scholarly journals Berberine alleviates liver fibrosis through inducing ferrous redox to activate ROS-mediated hepatic stellate cells ferroptosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiazhi Yi ◽  
Shuyun Wu ◽  
Siwei Tan ◽  
Yunfei Qin ◽  
Xing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Iron Release ◽  
Iron Storage ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Liver Fibrogenesis ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractBerberine (BBR) has been explored as a potential anti-liver fibrosis agent, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of BBR against liver fibrogenesis in thioacetamide (TAA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced mouse liver fibrosis. In addition to i.p. injection with TAA or CCl4, mice in the treatment group received BBR intragastrically. Concurrently, combined with TAA and BBR treatment, mice in the inhibitor group were injected i.p. with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were also used in the study. Our results showed that BBR obviously alleviated mouse liver fibrosis and restored mouse liver function; however, the pharmacological effects of BBR against liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by Fer-1 treatment. Mechanically, BBR impaired the autophagy–lysosome pathway (ALP) and increased cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HSCs. ROS accelerated the breakdown of the iron-storage protein ferritin and sped up iron release from ferritin, which resulted in redox-active iron accumulation in HSCs. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) depletion triggered by the Fenton reaction promoted ferroptosis and attenuated liver fibrosis. Furthermore, impaired autophagy enhanced BBR-mediated ferritin proteolysis to increase cellular ferrous overload via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPS) in HSCs and triggered HSC ferroptosis. Collectively, BBR alleviated liver fibrosis by inducing ferrous redox to activate ROS-mediated HSC ferroptosis. Our findings may be exploited clinically to provide a potential novel therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.

Norepinephrine induces calcium spikes and proinflammatory actions in human hepatic stellate cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (5) ◽  
pp. G877-G884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Sancho-Bru ◽  
Ramón Bataller ◽  
Jordi Colmenero ◽  
Xavier Gasull ◽  
Montserrat Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cell Contraction

Catecholamines participate in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension and liver fibrosis through α1-adrenoceptors. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on human hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which exert vasoactive, inflammatory, and fibrogenic actions in the injured liver. Adrenoceptor expression was assessed in human HSC by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was studied in fura-2-loaded cells. Cell contraction was studied by assessing wrinkle formation and myosin light chain II (MLC II) phosphorylation. Cell proliferation and collagen-α1(I) expression were assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation and quantitative PCR, respectively. NF-κB activation was assessed by luciferase reporter gene and p65 nuclear translocation. Chemokine secretion was assessed by ELISA. Normal human livers expressed α1A-adrenoceptors, which were markedly upregulated in livers with advanced fibrosis. Activated human HSC expressed α1A-adrenoceptors. NE induced multiple rapid [Ca2+]i oscillations (Ca2+ spikes). Prazosin (α1-blocker) completely prevented NE-induced Ca2+ spikes, whereas propranolol (nonspecific β-blocker) partially attenuated this effect. NE caused phosphorylation of MLC II and cell contraction. In contrast, NE did not affect cell proliferation or collagen-α1(I) expression. Importantly, NE stimulated the secretion of inflammatory chemokines (RANTES and interleukin-8) in a dose-dependent manner. Prazosin blocked NE-induced chemokine secretion. NE stimulated NF-κB activation. BAY 11-7082, a specific NF-κB inhibitor, blocked NE-induced chemokine secretion. We conclude that NE stimulates NF-κB and induces cell contraction and proinflammatory effects in human HSC. Catecholamines may participate in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension and liver fibrosis by targeting HSC.

