PDGF-dependent hepatic stellate cell (HSC) recruitment is an essential step in liver fibrosis and the sinusoidal vascular changes that accompany this process. However, the mechanisms that regulate PDGF signaling remain incompletely defined. Here, we found that in two rat models of liver fibrosis, the axonal guidance molecule neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) was upregulated in activated HSCs, which exhibit the highly motile myofibroblast phenotype. Additionally, NRP-1 colocalized with PDGF-receptor β (PDGFRβ) in HSCs both in the injury models and in human and rat HSC cell lines. In human HSCs, siRNA-mediated knockdown of NRP-1 attenuated PDGF-induced chemotaxis, while NRP-1 overexpression increased cell motility and TGF-β-dependent collagen production. Similarly, mouse HSCs genetically modified to lack NRP-1 displayed reduced motility in response to PDGF treatment. Immunoprecipitation and biochemical binding studies revealed that NRP-1 increased PDGF binding affinity for PDGFRβ-expressing cells and promoted downstream signaling. An NRP-1 neutralizing Ab ameliorated recruitment of HSCs, blocked liver fibrosis in a rat model of liver injury, and also attenuated VEGF responses in cultured liver endothelial cells. In addition, NRP-1 overexpression was observed in human specimens of liver cirrhosis caused by both hepatitis C and steatohepatitis. These studies reveal a role for NRP-1 as a modulator of multiple growth factor targets that regulate liver fibrosis and the vascular changes that accompany it and may have broad implications for liver cirrhosis and myofibroblast biology in a variety of other organ systems and disease conditions.

The tumor microenvironment, including stromal myofibroblasts and associated matrix proteins, regulates cancer cell invasion and proliferation. Here we report that neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) orchestrates communications between myofibroblasts and soluble fibronectin (FN) that promote α5β1 integrin-dependent FN fibril assembly, matrix stiffness, and tumor growth. Tumor growth and FN fibril assembly was reduced by genetic depletion or antibody neutralization of NRP-1 from stromal myofibroblasts in vivo. Mechanistically, the increase in FN fibril assembly required glycosylation of serine 612 of the extracellular domain of NRP-1, an intact intracellular NRP-1 SEA domain, and intracellular associations between NRP-1, the scaffold protein GIPC, and the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl, that augmented α5β1 FN fibril assembly activity. Analysis of human cancer specimens established an association between tumoral NRP-1 levels and clinical outcome. Our findings indicate that NRP-1 activates the tumor microenvironment, thereby promoting tumor growth. These results not only identify new molecular mechanisms of FN fibril assembly but also have important implications for therapeutic targeting of the myofibroblast in the tumor microenvironment.

Purpose-A mouse model of renal insufficiency with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and venous stenosis was created. We tested the hypothesis that there is increased gene expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptors (VEGFR-1, -2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), -9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, -2 (TIMP-1, -2), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase thrombospondin-1 (ADAMTS-1) at the venous stenosis.Materials and methods-Nineteen male C57BL/6 mice underwent a left nephrectomy and a surgical occlusion of the right upper pole to induce renal insufficiency and characterized in eight mice. Twenty eight days later, an AVF (n=11) was created from the right carotid artery to ipsilateral jugular vein and the mice were sacrificed at day 7 (n=4) and day 14 (n=4). The outflow and control veins were removed for gene expression. Three mice were sacrificed at day 28 for histologic analysis.

Angiogenesis defines the growth of new blood vessels from preexisting vascular endothelial networks and corresponds to the wound healing process that is typified by the process of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is also associated with increased endotoxin within the gut lumen and its associated portal circulation. However, the interrelationship of gut endotoxin and its receptor, toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), with liver fibrosis and associated angiogenesis remains incompletely defined. Here, using complementary genetic, molecular, and pharmacological approaches, we provide evidence that the pattern recognition receptor that recognizes endotoxin, TLR4, which is expressed on liver endothelial cells (LECs), regulates angiogenic responses both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies have revealed a key role for a cognate TLR4 effector protein, myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88), in this process, which culminates in extracellular protease production that regulates the invasive capacity of LECs, a key step in angiogenesis. Furthermore, TLR4‐dependent angiogenesis in vivo corresponds to fibrosis in complementary liver models of fibrosis. Conclusion: These studies provide evidence that the TLR4 pathway in LECs regulates angiogenesis through its MyD88 effector protein by regulating extracellular protease production and that this process is linked to the development of liver fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;)

