Iron Enhances Hepatic Fibrogenesis and Activates Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Murine Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Journal article


Mehta, K, Coombes, JD, Briones-Orta, M, Manka, PP, Williams, R., Patel, VB and Syn, W-K (2018). Iron Enhances Hepatic Fibrogenesis and Activates Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Murine Hepatic Stellate Cells. American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 355 (2), pp. 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjms.2017.08.012
AuthorsMehta, K, Coombes, JD, Briones-Orta, M, Manka, PP, Williams, R., Patel, VB and Syn, W-K
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although excess iron induces oxidative stress in the liver, it is unclear whether it directly activates the hepatic stellate cells (HSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the effects of excess iron on fibrogenesis and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling in murine HSC. Cells were treated with holotransferrin (0.005-5g/L) for 24 hours, with or without the iron chelator deferoxamine (10µM). Gene expressions (α-SMA, Col1-α1, Serpine-1, TGF-β, Hif1-α, Tfrc and Slc40a1) were analyzed by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction, whereas TfR1, ferroportin, ferritin, vimentin, collagen, TGF-β RII and phospho-Smad2 proteins were evaluated by immunofluorescence, Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: HSC expressed the iron-uptake protein transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and the iron-export protein ferroportin. Holotransferrin upregulated TfR1 expression by 1.8-fold (P < 0.03) and ferritin accumulation (iron storage) by 2-fold (P < 0.01), and activated HSC with 2-fold elevations (P < 0.03) in α-SMA messenger RNA and collagen secretion, and a 1.6-fold increase (P < 0.01) in vimentin protein. Moreover, holotransferrin activated the TGF-β pathway with TGF-β messenger RNA elevated 1.6-fold (P = 0.05), and protein levels of TGF-β RII and phospho-Smad2 increased by 1.8-fold (P < 0.01) and 1.6-fold (P < 0.01), respectively. In contrast, iron chelation decreased ferritin levels by 30% (P < 0.03), inhibited collagen secretion by 60% (P < 0.01), repressed fibrogenic genes α-SMA (0.2-fold; P < 0.05) and TGF-β (0.4-fold; P < 0.01) and reduced levels of TGF-β RII and phospho-Smad2 proteins. CONCLUSIONS: HSC express iron-transport proteins. Holotransferrin (iron) activates HSC fibrogenesis and the TGF-β pathway, whereas iron depletion by chelation reverses this, suggesting that this could be a useful adjunct therapy for patients with fibrosis. Further studies in primary human HSC and animal models are necessary to confirm this.

KeywordsCell Line; Animals; Mice; Liver Cirrhosis; Iron; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Receptors, Transferrin; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Gene Expression Regulation; Smad2 Protein; Ferritins; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Holotransferrin; Liver; Animals; Cell Line; Ferritins; Gene Expression Regulation; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Iron; Liver Cirrhosis; Mice; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases; RNA, Messenger; Receptors, Transferrin; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; Signal Transduction; Smad2 Protein; Transforming Growth Factor beta; 11 Medical And Health Sciences; General & Internal Medicine
Year2018
JournalAmerican Journal of the Medical Sciences
Journal citation355 (2), pp. 183-190
PublisherElsevier
ISSN1538-2990
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjms.2017.08.012
Publication dates
Print01 Feb 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited12 Nov 2018
Accepted21 Aug 2017
Accepted author manuscript
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This is the accepted author manuscript of an article published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. The full published version is available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002962917304...

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