Hexokinase 2 couples glycolysis with the profibrotic actions of TGF-β

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (612) ◽  
pp. eaax4067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueqian Yin ◽  
Malay Choudhury ◽  
Jeong-Han Kang ◽  
Kyle J. Schaefbauer ◽  
Mi-Yeon Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Blood Oxygenation ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Hexokinase 2 ◽  
Metabolic Dysregulation ◽  
Factor C

Metabolic dysregulation in fibroblasts is implicated in the profibrotic actions of transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β). Here, we present evidence that hexokinase 2 (HK2) is important for mediating the fibroproliferative activity of TGF-β both in vitro and in vivo. Both Smad-dependent and Smad-independent TGF-β signaling induced HK2 accumulation in murine and human lung fibroblasts through induction of the transcription factor c-Myc. Knockdown of HK2 or pharmacological inhibition of HK2 activity with Lonidamine decreased TGF-β–stimulated fibrogenic processes, including profibrotic gene expression, cell migration, colony formation, and activation of the transcription factors YAP and TAZ, with no apparent effect on cellular viability. Fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) exhibited an increased abundance of HK2. In a mouse model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, Lonidamine reduced the expression of genes encoding profibrotic markers (collagenΙα1, EDA-fibronectin, α smooth muscle actin, and connective tissue growth factor) and stabilized or improved lung function as assessed by measurement of peripheral blood oxygenation. These findings provide evidence of how metabolic dysregulation through HK2 can be integrated within the context of profibrotic TGF-β signaling.

scholarly journals Regulation of Cellular Senescence Is Independent from Profibrotic Fibroblast-Deposited ECM

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1628
Author(s):  
Kaj E. C. Blokland ◽  
Habibie Habibie ◽  
Theo Borghuis ◽  
Greta J. Teitsma ◽  
Michael Schuliga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cellular Senescence ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β1 ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with poor survival. Age is a major risk factor, and both alveolar epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts in this disease exhibit features of cellular senescence, a hallmark of ageing. Accumulation of fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) is a core feature of IPF and is likely to affect cell function. We hypothesize that aberrant ECM deposition augments fibroblast senescence, creating a perpetuating cycle favouring disease progression. In this study, primary lung fibroblasts were cultured on control and IPF-derived ECM from fibroblasts pretreated with or without profibrotic and prosenescent stimuli, and markers of senescence, fibrosis-associated gene expression and secretion of cytokines were measured. Untreated ECM derived from control or IPF fibroblasts had no effect on the main marker of senescence p16Ink4a and p21Waf1/Cip1. However, the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) and proteoglycan decorin (DCN) increased in response to IPF-derived ECM. Production of the proinflammatory cytokines C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL8) by lung fibroblasts was upregulated in response to senescent and profibrotic-derived ECM. Finally, the profibrotic cytokines transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were upregulated in response to both senescent- and profibrotic-derived ECM. In summary, ECM deposited by IPF fibroblasts does not induce cellular senescence, while there is upregulation of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines and differentiation into a myofibroblast phenotype in response to senescent- and profibrotic-derived ECM, which may contribute to progression of fibrosis in IPF.

scholarly journals Toll-like receptor 4 activation attenuates profibrotic response in control lung fibroblasts but not in fibroblasts from patients with IPF

2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (1) ◽  
pp. L42-L55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Ebener ◽  
Sandra Barnowski ◽  
Carlos Wotzkow ◽  
Thomas M. Marti ◽  
Elena Lopez-Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Toll Like Receptor 4 ◽  
Vitro Model ◽  
Fibroblast Foci

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with a median survival of 3 yr. IPF deteriorates upon viral or bacterial lung infection although pulmonary infection (pneumonia) in healthy lungs rarely induces fibrosis. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), initiating proinflammatory pathways. As TLR4 has already been linked to hepatic fibrosis and scleroderma, we now investigated the role of TLR4 in IPF fibroblasts. Lung tissue sections from patients with IPF were analyzed for TLR4 expression. Isolated normal human lung fibroblasts (NL-FB) and IPF fibroblasts (IPF-FB) were exposed to LPS and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) before expression analysis of receptors, profibrotic mediators, and cytokines. TLR4 is expressed in fibroblast foci of IPF lungs as well as in primary NL-FB and IPF-FB. As a model for a gram-negative pneumonia in the nonfibrotic lung, NL-FB and IPF-FB were coexposed to LPS and TGF-β. Whereas NL-FB produced significantly less connective tissue growth factor upon costimulation compared with TGF-β stimulation alone, IPF-FB showed significantly increased profibrotic markers compared with control fibroblasts after costimulation. Although levels of antifibrotic prostaglandin E2 were elevated after costimulation, they were not responsible for this effect. However, significant downregulation of TGF-β receptor type 1 in control fibroblasts seems to contribute to the reduced profibrotic response in our in vitro model. Normal and IPF fibroblasts thus differ in their profibrotic response upon LPS-induced TLR4 stimulation.

