scholarly journals RhoA/ROCK2 signalling is enhanced by PDGF-AA in fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells in DMD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Fernández-Simón ◽  
Xavier Suárez-Calvet ◽  
Ana Carrasco-Rozas ◽  
Patricia Piñol-Jurado ◽  
Susana López-Fernández ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe lack of dystrophin expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to muscle necrosis and replacement of muscle tissue by fibro-adipose tissue. Although the role of some growth factors in the process of fibrogenesis has been previously studied, the pathways that are activated by PDGF-AA in muscular dystrophies have not been described so far. Herein we report the effects of PDGF-AA on the fibrotic process in muscular dystrophies by performing a quantitative proteomic study in DMD isolated fibro-adipogenic precursor cells (FAPs) treated with PDGF-AA. In vitro studies showed that RhoA/ROCK2 pathway is activated by PDGF-AA and induces the activation of FAPs. The inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway by C3-exoenzyme or fasudil attenuated the effects of PDGF-AA. The blocking effects of RhoA/ROCK pathway were analysed in the dba/2J-mdx murine model with fasudil. Grip strength test showed an improvement in the muscle function and histological studies demonstrated reduction of the fibrotic area. Our results suggest that blockade of RhoA/ROCK could attenuate the activation of FAPs and could be considered a potential therapeutic approach for muscular dystrophies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S134-S135
Author(s):  
S Vieujean ◽  
S Hu ◽  
E Bequet ◽  
C Salée ◽  
C Massot ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication of Crohn’s disease (CD) characterized by an accumulation of fibroblasts differentiating into activated myofibroblasts secreting excessive extracellular matrix. In in-vitro experiments, this myofibroblastic differentiation is elicited by a whole series of factors among which transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) seems to play a key role. The potential role of the intestinal epithelium in this fibrotic process remains poorly defined. Methods We performed a pilot proteomic study comparing the proteome of surface epithelium isolated by laser-capture microdissection in normal and fibrotic zones of resected ileal CD strictures (13 zones collected in 5 patients). The pro-fibrotic role of selected epithelial proteins was investigated through in-vitro experiments using HT-29 epithelial cells and a CCD-18Co fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation model. Results Proteomic study revealed an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins increase in the epithelium of CD ileal fibrotic strictures, including Anterior gradient protein 2 homolog (AGR2), Protein disulphide isomerase A6 (PDIA6) and Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 44 (ERP44) which are 3 protein disulphide isomerases. In HT-29 cells, tunicamycin-induced ER stress triggered AGR2, PDIA6, ERP44 as well as TGF-β1 intracellular expression and their secretion. Supernatant of these HT-29 cells, pre-conditioned by tunicamycin (Tm), led to a myofibroblastic differentiation when applied on CCD-18Co fibroblasts. The application of blocking agents for AGR2, PDIA6, ERP44 or TGF-β1 in the supernatant of these Tm-pre-conditioned HT-29 cells, attenuated the myofibroblastic differentiation induced by this supernatant, suggesting a pro-fibrotic role of these secreted epithelial proteins. Conclusion The development of CD fibrotic strictures may involve ER stress in epithelial cells, releasing a whole set of proteins into their environment, including AGR2, PDIA6, ERP44 as well as TGF-β1, which could exercise a pro-fibrotic role through a paracrine action.


Author(s):  
Janet H. Woodward ◽  
D. E. Akin

Silicon (Si) is distributed throughout plant tissues, but its role in forages has not been clarified. Although Si has been suggested as an antiquality factor which limits the digestibility of structural carbohydrates, other research indicates that its presence in plants does not affect digestibility. We employed x-ray microanalysis to evaluate Si as an antiquality factor at specific sites of two cultivars of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactvlon (L.) Pers.). “Coastal” and “Tifton-78” were chosen for this study because previous work in our lab has shown that, although these two grasses are similar ultrastructurally, they differ in in vitro dry matter digestibility and in percent composition of Si.Two millimeter leaf sections of Tifton-7 8 (Tift-7 8) and Coastal (CBG) were incubated for 72 hr in 2.5% (w/v) cellulase in 0.05 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0. For controls, sections were incubated in the sodium acetate buffer or were not treated.


Author(s):  
David B. Warheit ◽  
Lena Achinko ◽  
Mark A. Hartsky

There is a great need for the development of a rapid and reliable bioassay to evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of inhaled particles. A number of methods have been proposed, including lung clearance studies, bronchoalveolar lavage analysis, and in vitro cytotoxicity tests. These methods are often limited in scope inasmuch as they measure only one dimension of the pulmonary response to inhaled, instilled or incubated dusts. Accordingly, a comprehensive approach to lung toxicity studies has been developed.To validate the method, rats were exposed for 6 hours or 3 days to various concentrations of either aerosolized alpha quartz silica (Si) or carbonyl iron (CI) particles. Cells and fluids from groups of sham and dust-exposed animals were recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Alkaline phosphatase, LDH and protein values were measured in BAL fluids at several time points postexposure. Cells were counted and evaluated for viability, as well as differential and cytochemical analysis. In addition, pulmonary macrophages (PM) were cultured and studied for morphology, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis by scanning electron microscopy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Serafini ◽  
Giuseppa Morabito

Dietary polyphenols have been shown to scavenge free radicals, modulating cellular redox transcription factors in different in vitro and ex vivo models. Dietary intervention studies have shown that consumption of plant foods modulates plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC), a biomarker of the endogenous antioxidant network, in human subjects. However, the identification of the molecules responsible for this effect are yet to be obtained and evidences of an antioxidant in vivo action of polyphenols are conflicting. There is a clear discrepancy between polyphenols (PP) concentration in body fluids and the extent of increase of plasma NEAC. The low degree of absorption and the extensive metabolism of PP within the body have raised questions about their contribution to the endogenous antioxidant network. This work will discuss the role of polyphenols from galenic preparation, food extracts, and selected dietary sources as modulators of plasma NEAC in humans.


Planta Medica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Lee ◽  
TG Ahn ◽  
CW Kim ◽  
HJ An
Keyword(s):  

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (06) ◽  
pp. 951-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Corral ◽  
R. González-Conejero ◽  
J. Rivera ◽  
F. Ortuño ◽  
P. Aparicio ◽  
...  

SummaryThe variability of the platelet GP Ia/IIa density has been associated with the 807 C/T polymorphism (Phe 224) of the GP Ia gene in American Caucasian population. We have investigated the genotype and allelic frequencies of this polymorphism in Spanish Caucasians. The T allele was found in 35% of the 284 blood donors analyzed. We confirmed in 159 healthy subjects a significant association between the 807 C/T polymorphism and the platelet GP Ia density. The T allele correlated with high number of GP Ia molecules on platelet surface. In addition, we observed a similar association of this polymorphism with the expression of this protein in other blood cell types. The platelet responsiveness to collagen was determined by “in vitro” analysis of the platelet activation and aggregation response. We found no significant differences in these functional platelet parameters according to the 807 C/T genotype. Finally, results from 3 case/control studies involving 302 consecutive patients (101 with coronary heart disease, 104 with cerebrovascular disease and 97 with deep venous thrombosis) determined that the 807 C/T polymorphism of the GP Ia gene does not represent a risk factor for arterial or venous thrombosis.


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