scholarly journals Decorin-transforming Growth Factor-β Interaction Regulates Matrix Organization and Mechanical Characteristics of Three-dimensional Collagen Matrices

2007 ◽  
Vol 282 (49) ◽  
pp. 35887-35898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zannatul Ferdous ◽  
Victoria Mariko Wei ◽  
Renato Iozzo ◽  
Magnus Höök ◽  
Kathryn Jane Grande-Allen

The small leucine-rich proteoglycan decorin has been demonstrated to be a key regulator of collagen fibrillogenesis; decorin deficiencies lead to irregularly shaped collagen fibrils and weakened material behavior in postnatal murine connective tissues. In an in vitro investigation of the contributions of decorin to tissue organization and material behavior, model tissues were engineered by seeding embryonic fibroblasts, harvested from 12.5–13.5 days gestational aged decorin null (Dcn-/-) or wild-type mice, within type I collagen gels. The resulting three-dimensional collagen matrices were cultured for 4 weeks under static tension. The collagen matrices seeded with Dcn-/- cells exhibited greater contraction, cell density, ultimate tensile strength, and elastic modulus than those seeded with wild-type cells. Ultrastructurally, the matrices seeded with Dcn-/- cells contained a greater density of collagen. The decorin-null tissues contained more biglycan than control tissues, suggesting that this related proteoglycan compensated for the absence of decorin. The effect of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is normally sequestered by decorin, was also investigated in this study. The addition of TGF-β1 to the matrices seeded with wild-type cells improved their contraction and mechanical strength, whereas blocking TGF-β1 in the Dcn-/- cell-seeded matrices significantly reduced the collagen gel contraction. These results indicate that the inhibitory interaction between decorin and TGF-β1 significantly influenced the matrix organization and material behavior of these in vitro model tissues.

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai-Ming Yung ◽  
Samuel D Paskin-Flerlage ◽  
Ivana Nikolic ◽  
Scott Pearsall ◽  
Ravindra Kumar ◽  
...  

Introduction: Excessive Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling has been implicated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), based on activation of TGF-β effectors and transcriptional targets in affected lungs and the ability of TGF-β type I receptor (ALK5) inhibitors to improve experimental PAH. However, clinical use of ALK5 inhibitors has been limited by cardiovascular toxicity. Hypothesis: We tested whether or not selective blockade of TGF-β and Growth Differentiation Factor (GDF) ligands using a recombinant TGFβ type II receptor extracellular domain Fc fusion protein (TGFBRII-Fc) could impact experimental PAH. Methods: Male SD rats were injected with monocrotaline (MCT) and received vehicle or TGFBRII-Fc (15 mg/kg, twice per week, i.p.). C57BL/6 mice were treated with SU-5416 and hypoxia (SUGEN-HX) and received vehicle or TGFBRII-Fc. RNA-Seq was used to profile transcriptional changes in lungs of MCT rats. Circulating levels of GDF-15 were measured in 241 PAH patients and 41 healthy controls. Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were used to examine signaling in vitro . Results: TGFBRII-Fc is a selective ligand trap, inhibiting the ability of GDF-15, TGF-β1, TGF-β3, but not TGF-β2 to activate SMAD2/3 in vitro . In MCT rats, prophylactic treatment with TGFBRII-Fc normalized expression of TGF-β transcriptional target PAI-1, attenuated PAH and vascular remodeling. Delayed administration of TGFBRII-Fc in rats with established PAH at 2.5 weeks led to improved survival, decreased PAH and remodeling at 5 weeks. Similar findings were observed in SUGEN-HX mice. No valvular abnormalities were found with TGFBRII-Fc treatment. RNA-Seq revealed GDF-15 to be the most highly upregulated TGF-β ligand in the lungs of MCT rats, with only modest increases in TGF-β1 and no change in TGF-β2/3 observed, suggesting a dominant role of GDF-15 in the pathophysiology of this model. Plasma levels of GDF-15 were significantly increased in patients with diverse etiologies of WHO Group I PAH. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that a selective TGF-β/GDF-15 trap attenuates experimental PAH, remodeling and mortality, without causing valvulopathy. These data highlight the potential role of GDF-15 as a pathogenic molecule and therapeutic target in PAH.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wang ◽  
Zhe Cheng ◽  
Lingling Dai ◽  
Tianci Jiang ◽  
Liuqun Jia ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various human diseases. Recently, H19 was reported to be upregulated in fibrotic rat lung and play a stimulative role in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. However, its expression in human fibrotic lung tissues and mechanism of action remain unclear. Here, our observations showed that H19 expression was significantly upregulated and that of microRNA 140 (miR-140) was markedly reduced in pulmonary fibrotic tissues from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced HBE and A549 cells. Moreover, the expression of H19 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-140 in IPF tissues. H19 knockdown attenuated TGF-β1-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vitro. Furthermore, animal experiments showed that H19 knockdown attenuated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. The study of molecular mechanisms showed that H19 functioned via reduction of miR-140 expression by binding to miR-140. The increase of miR-140 inhibited TGF-β1-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and H19 upregulation diminished the inhibitory effects of miR-140 on TGF-β1-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which was involved in the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway. Taken together, our findings showed that H19 knockdown attenuated pulmonary fibrosis via the regulatory network of lncRNA H19–miR-140–TGF-β/Smad3 signaling, and H19 and miR-140 might represent therapeutic targets and early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1590-1599
Author(s):  
Maximilian Funken ◽  
Tobias Bruegmann ◽  
Philipp Sasse

