scholarly journals Modulation of EndMT by Hydrogen Sulfide in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Fibrosis

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
Lara Testai ◽  
Vincenzo Brancaleone ◽  
Lorenzo Flori ◽  
Rosangela Montanaro ◽  
Vincenzo Calderone
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Type I ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Cardiovascular Fibrosis

Endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been described as a fundamental process during embryogenesis; however, it can occur also in adult age, underlying pathological events, including fibrosis. Indeed, during EndMT, the endothelial cells lose their specific markers, such as vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, expressing specific products, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen; moreover, the integrity of the endothelium is disrupted, and cells show a migratory, invasive and proliferative phenotype. Several stimuli can trigger this transition, but transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) is considered the most relevant. EndMT can proceed in a canonical smad-dependent or non-canonical smad-independent manner and ultimately regulate gene expression of pro-fibrotic machinery. These events lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis at the vascular level as well as myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. Indeed, EndMT is the mechanism which promotes the progression of cardiovascular disorders following hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and also ageing. In this scenario, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been widely described for its preventive properties, but its role in EndMT is poorly investigated. This review is focused on the evaluation of the putative role of H2S in the EndMT process.

scholarly journals Targeting lncRNA H19/miR-29b/COL1A1 Axis Impedes Myofibroblast Activities of Precancerous Oral Submucous Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2216
Author(s):  
Cheng-Chia Yu ◽  
Yi-Wen Liao ◽  
Pei-Ling Hsieh ◽  
Yu-Chao Chang
Keyword(s):  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Oral Submucous Fibrosis ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Type I ◽  
Migration Ability ◽  
Potentially Malignant ◽  
Submucous Fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is known as a potentially malignant disorder, which may result from chemical irritation due to areca nuts (such as arecoline). Emerging evidence suggests that fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis are regulated by the interaction of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs. Among these regulators, profibrotic lncRNA H19 has been found to be overexpressed in several fibrosis diseases. Here, we examined the expression of H19 in OSF specimens and its functional role in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs). Our results indicate that the aberrantly overexpressed H19 contributed to higher myofibroblast activities, such as collagen gel contractility and migration ability. We also demonstrated that H19 interacted with miR-29b, which suppressed the direct binding of miR-29b to the 3′-untranslated region of type I collagen (COL1A1). We showed that ectopic expression of miR-29b ameliorated various myofibroblast phenotypes and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), COL1A1, and fibronectin (FN1) in fBMFs. In OSF tissues, we found that the expression of miR-29b was downregulated and there was a negative correlation between miR-29b and these fibrosis markers. Lastly, we demonstrate that arecoline stimulated the upregulation of H19 through the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway. Altogether, this study suggests that increased TGF-β secretion following areca nut chewing may induce the upregulation of H19, which serves as a natural sponge for miR-29b and impedes its antifibrotic effects.

scholarly journals The AP-1 Transcription Factor Fosl-2 Regulates Autophagy in Cardiac Fibroblasts during Myocardial Fibrogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1861
Author(s):  
Jemima Seidenberg ◽  
Mara Stellato ◽  
Amela Hukara ◽  
Burkhard Ludewig ◽  
Karin Klingel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Beclin 1 ◽  
Type I ◽  
Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin

Background: Pathological activation of cardiac fibroblasts is a key step in development and progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. This process has been associated with enhanced autophagocytosis, but molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Methods and Results: Immunohistochemical analysis of endomyocardial biopsies showed increased activation of autophagy in fibrotic hearts of patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy. In vitro experiments using mouse and human cardiac fibroblasts confirmed that blockade of autophagy with Bafilomycin A1 inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Next, we observed that cardiac fibroblasts obtained from mice overexpressing transcription factor Fos-related antigen 2 (Fosl-2tg) expressed elevated protein levels of autophagy markers: the lipid modified form of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3B (LC3BII), Beclin-1 and autophagy related 5 (Atg5). In complementary experiments, silencing of Fosl-2 with antisense GapmeR oligonucleotides suppressed production of type I collagen, myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin and autophagy marker Beclin-1 in cardiac fibroblasts. On the other hand, silencing of either LC3B or Beclin-1 reduced Fosl-2 levels in TGF-β-activated, but not in unstimulated cells. Using a cardiac hypertrophy model induced by continuous infusion of angiotensin II with osmotic minipumps, we confirmed that mice lacking either Fosl-2 (Ccl19CreFosl2flox/flox) or Atg5 (Ccl19CreAtg5flox/flox) in stromal cells were protected from cardiac fibrosis. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that Fosl-2 regulates autophagocytosis and the TGF-β-Fosl-2-autophagy axis controls differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts. These data provide a new insight for the development of pharmaceutical targets in cardiac fibrosis.

scholarly journals Adhesion to type I collagen fibrous gels induces E- to N-cadherin switching without other EMT-related phenotypes in lung carcinoma cell A549

