scholarly journals Total Glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang Attenuate BLM-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via Regulating Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting NOX4

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Zhao ◽  
Wen-Cheng Zhou ◽  
De-Lin Li ◽  
Xiao-Ting Mo ◽  
Liang Xu ◽  
...  

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a serious chronic lung disease with unknown pathogenesis. Researches have confirmed that oxidative stress which is regulated by NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX4), a main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is an important molecular mechanism underlying PF. Previous studies showed that total glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBTG), an extract from a classical traditional Chinese herbal formula, Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), attenuated bleomycin-induced PF in rats. However, the mechanisms of DBTG are still not clear. We hypothesize that DBTG attenuates PF through regulating the level of oxidative stress by inhibiting NOX4. And we found that fibrosis indexes hydroxyproline (HYP) and type I collagen (Col-I) were lower in DBTG groups compared with the model group. In addition, the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also much more decreased than the model group. For oxidative stress indicators, DBTG blunted the decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin in lung homogenates. Treatment with DBTG restrained the expression of NOX4 compared to the model group. Present study confirms that DBTG inhibits BLM-induced PF by modulating the level of oxidative stress via suppressing NOX4.

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
Lara Testai ◽  
Vincenzo Brancaleone ◽  
Lorenzo Flori ◽  
Rosangela Montanaro ◽  
Vincenzo Calderone

Endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been described as a fundamental process during embryogenesis; however, it can occur also in adult age, underlying pathological events, including fibrosis. Indeed, during EndMT, the endothelial cells lose their specific markers, such as vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, expressing specific products, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen; moreover, the integrity of the endothelium is disrupted, and cells show a migratory, invasive and proliferative phenotype. Several stimuli can trigger this transition, but transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) is considered the most relevant. EndMT can proceed in a canonical smad-dependent or non-canonical smad-independent manner and ultimately regulate gene expression of pro-fibrotic machinery. These events lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis at the vascular level as well as myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. Indeed, EndMT is the mechanism which promotes the progression of cardiovascular disorders following hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and also ageing. In this scenario, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been widely described for its preventive properties, but its role in EndMT is poorly investigated. This review is focused on the evaluation of the putative role of H2S in the EndMT process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2216
Author(s):  
Cheng-Chia Yu ◽  
Yi-Wen Liao ◽  
Pei-Ling Hsieh ◽  
Yu-Chao Chang

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is known as a potentially malignant disorder, which may result from chemical irritation due to areca nuts (such as arecoline). Emerging evidence suggests that fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis are regulated by the interaction of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs. Among these regulators, profibrotic lncRNA H19 has been found to be overexpressed in several fibrosis diseases. Here, we examined the expression of H19 in OSF specimens and its functional role in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs). Our results indicate that the aberrantly overexpressed H19 contributed to higher myofibroblast activities, such as collagen gel contractility and migration ability. We also demonstrated that H19 interacted with miR-29b, which suppressed the direct binding of miR-29b to the 3′-untranslated region of type I collagen (COL1A1). We showed that ectopic expression of miR-29b ameliorated various myofibroblast phenotypes and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), COL1A1, and fibronectin (FN1) in fBMFs. In OSF tissues, we found that the expression of miR-29b was downregulated and there was a negative correlation between miR-29b and these fibrosis markers. Lastly, we demonstrate that arecoline stimulated the upregulation of H19 through the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway. Altogether, this study suggests that increased TGF-β secretion following areca nut chewing may induce the upregulation of H19, which serves as a natural sponge for miR-29b and impedes its antifibrotic effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1861
Author(s):  
Jemima Seidenberg ◽  
Mara Stellato ◽  
Amela Hukara ◽  
Burkhard Ludewig ◽  
Karin Klingel ◽  
...  

