Barbara Monaco

F2-isoprostanes stimulate collagen synthesis in activated hepatic stellate cells: a link with liver fibrosis?

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis has been considered to be linked to oxidative stress and mediated by aldehydic lipid peroxidation products. In the present study, we investigated whether collagen synthesis is induced by F2-isoprostanes, the most proximal products of lipid peroxidation and known mediators of important biological effects. By contrast with aldehydes, F2-isoprostanes act through receptors able to elicit definite signal transduction pathways. In a rat model of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, plasma F2-isoprostanes were markedly elevated for the entire experimental period; hepatic collagen content also increased. When hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from normal liver were cultured with F2-isoprostanes in the concentration range found in the in vivo studies (10−9–10−8 M), a striking increase in DNA synthesis (reversed by the thromboxane A2 antagonist SQ 29 548), in cell proliferation and in collagen synthesis was observed. Total collagen content was similarly increased. Moreover, F2-isoprostanes markedly increased the production of transforming growth factor-β1 by U937 cells, considered a model of liver macrophages. The data provide evidence for the possibility that F2-isoprostanes generated by lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes mediate HSC proliferation and collagen production seen in hepatic fibrosis.

F2-isoprostane receptors on hepatic stellate cells.

F2-isoprostanes are considered as the most reliable markers of oxidative stress and can be used to evaluate the oxidative status in a number of human pathologies. Besides being markers of oxidative stress, F2-isoprostanes proved to be mediators of important biological effects and would act through the activation of receptors analogous to those for thromboxane A2. In a previous work, we provided evidence that F2-isoprostanes, generated during carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis, mediate hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and collagen hyperproduction. To investigate whether TxA2 receptor (TxA2r or TPr) is involved in the effects of F2-isoprostanes on HSC, experiments on DNA synthesis were carried out in the presence of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α) or the TxA2r-specific agonist I-BOP ([1S-[1α,2α(Z),3β(1E,3S*), 4α]]-7-[3-[3-hydroxy-4-(4-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-5-heptenoic acid). Both agonists significantly stimulated DNA synthesis, which was almost completely inhibited by the TxA2r-specific antagonist SQ29548 ([1S-[1α,2α(Z),3α,4α]]-7-[3-[[2-[(phenylamino)carbonyl] hydrazino] methyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-5-heptanoic acid), suggesting that much of the effect of 8-epi-PGF2α is mediated by the TxA2r. Further studies showed that increasing concentrations of SQ29548 progressively inhibit DNA synthesis, suggesting a possible competitive antagonism between the two molecules. In addition, we demonstrated that the stimulatory effect of 8-epi-PGF2α on collagen synthesis could be mediated by TxA2r. The occurrence of TxA2r on HSC was also investigated using western blotting analysis and immunocytochemistry, which reveals that TP is distributed both on plasma membranes and within the cells. Moreover, binding studies indicated the presence of a specific binding site for 3H-SQ29548 on HSC. Competition binding studies indicated that 8-epi-PGF2α and I-BOP were both able to displace 3H-SQ29548 binding with a very different affinity (Ki=4.14±1.9 × 10−6 M and Ki=1.15±0.3 × 10−9 M, respectively), suggesting the involvement of a modified form of isoprostane receptor, homologous to the classic thromboxane A2-binding site in F2-isoprostanes-evoked responses on HSC.

F2-Isoprostanes: Markers and Mediators of an Imbalanced Redox Status in the Liver

Previous studies suggested a relation between oxidative stress and collagen hyperproduction. Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis has been considered to be mediated by aldehydic lipid peroxidation products. In the present study we investigated whether collagen synthesis is induced by F 2 -isoprostanes, the most proximal products of lipid peroxidation and known mediators of important biological effects. By contrast with aldehydes, F 2 -isoprostanes act through receptors able to elicit definite signal transduction pathways. In a rat model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis, plasma F 2 -isoprostanes were markedly elevated for the entire experimental period; hepatic collagen content also increased. When hepatic stellate cells from normal liver were cultured up to activation (expression of α-SMA) with F 2 -isoprostanes in the concentration range found in the in vivo studies (10 to 10M), a striking increase in DNA synthesis, in cell proliferation and in collagen synthesis was observed. Total collagen content was similarly increased. All these stimulatory effects were reversed by the specific antagonist of thromboxane A 2 receptor, SQ29548. Moreover, F 2 -isoprostanes markedly increased the production of transforming growth factor-β1 by U937 cells, considered a model of liver macrophages. The data provide evidence for the possibility that F 2 -isoprostanes generated by lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes mediate hepatic stellate cell proliferation and collagen hyperproduction seen in hepatic fibrosis.