Inhibition of PDGF, VEGF and FGF signalling attenuates fibrosis (original) (raw)

Dasatinib attenuated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Growth Factors, 2015

Anti-fibrotic effect of dasatinib, a platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and Srckinase inhibitor, was tested on pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Adult mice were divided into four groups: mice dissected 21 d after the bleomycin (BLM) instillation (0.08 mg/kg in 200 ml) (I) and their controls (II), and mice treated with dasatinib (8 mg/kg in 100 ml, gavage) for one week 14 d after BLM instillation and dissected 21 d after instillation (III) and their controls (IV). The fibrosis score and the levels of fibrotic markers were analyzed in lungs. BLM treatment-induced cell proliferation and increased the levels of collagen-1, alpha smooth muscle actin, phospho (p)-PDGFR-alpha, p-Src, p-extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 and p-cytoplasmic-Abelsonkinase (c-Abl) in lungs, and down-regulated PTEN expression. Dasatinib reversed these alterations in the fibrotic lung. Dasatinib limited myofibroblast activation and collagen-1 accumulation by the inhibition of PDGFR-alpha, and Src and c-Abl activations. In conclusion, dasatinib may be a novel tyrosine and Src-kinase inhibitor for PF regression in mice.

Inhibition of fibrosis with multi-agent therapy in pulmonary fibrosis: Results of a drug library screening

2020

AimsSuccessful management of IPF will likely require multi-drug therapy as its pathogenesis is thought to be both driven by both pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic pathways. We hypothesized that the available anti-fibrotic agents, pirfenidone and nintedanib, may exhibit synergy in suppressing lung fibroblast extracellular matrix protein generation when administered in combination with other orally active agents.Materials and MethodsA fibroblastic cell line (AKR-2B) was stimulated with TGF-β1 and used to screen a library of over 1500 FDA approved drugs. Extracellular matrix protein generation was assessed via fibronectin ELISA assay and maintenance of cell viability confirmed with XTT assay.ResultsThe screening revealed sixty-two drugs from the repurposed drug-screening library that were shown to significantly suppress fibronectin expression and not result in cell death. Specifically drugs within the category of NSAIDs, steroids, azole antifungal agents, and antipyrine were associated...

Pathogenetic pathways and novel pharmacotherapeutic targets in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2007

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a poorly understood disease that usually leads to death within 5 years of diagnosis. Despite our better understanding of IPF pathogenesis, the etiology and the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms involved are not well known. Current therapies are of unproven benefit. The aim of this review is to identify possible candidate pathways that might offer novel therapeutic targets changing the natural course of this disease.

Therapeutic effect of a peptide inhibitor of TGF-β on pulmonary fibrosis

Cytokine, 2011

Pulmonary fibrosis encompasses several respiratory diseases characterized by epithelial cell injury, inflammation and fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 is one of the main profibrogenic cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. It induces fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts, which produce high levels of collagen and concomitantly loss of lung elasticity and reduction of the respiratory function.

Phase 2 clinical trial of PBI-4050 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

European Respiratory Journal

PBI-4050 is a novel orally active small-molecule compound with demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity in several models of fibrosis, including lung fibrosis. We present results from our first clinical study of PBI-4050 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).This 12-week open-label study explored the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of daily oral doses of 800 mg PBI-4050 alone and in combination with nintedanib or pirfenidone in patients with predominantly mild or moderate IPF. Nine patients received PBI-4050 alone, 16 patients received PBI-4050 with nintedanib and 16 patients received PBI-4050 with pirfenidone.PBI-4050 alone or in combination with nintedanib or pirfenidone was well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic profiles for PBI-4050 were similar in the PBI-4050 alone and PBI-4050+nintedanib groups but reduced in the PBI-4050+pirfenidone group, suggesting a drug–drug interaction. There were no significant changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), either in % predicted or m...

Imatinib mesylate inhibits the profibrogenic activity of TGF-β and prevents bleomycin-mediated lung fibrosis

Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2004

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and fatal fibrotic disease of the lungs with unclear etiology. Prior efforts to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that focused on anti-inflammatory therapy have not proven to be effective. Recent insight suggests that the pathogenesis is mediated through foci of dysregulated fibroblasts driven by profibrotic cytokine signaling. TGF-β and PDGF are 2 of the most potent of these cytokines.

