardized guidelines for the safe and effective application of ADSCs to achieve predictable and desired therapeutic effects.
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17
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Role of Natural Killer Cells in Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123694. [PMID: 33317028 PMCID: PMC7764114 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (MUM) is a lethal malignancy with no durable treatment available to date. A vast majority of patients with MUM present with liver metastasis. The liver harbors metastatic disease with an apparent lack of a cytotoxic T cell response. It is becoming evident that MUM is not an immunologically silent malignancy and the investigation of non-T cell anti-tumor immunity is warranted. In this review, we highlight the relevance of Natural Killer (NK) cells in the biology and treatment of MUM. Potent anti-NK cell immunosuppression employed by uveal melanoma alludes to its vulnerability to NK cell cytotoxicity. On the contrary, micro-metastasis in the liver survive for several years within close vicinity of a plethora of circulating and liver-resident NK cells. This review provides unique perspectives into the potential role of NK cells in control or progression of uveal melanoma. Abstract Uveal melanoma has a high mortality rate following metastasis to the liver. Despite advances in systemic immune therapy, treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) has failed to achieve long term durable responses. Barriers to success with immune therapy include the immune regulatory nature of uveal melanoma as well as the immune tolerant environment of the liver. To adequately harness the anti-tumor potential of the immune system, non-T cell-based approaches need to be explored. Natural Killer (NK) cells possess potent ability to target tumor cells via innate and adaptive responses. In this review, we discuss evidence that highlights the role of NK cell surveillance and targeting of uveal melanoma. We also discuss the repertoire of intra-hepatic NK cells. The human liver has a vast and diverse lymphoid population and NK cells comprise 50% of the hepatic lymphocytes. Hepatic NK cells share a common niche with uveal melanoma micro-metastasis within the liver sinusoids. It is, therefore, crucial to understand and investigate the role of intra-hepatic NK cells in the control or progression of MUM.
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18
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Barry AE, Baldeosingh R, Lamm R, Patel K, Zhang K, Dominguez DA, Kirton KJ, Shah AP, Dang H. Hepatic Stellate Cells and Hepatocarcinogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:709. [PMID: 32850829 PMCID: PMC7419619 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a significant component of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment (TME). Activated HSCs transform into myofibroblast-like cells to promote fibrosis in response to liver injury or chronic inflammation, leading to cirrhosis and HCC. The hepatic TME is comprised of cellular components, including activated HSCs, tumor-associated macrophages, endothelial cells, immune cells, and non-cellular components, such as growth factors, proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors, and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Interactions between HCC cells and their microenvironment have become topics under active investigation. These interactions within the hepatic TME have the potential to drive carcinogenesis and create challenges in generating effective therapies. Current studies reveal potential mechanisms through which activated HSCs drive hepatocarcinogenesis utilizing matricellular proteins and paracrine crosstalk within the TME. Since activated HSCs are primary secretors of ECM proteins during liver injury and inflammation, they help promote fibrogenesis, infiltrate the HCC stroma, and contribute to HCC development. In this review, we examine several recent studies revealing the roles of HSCs and their clinical implications in the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis within the hepatic TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Barry
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rajkumar Baldeosingh
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan Lamm
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Keyur Patel
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dana A Dominguez
- Department of General Surgery, UCSF East Bay, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Kayla J Kirton
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ashesh P Shah
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hien Dang
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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19
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Protective Effect of DPPD on Mercury Chloride-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Rats. J Toxicol 2020; 2020:4127284. [PMID: 32733552 PMCID: PMC7378606 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4127284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury is a global environmental pollutant, accumulating mainly in the kidney and liver inducing hepatorenal toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radicals' production and cellular antioxidant defense systems. In the present study, we investigated the effect of N N′-diphenyl-1, 4-phenylenediamine (DPPD) antioxidant activity against mercury chloride- (HgCl2-) induced renal and hepatic toxicity. Thirty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups: the first group was injected with saline only and served as a control, the second group was injected with HgCl2, and the third group received DPPD + HgCl2 rats injected with HgCl2 without treatment showing a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, and uric acids compared to control. Moreover, the second group showed a significant reduction in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH)) in addition to a marked increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, histopathological alterations, collagen deposition, CD8%, CD4%, and TGF-β% in kidney and liver tissues compared with the control group. Treatment with DPPD showed significant recovery (p ≤ 0.001) in all previous parameters and histopathological examination. In conclusion, we suggested that DPPD may have a promising antioxidant capacity, gives it the applicability to be used as a prophylactic agent against mercury-induced hepatorenal cytotoxicity in the future.
