OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GL-PS) on human fibroblasts and skin wound healing in Kunming male mice and to explore the putative molecular mechanism. METHODS: Primary human skin fibroblasts were cultured. The viability of fibroblasts treated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL of GL-PS, respectively were detected by 3-4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyl-2-Htetrazolium bromide (MTT). The migration ability of fibroblasts treated with 0, 10, 20, and 40 μg/mL of GL-PS were measured by transwell assay. The secretion of the C-terminal peptide of procollagen type I (CICP) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the cell supernatant was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of β-catenin was detected by Western blot. Furthermore, the Kunming mouse model with full-layer skin resection trauma was established, and was treated with 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL of GL-PS, respectively as external use. The size of the wound was measured daily, complete healing time in each group was recorded and the percentage of wound contraction was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, 10, 20, and 40 μg/mL of GL-PS significantly increased the viability of fibroblasts, promoted the migration ability of fibroblasts, and up-regulated the expressions of CICP and TGF-β1 in fibroblasts (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). The expression of β-catenin in fibroblasts treated with 20 and 40 μg/mL of GL-PS was significantly higher than that of the control group (Plt;0.01). Furthermore, after external use of 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL of GL-PS, the rates of wound healing in mice were significantly higher and the wound healing time was significantly less than the control group (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). CONCLUSION A certain concentration of GL-PS may promote wound healing via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and up-regulation of TGF-β1, which might serve as a promising source of skin wound healing.
Animals ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; physiology

Background: Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) is a novel profibrogenic factor that induces pulmonary fibrosis (PF) through the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling. Little is known about its effects on PF through the non-Smad signaling, like the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of FSTL1 in PF through the MAPK signaling pathway and its mechanisms in lung fibrogenesis. Methods: PF was induced in Fstl1and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice with bleomycin. After 14 days, the mice were sacrificed, and lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; the hydroxyproline content was measured to confirm PF. The mRNA and protein level of FSTL1 and the change of MAPK phosphorylation were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The effect of Fstl1 deficiency on fibroblasts differentiation was measured by Western blotting and cell immunofluorescence. MAPK signaling activation was measured by Western blotting in Fstl1 and WT fibroblasts treated with recombinant human FSTL1 protein. We pretreated mouse lung fibroblast cells with inhibitors of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling and analyzed their differentiation, proliferation, migration, and invasion by Western blotting, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis, and transwell assays. The Student's t-test was used to compare the differences between two groups. Results: Fstl1 deficiency attenuated phosphorylation of the ERK, p38, and JNK signaling in bleomycin-induced fibrotic lung tissue 14 days after injury (0.67 ± 0.05 vs. 1.22 ± 0.03, t = 14.92, P = 0.0001; 0.41 ± 0.01 vs. 1.15 ± 0.07; t = 11.19; P = 0.0004; and 0.41 ± 0.01 vs. 1.07 ± 0.07, t = 8.92, P = 0.0009; respectively), compared with WT lungs at the same time and in primary lung fibroblasts (0.82 ± 0.01 vs. 1.01 ± 0.04, t = 4.06, P = 0.0150; 1.04 ± 0.03 vs. 1.24 ± 0.03, t = 4.44, P = 0.0100; and 0.76 ± 0.05 vs. 0.99 ± 0.05, t = 4.48, P = 0.0100; respectively), compared with TGF-β1-stimulated WT group. Recombinant human FSTL1 protein in lung fibroblasts enhanced TGF-β1-mediated phosphorylation of the ERK (1.19 ± 0.08 vs. 0.55 ± 0.04, t = 6.99, P = 0.0020), p38 (1.18 ± 0.04 vs. 0.66 ± 0.03, t = 11.20, P = 0.0020), and JNK (1.11 ± 0.01 vs. 0.84 ± 0.04, t = 6.53, P = 0.0030), compared with the TGF-β1-stimulated WT group. Fstl1-deficient fibroblasts showed reduced alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression (0.70 ± 0.06 vs. 1.28 ± 0.11, t = 4.65, P = 0.0035, compared with the untreated WT group; 1.40 ± 0.05 vs. 1.76 ± 0.02, t = 6.31, P = 0.0007; compared with the TGF-β1-treated WT group). Compared with the corresponding condition in the control group, the TGF-β1/FSTL1-mediated α-SMA expression was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with an inhibitor of p38 (0.73 ± 0.01 vs. 1.13 ± 0.10, t = 3.92, P = 0.0078) and JNK (0.78 ± 0.03 vs. 1.08 ± 0.06, t = 4.40, P = 0.0046) signaling. The proliferation of mouse lung fibroblast cells (MLgs) significantly decreased after treatment of an inhibitor of p38 (0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.46 ± 0.03, t = 4.64, P = 0.0009), JNK (0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.49 ± 0.01, t = 12.84, P = 0.0001), and Smad2/3 (0.18 ± 0.02 vs. 0.46 ± 0.02, t = 12.69, P = 0.0001) signaling compared with the dimethylsulfoxide group. The migration and invasion cells of MLgs significantly decreased in medium pretreated with an inhibitor of p38 (70.17 ± 3.28 vs. 116.30 ± 7.11, t = 5.89, P = 0.0042 for the migratory cells; 19.87 ± 0.84 vs. 32.70 ± 0.95, t = 10.14, P = 0.0005 for the invasive cells), JNK (72.30 ± 3.85 vs. 116.30 ± 7.11, t = 5.44, P = 0.0056 for the migratory cells; 18.03 ± 0.94 vs. 32.70 ± 0.95, t = 11.00, P = 0.0004 for the invasive cells), and Smad2/3 (64.76 ± 1.41 vs. 116.30 ± 7.11, t = 7.11, P = 0.0021 for the migratory cells; 18.03 ± 0.94 vs. 32.70 ± 0.95, t = 13.29, P = 0.0002 for the invasive cells) signaling compared with the corresponding condition in the dimethylsulfoxide group. Conclusion FSTL1 affects lung fibroblast differentiation, proliferation, migration, and invasion through p38 and JNK signaling, and in this way, it might influence the development of PF.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Bleomycin ; adverse effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Follistatin ; Follistatin-Related Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; drug effects ; physiology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDBronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) often develops in transplant patients and results in injury to the respiratory and terminal airway epithelium. Owing to its rising incidence, the pathogenesis of BOS is currently an area of intensive research. Studies have shown that injury to the respiratory epithelium results in dysregulation of epithelial repair. Airway epithelial regeneration is supported by stromal cells, including fibroblasts. This study aimed to investigate whether the supportive role of lung fibroblasts is altered in BOS.

