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Hoffmann M, Kant TA, Emig R, Rausch JSE, Newe M, Schubert M, Künzel K, Winter L, Klapproth E, Peyronnet R, Ravens U, El-Armouche A, Künzel SR. Repurposing mesalazine against cardiac fibrosis in vitro. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2020; 394:533-543. [PMID: 33064167 PMCID: PMC7892689 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-020-01998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are exacerbated and driven by cardiac fibrosis. TGFβ induces fibroblast activation and differentiation into myofibroblasts that secrete excessive extracellular matrix proteins leading to stiffening of the heart, concomitant cardiac dysfunction, and arrhythmias. However, effective pharmacotherapy for preventing or reversing cardiac fibrosis is presently unavailable. Therefore, drug repurposing could be a cost- and time-saving approach to discover antifibrotic interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifibrotic potential of mesalazine in a cardiac fibroblast stress model. TGFβ was used to induce a profibrotic phenotype in a human cardiac fibroblast cell line. After induction, cells were treated with mesalazine or solvent control. Fibroblast proliferation, key fibrosis protein expression, extracellular collagen deposition, and mechanical properties were subsequently determined. In response to TGFβ treatment, fibroblasts underwent a profound phenoconversion towards myofibroblasts, determined by the expression of fibrillary αSMA. Mesalazine reduced differentiation nearly by half and diminished fibroblast proliferation by a third. Additionally, TGFβ led to increased cell stiffness and adhesion, which were reversed by mesalazine treatment. Collagen 1 expression and deposition—key drivers of fibrosis—were significantly increased upon TGFβ stimulation and reduced to control levels by mesalazine. SMAD2/3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, along with reduced nuclear NFκB translocation, were identified as potential modes of action. The current study provides experimental pre-clinical evidence for antifibrotic effects of mesalazine in an in vitro model of cardiac fibrosis. Furthermore, it sheds light on possible mechanisms of action and suggests further investigation in experimental and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Hoffmann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Theresa A Kant
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ramona Emig
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johanna S E Rausch
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manja Newe
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mario Schubert
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karolina Künzel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Luise Winter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Erik Klapproth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rémi Peyronnet
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ursula Ravens
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ali El-Armouche
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan R Künzel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany.
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