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Cholico GN, Nault R, Zacharewski T. Cell-specific AHR-driven differential gene expression in the mouse liver cell following acute TCDD exposure. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:809. [PMID: 39198768 PMCID: PMC11351262 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10730-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent environmental contaminant that disrupts hepatic function leading to steatotic liver disease (SLD)-like pathologies, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis. These effects are mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor following changes in gene expression. Although diverse cell types are involved, initial cell-specific changes in gene expression have not been reported. In this study, differential gene expression in hepatic cell types was examined in male C57BL/6 mice gavaged with 30 µg/kg of TCDD using single-nuclei RNA-sequencing. Ten liver cell types were identified with the proportions of most cell types remaining unchanged, except for neutrophils which increased at 72 h. Gene expression suggests TCDD induced genes related to oxidative stress in hepatocytes as early as 2 h. Lipid homeostasis was disrupted in hepatocytes, macrophages, B cells, and T cells, characterized by the induction of genes associated with lipid transport, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and the suppression of β-oxidation, while linoleic acid metabolism was altered in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), B cells, portal fibroblasts, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Pro-fibrogenic processes were also enriched, including the induction retinol metabolism genes in HSCs and the early induction of anti-fibrolysis genes in hepatocytes, endothelial cells, HSCs, and macrophages. Hepatocytes also had gene expression changes consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma. Collectively, these findings underscore the effects of TCDD in initiating SLD-like phenotypes and identified cell-specific gene expression changes related to oxidative stress, steatosis, fibrosis, cell proliferation and the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovan N Cholico
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rance Nault
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Tim Zacharewski
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
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2
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Owen NE, Williams TL, Maguire JJ, Kuc RE, Davenport EE, Davenport AP. Microarray analysis demonstrates up-regulation of the endothelin-1 gene with compensatory down-regulation of the ETA receptor gene in human portal vein. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20240528. [PMID: 38860875 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20240528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
High blood pressure in the portal vein, portal hypertension (PH), is the final common pathway in liver cirrhosis regardless of aetiology. Complications from PH are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Current drug therapy to reduce portal pressure is mainly limited to β-adrenergic receptor blockade but approximately 40% of patients do not respond. Our aim was to use microarray to measure the expression of ∼20,800 genes in portal vein from patients with PH undergoing transplantation for liver cirrhosis (PH, n=12) versus healthy vessels (control, n=9) to identify potential drug targets to improve therapy. Expression of 9,964 genes above background was detected in portal vein samples. Comparing PH veins versus control (adjusted P-value < 0.05, fold change > 1.5) identified 548 up-regulated genes and 1,996 down-regulated genes. The 2,544 differentially expressed genes were subjected to pathway analysis. We identified 49 significantly enriched pathways. The endothelin pathway was ranked the tenth most significant, the only vasoconstrictive pathway to be identified. ET-1 gene (EDN1) was significantly up-regulated, consistent with elevated levels of ET-1 peptide previously measured in PH and cirrhosis. ETA receptor gene (EDNRA) was significantly down-regulated, consistent with an adaptive response to increased peptide levels in the portal vein but there was no change in the ETB gene (EDNRB). The results provide further support for evaluating the efficacy of ETA receptor antagonists as a potential therapy in addition to β-blockers in patients with PH and cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola E Owen
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, U.K
| | - Thomas L Williams
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, U.K
| | - Janet J Maguire
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, U.K
| | - Rhoda E Kuc
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, U.K
| | - Emma E Davenport
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, U.K
| | - Anthony P Davenport
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, U.K
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3
