Protocol for in vitro skin fibrosis model to screen the biological effects of antifibrotic compounds.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Alsharabasy AM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7982747 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background and Rationale: Factor VII activating protease (FSAP) is a circulating serine protease produced in the liver. A single nucleotide polymorphism (G534E, Marburg I, MI-SNP) in the gene encoding FSAP (HABP2) leads to lower enzymatic activity and is associated with enhanced liver fibrosis. FSAP is activated by damaged cells and its substrates include growth factors and haemostasis proteins. We have investigated the progression of liver fibrosis in FSAP deficient mice. Results: Wild type (WT) or FSAP-/- mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) and assessment of liver fibrosis. FSAP-/- mice showed enhanced liver fibrosis and accumulation of extracellular matrix as determined by Sirius Red staining and hydroxyproline content. FSAP deficient mice exhibited stronger injury as determined by higher necrosis in the liver and circulating liver enzymes. This correlated with expression of markers like M-NM-1-smooth muscle actin, collagen and fibronectin that are markers of stellate cell activation. FSAP-deficient mice exhibited higher expression of PDGF-BB as well as PDGFRM-NM-2 that are strong activators of liver fibrosis. In order to gain more insight into this difference microarray analysis was performed and the pattern of gene expression in WT vs. FSAP-/- mice would indicate that FSAP modulates the inflammatory /immune system. Conclusions: The results with FSAP-/- mice correlates with the human situation where lower FSAP activity, due to the MI SNP, is associated with enhanced liver fibrosis. This strengthens the concept that FSAP is a M-bM-^@M-^\protective factorM-bM-^@M-^] in liver fibrosis. A probable mechanism for this effect is likely to be related to the role of FSAP in the regulation of fibrosis/ inflammation-related processes n the liver. The dataset comprises 12 samples divided into four sample groups each representing a certain treatment group.
2012-09-19 | E-GEOD-36066 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Fraxetin, a natural derivative of coumarin, is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and hepatoprotective effects in multiple diseases and in liver fibrosis. Whether fraxetin exerts similar effects against renal fibrosis is unknown. In a Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction (UUO) mouse model of renal fibrosis, fraxetin decreased UUO-induced renal dysfunction with a marked reduction in renal interstitial collagen fibers as detected by Masson's Trichrome staining. Fraxetin treatment also inhibited the expression of α-SMA, Collagen I, Collagen IV, fibronectin, N-cadherin, vimentin, phosphorylated-ERK, and increased the expression of E-cadherin in UUO mice, as shown by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. In vitro studies showed that fraxetin and indoxyl sulfate had no cytotoxic effects on MES13 kidney cells, but that fraxetin significantly decreased IS-induced cell motility and decreased protein expression of α-SMA, N-cadherin, vimentin, and Collagen IV via the ERK-mediated signaling pathway. These findings provide insight into the mechanism underlying fraxetin-induced inhibition of fibrogenesis in renal tissue and suggest that fraxetin treatment may be beneficial for slowing CKD progression.
| S-EPMC8310265 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background and Rationale: Factor VII activating protease (FSAP) is a circulating serine protease produced in the liver. A single nucleotide polymorphism (G534E, Marburg I, MI-SNP) in the gene encoding FSAP (HABP2) leads to lower enzymatic activity and is associated with enhanced liver fibrosis. FSAP is activated by damaged cells and its substrates include growth factors and haemostasis proteins. We have investigated the progression of liver fibrosis in FSAP deficient mice. Results: Wild type (WT) or FSAP-/- mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) and assessment of liver fibrosis. FSAP-/- mice showed enhanced liver fibrosis and accumulation of extracellular matrix as determined by Sirius Red staining and hydroxyproline content. FSAP deficient mice exhibited stronger injury as determined by higher necrosis in the liver and circulating liver enzymes. This correlated with expression of markers like α-smooth muscle actin, collagen and fibronectin that are markers of stellate cell activation. FSAP-deficient mice exhibited higher expression of PDGF-BB as well as PDGFRβ that are strong activators of liver fibrosis. In order to gain more insight into this difference microarray analysis was performed and the pattern of gene expression in WT vs. FSAP-/- mice would indicate that FSAP modulates the inflammatory /immune system. Conclusions: The results with FSAP-/- mice correlates with the human situation where lower FSAP activity, due to the MI SNP, is associated with enhanced liver fibrosis. This strengthens the concept that FSAP is a “protective factor” in liver fibrosis. A probable mechanism for this effect is likely to be related to the role of FSAP in the regulation of fibrosis/ inflammation-related processes n the liver.
