scholarly journals COX-2/sEH Dual Inhibitor PTUPB Alleviates CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis and Portal Hypertension

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Zhao ◽  
Chihao Zhang ◽  
Jiayun Lin ◽  
Lei Zheng ◽  
Hongjie Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Mesenteric Arteries ◽  
Cytokeratin 19 ◽  
Dual Inhibitor ◽  
Bile Duct Proliferation ◽  
Cox 2

Background: 4-(5-phenyl-3-{3-[3-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-ureido]-propyl}-pyrazol-1-yl) -benzenesulfonamide (PTUPB), a dual cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor, was found to alleviate renal, pulmonary fibrosis and liver injury. However, few is known about the effect of PTUPB on liver cirrhosis. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of PTUPB in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT).Method: Rat liver cirrhosis model was established via subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 16 weeks. The experimental group received oral administration of PTUPB (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. We subsequently analyzed portal pressure (PP), liver fibrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and intra- or extrahepatic vascular remodeling. Additionally, network pharmacology was used to investigate the possible mechanisms of PTUPB in live fibrosis.Results: CCl4 exposure induced liver fibrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, vascular remodeling and PHT, and PTUPB alleviated these changes. PTUPB decreased PP from 17.50 ± 4.65 to 6.37 ± 1.40 mmHg, reduced collagen deposition and profibrotic factor. PTUPB alleviated the inflammation and bile duct proliferation, as indicated by decrease in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), liver cytokeratin 19 (CK-19), transaminase, and macrophage infiltration. PTUPB also restored vessel wall thickness of superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) and inhibited intra- or extrahepatic angiogenesis and vascular remodeling via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), von Willebrand factor (vWF), etc. Moreover, PTUPB induced sinusoidal vasodilation by upregulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and GTP-cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1). In enrichment analysis, PTUPB engaged in multiple biological functions related to cirrhosis, including blood pressure, tissue remodeling, immunological inflammation, macrophage activation, and fibroblast proliferation. Additionally, PTUPB suppressed hepatic expression of sEH, COX-2, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β).Conclusion: 4-(5-phenyl-3-{3-[3-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-ureido]-propyl}-pyrazol-1-yl)- benzenesulfonamide ameliorated liver fibrosis and PHT by inhibiting fibrotic deposition, inflammation, angiogenesis, sinusoidal, and SMA remodeling. The molecular mechanism may be mediated via the downregulation of the sEH/COX-2/TGF-β.

Telmisartan relieves liver fibrosis and portal hypertension by improving vascular remodeling and sinusoidal dysfunction

2021 ◽  
pp. 174713
Author(s):  
Lei Zheng ◽  
Zhifeng Zhao ◽  
Jiayun Lin ◽  
Hongjie Li ◽  
Guangbo Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Vascular Remodeling

scholarly journals Water-Soluble Pristine C60 Fullerenes Inhibit Liver Fibrotic Alteration and Prevent Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halyna Kuznietsova ◽  
Natalia Dziubenko ◽  
Vasyl Hurmach ◽  
Iryna Chereschuk ◽  
Olexandr Motuziuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Growth Factor Receptors ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Colloid Solution ◽  
Signal Pathways ◽  
Ishak Score ◽  
The Impact

Liver cirrhosis is an outcome of a wide range of liver chronic diseases. It is attributed to oxidative stress; therefore, antioxidant usage could be a promising treatment of that. So, exploring the impact of effective free radical scavenger pristine C60 fullerenes on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and their ability to interact with main growth factor receptors involved in liver fibrogenesis was aimed to be discovered. We used N-diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride-induced simulations of rat liver fibrosis (10 weeks) and cirrhosis (15 weeks). Pristine C60 fullerene aqueous colloid solution (C60FAS) was injected daily at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg throughout the experiment. Liver morphology and functional and redox states were assessed. C60 fullerenes’ ability to interact with epidermal, vasoendothelial, platelet-derived, and fibroblast growth factor receptors (EGFR, VEGFR, PDGFR, and FGFR, respectively) was estimated by computational modeling. We observed that C60FAS reduced the severity of fibrosis in fibrotic rats (0.75 vs. 3.0 points according to Ishak score), attenuated the hepatocyte injury, normalized elevated blood serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and mitigated oxidative stress manifestation in liver tissue restoring its redox balance. When applied to cirrhotic animals, C60FAS reduced connective tissue deposition as well (2.4 vs. 5.4 points according to Ishak score), diminished ALP and LDH (by 16% and 61%), and normalized conjugated and nonconjugated bilirubin, restoring the liver function. Altered liver lipid and protein peroxides and glutathione peroxidase activity were also leveled. Within a computer simulation, it was shown that C60 fullerenes can block hinge prohibiting ATP binding for EGFR and FGFR and thus blocking associated signal pathways. This ability in addition to their antioxidant properties may contribute to C60 fullerene’s antifibrotic action. Thus, C60FAS may have a substantial therapeutic potential as an inhibitor of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

