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TGF-? Family Signaling in Connective Tissue and Skeletal Diseases.

ABSTRACT: The transforming growth factor ? (TGF-?) family of signaling molecules, which includes TGF-?s, activins, inhibins, and numerous bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), has important functions in all cells and tissues, including soft connective tissues and the skeleton. Specific TGF-? family members play different roles in these tissues, and their activities are often balanced with those of other TGF-? family members and by interactions with other signaling pathways. Perturbations in TGF-? family pathways are associated with numerous human diseases with prominent involvement of the skeletal and cardiovascular systems. This review focuses on the role of this family of signaling molecules in the pathologies of connective tissues that manifest in rare genetic syndromes (e.g., syndromic presentations of thoracic aortic aneurysm), as well as in more common disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis and osteoporosis). Many of these diseases are caused by or result in pathological alterations of the complex relationship between the TGF-? family of signaling mediators and the extracellular matrix in connective tissues.

SUBMITTER: MacFarlane EG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5666637 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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TGF-β Family Signaling in Connective Tissue and Skeletal Diseases.

MacFarlane Elena Gallo EG Haupt Julia J Dietz Harry C HC Shore Eileen M EM

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology 20171101 11

The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family of signaling molecules, which includes TGF-βs, activins, inhibins, and numerous bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), has important functions in all cells and tissues, including soft connective tissues and the skeleton. Specific TGF-β family members play different roles in these tissues, and their activities are often balanced with those of other TGF-β family members and by interactions with other signali ...[more]

PMID: 28246187

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Project description:Recently, synthesis and secretion of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)/CYR61/CTGF/NOV-family member 2 (CCN2) in cultures of hepatocytes were shown, which are sensitively up-regulated by exogenous TGF-beta. In this study TGF-beta-dependent CTGF/CCN2 expression in hepatocytes cultured under completely TGF-beta-free conditions was analysed by Western-blots, metabolic labelling, and CTGF-reporter gene assays. In alkaline phosphatase monoclonal anti-alkaline phosphatase complex (APAAP)-staining of cultured hepatocytes it was demonstrated that latent TGF-beta within the hepatocytes becomes rapidly detectable during culture indicating an intracellular demasking of the mature TGF-beta antigen. Subsequent signaling to theCTGF/CCN2 promoter occurs via p-Smad2, whereas p-Smad3 does not seem to be involved. Cycloheximide did not abolish the rapid immunocytochemical appearance of mature TGF-beta, but calpain inhibitors partially suppressed intracellular TGF-beta activation and subsequently CTGF up-regulation. Calpain treatment had the reverse effect. None of the inhibitors of extracellular TGF-beta signalling was effective in the reduction of spontaneous CTGF synthesis, but intracellularly acting Alk 4-/Alk 5-specific inhibitor SB-431542 was able to diminish CTGF expression. The assumption that latent intracellular TGF-beta is activated by calpains during culture-induced stress or injurious conditions in the liver in vivo was further validated by a direct effect of calpains on the activation of recombinant latent TGF-beta. In conclusion, these data are the first to suggest the possibility of intracrine TGF-beta signalling due to calpain-dependent intracellular proteolytic activation leading to transcriptional activation of CTGF/CCN2 as a TGF-beta-sensitive reporter gene. This mechanism might be deleterious for keeping long-term hepatocyte cultures due to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis and, further, might be of relevance for induction of apoptosis or epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes in injured liver.

Project description:BackgroundThe aims of this study were to investigate the gene expression of CCN family members in rat intervertebral disc (IVD) cells and to examine whether Wnt-β-catenin signaling regulates the expression of CCN family 2 (CCN2)/connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells.MethodsThe gene expression of CCN family members were assessed in rat IVD cells using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression pattern of CCN2 was also assessed in rat IVD cells using western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments were performed to identify the mechanisms by which Wnt-β-catenin signaling influences the activity of the CCN2 promoter. To further determine if the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is required for the Wnt-β-catenin signaling-induced regulation of CCN2 expression in the NP cells, CCN2 expression was analyzed by reporter assay, RT-PCR and western blot analysis.ResultsCCN2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were expressed in rat IVDs. Expression of CCN2 was significantly higher than for mRNA of other CCN family members in both rat NP and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells. The relative activity of the CCN2 promoter decreased 24 h after treatment with 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (1.0 μM) (0.773 (95% 0.735, 0.812) P = 0.0077) in NP cells. In addition, treatment with the WT-β-catenin vector (500 ng) significantly decreased CCN2 promoter activity (0.688 (95% 0.535, 0.842) P = 0.0063), whereas β-catenin small interfering RNA (500 ng) significantly increased CCN2 promoter activity (1.775 (95% 1.435, 2.115) P < 0.001). Activation of Wnt-β-catenin signaling decreased the expression of CCN2 mRNA and protein by NP cells. Regulation of CCN2 by Wnt-β-catenin signaling involved the MAPK pathway in rat NP cells.ConclusionsThis study shows that Wnt-β-catenin signaling regulates the expression of CCN2 through the MAPK pathway in NP cells. Understanding the balance between Wnt-β-catenin signaling and CCN2 is necessary for developing therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of IVD degeneration.

Dataset Information

TGF-? Family Signaling in Connective Tissue and Skeletal Diseases.

Publications

TGF-β Family Signaling in Connective Tissue and Skeletal Diseases.

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