Background: Pathological activation of cardiac fibroblasts is a key step in development and progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. This process has been associated with enhanced autophagocytosis, but molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Methods and Results: Immunohistochemical analysis of endomyocardial biopsies showed increased activation of autophagy in fibrotic hearts of patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy. In vitro experiments using mouse and human cardiac fibroblasts confirmed that blockade of autophagy with Bafilomycin A1 inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Next, we observed that cardiac fibroblasts obtained from mice overexpressing transcription factor Fos-related antigen 2 (Fosl-2tg) expressed elevated protein levels of autophagy markers: the lipid modified form of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3B (LC3BII), Beclin-1 and autophagy related 5 (Atg5). In complementary experiments, silencing of Fosl-2 with antisense GapmeR oligonucleotides suppressed production of type I collagen, myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin and autophagy marker Beclin-1 in cardiac fibroblasts. On the other hand, silencing of either LC3B or Beclin-1 reduced Fosl-2 levels in TGF-β-activated, but not in unstimulated cells. Using a cardiac hypertrophy model induced by continuous infusion of angiotensin II with osmotic minipumps, we confirmed that mice lacking either Fosl-2 (Ccl19CreFosl2flox/flox) or Atg5 (Ccl19CreAtg5flox/flox) in stromal cells were protected from cardiac fibrosis. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that Fosl-2 regulates autophagocytosis and the TGF-β-Fosl-2-autophagy axis controls differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts. These data provide a new insight for the development of pharmaceutical targets in cardiac fibrosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Cheng ◽  
Fangfang Wang ◽  
Airan Feng ◽  
Xiaodan Li ◽  
Wencheng Yu

Objective. To investigate the role of CXXC5 and the CD40/CD40L pathway in lung fibrosis. Methods. (1) We constructed mouse models of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and transfected them with a CXXC5 overexpression vector to evaluate the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. (2) Mouse lung fibroblast (MLF) models stably overexpressed or knockout of CXXC5 vector were constructed. After transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) stimulation, we examined the proliferation and apoptosis of the MLF model and evaluated the expression of mesenchymal markers and the CXXC5/CD40/CD40L pathway. Results. (1) Compared with other groups, the overexpressed CXXC5 group had less alveolar structure destruction, thinner alveolar septum, and lower Ashcroft score. (2) In bleomycin-induced mice, the expression of CD40 and CD40L increased at both transcriptional and protein levels, and the same changes were observed in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I (Colla I). After upregulation of CXXC5, the increase in CD40, CD40L, α-SMA, and Colla I was attenuated. (3) Stimulated with TGF-β1, MLF proliferation was activated, apoptosis was suppressed, and the expression of CD40, CD40L, α-SMA, and Colla I was increased at both transcriptional and protein levels. After upregulation of CXXC5, these changes were attenuated. Conclusion. CXXC5 inhibits pulmonary fibrosis and transformation to myofibroblasts by negative feedback regulation of the CD40/CD40L pathway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1770-1775
Author(s):  
Danhai Wu ◽  
Kan Wang

The oxidative stress process can affect bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiation. Interleukin (IL-15) regulates fat differentiation of BMSCs. However, the role of IL-15 in osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs under oxidative stress remains unclear. Rat BMSCs were cultured and randomly divided into control group; oxidative stress group and IL-15 treatment group followed by analysis of IL-15 secretion by ELISA, expression of osteocalcin, type I collagen, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA as well as FABP4 and PPARγ 2 by Real time PCR, ALP activity, ROS content and SOD activity, and expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling proteins by Western blot. In oxidative stress group, IL-15 secretion was significantly decreased, osteocalcin, type I collagen, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA expression was reduced, along with deceased ALP activity and SOD activity, increased ROS content and FABP4 and PPARγ 2 protein expression as well as decreased expression of p-AKT and mTOR in comparison of control (P < 0 05). IL-15 treatment on oxidative stress BMSCs significantly increased IL-15 secretion and the expression of osteocalcin, type I collagen, RUNX2 and OPN mRNA, along with increased ALP activity and SOD activity, decreased FABP4 and PPAR 2 protein expression and ROS content as well as increased expression of p-AKT and mTOR (P < 0 05). IL-15 secretion was reduced in BMSCs under oxidative stress. Promoting IL-15 secretion can improve redox balance through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (4) ◽  
pp. F792-F801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Terashima ◽  
Mikio Kato ◽  
Hiroaki Yasumo ◽  
Hiroshi Tsuchida ◽  
Makoto Mizuno ◽  
...  

