The understanding of molecular mechanisms that underlie myofibroblastic transdifferentiation (MTD) of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), is a prerequisite for development of new therapeutic modalities for alcoholic liver cinliosis. We have approached this goal from a unique standpoint of cell fate regulation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells. In this end, we discovered """"""""adipogenic regulation"""""""" is essential for HSC quiescence and loss of this regulation results in MTD. As such, restoration ofthe expression of PPAR?, the master regulator of adipogenesis in MFB achieves a phenotypic reversal of the cells to quiescent HSC, and this effect is completely abrogated by co-transduction of a dominant negative mutant of PPAR?. In search for the mechanisms of PPAR? repression in MTD, an international collaboration by Tsukamoto and Mann laboratories disclosed major contributions of two epigenetic regulators: the methyl CpG binding protein MeCP2 which causes HP1a recmitment to methylated H3K9 at PPAR? promoter;and the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) methyltransferase EZH2 which di- and tri-methylate H3K27 as another mechanism of powerful gene silencing. We also demonstrates a loss ofthe negative control with miR132 as a novel mechanism of MeCP2 induction which in turn positively regulates the expression of EZH2 in MTD. The proposed collaborative research is aimed at extending these ground-breaking findings on epigenetic regulation of MTD shown in culture-activated HSC, to MTD in alcoholic liver fibrogenesis. Toward this goal, the following specific aims will be pursued: 1) to determine whether MeCP2 and EZH2 mediated epigenetic mechanisms are evident in activated HSC/MFB isolated from the mouse model of alcoholic liver fibrosis;2) to determine whether MeCP2 knockout or a EZH2 inhibitor specifically targeted to activated HSC/MFB ameliorates alcoholic liver fibrosis;3) to validate MeCP2 and EZH2 mediated epigenetic regulation in activated HSC/MFB in alcoholic liver fibrosis in man. We believe that the proposed study will uncover novel mechanisms of alcoholic liver fibrosis and important therapeutic targets for the disease. PUBLIC HELATH

Public Health Relevance

The proposed international collaboration will disclose new information conceming how alcohol-induced cirrhosis of the liver develops and will test novel therapeutic approaches for the disease in animal models. It is our long-term goal that such treatment options will be made available for patients suffering from cirrhosis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01AA018663-02
Application #
8136163
Study Section
Health Services Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Gao, Peter
Project Start
2010-09-01
Project End
2015-08-30
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$469,677
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Mann, Jelena; Reeves, Helen L; Feldstein, Ariel E (2018) Liquid biopsy for liver diseases. Gut 67:2204-2212
Zeybel, Müjdat; Luli, Saimir; Sabater, Laura et al. (2017) A Proof-of-Concept for Epigenetic Therapy of Tissue Fibrosis: Inhibition of Liver Fibrosis Progression by 3-Deazaneplanocin A. Mol Ther 25:218-231
Eguchi, Akiko; Lazaro, Raul G; Wang, Jiaohong et al. (2017) Extracellular vesicles released by hepatocytes from gastric infusion model of alcoholic liver disease contain a MicroRNA barcode that can be detected in blood. Hepatology 65:475-490
McDaniel, Kelly; Huang, Li; Sato, Keisaku et al. (2017) The let-7/Lin28 axis regulates activation of hepatic stellate cells in alcoholic liver injury. J Biol Chem 292:11336-11347
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Wilson, Caroline L; Mann, Derek A; Borthwick, Lee A (2017) Epigenetic reprogramming in liver fibrosis and cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 121:124-132
Yang, Zemin; Liu, Yu; Qin, Lan et al. (2017) Cathepsin H-Mediated Degradation of HDAC4 for Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells: Implications of Epigenetic Suppression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Fibrosis through Stabilization of Class IIa Histone Deacetylases. Am J Pathol 187:781-797
Madakashira, Bhavani; Corbett, Laura; Zhang, Chi et al. (2017) Variant Histone H2afv reprograms DNA methylation during early zebrafish development. Epigenetics 12:811-824
Lai, Keane K Y; Kweon, Soo-Mi; Chi, Feng et al. (2017) Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Promotes Liver Fibrosis and Tumor Development in Mice via a Wnt Positive-Signaling Loop by Stabilization of Low-Density Lipoprotein-Receptor-Related Proteins 5 and 6. Gastroenterology 152:1477-1491
Mandrekar, Pranoti; Bataller, Ramon; Tsukamoto, Hidekazu et al. (2016) Alcoholic hepatitis: Translational approaches to develop targeted therapies. Hepatology 64:1343-55

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