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Silencing SMOC2 ameliorates kidney fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation.

ABSTRACT: Secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) belongs to the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) family of matricellular proteins whose members are known to modulate cell-matrix interactions. We report that SMOC2 is upregulated in the kidney tubular epithelial cells of mice and humans following fibrosis. Using genetically manipulated mice with SMOC2 overexpression or knockdown, we show that SMOC2 is critically involved in the progression of kidney fibrosis. Mechanistically, we found that SMOC2 activates a fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) to stimulate stress fiber formation, proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix production. Furthermore, we demonstrate that targeting SMOC2 by siRNA results in attenuation of TGF?1-mediated FMT in vitro and an amelioration of kidney fibrosis in mice. These findings implicate that SMOC2 is a key signaling molecule in the pathological secretome of a damaged kidney and targeting SMOC2 offers a therapeutic strategy for inhibiting FMT-mediated kidney fibrosis - an unmet medical need.

SUBMITTER: Gerarduzzi C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5396522 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Silencing SMOC2 ameliorates kidney fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation.

Gerarduzzi Casimiro C Kumar Ramya K RK Trivedi Priyanka P Ajay Amrendra K AK Iyer Ashwin A Boswell Sarah S Hutchinson John N JN Waikar Sushrut S SS Vaidya Vishal S VS

JCI insight 20170420 8

Secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) belongs to the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) family of matricellular proteins whose members are known to modulate cell-matrix interactions. We report that SMOC2 is upregulated in the kidney tubular epithelial cells of mice and humans following fibrosis. Using genetically manipulated mice with SMOC2 overexpression or knockdown, we show that SMOC2 is critically involved in the progression of kidney fibrosis. Mechanistically, ...[more]

PMID: 28422762

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Project description:The transformation of keratocytes and fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is important to corneal wound healing as well as formation of stromal haze. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of latrunculin B, an actin cytoskeleton disruptor in conjunction with a fundamental biophysical cue, substrate stiffness, on myofibroblast transformation in vitro and in vivo. Rabbit corneal fibroblasts were cultured on substrates of differing compliance (1.5, 22, and 71?kPa) and tissue culture plastic (TCP; > 1?GPa) in media containing 0 or 10?ng/ml TGF?1 for 72?h. Cells were treated with 0.4??M Lat-B or DMSO for 30?min every 24?h for 72?h. RNA was collected from cells and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA), keratocan, and ALDH1A1 determined using qPCR; immunocytochemistry was used to assess ?-SMA protein expression. A rabbit phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) model was used to assess the impact of 0.1% Lat-B (n?=?3) or 25% DMSO (vehicle control, n?=?3) on corneal wound healing by assessment of epithelial wound size with fluorescein stain and semi-quantitative stromal haze scoring by an observer masked to treatment group as well as Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) at set time points. Statistical analysis was completed using one-way or two-way analysis of variance. Treatment with Lat-B versus DMSO resulted in significantly less ?SMA mRNA (P???0.007) for RCF cells grown on 22 and 71?kPa substrates as well as TCP without or with TGF?1, and significantly decreased ?-SMA protein expression in RCFs cultured on the intermediate (22?kPa) stiffness in the absence (P?=?0.028) or presence (P?=?0.018) of TGF?1. Treatment with Lat-B versus DMSO but did not significantly alter expression of keratocan or ALDH1A1 mRNA in RCFs (P?>?0.05) in the absence or presence of TGF?1, but RCFs grown on stiff hydrogels (71?kPa) had significantly more keratocan mRNA expression versus the 22?kPa hydrogel or TCP (P?<?0.001) without TGF?1. Administration of topical Lat-B BID was well tolerated by rabbits post-PTK but did not significantly alter epithelial wound closure, stromal haze score, stromal haze thickness as measured by FD-OCT in comparison to DMSO-treated rabbits. When corneal stromal cells are cultured on substrates possessing biologically relevant substratum stiffnesses, Lat-B modulates mRNA and protein expression of ?-SMA and thus modulates myofibroblast transformation. At a dose and dose-frequency that reduced IOP in human glaucoma patients, Lat-B treatment did not substantially impact corneal epithelial or stromal wound healing in a rabbit PTK model. While a significant impact on wound healing was observed at the concentration and dose frequency reported here was not found, encouraging in vitro data support further investigations of topically applied Lat-B to determine if this compound can reduce stromal fibrosis.

Dataset Information

Silencing SMOC2 ameliorates kidney fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation.

Publications

Silencing SMOC2 ameliorates kidney fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation.

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