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20
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Chen J, Deng X, Liu Y, Tan Q, Huang G, Che Q, Guo J, Su Z. Kupffer Cells in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Friend or Foe? Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16:2367-2378. [PMID: 32760204 PMCID: PMC7378652 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.47143] [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: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing all around the world and it may become the primary cause of terminal liver disease in adults and children in the next few decades. However, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any drugs for its treatment. Kupffer cells are the key cells regulating immunity in the liver, and the effect of their unique polarization on NAFLD has received increasing attention. Kupffer cells mainly reside in the lumen of hepatic sinusoids and account for 80% to 90% of colonized macrophages in the human body. They are phagocytic cells with the capacity for self-renewal that rarely migrate from their niche in the liver, and play a crucial role in regulating and maintaining homeostasis. Upon liver damage, Kupffer cells will be activated, releasing a good deal of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This review summarizes the multiple roles of Kupffer cells in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, the role of infiltrating macrophages in the pathogenesis of NAFLD is also briefly discussed, and aims to provide a theoretical basis for designing an NAFLD treatment strategy with Kupffer cells as the therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Chen
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Provincial University Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Products and Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia SATCM, Level 3 Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism SATCM, Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoyi Deng
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Provincial University Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Products and Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia SATCM, Level 3 Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism SATCM, Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yongjian Liu
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Provincial University Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Products and Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia SATCM, Level 3 Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism SATCM, Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiuhua Tan
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Provincial University Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Products and Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia SATCM, Level 3 Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism SATCM, Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guidong Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; 15# Lequn Road, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 54101, China
| | - Qishi Che
- Guangzhou Rainhome Pharm & Tech CO., LTD 5F, No.10 Yongsheng Road, Yonghe Econoic region, Science City, Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Jiao Guo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia SATCM, Level 3 Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism SATCM, Institute of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhengquan Su
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Provincial University Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Products and Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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21
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Xu F, Hua C, Tautenhahn HM, Dirsch O, Dahmen U. The Role of Autophagy for the Regeneration of the Aging Liver. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103606. [PMID: 32443776 PMCID: PMC7279469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age is one of the key risk factors to develop malignant diseases leading to a high incidence of hepatic tumors in the elderly population. The only curative treatment for hepatic tumors is surgical removal, which initiates liver regeneration. However, liver regeneration is impaired with aging, leading to an increased surgical risk for the elderly patient. Due to the increased risk, those patients are potentially excluded from curative surgery. Aging impairs autophagy via lipofuscin accumulation and inhibition of autophagosome formation. Autophagy is a recycling mechanism for eukaryotic cells to maintain homeostasis. Its principal function is to degrade endogenous bio-macromolecules for recycling cellular substances. A number of recent studies have shown that the reduced regenerative capacity of the aged remnant liver can be restored by promoting autophagy. Autophagy can be activated via multiple mTOR-dependent and mTOR-independent pathways. However, inducing autophagy through the mTOR-dependent pathway alone severely impairs liver regeneration. In contrast, recent observations suggest that inducing autophagy via mTOR-independent pathways might be promising in promoting liver regeneration. Conclusion: Activation of autophagy via an mTOR-independent autophagy inducer is a potential therapy for promoting liver regeneration, especially in the elderly patients at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Xu
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Chuanfeng Hua
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Olaf Dirsch
- Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, 09111 Chemnitz, Germany;
| | - Uta Dahmen
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-03641-9325350
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22
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Hurrell T, Kastrinou-Lampou V, Fardellas A, Hendriks DFG, Nordling Å, Johansson I, Baze A, Parmentier C, Richert L, Ingelman-Sundberg M. Human Liver Spheroids as a Model to Study Aetiology and Treatment of Hepatic Fibrosis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040964. [PMID: 32295224 PMCID: PMC7227007 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects approximately one billion adults worldwide. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive disease and underlies the advancement to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, for which there are no FDA-approved drug therapies. We developed a hetero-cellular spheroid system comprised of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) co-cultured with crude fractions of primary human liver non-parenchymal cells (NPC) from several matched or non-matched donors, to identify phenotypes with utility in investigating NASH pathogenesis and drug screening. Co-culture spheroids displayed stable expression of hepatocyte markers (albumin, CYP3A4) with the integration of stellate (vimentin, PDGFRβ), endothelial (vWF, PECAM1), and CD68-positive cells. Several co-culture spheroids developed a fibrotic phenotype either spontaneously, primarily observed in PNPLA3 mutant donors, or after challenge with free fatty acids (FFA), as determined by COL1A1 and αSMA expression. This phenotype, as well as TGFβ1 expression, was attenuated with an ALK5 inhibitor. Furthermore, CYP2E1, which has a strong pro-oxidant effect, was induced by NPCs and FFA. This system was used to evaluate the effects of anti-NASH drug candidates, which inhibited fibrillary deposition following 7 days of exposure. In conclusion, we suggest that this system is suitable for the evaluation of NASH pathogenesis and screening of anti-NASH drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Hurrell
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Vlasia Kastrinou-Lampou
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Achilleas Fardellas
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Delilah F. G. Hendriks
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Åsa Nordling
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Inger Johansson
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
| | - Audrey Baze
- KaLy-Cell, 67115 Plobsheim, France; (A.B.); (C.P.); (L.R.)
| | | | | | - Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg
- Ingelman-Sundberg Group, Section of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.H.); (V.K.-L.); (A.F.); (D.F.G.H.); (Å.N.); (I.J.)
- Correspondence:
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23
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Weiskirchen R, Meurer SK, Liedtke C, Huber M. Mast Cells in Liver Fibrogenesis. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111429. [PMID: 31766207 PMCID: PMC6912398 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) are immune cells of the myeloid lineage that are present in the connective tissue throughout the body and in mucosa tissue. They originate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and circulate as MC progenitors in the blood. After migration to various tissues, they differentiate into their mature form, which is characterized by a phenotype containing large granules enriched in a variety of bioactive compounds, including histamine and heparin. These cells can be activated in a receptor-dependent and -independent manner. Particularly, the activation of the high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor, also known as FcεRI, that is expressed on the surface of MCs provoke specific signaling cascades that leads to intracellular calcium influx, activation of different transcription factors, degranulation, and cytokine production. Therefore, MCs modulate many aspects in physiological and pathological conditions, including wound healing, defense against pathogens, immune tolerance, allergy, anaphylaxis, autoimmune defects, inflammation, and infectious and other disorders. In the liver, MCs are mainly associated with connective tissue located in the surrounding of the hepatic arteries, veins, and bile ducts. Recent work has demonstrated a significant increase in MC number during hepatic injury, suggesting an important role of these cells in liver disease and progression. In the present review, we summarize aspects of MC function and mediators in experimental liver injury, their interaction with other hepatic cell types, and their contribution to the pathogenesis of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (R.W.) (M.H.)
| | - Steffen K. Meurer
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Christian Liedtke
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Michael Huber
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Immunology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- Correspondence: (R.W.) (M.H.)
