TGF-β1,Smad与肝纤维化关系研究新进展

肝纤维化并不是一种独立的疾病,它是在各种慢性肝脏损伤引起的组织修复过程中,多种细胞因子共同作用所致肝内结缔组织异常增生的一种病理性改变。其特征是细胞外基质(ECM)的生成与降解失衡,导致ECM的过度沉积,其     

肝巨噬细胞与肝星状细胞交互作用对 肝纤维化发生与逆转的影响

肝纤维化是由各种病因所导致的肝脏病理性反应,是发展成肝硬化甚至肝癌的必经途径.以往研究发现,肝纤维化甚至是肝硬化早期都可以通过一定的干预治疗抑制与逆转病情,该过程有多种肝实质以及非实质细胞参与,肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cell,HSC)与肝巨噬细胞是肝纤维化进程中关键的细胞类型.HSCs是肝纤维化...     

表观遗传修饰对肝纤维化调控作用的研究进展

肝纤维化(hepatic fibrosis, HF)是由各种致病因子所引起的肝脏持续炎症反应和纤维结缔组织异常增生的过程,是肝硬化和肝癌发展的必经阶段。近年来,越来越多的研究发现表观遗传修饰通过改变DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰及非编码RNA (non-coding RNA, ncRNA)表达等,在不改变核酸序列的前提下,对肝内实质细胞和非实质细胞的重要信号转导通路、细胞因子和趋化因子的表达等进行调控,进而影响肝纤维化的发生发展。该文就表观遗传修饰在肝纤维化中的调控作用进行综述。     

天然产物通过诱导铁死亡改善肝纤维化的研究进展

肝纤维化是多种慢性肝病发展为肝硬化和肝癌所必须经历的共同病理过程,在其发生、发展过程中受到多种细胞因子以及信号通路的调控。铁死亡是由铁过载、氧化还原稳态紊乱和脂质过氧化增加引起的一种新的细胞死亡调控模式,与肝纤维化密切相关。诱导肝星状细胞发生铁死亡可能是肝纤维化治疗的潜在靶标。许多天然产物可以诱导肝星状细胞发生铁死亡进而抑制肝纤维化的进展,因此越来越受到关注。然而,关于天然产物通过铁死亡途径调节肝纤维化的综述文章却相对较少。该文简述了天然产物通过铁死亡调控影响肝纤维化的干预机制及应用,重点探讨铁死亡与肝纤维化的关系,以及天然产物靶向铁死亡对肝纤维化的调控作用,旨在为天然产物治疗代谢性疾病和肝脏疾病的发展提供新的理论依据,也为将来的药物制取提供更多的备选策略。     

NK细胞生物特性及抗肿瘤治疗研究进展

自然杀伤(natural killer, NK)细胞是体内的关键先天淋巴细胞,具有抗肿瘤和抗感染等功能。与适应性免疫细胞不同, NK细胞缺乏特异性抗原受体,在发育、分化和激活方面具有明显的生物学特性。NK细胞与多种疾病(包括癌症和感染性疾病)的发生和发展相关。目前,主动修复肿瘤患者NK细胞功能缺陷或被动输入高活性NK细胞已成为基于NK细胞的治疗的两种主要策略。前者包括NK细胞免疫检查点抑制剂、细胞因子激活剂和特异性NK细胞活化性受体衔接器等方法;后者则包括同种异体NK细胞和嵌合抗原受体修饰的NK(chimeric antigen receptor engineered NK, CARNK)细胞治疗等。该文将介绍NK细胞的生物学特性以及近期在基于NK细胞的生物治疗方面的一些新进展。     

血吸虫病肝纤维化形成的作用机制

血吸虫病(schistosomiasis)是世界上严重危害人类健康的人兽共患寄生虫病之一。在中国主要流行的是日本血吸虫病,其致病机制是由于血吸虫卵沉积于宿主肝内,形成虫卵肉芽肿,导致肝纤维化。血吸虫病肝纤维化免疫过程中,肝星状细胞、T细胞、B细胞及多种细胞因子的调节起着重要作用。现就血吸虫病肝纤维化形成机制的相关研究进展进行了综述。     