Latency-associated Peptide Degradation Fragments Produced in Stellate Cells and Phagocytosed by Macrophages in Bile Duct-ligated Mouse Liver

2021 ◽  
pp. 002215542110536
Author(s):  
Ikuyo Inoue ◽  
Xian-Yang Qin ◽  
Takahiro Masaki ◽  
Yoshihiro Mezaki ◽  
Tomokazu Matsuura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bile Duct ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Cell Source

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activation is involved in various pathogeneses, such as fibrosis and malignancy. We previously showed that TGF-β was activated by serine protease plasma kallikrein-dependent digestion of latency-associated peptides (LAPs) and developed a method to detect LAP degradation products (LAP-DPs) in the liver and blood using specific monoclonal antibodies. Clinical studies have revealed that blood LAP-DPs are formed in the early stages of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to identify the cell source of LAP-DP formation during liver fibrosis. The N-terminals of LAP-DPs ending at residue Arg58 (R58) were stained in liver sections of a bile duct-ligated liver fibrosis model at 3 and 13 days. R58 LAP-DPs were detected in quiescent hepatic stellate cells at day 3 and in macrophages on day 13 after ligation of the bile duct. We then performed a detailed analysis of the axial localization of R58 signals in a single macrophage, visualized the cell membrane with the anti-CLEC4F antibody, and found R58 LAP-DPs surrounded by the membrane in phagocytosed debris that appeared to be dead cells. These findings suggest that in the early stages of liver fibrosis, TGF-β is activated on the membrane of stellate cells, and then the cells are phagocytosed after cell death: (J Histochem Cytochem XX:XXX–XXX, XXXX)

Gli2-regulated activation of hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis by TGF-β signaling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyan Yan ◽  
Baowei Hu ◽  
Wenjie Shi ◽  
Xiaoyi Wang ◽  
Jiayuan Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Liver Fibrogenesis ◽  
Hh Signaling ◽  
Signaling Activity

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is correlated with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and liver fibrosis. Gli2 is a key transcription effector of Hh signaling. However, the role of Gli2 in HSC-mediated liver fibrosis progression is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Gli2 on liver fibrogenesis and its possible mechanism using conditional knockout (cKO) Gli2 mice and HSC models. Wild-type (WT) and GFAP-CreERT;Gli2flox/flox male mice were exposed to CCl4 for one month to induce liver fibrosis. Primary HSCs were isolated from mice and the transition of HSCs into a myofibroblastic phenotype was evaluated. Livers from mice underwent histological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence analyses. The expression levels of proteins and genes were evaluated by Western blot (WB) analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. RNA-seq was used to screen differentially expressed genes. Results showed that CCl4 treatment induced liver fibrosis, promoted HSCs activation and proliferation, and up-regulated Hh signaling activity. The cKO of Gli2 in GFAP-CreERT;Gli2flox/flox mice decreased liver fibrosis as well as HSC activation and proliferation. In vitro studies showed that KO of Gli2 in HSCs blocked cell proliferation and activation by decrease of cyclin D1/D2 expression. The RNA-seq results revealed that the expression levels TGF-β1 ligands were down-regulated in Gli2 KO HSCs. Furthermore, overexpression of Gli2 rescued proliferation and activation of HSCs by up-regulation of TGF-β signaling activity. Our data demonstrated that Gli2 regulated HSC activation and liver fibrosis by TGF-β signaling, thus providing support for future Gli2-based investigations of liver fibrosis therapy.

scholarly journals Transcriptional factor ATF3 promotes liver fibrosis via activating hepatic stellate cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhemin Shi ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
Ting Chen ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Xiaoxiao Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor 3 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Liver Fibrogenesis

AbstractThe excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key feature of liver fibrosis and the activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major producer of ECM proteins. However, the precise mechanisms and target molecules that are involved in liver fibrosis remain unclear. In this study, we reported that activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) was over-expressed in mice and human fibrotic livers, in activated HSCs and injured hepatocytes (HCs). Both in vivo and in vitro study have revealed that silencing ATF3 reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic genes and inhibited the activation of HSCs, thus alleviating the extent of liver fibrosis, indicating a potential protective role of ATF3 knockdown. However, ATF3 was not involved in either the apoptosis or proliferation of HCs. In addition, our data illustrated that increased nuclear localization of ATF3 promoted the transcription of fibrogenic genes and lnc-SCARNA10, which functioned as a novel positive regulator of TGF-β signaling in liver fibrogenesis by recruiting SMAD3 to the promoter of these genes. Interestingly, further study also demonstrated that lnc-SCARNA10 promoted the expression of ATF3 in a TGF-β/SMAD3-dependent manner, revealing a TGF-β/ATF3/lnc-SCARNA10 axis that contributed to liver fibrosis by activating HSCs. Taken together, our data provide a molecular mechanism implicating induced ATF3 in liver fibrosis, suggesting that ATF3 may represent a useful target in the development of therapeutic strategies for liver fibrosis.