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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: 403] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.6] [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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Wungu CDK, Amin M, Ruslan SEN, Purwono PB, Kholili U, Maimunah U, Setiawan PB, Lusida MI, Soetjipto S, Handajani R. Association between host TNF-α, TGF-β1, p53 polymorphisms, HBV X gene mutation, HBV viral load and the progression of HBV-associated chronic liver disease in Indonesian patients. Biomed Rep 2019; 11:145-153. [PMID: 31565220 PMCID: PMC6759598 DOI: 10.3892/br.2019.1239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In developing countries, including Indonesia, there is a high mortality rate associated with the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated chronic liver disease (CLD). The pathogenesis of HBV infection is influenced by viral and host factors. To determine potential associations between these factors, host single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on TNF-α, TGF-β1 and p53, HBV X gene mutation and HBV viral load were investigated in patients with HBV-associated CLD in Surabaya, Indonesia. Sera were collected from 87 CLD patients with HBV infection. TNF-α, TGF-β1 and p53 SNPs were genotyped by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. The HBV X gene was sequenced and compared with reference strains to determine mutations and the viral load was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In Indonesian patients, no association between TNF-α, TGF-β1 and p53 SNPs and CLD or X gene mutation were identified. A total of 23% (20/87) of samples had HBV X gene mutations, including ten substitution types, one deletion and one insertion. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that the K130M/V131I mutations were correlated with CLD progression (OR, 7.629; 95% CI, 1.578-36.884). Significant differences in viral load were found in HBV-infected patients who had X gene mutations, such as R87W/G, I127L/T/N/S and K130M/V131I mutations (P<0.05). The presence of K130M and V131I mutations may be predictive for the progression of HBV-associated CLD in Indonesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citrawati Dyah Kencono Wungu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia.,Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Mochamad Amin
- Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - S Eriaty N Ruslan
- Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia
| | - Ulfa Kholili
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Dr Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Ummi Maimunah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Dr Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Poernomo Boedi Setiawan
- Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia
| | - Maria Inge Lusida
- Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia
| | - Soetjipto Soetjipto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia.,Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Retno Handajani
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia.,Institute of Tropical Disease, University of Airlangga Campus C, Mulyorejo, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
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Abstract
Magnesium is a vital cation that takes part in many cellular processes. Magnesium balance can be disturbed in multiple conditions, and differences in magnesium concentration can be responsible for numerous physiological and pathological processes. Magnesium deficiency is commonly associated with liver diseases, and may result from low nutrient uptake, greater urinary secretion, low serum albumin concentration, or hormone inactivation. In turn, low magnesium content in serum and liver tissue can lead to the progression of these diseases, due to a disruption in mitochondrial function, defective protein kinase C (PKC) translocation, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, or metabolic disorders. Furthermore, magnesium supplementation can improve liver function in certain liver diseases. This paper comprehensively reviews the changes in magnesium concentrations associated with liver cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), liver cancer, and viral hepatitis, and explains how such changes may in turn impact these disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixi Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, PUMC & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
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27
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Moghadamrad S, Hassan M, McCoy KD, Kirundi J, Kellmann P, De Gottardi A. Attenuated fibrosis in specific pathogen-free microbiota in experimental cholestasis- and toxin-induced liver injury. FASEB J 2019; 33:12464-12476. [PMID: 31431085 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901113r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In advanced chronic liver disease (CLD), the translocation of intestinal bacteria and the resultant increase of proinflammatory cytokines in the splanchnic and systemic circulation may contribute to the progression of fibrosis. We therefore speculated that fibrosis and portal hypertension (PHT) would be attenuated in a mouse model of limited intestinal colonization with altered Schaedler flora (ASF) compared to a more complex colonization with specific pathogen-free (SPF) flora. We induced liver fibrosis in ASF and SPF mice by common bile duct ligation (BDL) or by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment. We then measured portal pressure (PP), portosystemic shunts (PSSs), and harvested tissues for further analyses. There were no differences in PP between sham-treated ASF or SPF mice. After BDL or CCl4 treatment, PP, PSSs, and hepatic collagen deposition increased in both groups. However, the increase in PP and the degree of fibrosis was significantly higher in ASF than SPF mice. Expression of fibrotic markers α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β were significantly higher in ASF than SPF mice. This was associated with higher activation of hepatic immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils) and decreased expression of the intestinal epithelial tight junction proteins (claudin-1, occludin-1). In 2 models of advanced CLD, SPF mice presented significantly attenuated liver injury, fibrosis, and PHT compared to ASF mice. In contrast to our hypothesis, these findings suggest that a complex intestinal microbiota may play a "hepato-protective" role.-Moghadamrad, S., Hassan, M., McCoy, K. D., Kirundi, J., Kellmann, P., De Gottardi, A. Attenuated fibrosis in specific pathogen-free microbiota in experimental cholestasis- and toxin-induced liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheida Moghadamrad
- Department of Biomedical Research, Hepatology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.,Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Mohsin Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Research, Hepatology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Kathy D McCoy
- Department of Biomedical Research, Gastroenterology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jorum Kirundi
- Department of Biomedical Research, Gastroenterology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Kellmann
- Department of Biomedical Research, Hepatology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Andrea De Gottardi
- Department of Biomedical Research, Hepatology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.,Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland
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28
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Poznanski SM, Ashkar AA. What Defines NK Cell Functional Fate: Phenotype or Metabolism? Front Immunol 2019; 10:1414. [PMID: 31275330 PMCID: PMC6593107 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
NK cells are capable of an array of functions that range widely from their classic anti-tumor and anti-viral cytotoxic effector functions, to their critical regulatory roles in controlling inflammatory immune responses and promoting tissue growth. However, the mechanisms that polarize NK cells to these distinct and opposing functions are incompletely understood. NK cell functional subsets are primarily identified and studied based on phenotype, which has served as an accessible means for profiling NK cells and does offer information on NK cell activation state. However, inconsistencies have emerged in using classic phenotypes to inform function, which raise the questions: Can phenotype in fact define NK cell functional fate? What factors do profile and drive NK cell fate? In other immune cells, cell metabolism has been shown to critically determine subset polarization. There is a growing body of evidence that cell metabolism is integral to NK cell effector functions. Glucose-driven glycolysis and oxidative metabolism have been shown to drive classic NK cell anti-tumor and anti-viral effector functions. Recent studies have uncovered a critical role for metabolism in NK cell development, education, and memory generation. In this review, we will draw on the evidence to date to investigate the relationship between NK cell phenotype, metabolism, and functional fate. We explore a paradigm in which the differential activity of metabolic pathways within NK cells produce distinct metabolic fingerprints that comprehensively distinguish and drive the range of NK cell functional abilities. We will discuss future areas of study that are needed to develop and test this paradigm and suggest strategies to efficiently profile NK cells based on metabolism. Given the emerging role of metabolism in driving NK cell fates, profiling and modulating NK cell metabolism holds profound therapeutic potential to tune inflammatory and regulatory NK cell responses to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie M Poznanski
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ali A Ashkar
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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29
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Niu J, Wang Y, Liu B, Yao Y. Mesenchymal stem cells prolong the survival of orthotopic liver transplants by regulating the expression of TGF-β1. TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2019; 29:601-609. [PMID: 30260784 DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2018.17395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Recent studies have shown that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is prominently associated with acute rejection. This study aimed to explore the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the maintenance of the long-term survival of orthotopic liver transplants (OLTs) via the regulation of TGF-β1 in an experimental rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used Lewis rats as donors and ACI rats as recipients. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to evaluate histomorphological changes, and Western blot was performed to measure protein expression. RESULTS The expression of TGF-β1 in the liver allografts and spleen and protein levels of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) were measured using Western blot. The suppressive capacity of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. Cell-mediated immunotoxicity was evaluated using the mixed lymphocyte reaction of CD4+ T cells and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay of CD8+ T cells. The results showed that MSCs prolonged the survival of the OLT mice by regulating the expression of TGF-β1 at different time points. The administration of MSCs promoted a prolonged survival in the ACI recipients (105±6.6 d) compared with the MSC-untreated recipients (16.2±4.0 d). On the postoperative day (POD) 7, the MSC-treated recipients showed a significantly higher expression of TGF-β1, FoxP3, IL-10, and CTLA-4 than the MSC-untreated recipients. However, on POD 100, the MSC-treated recipients showed a lower expression of TGF-β1 and FOxP3 than that on POD 7. Moreover, on POD 7, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells extracted from the MSC-treated recipients showed a higher expression of FoxP3, IL-10, CTLA-4, and suppressive capacity. On POD 7, CD4+ T cells from the MSC-treated recipients showed more significantly diminished proliferative functions than the MSC-untreated recipients; further, a reduced allospecific CTL activity of CD8+ T cells was observed in the MSC-treated recipients. CONCLUSION MSCs may represent a promising cell therapeutic approach for inducing immunosuppression or transplant tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Niu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College Hospital, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College Hospital, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College Hospital, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanhu Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College Hospital, Jiangsu, China
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30
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Platelet TGF-β1 deficiency decreases liver fibrosis in a mouse model of liver injury. Blood Adv 2019; 2:470-480. [PMID: 29490978 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017010868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a primary role in liver fibrosis, but the source of TGF-β1 is unclear. Because platelets are rich in TGF-β1, we examined the role of platelet TGF-β1 in liver fibrosis by challenging wild-type (WT) mice and mice deficient in platelet TGF-β1 (PF4CreTgfb1f/f) with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), an inducer of acute hepatic injury and chronic fibrosis. CCl4 elicited equivalent hepatic injury in WT and PF4CreTgfb1f/f mice based on loss of cytochrome P450 (Cyp2e1) expression, observed at 6 hours and peaking at 3 days after CCl4 challenge; PF4CreTgfb1f/f mice exhibited less liver fibrosis than control mice. Activated platelets were observed during acute liver injury (6 hours), and WT mice with transient platelet depletion (thrombocytopenia) were partially protected from developing fibrosis compared with control mice (P = .01), suggesting an association between platelet activation and fibrosis. Transient increases in TGF-β1 levels and Smad2 phosphorylation signaling were observed 6 hours and 3 days, respectively, after CCl4 challenge in WT, but not PF4CreTgfb1f/f , mice, suggesting that increased TGF-β1 levels originated from platelet-released TGF-β1 during the initial injury. Numbers of collagen-producing HSCs and myofibroblasts were higher at 3 days and 36 days, respectively, in WT vs PF4CreTgfb1f/f mice, suggesting that platelet TGF-β1 may have stimulated HSC transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts. Thus, platelet TGF-β1 partially contributes to liver fibrosis, most likely by initiating profibrotic signaling in HSCs and collagen synthesis. Further studies are required to evaluate whether blocking platelet and TGF-β1 activation during acute liver injury prevents liver fibrosis.