骨桥蛋白与肝脏发育、肝再生及肝脏疾病

骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)是一种分泌型磷酸化糖蛋白,结构上与多种胞外基质蛋白相似,功能上具有细胞因子的特点,在多种生理、病理过程中发挥重要作用。在肝中,它可能参与肝脏发育和肝再生,并与急性肝炎、脂肪性肝炎、肝纤维化及肝癌等疾病的发生、发展密切相关。本文综述了OPN在肝脏发育、肝再生和肝脏疾病等中的作用研究进展,为开展OPN在促进肝再生及肝脏疾病诊断、治疗方面的应用提供重要理论基础。     

TGF-β与转录因子在肝纤维化中的相互作用

肝纤维化的形成是由于肝脏持续性损伤以及细胞外基质合成和降解失衡所引起的。转化生长因子-β(Transforming growth factor-β,TGF-β)是肝纤维化形成中的关键细胞因子,在肝纤维化发生、发展过程中起着至关重要的作用。一些与TGF-β相关的转录因子如AP1、STAT3及Foxo3a等也参与肝纤维化的调控过程。现就在肝纤维化中TGF-β与转录因子AP1、STAT3和Foxo3a的相互作用作一综述。     

铁和铁调素在肝纤维化中的作用

多种慢性肝纤维化疾病均伴有肝脏过多的铁沉积,铁在肝纤维化发病中起重要作用。其机制包括:铁通过催化自由基生成和脂质过氧化反应破坏细胞生物大分子,引起细胞凋亡和坏死,激活肝星状细胞转化为肌成纤维细胞等。近来研究证实,由肝脏产生的铁调素(Hepc)表达的降低在慢性肝纤维化疾病肝脏铁沉积中起重要作用,补充外源性Hepc可以降低肝纤维化患者肝脏铁含量。因此,铁调素用于治疗铁过载疾病及肝纤维化具有重要价值。     

m6A修饰在肝纤维化中的研究进展

N⁶-甲基腺苷(N⁶-methyladenosine,m⁶A)作为真核生物中最丰富的RNA内部修饰,影响RNA的加工,调节mRNA翻译效率,并与多种表观遗传学机制发生交互作用,进而在多种生理过程中调控基因的表达。肝纤维化是细胞外基质(extracellular matrix,ECM)蛋白(主要是Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原蛋白)积累形成的纤维瘢痕取代正常组织的过程,是肝脏对慢性损伤的病理性修复反应。m⁶A修饰直接参与肝细胞损伤、炎症细胞募集和肝星状细胞激活等肝纤维化过程,并通过降低HBV蛋白的表达、与微RNA (microRNA)和肠道菌群相互作用等途径间接影响肝纤维化的发生发展。由于肝脏的再生能力较强,当慢性炎症或肝损伤的主要病因去除后,早期已经发生纤维化的肝脏可逆转为正常肝脏。m⁶A修饰在肝纤维化中的双重作用可为平衡机体纤维化过程提供思路。该文综述了m⁶A修饰在肝纤维化中的功能和作用机制,以期为相关疾病的诊疗提供新的思路。     

Roles of heterogenous hepatic macrophages in the progression of liver diseases

Hepatic macrophages are key immune cells associated with the broad ranges of liver diseases including steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Hepatic macrophages interact with other immune cells and orchestrate hepatic immune circumstances. Recently, the heterogenous populations of hepatic macrophages have been discovered termed residential Kupffer cells and monocyte-derived macrophages, and identified their distinct population dynamics during the progression of various liver diseases. Liver injury lead to Kupffer cells activation with induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which triggers recruitment of inflammatory monocyte-derived macrophages. To understand liver pathology, the functions of different subtypes of liver macrophages should be regarded with different perspectives. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the roles of hepatic macrophages under liver damages and suggest hepatic macrophages as promising therapeutic targets for treating liver diseases.     

