scholarly journals Design and Synthesis of Matrine Derivatives as Novel Anti-Pulmonary Fibrotic Agents via Repression of the TGFβ/Smad Pathway

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingyu Li ◽  
Liyan Ma ◽  
Dongchun Wang ◽  
Hongmei Jia ◽  
Meng Yu ◽  
...  

A total of 18 matrine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibitory effect against TGF-β1-induced total collagen accumulation in human fetal lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell lines. Among them, compound 3f displayed the most potent anti-fibrotic activity (IC50 = 3.3 ± 0.3 μM) which was 266-fold more potent than matrine. 3f significantly inhibited the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and extracellular matrix production of MRC-5 cells. The TGF-β/small mothers against decapentaplegic homologs (Smad) signaling was also inhibited by 3f, as evidenced by inhibition of cytoplasm-to-nuclear translocation of Smad2/3 and suppression of TGF-β1-induced upregulation of TGF-β receptor type I (TGFβRI). Additionally, 3f exhibited potent inhibitory effects against TGF-β1-induced fibroblasts migration. These data suggested that 3f might be a potential agent for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via repression of the TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway.

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1761-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhao ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Ai-li Cao ◽  
Ming-Qian Jiang ◽  
Xia Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: Traditional Chinese Medicine compound HuangQi decoction is widely used in clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease, but its role on renal interstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of HuangQi decoction on renal interstitial fibrosis and its association with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway Methods: A total of 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, sham plus high-dose HuangQi decoction (1.08g/kg) group, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model group, and UUO model plus low to high doses of HuangQi decoction (0.12g/kg, 0.36g/kg and 1.08g/kg respectively) groups. Animals were sacrificed 14 days after the administration and ipsilateral kidney tissue was sampled for pathologic examinations. Immunohistochemistry, PCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of related molecules in the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. TGF-β1 was used in in vitro experiments to induce human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK2). Results: HuangQi decoction improved ipsilateral kidney fibrosis in UUO mice and downregulated the expressions of TGF-β1, TβRI, TβRII, Smad4, Smad2/3, P-Smad2/3, α-SMA, collagen type I, III and IV in a dose-dependent manner while upregulated the expression of Smad7 in the same fashion. Similar results were found in in vitro studies. Conclusion: The protective effect of HuangQi decoction for unilateral ureteral obstruction kidney damage in mice was mediated by downregulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zha Ru ◽  
Ying Hu ◽  
Shenghua Huang ◽  
Li Bai ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
...  

Background. Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a benign fibroproliferative skin disease resulting from an aberrant wound healing process and can cause aesthetic and functional damage to patients. Currently, there is no ideal treatment to treat this disease. Galangin, a natural active bioflavonoid compound, is suggested to inhibit fibrosis and proliferation in certain cells. Methods. In this study, we found Galangin could attenuate abnormal scar formation in an HS rabbit ear model. Additionally, the HE staining shows Galangin reduced scar elevation index (SEI) and Masson’s trichrome staining changed collagen deposition. Results. The expressions of type I collagen, type III collagen, and TGF-β1 were much lower under a proper dose of Galangin treatment, and Smad7 expression was also enhanced, which are examined by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot. Conclusion. Our data indicated that Galangin can alleviate dermal scarring via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway probably by upregulating Smad 7 expression and, thus, suppressing the expression of type I and type III collagens and TGF-β1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongyi Bo ◽  
Yurun Miao ◽  
Rui Xi ◽  
Qiuping Zhong ◽  
Chenyi Bao ◽  
...  

Abstract Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) is an intracellular sensor of cytoplasmic viral DNA created during virus infection, which subsequently activates the stimulator of interferon gene (STING)-dependent type I interferon response to eliminate pathogens. In contrast, viruses have developed different strategies to modulate this signalling pathway. Pseudorabies virus (PRV), an alphaherpesvirus, is the causative agent of Aujeszky’s disease (AD), a notable disease that causes substantial economic loss to the swine industry globally. Previous reports have shown that PRV infection induces cGAS-dependent IFN-β production, conversely hydrolysing cGAMP, a second messenger synthesized by cGAS, and attenuates PRV-induced IRF3 activation and IFN-β secretion. However, it is not clear whether PRV open reading frames (ORFs) modulate the cGAS–STING-IRF3 pathway. Here, 50 PRV ORFs were screened, showing that PRV UL13 serine/threonine kinase blocks the cGAS–STING-IRF3-, poly(I:C)- or VSV-mediated transcriptional activation of the IFN-β gene. Importantly, it was discovered that UL13 phosphorylates IRF3, and its kinase activity is indispensable for such an inhibitory effect. Moreover, UL13 does not affect IRF3 dimerization, nuclear translocation or association with CREB-binding protein (CBP) but attenuates the binding of IRF3 to the IRF3-responsive promoter. Consistent with this, it was discovered that UL13 inhibits the expression of multiple interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) induced by cGAS–STING or poly(I:C). Finally, it was determined that PRV infection can activate IRF3 by recruiting it to the nucleus, and PRVΔUL13 mutants enhance the transactivation level of the IFN-β gene. Taken together, the data from the present study demonstrated that PRV UL13 inhibits cGAS–STING-mediated IFN-β production by phosphorylating IRF3.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (2) ◽  
pp. L428-L432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Kohyama ◽  
Xiangde Liu ◽  
Hui Jung Kim ◽  
Tetsu Kobayashi ◽  
Ronald F. Ertl ◽  
...  

