Abstract 3030: Differential Regulation of Valvular Interstitial Cell Dysfunction by Extracellular Matrix Components

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karien J Rodriguez ◽  
Kristyn S Masters

Calcification is the leading cause of bioprosthetic and native aortic valve failure, but relatively little is known regarding the factors that contribute to the progression of valvular calcification. Because extracellular matrix (ECM) disarray is often observed in explanted diseased valves, we have investigated the role of individual ECM components in the in vitro calcification of valvular interstitial cells (VICs). The transformation of VICs to an osteoblast-like phenotype was quantified in VICs cultured on different types of ECM coatings. The results show that the number and size of calcific nodules formed in VIC cultures, as well as the expression of mineralization markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and CBFa1, were highly dependent upon the composition of the culture surface. In fact, VICs cultured on certain ECM components, namely collagen (Coll) and fibronectin (FN), were resistant to calcification, even upon treatment with potent mineralization-inducing growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFb1). Meanwhile, VIC cultures on fibrin (FB), laminin, and heparin not only had a high number of calcified nodules (p<0.001 vs. Coll, FN), but also elevated levels of ALP and CBFa1 (p<0.02), and the number of nodules on these ‘pro-calcific’ coatings significantly increased upon treatment with exogenous TGFb1 (p<0.05). To explain the ECM-dependence of calcification, the endogenous production of a pro-mineralization factor (TGFb1) was assessed in VICs on anti-calcific (Coll) and pro-calcific (FB) substrates. Quantification of TGFb1 mRNA revealed that VICs on Coll surfaces expressed a significantly lower amount of TGFb1 mRNA than VICs on FB (p<0.01). Furthermore, treatment with a neutralizing antibody to TGFb1 decreased TGFb1 mRNA expression by VICs on Coll in comparison to VICs on FB or polystyrene controls (p<0.02). Thus, we have discovered a strong correlation between VIC calcification and ECM composition. Our findings show that the ECM plays an important role in controlling TGFb1 expression and subsequent calcification of VICs, which may significantly impact the design of biomaterials for valve tissue engineering, understanding of valvular disease, and the development of preventative treatments for valve calcification.

1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 2153-2162 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Talts ◽  
A. Weller ◽  
R. Timpl ◽  
M. Ekblom ◽  
P. Ekblom

We have here studied the composition and regulation of stromal extracellular matrix components in an experimental tumor model. Nude mice were inoculated with WCCS-1 cells, a human Wilms' tumor cell line. In the formed tumors the stroma was found to contain mesenchymal extracellular matrix proteins such as tenascin-C, fibulins-1 and 2 and fibronectin, but no nidogen. Nidogen was confined to basement membranes of tumor blood vessels. Since glucocorticoids have been shown to downregulate tenascin-C expression in vitro, we tested whether dexamethasone can influence biosynthesis of extracellular matrix components during tumor formation in vivo. A downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA and an upregulation of fibronectin mRNA expression by dexamethasone was noted. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 mRNA levels were unaffected by the dexamethasone treatment. Glucocorticoids can thus downregulate tenascin-C synthesis although local stimulatory growth factors are present. The competition between a negative and a positive extrinsic factor on synthesis of stromal extracellular matrix components was studied in a fibroblast/preadipocyte cell line. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 stimulated tenascin-C synthesis but did not affect fibronectin or fibulin-2 synthesis. Dexamethasone at high concentrations could completely suppress the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on tenascin-C mRNA expression. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 could in turn overcome the downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA expression caused by a lower concentration of dexamethasone. We therefore suggest that the limited expression of tenascin-C in part is due to a continuous suppression by physiological levels of glucocorticoids, which can be overcome by local stimulatory growth factors when present in sufficient amounts.


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.


Author(s):  
O. V. Prokhorova ◽  
A. A. Olina ◽  
G. Kh. Tolibova ◽  
T. G. Tral

Introduction. The peptide hormone relaxin, which is produced by cells of the corpus luteum during and outside pregnancy, has a huge number of clinically significant effects, mediating many biological mechanisms, including antifibrotic, vasodilatory, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects.Purpose of the study: based on the study of modern literature data, to analyze the results of scientific research, representing the current system of views on the physiological and pathophysilogical effects of relaxin.Materials and methods. A study f scientific publications for the period from 2005 to 2020 in e PubMed and Elibrary databases was carried out using the keywords: relaxin, pregnancy, relaxin signaling pathway, reproductive system, extracellular matrix.Results and Discussion. The study of modern views on the physiology of relaxin has shown that this hormone mediates its effects by binding to the specific receptor RXFP1, which is localized in a large number of reproductive nonproductive tissues. Relaxin performs many functions related to the remodeling of the extracellular matrix and vasculature. The main uterotropic effects of this peptide include stimulation of growth and vascularization of the uterus, remodeling of extracellular matrix components, and regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in preparation for implantation.Conclusion. The progress of the last decade in understanding the biochemistry of the hormone relaxin has formed the basis for a deeper penetration into all the variety of its physiological roles. The participation of relaxin in the mechanisms of relaxation of the myometrium during pregnancy, remodeling of the connective tissue of target organs in the antenatal period creases its potential clinical significance. The prospect of a possible therapeutic use of relaxin preparations in stimulating antenatal transformation of the cervix, in vitro fertilization, therapy of preeclampsia, acute heart failure and myocardial ischemia turns it into a potential therapeutic agent for these pathological conditions.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (6) ◽  
pp. 815-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Li Yang ◽  
Wen-Jie Zhou ◽  
Kai-Kai Chang ◽  
Jie Mei ◽  
Li-Qing Huang ◽  
...  

