1
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Richmond JM, Patel D, Watanabe T, Chen HW, Martyanov V, Werner G, Garg M, Haddadi NS, Refat MA, Mahmoud BH, Wong LD, Dresser K, Deng A, Zhu JL, McAlpine W, Hosler GA, Feghali-Bostwick CA, Whitfield ML, Harris JE, Torok KS, Jacobe HT. CXCL9 Links Skin Inflammation and Fibrosis through CXCR3-Dependent Upregulation of Col1a1 in Fibroblasts. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:1138-1146.e12. [PMID: 36708947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Morphea is characterized by initial inflammation followed by fibrosis of the skin and soft tissue. Despite its substantial morbidity, the pathogenesis of morphea is poorly studied. Previous work showed that CXCR3 ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10 are highly upregulated in the sera and lesional skin of patients with morphea. We found that an early inflammatory subcutaneous bleomycin mouse model of dermal fibrosis mirrors the clinical, histological, and immune dysregulation observed in human morphea. We used this model to examine the role of the CXCR3 chemokine axis in the pathogenesis of cutaneous fibrosis. Using the REX3 (Reporting the Expression of CXCR3 ligands) mice, we characterized which cells produce CXCR3 ligands over time. We found that fibroblasts contribute the bulk of CXCL9-RFP and CXCL10-BFP by percentage, whereas macrophages produce high amounts on a per-cell basis. To determine whether these chemokines are mechanistically involved in pathogenesis, we treated Cxcl9-, Cxcl10-, or Cxcr3-deficient mice with bleomycin and found that fibrosis is dependent on CXCL9 and CXCR3. Addition of recombinant CXCL9 but not CXCL10 to cultured mouse fibroblasts induced Col1a1 mRNA expression, indicating that the chemokine itself contributes to fibrosis. Taken together, our studies provide evidence that CXCL9 and its receptor CXCR3 are functionally required for inflammatory fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian M Richmond
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dhrumil Patel
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tomoya Watanabe
- Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Department of Dermatology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Henry W Chen
- Department of Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Viktor Martyanov
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Giffin Werner
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Madhuri Garg
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nazgol-Sadat Haddadi
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maggi Ahmed Refat
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bassel H Mahmoud
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lance D Wong
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen Dresser
- Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - April Deng
- Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jane L Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - William McAlpine
- Department of Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Carol A Feghali-Bostwick
- Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Michael L Whitfield
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - John E Harris
- Department of Dermatology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kathryn S Torok
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Heidi T Jacobe
- Department of Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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2
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Sapao P, Roberson EDO, Shi B, Assassi S, Skaug B, Lee F, Naba A, Perez White BE, Córdova-Fletes C, Tsou PS, Sawalha AH, Gudjonsson JE, Ma F, Verma P, Bhattacharyya D, Carns M, Strauss JF, Sicard D, Tschumperlin DJ, Champer MI, Campagnola PJ, Teves ME, Varga J. Reduced SPAG17 Expression in Systemic Sclerosis Triggers Myofibroblast Transition and Drives Fibrosis. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:284-293. [PMID: 36116512 PMCID: PMC10097410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a clinically heterogeneous fibrotic disease with no effective treatment. Myofibroblasts are responsible for unresolving synchronous skin and internal organ fibrosis in SSc, but the drivers of sustained myofibroblast activation remain poorly understood. Using unbiased transcriptome analysis of skin biopsies, we identified the downregulation of SPAG17 in multiple independent cohorts of patients with SSc, and by orthogonal approaches, we observed a significant negative correlation between SPAG17 and fibrotic gene expression. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells explanted from SSc skin biopsies showed reduced chromatin accessibility at the SPAG17 locus. Remarkably, mice lacking Spag17 showed spontaneous skin fibrosis with increased dermal thickness, collagen deposition and stiffness, and altered collagen fiber alignment. Knockdown of SPAG17 in human and mouse fibroblasts and microvascular endothelial cells was accompanied by spontaneous myofibroblast transformation and markedly heightened sensitivity to profibrotic stimuli. These responses were accompanied by constitutive TGF-β pathway activation. Thus, we discovered impaired expression of SPAG17 in SSc and identified, to our knowledge, a previously unreported cell-intrinsic role for SPAG17 in the negative regulation of fibrotic responses. These findings shed fresh light on the pathogenesis of SSc and may inform the search for innovative therapies for SSc and other fibrotic conditions through SPAG17 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulene Sapao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Elisha D O Roberson
- Division of Rheumatology, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bo Shi
- Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
| | - Shervin Assassi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Brian Skaug
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fred Lee
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
| | - Alexandra Naba
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
| | - Bethany E Perez White
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
| | - Carlos Córdova-Fletes
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
| | - Pei-Suen Tsou
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; The UPMC Lupus Center of Excellence, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Johann E Gudjonsson
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Feiyang Ma
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Priyanka Verma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Dibyendu Bhattacharyya
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mary Carns
- Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
| | - Jerome F Strauss
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Delphine Sicard
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minesota, USA
| | - Daniel J Tschumperlin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minesota, USA
| | - Melissa I Champer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wincosin, USA
| | - Paul J Campagnola
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wincosin, USA
| | - Maria E Teves
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
| | - John Varga
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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3
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Odell ID, Steach H, Gauld SB, Reinke-Breen L, Karman J, Carr TL, Wetter JB, Phillips L, Hinchcliff M, Flavell RA. Epiregulin is a dendritic cell-derived EGFR ligand that maintains skin and lung fibrosis. Sci Immunol 2022; 7:eabq6691. [PMID: 36490328 PMCID: PMC9840167 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq6691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immune cells are fundamental regulators of extracellular matrix (ECM) production by fibroblasts and have important roles in determining extent of fibrosis in response to inflammation. Although much is known about fibroblast signaling in fibrosis, the molecular signals between immune cells and fibroblasts that drive its persistence are poorly understood. We therefore analyzed skin and lung samples of patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that causes debilitating fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Here, we define a critical role of epiregulin-EGFR signaling between dendritic cells and fibroblasts to maintain elevated ECM production and accumulation in fibrotic tissue. We found that epiregulin expression marks an inducible state of DC3 dendritic cells triggered by type I interferon and that DC3-derived epiregulin activates EGFR on fibroblasts, driving a positive feedback loop through NOTCH signaling. In mouse models of skin and lung fibrosis, epiregulin was essential for persistence of fibrosis in both tissues, which could be abrogated by epiregulin genetic deficiency or a neutralizing antibody. Therapeutic administration of epiregulin antibody reversed fibrosis in patient skin and lung explants, identifying it as a previously unexplored biologic drug target. Our findings reveal epiregulin as a crucial immune signal that maintains skin and lung fibrosis in multiple diseases and represents a promising antifibrotic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D. Odell
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Holly Steach
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Monique Hinchcliff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard A. Flavell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Correspondence to: , Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, TAC S-569, Post Office Box 208011, New Haven, CT 06520-8011