2012-09-19 | GSE36066 | GEO
Project description:Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis result from uncontrolled secretion and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) that are activated by liver injury and inflammation. Despite the progress in understanding the biology liver fibrogenesis and the identification of potential targets for treating fibrosis, development of an effective therapy remains elusive. Since an uninterrupted supply of intracellular energy is critical for the activated-HSCs to maintain constant synthesis and secretion of ECM, we hypothesized that interfering with energy metabolism could affect ECM secretion. Here we report that a sublethal dose of the energy blocker, 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) facilitates phenotypic alteration of activated LX-2 (a human hepatic stellate cell line), into a less-active form. This treatment-dependent reversal of activated-LX2 cells was evidenced by a reduction in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen secretion, and an increase in activity of matrix metalloproteases. Mechanistically, 3-BrPA-dependent antifibrotic effects involved down-regulation of the mitochondrial metabolic enzyme, ATP5E, and up-regulation of glycolysis, as evident by elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, lactate production and its transporter, MCT4. Finally, the antifibrotic effects of 3-BrPA were validated in vivo in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Results from histopathology & histochemical staining for collagen and α-SMA substantiated that 3-BrPA promotes antifibrotic effects in vivo. Taken together, our data indicate that sublethal, metronomic treatment with 3-BrPA blocks the progression of liver fibrosis suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic for treating liver fibrosis.
| S-EPMC5548097 | biostudies-other
Project description:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and high-lethality fibrotic lung disease characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix accumulation, and, ultimately, loss of lung function. Although dysregulation of some microRNAs (miRs) has been shown to play important roles in the pathophysiological processes of IPF, the role of miRs in fibrotic lung diseases is not well understood. In this study, we found downregulation of miR-26a in the lungs of mice with experimental pulmonary fibrosis and in IPF, which resulted in posttranscriptional derepression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and induced collagen production. More importantly, inhibition of miR-26a in the lungs caused pulmonary fibrosis in vivo, whereas overexpression of miR-26a repressed transforming growth factor (TGF)-?1-induced fibrogenesis in MRC-5 cells and attenuated experimental pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Our study showed that miR-26a was downregulated by TGF-?1-mediated phosphorylation of Smad3. Moreover, miR-26a inhibited the nuclear translocation of p-Smad3 through directly targeting Smad4, which determines the nuclear translocation of p-Smad2/Smad3. Taken together, our experiments demonstrated the antifibrotic effects of miR-26a in fibrotic lung diseases and suggested a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of IPF using miR-26a. The current study also uncovered a novel positive feedback loop between miR-26a and p-Smad3, which is involved in pulmonary fibrosis.
| S-EPMC4048895 | biostudies-other
Project description:Nephrotoxicity due to drugs and environmental chemicals accounts for significant patient mortality and morbidity, but there is no high throughput in vitro method for predictive nephrotoxicity assessment. We show that primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HPTECs) possess characteristics of differentiated epithelial cells rendering them desirable to use in such in vitro systems. To identify a reliable biomarker of nephrotoxicity, we conducted multiplexed gene expression profiling of HPTECs after exposure to six different concentrations of nine human nephrotoxicants. Only overexpression of the gene encoding heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) significantly correlated with increasing dose for six of the compounds, and significant HO-1 protein deregulation was confirmed with each of the nine nephrotoxicants. Translatability of HO-1 increase across species and platforms was demonstrated by computationally mining two large rat toxicogenomic databases for kidney tubular toxicity and by observing a significant increase in HO-1 after toxicity using an ex vivo three-dimensional microphysiologic system (kidney-on-a-chip). The predictive potential of HO-1 was tested using an additional panel of 39 mechanistically distinct nephrotoxic compounds. Although HO-1 performed better (area under the curve receiver-operator characteristic curve [AUC-ROC]=0.89) than traditional endpoints of cell viability (AUC-ROC for ATP=0.78; AUC-ROC for cell count=0.88), the combination of HO-1 and cell count further improved the predictive ability (AUC-ROC=0.92). We also developed and optimized a homogenous time-resolved fluorescence assay to allow high throughput quantitative screening of nephrotoxic compounds using HO-1 as a sensitive biomarker. This cell-based approach may facilitate rapid assessment of potential nephrotoxic therapeutics and environmental chemicals.
