title: Wnt antagonism inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.
abstract: Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), a key event in liver fibrosis, is caused by diminished adipogenic transcription. This study investigated whether Wnt signaling contributes to "antiadipogenic" activation of HSC and liver fibrogenesis. Culture-activated HSC from normal rats and HSC from cholestatic rat livers were examined for expression of Wnt, Frizzled (Fz) receptors, and coreceptors by quantitative PCR. Wnt signaling was assessed by nuclear beta-catenin and T cell factor (TCF) promoter activity. Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), a Wnt coreceptor antagonist, was transduced by an adenoviral vector to assess the effects of Wnt antagonism on culture activation of HSC and cholestatic liver fibrosis in mice. Messenger RNA for canonical (Wnt3a and 10b) and noncanonical (Wnt4 and 5a) Wnt genes, Fz-1 and 2, and coreceptors [low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein (LRP)6 and Ryk] are increased approximately 3-12-fold in culture-activated HSC compared with quiescent HSC. The nuclear beta-catenin level and TCF DNA binding are markedly increased in activated HSC. TCF promoter activity is stimulated with Wnt1 but inhibited by Chibby, a protein that blocks beta-catenin interaction with TCF, and by Dkk-1. Dkk-1 enhances peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma)-driven PPAR response element (PPRE) promoter activity, a key adipogenic transcriptional parameter, abrogates agonist-stimulated contraction, and restores HSC quiescence in culture. High expression of Dkk-1 increases apoptosis of cultured HSC. Expression of Wnt and Fz genes is also induced in HSC isolated from experimental cholestatic liver fibrosis, and Dkk-1 expression ameliorates this form of liver fibrosis in mice. These results demonstrate antiadipogenic Wnt signaling in HSC activation and therapeutic potential of Wnt antagonism for liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of the Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033-9141, USA.
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hongyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Yuan-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jiaohong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shigang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Kinji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asahina
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051157:Frizzled Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D060488:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D060488:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6; C555476:Lrp6 protein, mouse; C555477:Lrp6 protein, rat; D047495:PPAR gamma; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C485555:Ryk protein, rat