Profibrogenic phenotype in caveolin-1 deficiency via differential regulation of STAT-1/3 proteins

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 370-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan W. Ryter ◽  
Augustine M.K. Choi ◽  
Hong Pyo Kim
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphatase ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Liver And Kidney

Fibrosis underlies the pathogenesis of several human diseases, which can lead to severe injury of vital organs. We previously demonstrated that caveolin-1 expression is reduced in experimental fibrosis and that caveolin-1 exerts antiproliferative and antifibrotic effects in lung fibrosis models. The signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins, STAT1 and STAT3, can be activated simultaneously. STAT1 can inhibit cell growth and promote apoptosis while STAT3 inhibits apoptosis. Here, we show that caveolin-1-deficient (cav-1−/−) lung fibroblasts display dramatically upregulated STAT3 activation in response to platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-β stimuli, whereas STAT1 activation is undetectable. Downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B played a role in the preferential activation of STAT3 in cav-1−/− fibroblasts. Genetic deletion of STAT3 by siRNA modulated the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and fibrogenesis. Basal expression of α-smooth muscle actin was prominent in cav-1−/− liver and kidney, consistent with deposition of collagen in these organs. Collectively, we demonstrate that the antiproliferative and antifibrogenic properties of caveolin-1 in vitro are mediated by the balance between STAT1 and STAT3 activation. Deregulated STAT signaling associated with caveolin-1 deficiency may be relevant to proliferative disorders such as tissue fibrosis.

scholarly journals Hierarchical Coculture of Hepatocyte and Hepatic Non-Parenchymal Cells for Liver Fibrosis Studies in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiao You Lau ◽  
Fuad Gandhi Torizal ◽  
Marie Shinohara ◽  
Yasuyuki Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Oxygen Tension ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell ◽  
Type I ◽  
Parenchymal Cells

During chronic liver injury, inflammation leads to the development of liver fibrosis— particularly due to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the involvement of inflammatory cytokines in HSC activation is unclear. Many existing in vitro liver models do not include these non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), and hence, do not represent the physiological relevance found in vivo. Herein, we demonstrated the hierarchical coculture of primary rat hepatocytes with NPCs such as the human-derived HSC line (LX-2) and the human-derived liver sinusoidal endothelial cell line (TMNK-1). The coculture tissue had higher albumin production and hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 activity compared to the monoculture. We then further studied the effects of stimulation by both oxygen tension and key pro-fibrogenic cytokines, such as the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), on HSC activation. Gene expression analysis revealed that lower oxygen tension and TGF-β1 stimulation enhanced collagen type I, III, and IV, alpha-smooth muscle actin, platelet-derived growth factor, and matrix metallopeptidase expression from LX-2 cells in the hierarchical coculture after fibrogenesis induction. This hierarchical in vitro cocultured liver tissue could, therefore, provide an improved platform as a disease model for elucidating the interactions of various liver cell types and biochemical signals in liver fibrosis studies.

Antifibrotic effects of suramin in injured skeletal muscle after laceration

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 771-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Sheng Chan ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
William Foster ◽  
Takashi Horaguchi ◽  
George Somogyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Muscle Regeneration ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries are very common in traumatology and sports medicine. Although muscle tissue can regenerate postinjury, the healing process is slow and often incomplete; complete recovery after skeletal muscle injury is hindered by fibrosis. Our studies have shown that decreased fibrosis could improve muscle healing. Suramin has been found to inhibit transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression by competitively binding to the growth factor receptor. We conducted a series of tests to determine the antifibrotic effects of suramin on muscle laceration injuries. Our results demonstrate that suramin (50 μg/ml) can effectively decrease fibroblast proliferation and fibrotic-protein expression (α-smooth muscle actin) in vitro. In vivo, direct injection of suramin (2.5 mg) into injured murine muscle resulted in effective inhibition of muscle fibrosis and enhanced muscle regeneration, which led to efficient functional muscle recovery. These results support our hypothesis that prevention of fibrosis could enhance muscle regeneration, thereby facilitating more efficient muscle healing. This study could significantly contribute to the development of strategies to promote efficient muscle healing and functional recovery.

scholarly journals Connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression is upregulated in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (2) ◽  
pp. L365-L371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Lasky ◽  
Luis A. Ortiz ◽  
Boihoang Tonthat ◽  
Gary W. Hoyle ◽  
Miriam Corti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Mouse Strain ◽  
Lung Fibrosis ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Resistant Mouse ◽  
Tgf Β1 ◽  
Resistant Mouse Strain

