title: Exacerbating effects of human parvovirus B19 NS1 on liver fibrosis in NZB/W F1 mice.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with unknown etiology that impacts various organs including liver. Recently, human parvovirus B19 (B19) is recognized to exacerbate SLE. However, the effects of B19 on liver in SLE are still unclear. Herein we aimed to investigate the effects of B19 on liver in NZB/W F1 mice by injecting subcutaneously with PBS, recombinant B19 NS1, VP1u or VP2, respectively. Our experimental results revealed that B19 NS1 protein significantly enhanced the TGF-β/Smad fibrotic signaling by increasing the expressions of TGF-β, Smad2/3, phosphorylated Smad2/3, Smad4 and Sp1. The consequent fibrosis-related proteins, PAI-1 and α-SMA, were also significantly induced in livers of NZB/W F1 mice receiving B19 NS1 protein. Accordingly, markedly increased collagen deposition was also observed in livers of NZB/W F1 mice receiving B19 NS1 protein. However, no significant difference was observed in livers of NZB/W F1 mice receiving B19 VP1u or VP2 as compared to the controls. These findings indicate that B19 NS1 plays a crucial role in exacerbating liver fibrosis in NZB/W F1 mice through enhancing the TGF-â/Smad fibrotic signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsai-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chun-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chun-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Jeng-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Bor-Show
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tzang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000235:genetics; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; D066246:ErbB Receptors