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitomi Fujisaki ◽  
Sugiko Futaki ◽  
Masashi Yamada ◽  
Kiyotoshi Sekiguchi ◽  
Toshihiko Hayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cell Behaviors ◽  
Tgf Β1 ◽  
Cells Cultured ◽  
Cell Cell

AbstractIn culture system, environmental factors, such as increasing exogenous growth factors and adhesion to type I collagen (Col-I) induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cells. Col-I molecules maintain a non-fibril form under acidic conditions, and they reassemble into fibrils under physiological conditions. Col-I fibrils often assemble to form three-dimensional gels. The gels and non-gel-form of Col-I can be utilized as culture substrates and different gel-forming state often elicit different cell behaviors. However, gel-form dependent effects on cell behaviors, including EMT induction, remain unclear. EMT induction in lung cancer cell line A549 has been reported via adhesion to Col-I but the effects of gel form dependency are unelucidated. This study investigated the changes in EMT-related behaviors in A549 cells cultured on Col-I gels.We examined cell morphology, proliferation, single-cell migration and expression of EMT-related features in A549 cells cultured on gels or non-gel form of Col-I and non-treated dish with or without transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. On Col-I gels, some cells kept cell–cell contacts and formed clusters, others maintained single-cell form. In cell–cell contact regions, E-cadherin expression was downregulated, whereas that of N-cadherin was upregulated. Vimentin and integrins α2 and β1 expression were not increased. In TGF-β1-treated A549 cells, cadherin switched from E- to N-cadherin. Their morphology changed to a mesenchymal form and cells scattered with no cluster formation. Vimentin, integrins α2 and β1 expression were upregulated. Thus, we concluded that culture on Col-I fibrous gels induced E- to N-cadherin switching without other EMT-related phenotypes in A549 cells.

scholarly journals TGF-β and the Smad Signaling Pathway Support Transcriptomic Reprogramming during Epithelial-Mesenchymal Cell Transition

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Valcourt ◽  
Marcin Kowanetz ◽  
Hideki Niimi ◽  
Carl-Henrik Heldin ◽  
Aristidis Moustakas
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Smad Signaling

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to normal tissue patterning and carcinoma invasiveness. We show that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/activin members, but not bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) members, can induce EMT in normal human and mouse epithelial cells. EMT correlates with the ability of these ligands to induce growth arrest. Ectopic expression of all type I receptors of the TGF-β superfamily establishes that TGF-β but not BMP pathways can elicit EMT. Ectopic Smad2 or Smad3 together with Smad4 enhanced, whereas dominant-negative forms of Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4, and wild-type inhibitory Smad7, blocked TGF-β–induced EMT. Transcriptomic analysis of EMT kinetics identified novel TGF-β target genes with ligand-specific responses. Using a TGF-β type I receptor that cannot activate Smads nor induce EMT, we found that Smad signaling is critical for regulation of all tested gene targets during EMT. One such gene, Id2, whose expression is repressed by TGF-β1 but induced by BMP-7 is critical for regulation of at least one important myoepithelial marker, α-smooth muscle actin, during EMT. Thus, based on ligand-specific responsiveness and evolutionary conservation of the gene expression patterns, we begin deciphering a genetic network downstream of TGF-β and predict functional links to the control of cell proliferation and EMT.

A sensitive short-term evaluation of antifibrotic effects using newly established type I collagen reporter transgenic rats

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (4) ◽  
pp. F792-F801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Terashima ◽  
Mikio Kato ◽  
Hiroaki Yasumo ◽  
Hiroshi Tsuchida ◽  
Makoto Mizuno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Type I ◽  
Hydroxyproline Content ◽  
Transgenic Rats ◽  
Short Period

Fibrosis is the final common pathway for various tissue lesions that lead to chronic progressive organ failure, and consequently effective antifibrotic drugs are strongly desired. However, there are few animal models in which it is possible to evaluate fibrosis sensitively in a short period of time. We therefore generated two transgenic rats harboring a firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the 5′-flanking region of rat α1(I) collagen (Col1a1-Luc Tg rats) and α2(I) collagen (Col1a2-Luc Tg rats). The luciferase activities of these transgenic rats were highly correlated with the hydroxyproline content in various organs. In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), a well-characterized model of renal fibrosis, the luciferase activity in obstructed kidneys showed a significant increase after even 3 days of UUO, while the hydroxyproline content showed little increase. In addition, the renal hydroxyproline content had a higher correlation with the luciferase activity than α1(I) collagen mRNA level for over 2 wk after UUO. Although both an ANG II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), olmesartan, and a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) type I receptor kinase (ALK5) inhibitor, SB-431542, inhibited renal luciferase activities in UUO, only SB-431542 inhibited luciferase activity induced by TGF-β1 in isolated glomeruli. Double immunostaining for luciferase and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) revealed that some α-SMA-positive tubular epithelial cells and tubular interstitial cells produced type I collagen, which would lead to renal fibrosis. Thus collagen reporter transgenic rats would be very useful for the evaluation of antifibrotic effects and analysis of their mechanisms.

