Hepatic Stellate Cell: A Potential Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengna Wu ◽  
Huajie Miao ◽  
Rong Fu ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Wenjie Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Liver Inflammation ◽  
Cancer Stemness ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

: Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, in which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority. Despite the progression in treatment, the prognosis remains extremely poor for HCC patients. The mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis are complex, of which fibrosis is acknowledged as the pre-cancerous stage of HCC. Approximately, 80-90% of HCC develops in the fibrotic or cirrhotic livers. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main effector cells of liver fibrosis, could secret various biological contents to maintain the liver inflammation. By decades, HSCs are increasingly correlated with HCC in the tumor microenvironment. : In this review, we summarized the underlying mechanisms that HSCs participated in the genesis and progression of HCC. HSCs secrete various bioactive contents and regulate tumor-related pathways, subsequently contribute to metastasis, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, chemoresistance and cancer stemness. The study indicates that HSC plays vital roles in HCC progression, suggesting it as a promising therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

scholarly journals IL-11 neutralising therapies target hepatic stellate cell-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anissa A. Widjaja ◽  
Brijesh K. Singh ◽  
Eleonora Adami ◽  
Sivakumar Viswanathan ◽  
Giuseppe A. D’Agostino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Activation Loop ◽  
Liver Inflammation ◽  
Preclinical Models ◽  
Hepatocyte Damage

AbstractThe transformation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts is the defining pathobiology in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here we show that key NASH factors induce IL-11, which drives an autocrine and ERK-dependent activation loop to initiate and maintain HSC-to-myofibroblast transformation, causing liver fibrosis. IL-11 is upregulated in NASH andIl11ra1-deleted mice are strongly protected from liver fibrosis, inflammation and steatosis in murine NASH. Therapeutic inhibition of IL11RA or IL-11 with novel neutralizing antibodies robustly inhibits NASH pathology in preclinical models and reverses established liver fibrosis by promoting HSC senescence and favourable matrix remodelling. When given early in NASH, IL-11 inhibition prevents liver inflammation and steatosis, reverses severe hepatocyte damage and reduces hepatic immune cells and TGFβ1 levels. Our findings show an unappreciated and central role for IL-11 in HSCs and prioritise IL-11 signalling as a new therapeutic target in NASH while revealing an unexpected pro-inflammatory function for IL-11 in stromal immunity.

Possible Therapeutic Uses of Extracellular Vesicles for Reversion of Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells: Context and Future Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahim Rejanur Tasin ◽  
Debasish Halder ◽  
Chanchal Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Fibrotic Liver ◽  
Paracrine Effects ◽  
Cell Therapies

: Liver fibrosis is one of the leading causes for cirrhotic liver disease and the lack of therapies to treat fibrotic liver is a major concern. Liver fibrosis is mainly occurred by activation of hepatic stellate cells and some stem cell therapies had previously reported for treatment. However, due to some problems with cell-based treatment, a safe therapeutic agent is vehemently sought by the researchers. Extracellular vesicles are cell-derived nanoparticles that are employed in several therapeutic approaches, including fibrosis, for their ability to transfer specific molecules in the target cells. In this review the possibilities of extracellular vesicles to inactivate stellate cells are summarized and discussed. According to several studies, extracellular vesicles from different sources can either put beneficial or detrimental effects by regulating the activation of stellate cells. Therefore, targeting extracellular vesicles for maximizing or inhibiting their production is a potential approach for fibrotic liver treatment. Extracellular vesicles from different cells can also inactivate stellate cells by carrying out the paracrine effects of those cells, working as the agents. They are also implicated as smart carrier of anti-fibrotic molecules when their respective parent cells are engineered to produce specific stellate cell-regulating substances. A number of studies showed stellate cell activation can be regulated by up/downregulation of specific proteins, and extracellular vesicle-based therapies can be an effective move to exploit these mechanisms. In conclusion, EVs are advantageous nano-carriers with the potential to treat fibrotic liver by inactivating activated stellate cells by various mechanisms.

scholarly journals Identification of GDF15 as A Pro-Fibrotic Factor in Mouse Liver Fibrosis Progression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Qi ◽  
Ming-Ze Ma ◽  
Jing-Hua Kuai
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Tetrachloride ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cell ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Liver Tissue ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Fibrosis Progression

Abstract Aim:To elucidate the inhibitory role of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in liver fibrosis and its possible activation mechanism in hepatic stellate cells of mice.Methods:We generated a GDF15-neutralizing antibody that can inhibit TGF-β1-induced activation of the TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway in LX-2 cells. All the mice in this study were induced by carbon tetrachloride and thioacetamide. In addition, primary hepatic stellate cells from mice were isolated from fresh livers using Nycodenz density gradient separation. The severity and extent of liver fibrosis in mice were evaluated by Sirius Red and Masson staining. The effect of GDF15 on the activation of the TGF-β pathway was detected using dual-luciferase reporter assays and Western blotting assays.Results:The expression of GDF15 in cirrhotic liver tissue was higher than that in normal liver tissue. Blocking GDF15 with a neutralizing antibody resulted in a delay in primary hepatic stellate cell activation and remission of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride or thioacetamide. Meanwhile, TGF-β pathway activation was partly inhibited by a GDF15-neutralizing antibody in primary hepatic stellate cells. These results indicated that GDF15 plays an important role in regulating HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression.Conclusions:The inhibition of GDF15 attenuates chemical-inducible liver fibrosis and delays hepatic stellate cell activation, and this effect is probably mainly attributed to its regulatory role in TGF-β signalling.