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31
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Fisher BS, Green RR, Brown RR, Wood MP, Hensley-McBain T, Fisher C, Chang J, Miller AD, Bosche WJ, Lifson JD, Mavigner M, Miller CJ, Gale M, Silvestri G, Chahroudi A, Klatt NR, Sodora DL. Liver macrophage-associated inflammation correlates with SIV burden and is substantially reduced following cART. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006871. [PMID: 29466439 PMCID: PMC5837102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality during HIV infection, despite the use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The precise mechanisms of liver disease during HIV infection are poorly understood partially due to the difficulty in obtaining human liver samples as well as the presence of confounding factors (e.g. hepatitis co-infection, alcohol use). Utilizing the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) macaque model, a controlled study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with liver inflammation and the impact of cART. We observed an increase in hepatic macrophages during untreated SIV infection that was associated with a number of inflammatory and fibrosis mediators (TNFα, CCL3, TGFβ). Moreover, an upregulation in the macrophage chemoattractant factor CCL2 was detected in the livers of SIV-infected macaques that coincided with an increase in the number of activated CD16+ monocyte/macrophages and T cells expressing the cognate receptor CCR2. Expression of Mac387 on monocyte/macrophages further indicated that these cells recently migrated to the liver. The hepatic macrophage and T cell levels strongly correlated with liver SIV DNA levels, and were not associated with the levels of 16S bacterial DNA. Utilizing in situ hybridization, SIV-infected cells were found primarily within portal triads, and were identified as T cells. Microarray analysis identified a strong antiviral transcriptomic signature in the liver during SIV infection. In contrast, macaques treated with cART exhibited lower levels of liver macrophages and had a substantial, but not complete, reduction in their inflammatory profile. In addition, residual SIV DNA and bacteria 16S DNA were detected in the livers during cART, implicating the liver as a site on-going immune activation during antiretroviral therapy. These findings provide mechanistic insights regarding how SIV infection promotes liver inflammation through macrophage recruitment, with implications for in HIV-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget S. Fisher
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formally Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Richard R. Green
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Rachel R. Brown
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formally Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Matthew P. Wood
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formally Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Tiffany Hensley-McBain
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Cole Fisher
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formally Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jean Chang
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Andrew D. Miller
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - William J. Bosche
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Maud Mavigner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Charlene J. Miller
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michael Gale
- Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Guido Silvestri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Emory Vaccine Research Center and, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Emory Vaccine Research Center and, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nichole R. Klatt
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Donald L. Sodora
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formally Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Elsegood CL, Tirnitz-Parker JE, Olynyk JK, Yeoh GC. Immune checkpoint inhibition: prospects for prevention and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Immunology 2017; 6:e161. [PMID: 29326816 PMCID: PMC5704099 DOI: 10.1038/cti.2017.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The global prevalence of liver cancer is rapidly rising, mostly as a result of the amplified incidence rates of viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse and obesity in recent decades. Treatment options for liver cancer are remarkably limited with sorafenib being the gold standard for advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma but offering extremely limited improvement of survival time. The immune system is now recognised as a key regulator of cancer development through its ability to protect against infection and chronic inflammation, which promote cancer development, and eliminate tumour cells when present. However, the tolerogenic nature of the liver means that the immune response to infection, chronic inflammation and tumour cells within the hepatic environment is usually ineffective. Here we review the roles that immune cells and cytokines have in the development of the most common primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We then examine how the immune system may be subverted throughout the stages of HCC development, particularly with respect to immune inhibitory molecules, also known as immune checkpoints, such as programmed cell death protein-1, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, which have become therapeutic targets. Finally, we assess preclinical and clinical studies where immune checkpoint inhibitors have been used to modify disease during the carcinogenic process. In conclusion, inhibitory molecule-based immunotherapy for HCC is in its infancy and further detailed research in relevant in vivo models is required before its full potential can be realised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn L Elsegood
- School of Biomedical Science, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Janina Ee Tirnitz-Parker
- School of Biomedical Science, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - John K Olynyk
- School of Biomedical Science, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals, South Metropolitan Health Service, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - George Ct Yeoh
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Dietary and metabolic modulators of hepatic immunity. Semin Immunopathol 2017; 40:175-188. [PMID: 29110070 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-017-0659-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The liver is the central metabolic organ of the organism and is thus constantly exposed to gut-derived dietary and microbial antigens. The liver maintains homoeostatic tolerance to these mostly harmless antigens. However, the liver also functions as a barrier organ to harmful pathogens and is thus permissive to liver inflammation. The regulation of the delicate balance between liver tolerance and liver inflammation is of vital importance for the organism. In recent years, a general role for dietary components and metabolites as immune mediators has been emerging. However, although the liver is exposed to a great deal of metabolic mediators, surprisingly, little is known about their actual role in the regulation of hepatic immune responses. Here, we will explore the possible impacts of metabolic mediators for homoeostatic and pathological immunity in the liver, by highlighting selected examples of metabolic immune regulation in the liver.
