Transforming growth factor-β1 induces cerebrovascular dysfunction and astrogliosis through angiotensin II type 1 receptor-mediated signaling pathways

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brice Ongali ◽  
Nektaria Nicolakakis ◽  
Xin-Kang Tong ◽  
Clotilde Lecrux ◽  
Hans Imboden ◽  
...  

Transgenic mice constitutively overexpressing the cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (TGF mice) display cerebrovascular alterations as seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), but no or only subtle cognitive deficits. TGF-β1 may exert part of its deleterious effects through interactions with angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) signaling pathways. We test such interactions in the brain and cerebral vessels of TGF mice by measuring cerebrovascular reactivity, levels of protein markers of vascular fibrosis, nitric oxide synthase activity, astrogliosis, and mnemonic performance in mice treated (6 months) with the AT1R blocker losartan (10 mg/kg per day) or the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (3 mg/kg per day). Both treatments restored the severely impaired cerebrovascular reactivity to acetylcholine, calcitonin gene-related peptide, endothelin-1, and the baseline availability of nitric oxide in aged TGF mice. Losartan, but not enalapril, significantly reduced astrogliosis and cerebrovascular levels of profibrotic protein connective tissue growth factor while raising levels of antifibrotic enzyme matrix metallopeptidase-9. Memory was unaffected by aging and treatments. The results suggest a pivotal role for AngII in TGF-β1-induced cerebrovascular dysfunction and neuroinflammation through AT1R-mediated mechanisms. Further, they suggest that AngII blockers could be appropriate against vasculopathies and astrogliosis associated with AD and VCID.

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (5) ◽  
pp. C1457-C1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaétan Thibault ◽  
Marie-Josée Lacombe ◽  
Lynn M. Schnapp ◽  
Alexandre Lacasse ◽  
Fatiha Bouzeghrane ◽  
...  

Using a novel pharmacological tool with125I-echistatin to detect integrins on the cell, we have observed that cardiac fibroblasts harbor five different RGD-binding integrins: α8β1, α3β1, α5β1, αvβ1, and αvβ3. Stimulation of cardiac fibroblasts by angiotensin II (ANG II) or transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) resulted in an increase of protein and heightening by 50% of the receptor density of α8β1-integrin. The effect of ANG II was blocked by an AT1, but not an AT2, receptor antagonist, or by an anti-TGF-β1 antibody. ANG II and TGF-β1 increased fibronectin secretion, smooth muscle α-actin synthesis, and formation of actin stress fibers and enhanced attachment of fibroblasts to a fibronectin matrix. The α8- and β1-subunits were colocalized by immunocytochemistry with vinculin or β3-integrin at focal adhesion sites. These results indicate that α8β1-integrin is an abundant integrin on rat cardiac fibroblasts. Its positive modulation by ANG II and TGF-β1 in a myofibroblast-like phenotype suggests the involvement of α8β1-integrin in extracellular matrix protein deposition and cardiac fibroblast adhesion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina-Adriana Ghebes ◽  
Jéré van Lente ◽  
Janine Nicole Post ◽  
Daniel B. F. Saris ◽  
Hugo Fernandes

Modulating the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor–β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathways is essential during tendon/ligament (T/L) healing. Unfortunately, growth factor delivery in situ is far from trivial and, in many cases, the necessary growth factors are not approved for clinical use. Here we used a BMP-2 and a TGF-β1 reporter cell line to screen a library of 1280 Food and Drug Administration–approved small molecules and identify modulators of both signaling pathways. We identified four compounds capable of modulating BMP and TGF signaling on primary human tendon–derived cells (huTCs) and describe their effects on proliferation and differentiation of these cells.


2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (21) ◽  
pp. 2299-2322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinfang Bao ◽  
Yingfeng Shi ◽  
Min Tao ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
Shougang Zhuang ◽  
...  

