Biomaterial Database

CK2 blockade alleviates liver fibrosis by suppressing activation of hepatic stellate cells via the Hedgehog pathway. 2023

Junfu Fan, and Gaozan Tong, and Xixi Chen, and Santie Li, and Ying Yu, and Shunan Zhu, and Kunxuan Zhu, and Zijing Hu, and Yonggan Dong, and Rui Chen, and Junjie Zhu, and Wenjie Gong, and Zhicheng Hu, and Bin Zhou, and Yiming Chen, and Litai Jin, and Weitao Cong

School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.

OBJECTIVE Liver fibrosis is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide characterized by accumulation of extracellular matrix produced by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The protein kinase CK2 is a pro-survival kinase overexpressed in human tumours. However, the biological role of CK2 in liver fibrosis is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the mechanism by which CK2 promotes liver fibrosis. METHODS In vitro, LX-2 cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). HSCs were also isolated for research. In vivo, the adeno-associated virus AAV-sh-csnk2a1 was used to knockdown CK2α specifically in HSCs, and CX-4945 was used to pharmacologically inhibit the enzymatic activity of CK2 in murine models of fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) and a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) diet. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed to study the involvement of CK2 in regulation of fibrogenic and fibrolytic factors as well as activation properties of HSCs. RESULTS HSC-specific genetic invalidation of CK2α or pharmacological inhibition of CK2 protected mice treated with CCl4 or fed a DDC diet against liver fibrosis and HSC accumulation. Mechanistically, CK2α, which bound to Smoothened (SMO), was a positive regulator of the Hedgehog signal transduction pathway. CK2 prevented ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of SMO, which was abolished by knockdown of CK2α or pharmacological inhibition of CK2. CONCLUSIONS CK2 activation is critical to sustain the activated and fibrogenic phenotype of HSCs via SMO stabilization. Therefore, inactivation of CK2 by CX-4945 may be of therapeutic interest for liver fibrotic diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008103	Liver Cirrhosis	Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules.	Cirrhosis, Liver,Fibrosis, Liver,Hepatic Cirrhosis,Liver Fibrosis,Cirrhosis, Hepatic
D002251	Carbon Tetrachloride	A solvent for oils, fats, lacquers, varnishes, rubber waxes, and resins, and a starting material in the manufacturing of organic compounds. Poisoning by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption is possible and may be fatal. (Merck Index, 11th ed)	Tetrachloromethane,Tetrachloride, Carbon
D005355	Fibrosis	Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury.	Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D047390	Casein Kinase II	A ubiquitous casein kinase that is comprised of two distinct catalytic subunits and dimeric regulatory subunit. Casein kinase II has been shown to phosphorylate a large number of substrates, many of which are proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression.	Casein Kinase 2,Casein Kinase 2 alpha Subunit,Casein Kinase 2 alpha' Subunit,Casein Kinase 2 beta Subunit,Casein Kinase 2alpha,Casein Kinase 2alpha',Casein Kinase TS,Casein Kinase-2,Protein Kinase CK2,Protein Kinase CKII,2alpha', Casein Kinase,Kinase 2alpha', Casein,Kinase CKII, Protein
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D053823	Hedgehog Proteins	A family of intercellular signaling proteins that play an important role in regulating the development of many TISSUES and organs. Their name derives from the observation of a hedgehog-like appearance in DROSOPHILA embryos with genetic mutations that block their action.	Hedgehog Protein,Hedgehog Protein, Vertebrate,Banded Hedgehog Protein,Desert Hedgehog Protein,Indian Hedgehog Protein,Sonic Hedgehog Protein,Vertebrate Hedgehog Protein,Hedgehog Protein, Banded,Hedgehog Protein, Desert,Hedgehog Protein, Indian,Hedgehog Protein, Sonic,Protein, Hedgehog
D055166	Hepatic Stellate Cells	Perisinusoidal cells of the liver, located in the space of Disse between HEPATOCYTES and sinusoidal endothelial cells.	Ito Cells,Cell, Hepatic Stellate,Cells, Hepatic Stellate,Cells, Ito,Hepatic Stellate Cell,Stellate Cell, Hepatic,Stellate Cells, Hepatic