METHODSSuspensions of lung cells were prepared by enzyme digestion. Lung progenitor cells (LPCs) were separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Lung fibroblasts from patients with BOS or healthy controls were mixed with sorted mouse LPCs to compare the colony-forming efficiency of LPCs by counting the number of colonies with a diameter of ≥50 μm in each culture. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA). The paired Student's t-test was used to test for statistical significance.

RESULTSLPCs were isolated with the surface phenotype of CD31-CD34-CD45- EpCAM+Sca-1+. The colony-forming efficiency of LPCs was significantly reduced when co-cultured with fibroblasts isolated from patients with BOS. The addition of SB431542 increased the colony-forming efficiency of LPCs to 1.8%; however, it was still significantly less than that in co-culture with healthy control fibroblasts (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe epithelial-supportive capacity of fibroblasts is impaired in the development of BOS and suggest that inefficient repair of airway epithelium could contribute to persistent airway inflammation in BOS.

Animals ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Dioxoles ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Mice ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of Qingluo Tongbi Granule (, QTG) on osteoclast differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis in rats.

METHODSFibroblast and monocyte co-culture were used to induce osteoclast differentiation in adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) rats. Serum containing QTG was prepared and added to the osteoclasts, and activation of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6/mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic1 (TRAF6/MAPK/NFATc1) pathways was examined.