scholarly journals Total Glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang Attenuate BLM-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via Regulating Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting NOX4

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Zhao ◽  
Wen-Cheng Zhou ◽  
De-Lin Li ◽  
Xiao-Ting Mo ◽  
Liang Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Type I ◽  
Model Group ◽  
Sod Activity ◽  
Danggui Buxue Tang ◽  
Nadph Oxidase 4

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a serious chronic lung disease with unknown pathogenesis. Researches have confirmed that oxidative stress which is regulated by NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX4), a main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is an important molecular mechanism underlying PF. Previous studies showed that total glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBTG), an extract from a classical traditional Chinese herbal formula, Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), attenuated bleomycin-induced PF in rats. However, the mechanisms of DBTG are still not clear. We hypothesize that DBTG attenuates PF through regulating the level of oxidative stress by inhibiting NOX4. And we found that fibrosis indexes hydroxyproline (HYP) and type I collagen (Col-I) were lower in DBTG groups compared with the model group. In addition, the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also much more decreased than the model group. For oxidative stress indicators, DBTG blunted the decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin in lung homogenates. Treatment with DBTG restrained the expression of NOX4 compared to the model group. Present study confirms that DBTG inhibits BLM-induced PF by modulating the level of oxidative stress via suppressing NOX4.

Cryptolepine derivative-6h inhibits liver fibrosis in TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells by targeting the Shh pathway

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 987-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Hua He ◽  
Zeng Li ◽  
Ming-Ming Ni ◽  
Xing-Yan Zhang ◽  
Ming-Fang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Type I ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Shh Pathway ◽  
Tgf Β1

Liver fibrosis is a worldwide problem with a significant morbidity and mortality. Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (family Periplocaceae) is widely used in West African countries for the treatment of malaria, as well as for some other diseases. However, the role of C. sanguinolenta in hepatic fibrosis is still unknown. It has been reported that Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) had a high expression in liver fibrosis and played a central role in its pathobiology. Interestingly, we found that a cryptolepine derivative (HZ-6h) could inhibit liver fibrosis by reducing MeCP2 expression, as evidenced by the dramatic downregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen alpha-1 (Col1α1) in protein levels in vitro. Meanwhile, we also found that HZ-6h could reduce the cell viability and promote apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) treated with transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1). Then, we investigated the potential molecular mechanisms and found that HZ-6h blocked Shh signaling in HSC-T6 cells, resulting in the decreased protein expression of Patched-1 (PTCH-1), Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1). In short, these results indicate that HZ-6h inhibits liver fibrosis by downregulating MeCP2 through the Shh pathway in TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells.

BMP-7 opposes TGF-β1-mediated collagen induction in mouse pulmonary myofibroblasts through Id2

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (1) ◽  
pp. L120-L126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuhiro Izumi ◽  
Shinjiro Mizuguchi ◽  
Yutaka Inagaki ◽  
Shizuya Saika ◽  
Norifumi Kawada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Identical Condition ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Tissue Inhibitor Of Metalloproteinase ◽  
Upstream Sequence ◽  
Type I ◽  
Tgf Β1

Mesenchymal cells, primarily fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, are the principal matrix-producing cells during pulmonary fibrogenesis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling plays an important role in stimulating the expression of type I collagen of these cells. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, has been reported to oppose the fibrogenic activity of TGF-β1. Here, we have addressed the effects of BMP-7 on the fibrogenic activity of pulmonary myofibroblasts. We first established cell lines from the lungs of transgenic mice harboring the COL1A2 upstream sequence fused to luciferase. They displayed a spindle shape and expressed vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin, but not E-cadherin. COL1A2 promoter activity was dose dependently induced by TGF-β1, which was further augmented by adenoviral overexpression of Smad3, but was downregulated by Smad7. Under the identical condition, adenoviral overexpression of BMP-7 attenuated the TGF-β1-dependent COL1A2 promoter activity. By immunocytochemistry, the ectopic expression of BMP-7 led to the nuclear localization of phospho-Smad1/5/8 and suppressed that of Smad3. BMP-7 suppressed the expression of mRNAs for COL1A2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 while increasing those of inhibitors of differentiation (Id) 2 and 3. Ectopic expression of Id2 and Id3 was found to decrease the COL1A2 promoter activity. Finally, BMP-7 and Id2 decreased TGF-β1-dependent collagen protein secretion. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that BMP-7 antagonizes the TGF-β1-dependent fibrogenic activity of mouse pulmonary myofibroblastic cells by inducing Id2 and Id3.

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