Therapeutic effect of a peptide inhibitor of TGF-� on pulmonary fibrosis

Cytokine, 2011

Pulmonary fibrosis encompasses several respiratory diseases characterized by epithelial cell injury, inflammation and fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is one of the main profibrogenic cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. It induces fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts, which produce high levels of collagen and concomitantly loss of lung elasticity and reduction of the respiratory function.In the present study, we have investigated the effects of P17 (a TGF-β inhibitor peptide) on IMR-90 lung fibroblast differentiation in vitro, as well as on the inhibition of the development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.It was found that in IMR-90 cells, P17 inhibited TGF-β1-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor and α-smooth muscle actin. In vivo, treatment of mice with P17 2 days after bleomycin administration decreased lung fibrosis, areas of myofibroblast-like cells and lymphocyte infiltrate. P17 also reduced mRNA expression of collagen type I, fibronectin and the fibronectin splice isoform EDA in the lung, and increased the expression of IFN-γ mRNA. Finally, therapeutic treatment with P17 in mice with already established fibrosis was able to significantly attenuate the progression of lung fibrosis.These results suggest that P17 may be useful in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Specific Inhibitors of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor or Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Reduce Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

American Journal of Pathology, 1999

The proliferation of myofibroblasts is a central feature of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study we have used tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the tyrphostin class to specifically block autophosphorylation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R). AG1296 specifically inhibited autophosphorylation of PDGF-R and blocked PDGF-stimulated [ 3 H]thymidine uptake by rat lung myofibroblasts in vitro. AG1478 was demonstrated as a selective blocker of EGF-R autophosphorylation and inhibited EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis in vitro. In a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis caused by intratracheal instillation of vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) , intraperitoneal delivery of 50 mg/kg AG1296 or AG1478 in dimethylsulfoxide 1 hour before V 2 O 5 instillation and again 2 days after instillation reduced the number of epithelial and mesenchymal cells incorporating bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) by ϳ50% at 3 and 6 days after instillation. V 2 O 5 instillation increased lung hydroxyproline fivefold 15 days after instillation , and AG1296 was more than 90% effective in preventing the increase in hydroxyproline , whereas AG1478 caused a 50% to 60% decrease in V 2 O 5 -stimulated hydroxyproline accumulation. These data provide evidence that PDGF and EGF receptor ligands are potent mitogens for collagen-producing mesenchymal cells during pulmonary fibrogenesis , and targeting tyrosine kinase receptors could offer a strategy for the treatment of fibrotic lung diseases.

Antifibrotic role of vascular endothelial growth factor in pulmonary fibrosis

JCI insight, 2017

The chronic progressive decline in lung function observed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) appears to result from persistent nonresolving injury to the epithelium, impaired restitution of the epithelial barrier in the lung, and enhanced fibroblast activation. Thus, understanding these key mechanisms and pathways modulating both is essential to greater understanding of IPF pathogenesis. We examined the association of VEGF with the IPF disease state and preclinical models in vivo and in vitro. Tissue and circulating levels of VEGF were significantly reduced in patients with IPF, particularly in those with a rapidly progressive phenotype, compared with healthy controls. Lung-specific overexpression of VEGF significantly protected mice following intratracheal bleomycin challenge, with a decrease in fibrosis and bleomycin-induced cell death observed in the VEGF transgenic mice. In vitro, apoptotic endothelial cell-derived mediators enhanced epithelial cell injury and reduced epithe...

The bleomycin animal model: A useful tool to investigate treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 2008

Different animal models of pulmonary fibrosis have been developed to investigate potential therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The most common is the bleomycin model in rodents (mouse, rat and hamster). Over the years, numerous agents have been shown to inhibit fibrosis in this model. However, to date none of these compounds are used in the clinical management of IPF and none has shown a comparable antifibrotic effect in humans. We performed a systematic review of publications on drug efficacy studies in the bleomycin model to evaluate the value of this model regarding transferability to clinical use. Between 1980 and 2006 we identified 246 experimental studies describing beneficial antifibrotic compounds in the bleomycin model. In 221 of the studies we found enough details about the timing of drug application to allow inter-study comparison. 211 of those used a preventive regimen (drug given ≤ day 7 after last bleomycin application), only 10 were therapeutic trials (> 7 days after last bleomycin application). It is critical to distinguish between drugs interfering with the inflammatory and early fibrogenic response from those preventing progression of fibrosis, the latter likely much more meaningful for clinical application. All potential antifibrotic compounds should be evaluated in the phase of established fibrosis rather than in the early period of bleomycin-induced inflammation for assessment of its antifibrotic properties. Further care should be taken in extrapolation of drugs successfully tested in the bleomycin model due to partial reversibility of bleomycin induced fibrosis over time. The use of alternative and more robust animal models, which better reflect human IPF, is warranted.