alpha2-antiplasmin is associated with the progression of fibrosis.
Systemic sclerosis results in tissue fibrosis due to the activation of fibroblasts and the ensuing overproduction of the extracellular matrix. We previously reported that the absence of alpha2-antiplasmin (alpha2AP) attenuated the process of dermal fibrosis; however, the detailed mechanism of how alpha2AP affects the progression of fibrosis remained unclear. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of alpha2AP in fibrotic change. We observed significantly higher levels of alpha2AP expression in the skin of bleomycin-injected systemic sclerosis model mice in comparison with the levels seen in control mice. We also demonstrated that alpha2AP induced myofibroblast differentiation, and the absence of alpha2AP attenuated the induction of myofibroblast differentiation. Moreover, we found that connective tissue growth factor induced the expression of alpha2AP through both the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in fibroblasts. Interestingly, alpha2AP also induced transforming growth factor-beta expression through the same pathways, and the inhibition of ERK1/2 and JNK slowed the progression of bleomycin-induced fibrosis. Our findings suggest that alpha2AP is associated with the progression of fibrosis, and regulation of alpha2AP expression by the ERK1/2 and JNK pathways may be an effective antifibrotic therapy for the treatment of systemic sclerosis.
Kanno
Yosuke
Y
Department of Clinical Pathological Biochemistry, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, 97-1 Kodo, Kyo-tanabe 610-0395 Kyoto, Japan. ykanno@dwc.doshisha.ac.jp
Kawashita
Eri
E
Minamida
Misato
M
Kaneiwa
Aki
A
Okada
Kiyotaka
K
Ueshima
Shigeru
S
Matsuo
Osamu
O
Matsuno
Hiroyuki
H
D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D020405:Dermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; D001761:Bleomycin; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases