TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of Intestinal Fibrosis in Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease by the Pleiotropic Actions of a Local Rho Kinase Inhibitor
AU - Holvoet, Tom
AU - Devriese, Sarah
AU - Castermans, Karolien
AU - Boland, Sandro
AU - Leysen, Dirk
AU - Vandewynckel, Yves Paul
AU - Devisscher, Lindsey
AU - Van den Bossche, Lien
AU - Van Welden, Sophie
AU - Dullaers, Melissa
AU - Vandenbroucke, Roosmarijn E.
AU - De Rycke, Riet
AU - Geboes, Karel
AU - Bourin, Arnaud
AU - Defert, Olivier
AU - Hindryckx, Pieter
AU - De Vos, Martine
AU - Laukens, Debby
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Background Intestinal fibrosis resulting in (sub)obstruction is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD). Rho kinases (ROCKs) play multiple roles in TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation that could be therapeutic targets. Because systemic ROCK inhibition causes cardiovascular side effects, we evaluated the effects of a locally acting ROCK inhibitor (AMA0825) on intestinal fibrosis. Methods Fibrosis was assessed in mouse models using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and adoptive T-cell transfer. The in vitro and ex vivo effects of AMA0825 were studied in different cell types and in CD biopsy cultures. Results ROCK is expressed in fibroblastic, epithelial, endothelial, and muscle cells of the human intestinal tract and is activated in inflamed and fibrotic tissue. Prophylactic treatment with AMA0825 inhibited myofibroblast accumulation, expression of pro-fibrotic factors, and accumulation of fibrotic tissue without affecting clinical disease activity and histologic inflammation in 2 models of fibrosis. ROCK inhibition reversed established fibrosis in a chronic DSS model and impeded ex vivo pro-fibrotic protein secretion from stenotic CD biopsies. AMA0825 reduced TGFβ1-induced activation of myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), down-regulating matrix metalloproteinases, collagen, and IL6 secretion from fibroblasts. In these cells, ROCK inhibition potentiated autophagy, which was required for the observed reduction in collagen and IL6 production. AMA0825 did not affect pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion from other ROCK-positive cell types, corroborating the selective in vivo effect on fibrosis. Conclusions Local ROCK inhibition prevents and reverses intestinal fibrosis by diminishing MRTF and p38 MAPK activation and increasing autophagy in fibroblasts. Overall, our results show that local ROCK inhibition is promising for counteracting fibrosis as an add-on therapy for CD.
AB - Background Intestinal fibrosis resulting in (sub)obstruction is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD). Rho kinases (ROCKs) play multiple roles in TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation that could be therapeutic targets. Because systemic ROCK inhibition causes cardiovascular side effects, we evaluated the effects of a locally acting ROCK inhibitor (AMA0825) on intestinal fibrosis. Methods Fibrosis was assessed in mouse models using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and adoptive T-cell transfer. The in vitro and ex vivo effects of AMA0825 were studied in different cell types and in CD biopsy cultures. Results ROCK is expressed in fibroblastic, epithelial, endothelial, and muscle cells of the human intestinal tract and is activated in inflamed and fibrotic tissue. Prophylactic treatment with AMA0825 inhibited myofibroblast accumulation, expression of pro-fibrotic factors, and accumulation of fibrotic tissue without affecting clinical disease activity and histologic inflammation in 2 models of fibrosis. ROCK inhibition reversed established fibrosis in a chronic DSS model and impeded ex vivo pro-fibrotic protein secretion from stenotic CD biopsies. AMA0825 reduced TGFβ1-induced activation of myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), down-regulating matrix metalloproteinases, collagen, and IL6 secretion from fibroblasts. In these cells, ROCK inhibition potentiated autophagy, which was required for the observed reduction in collagen and IL6 production. AMA0825 did not affect pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion from other ROCK-positive cell types, corroborating the selective in vivo effect on fibrosis. Conclusions Local ROCK inhibition prevents and reverses intestinal fibrosis by diminishing MRTF and p38 MAPK activation and increasing autophagy in fibroblasts. Overall, our results show that local ROCK inhibition is promising for counteracting fibrosis as an add-on therapy for CD.
KW - Colitis
KW - Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
KW - Mesenchymal Cells
KW - Stenosis
U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.06.013
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.06.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 28642198
AN - SCOPUS:85031708215
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 153
SP - 1054
EP - 1067
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 4
ER -