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4
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Rana I, Kataria S, Tan TL, Hajam EY, Kashyap DK, Saha D, Ajnabi J, Paul S, Jayappa S, Ananthan ASHP, Kumar P, Zaarour RF, Haarshaadri J, Kansagara G, Rizvi A, Zirmire RK, Badarinath K, Khedkar SU, Chandra Y, Samuel R, George R, Danda D, Jacob PM, Dey R, Dhandapany PS, He YW, Varga J, Varghese S, Jamora C. Mindin (SPON2) Is Essential for Cutaneous Fibrogenesis in a Mouse Model of Systemic Sclerosis. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 143:699-710.e10. [PMID: 36528128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis is a fibrotic disease that initiates in the skin and progresses to internal organs, leading to a poor prognosis. Unraveling the etiology of a chronic, multifactorial disease such as systemic sclerosis has been aided by various animal models that recapitulate certain aspects of the human pathology. We found that the transcription factor SNAI1 is overexpressed in the epidermis of patients with systemic sclerosis, and a transgenic mouse recapitulating this expression pattern is sufficient to induce many clinical features of the human disease. Using this mouse model as a discovery platform, we have uncovered a critical role for the matricellular protein Mindin (SPON2) in fibrogenesis. Mindin is produced by SNAI1 transgenic skin keratinocytes and aids fibrogenesis by inducing early inflammatory cytokine production and collagen secretion in resident dermal fibroblasts. Given the dispensability of Mindin in normal tissue physiology, targeting this protein holds promise as an effective therapy for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Rana
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Sunny Kataria
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Tuan Lin Tan
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA; School of Chemical & Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edries Yousaf Hajam
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Deepak Kumar Kashyap
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dyuti Saha
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Johan Ajnabi
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Sayan Paul
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Shashank Jayappa
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Akhil S H P Ananthan
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Rania F Zaarour
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine (TRIPM), Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - J Haarshaadri
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Gaurav Kansagara
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; Animal Care and Resource Centre (ACRC), Bangalore Life Science Cluster, Bangalore, India
| | - Abrar Rizvi
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Ravindra K Zirmire
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Krithika Badarinath
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India; National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Sneha Uday Khedkar
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | - Yogesh Chandra
- Animal Care and Resource Centre (ACRC), Bangalore Life Science Cluster, Bangalore, India
| | - Rekha Samuel
- Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India; Department of Pathology, Manipal - Tata Medical College Jamshedpur, Jamshedpur, India
| | - Renu George
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Debashish Danda
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | - Rakesh Dey
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
| | | | - You-Wen He
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - John Varga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shyni Varghese
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Colin Jamora
- IFOM-inStem Joint Research Laboratory, Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis, Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India.
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5
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Tognetti L, Marrocco C, Carraro A, Guerrini G, Mariotti GI, Cinotti E, Rubegni P. Clinical and laboratory characterization of patients with localized scleroderma and response to UVA-1 phototherapy: In vivo and in vitro skin models. PHOTODERMATOLOGY, PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY & PHOTOMEDICINE 2022; 38:531-540. [PMID: 35324032 PMCID: PMC9790552 DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Localized scleroderma (LS) is a rare disease leading to progressive hardening and induration of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. LS is responsive to UVA-1 phototherapy, though its exact mechanism of action dermal fibrosis is yet to be fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the molecular changes induced by UVA-1 rays in human primary fibroblasts cultures. METHODS A total of 16 LS patients were treated with medium-dose UVA-1 phototherapy. At baseline, during and after therapy, Localized Scleroderma Assessment Tool, Dermatology Life Quality Index and lesions' staging and mapping were performed along with high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) examination for dermal thickness assessment. Gene expression analysis for 23 mRNA transcripts, in vitro UVA-1 irradiation and viability tests were realized on lesional fibroblasts' primary cultures, before and 3 months after therapy. RESULTS The dermal thickness, the LoSCAT and the DLQI progressively decreased starting from the last phototherapy session up to the 6 and 9 month follow-ups (-57% and -60%, respectively). Molecular gene analysis (rt-PCR) revealed that UVA-1 phototherapy exerts multiple effects: the activation of specific anti-fibrotic pathways (e.g., overexpression of CTHRC1 and metalloproteases 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 12, suppression of TIMP-1), the downregulation of peculiar pro-fibrotic pathways (e.g., downregulation of TGF-ß, TGF-ßrII, Grb2, SMAD 2/3, TNRSF12A, CTGF) through a significant overexpression of IL-1ß; the stabilization of collagen synthesis acting on genes COL1A1, COL3A1, COL8A1, COL10A1, COL12A1. CONCLUSION UVA-1 phototherapy adds significant benefits in local tissue remodeling, rebalancing the alteration between pro-fibrotic and anti-fibrotic pathways; these changes can be well monitored by HFUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Tognetti
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Camilla Marrocco
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Andrea Carraro
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Giuditta Guerrini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Medical BiotechnologiesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - GIancarlo Mariotti
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Elisa Cinotti
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
| | - Pietro Rubegni
- Dermatology Unit and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical and Neuro‐sciencesUniversity of SienaSienaItaly
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6
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Wang W, Bale S, Wei J, Yalavarthi B, Bhattacharyya D, Yan JJ, Abdala-Valencia H, Xu D, Sun H, Marangoni RG, Herzog E, Berdnikovs S, Miller SD, Sawalha AH, Tsou PS, Awaji K, Yamashita T, Sato S, Asano Y, Tiruppathi C, Yeldandi A, Schock BC, Bhattacharyya S, Varga J. Fibroblast A20 governs fibrosis susceptibility and its repression by DREAM promotes fibrosis in multiple organs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6358. [PMID: 36289219 PMCID: PMC9606375 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33767-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, variants of the TNFAIP3 gene encoding the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 are also associated with fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, it remains unclear how genetic factors contribute to SSc pathogenesis, and which cell types drive the disease due to SSc-specific genetic alterations. We therefore characterize the expression, function, and role of A20, and its negative transcriptional regulator DREAM, in patients with SSc and disease models. Levels of A20 are significantly reduced in SSc skin and lungs, while DREAM is elevated. In isolated fibroblasts, A20 mitigates ex vivo profibrotic responses. Mice haploinsufficient for A20, or harboring fibroblasts-specific A20 deletion, recapitulate major pathological features of SSc, whereas DREAM-null mice with elevated A20 expression are protected. In DREAM-null fibroblasts, TGF-β induces the expression of A20, compared to wild-type fibroblasts. An anti-fibrotic small molecule targeting cellular adiponectin receptors stimulates A20 expression in vitro in wild-type but not A20-deficient fibroblasts and in bleomycin-treated mice. Thus, A20 has a novel cell-intrinsic function in restraining fibroblast activation, and together with DREAM, constitutes a critical regulatory network governing the fibrotic process in SSc. A20 and DREAM represent novel druggable targets for fibrosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxia Wang
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Swarna Bale
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jun Wei
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bharath Yalavarthi
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Dibyendu Bhattacharyya
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jing Jing Yan
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hiam Abdala-Valencia
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Hanshi Sun
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Roberta G Marangoni