RESULTSThe induced osteoclasts were multinucleated and stained positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Serum containing QTG at 14.4, 7.2 or 3.6 g/kg inhibited the activation of TRAF6, extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 and decreased the percentage of cells with nuclear NFATc1 in a dose-dependent manner, the high and middle doses exhibited clear inhibitory activity (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). After the addition of MAPK inhibitors, the NFATc1 expression showed no significant difference compared with the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum containing QTG could generally inhibit the TRAF6/MAPK pathways and possibly inhibit the NFATc1 pathway. In addition, QTG may regulate other signaling pathways that are related to osteoclast differentiation and maturation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; pathology ; Male ; Monocytes ; pathology ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; pathology

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to determine whether rapamycin could inhibit transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1)-induced fibrogenesis in primary lung fibroblasts, and whether the effect of inhibition would occur through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream p70S6K pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary normal human lung fibroblasts were obtained from histological normal lung tissue of 3 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Growth arrested, synchronized fibroblasts were treated with TGF-beta1 (10 ng/mL) and different concentrations of rapamycin (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL) for 24 h. We assessed m-TOR, p-mTOR, S6K1, p-S6K1 by Western blot analysis, detected type III collagen and fibronectin secreting by ELISA assay, and determined type III collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels by real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Rapamycin significantly reduced TGF-beta1-induced type III collagen and fibronectin levels, as well as type III collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels. Furthermore, we also found that TGF-beta1-induced mTOR and p70S6K phosphorylation were significantly down-regulated by rapamycin. The mTOR/p70S6K pathway was activated through the TGF-beta1-mediated fibrogenic response in primary human lung fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that rapamycin effectively suppresses TGF-beta1-induced type III collagen and fibronectin levels in primary human lung fibroblasts partly through the mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Rapamycin has a potential value in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III/metabolism ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Fibronectins/metabolism ; Humans ; Lung/cytology/drug effects ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sirolimus/*pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism/physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*antagonists & inhibitors/physiology

HuaFu Shengji is the primary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for treating chronic skin ulcer. The high activities of the protein enzyme in the wound fluids is one of the main cause of healing delay. In order to investigate the effect of TCM Zhuhong ointment for promoting wound healing. This research focused on its influence on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities in wound fluids with TCM Yang syndromes, directly on the activated MMP-1,2 activities in vitro and on MMP-1,-2,-9 production by HSF. 8 wound fluid samples were collected, which were diagnosed Yang Syndromes in TCM. Wound fluid activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by gelatin zymogram assay. MMP-1 and MMP-2 activities in vitro were measured by substrate cleavage. CCK-8 was used to observe the toxicity of Zhuhong ointment on HSF. MMP-1,-2,-9 production by HSF were detected by confocal microscope. Zhuhong ointment from 1 to 25 g x L(-1) obviously inhibited MMP-2 activity in wound fluid. When Zhuhong ointment was over 5 g x L(-1), it showed significantly inhibitory effect on wound fluid MMP-9 activity. In vitro study, when the mercury concentration was 320 mg x L(-1), Zhuhong ointment solution directly inhibited both MMP-1 activity and MMP-2. But mercury concentration from 0.51-2.56 mg x L(-1), it could activate MMP-1 activity, and from 0.51-64 mg x L(-1), activate MMP-2 activity instead. The mercury concentration when Zhuhong ointment saturated in DMEM was 39.6 mg x L(-1). When the mercury concentration was over 1.23 mg x L(-1), Zhuhong ointment showed toxicity to HSF. At 1.23, 0.62, 0.31 mg x L(-1) of mercury concentration, it increased MMP-1 expression by HSF, and at 1.23, 0.62 mg x L(-1), decreased MMP-2 expression. However, at 1.23, 0.62, 0.31 mg x L(-1), it decreased MMP-9 expression. At higher concentration, Zhuhong ointment can inhibit MMP-2, MMP-9 activities in wound fluid with dose-dependent way and show a direct inhibitory effect on activated MMP-1 and MMP-2 in vitro. But at a lower concentration, it showed two-way adjustment, with increased MMP-1, MMP-2 activities and its expression by HSF and decreased MMP-9 activity.
Body Fluids ; enzymology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermatitis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate in vitro effect of abnormal savda munziq (ASMq) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs).

