ly-2157299 and Fibrosis

Dermal fibroblasts in pathological scars secrete constitutively elevated levels of TGF-β, signaling the transcription of fibrotic genes via activin-like kinase 5 (ALK5). In the present study, we examine the antifibrotic effects of galunisertib, a small-molecule inhibitor of ALK5, on fibroproliferative dermal fibroblasts in an in vitro model of wound healing. We induced fibrosis in human dermal fibroblasts with exogenous TGF-β and performed cellular proliferation assays after treatment with varying concentrations of galunisertib. Dermal fibroblast proliferation was diminished to homeostatic levels without cytotoxicity at concentrations as high as 10 μM. An in vitro scratch assay revealed that galunisertib significantly enhanced cellular migration and in vitro wound closure beginning 24 h post-injury. A gene expression analysis demonstrated a significant attenuation of fibrotic gene expression, including collagen-1a, alpha-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and connective tissue growth factor, with increased expression of the antifibrotic genes MMP1 and decorin. Protein synthesis assays confirmed drug activity and corroborated the transcription findings. In summary, galunisertib simultaneously exerts antifibrotic effects on dermal fibroblasts while enhancing rates of in vitro wound closure. Galunisertib has already completed phase II clinical trials for cancer therapy with minimal adverse effects and is a promising candidate for the treatment and prevention of pathological cutaneous scars.

Topics: Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cicatrix; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Humans; Pyrazoles; Quinolines; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Uncontrolled and excessive fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) in the peri-infarct zone leads to left ventricular remodeling and deterioration of cardiac function. Inhibiting fibroblast activation during the mature phase of cardiac repair improves cardiac remodeling and function after MI. Here, we engineered a biocompatible microneedle (MN) patch using gelatin methacryloyl and loaded it with galunisertib, a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-specific inhibitor, to treat excessive cardiac fibrosis after MI. The MN patch could sustainably release galunisertib for more than 2 weeks and provide mechanical support for the fragile ventricular wall. After being applied to a rat model of MI, the galunisertib-loaded MN patch improved long-term cardiac function and reduced cardiac fibrosis by effectively inhibiting TGF-β depending on fibroblast activation. This strategy shows the potential of the MN patch as an advanced platform to locally deliver direct antifibrotic drugs to prevent myocardial fibrosis for the treatment of MI and the promotion of cardiac repair.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Fibrosis; Gelatin; Hydrogels; Methacrylates; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Pyrazoles; Quinolines; Rats; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Cardiac fibrosis is a significant component of pathological heart remodeling, yet it is not directly targeted by existing drugs. Systems pharmacology approaches have the potential to provide mechanistic frameworks with which to predict and understand how drugs modulate biological systems. Here, we combine network modeling of the fibroblast signaling network with 36 unique drug-target interactions from DrugBank to predict drugs that modulate fibroblast phenotype and fibrosis. Galunisertib was predicted to decrease collagen and α-SMA expression, which we validated in human cardiac fibroblasts. In vivo fibrosis data from the literature validated predictions for 10 drugs. Further, the model was used to identify network mechanisms by which these drugs work. Arsenic trioxide was predicted to induce fibrosis by AP1-driven TGFβ expression and MMP2-driven TGFβ activation. Entresto (valsartan/sacubitril) was predicted to suppress fibrosis by valsartan suppression of ERK signaling and sacubitril enhancement of PKG activity, both of which decreased Smad3 activity. Overall, this study provides a framework for integrating drug-target mechanisms with logic-based network models, which can drive further studies both in cardiac fibrosis and other conditions.