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Erica Herzog
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sergejs Berdnikovs
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Stephen D Miller
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Pei-Suen Tsou
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kentaro Awaji
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamashita
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Shinichi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Asano
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Chinnaswamy Tiruppathi
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Lung and Vascular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anjana Yeldandi
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Bettina C Schock
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Swati Bhattacharyya
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - John Varga
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Michigan Scleroderma Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Collagen V α1 Chain Decrease in Papillary Dermis from Early Systemic Sclerosis: A New Proposal in Cutaneous Fibrosis Molecular Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012654. [PMID: 36293511 PMCID: PMC9604101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous fibrosis is one of the main features of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recent findings correlated abnormal collagen V (Col V) deposition in dermis with skin thickening and disease activity in SSc. Considering that Col V is an important regulator of collagen fibrillogenesis, understanding the role of Col V in the first two years of the skin fibrosis in SSc (early SSc) can help to determine new targets for future treatments. In this study, we analyzed the morphological, ultrastructural and molecular features of α1(V) and α2(V) chains and the expression of their coding genes COL5A1 and COL5A2 in collagen fibrillogenesis in early-SSc. Skin biopsies were obtained from seven consecutive treatment-naïve patients with SSc-related fibrosis and four healthy controls. Our data showed increased α1(V) and α2(V) chain expression in the reticular dermis of early-SSc patients; however, immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunogold staining determined a significant decreased expression of the α1(V) chain along the dermoepidermal junction in the papillary dermis from early-SSc-patients in relation to the control (12.77 ± 1.34 vs. 66.84 ± 3.36; p < 0.0001). The immunoblot confirmed the decreased expression of the α1(V) chain by the cutaneous fibroblasts of early-SSc, despite the increased COL5A1 and COL5A2 gene expression. In contrast, the α2(V) chain was overexpressed in the small vessels (63.18 ± 3.56 vs. 12.16 ± 0.81; p < 0.0001) and capillaries (60.88 ± 5.82 vs. 15.11 ± 3.80; p < 0.0001) in the reticular dermis of early-SSc patients. Furthermore, COLVA2 siRNA in SSc cutaneous fibroblasts resulted in a decreased α1(V) chain expression. These results highlight an intense decrease in the α1(V) chain along the dermoepidermal junction, suggesting an altered molecular histoarchitecture in the SSc papillary dermis, with a possible decrease in the expression of the α1(V)3 homotrimeric isoform, which could interfere with the thickening and cutaneous fibrosis related to SSc.
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8
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Król M, Kupnicka P, Bosiacki M, Chlubek D. Mechanisms Underlying Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Properties of Stretching-A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710127. [PMID: 36077525 PMCID: PMC9456560 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stretching is one of the popular elements in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. When correctly guided, it can help minimize or slow down the disabling effects of chronic health conditions. Most likely, the benefits are associated with reducing inflammation; recent studies demonstrate that this effect from stretching is not just systemic but also local. In this review, we present the current body of knowledge on the anti-inflammatory properties of stretching at a molecular level. A total of 22 papers, focusing on anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of stretching, have been selected and reviewed. We show the regulation of oxidative stress, the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes and mediators, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, expressed by changes in collagen and matrix metalloproteinases levels, in tissues subjected to stretching. We point out that a better understanding of the anti-inflammatory properties of stretching may result in increasing its importance in treatment and recovery from diseases such as osteoarthritis, systemic sclerosis, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Król
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Patrycja Kupnicka
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Mateusz Bosiacki
- Chair and Department of Functional Diagnostics and Physical Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Żołnierska 54, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Chlubek
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
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9
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Chepy A, Vivier S, Bray F, Ternynck C, Meneboo JP, Figeac M, Filiot A, Guilbert L, Jendoubi M, Rolando C, Launay D, Dubucquoi S, Marot G, Sobanski V. Effects of Immunoglobulins G From Systemic Sclerosis Patients in Normal Dermal Fibroblasts: A Multi-Omics Study. Front Immunol 2022; 13:904631. [PMID: 35844491 PMCID: PMC9276964 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.904631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoantibodies (Aabs) are frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although recognized as potent biomarkers, their pathogenic role is debated. This study explored the effect of purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) from SSc patients on protein and mRNA expression of dermal fibroblasts (FBs) using an innovative multi-omics approach. Dermal FBs were cultured in the presence of sera or purified IgG from patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), limited cutaneous SSc or healthy controls (HCs). The FB proteome and transcriptome were explored using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and microarray assays, respectively. Proteomic analysis identified 3,310 proteins. SSc sera and purified IgG induced singular protein profile patterns. These FB proteome changes depended on the Aab serotype, with a singular effect observed with purified IgG from anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibody (ATA) positive patients compared to HC or other SSc serotypes. IgG from ATA positive SSc patients induced enrichment in proteins involved in focal adhesion, cadherin binding, cytosolic part, or lytic vacuole. Multi-omics analysis was performed in two ways: first by restricting the analysis of the transcriptomic data to differentially expressed proteins; and secondly, by performing a global statistical analysis integrating proteomics and transcriptomics. Transcriptomic analysis distinguished 764 differentially expressed genes and revealed that IgG from dcSSc can induce extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling changes in gene expression profiles in FB. Global statistical analysis integrating proteomics and transcriptomics confirmed that IgG from SSc can induce ECM remodeling and activate FB profiles. This effect depended on the serotype of the patient, suggesting that SSc Aab might play a pathogenic role in some SSc subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Chepy
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Centre de Référence des Maladies Auto-immunes Systémiques Rares du Nord et Nord-Ouest de France, Lille, France
| | - Solange Vivier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
| | - Fabrice Bray
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, USR 3290, Miniaturisation pour la Synthèse, l’Analyse et la Protéomique, Lille, France
| | - Camille Ternynck
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694, METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de Santé et des Pratiques Médicales, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Pascal Meneboo
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41—UAR 2014-PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Martin Figeac
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41—UAR 2014-PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Alexandre Filiot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
| | - Lucile Guilbert
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Institut d’Immunologie, Lille, France
| | - Manel Jendoubi
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
| | - Christian Rolando
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, USR 3290, Miniaturisation pour la Synthèse, l’Analyse et la Protéomique, Lille, France
| | - David Launay
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Centre de Référence des Maladies Auto-immunes Systémiques Rares du Nord et Nord-Ouest de France, Lille, France
- *Correspondence: David Launay,
| | - Sylvain Dubucquoi
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Institut d’Immunologie, Lille, France
| | - Guillemette Marot
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694, METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de Santé et des Pratiques Médicales, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41—UAR 2014-PLBS, Lille, France
- Inria, Models for Data Analysis and Learning, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Sobanski
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE ( Institute for Translational Research) in Inflammation, Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Centre de Référence des Maladies Auto-immunes Systémiques Rares du Nord et Nord-Ouest de France, Lille, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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10
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Huang M, Smith A, Watson M, Bhandari R, Baugh LM, Ivanovska I, Watkins T, Lang I, Trojanowska M, Black LD, Pioli PA, Garlick J, Whitfield ML. Self-Assembled Human Skin Equivalents Model Macrophage Activation of Cutaneous Fibrogenesis in Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2022; 74:1245-1256. [PMID: 35212485 DOI: 10.1002/art.42097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The development of precision therapeutics for systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been hindered by the lack of models that accurately mimic the disease in vitro. This study was undertaken to design and test a self-assembled skin equivalent (saSE) system that recapitulates the cross-talk between macrophages and fibroblasts in cutaneous fibrosis. METHODS SSc-derived dermal fibroblasts (SScDFs) and normal dermal fibroblasts (NDFs) were cultured with CD14+ monocytes from SSc patients or healthy controls to allow de novo stroma formation. Monocyte donor-matched plasma was introduced at week 3 prior to seeding keratinocytes to produce saSE with a stratified epithelium. Tissue was characterized by immunohistochemical staining, atomic force microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Stroma synthesized de novo from NDFs and SScDFs supported a fully stratified epithelium to form saSE. A thicker and stiffer dermis was generated by saSE with SScDFs, and more interleukin-6 and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) was secreted by saSE with SScDFs compared to saSE with NDFs, regardless of the inclusion of monocytes. Tissue with SSc monocytes and plasma had amplified dermal thickness and stiffness relative to control tissue. Viable CD163+ macrophages were found within the stroma of saSE 5 weeks after seeding. Additionally, SSc saSE contained greater numbers of CD163+ and CD206+ macrophages compared to control saSE. TGFβ blockade inhibited stromal stiffness to a greater extent in SSc saSE compared to control saSE. CONCLUSION These data suggest reciprocal activation between macrophages and fibroblasts that increases tissue thickness and stiffness, which is dependent in part on TGFβ activation. The saSE system may serve as a platform for preclinical therapeutic testing and for molecular characterization of SSc skin pathology through recapitulation of the interactions between macrophages and fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Huang
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire, and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Avi Smith
- Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Rajan Bhandari
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
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11
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Chakraborty D, Zhu H, Jüngel A, Summa L, Li YN, Matei AE, Zhou X, Huang J, Trinh-Minh T, Chen CW, Lafyatis R, Dees C, Bergmann C, Soare A, Luo H, Ramming A, Schett G, Distler O, Distler JHW. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 activates a network of profibrotic signaling pathways to promote fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/563/eaaz5506. [PMID: 32998972 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz5506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of fibroblasts with progressive deposition of extracellular matrix is a key feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc), a prototypical idiopathic fibrotic disease. Here, we demonstrate that the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β selectively up-regulates fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and its ligand FGF9 to promote fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis, leading to a prominent FGFR3 signature in the SSc skin. Transcriptome profiling, in silico analysis and functional experiments revealed that FGFR3 induces multiple profibrotic pathways including endothelin, interleukin-4, and connective tissue growth factor signaling mediated by transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein). Inhibition of FGFR3 signaling by fibroblast-specific knockout of FGFR3 or FGF9 or pharmacological inhibition of FGFR3 blocked fibroblast activation and attenuated experimental skin fibrosis in mice. These findings characterize FGFR3 as an upstream regulator of a network of profibrotic mediators in SSc and as a potential target for the treatment of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debomita Chakraborty
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Honglin Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Astrid Jüngel
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology and Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lena Summa
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yi-Nan Li
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexandru-Emil Matei
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jingang Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thuong Trinh-Minh
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Chih-Wei Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert Lafyatis
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Clara Dees
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Bergmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alina Soare
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hui Luo
- Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Andreas Ramming
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Distler
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology and Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jörg H W Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
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12
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Shi B, Wang W, Korman B, Kai L, Wang Q, Wei J, Bale S, Marangoni RG, Bhattacharyya S, Miller S, Xu D, Akbarpour M, Cheresh P, Proccissi D, Gursel D, Espindola-Netto JM, Chini CCS, de Oliveira GC, Gudjonsson JE, Chini EN, Varga J. Targeting CD38-dependent NAD + metabolism to mitigate multiple organ fibrosis. iScience 2020; 24:101902. [PMID: 33385109 PMCID: PMC7770554 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The processes underlying synchronous multiple organ fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain poorly understood. Age-related pathologies are associated with organismal decline in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) that is due to dysregulation of NAD+ homeostasis and involves the NADase CD38. We now show that CD38 is upregulated in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc, and CD38 levels in the skin associate with molecular fibrosis signatures, as well as clinical fibrosis scores, while expression of key NAD+-synthesizing enzymes is unaltered. Boosting NAD+ via genetic or pharmacological CD38 targeting or NAD+ precursor supplementation protected mice from skin, lung, and peritoneal fibrosis. In mechanistic experiments, CD38 was found to reduce NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity to augment cellular fibrotic responses, while inhibiting CD38 had the opposite effect. Thus, we identify CD38 upregulation and resulting disrupted NAD+ homeostasis as a fundamental mechanism driving fibrosis in SSc, suggesting that CD38 might represent a novel therapeutic target. CD38 shows elevated expression in skin biopsies of patients with systemic sclerosis Elevated CD38 is associated with reduced NAD+ and augmented fibrotic responses Genetic loss of CD38 is associated with increased NAD+ levels and attenuated fibrosis NAD+ boosting via CD38 inhibition or NR supplementation prevents multi-organ fibrosis
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shi
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Wenxia Wang
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin Korman
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Li Kai
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jun Wei
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Swarna Bale
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Roberta Goncalves Marangoni
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Swati Bhattacharyya
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Stephen Miller
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mahzad Akbarpour
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Paul Cheresh
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Daniele Proccissi
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Demirkan Gursel
- Pathology Core Facility, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Claudia C S Chini
- Department of Anesthesiology and Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester 55905 MN, USA
| | - Guilherme C de Oliveira
- Department of Anesthesiology and Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester 55905 MN, USA
| | | | - Eduardo N Chini
- Department of Anesthesiology and Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester 55905 MN, USA
| | - John Varga
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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13