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Chronic hepatitis C liver microenvironment: role of the Th17/Treg interplay related to fibrogenesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13283. [PMID: 29038590 PMCID: PMC5643436 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13777-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the different lymphocyte populations in liver microenvironment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients is still matter of debate. Since Th17 and Treg have opposite functions, their balance could affect disease progression. The aim was to explore liver microenvironment and its peripheral blood counterpart in adult CHC patients. CD4+ lymphocytes were predominant in the liver, with high Foxp3+ but low IL-17A+ frequency. IL-17A+ lymphocytes and IL-17A+/Foxp3+ ratio displayed association with advanced fibrosis (p = 0.0130; p = 0.0236, respectively), while Foxp3+ lymphocytes and IL-10 expression level inversely correlated with fibrosis severity (p = 0.0381, p = 0.0398, respectively). TGF-β/IL-6 ratio correlated with IL-17A+/Foxp3+ ratio (p = 0.0036, r = 0.5944) and with IL-17A+ lymphocytes (p = 0.0093; r = 0.5203). TNF-α and TGF-β were associated with hepatitis severity (p = 0.0409, p = 0.0321). Peripheral blood lymphocyte frequency was not associated with liver damage. There are functionally different immune cell populations actively involved in liver damage, but the liver cytokine milieu actually drives the pathogenesis. The intrahepatic Foxp3+ lymphocytes predominance beside the low IL-17A+ lymphocytes frequency, delineate a skewed IL-17A+/Foxp3+ balance towards Foxp3+ lymphocytes. However, the IL-17A+ lymphocytes association with advanced fibrosis denotes their role in the pathogenesis. Therefore, the interplay between Th17 and Treg conditions liver fibrogenesis.
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Shi JY, Ma LJ, Zhang JW, Duan M, Ding ZB, Yang LX, Cao Y, Zhou J, Fan J, Zhang X, Zhao YJ, Wang XY, Gao Q. FOXP3 Is a HCC suppressor gene and Acts through regulating the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:648. [PMID: 28903735 PMCID: PMC5598072 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND FOXP3 has been discovered to be expressed in tumor cells and participate in the regulation of tumor behavior. Herein, we investigated the clinical relevance and biological significance of FOXP3 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Expression profile of FOXP3 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence on HCC cell lines, and immunostaing of a tissue microarray containing of 240 primary HCC samples. The potential regulatory roles of FOXP3 were dissected by an integrated approach, combining biochemical assays, analysis of patient survival, genetic manipulation of HCC cell lines, mouse xenograft tumor models and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing. RESULTS FOXP3 was constitutively expressed in HCC cells with the existence of splice variants (especially exon 3 and 4 deleted, Δ3,4-FOXP3). High expression of FOXP3 significantly correlated with low serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level, absence of vascular invasion and early TNM stage. Survival analyses revealed that increased FOXP3 expression was significantly associated with better survival and reduced recurrence, and served as an independent prognosticator for HCC patients. Furthermore, FOXP3 could potently suppress the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells in vitro and reduce tumor growth in vivo. However, Δ3,4-FOXP3 showed a significant reduction in the tumor-inhibiting effect. The inhibition of FOXP3 on HCC aggressiveness was acted probably by enhancing the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that FOXP3 suppresses tumor progression in HCC via TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, highlighting the role of FOXP3 as a prognostic factor and novel target for an optimal therapy against this fatal malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Yi Shi
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Jie Ma
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ji-Wei Zhang
- Cancer Research Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng Duan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Bin Ding
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liu-Xiao Yang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ya Cao
- Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Fan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying-Jun Zhao
- Cancer Research Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ying Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
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Świderska M, Jaroszewicz J, Stawicka A, Parfieniuk-Kowerda A, Chabowski A, Flisiak R. The interplay between Th17 and T-regulatory responses as well as adipokines in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Exp Hepatol 2017; 3:127-134. [PMID: 29062902 PMCID: PMC5649483 DOI: 10.5114/ceh.2017.68466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic progressive liver disease, coupled with metabolic syndrome, which may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia are considered to be the most common causes leading to the incidence of NAFLD. It is assumed that the accumulation of lipid deposits in hepatocytes leads to production of proinflammatory cytokines that triggers the development of liver inflammation. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in regulating inflammatory processes in NASH, while T helper type 17 (Th17) might functionally oppose Treg-mediated responses. In addition, important mediators of hepatic steatosis are fatty hormones known as adipokines. We aimed to describe the significance and interaction between Treg and Th17-related cytokines as well as adipokines in pathogenesis and its potential use as biomarkers of NAFLD, especially with respect to progression to NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Świderska
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Jerzy Jaroszewicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia, Bytom, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Stawicka
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Adrian Chabowski
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
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Fang S, Yuan J, Shi Q, Xu T, Fu Y, Wu Z, Guo W. Downregulation of UBC9 promotes apoptosis of activated human LX-2 hepatic stellate cells by suppressing the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174374. [PMID: 28358817 PMCID: PMC5373541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
UBC9, the only known E2-conjugating enzyme involved in SUMOylation, is a key regulator in fibrosis. However, the roles of UBC9 in liver fibrosis remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the roles of UBC9 in HSC apoptosis and liver fibrogenesis. Our results showed that the UBC9 levels in activated LX-2 cells, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were increased compared with LO2, and the expression of UBC9 in activated LX-2 cells, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were no significant differences. The expression of UBC9 was effectively down-regulated by the UBC9-shRNA plasmid, and this effect was accompanied by the attenuated expression of the myofibroblast markers smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen I. Downregulation of UBC9 also promotes activated HSCs apoptosis by up-regulating cell apoptosis-related proteins. Further, knockdown of UBC9 in activated HSCs inhibited cell viability and caused cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase. Moreover, knockdown of UBC9 suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling pathways. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that down-regulation of UBC9 expression induced activated LX-2 cell apoptosis and promoted cells to return to a quiescent state by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results provide novel mechanistic insights for the anti-fibrotic effect of UBC9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sufen Fang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jinhua Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qing Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tiantian Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wuhua Guo
