Piceatannol increases the expression of hepatocyte growth factor and IL-10 thereby protecting hepatocytes in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 779-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazem Abd-Elgawad ◽  
Nashwa Abu-Elsaad ◽  
Amr El-Karef ◽  
Tarek Ibrahim

Piceatannol is a polyphenolic analog of resveratrol that selectively inhibits the non-receptor tyrosine kinase-Syk. This study investigates the potential ability of piceatannol to attenuate liver fibrosis and protect hepatocytes from injury. Thioacetamide was injected in adult male mice (100 mg/kg, i.p., 3 times/week) for 8 weeks. Piceatannol (1 or 5 mg/kg per day) was administered by oral gavage during the last 4 weeks. Liver function biomarkers, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), cytokeratin-18 (CK18), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured. Necroinflammation, fibrosis, expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) were scored by histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry. Obtained results showed ability of piceatannol (1 mg/kg) to restore liver function and reduce inflammation. It significantly (p < 0.001) reduced MDA, CK18, TGF-β1, and α-SMA expression, and increased HGF and IL-10. It can be concluded that piceatannol at low dose can inhibit TGF-β1 induced hepatocytes apoptosis and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect attenuating fibrosis progression.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2332-2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nam H. Nguyen ◽  
Trinh V. Le ◽  
Huy Q. Do ◽  
Thanh M. Dang ◽  
Yen K. T. Nguyen ◽  
...  

Background: Transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is a potential therapy for a variety of liver diseases. Previous studies have shown that ADSC-based therapy is promising for liver fibrosis treatment. Recently, many publications have suggested that pretreating ADSCs with growth factors before transplantation can elevate the effectiveness of the therapy. Therefore, we hypothesize that human ADSCs (hADSCs) pretreated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), compared to ADSCs alone, would accelerate the treatment effects on liver fibrosis in mice. Methods: The hADSCs were cultured solely with conventional media, or with HGF (human recombinant; 20 ng/ml), or with HGF and PRP (from healthy human blood, 10%), concomitantly added to the medium for 7 days before transplantation. Eight-week-old male mice were treated with CCl4 (1 ml/kg) for 11 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. The mice were then subsequently divided into: 1) Placebo group (PBS injection); 2) ADSCs/HGF+PRP (5x105HGF and PRP pre-treated cells/mice); 3) ADSCs/HGF (5x105HGF pre-treated cells/mice) and 4) ADSCs (5x105non-pretreated cells/mice). Results: Seven days post-transplantation, the alanine transaminase (ALT) level in the placebo was notably elevated (143.10±14.96 IU/L), compared to ALT levels of ADSCs-, ADSCs/HGF+PR-, and ADSCs/HGF-transplanted mice, which showed an improvement (67.94±18.57 IU/L, 49.44±7.56 IU/L, and 57.93±5.75 IU/L, respectively). The procollagen-α1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated in the ADSCs-transplanted group compared to those of the placebo. Importantly, these levels were lower in ADSCs/HGF+PR (procollagen-α1: 75.64±45.89; α-SMA: 36.17±36.09) than those of ADSCs/HGF (procollagen-α1: 212.8±84.35; α-SMA: 52.41±7.93) and ADSCs only (procollagen-α1: 310.50 ± 55.36; α-SMA: 184.70±14.06). Stem cell transplantation also improved histological index, reducing inflammation and collagen/necrotic structure accumulation. However, there were no statistical differences between three ADSCs treatment groups after 14 days after transplantation. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with PRP and HGF for 7 days enhanced the efficacy of ADSCs in alleviating liver fibrosis in vivo.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (S) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Ngoc Hong Vo ◽  
Trinh Van Le ◽  
Nam Hai Nguyen ◽  
Yen K.T. Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Minh Dang ◽  
...  

Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential therapeutic impact on the liver fibrosis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is pivotal for damage repair with its anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic and cell migration-promoting effect. In this study, the therapy with HGF-pretreated hADSCs was expected to enhance the therapeutic effect in the amelioration of liver fibrosis compared with untreated hADSCs.   Method: HGF-hADSCs were prepared by culturing hADSCs for seven days in the medium added HGF. HGF-hADSCs transplantation was performed to investigate the therapeutic effect of these cells on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in a mouse model.  Results: After seven days and fourteen days of cell transfusion, HGF-hADSCs ameliorated the liver fibrosis. The results showed the attenuation of the liver injury (ALT level), the down-regulation of procollagen-1 (7 days, 3-fold; 14 days, 6.7-fold) and alpha -smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression (7 days, 10-fold; 14 days, 2-fold), and the histological improvement. Notably, there was the significant difference in the procollagen-1 between HGF-hADSCs and untreated hADSCs groups. Thus, the therapy with HGF-hADSCs was more efficient in the liver fibrosis treatment compared with untreated hADSCs.  Conclusion: HGF pretreated hADSCs have a potential therapy in the treatment of liver fibrosis


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 2111-2122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Bing Hu ◽  
Xiao-Ting Ye ◽  
Qing-Qing Zhou ◽  
Rong-Quan Fu

