Chronic injury to the liver and in other organs results in a wounding response characterized by fibrosis. This process is the integrated result of increased production of extracellular matrix proteins, tissue contraction, and thus disruption of the normal parenchymal architecture. The key cellular effectors in this process are termed myofibroblasts, cells which produce abundant extracellular matrix, and a multitude of cytokines and other factors that drive the fibrogenic process. The clinical result of ongoing hepatic fibrogenesis is cirrhosis, which results in both intra and extra hepatic complications that include impaired hepatpcellular function and portal hypertension. The effector myofibroblast in chronic liver injury is the hepatic stellate cell (Ito or stellate cells). From a mechanistic standpoint, one of the key events in injury is the transition of resident perisinusoidal stellate cells from a quiescent to an """"""""activated"""""""" cell. This process is characterized by production of increased amounts of extracellular matrix and de novo expression of smooth muscle a actin, the latter characteristic consistent with their transformation to myofibroblasts. We have demonstrated that contractility is a further prominent feature of the activated phenotype, elicited in particular by the endothelins, a group of 21 amino acid peptides known primarily for their vasoactive properties. Endothelins in chronic liver injury, and in other forms of wounding appear not only to be important in inducing contraction of myofibroblasts, but they appear to have pleotropic effects, including in fibrogenesis and proliferation. Thus, uncovering basic mechanisms of endothelin production is of critical importance. We have demonstrated that precursor endothelin-1 as well as the enzyme that converts precursor endothelin to the mature peptide, endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) are upregulated in stellate cells after liver injury. This model, in which endothelin is a key element has substantial relevance to other forms of wound healing. The overall objective of the current program is to understand pathobiolqgy of endothelins in disease;
the specific aims of this proposal are to explore mechanisms of endothelin signaling in stellate cells in liver in- jury. Toward this goal we (1) examine mechanisms by which fibronectin species signal to stimulate endo- thelin-1 synthesis;(2) delineate mechanisms underlying TGF-p's effects on endothelin-1 synthesis, and (3) identify key elements of the endothelin signaling cascade that lead to cellular contraction in activated stellate cells. These studies have direct relevance to human liver disease and will lead to new approaches for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension as well as other forms of fibrosing injury.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK050574-15
Application #
7777869
Study Section
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP)
Program Officer
Doo, Edward
Project Start
1996-04-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2010-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$310,986
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Rockey, Don C; Weymouth, Nate; Shi, Zengdun (2013) Smooth muscle ? actin (Acta2) and myofibroblast function during hepatic wound healing. PLoS One 8:e77166
Collins, Bradley H; Holzknecht, Zoie E; Lynn, Kellie A et al. (2013) Association of age-dependent liver injury and fibrosis with immune cell populations. Liver Int 33:1175-86
Li, Tianxia; Shi, Zengdun; Rockey, Don C (2012) Preproendothelin-1 expression is negatively regulated by IFNýý during hepatic stellate cell activation. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 302:G948-57
Weymouth, Nate; Shi, Zengdun; Rockey, Don C (2012) Smooth muscle ? actin is specifically required for the maintenance of lactation. Dev Biol 363:1-14
Shafiei, Mahnoush S; Rockey, Don C (2012) The function of integrin-linked kinase in normal and activated stellate cells: implications for fibrogenesis in wound healing. Lab Invest 92:305-16
Khimji, Al-karim; Rockey, Don C (2011) Endothelin and hepatic wound healing. Pharmacol Res 63:512-8
Shafiei, Mahnoush S; Shetty, Shoba; Scherer, Philipp E et al. (2011) Adiponectin regulation of stellate cell activation via PPAR?-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Am J Pathol 178:2690-9
Dutta, Amal K; Khimji, Al-karim; Kresge, Charles et al. (2011) Identification and functional characterization of TMEM16A, a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel activated by extracellular nucleotides, in biliary epithelium. J Biol Chem 286:766-76
Zhan, Shuxin; Rockey, Don C (2011) Tumor necrosis factor ? stimulates endothelin-1 synthesis in rat hepatic stellate cells in hepatic wound healing through a novel IKK/JNK pathway. Exp Cell Res 317:1040-8
Nathan, Jaimie D; Romac, Joelle; Peng, Ruth Y et al. (2010) Protection against chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic fibrosis in mice overexpressing pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor. Pancreas 39:e24-30

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