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Cheng QN, Yang X, Wu JF, Ai WB, Ni YR. Interaction of non‑parenchymal hepatocytes in the process of hepatic fibrosis (Review). Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:364. [PMID: 33760176 PMCID: PMC7986015 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is the process of fibrous scar formation caused by chronic liver injury of different etiologies. Previous studies have hypothesized that the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the central process in HF. The interaction between HSCs and surrounding cells is also crucial. Additionally, hepatic sinusoids capillarization, inflammation, angiogenesis and fibrosis develop during HF. The process involves multiple cell types that are highly connected and work in unison to maintain the homeostasis of the hepatic microenvironment, which serves a key role in the initiation and progression of HF. The current review provides novel insight into the intercellular interaction among liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, HSCs and Kupffer cells, as well as the hepatic microenvironment in the development of HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Ni Cheng
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China
| | - Xue Yang
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China
| | - Jiang-Feng Wu
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Bing Ai
- The Yiling Hospital of Yichang, Yichang, Hubei 443100, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Ran Ni
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China
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Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex Diels (cbFeD) effectively attenuates hepatic fibrosis in CCl 4-induced fibrotic mice model. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 133:110960. [PMID: 33197763 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The root of Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex Diels (cbFeD), a tonic food widely used in Yunnan Province of China, was found to have a wide range of pharmacological effects. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effect of water extracts of cbFeD in chronic liver injury mice model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Phytochemical analysis revealed multiple components were present in the water extract of cbFeD and the compounds were mostly enriched in organic acid and its derivatives, flavone, amino acid derivatives, nucleotide and its derivatives, carbohydrates etc. Treatment with cbFeD significantly attenuated liver injury and fibrosis in CCl4-administered mice evidenced by improved liver histology, ameliorated apoptosis of hepatocytes, and decreased transaminase levels in the serum. Decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were markedly reversed upon treatment with cbFeD while levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly restored towards normal values. cbFeD also suppressed intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and Kupffer cell activation. Furthermore, our study revealed an inhibitory effect of cbFeD on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, cbFeD could exert a protective role against liver fibrosis in mice model induced by CCl4 that is comparable to the positive control silymarin and might be developed into a promising anti-fibrotic drug.
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Zhan Z, Chen Y, Duan Y, Li L, Mew K, Hu P, Ren H, Peng M. Identification of key genes, pathways and potential therapeutic agents for liver fibrosis using an integrated bioinformatics analysis. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6645. [PMID: 30923657 PMCID: PMC6432904 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Liver fibrosis is often a consequence of chronic liver injury, and has the potential to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Despite being an important human disease, there are currently no approved anti-fibrotic drugs. In this study, we aim to identify the key genes and pathways governing the pathophysiological processes of liver fibrosis, and to screen therapeutic anti-fibrotic agents. Methods Expression profiles were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by R packages (Affy and limma). Gene functional enrichments of each dataset were performed on the DAVID database. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING database and visualized in Cytoscape software. The hub genes were explored by the CytoHubba plugin app and validated in another GEO dataset and in a liver fibrosis cell model by quantitative real-time PCR assay. The Connectivity Map L1000 platform was used to identify potential anti-fibrotic agents. Results We integrated three fibrosis datasets of different disease etiologies, incorporating a total of 70 severe (F3–F4) and 116 mild (F0–F1) fibrotic tissue samples. Gene functional enrichment analyses revealed that cell cycle was a pathway uniquely enriched in a dataset from those patients infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV), while the immune-inflammatory response was enriched in both the HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) datasets, but not in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) dataset. There was overlap between these three datasets; 185 total shared DEGs that were enriched for pathways associated with extracellular matrix constitution, platelet-derived growth-factor binding, protein digestion and absorption, focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt signaling. In the PPI network, 25 hub genes were extracted and deemed to be essential genes for