Background/Aims: Sestrin 2 is associated with the pathophysiology of several diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Sestrin 2 in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during liver fibrogenesis. Methods: In this study, Sestrin 2 protein expression was detected in rat HSC-T6 cells challenged with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a well-known model of hepatic fibrosis. Next, HSC-T6 cells and fibrotic mice were transfected with lentivirus. The mRNA expression levels of markers of liver fibrosis [alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen 1A1 (Col1A1)] were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell death and proliferation were evaluated by the MTT assay, and biochemical markers of liver damage in serum [alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)] were also measured using a biochemical analyzer. Histopathological examination was used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis, and protein expression [phospho-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), AMPK, phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and mTOR] was determined by western blotting. Results: We found that Sestrin 2 was elevated in both the HSC-T6 cell and hepatic fibrosis models. In vitro, overexpression of Sestrin 2 attenuated the mRNA levels of α-SMA and Col1A1, suppressed α-SMA protein expression, and modulated HSC-T6 cell proliferation. In vivo, overexpression of Sestrin 2 reduced the ALT and AST levels as well as the α-SMA and Col1A1 protein expression in the CCl4 model of liver fibrosis. Moreover, the degree of liver fibrosis was ameliorated. Interestingly, overexpression of Sestrin 2 increased p-AMPK but decreased p-mTOR protein expression. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Sestrin 2 may attenuate the activation of HSCs and ameliorate liver fibrosis, most likely via upregulation of AMPK phosphorylation and suppression of the mTOR signaling pathway.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1280-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
HARUHITO AZUMA ◽  
SHIRO TAKAHARA ◽  
KUNIO MATSUMOTO ◽  
NAOTSUGU ICHIMARU ◽  
JING DING WANG ◽  
...  

Abstract. Long-term renal isografts in humans and laboratory animals exhibit features similar to those of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), indicating that antigen-independent factors, such as acute renal ischemia, are likely to be involved in the development of CAN. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been demonstrated to play a renotropic role in renal regeneration and protection from acute ischemic injury. This study was thus conducted to investigate the effect of HGF on the development of CAN, using an established rat model. HGF was administered daily (100 μg/d, intravenously) for 4 wk after engraftment. Control animals received saline solution. Allografts from control animals exhibited early evidence of severe structural collapse and necrotic cell death in the proximal tubules and outer medulla, with mononuclear cell infiltration, within 1 wk after engraftment. This was followed by sequential upregulation of adhesion molecules and cytokines, accompanied by dense macrophage infiltration. Fibrogenic events, as indicated by marked increases in transforming growth factor-β1 expression and the accumulation of smooth muscle α-actin, occurred during the same period. Control animals ultimately developed features typical of CAN, with functional deterioration and severe histologic changes; a survival rate of 50.6% by 32 wk was observed. In contrast, remarkably little early injury and no late fibrogenic events were observed for the HGF-treated group. All treated animals survived, with well preserved graft function, during the 32-wk follow-up period. These results indicate that renal protection and recovery from early allograft injury with HGF treatment greatly contribute to a reduction of susceptibility to the subsequent development of CAN in a rat model. The potential application of HGF in the prevention of CAN warrants further attention.


Author(s):  
Qiao You Lau ◽  
Fuad Gandhi Torizal ◽  
Marie Shinohara ◽  
Yasuyuki Sakai

During chronic liver injury, inflammation leads to the development of liver fibrosis&mdash; particularly due to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the involvement of inflammatory cytokines in HSC activation is unclear. Many existing in vitro liver models do not include these non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), and hence, do not represent the physiological relevance found in vivo. Herein, we demonstrated the hierarchical coculture of primary rat hepatocytes with NPCs such as the human-derived HSC line (LX-2) and the human-derived liver sinusoidal endothelial cell line (TMNK-1). The coculture tissue had higher albumin production and hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 activity compared to the monoculture. We then further studied the effects of stimulation by both oxygen tension and key pro-fibrogenic cytokines, such as the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-&beta;), on HSC activation. Gene expression analysis revealed that lower oxygen tension and TGF-&beta;1 stimulation enhanced collagen type I, III, and IV, alpha-smooth muscle actin, platelet-derived growth factor, and matrix metallopeptidase expression from LX-2 cells in the hierarchical coculture after fibrogenesis induction. This hierarchical in vitro cocultured liver tissue could, therefore, provide an improved platform as a disease model for elucidating the interactions of various liver cell types and biochemical signals in liver fibrosis studies.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5122-5131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Weinstein ◽  
Satdarshan P. S. Monga ◽  
Ye Liu ◽  
Steven G. Brodie ◽  
Yi Tang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Smads serve as intracellular mediators of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. After phosphorylation by activated type I TGF-β receptors, Smad proteins translocate to the nucleus, where they serve as transcription factors and increase or decrease expression of TGF-β target genes. Mice lacking one copy each ofSmad2 and Smad3 suffered midgestation lethality due to liver hypoplasia and anemia, suggesting essential dosage requirements of TGF-β signal components. This is likely due to abnormal adhesive properties of the mutant hepatocytes, which may result from a decrease in the level of the β1-integrin and abnormal processing and localization of E-cadherin. Culture of mutant livers in vitro revealed the existence of a parallel developmental pathway mediated by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which could rescue the mutant phenotype independent of Smad activation. These pathways merge at the β1-integrin, the level of which was increased by HGF in the cultured mutant livers. HGF treatment reversed the defects in cell proliferation and hepatic architecture in theSmad2 +/− ; Smad3 +/− livers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Rania Naguib ◽  
Wafaa Mohamed El-Shikh

Background. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are inflammatory cytokines which function as key regulators of immunological homeostasis and inflammatory responses. They have been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this study, we aim to assess the levels of TGF-β and HGF and other inflammatory markers in patients with IBD and correlate them with the disease activity. Study Design. A cross-sectional study involving 100 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 100 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 50 control subjects. TGF-β and HGF levels were measured and correlated with disease activity. Results and Conclusion. Serum levels of TGF-β and HGF were significantly higher in IBD patients compared with the control group. In the UC group, the levels of HGF and TGF-β were significantly higher than in the CD group. Levels of TGF-β and HGF correlate with the activity of IBD.


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