Lycopene inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and modulates cellular lipid storage and signaling

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1974-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique de Barros Elias ◽  
Felipe Leite Oliveira ◽  
Fatima Costa Rodrigues Guma ◽  
Renata Brum Martucci ◽  
Radovan Borojevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cell ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Lipid Storage ◽  
Cellular Lipid ◽  
Perivascular Cells ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation

Hepatic stellate cells are liver-specific perivascular cells, identified as the major source of collagen in liver fibrosis, following their activation and conversion to myofibroblast-like cells.

scholarly journals Reduction in SNAP-23 Alters Microfilament Organization in Myofibrobastic Hepatic Stellate Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Haleigh B. Eubanks ◽  
Elise G. Lavoie ◽  
Jessica Goree ◽  
Jeffrey A. Kamykowski ◽  
Neriman Gokden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Snare Proteins ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Critical Feature ◽  
Effector Cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are critical effector cells of liver fibrosis. In the injured liver, HSC differentiate into a myofibrobastic phenotype. A critical feature distinguishing myofibroblastic from quiescent HSC is cytoskeletal reorganization. Soluble NSF attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins are important in trafficking of newly synthesized proteins to the plasma membrane for release into the extracellular environment. The goals of this project were to determine the expression of specific SNARE proteins in myofibroblastic HSC and to test whether their alteration changed the HSC phenotype in vitro and progression of liver fibrosis in vivo. We found that HSC lack the t-SNARE protein, SNAP-25, but express a homologous protein, SNAP-23. Downregulation of SNAP-23 in HSC induced reduction in polymerization and disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton associated with loss of cell movement. In contrast, reduction in SNAP-23 in mice by monogenic deletion delayed but did not prevent progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that SNAP-23 is an important regular of actin dynamics in myofibroblastic HSC, but that the role of SNAP-23 in the progression of liver fibrosis in vivo is unclear.

scholarly journals Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid suppresses hepatic stellate cells activation by HMGB1 dependent reduction of NF-κB1

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen Wang ◽  
Min Yan ◽  
Qiuhong Ji ◽  
Jinbiao Lu ◽  
Yuhua Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Hydroxamic Acid ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Cdna Array ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is essential to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Exploring drugs targeting HSC activation is a promising anti-fibrotic strategy. In the present study, we found suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, prominently suppressed the activation phenotype of a human hepatic stellate cell line—LX2. The production of collagen type I andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as well as the proliferation and migration of LX2 cells were significantly reduced by SAHA treatment. To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying this suppression, genome wild gene regulation by SAHA was determined by Affymetrix 1.0 human cDNA array. Upon SAHA treatment, the abundance of 331 genes was up-regulated and 173 genes was down-regulated in LX2 cells. Bioinformatic analyses of these altered genes highlighted the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) pathway was one of the most relevant pathways that contributed to SAHA induced suppression of HSCs activation. Further studies demonstrated the increased acetylation of intracellular HMGB1 in SAHA treated HSCs, and this increasing is most likely to be responsible for SAHA induced down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B1 (NF-κB1) and is one of the main underlying mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of SAHA for liver fibrosis.

scholarly journals Inhibition of SIRT2 suppresses hepatic fibrosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (11) ◽  
pp. G1155-G1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribel Arteaga ◽  
Na Shang ◽  
Xianzhong Ding ◽  
Sherri Yong ◽  
Scott J. Cotler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Histone Deacetylases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Novel Strategy ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis and result in serious complications of liver disease. The pathogenesis of liver fibrosis involves the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the underlying mechanisms of which are not fully known. Emerging evidence suggests that the classic histone deacetylases play a role in liver fibrosis, but the role of another subfamily of histone deacetylases, the sirtuins, in the development of hepatic fibrosis remains unknown. In this study, we found that blocking the activity of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) by using inhibitors or shRNAs significantly suppressed fibrogenic gene expression in HSCs. We further demonstrated that inhibition of SIRT2 results in the degradation of c-MYC, which is important for HSC activation. In addition, we discovered that inhibition of SIRT2 suppresses the phosphorylation of ERK, which is critical for the stabilization of c-MYC. Moreover, we found that Sirt2 deficiency attenuates the hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and thioacetamide (TAA). Furthermore, we showed that SIRT2, p-ERK, and c-MYC proteins are all overexpressed in human hepatic fibrotic tissues. These data suggest a critical role for the SIRT2/ERK/c-MYC axis in promoting hepatic fibrogenesis. Inhibition of the SIRT2/ERK/c-MYC axis represents a novel strategy to prevent and to potentially treat liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

scholarly journals Fibronectin Type III Domain-Containing 5 Attenuates Liver Fibrosis Via Inhibition of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Zhou ◽  
Li Ling ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Tong-Yan Liu ◽  
Hong Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ampk Phosphorylation ◽  
Fibronectin Type Iii ◽  
Fibronectin Type Iii Domain ◽  
Fibronectin Type