Topics: Aminobutyrates; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Animals; Arsenic Trioxide; Biphenyl Compounds; Computer Simulation; Drug Combinations; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Heart Diseases; Humans; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Models, Animal; Network Pharmacology; Pyrazoles; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Quinolines; Rats; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; Signal Transduction; Smad3 Protein; Thioctic Acid; Valsartan

Fibrosis is the hallmark of pathologic tissue remodelling in most chronic diseases. Despite advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of fibrosis, it remains uncured. Fibrogenic processes share conserved core cellular and molecular pathways across organs. In this study, we aimed to elucidate shared and organ-specific features of fibrosis using murine precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS) prepared from small intestine, liver and kidneys. PCTS displayed substantial differences in their baseline gene expression profiles: 70% of the extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes were differentially expressed across the organs. Culture for 48 h induced significant changes in ECM regulation and triggered the onset of fibrogenesis in all PCTS in organ-specific manner. TGFβ signalling was activated during 48 h culture in all PCTS. However, the degree of its involvement varied: both canonical and non-canonical TGFβ pathways were activated in liver and kidney slices, while only canonical, Smad-dependent, cascade was involved in intestinal slices. The treatment with galunisertib blocked the TGFβRI/SMAD2 signalling in all PCTS, but attenuated culture-induced dysregulation of ECM homeostasis and mitigated the onset of fibrogenesis with organ-specificity. In conclusion, regardless the many common features in pathophysiology of organ fibrosis, PCTS displayed diversity in culture-induced responses and in response to the treatment with TGFβRI kinase inhibitor galunisertib, even though it targets a core fibrosis pathway. A clear understanding of the common and organ-specific features of fibrosis is the basis for developing novel antifibrotic therapies.

Topics: Animals; Fibrosis; Kidney; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrazoles; Quinolines; Signal Transduction; Smad2 Protein; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Six series of 4-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-5-yl)-3(5)-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)- pyrazoles 18a-d, 19a-d, 22a-d and 3(5)-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(thieno[3,2,-c]- pyridin-2-yl)pyrazoles 20a-d, 21a-d, 23c, 23d have been synthesized and evaluated for their activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) and p38α mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitory activities in enzymatic assays. Among these compounds, the most active compound, 22c, inhibited ALK5 phosphorylation with an IC

Topics: Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Design; Fibrosis; Humans; Molecular Docking Simulation; Molecular Structure; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrazoles; Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; Structure-Activity Relationship

The purpose is to investigate the mechanism of subconjunctival fibrosis caused by benzalkonium chloride (BAC), which is the most common preservative in ophthalmic preparations.. The left eyes of male Sprague-Dawley rats were topically treated with 0.01% BAC or PBS twice daily for 1 month. Primary conjunctival fibroblasts (CFs) were exposed for 24 hours to 0.00005% BAC, 0.000075% BAC, 0.000075% BAC + LY2157299 (a selective transforming growth factor β receptor type I inhibitor); 0.000075% BAC + NS-398 (a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) and PBS, respectively. The pathological changes of the bulbar conjunctival tissue of rats were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Van Gieson's (vG), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains, or immunohistochemisty (IHC). The expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway-related molecules, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in bulbar conjunctival tissues and CFs were detected using Western blot (WB) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR).. Rats treated with 0.01% BAC exhibited a slight increase of the fibroblast density and a more compact collagen deposition in the bulbar subepithelial connective tissues in comparison with rats treated with PBS. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of ECM, TGF-β signaling pathway-related molecules, and COX-2 were markedly increased in the bulbar conjunctival tissues of rats exposed to 0.01% BAC and in CFs exposed to 0.00005% and 0.000075% BAC. In conjunctival fibroblasts, BAC-induced ECM expression was clearly decreased by LY2157299, while the BAC-induced activation of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway was greatly attenuated by NS-398.. Subconjunctival fibrosis BAC-induced is a consequence of excessive ECM production of CFs through the COX-2-modulated activation of a TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Topics: Animals; Benzalkonium Compounds; Biomarkers; Blotting, Western; Conjunctiva; Conjunctival Diseases; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Matrix; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Male; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Pyrazoles; Quinolines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction; Smad3 Protein; Transforming Growth Factor beta1