The myofibroblast markers α-SM actin and β-actin are differentially expressed in 2 and 3-D culture models of fibrotic and normal skin

To characterize the differences between fibrotic myofibroblasts and normal fibroblasts, we studied two differentiation markers: -smooth muscle (SM) actin, a specific marker of myofibroblast differentiation, and -actin, which is overexpressed in the fibrotic tissue. Experiments were performed on fibroblasts isolated from normal pig skin and on subcutaneous myofibroblasts isolated from pig radiation-induced fibrosis. Three culture models were used: cells in monolayers, equivalent dermis, consisting of fibroblasts embedded into a matrix composed of type I collagen, and in vitro reconstituted skin, in which the matrix and containing life fibroblasts were overlaid with keratinocytes. Samples were studied using immunofluorescence and western-blotting. In monolayers cultures, both fibrosis and normal cells expressed -SM actin. Furthermore, similar amounts of -actin protein were found. In these conditions, the resulting alterations in the phenotypes of cells made comparison of cultured fibrotic and normal cells irrelevant. Under the two 3-D culture models, normal fibroblasts no longer expressed -SM actin. They expressed -actin at the basal level. Moreover, the fibrotic myofibroblasts in both 3-D models retained their differentiation features, expressing -SM actin and overexpressing -actin. We found that this normalization was mainly related to the genomic programmation acquired by the cells in the tissue. Cellular motility and microenvironment were also involved, whereas cellular proliferation was not a major factor. Consequently, both three-dimensional models allowed the study of radiation-induced fibrosis in vitro, provided good extrapolations to in vivo conditions and avoided certain of culture artefacts.     

异种血清诱发肝纤维化模型中ECM变化的研究

为了观察异种血清诱发肝纤维化过程中细胞外基质（ECM）及其生成细胞的变化规律,经腹腔注射猪血清建立大鼠肝纤维化模型,以免疫组织化学方法显示肝内胶原（Col）Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ型和纤连蛋白（Fn）及其生成细胞。结果：①Fn最早在汇管区、小叶间隔内沉积,ColⅢ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ随之增多,停止血清注射后它们都明显减弱或消失;ColⅠ沉积出现最迟,但阳性迅速增强,停止注射后仍较强;②结蛋白（Dm）阳性的肝星状细胞（HSC,原称Ito细胞）其分布和数量变化与Fn和ColⅡ基本同步,而位于汇管区及细胞间隔的原始间叶细胞（PMC）Dm（-）。提示ECM生成细胞可能来自细胞骨架表型不同的PMC和HSC,本模型由于能清晰地显示ECM及其生成细胞而更适用于肝纤维化机制及防治的研究。     

Wnt/beta-catenin信号通路关键因子在放射性肺纤维化中的作用

目的：观察直线加速器X射线照射对人肺成纤维细胞(HLFs)Wnt/beta-catenin 信号通路关键信号因子的影响并探讨其意义。方 法：HLFs分别经直线加速器0Gy、5Gy、8Gy X线照射后,MTT 比色法检测其增殖活性,筛选合适照射剂量。人肺成纤维细胞分为 照射组(R 组)和正常对照组(C 组),R 组经直线加速器X射线,5 Gy 照射24 h后,免疫荧光检测成纤维细胞alpha-SMA表达,Western blot检测成纤维细胞中GSK-3beta、p-GSK-3beta表达。结果：X 线5 Gy照射剂量可使人肺成纤维细胞增殖活力增强,较0 Gy、8 Gy增 殖曲线明显。照射组人肺成纤维细胞形态较正常组有明显差异。照射组人肺成纤维细胞琢-SMA,p-GSK-3beta表达水平升高, p-GSK-3beta/GSK-3beta比值升高,与正常对照组比较均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：Wnt/beta-catenin 信号通路在放射性肺损伤的发生 发展中起调控作用,可能为放射性肺纤维化的治疗提供了新视角。     