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a newly described 38-kDa peptide mitogen for fibroblasts and a promoter of connective tissue deposition in the skin. The CTGF gene promotor contains a transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) response element. Because TGF-β1 expression is upregulated in several models of fibroproliferative lung disease, we asked whether CTGF is also upregulated in a murine lung fibrosis model and whether CTGF could mediate some of the fibrogenic effects associated with TGF-β1. A portion of the rat CTGF gene was cloned and used to show that primary isolates of both murine and human lung fibroblasts express CTGF mRNA in vitro. There was a greater than twofold increase in CTGF expression in both human and murine lung fibroblasts 2, 4, and 24 h after the addition of TGF-β1 in vitro. A bleomycin-sensitive mouse strain (C57BL/6) and a bleomycin-resistant mouse strain (BALB/c) were given bleomycin, a known lung fibrogenic agent. CTGF mRNA expression was upregulated in the sensitive, but not in the resistant, mouse strain after administration of bleomycin. In vivo differences in the CTGF expression between the two mouse strains were not due to an inherent inability of BALB/c lung fibroblasts to respond to TGF-β1 because fibroblasts from untreated BALB/c mouse lung upregulated their CTGF message when treated with TGF-β1 in vitro. These data demonstrate that CTGF is expressed in lung fibroblasts and may play a role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis.

scholarly journals Mode of action of nintedanib in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1434-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Wollin ◽  
Eva Wex ◽  
Alexander Pautsch ◽  
Gisela Schnapp ◽  
Katrin E. Hostettler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Cell Injury ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cell ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease characterised by fibrosis of the lung parenchyma and loss of lung function. Although the pathogenic pathways involved in IPF have not been fully elucidated, IPF is believed to be caused by repetitive alveolar epithelial cell injury and dysregulated repair, in which there is uncontrolled proliferation of lung fibroblasts and differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, which excessively deposit extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the interstitial space. A number of profibrotic mediators including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and transforming growth factor-β are believed to play important roles in the pathogenesis of IPF. Nintedanib is a potent small molecule inhibitor of the receptor tyrosine kinases PDGF receptor, FGF receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Data from in vitro studies have shown that nintedanib interferes with processes active in fibrosis such as fibroblast proliferation, migration and differentiation, and the secretion of ECM. In addition, nintedanib has shown consistent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of lung fibrosis. These data provide a strong rationale for the clinical efficacy of nintedanib in patients with IPF, which has recently been demonstrated in phase III clinical trials.

Vascularized Cardiac Spheroids as Novel 3D in vitro Models to Study Cardiac Fibrosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 204 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma A. Figtree ◽  
Kristen J. Bubb ◽  
Owen Tang ◽  
Eddy Kizana ◽  
Carmine Gentile
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Cardiovascular Research

Spheroid cultures are among the most explored cellular biomaterials used in cardiovascular research, due to their improved integration of biochemical and physiological features of the heart in a defined architectural three-dimensional microenvironment when compared to monolayer cultures. To further explore the potential use of spheroid cultures for research, we engineered a novel in vitro model of the heart with vascularized cardiac spheroids (VCSs), by coculturing cardiac myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts isolated from dissociated rat neonatal hearts (aged 1-3 days) in hanging drop cultures. To evaluate the validity of VCSs in recapitulating pathophysiological processes typical of the in vivo heart, such as cardiac fibrosis, we then treated VCSs with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), a known profibrotic agent. Our mRNA analysis demonstrated that TGFβ1-treated VCSs present elevated levels of expression of connective tissue growth factor, fibronectin, and TGFβ1 when compared to control cultures. We demonstrated a dramatic increase in collagen deposition following TGFβ1 treatment in VCSs in the PicroSirius Red-stained sections. Doxorubicin, a renowned cardiotoxic and profibrotic agent, triggered apoptosis and disrupted vascular networks in VCSs. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that VCSs are a valid model for the study of the mechanisms involved in cardiac fibrosis, with the potential to be used to investigate novel mechanisms and therapeutics for treating and preventing cardiac fibrosis in vitro.

scholarly journals Age-dependent shifts in renal response to injury relate to altered BMP6/CTGF expression and signaling

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (5) ◽  
pp. F926-F934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas L. Falke ◽  
Hiroshi Kinashi ◽  
Amelie Dendooven ◽  
Roel Broekhuizen ◽  
Reinout Stoop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Renal Tissue ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Obstructive Nephropathy ◽  
Young Mice

Age is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which, through progressive tissue damage and fibrosis, ultimately leads to loss of kidney function. Although much effort is put into studying CKD development experimentally, age has rarely been taken into account. Therefore, we investigated the effect of age on the development of renal tissue damage and fibrosis in a mouse model of obstructive nephropathy (i.e., unilateral ureter obstruction; UUO). We observed that after 14 days, obstructed kidneys of old mice had more tubulointerstitial atrophic damage but less fibrosis than those of young mice. This was associated with reduced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and higher bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) expression and pSMAD1/5/8 signaling, while transforming growth factor-β expression and transcriptional activity were no different in obstructed kidneys of old and young mice. In vitro, CTGF bound to and inhibited BMP6 activity. In summary, our data suggest that in obstructive nephropathy atrophy increases and fibrosis decreases with age and that this relates to increased BMP signaling, most likely due to higher BMP6 and lower CTGF expression.

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