Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are thought to play key roles in the development of liver fibrosis. Extensive evidence has established the concept that αV integrins are involved in the activation of latent transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), a master regulator of the fibrotic signaling cascade. Based on mRNA and protein expression profiling data, we found that αVβ1 integrin is the most abundant member of the αV integrin family in either quiescent or TGF-β1-activated primary human HSCs. Unexpectedly, either a selective αVβ1 inhibitor, Compound 8 (C8), or a pan-αV integrin inhibitor, GSK3008348, decreased TGF-β1-activated procollagen I production in primary human HSCs, in which the role of β1 integrin was confirmed by ITGB1 siRNA. In contrast with an Activin receptor-like kinase 5 (Alk5) inhibitor, C8 and GSK3008348 failed to inhibit TGF-β1 induced SMAD3 and SMAD2 phosphorylation, but inhibited TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3, suggesting that αVβ1 integrin is involved in non-canonical TGF-β signaling pathways. Consistently, ITGB1 siRNA significantly decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Furthermore, a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2 blocked TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and decreased TGF-β1 induced procollagen I production, while a specific inhibitor of STAT3 had no effect on TGF-β1 induced procollagen I production. Taken together, current data indicate that αVβ1 integrin can regulate TGF-β signaling independent of its reported role in activating latent TGF-β. Our data further support that αVβ1 inhibition is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Cover Image
In this issue Samantha and colleagues (pp. 1749–1767) provide insights into the underlying mechanism that governs the recognition of myo-inositol by TNYR SaPLD. The image shows an overlay of the loop conformations of four different structures. The unliganded TNYR structure is coloured magenta, in teal is the structure of the H168A mutant bound to PA, in green is the WT unliganded structure and in grey is the TNYR structure bound to phosphate. Image courtesy of Alice Vrielink.
Integrin αVβ1 regulates procollagen I production through a non-canonical transforming growth factor β signaling pathway in human hepatic stellate cells
Zuoning Han, Yanling Ma, Gary Cao, Zhengping Ma, Ruihua Chen, Mary Ellen Cvijic, Dong Cheng; Integrin αVβ1 regulates procollagen I production through a non-canonical transforming growth factor β signaling pathway in human hepatic stellate cells. Biochem J 14 May 2021; 478 (9): 1689–1703. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20200749
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