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Zhao B, Wang M, Cong Y, Song A, Lu J, Xie K, Dai H, Gu L. Urinary exosomal mRNAs as biomarkers for predicting the therapeutic effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in IgA nephropathy patients. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 561:119750. [PMID: 38885756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) treatment is the basic therapy for IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. However, there is few of biomarker that can predict the efficacy of RASi. This study aimed to find urinary exosomal mRNAs related to the therapeutic effect of RASi in the treatment of proteinuria in IgAN patients. METHODS We divided IgAN patients in screening cohort into A1 (proteinuria increase at 3 months), B1 (proteinuria decrease less than 50 % at 3 months), C1 (proteinuria decrease more than 50 % at 3 months) groups according to changes of proteinuria after treatment. The urinary exosomes were collected before biopsy, RNAs were extracted and analyzed with the microarray assay. The candidate genes were screened by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and then validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a validation cohort. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate gene performance in predicting therapeutic effect on RASi reducing proteinuria in IgAN patients. RESULTS ECE1 and PDE1A mRNAs were significantly different among the three groups, and were gradually decreased among A1, B1 and C1 groups. In the validation cohort, the level of urinary exosomal ECE1 and PDE1A mRNAs were also significantly lower in A2 group compared with C2 group(ECE1, P < 0.001;PDE1A, P < 0.01). Besides, the level of ECE1 mRNA was also lower in B2 group compared with C2 group (P < 0.01). The ROC curve verified that urinary exosomal ECE1 and PDE1A gene level predicted RASi efficacy in IgAN patients with area under curve (AUC) 0.68 and 0.63 respectively. CONCLUSION Urinary exosomal ECE1 and PDE1A mRNAs expression can serve as potential biomarkers for predicting the RASi efficacy to reduce proteinuria in IgAN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingru Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China
| | - Minzhou Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China
| | - Yue Cong
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China; Department of Emergency Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ahui Song
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China
| | - Jiayue Lu
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China
| | - Kewei Xie
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China
| | - Huili Dai
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Central Laboratory, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
| | - Leyi Gu
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, China.
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4
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Passamonti MM, Milanesi M, Cattaneo L, Ramirez DJ, Stella A, Barbato M, Braz CU, Negrini R, Giannuzzi D, Pegolo S, Cecchinato A, Trevisi E, Williams JL, Ajmone MP. Unraveling metabolic stress response in dairy cows: genetic control of plasma biomarkers throughout lactation and the transition period. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00965-2. [PMID: 38945260 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Breeding animals able to effectively respond to stress could be a long-term, sustainable, and affordable strategy to improve resilience and welfare in livestock systems. In the present study, the concentrations of 29 plasma biomarkers were used as candidate endophenotypes for metabolic stress response in single-SNP, gene- and haplotype-based GWAS using 739 healthy lactating Italian Holstein cows and 88,271 variants. Significant genetic associations were found in all the 3 GWAS approaches for plasma γ-glutamyl transferase concentration on BTA17, for paraoxonase on BTA4, and for alkaline phosphatase and zinc on BTA2. On these chromosomes, single-SNP and gene-based chromosome-wide association studies were performed, confirming GWAS findings. The signals identified for paraoxonase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase were in proximity of the genes coding for them. The heritability of these 4 biomarkers ranged from moderate to high (from 0.39 to 0.54). Plasma biomarkers are known to undergo large changes in concentration during metabolic stress in the transition period, with an inter-individual variability in the rate of change and recovery time. Genetics may account in part for these differences. To assess this, we studied a subset of 139 periparturient cows homozygous at 3 SNPs known to be respectively associated with concentration of plasma ceruloplasmin, paraoxonase and γ-glutamyl transferase. We compared the immune-metabolic profile measured in plasma at -7, +5 and +30 d relative to calving between groups of opposite homozygotes. A significant effect of the genotype was found on paraoxonase and γ-glutamyl transferase plasma concentration at all the 3 time points. No evidence for genotype effect was detected for ceruloplasmin. Understanding the genetic control underlying metabolic stress response may suggest new approaches to foster resilience in dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Passamonti
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - M Milanesi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems-DIBAF, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - L Cattaneo
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Diaz J Ramirez
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - A Stella
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - M Barbato
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - C U Braz
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - R Negrini
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - D Giannuzzi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - S Pegolo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - E Trevisi
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Research Center on Sustainable Dairy Production-CREI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - J L Williams
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Marsan P Ajmone
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Research Center on Sustainable Dairy Production-CREI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
