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Li C, Abdurehim A, Zhao S, Sun Q, Xu J, Xie J, Zhang Y. Research on the potential mechanism of Deapioplatycodin D against pulmonary fibrosis based on bioinformatics and experimental verification. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 974:176603. [PMID: 38679121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a group of respiratory diseases that are extremely complex and challenging to treat. Due to its high mortality rate and short survival, it's often referred to as a "tumor-like disease" that poses a serious threat to human health. OBJECTIVE We aimed validate the potential of Deapioplatycodin D (DPD) to against PF and clarify the underlying mechanism of action of DPD for the treatment of PF based on bioinformatics and experimental verification. This finding provides a basis for the development of safe and effective therapeutic PF drugs based on DPD. METHODS We used LPS-induced early PF rats as a PF model to test the overall efficacy of DPD in vivo. Then, A variety of bioinformatics methods, such as WGCNA, LASSO algorithm and immune cell infiltration (ICI), were applied to analyze the gene microarray related to PF obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to obtained key targets of PF. Finally, an in vitro PF model was constructed based on BEAS-2B cells while incorporating rat lung tissues to validate the regulatory effects of DPD on critical genes. RESULTS DPD can effectively alleviate inflammatory and fibrotic markers in rat lungs. WGCNA analysis resulted in a total of six expression modules, with the brown module having the highest correlation with PF. Subsequently, seven genes were acquired by intersecting the genes in the brown module with DEGs. Five key genes were identified as potential biomarkers of PF by LASSO algorithm and validation dataset verification analysis. In the ICI analysis, infiltration of activated B cell, immature B cell and natural killer cells were found to be more crucial in PF. Ultimately, it was observed that DPD could modulate key genes to achieve anti-PF effects. CONCLUSION In short, these comprehensive analysis methods were employed to identify critical biomarkers closely related to PF, which helps to elucidate the pathogenesis and potential immunotherapy targets of PF. It also provides essential support for the potential of DPD against PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| | - Aliya Abdurehim
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| | - Shuang Zhao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Qing Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| | - Jiawen Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| | - Junbo Xie
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yanqing Zhang
- Biotechnology & Food Science College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China.
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Chen L, Sun Q, Yue R, Yan H, Huang X, Yu H, Yang Y. Involvement of E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4-mediated YY1 ubiquitination in alleviating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:131976. [PMID: 38697427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and lethal lung disease characterized by progressive lung scarring. This study aims to elucidate the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4 in the ubiquitination of YY1 and its subsequent impact on TAB1 transcription, revealing a possible molecular mechanism in the development of IPF. Through bioinformatics analysis and both in vitro and in vivo experiments, we observed differential expression levels of NEDD4 and YY1 between normal and IPF samples, identifying NEDD4 as an upstream E3 ubiquitin ligase of YY1. Furthermore, binding sites for the transcription factor YY1 on the promoter region of TAB1 were discovered, indicating a direct interaction. In vitro experiments using HEPF cells showed that NEDD4 mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of YY1, leading to suppressed TAB1 transcription, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and fibrogenesis. These findings were corroborated by in vivo experiments in an IPF mouse model, where the ubiquitination pathway facilitated by NEDD4 attenuated IPF progression through the downregulation of YY1 and TAB1 transcription. These results suggest that NEDD4 plays a crucial role in the development of IPF by modulating YY1 ubiquitination and TAB1 transcription, providing new insights into potential therapeutic targets for treating IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Qingxiang Sun
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Ruiming Yue
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Haiying Yan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Xiaobo Huang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Hua Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China.
