title: Thrombin is a potent inducer of connective tissue growth factor production via proteolytic activation of protease-activated receptor-1.
abstract: The coagulation protease thrombin plays a critical role in hemostasis and exerts pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic effects via proteolytic activation of the major thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel fibroblast mitogen and also promotes extracellular matrix protein production. It is selectively induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and is thought to be the autocrine agent responsible for mediating its pro-fibrotic effects. CTGF is up-regulated during tissue repair and in fibrotic conditions associated with activation of the coagulation cascade. We therefore hypothesized that coagulation proteases promote the production of CTGF by cells at sites of tissue injury. To begin to address this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of coagulation proteases on fibroblast CTGF expression in vitro, and we show that thrombin, at physiological concentrations, up-regulated CTGF mRNA levels 5-fold relative to base line (p < 0.01) in fetal fibroblasts and 7-fold in primary adult fibroblasts (p < 0.01). These effects were cycloheximide-insensitive and were not blocked with a pan-specific TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody. They were further paralleled by a concomitant increase in CTGF protein production and could be mimicked with selective PAR-1 agonists. In addition, fibroblasts derived from PAR-1 knockout mice were unresponsive to thrombin but responded normally to TGF-beta(1). Finally, factor Xa, which is responsible for activating prothrombin during blood coagulation, exerted similar stimulatory effects. We propose that coagulation proteases and PAR-1 may play a role in promoting connective tissue formation during normal tissue repair and the development of fibrosis by up-regulating fibroblast CTGF expression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiopulmonary Biochemistry and Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, UCL, Rayne Institute, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom. R.Chambers@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Blanc-Brude
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wembridge
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Laurent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008907:Mink; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse; D006133:Growth Substances; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003513:Cycloheximide; D013917:Thrombin; D015951:Factor Xa