scholarly journals Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid suppresses hepatic stellate cells activation by HMGB1 dependent reduction of NF-κB1

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen Wang ◽  
Min Yan ◽  
Qiuhong Ji ◽  
Jinbiao Lu ◽  
Yuhua Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Hydroxamic Acid ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Cdna Array ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is essential to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Exploring drugs targeting HSC activation is a promising anti-fibrotic strategy. In the present study, we found suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, prominently suppressed the activation phenotype of a human hepatic stellate cell line—LX2. The production of collagen type I andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as well as the proliferation and migration of LX2 cells were significantly reduced by SAHA treatment. To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying this suppression, genome wild gene regulation by SAHA was determined by Affymetrix 1.0 human cDNA array. Upon SAHA treatment, the abundance of 331 genes was up-regulated and 173 genes was down-regulated in LX2 cells. Bioinformatic analyses of these altered genes highlighted the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) pathway was one of the most relevant pathways that contributed to SAHA induced suppression of HSCs activation. Further studies demonstrated the increased acetylation of intracellular HMGB1 in SAHA treated HSCs, and this increasing is most likely to be responsible for SAHA induced down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B1 (NF-κB1) and is one of the main underlying mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of SAHA for liver fibrosis.

scholarly journals Inhibition of SIRT2 suppresses hepatic fibrosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (11) ◽  
pp. G1155-G1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribel Arteaga ◽  
Na Shang ◽  
Xianzhong Ding ◽  
Sherri Yong ◽  
Scott J. Cotler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Histone Deacetylases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Novel Strategy ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis and result in serious complications of liver disease. The pathogenesis of liver fibrosis involves the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the underlying mechanisms of which are not fully known. Emerging evidence suggests that the classic histone deacetylases play a role in liver fibrosis, but the role of another subfamily of histone deacetylases, the sirtuins, in the development of hepatic fibrosis remains unknown. In this study, we found that blocking the activity of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) by using inhibitors or shRNAs significantly suppressed fibrogenic gene expression in HSCs. We further demonstrated that inhibition of SIRT2 results in the degradation of c-MYC, which is important for HSC activation. In addition, we discovered that inhibition of SIRT2 suppresses the phosphorylation of ERK, which is critical for the stabilization of c-MYC. Moreover, we found that Sirt2 deficiency attenuates the hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and thioacetamide (TAA). Furthermore, we showed that SIRT2, p-ERK, and c-MYC proteins are all overexpressed in human hepatic fibrotic tissues. These data suggest a critical role for the SIRT2/ERK/c-MYC axis in promoting hepatic fibrogenesis. Inhibition of the SIRT2/ERK/c-MYC axis represents a novel strategy to prevent and to potentially treat liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

scholarly journals Exosome-Mediated Intercellular Communication between Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Hepatocytes and Hepatic Stellate Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradip B. Devhare ◽  
Reina Sasaki ◽  
Shubham Shrivastava ◽  
Adrian M. Di Bisceglie ◽  
Ranjit Ray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Intercellular Communication ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Marker Genes