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Mukhatayev Z, Adilbayeva A, Kunz J. CTHRC1: An Emerging Hallmark of Pathogenic Fibroblasts in Lung Fibrosis. Cells 2024; 13:946. [PMID: 38891078 PMCID: PMC11171484 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110946] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung disease characterized by fibrotic scarring in the lung parenchyma. This condition involves the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) due to the aberrant activation of myofibroblasts in the alveolar environment. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling is a crucial driver of fibrogenesis because it promotes excessive ECM deposition, thereby leading to scar formation and lung damage. A primary target of TGF-β signaling in fibrosis is Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing 1 (CTHRC1), a secreted glycoprotein that plays a pivotal role in ECM deposition and wound repair. TGF-β transcriptionally regulates CTHRC1 in response to tissue injury and controls the wound healing response through functional activity. CTHRC1 may also play an essential role in re-establishing and maintaining tissue homeostasis after wound closure by modulating both the TGF-β and canonical Wnt signaling pathways. This dual function suggests that CTHRC1 regulates tissue remodeling and homeostasis. However, deregulated CTHRC1 expression in pathogenic fibroblasts has recently emerged as a hallmark of fibrosis in multiple organs and tissues. This review highlights recent studies suggesting that CTHRC1 can serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for fibrosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis. Notably, CTHRC1 expression is responsive to antifibrotic drugs that target the TGF-β pathway, such as pirfenidone and bexotegrast, indicating its potential as a biomarker of treatment success. These findings suggest that CTHRC1 may present new opportunities for diagnosing and treating patients with lung fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeannette Kunz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 5/1 Kerey and Zhanibek Khans St., 020000 Astana, Kazakhstan; (Z.M.); (A.A.)
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Chen SY, Liu PQ, Qin DX, Lv H, Zhou HQ, Xu Y. E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing the β-catenin/HIF-1α positive feedback loop in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:831-843. [PMID: 38052867 PMCID: PMC10943232 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) is a refractory inflammatory disease with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as one of the key features. Since ubiquitin modification has been shown to regulate the EMT process in other diseases, targeting ubiquitin ligases may be a potential strategy for the treatment of CRSwNP. In this study we investigated whether certain E3 ubiquitin ligases could regulate the EMT process in CRSwNP, and whether these regulations could be the potential drug targets as well as the underlying mechanisms. After screening the potential drug target by bioinformatic analyses, the expression levels of three potential E3 ubiquitin ligases were compared among the control, eosinophilic nasal polyp (ENP) and non-eosinophilic nasal polyp (NENP) group in clinical samples, and the significant decrement of the expression level of NEDD4L was found. Then, IP-MS, bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry studies suggested that low NEDD4L expression may be associated with the EMT process. In human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) and human nasal epithelial cell line RPMI 2650, knockdown of NEDD4L promoted EMT, while upregulating NEDD4L reversed this effect, suggesting that NEDD4L inhibited EMT in nasal epithelial cells. IP-MS and Co-IP studies revealed that NEDD4L mediated the degradation of DDR1. We demonstrated that NEDD4L inhibited the β-catenin/HIF-1α positive feedback loop either directly (degrading β-catenin and HIF-1α) or indirectly (mediating DDR1 degradation). These results were confirmed in a murine NP model in vivo. This study for the first time reveals the regulatory role of ubiquitin in the EMT process of nasal epithelial cells, and identifies a novel drug target NEDD4L, which has promising efficacy against both ENP and NENP by suppressing β-catenin/HIF-1α positive feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yuan Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Pei-Qiang Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Dan-Xue Qin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Hao Lv
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Hui-Qin Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Department of Rhinology and Allergy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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5
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Qiu M, Yan W, Liu M. YAP Facilitates NEDD4L-Mediated Ubiquitination and Degradation of ACSL4 to Alleviate Ferroptosis in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:1712-1727. [PMID: 37541340 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferroptosis is a novel iron-dependent type of cell death that takes part in the progression of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI). However, the detailed mechanism of ferroptosis underlying MIRI remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of yes-associated protein (YAP) in ferroptosis during MIRI. METHODS The in vivo and in vitro MIRI models were established in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The infarct volume, pathologic changes, cardiac function, serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK)-MB were detected. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure the expression of YAP, neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L) and ferroptosis-related proteins. Ferroptosis was evaluated by Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), LDH, glutathione (GSH), and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Molecular mechanism was analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS YAP and NEDD4L were remarkably low expressed in MIRI models. YAP overexpression reduced myocardial infarct volume and improved cardiac function. In addition, YAP inhibited MIRI-induced ferroptosis as confirmed by reducing levels of Fe2+, MDA, LDH, lipid ROS, and ferroptosis-related protein ACSL4, and enhancing GSH level and cell viability. Mechanistically, YAP facilitated NEDD4L transcription that consequently caused ubiquitination and degradation of ACSL4, thereby restraining ferroptosis in MIRI. YAP knockdown aggravated MIRI-induced ferroptosis, which was counteracted by NEDD4L overexpression. CONCLUSIONS YAP represses MIRI-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis via promoting NEDD4L transcription and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of ACSL4. YAP-mediated ferroptosis inhibition might be a novel therapeutic strategy for MIRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mali Qiu
- Cardiovascular Surgery ICU, Second Xiangya Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Second Xiangya Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Momu Liu
- Cardiovascular Surgery ICU, Second Xiangya Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
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6
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Liu S, Guo R, Xu H, Yang J, Luo H, Yeung SCJ, Li K, Lee MH, Yang R. 14-3-3σ-NEDD4L axis promotes ubiquitination and degradation of HIF-1α in colorectal cancer. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112870. [PMID: 37494179 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A hypoxic microenvironment contributes to tumor progression, with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) being a critical regulator. We have reported that 14-3-3σ is negatively associated with HIF-1α expression; however, its role in hypoxia-induced tumor progression remains poorly characterized. Here we show that 14-3-3σ suppresses cancer hypoxia-induced metastasis and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC). 14-3-3σ opposes HIF-1α expression by regulating the protein stability of HIF-1α, thereby decreasing HIF-1α transcriptional activity and suppressing tumor progression. Mechanistic studies show that the 14-3-3σ-interacting protein neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated 4-like (NEDD4L) is an E3 ligase that targets HIF-1α. 14-3-3σ promotes the binding of S448-phosphorylated NEDD4L to HIF-1α, thereby enhancing HIF-1α poly-ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome-mediated degradation. Consistent with this anti-tumorigenic function for 14-3-3σ, low 14-3-3σ expression levels correlate with poor CRC patient survival, and 14-3-3σ enhances the response of CRC to bevacizumab. These results reveal an important mechanism for 14-3-3σ in tumor suppression through HIF-1α regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Liu
- Department of the Second Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650100, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of the Second Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650100, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Jinneng Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Haidan Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Sai-Ching Jim Yeung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kai Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Mong-Hong Lee
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China; Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Runxiang Yang
- Department of the Second Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650100, China.
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Li S, Ye Q, Wei J, Taleb SJ, Wang H, Zhang Y, Kass DJ, Horowitz JC, Zhao J, Zhao Y. Nedd4L suppression in lung fibroblasts facilitates pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. Transl Res 2023; 253:1-7. [PMID: 36257596 PMCID: PMC10167741 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation is associated with the development of pulmonary fibrosis. We and others have shown that Nedd4L plays anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic roles by targeting lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1), p-Smad2/3, and β-catenin, and other molecules for their degradation in lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts. However, the molecular regulation of Nedd4L expression in lung fibroblasts has not been studied. In this study, we find that Nedd4L levels are significantly suppressed in lung myofibroblasts in IPF patients and in experimental pulmonary fibrosis, and in TGF-β1-treated lung fibroblasts. Nedd4L knockdown promotes TGF-β1-mediated phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and lung myofibroblast differentiation. Mechanistically, Nedd4L targets TGF-β receptor II (TβRII), the first key enzyme of TGF-β1-mediated signaling, for its ubiquitination and degradation. Further, we show that inhibition of transcriptional factor E2F rescues Nedd4L levels and mitigates experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Together, our data reveal insight into mechanisms by which E2F-mediated Nedd4L suppression contributes to the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. This study provides evidence showing that upregulation of Nedd4L is a potential therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic disorders including lung fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Department of Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Qinmao Ye
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Jianxin Wei
- Department of Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Sarah J Taleb
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Heather Wang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Yingze Zhang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Daniel J Kass
- Department of Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jeffrey C Horowitz
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; The Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; The Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Yutong Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; The Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
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Chen G, Li J, Liu H, Zhou H, Liu M, Liang D, Meng Z, Gan H, Wu Z, Zhu X, Han P, Liu T, Gu R, Liu S, Dou G. Cepharanthine Ameliorates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway, Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast Transition and Inflammation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020753. [PMID: 36677811 PMCID: PMC9864377 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the sequelae of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and currently, lung transplantation is the only viable treatment option. Hence, other effective treatments are urgently required. We investigated the therapeutic effects of an approved botanical drug, cepharanthine (CEP), in a cell culture model of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat models both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, CEP and pirfenidone (PFD) suppressed BLM-induced lung tissue inflammation, proliferation of blue collagen fibers, and damage to lung structures in vivo. Furthermore, we also found increased collagen deposition marked by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Type I Alpha 1 (COL1A1), which was significantly alleviated by the addition of PFD and CEP. Moreover, we elucidated the underlying mechanism of CEP against PF in vitro. Various assays confirmed that CEP reduced the viability and migration and promoted apoptosis of myofibroblasts. The expression levels of myofibroblast markers, including COL1A1, vimentin, α-SMA, and Matrix Metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), were also suppressed by CEP. Simultaneously, CEP significantly suppressed the elevated Phospho-NF-κB p65 (p-p65)/NF-κB p65 (p65) ratio, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels, and elevated inhibitor of NF-κB Alpha (IκBα) degradation and reversed the progression of PF. Hence, our study demonstrated that CEP prevented myofibroblast activation and treated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner by regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/ NLRP3 signaling, thereby suggesting that CEP has potential clinical application in pulmonary fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ruolan Gu
- Correspondence: (R.G.); (S.L.); (G.D.)