METHODSHSFs were divided into six groups to receive different treatments as group A (blank control group), group B-E (ASMq in different concentration), and group F(5-Fu). Each group contains six specimens. The HSFs were cultured in vitro. After culture for 48 hours, the CCK8 test and flow cytometry methods were used to detect the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSThe proliferation of HSFs in the B, C, D and E groups was inhibited at G2/M period, while it was inhibited at G0/S period in group F (P < 0.05). The inhibition effect of ASMq (0.1-1.0 mg/ml) on the fibroblasts enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis with annexin V-FITC and PI staining confirmed the apoptotic. When HSFs were exposed to ASMq at 1.0 mg/ml (group E) for 48 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to (43.7 +/- 2.58)%, which was significantly higher than that of blank control group (2.2 +/- 0.59)%. The induced apoptosis effect was also increased in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONASMq has a inhibitory effect on the proliferation and an enhancement effect on the apoptosis of fibroblast. ASMq could be used as an effective drug for treatment of hypertrophic scar.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

OBJECTIVETo study the role of insulin-like growth factor II receptor in free silica-induced transdifferentiation of primary rat lung fibroblasts.

METHODSRat lung fibroblasts and rat alveolar macrophages were cultured. A transdifferentiation model of primary rat lung fibroblasts was induced by free silica. Levels of α-SMA protein, IGF-IIR protein and mRNA were measured by immunocytochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Lung fibroblasts were treated with Wortmannin.

RESULTSThe expression levels of α-SMA and IGF-IIR increased with the increasing free silica concentration and decreased after Wortmannin was used.

CONCLUSIONThe IGF-IIR plays an important role in free silica-induced transdifferentiation of primary rat lung fibroblasts.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Primers ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Lung ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, IGF Type 2 ; genetics ; physiology ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Bushen Qianggu decoction proliferation and PCNA and Bcl-2 expression.

METHODSSerum containing BQD was made and synovial fibroblasts were separated and cultured and passaged in vitro. Four groups were divided as 20% blank control group, serum containing 20% Tripterygium wilfordii multi-glycosides drug (TWMD), 20% of serum containing high and low of BQD, respectively. Serum containing drugs of different concentration were added into the synovial fibroblasts of the third generation, and then the synovial fibroblasts were cultured continued. The effects of different drugs on synovial fibroblasts and PCNA and Bcl-2 expression were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control serum, BQD-containing serum promoted the apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts (P < 0.000 1); especially, high dose could inhibit proliferation. The expression of PCNA and Bcl-2 was significantly lower in BQD-containing serum (P < 0.000 1 vs control group).

CONCLUSIONBQD can promote the apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts by improving of expression of PCNA and Bcl-2, which may be one of the mechanisms of BQD in preventing and treating osteoporosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Membrane ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a key negative regulator of immune responses and has been implicated in tumor tolerance, autoimmune disease and asthma. IDO was detected in the joint synovial tissue in the inflammatory microenvironment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but IDO expression in joint synovial tissue is not sufficient to overcome the inflamed synovial environment. This study aimed to unravel the mechanisms involving the failure to activate tolerogenic IDO in the inflamed joint. We demonstrate that both poly (I:C) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induce expression of IDO in synovial fibroblasts. However, inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-23 and IL-16 did not induce IDO expression. Poly (I:C) appeared to induce higher IDO expression than did LPS. Surprisingly, toll-like receptor (TLR)4-mediated IDO expression was upregulated after depletion of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) in synovial fibroblasts using small interfering RNA (siRNA). IDO, TLR3 and TLR4 were highly expressed in synovial tissue of RA patients compared with that of osteoarthritis patients. In addition, RA patients with severe disease activity had higher levels of expression of IDO, TLR3 and TLR4 in the synovium than patients with mild disease activity. These data suggest that upregulation of IDO expression in synovial fibroblasts involves TLR3 and TLR4 activation by microbial constituents. We showed that the mechanisms responsible for IDO regulation primarily involve MyD88 signaling in synovial fibroblasts, as demonstrated by siRNA-mediated knockdown of MyD88.
Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport/genetics/metabolism ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts/drug effects/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/genetics/*metabolism ; Interleukin-12/pharmacology ; Interleukin-16/pharmacology ; Interleukin-17/pharmacology ; Interleukin-23/pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics/*metabolism ; Poly I-C/pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/physiology ; Synovial Membrane/*cytology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology