scholarly journals Rap1 Regulates Hepatic Stellate Cell Migration through the Modulation of RhoA Activity in Response to Transforming Growth Factor-β1

Author(s):  
Mi-Young Moon ◽  
Hee-Jun Kim ◽  
Mo-Jong Kim ◽  
Sunho Uhm ◽  
Ji-Won Park ◽  
...  

Although the migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is important for hepatic fibrosis, the regulation of HSC migration is poorly understood. Interestingly, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 induces monocyte migration to sites of injury or inflammation in the early phase but inhibits cell migration in the late phase. In this study, we investigated the role of RhoA signaling in TGF-β1-induced HSC migration. We found that TGF-β1 increased the protein and mRNA levels of α-SMA and collagen type I in HSC-T6 cells. The level of RhoA-GTP in TGF-β1-stimulated cells was significantly higher than that in control cells. Moreover, cofilin phosphorylation and F-actin formation was more strongly detected in TGF-β1-stimulated cells than in control cells. Additionally, TGF-β1 induced the activation of NF-κB and the expression of extracellular matrix proteins and several cytokines in HSC-T6 cells. The active form of Rap1 (Rap1 V12) suppressed RhoA-GTP levels, whereas the dominant negative form of Rap1 (Rap1 N17) augmented RhoA-GTP levels. Therefore, we confirmed that Rap1 regulates RhoA activation in TGF-β1-stimulated HSC-T6 cells. These findings suggest that TGF-β1 regulates Rap1, resulting in RhoA suppression, NF-κB activation and F-actin formation during the migration of HSCs.

2005 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
M-O Faure ◽  
L Nicol ◽  
S Fabre ◽  
J Fontaine ◽  
N Mohoric ◽  
...  

Activins and inhibins, members of the transforming growth factor-beta family are able to stimulate and inhibit, respectively, FSH synthesis and release. Other members of this superfamily, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), may also affect FSH synthesis in the mouse. The aim of this work was to determine whether BMPs are expressed in the ovine pituitary and whether they play a role in the regulation of FSH release. The mRNAs encoding BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-7 and the oocyte-derived growth factor, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-9 were detected in the pituitaries of cyclic ewes by reverse-transcriptase PCR, as well as the mRNAs encoding the BMP type I receptors, BMPR-IA (activin-receptor-like kinase (ALK)-3) and BMPR-IB (ALK-6), and type II receptors (BMPR-II). Immunolabeling of pituitary sections revealed the presence of BMPR-IA (ALK-3) and BMPR-II in gonadotrope cells. To investigate the potential effects of BMPs on FSH secretion, ewe pituitary cell cultures were treated with BMP-4 (10−11 M to 10−9 M) for 48 h. Interestingly, FSH release was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. At 10−9 M BMP-4 both FSH concentration and FSHβ mRNA expression were reduced by 40% of control values. In contrast, there was no inhibitory effect on either LH or LHβ mRNA expression. A similar result was found with BMP-6. BMP-4 triggered the phosphorylation of Smad1, suggesting that the effect of BMP-4 on FSH secretion is due to the activation of the BMPs signaling pathway. Furthermore, BMP-4 blocked the stimulatory effect of activin on both FSH release and FSHβ mRNA and amplified the suppression of FSH release and FSHβ mRNA levels induced by 17β-estradiol. These results indicate that a functional BMP system operates within the sheep pituitary, at least in vitro, to decrease FSH release and to modulate the effect of activin.


1992 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Mauviel ◽  
C H Evans ◽  
J Uitto

Leukoregulin (LR), a T-cell-derived growth factor, modulates fibroblast functions in vitro [Mauviel, Rédini, Hartmann, Loyau & Pujol (1991) J. Cell Biol. 113, 1455-1462]. In the present study, incubation of human dermal fibroblasts with LR (0.1-2 units/ml) resulted in decreases in the mRNA steady-state levels for alpha 1(I), alpha 2(I) and alpha 1(III), but not alpha 2(V), collagen genes. LR also down-regulated alpha 2(I) collagen promoter activity in transient cell transfections of control cells as well as those incubated with transforming growth factor-beta, a potent up-regulator of collagen type I gene expression. Thus LR is a strong inhibitor of type I collagen gene expression, acting at the level of transcription.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Cabezas ◽  
Pamela Farfán ◽  
María-Paz Marzolo

AbstractMegalin/LRP2 is a receptor that plays important roles in the physiology of several organs, such as kidney, lung, intestine, and gallbladder; and also in the physiology of the nervous system. Megalin expression is reduced in diseases associated with fibrosis, including diabetic nephropathy, hepatic fibrosis and cholelithiasis, as well as in some breast and prostate cancers. One of the hallmarks of these conditions is the presence of the cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß). Although TGF-ß has been implicated in the reduction of megalin levels, the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation is not well understood. Here, we show that treatment of two epithelial cell lines (from kidney and gallbladder) with TGF-ß1 is associated with decreased megalin mRNA and protein levels, and that these effects are reversed by inhibiting the TGF-ß1 type I receptor (TGF-ßRI). Based on in silico analyses, the two SMAD-binding elements (SBEs) in the megalin promoter are located at positions −57 and −605. Site-directed mutagenesis of the SBEs and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments revealed that SMAD2/3 transcription factors interact with SBEs to repress the megalin promoter and that they are also required for the repressing role of TGF-ß1. In addition, high concentration of albumin reduced megalin expression and promoter activation that depend on the expression of SMAD2/3. Interestingly, the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA), which induces megalin expression, reduced the effects of TGF-ß1on megalin mRNA levels. These data show the significance of TGF-ß and the SMAD2/3 signalling pathway in the regulation of megalin and explain the decreased megalin levels observed under conditions in which TGF-ß is upregulated, including fibrosis-associated diseases and cancer.


1989 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 2477-2482 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Czaja ◽  
F R Weiner ◽  
K C Flanders ◽  
M A Giambrone ◽  
R Wind ◽  
...  

Despite extensive efforts, little progress has been made in identifying the factors that induce hepatic fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to enhance collagen production, therefore its role in hepatic fibrosis was investigated. Treatment of cultured hepatic cells with TGF-beta 1 increased type I procollagen mRNA levels 13-fold due to post-transcriptional gene regulation. When two animal models of hepatic fibrosis, murine schistosomiasis and CCl4-treated rats, were examined, they both exhibited increased levels of TGF-beta 1 gene expression at times that somewhat preceded the increase in collagen synthesis. In contrast, in murine schistosomiasis, mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 peaked early in the fibrogenic process. Immunohistochemical analysis showed TGF-beta 1 to be present in normal mouse liver and to be markedly increased in mice infected with schistosomiasis. TGF-beta 1 appeared in the hepatic parenchyma, primarily in hepatocytes. These findings strongly suggest a role for TGF-beta 1 in a pathophysiological state.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Benedict-Uy Fabia ◽  
Joshua Bingwa ◽  
Jiyeon Park ◽  
Nguyen-Mihn Hieu ◽  
Jung-Hoon Ahn

Pseudomonas fluorescens, a gram-negative bacterium, has been proven to be a capable protein manufacturing factory (PMF). Utilizing its ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, a type I secretion system, P. fluorescens has successfully produced recombinant proteins. However, besides the target proteins, P. fluorescens also secretes unnecessary background proteins that complicate protein purification and other downstream processes. One of the background proteins produced in large amounts is FliC, a flagellin protein. In this study, the master regulator of flagella gene expression, fleQ, was deleted from P. fluorescens Δtp, a lipase and protease double-deletion mutant, via targeted gene knockout. FleQ directs flagella synthesis, so the new strain, P. fluorescens ΔfleQ, does not produce flagella-related proteins. This not only simplifies purification but also makes P. fluorescens ΔfleQ an eco-friendly expression host because it will not survive outside a controlled environment. Six recombinant growth factors, namely, insulin-like growth factors I and II, beta-nerve growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 1, transforming growth factor beta, and tumor necrosis factor beta, prepared using our supercharging method, were successfully secreted by P. fluorescens ΔfleQ. Our findings demonstrate the potential of P. fluorescens ΔfleQ, combined with our supercharging process, as a PMF.


1994 ◽  
Vol 269 (31) ◽  
pp. 20172-20178 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Yamashita ◽  
P. ten Dijke ◽  
P. Franzén ◽  
K. Miyazono ◽  
C.H. Heldin

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1020-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zuo ◽  
Ye-Guang Chen

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β regulates a spectrum of cellular events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. In addition to the canonical Smad pathway, TGF-β can also activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and small GTPases in a cell-specific manner. Here, we report that cholesterol depletion interfered with TGF-β–induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. This interference is due to impaired activation of MAPK mediated by cholesterol-rich lipid rafts. Cholesterol-depleting agents specifically inhibited TGF-β–induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38, but not Smad2/3 or Akt. Activation of ERK or p38 is required for both TGF-β–induced EMT and cell migration, whereas PI3K/Akt is necessary only for TGF-β–promoted cell migration but not for EMT. Although receptor heterocomplexes could be formed in both lipid raft and nonraft membrane compartments in response to TGF-β, receptor localization in lipid rafts, but not in clathrin-coated pits, is important for TGF-β–induced MAPK activation. Requirement of lipid rafts for MAPK activation was further confirmed by specific targeting of the intracellular domain of TGF-β type I receptor to different membrane locations. Together, our findings establish a novel link between cholesterol and EMT and cell migration, that is, cholesterol-rich lipid rafts are required for TGF-β–mediated MAPK activation, an event necessary for TGF-β–directed epithelial plasticity.


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