| S-EPMC4814182 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatic fibrosis is the wound-healing process of chronic hepatic disease that leads to the end-stage of hepatocellular carcinoma and demolition of hepatic structures. Epithelial?mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been identified to phenotypic conversion of the epithelium to mesenchymal phenotype that occurred during fibrosis. Smad decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) is a synthetic DNA fragment containing a complementary sequence of Smad transcription factor. Thus, this study evaluated the antifibrotic effects of Smad decoy ODN on carbon tetrachloride (CCl?)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. As shown in histological results, CCl? treatment triggered hepatic fibrosis and increased Smad expression. On the contrary, Smad decoy ODN administration suppressed fibrogenesis and EMT process. The expression of Smad signaling and EMT-associated protein was markedly decreased in Smad decoy ODN-treated mice compared with CCl?-injured mice. In conclusion, these data indicate the practicability of Smad decoy ODN administration for preventing hepatic fibrosis and EMT processes.
| S-EPMC6222866 | biostudies-other
Project description:Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in various inflammatory diseases. Chronic inflammation is a mainstay of liver fibrosis, a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, but the role of MIF in liver scarring has not yet been elucidated. Here we have uncovered an unexpected antifibrotic role for MIF. Mice genetically deleted in Mif (Mif(-/-)) showed strongly increased fibrosis in two models of chronic liver injury. Pronounced liver fibrosis in Mif(-/-) mice was associated with alterations in fibrosis-relevant genes, but not by a changed intrahepatic immune cell infiltration. Next, a direct impact of MIF on hepatic stellate cells (HSC) was assessed in vitro. Although MIF alone had only marginal effects on HSCs, it markedly inhibited PDGF-induced migration and proliferation of these cells. The inhibitory effects of MIF were mediated by CD74, which we detected as the most abundant known MIF receptor on HSCs. MIF promoted the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a CD74-dependent manner and, in turn, inhibition of AMPK reversed the inhibition of PDGF-induced HSC activation by MIF. The pivotal role of CD74 in MIF-mediated antifibrotic properties was further supported by augmented liver scarring of Cd74(-/-) mice. Moreover, mice treated with recombinant MIF displayed a reduced fibrogenic response in vivo. In conclusion, we describe a previously unexplored antifibrotic function of MIF that is mediated by the CD74/AMPK signaling pathway in HSCs. The results imply MIF and CD74 as targets for treatment of liver diseases.
| S-EPMC3198363 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Liver fibrosis is a major cause of liver-related mortality and, so far, no effective antifibrotic drug is available. Galunisertib, a TGF-? receptor type I kinase inhibitor, is a potential candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Here, we evaluated the potency of galunisertib in a human ex vivo model of liver fibrosis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:Antifibrotic potency and associated mechanisms were studied ex vivo, using both healthy and cirrhotic human precision-cut liver slices. Fibrosis-related parameters, both transcriptional and translational level, were assessed after treatment with galunisertib. KEY RESULTS:Galunisertib showed a prominent antifibrotic potency. Phosphorylation of SMAD2 was inhibited, while that of SMAD1 remained unchanged. In healthy and cirrhotic human livers, spontaneous transcription of numerous genes encoding collagens, including collagen type I, ? 1, collagen maturation, non-collageneous extracellular matrix (ECM) components, ECM remodelling and selected ECM receptors was significantly decreased. The reduction of fibrosis-related transcription was paralleled by a significant inhibition of procollagen I C-peptide released by both healthy and cirrhotic human liver slices. Moreover, galunisertib showed similar antifibrotic potency in human and rat lives. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:Galunisertib is a drug that deserves to be further investigated for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Inhibition of SMAD2 phosphorylation is probably a central mechanism of action. In addition, blocking the production and maturation of collagens and promoting their degradation are related to the antifibrotic action of galunisertib.
| S-EPMC5573419 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Fibrogenic processes instigate fatal chronic diseases leading to organ failure and death. Underlying biological processes involve induced massive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) by aberrant fibroblasts. We subjected diseased primary human lung fibroblasts to an advanced three-dimensional phenotypic high-content assay and screened a repurposing drug library of small molecules for inhibiting ECM deposition. Fibrotic Pattern Detection by Artificial Intelligence identified tranilast as an effective inhibitor. Structure-activity relationship studies confirmed N-(2-butoxyphenyl)-3-(phenyl)acrylamides (N23Ps) as a novel and highly potent compound class. N23Ps suppressed myofibroblast transdifferentiation, ECM deposition, cellular contractility, and altered cell shapes, thus advocating a unique mode of action. Mechanistically, transcriptomics identified SMURF2 as a potential therapeutic target network. Antifibrotic activity of N23Ps was verified by proteomics in a human ex vivo tissue fibrosis disease model, suppressing profibrotic markers SERPINE1 and CXCL8. Conclusively, N23Ps are a novel class of highly potent compounds inhibiting organ fibrosis in patients.
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