The dysfunction of NK cells in women with endometriosis (EMS) contributes to the immune escape of menstrual endometrial fragments refluxed into the peritoneal cavity. The reciprocal communications between endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and lymphocytes facilitate the development of EMS. However, the mechanism of these communications on cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells in endometriotic milieus is still largely unknown. To imitate the local immune microenvironment, the co-culture systems of ESCs from patients with EMS and monocyte-derived macrophages or of ESCs, macrophages and NK cells were constructed. The cytokine levels in the co-culture unit were evaluated by ELISA. The expression of functional molecules in NK cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The NK cell behaviorsin vitrowere analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and cytotoxic activation assays. After incubation with ESCs and macrophages, the expression of CD16, NKG2D, perforin and IFN-γ, viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells were significantly downregulated. The secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the co-culture system of ESCs and macrophages was increased. Exposure with anti-IL-10 receptor β neutralizing antibody (αhIL-10Rβ) or αTGF-β could partly reverse these effects of ESCs and macrophages on NK cellsin vitro. These results suggest that the interaction between macrophages and ESCs downregulates cytotoxicity of NK cells possibly by stimulating the secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β, and may further trigger the immune escape of ectopic fragments and promote the occurrence and the development of EMS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1686-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandru-Emil Matei ◽  
Chih-Wei Chen ◽  
Lisa Kiesewetter ◽  
Andrea-Hermina Györfi ◽  
Yi-Nan Li ◽  
...  

ObjectivesFibrosis is a complex pathophysiological process involving interplay between multiple cell types. Experimental modelling of fibrosis is essential for the understanding of its pathogenesis and for testing of putative antifibrotic drugs. However, most current models employ either phylogenetically distant species or rely on human cells cultured in an artificial environment. Here we evaluated the potential of vascularised in vitro human skin equivalents as a novel model of skin fibrosis and a platform for the evaluation of antifibrotic drugs.MethodsSkin equivalents were assembled on a three-dimensional extracellular matrix by sequential seeding of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Fibrotic transformation on exposure to transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and response to treatment with nintedanib as an established antifibrotic agent were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), capillary Western immunoassay, immunostaining and histology.ResultsSkin equivalents perfused at a physiological pressure formed a mature, polarised epidermis, a stratified dermis and a functional vessel system. Exposure of these models to TGFβ recapitulated key features of SSc skin with activation of TGFβ pathways, fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, increased release of collagen and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. Treatment with the antifibrotic agent nintedanib ameliorated this fibrotic transformation.ConclusionOur data provide evidence that vascularised skin equivalents can replicate key features of fibrotic skin and may serve as a platform for evaluation of antifibrotic drugs in a pathophysiologically relevant human setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-412
Author(s):  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yanfeng Sun ◽  
Xiaohui Dong ◽  
Qi Yin ◽  
Huimin Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract The cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM)-modified scaffolds have advantages of mimic tissue specificity and been thought to better mimic the native cellular microenvironment in vitro. ECM derived from cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are considered as key elements that provide a natural cell growth microenvironment and change the fate of cardiomyocytes (CMs). Here, a new hybrid scaffold is designed based on silk fibroin (SF) scaffold and CFs-derived ECM. CFs were seeded on the SF scaffold for 10 days culturing and decellularized to produce CFs-derived ECM-coated SF scaffold. The results showed that the cell-derived ECM-modified silk fibroin scaffold material contained collagen, laminin, fibronectin and other ECM components with myocardial-like properties. Further to explore its effects on brown adipose stem cells (BASCs) differentiation into CMs. We found that the CF-derived ECM-coated scaffold also increased the expression of CM-specific proteins (e.g. cardiac troponin T and α-actinin) of BASCs. Notably, the β1-integrin-dependent transforming growth factor-β1 signaling pathway was also involved in the regulation of CF-derived ECM by promoting the differentiation of BASCs into CMs. Overall, these findings provide insights into the bionic manufacturing of engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) and establish a theoretical basis for the construction of ECTs.


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