ABSTRACT Fibrogenic pathways in the liver are principally regulated by activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Fibrosis is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, although the mechanism is poorly understood. HSC comprise the major population of nonparenchymal cells in the liver. Since HCV does not replicate in HSC, we hypothesized that exosomes secreted from HCV-infected hepatocytes activate HSC. Primary or immortalized human hepatic stellate (LX2) cells were exposed to exosomes derived from HCV-infected hepatocytes (HCV-exo), and the expression of fibrosis-related genes was examined. Our results demonstrated that HCV-exo internalized to HSC and increased the expression of profibrotic markers. Further analysis suggested that HCV-exo carry miR-19a and target SOCS3 in HSC, which in turn activates the STAT3-mediated transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway and enhances fibrosis marker genes. The higher expression of miR-19a in exosomes was also observed from HCV-infected hepatocytes and in sera of chronic HCV patients with fibrosis compared to healthy volunteers and non-HCV-related liver disease patients with fibrosis. Together, our results demonstrated that miR-19a carried through the exosomes from HCV-infected hepatocytes activates HSC by modulating the SOCS-STAT3 axis. Our results implicated a novel mechanism of exosome-mediated intercellular communication in the activation of HSC for liver fibrosis in HCV infection. IMPORTANCE HCV-associated liver fibrosis is a critical step for end-stage liver disease progression. However, the molecular mechanisms for hepatic stellate-cell activation by HCV-infected hepatocytes are underexplored. Here, we provide a role for miR-19a carried through the exosomes in intercellular communication between HCV-infected hepatocytes and HSC in fibrogenic activation. Furthermore, we demonstrate the role of exosomal miR-19a in activation of the STAT3–TGF-β pathway in HSC. This study contributes to the understanding of intercellular communication in the pathogenesis of liver disease during HCV infection.

scholarly journals Molecular Crosstalk between the Hepatitis C Virus and the Extracellular Matrix in Liver Fibrogenesis and Early Carcinogenesis

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2270
Author(s):  
Emma Reungoat ◽  
Boyan Grigorov ◽  
Fabien Zoulim ◽  
Eve-Isabelle Pécheur
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Cancer Initiation ◽  
Liver Fibrogenesis ◽  
Early Carcinogenesis ◽  
Molecular Crosstalk

Chronic infection by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver diseases, predisposing to fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver fibrosis is characterized by an overly abundant accumulation of components of the hepatic extracellular matrix, such as collagen and elastin, with consequences on the properties of this microenvironment and cancer initiation and growth. This review will provide an update on mechanistic concepts of HCV-related liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and early stages of carcinogenesis, with a dissection of the molecular details of the crosstalk during disease progression between hepatocytes, the extracellular matrix, and hepatic stellate cells.

1061 HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIETS EXACERBATE MOUSE LIVER FIBROSIS THROUGH BUILDUP OF FREE CHOLESTEROL IN HEPATIC STELLATE CELLS

2011 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. S421
Author(s):  
K. Tomita ◽  
T. Teratani ◽  
T. Suzuki ◽  
T. Oshikawa ◽  
H. Yokoyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Free Cholesterol ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
High Cholesterol

scholarly journals CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells promote liver fibrosis resolution by inducing apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzo Koda ◽  
Toshiaki Teratani ◽  
Po-Sung Chu ◽  
Yuya Hagihara ◽  
Yohei Mikami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Resolution Model ◽  
Cell Transcriptome ◽  
Single Cell Transcriptome ◽  
Resident Memory T Cells

AbstractNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease that can progress to liver fibrosis. Recent clinical advance suggests a reversibility of liver fibrosis, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying NASH resolution remain unclarified. Here, using a murine diet-induced NASH and the subsequent resolution model, we demonstrate direct roles of CD8+ tissue-resident memory CD8+ T (CD8+ Trm) cells in resolving liver fibrosis. Single-cell transcriptome analysis and FACS analysis revealed CD69+CD103−CD8+ Trm cell enrichment in NASH resolution livers. The reduction of liver CD8+ Trm cells, maintained by tissue IL-15, significantly delayed fibrosis resolution, while adoptive transfer of these cells protected mice from fibrosis progression. During resolution, CD8+ Trm cells attracted hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in a CCR5-dependent manner, and predisposed activated HSCs to FasL-Fas-mediated apoptosis. Histological assessment of patients with NASH revealed CD69+CD8+ Trm abundance in fibrotic areas, further supporting their roles in humans. These results highlight the undefined role of liver CD8+ Trm in fibrosis resolution.

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