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Chooklin S, Chuklin S, Posivnych M, Krystopchuk S. Pathophysiological basis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Gastroenterology 2024; 58:73-81. [DOI: 10.22141/2308-2097.58.1.2024.590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Circulatory changes with increased blood flow and vasodilatation/vasoconstriction imbalance are an integral consequence of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension and can affect the pulmonary circulation with the development of vascular disorders, with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) being the most common. HPS is a serious pulmonary complication of progressive liver disease, resulting in a poor clinical prognosis. Vascular tone decrease, monocytic infiltration of pulmonary vessels, formation of intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunts, dysfunction of alveolar type II cells, destruction of the endothelial glycocalyx are important in the pathogenesis of HPS. Abnormalities of pulmonary capillaries lead to hypoxemia caused by a violation of the ventilation/perfusion ratio, diffusion disorders, and the development of arteriovenous anastomoses. Infiltration of the pulmonary vessels by monocytes is one of the key factors of HPS. This migration is facilitated by the intestinal microbiota translocation into the portal bloodstream with increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukins 1, 6), leading to the activation of monocytes. Monocytes located in the pulmonary circulation promote the vasodilation through the activation of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase and thus NO production. This is also associated with endothelial dysfunction due to a decreased hepatic secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 9 and increased endothelin 1, endothelial overexpression of endothelin B receptors, and increased endothelial NO production. Proangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and placental growth factor play an important role in the proliferation of pulmonary capillaries. Circulation of tumor necrosis factor α, bile acids and monocyte infiltration in the pulmonary circulation lead to increased apoptosis of alveolar type II cells and decreased surfactant synthesis. Chronic inflammation in HPS disrupts the continuity of the endothelial glycocalyx layer. This article provides an overview of the current knowledge on the pathogenesis of HPS, summarizes many features of the disease based on the literature research in MEDLINE database on the PubMed platform.
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6
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Ezhilarasan D, Najimi M. Intercellular communication among liver cells in the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver: Pathophysiology and therapeutic directions. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:70-81. [PMID: 36409708 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the perisinusoidal space are surrounded by hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and other resident immune cells. In the normal liver, HSCs communicate with these cells to maintain normal liver functions. However, after chronic liver injury, injured hepatocytes release several proinflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species, and damage-associated molecular patterns into the perisinusoidal space. Consequently, such alteration activates quiescent HSCs to acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype and express high amounts of transforming growth factor-β1, angiopoietins, vascular endothelial growth factors, interleukins 6 and 8, fibril forming collagens, laminin, and E-cadherin. These phenotypic and functional transdifferentiation lead to hepatic fibrosis with a typical abnormal extracellular matrix synthesis and disorganization of the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver. Those changes provide a favorable environment that regulates tumor cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and survival in the perisinusoidal space. Such tumor cells by releasing transforming growth factor-β1 and other cytokines, will, in turn, activate and deeply interact with HSCs via a bidirectional loop. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinoma-derived mediators convert HSCs and macrophages into protumorigenic cell populations. Thus, the perisinusoidal space serves as a critical hub for activating HSCs and their interactions with other cell types, which cause a variety of liver diseases such as hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and their complications, such as portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, targeting the crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells/immune cells in the tumor microenvironment may also support a promising therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Molecular Medicine and Toxicology Lab, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Rokni M, Sadeghi Shaker M, Kavosi H, Shokoofi S, Mahmoudi M, Farhadi E. The role of endothelin and RAS/ERK signaling in immunopathogenesis-related fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis: an updated review with therapeutic implications. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:108. [PMID: 35562771 PMCID: PMC9102675 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02787-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease of connective tissue with high rate of morbidity and mortality highlighted by extreme fibrosis affecting various organs such as the dermis, lungs, and heart. Until now, there is no specific cure for the fibrosis occurred in SSc disease. The SSc pathogenesis is yet unknown, but transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and Ras-ERK1/2 cascade are the main factors contributing to the tissue fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Several studies have hallmarked the association of ET-1 with or without TGF-β and Ras-ERK1/2 signaling in the development of SSc disease, vasculopathy, and fibrosis of the dermis, lungs, and several organs. Accordingly, different clinical and experimental studies have indicated the potential therapeutic role of ET-1 and Ras antagonists in these situations in SSc. In addition, ET-1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a cofactor of the TGF-β cascade play a substantial initiative role in inducing fibrosis. Once initiated, TGF-β alone or in combination with ET-1 and CTGF can activate several kinase proteins such as the Ras-ERK1/2 pathway that serve as the fundamental factor for developing fibrosis. Furthermore, Salirasib is a synthetic small molecule that is able to inhibit all Ras forms. Therefore, it can be used as a potent therapeutic factor for fibrotic disorders. So, this review discusses the role of TGF-β/ET-1/Ras signaling and their involvement in SSc pathogenesis, particularly in its fibrotic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Rokni
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Sadeghi Shaker
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hoda Kavosi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Shokoofi
- Rheumatology Department, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Elham Farhadi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Ezhilarasan D. Hepatic stellate cells in the injured liver: Perspectives beyond hepatic fibrosis. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:436-449. [PMID: 34514599 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, our understanding of the pathological role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in fibrotic liver disease has increased dramatically. As HSCs are identified as the principal collagen-producing cells in the injured liver, several experimental and clinical studies have targeted HSCs to treat liver fibrosis. However, HSCs also play a critical role in developing nonfibrotic liver diseases such as cholestasis, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this review exclusively focuses on the role of activated HSCs beyond hepatic fibrosis. In cholestasis conditions, elevated bile salts and bile acids activate HSCs to secrete collagen and other extracellular matrix products, which cause biliary fibrosis and cholangitis. In the chronically injured liver, autocrine and paracrine signaling from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells activates HSCs to induce portal hypertension via endothelin-1 release. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), activated HSCs are the major source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). The crosstalk between activated HSC/CAF and tumor cells is associated with tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and chemoresistance. In TME, activated HSCs convert macrophages to tumor-associated macrophages and induce the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes to regulatory DCs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, respectively. This differentiation, in turn, increases T cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis leading to reduced immune surveillance in TME. Thus, HSCs activation in chronically injured liver is a critical process involved in the progression of cholestasis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, The Blue Lab, Molecular Medicine and Toxicology Division, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Ezhilarasan D. Endothelin-1 in portal hypertension: The intricate role of hepatic stellate cells. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020; 245:1504-1512. [PMID: 32791849 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220949148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Portal hypertension is pathologically defined as increase of portal venous pressure, mainly due to chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. In fibrotic liver, activated hepatic stellate cells increase their contraction in response to endothelin-1 (ET-1) via autocrine and paracrine stimulation from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and injured hepatocytes. Clinical studies are limited with ET receptor antagonists in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Hence, studies are needed to find molecules that block ET-1 synthesis. Accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the perisinusoidal space, tissue contraction, and alteration in blood flow are prominent during portal hypertension. Therefore, novel matrix modulators should be tested experimentally as well as in clinical studies. Specifically, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β1, Wnt, Notch, rho-associated protein kinase 1 signaling antagonists, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and γ, interferon-γ and sirtuin 1 agonists should be tested elaborately against cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Research Unit and Laboratory Animal Centre, Saveetha Dental College, 194347Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai 600 077, India
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Soydemir S, Comella O, Abdelmottaleb D, Pritchett J. Does Mechanocrine Signaling by Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Offer New Opportunities for the Development of Anti-fibrotics? Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 6:312. [PMID: 31998732 PMCID: PMC6962108 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sumeyye Soydemir
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia Comella
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Dina Abdelmottaleb
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Centre for Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James Pritchett
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Centre for Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
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