Abstract Aims Besides providing mechanical stability, fibroblasts in the heart could modulate the electrical properties of cardiomyocytes. Here, we aim to develop a three-dimensional hetero-cellular model to analyse the electric interaction between fibroblasts and human cardiomyocytes in vitro using selective optogenetic de- or hyperpolarization of fibroblasts. Methods and results NIH3T3 cell lines expressing the light-sensitive ion channel Channelrhodopsin2 or the light-induced proton pump Archaerhodopsin were generated for optogenetic depolarization or hyperpolarization, respectively, and characterized by patch clamp. Cardiac bodies consisting of 50% fibroblasts and 50% human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were analysed by video microscopy and membrane potential was measured with sharp electrodes. Myofibroblast activation in cardiac bodies was enhanced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulation. Connexin-43 expression was analysed by qPCR and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Illumination of Channelrhodopsin2 or Archaerhodopsin expressing fibroblasts induced inward currents and depolarization or outward currents and hyperpolarization. Transforming growth factor-β1-stimulation elevated connexin-43 expression and increased cell–cell coupling between fibroblasts as well as increased basal beating frequency and cardiomyocyte resting membrane potential in cardiac bodies. Illumination of cardiac bodies generated with Channelrhodopsin2 fibroblasts accelerated spontaneous beating, especially after TGF-β1-stimulation. Illumination of cardiac bodies prepared with Archaerhodopsin expressing fibroblasts led to hyperpolarization of cardiomyocytes and complete block of spontaneous beating after TGF-β1-stimulation. Effects of light were significantly smaller without TGF-β1-stimulation. Conclusion Transforming growth factor-β1-stimulation leads to increased hetero-cellular coupling and optogenetic hyperpolarization of fibroblasts reduces TGF-β1 induced effects on cardiomyocyte spontaneous activity. Optogenetic membrane potential manipulation selectively in fibroblasts in a new hetero-cellular cardiac body model allows direct quantification of fibroblast–cardiomyocyte coupling in vitro.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (4) ◽  
pp. C823-C830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard A. J. Roelen ◽  
Ori S. Cohen ◽  
Malay K. Raychowdhury ◽  
Deborah N. Chadee ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  

Smad4, the common Smad, is central for transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily ligand signaling. Smad4 has been shown to be constitutively phosphorylated (Nakao A, Imamura T, Souchelnytskyi S, Kawabata M, Ishisaki A, Oeda E, Tamaki K, Hanai J, Heldin C-H, Miyazono K, and ten Dijke P. EMBO J 16: 5353-5362, 1997), but the site(s) of phosphorylation, the kinase(s) that performs this phosphorylation, and the significance of the phosphorylation of Smad4 are currently unknown. This report describes the identification of a consensus ERK phosphorylation site in the linker region of Smad4 at Thr276. Our data show that ERK can phosphorylate Smad4 in vitro but not Smad4 with mutated Thr276. Flag-tagged Smad4-T276A mutant protein accumulates less efficiently in the nucleus after stimulation by TGF-β and is less efficient in generating a transcriptional response than Smad4 wild-type protein. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping identified a phosphopeptide in Smad4 wild-type protein that was absent in phosphorylated Smad4-T276A mutant protein. Our results suggest that MAP kinase can phosphorylate Thr276 of Smad4 and that phosphorylation can lead to enhanced TGF-β-induced nuclear accumulation and, as a consequence, enhanced transcriptional activity of Smad4.


2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elyane Poisson ◽  
James J. Sciote ◽  
Richard Koepsel ◽  
Gregory M. Cooper ◽  
Lynne A. Opperman ◽  
...  

