scholarly journals 4121 The beneficial, anti-fibrotic effects of chemokine receptor 2 and 5 antagonists on fat-exposed mouse primary hepatic stellate cells (pHSCs)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 102-103
Author(s):  
Annie J. Kruger ◽  
Kruger Bergman ◽  
Martha Gay ◽  
Hong Cao ◽  
Robin Tucker ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of cirrhosis in the world for which no anti-fibrotic therapies exist. We hypothesized that BMS-22 and maraviroc (MVC), chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and 5 (CCR5) antagonists, respectively, would diminish the fibrogenic activity of "fat-exposed" murine pHSCs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: pHSCs were isolated from livers of 6 week old male mice following 4 weeks on a NASH-inducing choline-deficient high fat diet (CDAHFD, “fat-exposed”) or standard diet (SD) and passaged in vitro. Early passage (6-12) pHSCs were plate-adhered and TGF-b-treated (10ng/mL) to maximally activate their pro-fibrogenic genes, collagen 1α1 (Col1A1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), or α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2). CDAHFD and SD pHSCs were then treated for 48 hours with increasing doses of BMS-22 or MVC (range: 0.3-120ng/mL) to determine (1) the degree of attenuation of the pro-fibrogenic response as measured by qPCR of fibrogenic genes (Col1A1, TIMP1,ACTA2); (2) enhancement of a fibrolytic response as measured by qPCR of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2, 9 and 13 genes; and (3) pHSC migration using the scratch assay. Cell viability and CCR2 and CCR5 gene expression in response to escalating doses of antagonists were also measured. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Plate- and TGF-b activated CDAHFD pHSCs had a 2-fold greater, dose-dependent attenuation of their pro-fibrogenic activity in response to BMS-CCR2-22 and MVC, when compared with plate- and TGF-b activated SD pHSCs, as measured by reductions in collagen 1α1 (Col1A1) and α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) gene expression. TIMP1 gene expression was unaffected by drug treatment for 48 hours. Cell viability was not affected up to doses of 30ng/mL of each drug. pHSCs also demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in CCR2, CCR5 and MMP-9 gene expression in response to surface receptor antagonism. Migration assays comparing CDAHFD and SD pHSCs in response to escalating doses of MVC and BMS-22 are ongoing and expected to demonstrate a significantly decreased migratory capacity of CDAHFD pHSCs than SD pHSCs in response to therapy, reflecting the increased susceptibility of the “fat-exposed” pHSCs to anti-fibrotic therapy than normal pHSCs. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Anti-fibrotic drugs that dampen pro-fibrogenic activities of “fat-exposed” pHSCs are urgently needed. CCR2 and CCR5 antagonists, BMS-22 and MVC, respectively, can selectively dampen the pro-fibrogenic response of fat-exposed pHSCs, and must be considered for future trials in human NASH. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: Dr. Jill Smith has a patent licensing agreement with Immune Therapeutics, Inc.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3524
Author(s):  
Azeem Ul Yaqin Syed ◽  
Muhammad A. Ahmed ◽  
Eman I. AlSagob ◽  
Mansour Al-Askar ◽  
Abdulrahman M. AlMubarak ◽  
...  

The aim was to determine the cytotoxicity of Khat (Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl) on normal oral fibroblasts (NOFs) and SCC4 (squamous carcinoma cells) along with expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in fibroblasts. Khat filtrate was prepared to obtain a concentrated viscous solution. NOFs and SCC4 cells were cultured in biological cabinets and were grown in Dulbeccos’ modified Eagles medium. Frozen cells were thawed at 37 °C and cell seeding was performed. NOFs and SCC4 cells were seeded on 96 well plates and allowed to attach. The medium was removed and a fresh medium containing different concentrations of Khat was added. The group without Khat served as a negative control and 4% paraformaldehyde as the positive control. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay and effect of Khat on fibroblast and SCC4 phenotypes was evaluated by immunostaining. Analysis of variance was used to assess data (p < 0.05). NOF 316 showed cell death in response to 4% paraformaldehyde, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.12 mg/mL of Khat. The highest concentration of Khat (25 mg/mL) failed to cause cytotoxicity of NOF 316. NOF 319 and NOF 26 displayed cell death at all concentrations of Khat, however, cytotoxicity was not dose dependent. NOF 18 and SCC4 cells showed dose-dependent cell death. NOF 316 showed α-SMA expression after 1 mg/mL of Khat exposure. Not all fibroblasts were α-SMA-positive, suggesting specific activation of a subset of fibroblasts. Khat is cytotoxic to NOF and SCC4 cells. Furthermore, it can also cause activation and phenotypic changes in oral fibroblasts, indicating a potential role in progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. C1093-C1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Kanematsu ◽  
Aruna Ramachandran ◽  
Rosalyn M. Adam

Hollow organs exposed to pathological stimuli undergo phenotypic modulation characterized by altered expression of smooth muscle contractile proteins and loss of normal function. The molecular mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle differentiation, especially in organs other than the vasculature, are poorly understood. In this study, we describe a role for the GATA-6 transcription factor in regulation of human bladder smooth muscle differentiation. Knockdown of endogenous GATA-6 in primary human bladder smooth muscle cells (pBSMC) led to decreased mRNA levels of the differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), calponin, and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. Similar effects were obtained following downregulation of GATA-6 by forskolin-induced elevation of intracellular cAMP levels. Forskolin treatment of pBSMC abolished recruitment of GATA-6 to the α-SMA promoter in vivo and reduced activity of human α-SMA promoter-directed gene expression by >60%. This inhibitory effect was rescued by enforced expression of wild-type GATA-6 but not by a zinc-finger-deleted mutant, GATA-6-ΔZF, which lacks DNA-binding ability. In silico analysis of a region of the human α-SMA promoter, described previously as a transcriptional enhancer, identified a putative GATA-binding site at position −919/−913. Point mutation of this site in SMA-Luc abrogated GATA-6-induced activation of promoter activity. Together, these results provide the first evidence for a functional role for GATA-6 in regulation of bladder smooth muscle differentiation. In addition, these findings demonstrate that GATA-6 regulates human α-SMA expression via a novel regulatory cis element in the α-SMA promoter-enhancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
T. N. Sotnikova ◽  
G. R. Setdikova ◽  
O. V. Paklina ◽  
V. P. Shubin ◽  
M. V. Mnikhovich ◽  
...  

The aim of the research was to study the expression of marker genes for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.Material and methods. Surgical material from 44 patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was subjected to morphological analysis with molecular genetic research. Total RNA was detected in the detected sections of the anaplastic component using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). 5 marker genes were used for molecular genetic studies of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT): ZEB1, ZEB2, CDH1, VIM, SNAIL1 (SLUG). Gene expression was measured in triplicate using an EvaGreen intercalating dye. On serial paraffin sections using tissue microarrays technology, immunohistochemical detection of p63, smooth muscle actin, total cytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, vimentin, E-cadherin (Ventana) was performed.Results. As a result of the study, a positive reaction with mesenchymal markers (vimentin, p63, smooth muscle actin) was detected in the cells of the anaplastic component, in contrast to the glandular component. In a molecular study of the anaplastic component, changes in gene expression were characterized as EMT-positive.Conclusion. The heterogeneity of ductal cancer is manifested in the appearance of an anaplastic (sarcomalike) component, in which the ability of epithelial tumor cells to acquire the property of mesenchymal cells that do not require stroma and have aggressive malignant potential that affects the survival of patients is traced.


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