Background Paracrine signaling between hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver endothelial cells (LEC) modulates fibrogenesis, angiogenesis, and portal hypertension. However, mechanisms regulating these processes are not fully defined. Sorafenib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks growth factor signaling in tumor cells but also displays important and not yet fully characterized effects on liver nonparenchymal cells including HSC and LEC. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that sorafenib influences paracrine signaling between HSC and LEC and thereby regulates matrix and vascular changes associated with chronic liver injury. Results Complementary magnetic resonance elastography, micro-CT, and histochemical analyses indicate that sorafenib attenuates the changes in both matrix and vascular compartments that occur in response to bile-duct ligation induced liver injury in rats. Cell biology studies demonstrate that sorafenib markedly reduces cell to cell apposition and junctional complexes, thus reducing the proximity typically observed between these sinusoidal barrier cells. At the molecular level, sorafenib down-regulates angiopoietin-1 and fibronectin, both released by HSC in a manner dependent on the transcription factor KLF6, suggesting that this pathway underlies both matrix and vascular changes associated with chronic liver disease. Conclusion Collectively, our results demonstrate that sorafenib inhibits both matrix restructuring and vascular remodeling that accompany chronic liver diseases and characterize cell and molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. These data may help to refine future therapies for advanced gastrointestinal and liver diseases characterized by abundant fibrosis and neovascularization.

Purpose Hemodialysis grafts fail because of venous neointimal hyperplasia formation caused by adventitial fibroblasts which have become myofibroblasts (α-smooth muscle actin positive cells) and migrate to the neointima. There is increased expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α in venous neointimal hyperplasia formation in experimental animal model and clinical samples. We hypothesized that under hypoxic stimulus (HIF-1α fibroblasts will convert to myofibroblasts through a matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mediated pathway. Materials and methods Murine AKR-2B fibroblasts were made hypoxic or normoxic for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Protein expression for HIF-1α, α-smooth muscle actin, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 was performed to determine the kinetic changes of these proteins. Immunostaining for α-smooth muscle actin, collagen, and fibronectin was performed. Results At all time points, there was significantly increased expression of HIF-1α in the hypoxic fibroblasts when compared to normoxic fibroblasts (P<0.05). There was significantly increased expression α-smooth muscle actin at all time points which peaked by 48 hours in hypoxic fibroblasts when compared to normoxic fibroblasts (P<0.05). There was a significant increase in the expression of active MMP-2 by 48-72 hours and a significant increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) by 48-72 hours by hypoxic fibroblasts (P<0.05). By 72 hours, there was significant increase in TIMP-2 expression (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated increased expression for α-smooth muscle actin, collagen, and fibronectin as the length of hypoxia increased. Conclusions Under hypoxia, fibroblasts will convert to myofibroblasts through a MMP-2 mediated pathway which may provide insight into the mechanism of venous neointimal hyperplasia.

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Chemotaxis signals between hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) maintain hepatic vascular homeostasis and integrity and also regulate changes in sinusoidal structure in response to liver injury. Our prior studies have demonstrated that the bidirectional chemotactic signaling molecules EphrinB2 and EphB4 are expressed in HSC. The aim of our present study was to explore whether and how the EphrinB2/EphB4 system in HSC could promote SEC recruitment, which is essential for sinusoidal structure and remodeling. Stimulation of human HSC (hHSC) with chimeric agonists (2 microg/ml) of either EphrinB2 or EphB4 (EphrinB2 Fc or EphB4 Fc, respectively) significantly increased VEGF mRNA levels in hHSC as assessed by quantitative PCR, with respective small interfering RNAs for EphrinB2 and EphB4 inhibiting this increase (P < 0.05, n = 3). EphrinB2 agonist-induced increase in VEGF mRNA levels in hHSC was associated with increased phosphorylation of Erk and was significantly blocked by U0126 (20 microM), an inhibitor of MEK, which is a kinase upstream from Erk (P < 0.05, n = 3). The EphB4 agonist also significantly increased human VEGF promoter activity (P < 0.05, n = 3) as assessed by promoter reporter luciferase assay in transfected LX2-HSC. This was associated with upregulation of the vasculoprotective transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). In Boyden chamber assays, conditioned media from hHSC stimulated with agonists of EphrinB2 or EphB4 increased SEC chemotaxis in a VEGF-dependent manner, compared with control groups that included basal media with agonists of EphrinB2, EphB4, or HSC-conditioned media from HSC in absence of agonist stimulation (P < 0.05, n = 3). EphB4 expression was detected in situ within liver sinusoidal vessels of rats after carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. In summary, activation of the EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling pathway in HSC promotes chemotaxis of SEC through a pathway that involves Erk, KLF2, and VEGF. These studies identify EphrinB2 or EphB4 as a key intermediary that links HSC signal transduction pathways with angiogenesis and sinusoidal remodeling.