Objective To describe the expression patterns of the various transforming growth factor-β (Tgf-β) isoforms, known to be involved in suture development, in the perisutural tissues of rabbits with naturally occurring craniosynostosis and relate such differential expression to the pathogenesis of premature suture fusion. Method Twenty-one coronal sutures were harvested from six wild-type control New Zealand White rabbits and five rabbits with familial coronal suture synostosis at 25 days of age for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Tgf-β isoform immunoreactivity was assessed using indirect immunoperoxidase procedures with specific antibodies. Results Synostosed sutures had significantly (p < .01) greater bone area and relatively more osteoblasts and osteocytes in the osteogenic fronts, compared with wild-type sutures. Tgf-β isoform immunoreactivity showed differential staining patterns between wild-type and synostosed perisutural tissues. In wild-type sutures, Tgf-β1 and Tgf-β3 immunoreactivity was significantly (p < .001) greater than Tgf-β2 staining in all perisutural tissues. In synostosed sutures, the opposite pattern was observed, with Tgf-β2 immunoreactivity significantly (p < .001) greater than Tgf-β1 and Tgf-β3 in the osteogenic fronts, dura mater, and periosteum. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that an overexpression of Tgf-β2, either in isolation or in association with an underexpression of Tgf-β1 and Tgf-β3, may be related to premature suture fusion (craniosynostosis) in this pathological rabbit model. These abnormal expression patterns may be involved in premature suture fusion either through increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis of the osteoblasts or both at the osteogenic fronts.


2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (5) ◽  
pp. H424-H434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongshuai Chen ◽  
Jingyuan Li ◽  
Junni Liu ◽  
Na Li ◽  
Shujian Wang ◽  
...  

Sirtuins [sirtuin (SIRT)1–SIRT7] mediate the longevity-promoting effects of calorie restriction in yeast, worms, flies, and mice. Additionally, SIRT3 is the only SIRT analog whose increased expression has been shown to be associated with longevity in humans. The polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) is the first compound discovered able to mimic calorie restriction by stimulating SIRTs. In the present study, we report that RSV activated SIRT3 in cardiac fibroblasts both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, in wild-type mice, RSV prevented cardiac hypertrophy in response to hypertrophic stimuli. However, this protective effect was not observed in SIRT3 knockout mice. Additionally, the activation of SIRT3 by RSV ameliorated collagen deposition and improved cardiac function. In isolated cardiac fibroblasts, pretreatment with RSV suppressed fibroblast-to-myoblast transformation by inhibiting the transforming growth factor-β/Smad3 pathway. Therefore, these data indicate that the activation of SIRT3 by RSV could ameliorate cardiac fibrosis and improve cardiac function via the transforming growth factor-β/Smad3 pathway.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 775-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omaima M. Sabek ◽  
Daniel W. Fraga ◽  
James Henry ◽  
Lillian W. Gaber ◽  
Malak Kotb ◽  
...  

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleotropic cytokine that promotes angiogenesis and extracellular matrix protein synthesis in addition to its immunosuppressive effects. The purpose of this study is to identify optimal conditions for in vivo expression of TGF-β1 by human islets to exploit the possible beneficial effects and minimize undesirable side effects. We transduced human islets with adenoviral vectors encoding the active form of Ad-TGF-β1 or Ad-LacZ to test the effects of TGF-β1 gene expression on islet in vivo function following their transplantation into a NOD-SCID mouse model. Islets were transduced with multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 20, 10, 5, and 2.5 per islet cell. At a MOI ranging from 2.5 to 20, expression of TGF-β1 in islet supernatant persisted for 1–2 months and ranged from 153 ± 5 to 2574 ± 1299 pg/ml, respectively. Transduction with the lowest MOI (2.5) did not compromise the in vivo production of human C-peptide. We conclude that TGF-β1 expression in transplanted islets does not compromise viability and that adenoviral transduction with the TGF-β1 gene has a dose-dependent effect, with larger MOIs being deleterious. The data also indicate that in vitro culture system and the in vivo NOD-SCID model could be used successfully to evaluate the nonimmune effects of gene transduction.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7218-7230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Viñals ◽  
Jacques Pouysségur

ABSTRACT Mouse capillary endothelial cells (1G11 cell line) embedded in type I collagen gels undergo in vitro angiogenesis. Cells rapidly reorganize and form capillary-like structures when stimulated with serum. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) alone can substitute for serum and induce cell survival and tubular network formation. This TGF-β1-mediated angiogenic activity depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. We showed that specific inhibitors of either pathway (wortmannin, LY-294002, and PD-98059) all suppressed TGF-β1-induced angiogenesis mainly by compromising cell survival. We established that TGF-β1 stimulated the expression of TGF-α mRNA and protein, the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 170-kDa membrane protein representing the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and the delayed activation of PI3K/Akt and p42/p44 MAPK. Moreover, we showed that all these TGF-β1-mediated signaling events, including tubular network formation, were suppressed by incubating TGF-β1-stimulated endothelial cells with a soluble form of an EGF receptor (ErbB-1) or tyrphostin AG1478, a specific blocker of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase. Finally, addition of TGF-α alone poorly stimulated angiogenesis; however, by reducing cell death, it strongly potentiated the action of TGF-β1. We therefore propose that TGF-β1 promotes angiogenesis at least in part via the autocrine secretion of TGF-α, a cell survival growth factor, activating PI3K/Akt and p42/p44 MAPK.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document