Prolonged Treatment of Ultra-Low Dose Chondroitinase ABC Improves Matrix Production in Engineered Cartilage

Author(s):  
Grace D. O’Connell ◽  
Victoria Cui ◽  
Robert J. Nims ◽  
Adam B. Nover ◽  
Gerard A. Ateshian ◽  
...  

Articular cartilage is the load bearing soft tissue of diarthrodial joints, and mechanical loading maintains the integrity of the tissue. The predominant extracellular matrix constituents, proteoglycans and collagen, allow cartilage to support the high compressive and tensile loads experienced in diurnal loading. Our laboratory has been successful in cultivating engineered cartilage constructs with a compressive equilibrium modulus and glycosaminglycan (GAG) content near native values [1, 2]. Many approaches to cultivating engineered cartilage have been limited by low collagen production in vitro, an impediment for attaining native functional load-bearing properties [3].

Gut ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. gutjnl-2021-325065
Author(s):  
Chen-Ting Hung ◽  
Tung-Hung Su ◽  
Yen-Ting Chen ◽  
Yueh-Feng Wu ◽  
You-Tzung Chen ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesLiver fibrosis (LF) occurs following chronic liver injuries. Currently, there is no effective therapy for LF. Recently, we identified thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5), an ER protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), as a critical mediator of cardiac and lung fibrosis. We aimed to determine if TXNDC5 also contributes to LF and its potential as a therapeutic target for LF.DesignHistological and transcriptome analyses on human cirrhotic livers were performed. Col1a1-GFPTg, Alb-Cre;Rosa26-tdTomato and Tie2-Cre/ERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato mice were used to determine the cell type(s) where TXNDC5 was induced following liver injury. In vitro investigations were conducted in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Col1a2-Cre/ERT2;Txndc5fl/fl (Txndc5cKO) and Alb-Cre;Txndc5fl/fl (Txndc5Hep-cKO) mice were generated to delete TXNDC5 in HSCs and hepatocytes, respectively. Carbon tetrachloride treatment and bile duct ligation surgery were employed to induce liver injury/fibrosis in mice. The extent of LF was quantified using histological, imaging and biochemical analyses.ResultsTXNDC5 was upregulated markedly in human and mouse fibrotic livers, particularly in activated HSC at the fibrotic foci. TXNDC5 was induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in HSCs and it was both required and sufficient for the activation, proliferation, survival and extracellular matrix production of HSC. Mechanistically, TGFβ1 induces TXNDC5 expression through increased ER stress and ATF6-mediated transcriptional regulation. In addition, TXNDC5 promotes LF by redox-dependent JNK and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation in HSCs through its PDI activity, activating HSCs and making them resistant to apoptosis. HSC-specific deletion of Txndc5 reverted established LF in mice.ConclusionsER protein TXNDC5 promotes LF through redox-dependent HSC activation, proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix production. Targeting TXNDC5, therefore, could be a potential novel therapeutic strategy to ameliorate LF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten M. Brandt ◽  
Christian G. M. van Dijk ◽  
Ranganath Maringanti ◽  
Ihsan Chrifi ◽  
Rafael Kramann ◽  
...  

Abstract Microvascular homeostasis is strictly regulated, requiring close interaction between endothelial cells and pericytes. Here, we aimed to improve our understanding of how microvascular crosstalk affects pericytes. Human-derived pericytes, cultured in absence, or presence of human endothelial cells, were studied by RNA sequencing. Compared with mono-cultured pericytes, a total of 6704 genes were differentially expressed in co-cultured pericytes. Direct endothelial contact induced transcriptome profiles associated with pericyte maturation, suppression of extracellular matrix production, proliferation, and morphological adaptation. In vitro studies confirmed enhanced pericyte proliferation mediated by endothelial-derived PDGFB and pericyte-derived HB-EGF and FGF2. Endothelial-induced PLXNA2 and ACTR3 upregulation also triggered pericyte morphological adaptation. Pathway analysis predicted a key role for TGFβ signaling in endothelial-induced pericyte differentiation, whereas the effect of signaling via gap- and adherens junctions was limited. We demonstrate that endothelial cells have a major impact on the transcriptional profile of pericytes, regulating endothelial-induced maturation, proliferation, and suppression of ECM production.


Author(s):  
Samuel C. Uzoechi ◽  
Kennedy O. Ejeta ◽  
Goddy C. Okoye ◽  
Gideon I. Ndubuka ◽  
Patrick Ugochukwu Agbasi ◽  
...  

