scholarly journals Chymase as a Possible Therapeutic Target for Amelioration of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7543
Author(s):  
Shinji Takai ◽  
Denan Jin

The development and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis of the liver. Chymase, a chymotrypsin-like enzyme produced in mast cells, has various enzymatic actions. These actions include activation of angiotensin II, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, which are associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, respectively. Augmentation of chymase activity in the liver has been reported in various NASH models. Generation of hepatic angiotensin II and related oxidative stress is upregulated in NASH but attenuated by treatment with a chymase inhibitor. Additionally, increases in MMP-9 and accumulation of inflammatory cells are observed in NASH but are decreased by chymase inhibitor administration. TGF-β and collagen I upregulation in NASH is also attenuated by chymase inhibition. These results in experimental NASH models demonstrate that a chymase inhibitor can effectively ameliorate NASH via the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Thus, chymase may be a therapeutic target for amelioration of NASH.

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (2) ◽  
pp. G147-G156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Montserrat Moreno ◽  
Leandra N. Ramalho ◽  
Pau Sancho-Bru ◽  
Marta Ruiz-Ortega ◽  
Fernando Ramalho ◽  
...  

Statins exert beneficial effects in chronically damaged tissues. Angiotensin II (ANG II) participates in liver fibrogenesis by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression. We investigate whether atorvastatin modulates ANG II-induced pathogenic effects in the liver. Male Wistar rats were infused with saline or ANG II (100 ng·kg−1·min−1) for 4 wk through a subcutaneous osmotic pump. Rats received either vehicle or atorvastatin (5 mg·kg−1·day−1) by gavage. ANG II infusion resulted in infiltration of inflammatory cells (CD43 immunostaining), oxidative stress (4-hydroxynonenal), hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation (smooth muscle α-actin), increased intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and interleukin-6 hepatic gene expression (quantitative PCR). These effects were markedly blunted in rats receiving atorvastatin. The beneficial effects of atorvastatin were confirmed in an additional model of acute liver injury (carbon tetrachloride administration). We next explored whether the beneficial effects of atorvastatin on ANG II-induced actions are also reproduced at the cellular level. We studied HSC, a cell type with inflammatory and fibrogenic properties. ANG II (10−8M) stimulated cell proliferation, proinflammatory actions (NF-κB activation, ICAM-1 expression, interleukin-8 secretion) as well as expression of procollagen-α1(I) and TGF-β1. All of these effects were reduced in the presence of atorvastatin (10−7M). These results indicate that atorvastatin attenuates the pathogenic events induced by ANG II in the liver both in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, statins could have beneficial effects in conditions characterized by hepatic inflammation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (6) ◽  
pp. F1328-F1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasutaka Maeda ◽  
Toyoshi Inoguchi ◽  
Ryoko Takei ◽  
Fumi Sawada ◽  
Shuji Sasaki ◽  
...  

Accumulating evidence suggests that the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system may be involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Chymase is a potent local angiotensin II-forming enzyme in several species, including humans and hamsters. However, the pathophysiological role of chymase is not fully understood. Here, we report a causal role of chymase in diabetic nephropathy and the therapeutic effectiveness of chymase inhibition. In the present study, renal chymase expression was markedly upregulated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters. Oral administration of a specific chymase inhibitor, TEI-F00806, completely ameliorated proteinuria, the overexpression of transforming growth factor-β and fibronectin in glomeruli, and renal mesangial expansion, by normalizing the increase in intrarenal angiotensin II levels in diabetic hamsters independently of blood pressure levels. In contrast, ramipril did not show such sufficient effects. These effects occurred in parallel with improvements in superoxide production and expression of NAD(P)H oxidase components [NAD(P)H oxidase 4 and p22 phox] in glomeruli. This study showed for the first time that chymase inhibition may protect against elevated intrarenal angiotensin II levels, oxidative stress, and renal dysfunction in diabetes. These findings suggest that chymase offers a new therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy.


Author(s):  
I. O. Marinkin ◽  
E. S. Lisova ◽  
V. V. Evchenko

The features of biomechanisms of endometrial hyperplasia in subjects exposed to reproductive toxicants were inflammation and oxidative stress. An association of Ki67 expression with 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, length of service, CD34 expression with 8-isoprostane and both Ki67 and CD34 expression with transforming growth factor B1 and lead exposure established.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yudi Purnomo ◽  
Yvette Piccart ◽  
Tamara Coenen ◽  
John Prihadi ◽  
Paul Lijnen

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