Fibrosis is the final common pathway for various tissue lesions that lead to chronic progressive organ failure, and consequently effective antifibrotic drugs are strongly desired. However, there are few animal models in which it is possible to evaluate fibrosis sensitively in a short period of time. We therefore generated two transgenic rats harboring a firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the 5′-flanking region of rat α1(I) collagen (Col1a1-Luc Tg rats) and α2(I) collagen (Col1a2-Luc Tg rats). The luciferase activities of these transgenic rats were highly correlated with the hydroxyproline content in various organs. In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), a well-characterized model of renal fibrosis, the luciferase activity in obstructed kidneys showed a significant increase after even 3 days of UUO, while the hydroxyproline content showed little increase. In addition, the renal hydroxyproline content had a higher correlation with the luciferase activity than α1(I) collagen mRNA level for over 2 wk after UUO. Although both an ANG II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), olmesartan, and a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) type I receptor kinase (ALK5) inhibitor, SB-431542, inhibited renal luciferase activities in UUO, only SB-431542 inhibited luciferase activity induced by TGF-β1 in isolated glomeruli. Double immunostaining for luciferase and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) revealed that some α-SMA-positive tubular epithelial cells and tubular interstitial cells produced type I collagen, which would lead to renal fibrosis. Thus collagen reporter transgenic rats would be very useful for the evaluation of antifibrotic effects and analysis of their mechanisms.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. L1146-L1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Burgess ◽  
Louis Eugene Daugherty ◽  
Thomas H. Thatcher ◽  
Heather F. Lakatos ◽  
Denise M. Ray ◽  
...  

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive life-threatening disease for which no effective therapy exists. Myofibroblasts are one of the key effector cells in pulmonary fibrosis and are the primary source of extracellular matrix production. Drugs that inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts have potential as antifibrotic therapies. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is a transcription factor that upon ligation with PPARγ agonists activates target genes containing PPAR response elements. PPARγ agonists have anti-inflammatory activities and may have potential as antifibrotic agents. In this study, we examined the abilities of PPARγ agonists to block two of the most important profibrotic activities of TGF-β on pulmonary fibroblasts: myofibroblast differentiation and production of excess collagen. Both natural (15d-PGJ2) and synthetic (ciglitazone and rosiglitazone) PPARγ agonists inhibited TGF-β-driven myofibroblast differentiation, as determined by α-smooth muscle actin-specific immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. PPARγ agonists also potently attenuated TGF-β-driven type I collagen protein production. A dominant-negative PPARγ partially reversed the inhibition of myofibroblast differentiation by 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone, but the irreversible PPARγ antagonist GW-9662 did not, suggesting that the antifibrotic effects of the PPARγ agonists are mediated through both PPARγ-dependent and independent mechanisms. Thus PPARγ agonists have novel and potent antifibrotic effects in human lung fibroblasts and may have potential for therapy of fibrotic diseases in the lung and other tissues.


2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 987-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Hua He ◽  
Zeng Li ◽  
Ming-Ming Ni ◽  
Xing-Yan Zhang ◽  
Ming-Fang Li ◽  
...  

Liver fibrosis is a worldwide problem with a significant morbidity and mortality. Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (family Periplocaceae) is widely used in West African countries for the treatment of malaria, as well as for some other diseases. However, the role of C. sanguinolenta in hepatic fibrosis is still unknown. It has been reported that Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) had a high expression in liver fibrosis and played a central role in its pathobiology. Interestingly, we found that a cryptolepine derivative (HZ-6h) could inhibit liver fibrosis by reducing MeCP2 expression, as evidenced by the dramatic downregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen alpha-1 (Col1α1) in protein levels in vitro. Meanwhile, we also found that HZ-6h could reduce the cell viability and promote apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) treated with transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1). Then, we investigated the potential molecular mechanisms and found that HZ-6h blocked Shh signaling in HSC-T6 cells, resulting in the decreased protein expression of Patched-1 (PTCH-1), Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1). In short, these results indicate that HZ-6h inhibits liver fibrosis by downregulating MeCP2 through the Shh pathway in TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document