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Mehta BK, Espinoza ME, Hinchcliff M, Whitfield ML. Molecular "omic" signatures in systemic sclerosis. Eur J Rheumatol 2020; 7:S173-S180. [PMID: 33164732 DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.19192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by immunologic, vascular, and extracellular matrix abnormalities. Variation in the proportion and/or timing of activation in the deregulated molecular pathways that underlie SSc may explain the observed clinical heterogeneity in terms of disease phenotype and treatment response. In recent years, SSc research has generated massive amounts of "omics" level data. In this review, we discuss the body of "omics" level work in SSc and how each layer provides unique insight to our understanding of SSc. We posit that effective integration of genomic, transcriptomic, metagenomic, and epigenomic data is an important step toward precision medicine and is vital to the identification of effective therapeutic options for patients with SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhaven K Mehta
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Monica E Espinoza
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Monique Hinchcliff
- Department of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael L Whitfield
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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14
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Cheikhi AM, Johnson ZI, Julian DR, Wheeler S, Feghali-Bostwick C, Conley YP, Lyons-Weiler J, Yates CC. Prediction of severity and subtype of fibrosing disease using model informed by inflammation and extracellular matrix gene index. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240986. [PMID: 33095822 PMCID: PMC7584227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a chronic disease with heterogeneous clinical presentation, rate of progression, and occurrence of comorbidities. Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is a rare rheumatic autoimmune disease that encompasses several aspects of fibrosis, including highly variable fibrotic manifestation and rate of progression. The development of effective treatments is limited by these variabilities. The fibrotic response is characterized by both chronic inflammation and extracellular remodeling. Therefore, there is a need for improved understanding of which inflammation-related genes contribute to the ongoing turnover of extracellular matrix that accompanies disease. We have developed a multi-tiered method using Naïve Bayes modeling that is capable of predicting level of disease and clinical assessment of patients based on expression of a curated 60-gene panel that profiles inflammation and extracellular matrix production in the fibrotic disease state. Our novel modeling design, incorporating global and parametric-based methods, was highly accurate in distinguishing between severity groups, highlighting the importance of these genes in disease. We refined this gene set to a 12-gene index that can accurately identify SSc patient disease state subsets and informs knowledge of the central regulatory pathways in disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin M. Cheikhi
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Zariel I. Johnson
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Dana R. Julian
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Sarah Wheeler
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Carol Feghali-Bostwick
- Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Yvette P. Conley
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - James Lyons-Weiler
- Genomic and Proteomic Core Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Cecelia C. Yates
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Zhang Y, Zeng W, Xia Y. TWEAK/Fn14 axis is an important player in fibrosis. J Cell Physiol 2020; 236:3304-3316. [PMID: 33000480 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common pathological condition associated with abnormal repair after tissue injury. However, the etiology and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis are still not well-understood. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) belongs to the TNF superfamily and acts by binding to its receptor, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), thereby activating a variety of intracellular signal transduction pathways in various types of cells. Besides promoting the expression of growth factors, activation of TWEAK/Fn14 signaling after tissue injury can promote the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which trigger the immune response, thereby exacerbating the injury. Severe or repetitive injury leads to a dysregulated tissue repair process, in which the TWEAK/Fn14 axis promotes the activation and proliferation of myofibroblasts, induces the secretion of the extracellular matrix, and regulates profibrotic mediators to further perpetuate and sustain the fibrotic process. In this review, we summarize the available experimental evidence on the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway mediates the development and progression of fibrosis. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic potential of the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway in fibrosis-associated diseases based on evidence derived from multiple models and cells from injured tissue and fibrotic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitian Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weihui Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yumin Xia
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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Huang M, Cai G, Baugh LM, Liu Z, Smith A, Watson M, Popovich D, Zhang T, Stawski LS, Trojanowska M, Georgakoudi I, Black LD, Pioli PA, Whitfield ML, Garlick J. Systemic Sclerosis Dermal Fibroblasts Induce Cutaneous Fibrosis Through Lysyl Oxidase-like 4: New Evidence From Three-Dimensional Skin-like Tissues. Arthritis Rheumatol 2020; 72:791-801. [PMID: 31705627 DOI: 10.1002/art.41163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a clinically heterogeneous disease characterized by increased collagen accumulation and skin stiffness. Our previous work has demonstrated that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) induces extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications through lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL-4), a collagen crosslinking enzyme, in bioengineered human skin equivalents (HSEs) and self-assembled stromal tissues (SAS). We undertook this study to investigate cutaneous fibrosis and the role of LOXL-4 in SSc pathogenesis using HSEs and SAS. METHODS SSc-derived dermal fibroblasts (SScDFs; n = 8) and normal dermal fibroblasts (NDFs; n = 6) were incorporated into HSEs and SAS. These 3-dimensional skin-like microenvironments were used to study the effects of dysregulated LOXL-4 on ECM remodeling, fibroblast activation, and response to TGFβ stimulation. RESULTS SScDF-containing SAS showed increased stromal thickness, collagen deposition, and interleukin-6 secretion compared to NDF-containing SAS (P < 0.05). In HSE, SScDFs altered collagen as seen by a more mature and aligned fibrillar structure (P < 0.05). With SScDFs, enhanced stromal rigidity with increased collagen crosslinking (P < 0.05), up-regulation of LOXL4 expression (P < 0.01), and innate immune signaling genes were observed in both tissue models. Conversely, knockdown of LOXL4 suppressed rigidity, contraction, and α-smooth muscle actin expression in SScDFs in HSE, and TGFβ-induced ECM aggregation and collagen crosslinking in SAS. CONCLUSION A limitation to the development of effective therapeutics in SSc is the lack of in vitro human model systems that replicate human skin. Our findings demonstrate that SAS and HSE can serve as complementary in vitro skin-like models for investigation of the mechanisms and mediators that drive fibrosis in SSc and implicate a pivotal role for LOXL-4 in SSc pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Huang
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Guoshuai Cai
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, and University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia
| | | | - Zhiyi Liu
- Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, and Zhejiang University College of Optical Science and Engineering, Hangzhou, China
| | - Avi Smith
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Dillon Popovich
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Tianyue Zhang
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Lauren D Black
- Tufts University School of Medicine Sackler School for Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Jonathan Garlick
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Wang W, Bhattacharyya S, Marangoni RG, Carns M, Dennis-Aren K, Yeldandi A, Wei J, Varga J. The JAK/STAT pathway is activated in systemic sclerosis and is effectively targeted by tofacitinib. JOURNAL OF SCLERODERMA AND RELATED DISORDERS 2020; 5:40-50. [PMID: 35382402 PMCID: PMC8922593 DOI: 10.1177/2397198319865367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Rationale Fibrosis leads to failure of the skin, lungs, and other organs in systemic sclerosis; accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality; and lacks effective therapy. Myofibroblast activation underlies organ fibrosis, but the key extracellular cues driving persistence of the process remain incompletely characterized. Objectives The objectives were to evaluate activation of the IL6/JAK/STAT axis associated with fibrosis in skin and lung biopsies from systemic sclerosis patients and effects of the Food and Drug Administration-approved JAK/STAT inhibitor, tofacitinib, on skin and lung fibrosis in animal models. Methods Bioinformatic analysis showed that IL6/JAK/STAT3 and tofacitinib gene signatures were aberrant in biopsies from systemic sclerosis patients in four independent cohorts. The results were confirmed by JAK and STAT3 phosphorylation in both skin and lung biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis. Furthermore, treatment of mice with the selective JAK inhibitor tofacitinib not only prevented bleomycin-induced skin and lung fibrosis but also reduced skin fibrosis in TSK1/+ mice. Conclusion These findings implicate the JAK/STAT pathway in systemic sclerosis skin and lung fibrosis and identify tofacitinib as a potential antifibrotic agent for the treatment of systemic sclerosis and other fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxia Wang