Since articular cartilage is avascular, both nutrient supply and metabolic waste excretion depend on diffusion. However, the major cause of the progression of articular cartilage defect is the poor inherent regenerative capacity of chondrocytes which limits the process of cartilage tissue repair. Creation of nutrient gradients in in vitro cell culture, however, can provide a clue on zonal distributions of cells and glycosaminoglycan synthesis throughout the tissue engineered cartilage. We hypothesized that glucose gradient, in combination with growth factors, could induce differences in matrix distributions for articular cartilage regeneration. Chondrocytes were harvested from bovine cartilage and expanded in monolayers. First, either p0 or p2 chondrocytes were differentiated in serum-free chondrogenic medium containing different glucose concentrations supplemented with TGFβ3/dex or IGF-1under hypoxic or normoxic conditions for 7 days in monolayer. The results indicate that cellular metabolism, cell numbers and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content increased with increase in glucose concentration in all conditions. Aggrecan (AGC) expression consistently increased with decreasing glucose concentration in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. COL II and COL I expressions increased with increasing glucose concentration up to 5mmol/L. The expression of COMP increased with increasing glucose concentration under hypoxic conditions and interestingly showed an opposite trend under normoxic conditions. However, comparing the chondrogenic capacity of p0 and p2 cells in the different glucose concentrations did not show differences, but the potential of p2 cells was in general lower compared to p0. Hypoxia had stimulatory effects on matrix production compared to normoxia in both passages. Therefore, supplemented glucose concentration in monolayer could induce differences in matrix production, but the chondrogenic potential remained equal. Therefore, this information could be use to a create gradients through a tissue-engineered cartilage.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1412-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxin Zhao ◽  
David A Rempe

Prophylactic neuroprotection against stroke could reduce stroke burden in thousands of patients at high risk of stroke, including those with recent transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (PHIs), such as deferoxamine (DFO), reduce stroke volume when administered at high doses in the peristroke period, which is largely mediated by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1). Yet, in vitro experiments suggest that PHIs may also induce neuroprotection independent of HIF-1. In this study, we examine chronic, prophylactic, low-dose treatment with DFO, or another iron chelator deferasirox (DFR), to determine whether they are neuroprotective with this paradigm and mediate their effects through a HIF-1-dependent mechanism. In fact, prophylactic administration of low-dose DFO or DFR significantly reduces stroke volume. Surprisingly, DFO remained neuroprotective in mice haploinsufficient for HIF-1 (HIF-1 +/ –) and transgenic mice with conditional loss of HIF-1 function in neurons and astrocytes. Similarly, DFR was neuroprotective in HIF-1 +/ mice. Neither DFO nor DFR induced expression of HIF-1 targets. Thus, low-dose chronic administration of DFO or DFR induced a prolonged neuroprotective state independent of HIF-1 function. As DFR is an orally administered and well-tolerated medication in clinical use, it has promise for prophylaxis against stroke in patients at high risk of stroke.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Sun ◽  
Jihang Dai ◽  
Rui Jiao ◽  
Qing Jiang ◽  
Jingcheng Wang

Abstract Background The prevention of surgery-induced intraarticular fibrosis remains a challenge following orthopedic surgery. Homoharringtonine (HHT) has been reported to have positive effects in preventing various kinds of fibrosis. However, little is known regarding its effect as well as the potential mechanism of HHT in preventing surgery-induced intraarticular fibrosis. Methods Various concentrations of HHTs were locally applied in vivo to reduce knee intraarticular fibrosis in rabbits. Histological macroscopic assessments such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and Picric-sirius red polarized light were used to evaluate the effect of HHT in reducing intraarticular fibrosis. CCK-8, cell cycle assay, and EdU incorporation assay were used in vitro to detect HHT’s effect on inhibiting fibroblast viability and proliferation. The effect of HHT on fibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix production, and apoptosis were evaluated by western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and TUNEL analysis. Moreover, the expressions of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were detected. Results The results demonstrated that HHT could reduce the formation of intraarticular fibrosis. HHT was also found to induce fibroblast apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, HHT could effectively inhibit the production of the extracellular matrix secreted by fibroblasts and inhibited the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in a dose-dependent manner. After treating with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), an activator of the PI3K/AKT axis, the expressions of pro-apoptosis-related proteins were decreased, and the fibroblast apoptosis rate was also inhibited. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstrated that HHT could reduce the formation of intraarticular fibrosis through the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix production, and the induction of fibroblast apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, its potential mechanism may be through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.


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