Activation of cardiac fibroblasts is a key event in the progression of cardiac fibrosis that leads to heart failure. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanical stress-induced cardiac fibroblast activation are complex and poorly understood. This study demonstrates that Pellino1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, was activated in vivo in pressure overloaded rat hearts and in cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (NRCFs) exposed to mechanical stretch in vitro. Suppression of the expression and activity of Pellino1 by adenovirus-mediated delivery of shPellino1 (adv-shpeli1) attenuated pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy and decreased cardiac fibrosis in rat hearts. Transfection of adv-shpeli1 also significantly attenuated mechanical stress-induced proliferation, differentiation and collagen synthesis in NRCFs. Pellino1 silencing also abrogated mechanical stretch-induced polyubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor association factor-6 (TRAF6) and receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1) and consequently decreased the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in NRCFs. In addition, Pellino1 silencing prevented stretch-induced activation of p38 and activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding activity in NRCFs. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays showed that Pellino1 silencing prevented the binding of NF-κB and AP-1 to the promoter region of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) thus dampening TGF-β1 transactivation. Our data reveal a previously unrecognized role of Pellino1 in extracellular matrix deposition and cardiac fibroblast activation in response to mechanical stress and provides a novel target for treatment of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.

Glucan is a natural product immunomodulator that has been reported to enhance early wound repair. The mechanism of glucan-stimulated wound repair was thought to be indirect via macrophage release of wound growth factors. However, recent data indicate that there are glucan-specific receptors on human fibroblasts that can modulate cellular function following interaction with the glucan ligand. In this study we examined the effect of glucan on activation of the transcription factors activator protein-1 (AP-1) and specificity protein-1 (Sp1) in normal human dermal fibroblasts. AP-1 and Sp1 are involved in the regulation of cytokine and procollagen genes. In addition, we evaluated the effect of glucan on wound growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in primary cultures of normal human dermal fibroblasts. Glucan (1 μg/ml) stimulated fibroblast AP-1 and Sp1 activation in a time-dependent manner, although the temporal kinetics varied between the two transcription factors. AP-1 binding activity was increased (p<0.05) at early time intervals (1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 h), while Sp1 nuclear binding activity was increased (p<0.05) at later time intervals (12, 24, 36 and 48 h). Glucan (1 μg/ml) stimulated fibroblast expression of neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), platelet derived growth factor A (PDGF-A), platelet derived growth factor B (PDGF-B), fibroblast growth factor acidic (aFGF), fibroblast growth factor basic (bFGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and VEGF mRNA at 8 h.

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A citrullinemic fibroblast cell line was used in this study to investigate two biochemical pathways involving citrulline. In the first section, the genetic mutation responsible for the argininosuccinate synthetase (-ASS) deficiency (1-5% activity) in this cell line was investigated. PCR analysis of the ASS cDNA revealed that the mRNA coding region (1236bp) was intact, showing no signs of major rearrangements. The ASS cDNA (1307bp) was cloned and sequenced and showed the presence of a single base mutation at position 1045bp, which represented a G->A transition. This mutation resulted in a glycine -> serine amino acid substitution at position 324 in the ASS subunit protein sequence. Although this glycine residue was not found to occur in any potential substrate binding sites, it was shown to be highly conserved among species, indicating a possible role of this amino acid in ASS catalytic activity. In the second section, the presence of the nitric oxide pathway in fibroblasts was investigated. Inducible nitric oxide synthase activity was assayed by measuring the production of ¹⁴C-citrulline from ¹⁴C-arginine after cytokine stimulation. By using the citrullinemic cell line (ASS deficient) any citrulline that may be produced by this pathway would accumulate, allowing detection. Under the assay conditions that were tested, no detectable ¹⁴C-citrulline was formed. Evidence suggests that human fibroblasts have the potential to synthesise nitric oxide, although a more sensitive assay system may need to be employed (longer cytokine activation, nitrite/nitrate detection).

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18894号 / 医博第4005号 / 新制||医||1009(附属図書館) / 31845 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 山田 泰広, 教授 戸井 雅和, 教授 小川 誠司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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The positive effect of photobiomodulation in wound healing has previously been reported, however there is a considerable lack of knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms involved, and no consensus on light parameters. Cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) is established as the main photoreceptor in cells, but light also induces nitric oxide (NO), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of ion channels. Emerging new molecular targets include the GPCRs opsins (OPNs) and the circadian clock transcription factors, cryptochromes (CRYs). Localisation of OPN1-SW, OPN3, OPN5, CRY1 and CRY2 was seen in female facial and abdominal human skin. Furthermore, expression of these photoreceptors was retained in primary epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in culture; both cell types expressed OPN1-SW, OPN3, CRY1 and CRY2, at the mRNA and protein level. OPN2 was only expressed in cultured dermal fibroblasts, while in line with in situ expression, OPN5 was only expressed in cultured keratinocytes. The photoreceptor-expressing cultured epidermal keratinocytes demonstrated a dose- and wavelength- dependent response in both metabolic activity and cell migration in a scratch-wound assay. Specifically, low dose (2 J/cm2) blue light (447 nm) increased metabolic activity, but it did not impact keratinocyte migration. In contrast, high dose (30 J/cm2) blue light had no effect on metabolism, but inhibited migration of epidermal keratinocytes. Red light (655 nm) at 30 J/cm2 stimulated metabolic activity but did not modulate migration, while a higher dose of 60 J/cm2 had no effect on keratinocyte metabolic activity. In order to study OPN3 and CRY1 function, they were silenced in keratinocytes using siRNA; additionally 8 μM KL001 was used to stabilize CRY1. KL001 inhibited migration, and induced KRT1 and KRT10, an effect which was abrogated by knockdown of OPN3. Interestingly, knockdown of OPN3 upregulated CRY1 expression, while KL001 upregulated OPN3 expression, indicating a regulation by OPN3 of the molecular epidermal clock. Low levels of blue light increased early differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes, which was mediated by OPN3 and circadian clock mechanisms. However, low levels of blue light decreased keratinocyte DNA synthesis, which was mediated by circadian clock independently of OPN3. Translation of parameters ex vivo showed increasing re-epithelialisation and induction of OPN3 and CRY1 expression following exposure to 2 J/cm2 of blue light; however high doses of blue light inhibited re-epithelialisation. Red light, also increased re-epithelialisation, but had no effect on OPN3 or CRY1 expression. In conclusion, photoreceptors are expressed in human skin and they mediate DNA synthesis, migration and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. Furthermore, low dose of blue light interacts with OPN3 to induce epidermal differentiation, through the regulation of the circadian clock. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the photobiomodulation response in vitro will help to develop light based therapies for human wound healing. Interestingly, selected light parameters translated to human ex vivo skin showed a beneficial effect of low doses of blue (2 J/cm2) and red (30 J/cm2) light in re-epithelialisation. / Marie Curie ... the CLaSSiC project