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Swati Bhattacharyya
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Roberta Goncalves Marangoni
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mary Carns
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kathleen Dennis-Aren
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anjana Yeldandi
- Department of Surgical Pathology,
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jun Wei
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John Varga
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program,
Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, IL, USA
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18
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García-Martín A, Garrido-Rodríguez M, Navarrete C, Caprioglio D, Palomares B, DeMesa J, Rollland A, Appendino G, Muñoz E. Cannabinoid derivatives acting as dual PPARγ/CB2 agonists as therapeutic agents for systemic sclerosis. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 163:321-334. [PMID: 30825431 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a role in the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Cannabinoids acting as dual PPARγ/CB2 agonists, such as VCE-004.8 and Ajulemic acid (AjA), have been shown to alleviate skin fibrosis and inflammation in SSc models. Since both compounds are being tested in humans, we compared their activities in the bleomycin (BLM) SSc model. Specifically, the pharmacotranscriptomic signature of the compounds was determined by RNA-Seq changes in the skin of BLM mice treated orally with AjA or EHP-101, a lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8. While both compounds down-regulated the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory and fibrotic components of the disease and the pharmacotranscriptomic signatures were similar for both compounds in some pathways, we found key differences between the compounds in vasculogenesis. Additionally, we found 28 specific genes with translation potential by comparing with a list of human scleroderma genes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that both compounds prevented fibrosis, collagen accumulation and Tenascin C (TNC) expression. The endothelial CD31+/CD34+ cells and telocytes were reduced in BLM mice and restored only by EHP-101 treatment. Finally, differences were found in plasmatic biomarker analysis; EHP-101, but not AjA, enhanced the expression of some factors related to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Altogether the results indicate that dual PPARγ/CB2 agonists qualify as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of SSc and other fibrotic diseases. EHP-101 demonstrated unique mechanisms of action related to the pathophysiology of SSc that could be beneficial in the treatment of this complex disease without current therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Diego Caprioglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Belén Palomares
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba, Spain; Departament of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Spain; Universitary Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jim DeMesa
- Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Giovanni Appendino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Eduardo Muñoz
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba, Spain; Departament of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Spain; Universitary Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
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19
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Liu J, Liu Y, Peng L, Li J, Wu K, Xia L, Wu J, Wang S, Wang X, Liu Q, Zeng W, Xia Y. TWEAK/Fn14 Signals Mediate Burn Wound Repair. J Invest Dermatol 2019; 139:224-234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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20
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Fn14 Deficiency Ameliorates Anti-dsDNA IgG-Induced Glomerular Damage in SCID Mice. J Immunol Res 2018; 2018:1256379. [PMID: 30648117 PMCID: PMC6311848 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1256379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have demonstrated that anti-dsDNA IgG is closely associated with lupus nephritis. Recently, it was found that activation of the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) signaling pathway damages glomerular filtration barrier in MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. However, MRL/lpr mice have high titers of serum autoantibodies other than anti-dsDNA IgG. The aim of this study was to further explore the effect of Fn14 deficiency on anti-dsDNA IgG-induced glomerular damage in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice that have no endogenous IgG. Fn14 deficiency was generated in SCID mice. The murine hybridoma cells producing control IgG or anti-dsDNA IgG were intraperitoneally injected into mice. In two weeks, the urine, serum, and kidney tissue samples were harvested from mice at sacrifice. It showed that the injection of anti-dsDNA IgG, but not control IgG hybridoma cells, induced proteinuria and glomerular damage in SCID mice. Between the wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice injected with anti-dsDNA IgG hybridoma cells, the latter showed a decrease in both proteinuria and glomerular IgG deposition. The histopathological changes, inflammatory cell infiltration, and proinflammatory cytokine production were also attenuated in the kidneys of the Fn14-KO mice upon anti-dsDNA IgG injection. Therefore, Fn14 deficiency effectively protects SCID mice from anti-dsDNA IgG-induced glomerular damage.
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21
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García-Martín A, Garrido-Rodríguez M, Navarrete C, del Río C, Bellido ML, Appendino G, Calzado MA, Muñoz E. EHP-101, an oral formulation of the cannabidiol aminoquinone VCE-004.8, alleviates bleomycin-induced skin and lung fibrosis. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 157:304-313. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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22
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Bhattacharyya S, Wang W, Tamaki Z, Shi B, Yeldandi A, Tsukimi Y, Yamasaki M, Varga J. Pharmacological Inhibition of Toll-Like Receptor-4 Signaling by TAK242 Prevents and Induces Regression of Experimental Organ Fibrosis. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2434. [PMID: 30405628 PMCID: PMC6207051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a poorly understood heterogeneous condition with progressive multi-organ fibrosis. Recent genetic and genomic evidence suggest a pathogenic role for dysregulated innate immunity and toll-like receptor (TLR) activity in SSc. Levels of both TLR4, as well as certain endogenous TLR ligands, are elevated in skin and lung tissues from patients with SSc and correlate with clinical disease parameters. Conversely, genetic targeting of TLR4 or its endogenous “damage-associated” ligands ameliorates progressive tissue fibrosis. Targeting TLR4 signaling therefore represents a pharmacological strategy to prevent intractable fibrosis. We examined the effect of TAK242, a small molecule TLR4 inhibitor, in preclinical fibrosis models and in SSc fibroblasts. TAK242 treatment prevented, promoted regression of, bleomycin-induced dermal and pulmonary fibrosis, and reduced the expression of several pro-fibrotic mediators. Furthermore, TAK242 ameliorated peritoneal fibrosis and reduced spontaneous hypodermal thickness in TSK/+ mice. Importantly, TAK242 abrogated collagen synthesis and myofibroblasts differentiation in explanted constitutively active SSc fibroblast. Altogether, these findings identify TAK242 as an anti-fibrotic agent in preclinical models of organ fibrosis. TAK242 might potentially represent a novel strategy for the treatment of SSc and other fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Bhattacharyya
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Wenxia Wang
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Zenshiro Tamaki
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Bo Shi
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Anjana Yeldandi
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - John Varga
- Northwestern Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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23
