Hiroki Oikawa1, Chihaya Maesawa2, Yoshinori Tatemichi3, Yutaka Nishinari4, Masao Nishiya5, Hisata Mizugai6, Aya Ikeda5, Kanta Oikawa3, Yasuhiro Takikawa3, Tomoyuki Masuda5. 1. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan. Electronic address: hioikawa@iwate-med.ac.jp. 2. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan; Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan. 4. Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan. 5. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan. 6. Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba-Cho, Shiwa-Gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan.
Abstract
AIMS: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) participates in the progression of various diseases. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is thought to promote renal fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy with fibrosis and atherosclerosis by activation of the EGFR through secretion of EGFR ligands. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation occurs on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and whether the reaction is mediated via ADAM17. MAIN METHODS: Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation and cellular proliferation of the human HSC line LI90 were investigated using Western blotting and ATP assay, respectively. Ang II-induced secretion of mature amphiregulin into the cell culture medium was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). KEY FINDINGS: An inhibitor of ADAM17, TAPI-1, as well as antagonists of EGFR and angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1), attenuated Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation and proliferation of LI90 cells. Furthermore, silencing of ADAM17 inhibited Ang II-induced secretion of mature amphiregulin in addition to EGFR transactivation. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that ADAM17 mediates Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation on HSCs, and that this process may participate in the progression of liver fibrosis.
AIMS: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) participates in the progression of various diseases. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is thought to promote renal fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy with fibrosis and atherosclerosis by activation of the EGFR through secretion of EGFR ligands. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation occurs on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and whether the reaction is mediated via ADAM17. MAIN METHODS:Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation and cellular proliferation of the humanHSC line LI90 were investigated using Western blotting and ATP assay, respectively. Ang II-induced secretion of mature amphiregulin into the cell culture medium was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). KEY FINDINGS: An inhibitor of ADAM17, TAPI-1, as well as antagonists of EGFR and angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1), attenuated Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation and proliferation of LI90 cells. Furthermore, silencing of ADAM17 inhibited Ang II-induced secretion of mature amphiregulin in addition to EGFR transactivation. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that ADAM17 mediates Ang II-induced EGFR transactivation on HSCs, and that this process may participate in the progression of liver fibrosis.