fibrogenesis, and the expression trends were consistent with GSE14323 (an additional dataset) and liver fibrosis cell model, confirming the relevance of our findings. Among the 10 best matching anti-fibrotic agents, Zosuquidar and its corresponding gene target ABCB1 might be a novel anti-fibrotic agent or therapeutic target, but further work will be needed to verify its utility. Conclusions Through this bioinformatics analysis, we identified that cell cycle is a pathway uniquely enriched in HBV related dataset and immune-inflammatory response is clearly enriched in the virus-related datasets. Zosuquidar and ABCB1 might be a novel anti-fibrotic agent or target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuhe Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanqin Duan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Hepatic Disease, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Kenley Mew
- Department of Foreign Language, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingli Peng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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The MicroRNA miR-155 Is Essential in Fibrosis. Noncoding RNA 2019; 5:ncrna5010023. [PMID: 30871125 PMCID: PMC6468348 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna5010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) during fibrosis and the downstream regulation of gene expression by these miRNAs have become of great biological interest. miR-155 is consistently upregulated in fibrotic disorders, and its ablation downregulates collagen synthesis. Studies demonstrate the integral role of miR-155 in fibrosis, as it mediates TGF-β1 signaling to drive collagen synthesis. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the association between miR-155 and fibrotic disorders. We discuss the cross-signaling between macrophages and fibroblasts that orchestrates the upregulation of collagen synthesis mediated by miR-155. As miR-155 is involved in the activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems, specific targeting of miR-155 in pathologic cells that make excessive collagen could be a viable option before the depletion of miR-155 becomes an attractive antifibrotic approach.
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Zhou Y, Lv X, Qu H, Zhao K, Fu L, Zhu L, Ye G, Guo J. Differential expression of circular RNAs in hepatic tissue in a model of liver fibrosis and functional analysis of their target genes. Hepatol Res 2019; 49:324-334. [PMID: 30379383 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM To measure the expression profile of circular RNA (circRNA) in hepatic tissues in a liver fibrosis model and to explore their function using molecular biology and bioinformatic techniques. METHODS The classic CCl4 mouse liver fibrosis model was established alongside a normal control group. The circRNA expression profile of hepatic tissue from the two groups was compared using a high-throughput circRNA microarray. The differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify a subset of the differentially expressed circRNAs (target genes). At the same time, the mouse oxidative stress injury, macrophage inflammation, and hepatic stellate cell activation models were established, and the expression of target circRNA in the above cells was measured by RT-qPCR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to predict the biological functions of target genes. Finally, one of the circRNAs was selected and its cellular function was verified using siRNA. RESULTS A total of 10 389 circRNAs were analyzed by microarray. Compared with the normal group, there were 69 circRNAs that were differentially expressed in the liver fibrosis model group (>2-fold differential expression, P < 0.05), of which 14 were upregulated and 55 were downregulated. Five circRNAs and their differential expression were verified by RT-qPCR, and the findings were consistent with the microarray results. Of these, three circRNAs were differentially expressed (P < 0.05) in the JS1 model, one circRNA was differentially expressed (P < 0.05) in the AML12 model, and four circRNAs were differentially expressed (P < 0.05) in the RAW264.7 model. The GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed circRNAs might be involved in cell autophagy, composition of extracellular matrix components, synthesis and metabolism of retinoic acid, retinol dehydrogenase activity, ubiquitin-like protein ligase activity, histone methylation, and other biological functions. The KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of the differentially expressed circRNAs might be involved in transforming growth factor-β1/smads, Hippo, Rap1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and other signaling pathways. Lipofection experiments showed that the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in JS1 cells increased significantly after the expression of mmu_circ_34116 was decreased. CONCLUSION The circRNA expression profile in liver fibrosis tissue shows significant changes. Partially differentially expressed circRNA could be involved in hepatic fibrosis related to hepatic oxidative stress injury, macrophage inflammation, and stellate cell activation. For instance, mmu_circ_34116 can significantly inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xueyou Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hui Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Kekai Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Liyun Fu
- Department of Hepatology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Linwen Zhu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology Technology Research, Ningbo, China
