BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) provokes hypertrophic and cytoprotective effects in cardiac myocytes. However, the effects of LIF in cardiac fibroblasts are not known. Given that the cardiac fibroblast is the most abundant cell type in the heart, we sought to examine the functional effects of LIF on cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. RESULTS: Short-term LIF stimulation (24h) had no effect on fibroblast proliferation and/or cell differentiation. However, longer-term LIF stimulation (48-72h) increased fibroblast proliferation, and significantly inhibited cardiac fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts. Moreover, 72h of LIF stimulation significantly reduced collagen content in cardiac fibroblasts cultures, as well as decreased MMP activity in fibroblast culture supernatants. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that LIF stimulation down-regulates several key components of the remodeling process, including collagen content and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, and thus suggest that LIF may play an important autocrine/paracrine role in preventing excessive extracellular matrix remodeling following acute myocardial injury.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) provokes hypertrophic and cytoprotective effects in cardiac myocytes. However, the effects of LIF in cardiac fibroblasts are not known. Given that the cardiac fibroblast is the most abundant cell type in the heart, we sought to examine the functional effects of LIF on cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. RESULTS: Short-term LIF stimulation (24h) had no effect on fibroblast proliferation and/or cell differentiation. However, longer-term LIF stimulation (48-72h) increased fibroblast proliferation, and significantly inhibited cardiac fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts. Moreover, 72h of LIF stimulation significantly reduced collagen content in cardiac fibroblasts cultures, as well as decreased MMP activity in fibroblast culture supernatants. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that LIF stimulation down-regulates several key components of the remodeling process, including collagen content and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, and thus suggest that LIF may play an important autocrine/paracrine role in preventing excessive extracellular matrix remodeling following acute myocardial injury.
Authors: Arne Yndestad; Jan Kristian Damås; Erik Øie; Thor Ueland; Lars Gullestad; Pål Aukrust Journal: Curr Cardiol Rep Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 2.931
Authors: Yan Zhang; Evelyn M Kanter; James G Laing; Colette Aprhys; David C Johns; Elissavet Kardami; Kathryn A Yamada Journal: Cell Commun Adhes Date: 2008-09
Authors: Ana Maria Manso; Seok-Min Kang; Sergey V Plotnikov; Ingo Thievessen; Jaewon Oh; Hilary E Beggs; Robert S Ross Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Date: 2009-01-09 Impact factor: 4.733