Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein expression in systemic sclerosis reveals heterogeneity of dermal fibroblast responses to transforming growth factor β

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Farina ◽  
R Lemaire ◽  
P Pancari ◽  
J Bayle ◽  
R L Widom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts

Objective:Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) accumulates in systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin and is upregulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)β. To further characterise the response to TGFβ in SSc, we investigated TGFβ1 and COMP expression and myofibroblast staining in SSc skin.Methods:Skin biopsies from patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc), limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc) and healthy controls were evaluated for COMP mRNA expression using real-time PCR. COMP, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and TGFβ were assessed in skin sections and in cultured fibroblasts by immunohistochemistry. Clinical disease status was assessed by the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS).Results:Myofibroblasts expressing SMA and COMP were found coexpressed in many cells in dSSc dermis, but each also stained distinct cells in the dermis. Cultured SSc dermal fibroblasts also showed heterogeneity for COMP and SMA expression, with cells expressing SMA, COMP, both or neither. TGFβ treatment increased COMP and SMA-expressing cells. COMP mRNA expression in lesional skin from patients with dSSc correlated with the mRSS and TGFβ1 staining.Conclusion:These findings suggest that TGFβ upregulation of COMP and/or SMA expression in subpopulations of fibroblasts contributes to different pathways of fibrosis and that multiple TGFβ regulated genes may serve as biomarkers for the degree of SSc skin involvement.

scholarly journals Differential Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Wnt Family Member 4 Correlates With Functional Heterogeneity of Human Dermal Fibroblasts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver J. Culley ◽  
Blaise Louis ◽  
Christina Philippeos ◽  
Bénédicte Oulès ◽  
Matthieu Tihy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Functional Heterogeneity ◽  
Tgf Β1

Although human dermis contains distinct fibroblast subpopulations, the functional heterogeneity of fibroblast lines from different donors is under-appreciated. We identified one commercially sourced fibroblast line (c64a) that failed to express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker linked to fibroblast contractility, even when treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Gene expression profiling identified insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) as being expressed more highly, and Asporin (ASPN) and Wnt family member 4 (WNT4) expressed at lower levels, in c64a fibroblasts compared to three fibroblast lines that had been generated in-house, independent of TGF-β1 treatment. TGF-β1 increased expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) in c64a cells to a greater extent than in the other lines. The c64a gene expression profile did not correspond to any dermal fibroblast subpopulation identified by single-cell RNAseq of freshly isolated human skin cells. In skin reconstitution assays, c64a fibroblasts did not support epidermal stratification as effectively as other lines tested. In fibroblast lines generated in-house, shRNA-mediated knockdown of IGF1 increased α-SMA expression without affecting epidermal stratification. Conversely, WNT4 knockdown had no consistent effect on α-SMA expression, but increased the ability of fibroblasts to support epidermal stratification. Thus, by comparing the properties of different lines of cultured dermal fibroblasts, we have identified IGF1 and WNT4 as candidate mediators of two distinct dermal functions: myofibroblast formation and epidermal maintenance.

scholarly journals Transforming growth factor-beta 1 induces alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in granulation tissue myofibroblasts and in quiescent and growing cultured fibroblasts

1993 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Desmoulière ◽  
A Geinoz ◽  
F Gabbiani ◽  
G Gabbiani
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Granulation Tissue ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Tgf Beta ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts ◽  
Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Actin Expression

Granulation tissue fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) develop several ultrastructural and biochemical features of smooth muscle (SM) cells, including the presence of microfilament bundles and the expression of alpha-SM actin, the actin isoform typical of vascular SM cells. Myofibroblasts have been proposed to play a role in wound contraction and in retractile phenomena observed during fibrotic diseases. We show here that the subcutaneous administration of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) to rats results in the formation of a granulation tissue in which alpha-SM actin expressing myofibroblasts are particularly abundant. Other cytokines and growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, despite their profibrotic activity, do not induce alpha-SM actin in myofibroblasts. In situ hybridization with an alpha-SM actin probe shows a high level of alpha-SM actin mRNA expression in myofibroblasts of TGF beta 1-induced granulation tissue. Moreover, TGF beta 1 induces alpha-SM actin protein and mRNA expression in growing and quiescent cultured fibroblasts and preincubation of culture medium containing whole blood serum with neutralizing antibodies to TGF beta 1 results in a decrease of alpha-SM actin expression by fibroblasts in replicative and non-replicative conditions. These results suggest that TGF beta 1 plays an important role in myofibroblast differentiation during wound healing and fibrocontractive diseases by regulating the expression of alpha-SM actin in these cells.

scholarly journals Enhanced Activity of Transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGF-β1) Bound to Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (50) ◽  
pp. 43250-43258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik R. Haudenschild ◽  
Eunmee Hong ◽  
Jasper H. N. Yik ◽  
Brett Chromy ◽  
Matthias Mörgelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β1 ◽  
Enhanced Activity ◽  
Tgf Β1

scholarly journals Therapeutic interleukin-6 blockade reverses transforming growth factor-beta pathway activation in dermal fibroblasts: insights from the faSScinate clinical trial in systemic sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1362-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P Denton ◽  
Voon H Ong ◽  
Shiwen Xu ◽  
Haiyin Chen-Harris ◽  
Zora Modrusan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Growth Factor Beta

ObjectivesSkin fibrosis mediated by activated dermal fibroblasts is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc), especially in the subset of patients with diffuse disease. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are key candidate mediators in SSc. Our aim was to elucidate the specific effect of IL-6 pathway blockade on the biology of SSc fibroblasts in vivo by using samples from a unique clinical experiment—the faSScinate study—in which patients with SSc were treated for 24 weeks with tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 receptor-α inhibitor.MethodsWe analysed the molecular, functional and genomic characteristics of explant fibroblasts cultured from matched skin biopsy samples collected at baseline and at week 24 from 12 patients receiving placebo (n=6) or TCZ (n=6) and compared these with matched healthy control fibroblast strains.ResultsThe hallmark functional and molecular-activated phenotype was defined in SSc samples and was stable over 24 weeks in placebo-treated cases. RNA sequencing analysis robustly defined key dysregulated pathways likely to drive SSc fibroblast activation in vivo. Treatment with TCZ for 24 weeks profoundly altered the biological characteristics of explant dermal fibroblasts by normalising functional properties and reversing gene expression profiles dominated by TGFβ-regulated genes and molecular pathways.ConclusionsWe demonstrated the exceptional value of using explant dermal fibroblast cultures from a well-designed trial in SSc to provide a molecular framework linking IL-6 to key profibrotic pathways. The profound impact of IL-6R blockade on the activated fibroblast phenotype highlights the potential of IL-6 as a therapeutic target in SSc and other fibrotic diseases.Trial registration numberNCT01532869; Post-results.

scholarly journals PDGF Promotes Dermal Fibroblast Activation via a Novel Mechanism Mediated by Signaling Through MCHR1

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Takamura ◽  
Ludivine Renaud ◽  
Willian Abraham da Silveira ◽  
Carol Feghali-Bostwick
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Intracellular Camp ◽  
Sequencing Data

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy and excessive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. To this day, no effective treatments to prevent the progression of fibrosis exist, and SSc patients have disabilities and reduced life expectancy. The need to better understand pathways that drive SSc and to find therapeutic targets is urgent. RNA sequencing data from SSc dermal fibroblasts suggested that melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1), one of the G protein-coupled receptors regulating emotion and energy metabolism, is abnormally deregulated in SSc. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB stimulation upregulated MCHR1 mRNA and protein levels in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), and MCHR1 silencing prevented the PDGF-BB-induced expression of the profibrotic factors transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). PDGF-BB bound MCHR1 in membrane fractions of NHDF, and the binding was confirmed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). MCHR1 inhibition blocked PDGF-BB modulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). MCHR1 silencing in NHDF reduced PDGF-BB signaling. In summary, MCHR1 promoted the fibrotic response in NHDF through modulation of TGFβ1 and CTGF production, intracellular cAMP levels, and PDGF-BB-induced signaling pathways, suggesting that MCHR1 plays an important role in mediating the response to PDGF-BB and in the pathogenesis of SSc. Inhibition of MCHR1 should be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy in SSc-associated fibrosis.

