casein-kinase-ii and Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide characterized by accumulation of extracellular matrix produced by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The protein kinase CK2 is a pro-survival kinase overexpressed in human tumours. However, the biological role of CK2 in liver fibrosis is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the mechanism by which CK2 promotes liver fibrosis.. In vitro, LX-2 cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). HSCs were also isolated for research. In vivo, the adeno-associated virus AAV-sh-csnk2a1 was used to knockdown CK2α specifically in HSCs, and CX-4945 was used to pharmacologically inhibit the enzymatic activity of CK2 in murine models of fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl. HSC-specific genetic invalidation of CK2α or pharmacological inhibition of CK2 protected mice treated with CCl. CK2 activation is critical to sustain the activated and fibrogenic phenotype of HSCs via SMO stabilization. Therefore, inactivation of CK2 by CX-4945 may be of therapeutic interest for liver fibrotic diseases.

Topics: Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride; Casein Kinase II; Fibrosis; Hedgehog Proteins; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Humans; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Mice

Renal fibrosis is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease. Many studies have focused on fibroblasts and myofibroblasts involved in renal fibrogenesis. Recently, several studies have reported that renal proximal tubule epithelial cells are possible initiators of renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism through which cells induce renal fibrosis is poorly understood. In this study, we found that CK2α induces fibrosis in renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (TH1) by regulating the expression of profilin-1 (Pfn1). CKD mouse model and TH1 cells treated with

Topics: Adenine; Animals; Casein Kinase II; Cell Line; Cellular Senescence; Cresols; Disease Models, Animal; Epithelial Cells; Fibrosis; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Humans; Kidney Tubules, Proximal; Male; Profilins; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Activation of casein kinase 2 (CK2) is closely linked to the body disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism and inflammatory reaction. The renal chronic inflammatory reaction in the setting of diabetes is one of the important hallmarks of diabetic renal fibrosis. However, it remains unknown whether CK2 influences the process of diabetic renal fibrosis. The current study is aimed to investigate if CK2α ameliorates renal inflammatory fibrosis in diabetes via NF-κB pathway. To explore potential regulatory mechanism of CK2α, the expression and activity of CK2α, which were studied by plasmid transfection, selective inhibitor, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and adenovirus infection in vitro or in vivo, were analyzed by means of western blotting (WB), dual luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The following findings were observed: (1) Expression of CK2α was upregulated in kidneys of db/db and KKAy diabetic mice; (2) Inhibition of CK2α kinase activity or knockdown of CK2α protein expression suppressed high glucose-induced expressions of FN and ICAM-1 in glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs); (3) Inhibition of CK2α kinase activity or knockdown of CK2α protein expression not only restrained IκB degradation, but also suppressed HG-induced nuclear accumulation, transcriptional activity and DNA binding activity of NF-κB in GMCs; (4) Treatment of TBB or CK2α RNAi adenovirus infection ameliorated renal fibrosis in diabetic animals; (5) Treatment of TBB or CK2α RNAi adenovirus infection suppressed IκB degradation and NF-κB nuclear accumulation in glomeruli of diabetic animals. This study indicates the essential role of CK2α in regulating the diabetic renal pathological process of inflammatory fibrosis via NF-κB pathway, and inhibition of CK2α may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic nephropathy.

Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Casein Kinase II; Catalytic Domain; Cells, Cultured; Diabetic Nephropathies; Fibrosis; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Inflammation; NF-kappa B; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Transcription, Genetic

Casein kinase II (CK2) is a constitutively active serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a key role in cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. The purpose of the study was to characterise whether CK2 contributes to the pathologic activation of fibroblasts in patients with SSc and to evaluate the antifibrotic potential of CK2 inhibition.. Activation of CK2, JAK2 and STAT3 in human skin and in experimental fibrosis was analysed by immunohistochemistry. CK2 signalling was inhibited by the selective CK2 inhibitor 4, 5, 6, 7-Tetrabromobenzotriazole (TBB). The mouse models of bleomycin-induced and TGFβ receptor I (TBR)-induced dermal fibrosis were used to evaluate the antifibrotic potential of specific CK2 inhibition in vivo.. Increased expression of CK2 was detected in skin fibroblasts of SSc patients. Inhibition of CK2 by TBB abrogated the TGFβ-induced activation of JAK2/STAT3 signalling and prevented the stimulatory effects of TGFβ on collagen release and myofibroblasts differentiation in cultured fibroblasts. Inhibition of CK2 prevented bleomycin-induced and TBR-induced skin fibrosis with decreased dermal thickening, lower myofibroblast counts and reduced accumulation of collagen. Treatment with TBB also induced regression of pre-established fibrosis. The antifibrotic effects of TBB were accompanied by reduced activation of JAK2/STAT3 signalling in vivo.. We provide evidence that CK2 is activated in SSc and contributes to fibroblast activation by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signalling. Inhibition of CK2 reduced the pro-fibrotic effects of TGFβ and inhibited experimental fibrosis. Targeting of CK2 may thus be a novel therapeutic approach for SSc and other fibrotic diseases.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Casein Kinase II; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Humans; Janus Kinase 2; Male; Mice; Middle Aged; Scleroderma, Systemic; Signal Transduction; Skin; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Triazoles; Young Adult

TGFβ1/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin and snail1 are preferentially activated in renal tubular epithelia after injury, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The stress response is coupled to EMT and kidney injury; however, the underlying mechanism of the stress response in EMT remains elusive. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling is responsive to stress and regulates cell energy balance and differentiation. We found that knockdown of AMPKα, especially AMPKα2, enhanced EMT by up-regulating β-catenin and Smad3 in vitro. AMPKα2 deficiency enhanced EMT and fibrosis in a murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. AMPKα2 deficiency also increased the expression of chemokines KC and MCP-1, along with enhanced infiltration of inflammatory cells into the kidney after UUO. CK2β interacted physically with AMPKα and enhanced AMPKα Thr172 phosphorylation and its catalytic activity. Thus, activated AMPKα signalling suppresses EMT and secretion of chemokines in renal tubular epithelia through interaction with CK2β to attenuate renal injury.

Topics: AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Animals; beta Catenin; Casein Kinase II; Cell Line; Cell Transdifferentiation; Chemokine CCL2; Chemokine CXCL1; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Activation; Epithelial Cells; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Fibrosis; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Kidney Tubules, Proximal; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Nephritis, Interstitial; Protein Binding; RNA Interference; Smad3 Protein; Transfection; Ureteral Obstruction; Wnt Signaling Pathway