Background/Aims: Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) protein is involved in the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism. FNDC5 attenuates hepatic steatosis induced by high fat diet (HFD). Here, we examined the effects of FNDC5 on liver fibrosis and underline mechanisms. Methods: Experiments were carried out on wild-type and FNDC5-/- mice, primary mouse hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and human hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2). The mice were fed with HFD for 6 months to induce liver fibrosis. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were used to induce the activation of hepatic stellate cells and fibrosis in mouse HSCs and human LX-2 cells. H&E, Masson’s trichrome staining and Sirius red staining were used for liver sections. Protein and mRNA expressions were evaluated with Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: FNDC5 deficiency aggravated the HFD-induced liver fibrosis and HSCs activation in mice. It exacerbated the HFD-induced inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation, upregulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver of mice. Administration of FNDC5 attenuated oxLDL-induced AMPK deactivation, HSCs activation, CTGF and TGF-β upregulation and ECM deposition in mouse HSCs. The beneficial effects of FNDC5 on oxLDL-induced AMPK dephosphorylation, HSCs activation and ECM deposition were prevented by the inhibition of AMPK with compound C in human LX-2 cells. However, the effects of FNDC5 on hepatic fibrosis in vivo in this study cannot be distinguished from its effects on adiposity and hepatic steatosis. Conclusions: FNDC5 deficiency aggravates HFD-induced liver fibrosis in mice. FNDC5 plays beneficial roles in attenuating liver fibrosis via AMPK phosphorylation-mediated inhibition of HSCs activation.

scholarly journals Berberine alleviates liver fibrosis through inducing ferrous redox to activate ROS-mediated hepatic stellate cells ferroptosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiazhi Yi ◽  
Shuyun Wu ◽  
Siwei Tan ◽  
Yunfei Qin ◽  
Xing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Iron Release ◽  
Iron Storage ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Liver Fibrogenesis ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractBerberine (BBR) has been explored as a potential anti-liver fibrosis agent, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of BBR against liver fibrogenesis in thioacetamide (TAA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced mouse liver fibrosis. In addition to i.p. injection with TAA or CCl4, mice in the treatment group received BBR intragastrically. Concurrently, combined with TAA and BBR treatment, mice in the inhibitor group were injected i.p. with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were also used in the study. Our results showed that BBR obviously alleviated mouse liver fibrosis and restored mouse liver function; however, the pharmacological effects of BBR against liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by Fer-1 treatment. Mechanically, BBR impaired the autophagy–lysosome pathway (ALP) and increased cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HSCs. ROS accelerated the breakdown of the iron-storage protein ferritin and sped up iron release from ferritin, which resulted in redox-active iron accumulation in HSCs. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) depletion triggered by the Fenton reaction promoted ferroptosis and attenuated liver fibrosis. Furthermore, impaired autophagy enhanced BBR-mediated ferritin proteolysis to increase cellular ferrous overload via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPS) in HSCs and triggered HSC ferroptosis. Collectively, BBR alleviated liver fibrosis by inducing ferrous redox to activate ROS-mediated HSC ferroptosis. Our findings may be exploited clinically to provide a potential novel therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of liver fibrosis and its role in liver cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debanjan Dhar ◽  
Jacopo Baglieri ◽  
Tatiana Kisseleva ◽  
David A Brenner
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Hepatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Metabolic Remodeling ◽  
Advanced Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Parenchymal Cells ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Intervention

Hepatic fibrogenesis is a pathophysiological outcome of chronic liver injury hallmarked by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Fibrosis is a dynamic process that involves cross-talk between parenchymal cells (hepatocytes), hepatic stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells and both resident and infiltrating immune cells. In this review, we focus on key cell-types that contribute to liver fibrosis, cytokines, and chemokines influencing this process and what it takes for fibrosis to regress. We discuss how mitochondria and metabolic changes in hepatic stellate cells modulate the fibrogenic process. We also briefly review how the presence of fibrosis affects development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Impact statement Advanced liver fibrosis results in cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and liver failure and often requires liver transplantation. Advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are also major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In this review, we summarize the basic mechanisms that influence liver fibrosis development and how oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic remodeling modulate HSC activation and indicate areas of potential therapeutic intervention.

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