scholarly journals DZ2002 ameliorates fibrosis, inflammation, and vasculopathy in experimental systemic sclerosis models

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongwang Zhang ◽  
Yanwei Wu ◽  
Bing Wu ◽  
Qing Qi ◽  
Heng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β1 ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
Dermal Fibrosis ◽  
M1 Macrophage ◽  
Extracellular Matrix Components

Abstract Background Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem inflammatory and vascular lesion leading to extensive tissue fibrosis. A reversible S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) inhibitor, DZ2002, modulates the pathologic processes of various inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. This study is designed to investigate the therapeutic potentiality of DZ2002 for experimental systemic sclerosis models. Methods The anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic features of DZ2002 and its mechanisms were investigated in a bleomycin (BLM)-induced dermal fibrosis mice model. The effects of DZ2002 on expression of extracellular matrix components and TGF-β signaling in human dermal fibroblasts were analyzed. Simultaneously, the effects of DZ2002 on macrophage activation and endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression were also evaluated. Results DZ2002 significantly attenuated dermal fibrosis in BLM-induced mice. Consistently, DZ2002 inhibited the expression of various molecules associated with dermal fibrosis, including transforming growth factor β1, connective tissue growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-17A, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 in the lesional skin of BLM-induced mice. Furthermore, DZ2002 decreased the proportion of macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells (especially T helper cells) in the skin tissue of BLM-induced mice. In addition, DZ2002 attenuated both M1 macrophage and M2 macrophage differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, DZ2002 directly reversed the profibrotic phenotype of transforming growth factor-β1-treated dermal fibroblasts and suppressed ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VEGF, bFGF, and ET-1 expression in endothelial cells. Finally, our investigations showed that DZ2002 relieved systemic sclerosis by regulating fibrosis TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Conclusions DZ2002 prevents the development of experimental dermal fibrosis by reversing the profibrotic phenotype of various cell types and would be a potential drug for the treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Certainties and uncertainties concerning the contribution of pericytes to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossella Talotta ◽  
Fabiola Atzeni ◽  
Maria Chiara Ditto ◽  
Maria Chiara Gerardi ◽  
Alberto Batticciotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Biological Behaviour ◽  
Vascular Integrity ◽  
Adam 12

The role of pericytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is unclear because of the difficulty in phenotyping them. They are mainly distributed in the pre-capillary, capillary and post-capillary abluminal side of non-muscular micro-vessels, express platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs), and preside over vascular integrity and regeneration. By establishing close contact with many endothelial cells, a single pericyte can regulate ion influx, mechanical stress, leukocyte diapedesis, and platelet activation. Moreover, under pathological conditions such as SSc, pericytes may acquire a contractile phenotype and respond to various stimuli, including endothelin, angiotensin II and reactive oxygen species. The pericytes of SSc patients share some molecular patterns with myofibroblasts or fibroblasts, including A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 12 (ADAM-12), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the extra domain A (ED-A) variant of fibronectin, and Thy-1. Following stimulation with PDGF-β or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), pericytes may acquire a myofibroblast phenotype, and produce extracellular matrix or indirectly promote fibroblast activation. They may also contribute to fibrosis by means of epigenetic regulation. The pericyte plasmalemma is particularly rich in caveolae containing caveolin-1, a deficit of which has been associated with defective vessel tone control and lung fibrosis in mice. Consequently, dysfunctional pericytes may underlie the microangiopathy and fibrosis observed in SSc patients. However, given its variability in biological behaviour and the lack of a pan-pericyte marker, the exact role of these cells in SSc warrants further investigation.

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