- Department of interventional radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Yadav H, Devalaraja S, Chung ST, Rane SG. TGF-β1/Smad3 Pathway Targets PP2A-AMPK-FoxO1 Signaling to Regulate Hepatic Gluconeogenesis. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:3420-3432. [PMID: 28069811 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.764910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of glucose homeostasis is essential for normal physiology. Deviation from normal glucose levels, in either direction, increases susceptibility to serious medical complications such as hypoglycemia and diabetes. Maintenance of glucose homeostasis is achieved via functional interactions among various organs: liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, brain, and the endocrine pancreas. The liver is the primary site of endogenous glucose production, especially during states of prolonged fasting. However, enhanced gluconeogenesis is also a signature feature of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Thus, elucidating the signaling pathways that regulate hepatic gluconeogenesis would allow better insight into the process of normal endogenous glucose production as well as how this process is impaired in T2D. Here we demonstrate that the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis, both upon prolonged fasting and during T2D. In contrast, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 signals suppressed endogenous glucose production. TGF-β1 and Smad3 signals achieved this effect via the targeting of key regulators of hepatic gluconeogenesis, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and FoxO1 proteins. Specifically, TGF-β1 signaling suppressed the LKB1-AMPK axis, thereby facilitating the nuclear translocation of FoxO1 and activation of key gluconeogenic genes, glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. These findings underscore an important role of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in hepatic gluconeogenesis, both in normal physiology and in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and are thus of significant medical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hariom Yadav
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20854
| | - Samir Devalaraja
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20854
| | - Stephanie T Chung
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20854
| | - Sushil G Rane
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20854.
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Li GY, Wang YJ, Zhao TJ, Peng Y. Signaling pathways related to role of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells in liver fibrosis. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:3933-3939. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i28.3933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the pathological preprocess of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer progressing from chronic liver disease. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) are involved in the formation and development of liver fibrosis through multiple signaling pathways. In this paper, we summarize and elaborate these signaling pathways including Rho-GTPase, CXCR7-Id1/FGFR1-CXCR4, VEGFR-2/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), MAPK, and TLRs. Based on these signaling pathways, we put forward new ideas for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.
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40
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Schon HT, Weiskirchen R. Exercise-Induced Release of Pharmacologically Active Substances and Their Relevance for Therapy of Hepatic Injury. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:283. [PMID: 27625607 PMCID: PMC5003891 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease (CLD) features constant parenchymal injury and repair together with an increasing hepatic impairment, finally leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis and a heightened risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Closely related to the rise in obesity, the worldwide prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the most common form of CLD, has reached an epidemic dimension and is estimated to afflict up to 46% of the general population, including more than one out of three U.S. citizens. Up to now there is no effective drug treatment available, which is why recommendations encompass both exercise programs and changes in dietary habits. Exercise is well-known for unleashing potent anti-inflammatory effects, which can principally counteract liver inflammation and chronic low-grade inflammation. This review article summarizes the underlying mechanisms responsible for the exercise-mediated anti-inflammatory effects, illustrates the application in animal models as well as in humans, and highlights the therapeutic value when possible. Based on the available results there is no doubt that exercise can even be beneficial in an advanced stage of liver disease and it is the goal of this review article to provide evidence for the therapeutic impact on fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC and to assess whether exercise might be of value as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of CLD. In principle, all exercise programs carried out in these high-risk patients should be guided and observed by qualified healthcare professionals to guarantee the patients’ safety. Nevertheless, it is also necessary to additionally determine the optimal amount and intensity of exercise to maximize its value, which is why further studies are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Theo Schon
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen, Germany
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Winkler S, Hempel M, Brückner S, Tautenhahn HM, Kaufmann R, Christ B. Identification of Pathways in Liver Repair Potentially Targeted by Secretory Proteins from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E1099. [PMID: 27409608 PMCID: PMC4964475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17071099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The beneficial impact of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on both acute and chronic liver diseases has been confirmed, although the molecular mechanisms behind it remain elusive. We aim to identify factors secreted by undifferentiated and hepatocytic differentiated MSC in vitro in order to delineate liver repair pathways potentially targeted by MSC. METHODS Secreted factors were determined by protein arrays and related pathways identified by biomathematical analyses. RESULTS MSC from adipose tissue and bone marrow expressed a similar pattern of surface markers. After hepatocytic differentiation, CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1, ICAM-1) increased and CD166 (activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule, ALCAM) decreased. MSC secreted different factors before and after differentiation. These comprised cytokines involved in innate immunity and growth factors regulating liver regeneration. Pathway analysis revealed cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, chemokine signalling pathways, the complement and coagulation cascades as well as the Januskinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NOD-like receptor) signalling pathways as relevant networks. Relationships to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF1-α) signalling seemed also relevant. CONCLUSION MSC secreted proteins, which differed depending on cell source and degree of differentiation. The factors might address inflammatory and growth factor pathways as well as chemo-attraction and innate immunity. Since these are prone to dysregulation in most liver diseases, MSC release hepatotropic factors, potentially supporting liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Winkler