Autophagy has been identified as a cellular process of bulk degradation of cytoplasmic components and its persistent activation is critically involved in the renal damage induced by ureteral obstruction. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of autophagy in hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) remain unknown. In the present study, we observed that inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) abolished uric acid-induced differentiation of renal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts and activation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Wnt signaling pathways in cultured renal interstitial fibroblasts. Treatment with 3-MA also abrogated the development of HN in vivo as evidenced by improving renal function, preserving renal tissue architecture, reducing the number of autophagic vacuoles, and decreasing microalbuminuria. Moreover, 3-MA was effective in attenuating renal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and reducing renal epithelial cells arrested at the G2/M phase of cell cycle. Injury to the kidney resulted in increased expression of TGF-β1 and TGFβ receptor I, phosphorylation of Smad3 and TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and activation of multiple cell signaling pathways associated with renal fibrogenesis, including Wnt, Notch, EGFR, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). 3-MA treatment remarkably inhibited all these responses. In addition, 3-MA effectively suppressed infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes as well as release of multiple profibrogenic cytokines/chemokines in the injured kidney. Collectively, these findings indicate that hyperuricemia-induced autophagy is critically involved in the activation of renal fibroblasts and development of renal fibrosis and suggest that inhibition of autophagy may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for HN.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 030006052092635
Author(s):  
Guo-wei Wei ◽  
Ke-yue Li ◽  
Ke-li Tang ◽  
Cheng-Xian Shi

Objective To investigate the effects of tanshinone IIA on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smads signaling pathway in angiotensin II-treated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods HSCs were cultured and treated with angiotensin II (10 μM) or angiotensin II (10 μM) plus tanshinone IIA (3, 10, or 30 μM). Cells were incubated for 48 hours and proliferation was determined with the Cell Counting Kit-8. The relative mRNA expression of TGF-β1, Smad4, and Smad7 was measured by quantitative real-time PCR, and the relative protein expression levels were investigated by western blotting. Results After angiotensin II treatment, cell proliferation was significantly accelerated. Furthermore, both the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad4 was significantly up-regulated, while the mRNA and protein expression of Smad7 was significantly down-regulated compared with the control cells. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the observed effects of angiotensin II in a concentration-dependent manner, with significant inhibition exerted by tanshinone IIA at 10 and 30 μM. Conclusions Angiotensin II promotes the proliferation of HSCs, possibly by regulating the expression of components along the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. Tanshinone IIA inhibits the angiotensin II-induced activation of this pathway, and may, therefore, have preventive and therapeutic effects in liver fibrosis.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (13) ◽  
pp. 4052-4058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Lazo-Langner ◽  
Greg A. Knoll ◽  
Philip S. Wells ◽  
Nancy Carson ◽  
Marc A. Rodger

Abstract Transforming growth factor–β1 (TGF-β1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor–type 1 (PAI-1) might play a role in the development of fibrosis and stenosis of hemodialysis vascular accesses. We studied polymorphisms in the TGFβ1 (869T>C; 915G>C), and PAI-1 (4G/5G) genes in 416 hemodialysis patients (107 access thrombosis cases, 309 controls), to determine if they are related to vascular access thrombosis. Three TGF-β1 production haplotypes (low, intermediate, and high) were defined according to the combination of polymorphisms found. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for access thrombosis in low TGF-β1 producers was 7.31 (2.15-24.88; P = .001). The interaction between low TGF-β1 production haplotype and the 4G/4G PAI-1 genotype was strongly associated with access thrombosis (adjusted OR 19.3; 95% CI 2.82-132.40; P = .003). Mean access thrombosis–free survival times in years (95% CI) were 14.65 (12.05-17.25), 11.96 (8.67-15.25), and 4.94 (3.06-6.83) in high, intermediate, and low TGF-β1 producers, respectively (P = .044). Analysis of the synergy index and the case-only cross-product supported the presence of an interaction. We concluded that low TGF-β1 production haplotype is a risk factor for hemodialysis access thrombosis and that in the presence of the 4G/4G PAI-1 genotype there is an additional increase in risk.


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