牛磺酸对四氯化碳诱导的小鼠肝纤维化模型中IL-6影响

目的:观察牛磺酸对四氯化碳(CCl4)诱导的小鼠肝纤维化模型血清中IL-6的影响。方法:将30只雄性SPF级C57B/L小鼠随机分为空白对照组,模型组和牛磺酸组,每组各10只。空白对照组给予100%花生油1 m L/Kg腹腔注射,每周2次,共10周;模型组给予含20%CCl4的花生油1 m L/Kg腹腔注射,每周2次,共10周;牛磺酸组给予含20%CCl4的花生油1 m L/Kg腹腔注射,每周2次,共10周,并从第3周起给予牛磺酸500 mg/Kg/d灌胃至第10周。在第10周通过摘除眼球取血,检测小鼠血清中的透明质酸(HA)、层黏连蛋白(LN)、三型前胶原(PCⅢ)、四型胶原(Ⅳ-C)、丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、IL-6的含量;检测肝脏组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)的含量;计算肝脏指数;观察小鼠肝脏的HE染色病理组织学改变。结果:模型组与空白对照组相比小鼠血清中HA、LN、PCⅢ、Ⅳ-C、ALT、AST和IL-6水平显著升高(P0.05),肝脏组织中SOD和MDA水平显著升高(P0.05),肝脏指数增加(P0.05),病理检查显示肝细胞坏死并出现脂肪空泡、纤维组织增生和炎细胞浸润;牛磺酸组与模型组相比小鼠血清中HA、LN、PCⅢ、Ⅳ-C、ALT、AST和IL-6的水平显著降低(P0.05),肝脏组织中SOD显著升高(P0.05),MDA水平显著降低(P0.05),肝脏指数降低(P0.05),病理检查显示肝脏组织中无炎性浸润、脂肪空泡和无纤维组织沉积。结论:牛磺酸可以降低肝纤维化小鼠血清中IL-6的含量,减轻CCl4诱导小鼠肝纤维化程度。     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在肝纤维化过程中的研究进展

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(b-FGF)是在人体内广泛分布而又含量极少的一种生物因子,但是却在信号传导,细胞增值分化,促进血管生成,损伤组织修复等过程中起到相当重要的作用,目前在医学的各个领域对b-FGF的研究取得了一定的成就,同时也存在着一些问题,尤其是在肝纤维化相关疾病中的研究。肝纤维化是肝炎-肝硬化-肝癌三部曲中的一个动态过程与共同病理途径。肝纤维化发展的核心环节和共同通路是肝星状细胞(HSC)激活和以及大量ECM的合成分泌。而HSC的激活成为肝纤维化的关键,许多生物因子参与了这个病理过程,而碱性成纤维细胞生长因子就是其极为个最重要的几个因子之一。本文就近些年b-FGF的基本概况,作用机制,b-FGF在急慢性肝炎中的表达情况,在肝癌中的表达和信号传导情况,以及它在肝纤维化相关疾病中的作用机制及相关因素等进行系统整理归纳,另外就b-FGF未来的发展前景做一简单介绍,本文就以上内容的研究进展作一综述。     

An integrated assessment of histopathological changes of the enteric neuromuscular compartment in experimental colitis

Bowel inflammatory fibrosis has been largely investigated, but an integrated assessment of remodelling in inflamed colon is lacking. This study evaluated tissue and cellular changes occurring in colonic wall upon induction of colitis, with a focus on neuromuscular compartment. Colitis was elicited in rats by 2,4‐dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS). After 6 and 21 days, the following parameters were assessed on paraffin sections from colonic samples: tissue injury and inflammatory infiltration by histology; collagen and elastic fibres by histochemistry; HuC/D, glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), nestin, substance P (SP), von Willebrand factor, c‐Kit and transmembrane 16A/Anoctamin1 (TMEM16A/ANO1) by immunohistochemistry. TMEM16A/ANO1 was also examined in isolated colonic smooth muscle cells (ICSMCs). On day 6, inflammatory alterations and fibrosis were present in DNBS‐treated rats; colonic wall thickening and fibrotic remodelling were evident on day 21. Colitis was associated with both an increase in collagen fibres and a decrease in elastic fibres. Moreover, the neuromuscular compartment of inflamed colon displayed a significant decrease in neuron density and increase in GFAP/PCNA‐positive glia of myenteric ganglia, enhanced expression of neural SP, blood vessel remodelling, reduced c‐Kit‐ and TMEM16A/ANO1‐positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), as well as an increase in TMEM16A/ANO1 expression in muscle tissues and ICSMCs. The present findings provide an integrated view of the inflammatory and fibrotic processes occurring in the colonic neuromuscular compartment of rats with DNBS‐induced colitis. These morphological alterations may represent a suitable basis for understanding early pathophysiological events related to bowel inflammatory fibrosis.     