| | - Guoliang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Junming Guo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology Technology Research, Ningbo, China
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Zhou X, Yang J, Liu Y, Li Z, Yu J, Wei W, Chen Q, Li C, Tang N. Observation of the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation by different interventions on cirrhotic rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 52:e7879. [PMID: 30810620 PMCID: PMC6393847 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20187879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation has attracted attention for the treatment of liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver diseases. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effect of different methods of BMSCs transplantation in the treatment of liver cirrhosis in rats. Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 7 groups: 10 were used to extract BMSCs, 10 were used as normal group, and the remaining 52 rats were randomly divided into five groups for testing: control group, BMSCs group, BMSCs+granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) group, and BMSCs+Jisheng Shenqi decoction (JSSQ) group. After the end of the intervention course, liver tissue sections of rats were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining, and pathological grades were scored. Liver function [aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB)] and hepatic fibrosis markers [hyaluronidase (HA), laminin (LN), type III procollagen (PCIII), type IV collagen (CIV)] were measured. BMSCs+JSSQ group had the best effect of reducing ALT and increasing ALB after intervention therapy (P<0.05). The reducing pathological scores and LN, PCIII, CIV of BMSCs+G-CSF group and BMSCs+JSSQ group after intervention therapy were significant, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The effect of JSSQ on improving stem cell transplantation in rats with liver cirrhosis was confirmed. JSSQ combined with BMSCs could significantly improve liver function and liver pathology scores of rats with liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Zhou
- Graduate School of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Jianqing Yang
- Department of Surgery, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Zepeng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Jingfang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Wanhua Wei
- Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Qiao Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Can Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Nong Tang
- Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Zhou Y, Lv X, Qu H, Zhao K, Fu L, Zhu L, Ye G, Guo J. Preliminary screening and functional analysis of circular RNAs associated with hepatic stellate cell activation. Gene 2018; 677:317-323. [PMID: 30118889 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To screen for circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are associated with the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) by monitoring changes in liver circRNA expression in a model of liver fibrosis. METHODS The classic mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis was established and validated by histopathological examination. JS1 cells were activated by TGF-β1 to model HSC activation in vitro. Differentially expressed circRNAs in the fibrotic liver tissues and JS1 cells were determined using circRNA microarray, and some of those circRNAs were verified by RT-qPCR. The target genes of the above circRNAs were then predicted by bioinformatics analysis and summarized into a "circRNA-miRNA-mRNA" network diagram. Constructed plasmid mmu_circ_34116 siRNA was transfected to JS1 cells by Lipo2000, then we detected the expression changes of α-SMA. RESULTS A total of 10,389 circRNAs were identified by microarray screening, and 69 differentially expressed circRNAs were detected in the fibrotic liver tissues with >2-fold difference in expression level relative to normal liver tissues (P < 0.05); 14 circRNAs were up-regulated and 55 were down-regulated. Five differentially expressed circRNAs in fibrotic liver and JS1 cells were verified by RT-qPCR, while all five showed similar trends with the microarray results in the liver, only 3 circRNAs in the JS1 activation model were consistent with the microarray results while one showed no significant change and one circRNA was not detected. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the "mmu_circ_34116/miR-22-3P/BMP7" signal axis might be involved in the activation of HSC. Transfection experiment confirmed that the expression of α-SMA is significantly elevated as a result of inhibitory expression of mmu_circ_34116. CONCLUSION The circRNAs expression profile of liver tissue had changed in fibrosis mouse model, and some of these circRNAs may be associated with HSC activation. For instance, mmu_circ_34116 would inhibit HSC activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China.
| | - Xueyou Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Hui Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Kekai Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Liyun Fu
- Department of Hepatology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, China
| | - Linwen Zhu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology Technology Research, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Guoliang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Junming Guo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology Technology Research, Ningbo 315211, China
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