Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David M. Dolivo, Adrian E. Rodrigues, Thomas A. Mustoe, Robert D. Galiano, Seok Jong Hong
Summary: Cellular therapies hold promise for fibrosis treatment. A recent article presents a strategy and proof-of-concept for delivering stimulated cells to degrade hepatic collagen in vivo. The discussion highlights the strengths of this approach and its potential to generalize to treat other forms of fibrosis.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Meritxell Perramon, Silvia Carvajal, Vedrana Reichenbach, Guillermo Fernandez-Varo, Loreto Boix, Laura Macias-Munoz, Pedro Melgar-Lesmes, Jordi Bruix, Shlomo Melmed, Santiago Lamas, Wladimiro Jimenez
Summary: The PTTG1/DLK1 pathway plays a crucial role in liver fibrosis, and silencing PTTG1 can reduce fibrosis and attenuate collagen deposition.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Aidan Brougham-Cook, Ishita Jain, David A. Kukla, Faisal Masood, Hannah Kimmel, Hyeon Ryoo, Salman R. Khetani, Gregory H. Underhill
Summary: Liver fibrosis, a common feature of progressive liver disease, involves hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as main drivers, affected by external bio-chemo-mechanical changes. The composition and stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate HSC fibrogenic phenotype and proliferation, leading to distinct phenotypic clusters based on microenvironment context. The study highlights the potential functional adaptations of HSCs to specific bio-chemo-mechanical changes and the importance of microenvironment in healthy, disease, and treatment settings.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Theerut Luangmonkong, Warisara Parichatikanond, Peter Olinga
Summary: Liver fibrosis is caused by excessive production, abnormal deposition, and impaired degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). The effective and safe strategy to halt fibrosis progression is still lacking. Regulating the homeostasis of collagen, the most abundant ECM protein, could be an effective strategy for liver fibrosis treatment.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Usman Sabir, Hong-mei Gu, Da-Wei Zhang
Summary: MMPs have a complex role in liver fibrosis, with high expression in the early stage causing tissue damage and promoting fibrosis progression, and downregulation in the later stage facilitating ECM accumulation and disease progression. Phytochemicals can modulate MMP activity and ECM turnover, alleviating disease progression, but their effects depend on disease models, stages, and the dosage, timing, and duration of phytochemicals used.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Stine Johansen, Mads F. Israelsen, Ida Villesen, Nikolaj J. Torp, Mette Nielsen, Maria P. Kjaergaard, Katrine D. Lindvig, Camilla Hansen, Peter N. Andersen, Ditlev Rasmussen, Sonke J. Detlefsen, Diana Leeming, Maja Thiele, Morten Karsdal, Aleksander Krag, Ema Anastasiadou, Manimozhian Arumugam, Peer Bork, Torben Hansen, Roland Henrar, Hans Israelsen, Morten Karsdal, Cristina Legido-Quigley, Hans Olav Melberg, Maja Thiele, Jonel Trebicka, Aleksander Krag, Mathias Mann, Jelle Matthijnssens
Summary: This study aimed to assess the PRO-C3 model in predicting liver-related events in patients with alcohol-related liver disease. The results showed that the PRO-C3 model had high prognostic accuracy in predicting these events.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Andrea Reszegi, Peter Tatrai, Eszter Regos, Ilona Kovalszky, Kornelia Baghy
Summary: Syndecan-1 is a protein that regulates cell activities and plays a crucial role in liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including cell proliferation, inflammation, and matrix remodeling.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiting Yang, Xuzhen Yan, Hufeng Xu, Xu Fan, Mengyang Zhang, Tao Huang, Weiyu Li, Wei Chen, Jidong Jia, Hong You
Summary: The deficiency of HSCs-specific Loxl1 can prevent CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and reduce fibrosis and inflammation in liver tissue, with ITGA8/FAK/PI3K/AKT/HIF1a being essential for the function and expression of LOXL1. The study suggests novel mechanisms and potential targets for the treatment of fibrosis in the future.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liu Yang, Yue Lang, Haoguang Wu, Kaiyan Xiang, Yuanzheng Wang, Mengqi Yu, Yu Liu, Bowei Yang, Liangcan He, Guangming Lu, Qianqian Ni, Xiaoyuan Chen, Longjiang Zhang
Summary: This study presents an improved CpG-based immunotherapy approach using a synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM)-anchored DNA/peptide hybrid nano-agonist (EaCpG) to enhance the potency and safety of CpG for combinational cancer immunotherapies. The EaCpG shows increased intratumoral retention and minimal systemic dissemination, leading to potent antitumor immune response and tumor elimination.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mari E. Strand, Maarten Vanhaverbeke, Michiel T. H. M. Henkens, Maurits A. Sikking, Karoline B. Rypdal, Bjorn Braathen, Vibeke M. Almaas, Theis Tonnessen, Geir Christensen, Stephane Heymans, Ida G. Lunde
Summary: Circulating biomarkers reflecting cardiac inflammation are needed to improve the diagnostics and guide the treatment of heart failure patients. The shedding of syndecan-4 from cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts was attenuated by immunomodulatory therapy. However, the levels of syndecan-4 did not reflect cardiac inflammatory status in patients with heart disease.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xinghua Wang, Anthony Pham, Lu Kang, Sierra A. Walker, Irina Davidovich, Dalila Iannotta, Sarvam P. TerKonda, Shane Shapiro, Yeshayahu Talmon, Si Pham, Joy Wolfram
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released by cells that transfer biomolecules between cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in EVs play a significant role in modulating signaling pathways in recipient cells. This study shows that miR-451a, abundant in EVs from adipose tissue, can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhance anti-inflammatory cytokines in the TLR4 pathway.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Katarzyna Hackert, Susanne Homann, Shakila Mir, Arne Beran, Simone Gorressen, Florian Funk, Jens W. Fischer, Maria Grandoch, Joachim P. Schmitt
Summary: 4-MU can attenuate inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling in pressure-overloaded myocardium by reducing both resident and invading cardiac macrophages, leading to reduced myocardial fibrosis. Additionally, 4-MU also reduces left ventricular hypertrophy and increases cardiac output after TAC surgery.
Review
Cell Biology
Zui Tan, Hongbao Sun, Taixiong Xue, Cailing Gan, Hongyao Liu, Yuting Xie, Yuqin Yao, Tinghong Ye
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a result of abnormal wound repair response caused by chronic liver injuries, potentially leading to severe diseases. The detailed mechanism of reversing liver fibrosis is still unclear, posing a challenge in the development of anti-fibrosis drugs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi Chen, Jiabao Huang, Yulin Ye, Azhen Hu, Bingxuan Xu, Die Hu, Linlin Wang, Lijun Xing, Shuting Chen, Xingang Gui, Weizhao Tong, Yiming Gan, Tingting Zheng, Jie Zheng, Li Liu, Guoxin Hu
Summary: Hepatic fibrosis, characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, hinders nanoparticle passage. Sonoporation, inspired by drug delivery through blood-brain barrier and tumor tissues, is investigated as an alternative strategy for improving drug delivery for fibrotic diseases. In this study, the combination of hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) and sonoporation showed the most significant attenuation of liver fibrosis among three delivery strategies, with improved drug delivery efficiency and synergistic effects.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Bai Ruan, Juan-Li Duan, Hao Xu, Kai-Shan Tao, Hua Han, Guo-Rui Dou, Lin Wang
Summary: Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells undergo partial endothelial mesenchymal transition during liver fibrosis, leading to increased extracellular matrix production without activating cell mobility. Targeting this transitional process may be valuable for antifibrotic treatment of liver fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)