The controlled accumulation of fibroblasts to sites of inflammation is crucial to effective tissue repair after injury. Either inadequate or excessive accumulation of fibroblasts could result in abnormal tissue function. Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a potent mediator in the coagulation and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PGI2on chemotaxis of human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1). Using the blind well chamber technique, we found that the PGI2analog carbaprostacyclin (10−6M) inhibited HFL-1 chemotaxis to human plasma fibronectin (20 μg/ml) 58.0 ± 13.2% ( P < 0.05) and to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB (10 ng/ml) 48.7 ± 4.6% ( P < 0.05). Checkerboard analysis demonstrated that carbaprostacyclin inhibits both directed and undirected migration. The inhibitory effect of the carbaprostacyclin was concentration dependent and blocked by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor KT-5720, suggesting that a cAMP-PKA pathway may be involved in the process. Two other PGI2analogs, ciprostene and dehydro-15-cyclohexyl carbaprostacyclin (both 10−6M), significantly inhibited fibroblast migration to fibronectin. In summary, PGI2appears to inhibit fibroblast chemotaxis to fibronectin and PDGF-BB. Such an effect may contribute to the regulation of fibroblasts in wound healing and could contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by abnormal tissue repair remodeling.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (5) ◽  
pp. H1742-H1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunilla Dahlfors ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Maria Wasteson ◽  
Hans J. Arnqvist

The interaction of ANG II with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced DNA synthesis was studied in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. PDGF-BB-induced DNA synthesis was delayed (∼6–8 h) by ANG II as shown by a time-course experiment. Losartan, an AT1-receptor antagonist, blocked the transient inhibitory effect of ANG II, whereas the AT2-receptor antagonist PD-123319 had no effect. Autocrine- or paracrine-acting transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), believed to be a mediator of ANG II-induced inhibitory effects, was not responsible for the delay of PDGF-BB-induced DNA synthesis, because a potent TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody could not reverse this effect of ANG II, nor was the delay of the PDGF-BB effect caused by inhibition of PDGF-β-receptor phosphorylation as shown by Western blot analysis of immunoprecipitated PDGF-β receptor. In conclusion, our results show that ANG II can exert a transient inhibitory effect on PDGF-BB-induced proliferation via the AT1 receptor.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5148
Author(s):  
Afshin Derakhshani ◽  
Nicola Silvestris ◽  
Nima Hemmat ◽  
Zahra Asadzadeh ◽  
Mahdi Abdoli Shadbad ◽  
...  

Since the current treatments have not resulted in the desired outcomes for melanoma patients, there is a need to identify more effective medications. Together with other snake venom proteins, cytotoxin-II has shown promising results in tumoral cells. In this study, recombinant cytotoxin-II (rCTII) was expressed in SHuffle® T7 Express cells, while the epitope mapping of rCTII was performed to reveal the antibody-binding regions of rCTII. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to assess the viability of SK-MEL-3 and HFF-2 cells after treating these cells with rCTII. The qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP-3), SMAD2, SMAD3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and miR-214 in order to reveal the rCTII-induced signaling pathways in melanoma. Our results have shown that two regions of amino acids, 6–16 and 19–44, as predicted epitopes of this toxin, are essential for understanding the toxicity of rCTII. Treating the melanoma cells with rCTII substantially inhibited the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)–SMAD signaling pathway and down-regulated the expression of MMP-3 and miR-214 as well. This cytotoxin also restored apoptosis mainly via the intrinsic pathway. The down-regulation of MMP-3 and miR-214 might be associated with the anti-metastatic property of rCTII in melanoma. The inhibitory effect of rCTII on the TGF-β signaling pathway might be associated with increased apoptosis and decreased cancer cell proliferation. It is interesting to see that the IC50 value of rCTII has been lower in the melanoma cells than non-tumoral cells, which may indicate its potential effects as a drug. In conclusion, rCTII, as a novel medication, might serve as a potent and efficient anticancer drug in melanoma.


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