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Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is a Novel Prodepressant.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:While downregulation of several growth factors in major depressive disorder is well established, less attention has been paid to the upregulation of other growth factors. Yet, upregulated growth factors may offer better therapeutic targets. We show that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) represents a target based on its upregulation in major depressive disorder and studies in animal models implicating it in negative affect. METHODS:CTGF gene expression was first evaluated in the postmortem human amygdala. The findings were followed up in outbred rats and in two rat lines that were selectively bred for differences in novelty-seeking and anxiety behavior (bred low responders and bred high responders). We studied the impact of social defeat and early-life treatment with fibroblast growth factor 2 on CTGF expression. Finally, we assessed the ability of an anti-CTGF antibody (FG-3019) to alter CTGF expression and emotionality. RESULTS:In the human amygdala, CTGF expression was significantly increased in major depressive disorder compared with control subjects. CTGF expression was also significantly increased in the dentate gyrus of adult bred low responders compared with bred high responders. Social defeat stress in bred low responders significantly increased CTGF expression in the dentate gyrus. Early-life fibroblast growth factor 2, a treatment that reduces anxiety-like behavior throughout life, decreased CTGF expression in the adult dentate gyrus. In outbred rats, CTGF administration increased depression-like behavior. Chronic treatment with FG-3019 decreased CTGF expression, and acute and chronic treatment was antidepressant. CONCLUSIONS:This study is the first to implicate CTGF as a prodepressant molecule that could serve as a target for the development of novel therapeutics.

SUBMITTER: Turner CA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6249676 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is a Novel Prodepressant.

Turner Cortney A CA Sharma Vikram V Hagenauer Megan H MH Chaudhury Sraboni S O'Connor Angela M AM Hebda-Bauer Elaine K EK Thompson Robert C RC Myers Richard M RM Bunney William E WE Barchas Jack D JD Lee Francis S FS Schatzberg Alan F AF Watson Stanley J SJ Akil Huda H

Biological psychiatry 20180503 8

<h4>Background</h4>While downregulation of several growth factors in major depressive disorder is well established, less attention has been paid to the upregulation of other growth factors. Yet, upregulated growth factors may offer better therapeutic targets. We show that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) represents a target based on its upregulation in major depressive disorder and studies in animal models implicating it in negative affect.<h4>Methods</h4>CTGF gene expression was first eva ...[more]

PMID: 29861095

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Connective tissue growth factor (CCN2; CTGF) is a newly identified growth factor, which is involved in the regulation of wound repair and fibrosis. Because there is variation among individuals with respect to tissue response to injury, genetic factors might be involved in the final outcome of tissue repair or scarring. For example, polymorphisms in the promoter region of genes, such as those encoding transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), influence transcriptional responses and are thought to contribute to the dysregulation of these genes in pathological conditions. AIM:To investigate whether the promoter region of the ccn2 (ctgf) gene contains polymorphic sequences that might account for differential expression. MATERIALS/METHODS:Seventy seven human DNA samples were sequenced-45 were from healthy controls and 32 were from patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD)-using M13 tailed sequence specific ccn2 (ctgf) primers for amplification of a 600 bp fragment upstream of the transcription start site. Amplicons were bidirectionally sequenced with a dye primer M13 forward and reverse sequencing kit. RESULTS:A C to G substitution was identified at position -132 in one of the patients with IHD. Moreover, in five of the 32 patients with IHD and in six of the 45 healthy controls, a G to C polymorphism was found at position -447. These substitutions at -132 and -447 are thought to lie within predicted binding domains for the transcription factors Pbx-1 and MZF1, respectively. In addition, insertions at position -43 (G), -47 (C), -71 (G) and a C to T substitution at position -198 were found in all DNA samples compared with the published ccn2 (ctgf) promoter sequence. These corrections do not involve sequences predicted to function as transcription factor binding sites. CONCLUSION:Sequence analysis of the ccn2 (ctgf) promoter of 77 human DNA samples has revealed corrections and polymorphic sites. The latter lie within putative regulatory elements.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Adenomyosis is a medical condition defined by the abnormal presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium, in which fibrosis occurs with new collagen deposition and myofibroblast differentiation. In this study, the effect of several mediators and growth factors on collagen expression was investigated on human endometrial stromal cells (fibroblasts) derived from adenomyotic endometrium. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, pharmacological interventions and siRNA interference were applied to primary cultured human endometrial stromal cells (fibroblasts). Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze protein expression in adenomyotic endometrium tissue specimens. RESULTS:Of the tested mediators, transforming growth factor ?1 (TGF?1) and its isoforms were effective to induce collagen and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression. Collagen and CTGF induction by TGF?1 could be reduced by the inhibitors targeting DNA transcription, protein translation, and Smad2/3 signaling. Interestingly, TGF?1 induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and CTGF mRNA expression, but not collagen mRNA expression, suggesting that TGF?1 mediates collagen expression through CTGF induction and Smad2/3 activation. In parallel, TGF?1 and CTGF also induced expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 47, a protein required for the synthesis of several types of collagens. However, only CTGF siRNA knockdown, could compromise TGF?1-induced collagen expression. Finally, the immunohistochemistry revealed vimentin- and ?-SMA-positive staining for (myo)fibroblasts, TGF?1, collagen, and CTGF in the subepithelial stroma region of human adenomyotic endometria. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:We reveal here that TGF?1, collagen, and CTGF are expressed in the stroma of adenomyotic endometria and demonstrate that TGF?1 can induce collagen production in endometrium-derived fibroblasts through cellular Smad2/3-dependent signaling pathway and CTGF expression, suggesting that endometrial TGF? may take part in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis and ectopic endometrium may participate in uterine adenomyosis.

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Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is a Novel Prodepressant.

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Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is a Novel Prodepressant.

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