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Sng MK, Chan JSK, Teo Z, Phua T, Tan EHP, Wee JWK, Koh NJN, Tan CK, Chen JP, Pal M, Tong BMK, Tnay YL, Ng XR, Zhu P, Chiba S, Wang X, Wahli W, Tan NS. Selective deletion of PPARβ/δ in fibroblasts causes dermal fibrosis by attenuated LRG1 expression. Cell Discov 2018; 4:15. [PMID: 29619245 PMCID: PMC5880809 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-018-0014-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Connective tissue diseases of the skin are characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin and internal organs. Fibroblasts play a pivotal role in the clinical presentation of these conditions. Nuclear receptor peroxisome-proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are therapeutic targets for dermal fibrosis, but the contribution of the different PPAR subtypes are poorly understood. Particularly, the role of fibroblast PPARβ/δ in dermal fibrosis has not been elucidated. Thus, we generated a mouse strain with selective deletion of PPARβ/δ in the fibroblast (FSPCre-Pparb/d-/-) and interrogated its epidermal and dermal transcriptome profiles. We uncovered a downregulated gene, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (Lrg1), of previously unknown function in skin development and architecture. Our findings suggest that the regulation of Lrg1 by PPARβ/δ in fibroblasts is an important signaling conduit integrating PPARβ/δ and TGFβ1-signaling networks in skin health and disease. Thus, the FSPCre-Pparb/d-/- mouse model could serve as a novel tool in the current gunnery of animal models to better understand dermal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Keat Sng
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
| | - Jeremy Soon Kiat Chan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Ziqiang Teo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Terri Phua
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 16, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eddie Han Pin Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Jonathan Wei Kiat Wee
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Nikki Jun Ning Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Chek Kun Tan
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
| | - Jia Peng Chen
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
| | - Mintu Pal
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, Assam 785006 India
| | - Benny Meng Kiat Tong
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637371 Singapore
| | - Ya Lin Tnay
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637371 Singapore
| | - Xuan Rui Ng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
| | - Pengcheng Zhu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
| | - Shunsuke Chiba
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637371 Singapore
| | - Xiaomeng Wang
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science Technology & Research, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, 169856 Singapore
| | - Walter Wahli
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
- INRA ToxAlim, Chemin de Tournefeuille, Toulouse Cedex 3, UMR1331 France
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Le Genopode, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nguan Soon Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science Technology & Research, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
- KK Research Centre, KK Women’s and Children Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
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24
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Eckes B, Eming SA. Tissue fibrosis: a pathomechanistically unresolved challenge and scary clinical problem. Exp Dermatol 2018; 26:135-136. [PMID: 27513440 DOI: 10.1111/exd.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beate Eckes
- Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sabine A Eming
- Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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25
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Hinchcliff M, Toledo DM, Taroni JN, Wood TA, Franks JM, Ball MS, Hoffmann A, Amin SM, Tan AU, Tom K, Nesbeth Y, Lee J, Ma M, Aren K, Carns MA, Pioli PA, Whitfield ML. Mycophenolate Mofetil Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis Reduces Myeloid Cell Numbers and Attenuates the Inflammatory Gene Signature in Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2018; 138:1301-1310. [PMID: 29391252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fewer than half of patients with systemic sclerosis demonstrate modified Rodnan skin score improvement during mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment. To understand the molecular basis for this observation, we extended our prior studies and characterized molecular and cellular changes in skin biopsies from subjects with systemic sclerosis treated with MMF. Eleven subjects completed ≥24 months of MMF therapy. Two distinct skin gene expression trajectories were observed across six of these subjects. Three of the six subjects showed attenuation of the inflammatory signature by 24 months, paralleling reductions in CCL2 mRNA expression in skin and reduced numbers of macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells in skin biopsies. MMF cessation at 24 months resulted in an increased inflammatory score, increased CCL2 mRNA and protein levels, modified Rodnan skin score rebound, and increased numbers of skin myeloid cells in these subjects. In contrast, three other subjects remained on MMF >24 months and showed a persistent decrease in inflammatory score, decreasing or stable modified Rodnan skin score, CCL2 mRNA reductions, sera CCL2 protein levels trending downward, reduction in monocyte migration, and no increase in skin myeloid cell numbers. These data summarize molecular changes during MMF therapy that suggest reduction of innate immune cell numbers, possibly by attenuating expression of chemokines, including CCL2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Hinchcliff
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Diana M Toledo
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Jaclyn N Taroni
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Tammara A Wood
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Jennifer M Franks
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Michael S Ball
- Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Aileen Hoffmann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sapna M Amin
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ainah U Tan
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kevin Tom
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Jungwha Lee
- Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Madeleine Ma
- Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kathleen Aren
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mary A Carns
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Patricia A Pioli
- Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Michael L Whitfield
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA; Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
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Abstract
Systemic sclerosis, also called scleroderma, is an immune-mediated rheumatic disease that is characterised by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs and vasculopathy. Although systemic sclerosis is uncommon, it has a high morbidity and mortality. Improved understanding of systemic sclerosis has allowed better management of the disease, including improved classification and more systematic assessment and follow-up. Additionally, treatments for specific complications have emerged and a growing evidence base supports the use of immune suppression for the treatment of skin and lung fibrosis. Some manifestations of the disease, such as scleroderma renal crisis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, digital ulceration, and gastro-oesophageal reflux, are now treatable. However, the burden of non-lethal complications associated with systemic sclerosis is substantial and is likely to become more of a challenge. Here, we review the clinical features of systemic sclerosis and describe the best practice approaches for its management. Furthermore, we identify future areas for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Denton
- UCL Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK; UCL Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
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27
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Early-Life Antibiotic Exposure Causes Intestinal Dysbiosis and Exacerbates Skin and Lung Pathology in Experimental Systemic Sclerosis. J Invest Dermatol 2017; 137:2316-2325. [PMID: 28757138 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) display altered intestinal microbiota. However, the influence of intestinal dysbiosis on the development of experimental SSc remains unknown. Topoisomerase I peptide-loaded dendritic cell immunization induces SSc-like disease, with progressive skin and lung fibrosis. Breeders were given streptomycin and pups continued to receive antibiotic (ATB) until endpoint (lifelongATB). Alternately, ATB was withdrawn (earlyATB) or initiated (adultATB) during adulthood. Topoisomerase I peptide-loaded dendritic cell (no ATB) immunization induced pronounced skin fibrosis, with increased matrix (Col1a1), profibrotic (Il13, Tweakr), and vascular function (Serpine1) gene expression. Remarkably, earlyATB exposure was sufficient to augment skin Col5a1 and Il13 expression, and inflammatory cell infiltration, which included IL-13+ cells, mononuclear phagocytes, and mast cells. Moreover, skin pathology exacerbation was also observed in lifelongATB and adultATB groups. Oral streptomycin administration induced intestinal dysbiosis, with exposure limited to early life (earlyATB) being sufficient to cause long-term modification of the microbiota and a shift toward increased Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio. Finally, aggravated lung fibrosis and dysregulated pulmonary T-cell responses were observed in earlyATB and lifelongATB but not adultATB-exposed mice. Collectively, intestinal microbiota manipulation with streptomycin exacerbated pathology in two distinct sites, skin and lungs, with early life being a critical window to affect the course of SSc-like disease.