- Applied Molecular Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Madlen Hempel
- Applied Molecular Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Sandra Brückner
- Applied Molecular Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Applied Molecular Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Roland Kaufmann
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Bruno Christ
- Applied Molecular Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Schon HT, Bartneck M, Borkham-Kamphorst E, Nattermann J, Lammers T, Tacke F, Weiskirchen R. Pharmacological Intervention in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Hepatic Fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:33. [PMID: 26941644 PMCID: PMC4764688 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation and transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into contractile, matrix-producing myofibroblasts (MFBs) are central events in hepatic fibrogenesis. These processes are driven by autocrine- and paracrine-acting soluble factors (i.e., cytokines and chemokines). Proof-of-concept studies of the last decades have shown that both the deactivation and removal of hepatic MFBs as well as antagonizing profibrogenic factors are in principle suitable to attenuate ongoing hepatic fibrosis. Although several drugs show potent antifibrotic activities in experimental models of hepatic fibrosis, there is presently no effective pharmaceutical intervention specifically approved for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Pharmaceutical interventions are generally hampered by insufficient supply of drugs to the diseased liver tissue and/or by adverse effects as a result of affecting non-target cells. Therefore, targeted delivery systems that bind specifically to receptors solely expressed on activated HSCs or transdifferentiated MFBs and delivery systems that can improve drug distribution to the liver in general are urgently needed. In this review, we summarize current strategies for targeted delivery of drugs to the liver and in particular to pro-fibrogenic liver cells. The applicability and efficacy of sequestering molecules, selective protein carriers, lipid-based drug vehicles, viral vectors, transcriptional targeting approaches, therapeutic liver- and HSC-specific nanoparticles, and miRNA-based strategies are discussed. Some of these delivery systems that had already been successfully tested in experimental animal models of ongoing hepatic fibrogenesis are expected to translate into clinically useful therapeutics specifically targeting HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Theo Schon
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Bartneck
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen, Germany
| | - Erawan Borkham-Kamphorst
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen Aachen, Germany
| | - Jacob Nattermann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn Bonn, Germany
| | - Twan Lammers
- Department for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic and Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen Aachen, Germany
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Wang L, Wang K, Zou ZQ. Crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity in hepatitis B virus infection. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:2980-2991. [PMID: 26730277 PMCID: PMC4691701 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i30.2980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. HBV is not directly cytotoxic to infected hepatocytes; the clinical outcome of infection results from complicated interactions between the virus and the host immune system. In acute HBV infection, initiation of a broad, vigorous immune response is responsible for viral clearance and self-limited inflammatory liver disease. Effective and coordinated innate and adaptive immune responses are critical for viral clearance and the development of long-lasting immunity. Chronic hepatitis B patients fail to mount efficient innate and adaptive immune responses to the virus. In particular, HBV-specific cytotoxic T cells, which are crucial for HBV clearance, are hyporesponsiveness to HBV infection. Accumulating experimental evidence obtained from the development of animal and cell line models has highlighted the importance of innate immunity in the early control of HBV spread. The virus has evolved immune escape strategies, with higher HBV loads and HBV protein concentrations associated with increasing impairment of immune function. Therefore, treatment of HBV infection requires inhibition of HBV replication and protein expression to restore the suppressed host immunity. Complicated interactions exist not only between innate and adaptive responses, but also among innate immune cells and different components of adaptive responses. Improved insight into these complex interactions are important in designing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment HBV infection. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the cross-talk between the innate and adaptive immune responses and among different immunocytes in HBV infection.
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Tang GH, Yang HY, Zhang JC, Ren JJ, Sang XT, Lu X, Zhong SX, Mao YL. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate inhibits inflammatory response through STAT3 pathway to protect remnant liver function. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:12370-12380. [PMID: 26604644 PMCID: PMC4649120 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i43.12370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the protective effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) on excessive hepatectomy animal model and its possible mechanism.
METHODS: We used the standard 90% hepatectomy model in Sprague-Dawley rats developed using the modified Emond’s method, in which the left, middle, right upper, and right lower lobes of the liver were removed. Rats with 90% liver resection were divided into three groups, and were injected intraperitoneally with 3 mL saline (control group), 30 mg/kg (low-dose group) and 60 mg/kg (high-dose group) of MgIG, respectively. Animals were sacrificed at various time points and blood was drawn from the vena cava. Biochemical tests were performed with an automatic biochemical analyzer for the following items: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamyl endopeptidase, total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), total protein, albumin, blood glucose (Glu), hyper-sensitivity C-reactive protein, prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). Postoperative survival time was observed hourly until death. Hepatocyte regeneration was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and iNOS) was analyzed by ELISA. STAT3 protein and mRNA were analyzed by Western blot and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, respectively.
RESULTS: The high-dose group demonstrated a significantly prolonged survival time, compared with both the control and the low-dose groups (22.0 ± 4.7 h vs 8.9 ± 2.0 vs 10.3 ± 3.3 h, P = 0.018). There were significant differences among the groups in ALT, Glu and PT levels starting from 6 h after surgery. The ALT levels were significantly lower in the MgIG treated groups than in the control group. Both Glu and PT levels were significantly higher in the MgIG treated groups than in the control group. At 12 h, ALT, AST, TBil, DBil and TT levels showed significant differences between the MgIG treated groups and the control group. No significant differences in hepatocyte regeneration were found. Compared to the control group, the high-dose group showed a significantly increase in serum inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-10, and a decrease in IL-6. Both STAT3 protein and mRNA levels were significantly lower in the MgIG treated groups than in the control group at 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h after surgery.
CONCLUSION: High-dose MgIG can extend survival time in rats after excessive hepatectomy. This hepatoprotective effect is mediated by inhibiting the inflammatory response through inhibition of the STAT3 pathway.
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