scholarly journals Plasma Nogo-A and placental growth factor levels are associated with portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 2935-2946
Author(s):  
Sigita Gelman ◽  
Violeta Salteniene ◽  
Andrius Pranculis ◽  
Jurgita Skieceviciene ◽  
Romanas Zykus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Placental Growth Factor

scholarly journals Portal hypertension is the main driver of liver stiffness in advanced liver cirrhosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 563-577
Author(s):  
Mariia Lunova ◽  
Sona Frankova ◽  
Halima Gottfriedova ◽  
Renata Senkerikova ◽  
Magdalena Neroldova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Liver Stiffness ◽  
Collagen Content ◽  
Explanted Liver ◽  
Advanced Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients ◽  
Liver Collagen

Liver stiffness (LS) is a novel non-invasive parameter widely used in clinical hepatology. LS correlates with liver fibrosis stage in non-cirrhotic patients. In cirrhotic patients it also shows good correlation with Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG). Our aim was to assess the contribution of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension to LS in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Eighty-one liver transplant candidates with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies underwent direct HVPG and LS measurement by 2D shear-wave elastography (Aixplorer Multiwave, Supersonic Imagine, France). Liver collagen content was assessed in the explanted liver as collagen proportionate area (CPA) and hydroxyproline content (HP). The studied cohort included predominantly patients with Child-Pugh class B and C (63/81, 77.8 %), minority of patients were Child-Pugh A (18/81, 22.2 %). LS showed the best correlation with HVPG (r=0.719, p<0.001), correlation of LS with CPA (r=0.441, p<0.001) and HP/Amino Acids (r=0.414, p< 0.001) was weaker. Both variables expressing liver collagen content showed good correlation with each other (r=0.574, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression identified the strongest association between LS and HVPG (p<0.0001) and weaker association of LS with CPA (p = 0.01883). Stepwise modelling showed minimal increase in r2 after addition of CPA to HVPG (0.5073 vs. 0.5513). The derived formula expressing LS value formation is: LS=2.48 + (1.29 x HVPG) + (0.26 x CPA). We conclude that LS is determined predominantly by HVPG in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis whereas contribution of liver collagen content is relatively low.

Abstract MP10: Early Functional and Structural Alterations of Resistance Arteries in Mice Treated with an Inhibitor of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor

Hypertension ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
CARMINE SAVOIA ◽  
Emanuele Arrabito ◽  
Augusto C Montezano ◽  
Carmine Nicoletti ◽  
Heather Y Small ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Mesenteric Arteries ◽  
No Production ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Resistance Arteries ◽  
Structural Alterations ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Background: Inhibition of tyrosine kinases receptors such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) improves outcomes in patients with cancers. Only VEGFR inhibitors, however, induce severe hypertension whose mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that VEGFR inhibitors may induce early vascular functional and structural alterations, that may precede the development of hypertension. Methods and results: Normotensive SV-129 mice (8 weeks old, 5 for each group) were treated or not with the VEGFR inhibitor Vatalanib (VAT, 100 mg/Kg/day) or the EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib (GEF, 100 mg/Kg/day). Vehicle-treated control mice were also studied. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by tail-cuff method. Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were assessed by concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (1 nM to 100 μM) ± L-NAME (100 μM) and sodium nitroprusside (10 nM to 1 mM) respectively, in mesenteric arteries pre-contracted with norepinephrine (10 μM). Media-to-lumen ratio (M/L, an index of early vascular remodeling), and cross sectional area (CSA) were evaluated on pressurized preparations. After two weeks, BP was similarly preserved in both VAT- and GEF-treated mice as compared to vehicle-treated mice (89.8±1.5 mmHg and 87.2±2.8 mmHg vs 92.2±2.2 mmHg, respectively, NS). Endothelium-dependent relaxation was similarly preserved in vehicle-treated and GEF-treated mice, whereas it was reduced in VAT-treated mice (-17% vs vehicle-treated mice, P<0.05). L-NAME blunted acetylcholine-induced relaxation in all groups except in VAT-treated mice, suggesting an impairment of NO production only in this group. Endothelium-independent relaxation was similar in all groups. Only VAT-treated mice presented increased M/L as compared to vehicle-treated mice (6.3±0.1% vs 5.4±0.1%, P<0.05). M/L resulted similar in GEF-treated and vehicle-treated mice. CSA was similar in all groups. Conclusion: In normotensive mice, only VAT promoted early vascular alterations such as endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling in resistance arteries. Those changes in the vasculature are distinctive of hypertension and might precede and sustain the development of the hypertensive disease.