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Moita MR, Silva MM, Diniz C, Serra M, Hoet RM, Barbas A, Simão D. Transcriptome and proteome profiling of activated cardiac fibroblasts supports target prioritization in cardiac fibrosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1015473. [PMID: 36531712 PMCID: PMC9751336 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1015473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activated cardiac fibroblasts (CF) play a central role in cardiac fibrosis, a condition associated with most cardiovascular diseases. Conversion of quiescent into activated CF sustains heart integrity upon injury. However, permanence of CF in active state inflicts deleterious heart function effects. Mechanisms underlying this cell state conversion are still not fully disclosed, contributing to a limited target space and lack of effective anti-fibrotic therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS To prioritize targets for drug development, we studied CF remodeling upon activation at transcriptomic and proteomic levels, using three different cell sources: primary adult CF (aHCF), primary fetal CF (fHCF), and induced pluripotent stem cells derived CF (hiPSC-CF). RESULTS All cell sources showed a convergent response upon activation, with clear morphological and molecular remodeling associated with cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Quantitative proteomic analysis identified known cardiac fibrosis markers, such as FN1, CCN2, and Serpine1, but also revealed targets not previously associated with this condition, including MRC2, IGFBP7, and NT5DC2. CONCLUSION Exploring such targets to modulate CF phenotype represents a valuable opportunity for development of anti-fibrotic therapies. Also, we demonstrate that hiPSC-CF is a suitable cell source for preclinical research, displaying significantly lower basal activation level relative to primary cells, while being able to elicit a convergent response upon stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Raquel Moita
- iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marta M. Silva
- iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Diniz
- iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Margarida Serra
- iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - René M. Hoet
- Department of Pathology, CARIM - School of Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | | | - Daniel Simão
- iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
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10
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Lin L, Wu X, Jiang Y, Deng C, Luo X, Han J, Hu J, Cao X. Down-regulated NEDD4L facilitates tumor progression through activating Notch signaling in lung adenocarcinoma. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13402. [PMID: 35646490 PMCID: PMC9138047 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 4-like protein (NEDD4L), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, exerts an important role in diverse biological processes including development, tumorigenesis, and tumor progression. Although the role of NEDD4L in the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been described, the mechanism by which NEDD4L promotes LUAD progression remains poorly understood. In the study, the correlation between NEDD4L level and clinical outcome in LUAD patients was analysed using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. NEDD4L expression in LUAD cell lines and tissue samples was assessed through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The biological function of NEDD4L on regulating LUAD cell proliferation was tested with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay in vitro, and mouse xenograft tumor model in vivo. We found that NEDD4L expression was significantly decreased in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Lower expression of NEDD4L exhibited a significantly poorer overall survival. Functionally, NEDD4L knockdown in H1299 cells accelerated cell growth, whereas NEDD4L overexpression in A549 cells repressed cell proliferation. NEDD4L overexpression also inhibited tumor xenograft growth in vivo. Mechanistically, NEDD4L decreased the protein stability of notch receptor 2 (Notch2) through facilitating its ubiquitination and degradation by ubiquitin-proteasome system. Consequently, NEDD4L negatively regulated Notch signaling activation in LUAD cells, and RO4929097 (a Notch inhibitor) treatment effectively repressed the effect of NEDD4L knockdown on LUAD cell proliferation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that down-regulated NEDD4L facilitates LUAD progression by activating Notch signaling, and NEDD4L may be a promising target to treat LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Lin
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xuan Wu
- Department of Oncology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuanxue Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Caijiu Deng
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jianjun Han
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiazhu Hu
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaolong Cao
- Department of Oncology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Cancer Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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