Telocytes are reduced during fibrotic remodelling of the colonic wall in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation finally leading to extensive tissue fibrosis and resulting in a stiff colon unable to carry out peristalsis or to resorb fluids. Telocytes, a peculiar type of stromal cells, have been recently identified in the human gastrointestinal tract. Several roles have been proposed for telocytes, including mechanical support, intercellular signalling and modulation of intestinal motility. The aim of the present work was to investigate the presence and distribution of telocytes in colonic specimens from UC patients compared with controls. Archival paraffin‐embedded samples of the left colon from UC patients who underwent elective bowel resection and controls were collected. Tissue sections were stained with Masson's trichrome to detect fibrosis. Telocytes were identified by CD34 immunohistochemistry. In early fibrotic UC cases, fibrosis affected the muscularis mucosae and submucosa, while the muscularis propria was spared. In advanced fibrotic UC cases, fibrosis extended to affect the muscle layers and the myenteric plexus. Few telocytes were found in the muscularis mucosae and submucosa of both early and advanced fibrotic UC colonic wall. In the muscle layers and myenteric plexus of early fibrotic UC, telocytes were preserved in their distribution. In the muscularis propria of advanced fibrotic UC, the network of telocytes was reduced or even completely absent around smooth muscle bundles and myenteric plexus ganglia, paralleling the loss of the network of interstitial cells of Cajal. In UC, a loss of telocytes accompanies the fibrotic remodelling of the colonic wall and might contribute to colonic dysmotility.     

Novel mechanism of cardiac protection by valsartan: synergetic roles of TGF‐β1 and HIF‐1α in Ang II‐mediated fibrosis after myocardial infarction

Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 is a known factor in angiotensin II (Ang II)‐mediated cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI). Hypoxia inducible factor‐1 (Hif‐1α) was recently demonstrated to involve in the tissue fibrosis and influenced by Ang II. However, whether Hif‐1α contributed to the Ang II‐mediated cardiac fibrosis after MI, and whether interaction or synergetic roles between Hif‐1α and TGF‐β pathways existed in the process was unclear. In vitro, cardiac cells were incubated under hypoxia or Ang II to mimic ischaemia. In vivo, valsartan was intravenously injected into Sprague–Dawley rats with MI daily for 1 week; saline and hydralazine (another anti‐hypertensive agent like valsartan) was used as control. The fibrosis‐related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Cardiac structure and function were assessed with multimodality methods. We demonstrated in vitro that hypoxia would induce the up‐regulation of Ang II, TGF‐β/Smad and Hif‐1α, which further induced collagen accumulation. By blocking with valsartan, a blocker of Ang II type I (AT1) receptor, we confirmed that the up‐regulation of TGF‐β/Smad and Hif‐1α was through the Ang II‐mediated pathway. By administering TGF‐β or dimethyloxalylglycine, we determined that both TGF‐β/Smad and Hif‐1α contributed to Ang II‐mediated collagen accumulation and a synergetic effect between them was observed. Consistent with in vitro results, valsartan significantly attenuated the expression of TGF‐β/Smad, Hif‐1α and fibrosis‐related protein in rats after MI. Heart function, infarcted size, wall thickness as well as myocardial vascularization of ischaemic hearts were also significantly improved by valsartan compared with saline and hydralazine. Our study may provide novel insights into the mechanisms of Ang II‐induced cardiac fibrosis as well as into the cardiac protection of valsartan.