Alterations in mechanical properties of mesenteric resistance arteries in experimental portal hypertension

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. G849-G857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Resch ◽  
Reiner Wiest ◽  
Lukas Moleda ◽  
Sabine Fredersdorf ◽  
Benjamin Stoelcker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Mesenteric Arteries ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Resistance Arteries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Strain Stress

Splanchnic vasodilation is the pathophysiological hallmark in the development of the hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. This has been attributed so far mainly to a marked vascular hyporeactivity to endogenous vasoconstrictors. However, myogenic tone and vessel stiffness have not been addressed in mesenteric arteries in liver cirrhosis. CCl4−-induced ascitic cirrhotic (LC) and age-matched control rats, portal vein-ligated (PVL) rats, and sham-operated rats were investigated. Third-order mesenteric resistance arteries were studied under no-flow conditions using a pressure myograph measuring media thickness and lumen diameter in response to incremental increases in intramural pressure, from which wall mechanics were calculated. Electron microscopy was used for investigation of wall ultrastructure, especially the fenestrae in internal elastic lamina (IEL). In PVL animals, no significant change in passive vessel strain, stress, media-to-lumen ratio, or cross-sectional area was noted. In contrast, in LC rats, vessel strain was markedly elevated compared with healthy control rats, indicating a marked reduction in vessel stiffness. In addition, the strain-stress curve was shifted to the right, and the elastic modulus in dependency on vessel stress decreased, demonstrating predominantly structure-dependent factors to be involved. The media-to-lumen quotient was not significantly altered, but cross-sectional area was highly increased in LC rats, indicating hypertrophic outward remodeling. These findings were paralleled by enlarged fenestrae in the IEL but no change in thickness of IEL or proportion of extracellular matrix or vascular smooth muscle in LC rats. We concluded that, in long-standing severe portal hypertension such as ascitic LC but not in short-term conditions such as PVL, mesenteric resistance arteries exhibit vascular remodeling and markedly less resistant mechanical properties, leading to decreased vessel stiffness accompanied by structural changes in the IEL. This may well contribute to the maintenance and severity of splanchnic arterial vasodilation in LC.

scholarly journals Glycyrrhizin Attenuates Portal Hypertension and Collateral Shunting via Inhibition of Extrahepatic Angiogenesis in Cirrhotic Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7662
Author(s):  
Chon Kit Pun ◽  
Hui-Chun Huang ◽  
Ching-Chih Chang ◽  
Chiao-Lin Chuang ◽  
Chun-Hsien Yen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Portal Pressure ◽  
Sham Operation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Duct Ligation ◽  
The Impact

Portal hypertension develops along with liver cirrhosis then induces the formation of portal-systemic collaterals and lethal complications. Extrahepatic angiogenesis plays an important role. Glycyrrhizin has been found to exhibit anti-angiogenic features, which leads to its extensive use. However, the relevant effects of glycyrrhizin on liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension have not been evaluated. This study thus aimed to investigate the impact of glycyrrhizin on portal hypertension-related derangements in cirrhotic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce cirrhosis or sham operation as control. The rats were subdivided to receive glycyrrhizin (150 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) or vehicle beginning on the 15th day post operation, when BDL-induced liver fibrosis developed. The effects of glycyrrhizin were determined on the 28th day, the typical timing of BDL-induced cirrhosis. Glycyrrhizin significantly reduced portal pressure (p = 0.004). The splanchnic inflow as measured by superior mesenteric arterial flow decreased by 22% (p = 0.029). The portal-systemic collateral shunting degree reduced by 30% (p = 0.024). The mesenteric angiogenesis and phospho-VEGFR2 protein expression were also downregulated (p = 0.038 and 0.031, respectively). Glycyrrhizin did not significantly influence the liver biochemistry data. Although glycyrrhizin tended to reverse liver fibrosis, statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.069). Consistently, hepatic inflow from portal side, hepatic vascular resistance, and liver fibrosis-related protein expressions were not affected. Glycyrrhizin treatment at the stage of hepatic fibrosis still effectively attenuated portal hypertension and portosystemic collateral shunting. These beneficial effects were attributed to, at least in part, the suppression of mesenteric angiogenesis by VEGF signaling pathway downregulation.

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