Cytokines in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote the healing of liver disease

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells(ADSCs) are a treatment cell source for patients with chronic liver injury. ADSCs are characterized by being harvested from the patient's own subcutaneous adipose tissue, a high cell yield(i.e., reduced immune rejection response), accumulation at a disease nidus, suppression of excessive immune response, production of various growth factors and cytokines, angiogenic effects, antiapoptotic effects, and control of immune cells via cellcell interaction. We previously showed that conditioned medium of ADSCs promoted hepatocyte proliferation and improved the liver function in a mouse model of acute liver failure. Furthermore, as found by many other groups, the administration of ADSCs improved liver tissue fibrosis in a mouse model of liver cirrhosis. A comprehensive protein expression analysis by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry showed that the various cytokines and chemokines produced by ADSCs promote the healing of liver disease. In this review, we examine the ability of expressed protein components of ADSCs to promote healing in cell therapy for liver disease. Previous studies demonstrated that ADSCs are a treatment cell source for patients with chronic liver injury. This review describes the various cytokines and chemokines produced by ADSCs that promote the healing of liver disease.     

Intercellular communication among liver cells in the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver: Pathophysiology and therapeutic directions

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the perisinusoidal space are surrounded by hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and other resident immune cells. In the normal liver, HSCs communicate with these cells to maintain normal liver functions. However, after chronic liver injury, injured hepatocytes release several proinflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species, and damage-associated molecular patterns into the perisinusoidal space. Consequently, such alteration activates quiescent HSCs to acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype and express high amounts of transforming growth factor-β1, angiopoietins, vascular endothelial growth factors, interleukins 6 and 8, fibril forming collagens, laminin, and E-cadherin. These phenotypic and functional transdifferentiation lead to hepatic fibrosis with a typical abnormal extracellular matrix synthesis and disorganization of the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver. Those changes provide a favorable environment that regulates tumor cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and survival in the perisinusoidal space. Such tumor cells by releasing transforming growth factor-β1 and other cytokines, will, in turn, activate and deeply interact with HSCs via a bidirectional loop. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinoma-derived mediators convert HSCs and macrophages into protumorigenic cell populations. Thus, the perisinusoidal space serves as a critical hub for activating HSCs and their interactions with other cell types, which cause a variety of liver diseases such as hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and their complications, such as portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, targeting the crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells/immune cells in the tumor microenvironment may also support a promising therapeutic strategy.     

Th17 Down-regulation Is Involved in Reduced Progression of Schistosomiasis Fibrosis in ICOSL KO Mice

Background

Granulomatous and fibrosing inflammation in response to parasite eggs is the main pathology that occurs during infection with Schistosoma spp. CD4+ T cells play critical roles in both host immune responses against parasitic infection and immunopathology in schistosomiasis,and coordinate many types of immune cells that contribute to fibrosis. ICOSL plays an important role in controlling specific aspects of T cell activation, differentiation, and function. Previous work has suggested that ICOS is essential for Th17 cell development. However, the immunopathogenesis of this pathway in schistosomiasis fibrosisis still unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using models of schistosomiasis in ICOSL KO and the C57BL/6 WT mice, we studied the role of the ICOSL/ICOS interaction in the mediation of the Th17 response in host granulomatous inflammation, particularly in liver fibrosis during S. japonicum infection, and investigated the immune responses and pathology of ICOSL KO mice in these models. The results showed that ICOSL KO mice exhibited improved survival, reduced liver granulomatous inflammation around parasite eggs, markedly inhibited hepatic fibrosis development, lower levels of Th17-related cytokines (IL-17/IL-21), Th2-related cytokines (IL-4/IL-6/IL-10), a pro-fibrotic cytokine (IL-13), and TGF-β1, but higher level of Th1-related cytokine (IFN-γ) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The reduced progression of fibrogenesis was correlated with the down-regulation of Th17 and Th2 and the elimination of ICOSL/ICOS interactions.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest that IL-17-producing cells contribute to the hepatic granulomatous inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. Importantly, there was a clearly positive correlation between the presence of IL-17-producing cells and ICOS expression in ICOSL KO mice, and additional results indicated that Th17 was involved in the pathological tissue remodeling in liver fibrosis induced by schistosomiasis.     

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression by interleukin-1 alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha in hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key players in liver fibrosis and regeneration via collagen degradation and synthesis. These phenomena involve inflammatory cytokines released from non-parenchymal liver cells such as Kupffer cells. Although the effects of individual cytokines on many cell types have been investigated in various conditions, such as inflammation and tissue fibrosis, investigating the effect of combined cytokines would further our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms in tissue fibrosis. Here, we report the effect of multiple cytokine combinations on primary HSCs. We first examined the effect of individual cytokines and then the simultaneous exposure of different cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 alpha (IL-1α), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), on matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) gene expression in primary HSCs. We observed that the combination of all five cytokines induced higher levels of MMP1 gene expression. Of these cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1α were found to be the key cytokines for not only inducing MMP1 expression, but also increasing α-smooth muscle actin gene expression. In conclusion, the combined treatment of TNF-α and IL-1α on HSCs had an enhanced effect on the expression of the fibrotic genes, MMP1 and α-smooth muscle actin, so appears to be an important regulator for tissue regeneration. This finding suggests that stimulation with combined anti-fibrotic cytokines is a potential approach in the development of a novel therapy for the recovery of liver fibrosis.     

肝纤维化发病机制中细胞和分子机制的研究进展

关于肝纤维化形成的复杂的细胞和分子联系已经有了相当多的研究进展。最近的数据表明,纤维化进程的终止和纤维分解途径的恢复可以逆转晚期肝纤维化甚至肝硬化。因此,需要更好地阐明参与肝纤维化的细胞和分子机制。HSC(肝星状细胞)的激活是肝纤维化发生的中心事件,此外还有产生基质的其他细胞来源,包括肝门区的成纤维细胞,纤维细胞和骨髓来源的肌纤维母细胞。这些细胞与其邻近细胞通过多种联系聚集产生纤维疤痕并造成持续性损伤。阐明不同类型的细胞的相互作用,揭示细胞因子对这些细胞的影响,理清活化HSC基因表达的调控,将有助于我们探索新的肝纤维化治疗靶点。此外,不同的病因有不同的致病途径,弄清这一点有助于针对特异性疾病治疗方法的发现。本文概述了肝纤维化的细胞和分子机制的最新研究进展,可能为未来治疗方法带来新的突破。     

Ubiquitously specific protease 4 inhibitor-Vialinin A attenuates inflammation and fibrosis in S100-induced hepatitis mice through Rheb/mTOR signalling

Inflammation and fibrosis are major consequences of autoimmune hepatitis, however, the therapeutic mechanism remains to be investigated. USP4 is a deubiquitinating enzyme and plays an important role in tissue fibrosis and immune disease. Vialinin A is an extract from mushroom and is a specific USP4 inhibitor. However, there is lack of evidences that Vialinin A plays a role in autoimmune hepatitis. By employing S100-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice and AML12 cell line, therapeutic mechanism of Vialinin A was examined. Inflammation was documented by liver histological staining and inflammatory cytokines. Fibrosis was demonstrated by Masson, Sirius red staining and fibrotic cytokines with western blot and real-time RT-PCR. In experimental animal, there were increases in inflammation and fibrosis as well as USP4, and which were reduced after treatment of Vialinin A. Vialinin A also reduced Rheb and phosphorylated mTOR. Moreover, in LPS-treated AML12 cells, LPS-induced USP4, inflammatory and fibrotic cytokines, phosphorylated mTOR and Rheb. Specific inhibitory siRNA of USP4 reduced USP4 level and the parameters mentioned above. In conclusion, USP4 was significantly elevated in autoimmune hepatitis mice and Vialinin A reduced USP4 level and attenuate inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. The mechanism may be related to regulation of Rheb/mTOR signalling.     