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Castelino FV, Bain G, Pace VA, Black KE, George L, Probst CK, Goulet L, Lafyatis R, Tager AM. An Autotaxin/Lysophosphatidic Acid/Interleukin-6 Amplification Loop Drives Scleroderma Fibrosis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 68:2964-2974. [PMID: 27390295 DOI: 10.1002/art.39797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We previously implicated the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) as having a role in dermal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to identify the role of the LPA-producing enzyme autotaxin (ATX), and to connect the ATX/LPA and interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathways in SSc. METHODS We evaluated the effect of a novel ATX inhibitor, PAT-048, on fibrosis and IL-6 expression in the mouse model of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis. We used dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients and control subjects to evaluate LPA-induced expression of IL-6, and IL-6-induced expression of ATX. We next evaluated whether LPA-induced ATX expression is dependent on IL-6, and whether baseline IL-6 expression in fibroblasts from SSc patients is dependent on ATX. Finally, we compared ATX and IL-6 expression in the skin of patients with SSc and healthy control subjects. RESULTS PAT-048 markedly attenuated bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis when treatment was initiated before or after the development of fibrosis. LPA stimulated expression of IL-6 in human dermal fibroblasts, and IL-6 stimulated fibroblast expression of ATX, connecting the ATX/LPA and IL-6 pathways in an amplification loop. IL-6 knockdown abrogated LPA-induced ATX expression in fibroblasts, and ATX inhibition attenuated IL-6 expression in fibroblasts and the skin of bleomycin-challenged mice. Expression of both ATX and IL-6 was increased in SSc skin, and LPA-induced IL-6 levels and IL-6-induced ATX levels were increased in fibroblasts from SSc patients compared with controls. CONCLUSION ATX is required for the development and maintenance of dermal fibrosis in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced SSc and enables 2 major mediators of SSc fibrogenesis, LPA and IL-6, to amplify the production of each other. Our results suggest that concurrent inhibition of these 2 pathways may be an effective therapeutic strategy for dermal fibrosis in SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia V Castelino
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Veronica A Pace
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katharine E Black
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leaya George
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Clemens K Probst
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Andrew M Tager
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We discuss recent advances in evaluating and optimizing animal models of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Such models could be of value for illuminating etiopathogenesis using hypothesis-testing experimental approaches, for developing effective disease-modifying therapies, and for uncovering clinically relevant biomarkers. RECENT FINDINGS We describe recent advances in previously reported and novel animal models of SSc. The limitations of each animal model and their ability to recapitulate the pathophysiology of recognized molecular subsets of SSc are discussed. We highlight attrition of dermal white adipose tissue as a consistent pathological feature of dermal fibrosis in mouse models, and its relevance to SSc-associated cutaneous fibrosis. SUMMARY Several animal models potentially useful for studying SSc pathogenesis have been described. Recent studies highlight particular strengths and weaknesses of selected models in recapitulating distinct features of the human disease. When used in the appropriate experimental setting, and in combination, these models singly and together provide a powerful set of in-vivo tools to define underlying mechanisms of disease and to develop and evaluate effective antifibrotic therapies.
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Xiong Y, Berrueta L, Urso K, Olenich S, Muskaj I, Badger GJ, Aliprantis A, Lafyatis R, Langevin HM. Stretching Reduces Skin Thickness and Improves Subcutaneous Tissue Mobility in a Murine Model of Systemic Sclerosis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:124. [PMID: 28261202 PMCID: PMC5311037 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Although physical therapy can help preserve mobility in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), stretching has not been used systematically as a treatment to prevent or reverse the disease process. We previously showed in rodent models that stretching promotes the resolution of connective tissue inflammation and reduces new collagen formation after injury. Here, we tested the hypothesis that stretching would impact scleroderma development using a mouse sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease (sclGvHD) model. Methods The model consists in the adoptive transfer (allogeneic) of splenocytes from B10.D2 mice (graft) into Rag2−/− BALB/c hosts (sclGvHD), resulting in skin inflammation followed by fibrosis over 4 weeks. SclGvHD mice and controls were randomized to stretching in vivo for 10 min daily versus no stretching. Results Weekly ultrasound measurements of skin thickness and subcutaneous tissue mobility in the back (relative tissue displacement during passive trunk motion) successfully captured the different phases of the sclGvHD model. Stretching reduced skin thickness and increased subcutaneous tissue mobility compared to no stretching at week 3. Stretching also reduced the expression of CCL2 and ADAM8 in the skin at week 4, which are two genes known to be upregulated in both murine sclGvHD and the inflammatory subset of human SSc. However, there was no evidence that stretching attenuated inflammation at week 2. Conclusion Daily stretching for 10 min can improve skin thickness and mobility in the absence of any other treatment in the sclGvHD murine model. These pre-clinical results suggest that a systematic investigation of stretching as a therapeutic modality is warranted in patients with SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Lisbeth Berrueta
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Katia Urso
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Sara Olenich
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Igla Muskaj
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Gary J Badger
- Department of Medical Biostatistics, University of Vermont , Burlington, VT , USA
| | - Antonios Aliprantis
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Robert Lafyatis
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA , USA
| | - Helene M Langevin
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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Chia JJ, Zhu T, Chyou S, Dasoveanu DC, Carballo C, Tian S, Magro CM, Rodeo S, Spiera RF, Ruddle NH, McGraw TE, Browning JL, Lafyatis R, Gordon JK, Lu TT. Dendritic cells maintain dermal adipose-derived stromal cells in skin fibrosis. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:4331-4345. [PMID: 27721238 DOI: 10.1172/jci85740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Scleroderma is a group of skin-fibrosing diseases for which there are no effective treatments. A feature of the skin fibrosis typical of scleroderma is atrophy of the dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT). Adipose tissue contains adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) that have regenerative and reparative functions; however, whether DWAT atrophy in fibrosis is accompanied by ADSC loss is poorly understood, as are the mechanisms that might maintain ADSC survival in fibrotic skin. Here, we have shown that DWAT ADSC numbers were reduced, likely because of cell death, in 2 murine models of scleroderma skin fibrosis. The remaining ADSCs showed a partial dependence on dendritic cells (DCs) for survival. Lymphotoxin β (LTβ) expression in DCs maintained ADSC survival in fibrotic skin by activating an LTβ receptor/β1 integrin (LTβR/β1 integrin) pathway on ADSCs. Stimulation of LTβR augmented the engraftment of therapeutically injected ADSCs, which was associated with reductions in skin fibrosis and improved skin function. These findings provide insight into the effects of skin fibrosis on DWAT ADSCs, identify a DC-ADSC survival axis in fibrotic skin, and suggest an approach for improving mesenchymal stromal cell therapy in scleroderma and other diseases.
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