학술논문
Smooth Muscle a-Actin Deficiency in Myofibroblasts Leads to Enhanced Renal Tissue Fibrosis. Reniin enhancer is critical for control of renin gene expression and cardiovascular function.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*SMOOTH muscle
*ACTIN
*FIBROBLASTS
*FIBROSIS
*GENE expression
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Language
ISSN
0021-9258
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are a major source of proinflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix in progressive tissue fibrosis leading to chronic organ failure. Myofibroblasts are characterized by de novo expression of smooth muscle α-actin (SMαA), which correlates with the extent of disease progression, although their exact role is unknown. In vitro cultured myofibroblasts from kidney of SMαA knock-out mice demonstrate significantly more prominent cell motility, proliferation, and type-I procollagen expression than those of wild-type myofibroblasts. These pro-fibrotic properties are suppressed by adenovirus-mediated SMαA re-expression, accompanied by down-regulation of focal adhesion proteins. In interstitial fibrosis model, tissue fibrosis area, proliferating interstitial cell number, and type-I procollagen expression are enhanced under SMαA deficiency. In mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis model, cell proliferation in the mesangial area is also enhanced in SMαA knock-out mice. Adenoviral SMαA introduction into renal interstitium obviously ameliorates tissue fibrosis in interstitial fibrosis model. These results indicate that SMαA suppresses the pro-fibrotic properties of myofibroblasts, highlighting the significance of smooth muscle-related proteins in moderating chronic organ fibrosis under pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]