Addressing Liver Fibrosis with Liposomes Targeted to Hepatic Stellate Cells

Liver fibrosis is a chronic disease that results from hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol abuse or metabolic and genetic disorders. Ultimately, progression of fibrosis leads to cirrhosis, a stage of the disease characterized by failure of the normal liver functions. Currently, the treatment of liver fibrosis is mainly based on the removal of the underlying cause of the disease and liver transplantation, which is the only treatment for patients with advanced fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are considered to be key players in the development of liver fibrosis. Chronically activated HSC produces large amounts of extracellular matrix and enhance fibrosis by secreting a broad spectrum of cytokines that exert pro-fibrotic actions in other cells, and in an autocrine manner perpetuate their own activation. Therefore, therapeutic interventions that inhibit activation of HSC and its pro-fibrotic activities are currently under investigation worldwide. In the present study we applied targeted liposomes as drug carriers to HSC in the fibrotic liver and explored the potential of these liposomes in antifibrotic therapies. Moreover, we investigated effects of bioactive compounds delivered by these liposomes on the progression of liver fibrosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that lipid-based drug carriers can be selectively delivered to HSC in the fibrotic liver. By incorporating the bioactive lipid DLPC, these liposomes can modulate different processes such as inflammation and fibrogenesis in the fibrotic liver. This dual functionality of liposomes as a drug carrier system with intrinsic biological effects may be exploited in new approaches to treat liver fibrosis.     

Addressing liver fibrosis with liposomes targeted to hepatic stellate cells

Liver fibrosis is a chronic disease that results from hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol abuse or metabolic and genetic disorders. Ultimately, progression of fibrosis leads to cirrhosis, a stage of the disease characterized by failure of the normal liver functions. Currently, the treatment of liver fibrosis is mainly based on the removal of the underlying cause of the disease and liver transplantation, which is the only treatment for patients with advanced fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are considered to be key players in the development of liver fibrosis. Chronically activated HSC produces large amounts of extracellular matrix and enhance fibrosis by secreting a broad spectrum of cytokines that exert pro-fibrotic actions in other cells, and in an autocrine manner perpetuate their own activation. Therefore, therapeutic interventions that inhibit activation of HSC and its pro-fibrotic activities are currently under investigation worldwide. In the present study we applied targeted liposomes as drug carriers to HSC in the fibrotic liver and explored the potential of these liposomes in antifibrotic therapies. Moreover, we investigated effects of bioactive compounds delivered by these liposomes on the progression of liver fibrosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that lipid-based drug carriers can be selectively delivered to HSC in the fibrotic liver. By incorporating the bioactive lipid DLPC, these liposomes can modulate different processes such as inflammation and fibrogenesis in the fibrotic liver. This dual functionality of liposomes as a drug carrier system with intrinsic biological effects may be exploited in new approaches to treat liver fibrosis.     

Immunological and molecular aspects of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Chronic C hepatitis represents a major health problem worldwide, mainly because progression of the tissue damage leads to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of liver fibrosis. In particular we consider some immunologic aspects that regulate the interaction between HCV and the host immune defense. Reflections are made about the roles played by the host capacity to respond to the viral infection during therapy and the consequences of the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins leading to the development of fibrosis. The involvement of inflammatory cytokines in regulating the proteolytic remodeling of the liver and the ECM turn-over is essential for the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), that have an important role in the progression of liver fibrosis. Finally, we analyze one of the aspects involved in the activation of the HSCs, namely the proteolytic remodeling of the surrounding environment.