Abstract

Expression of the kinin B1 receptor is up-regulated in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disorders; however, little is known about its role in fibrogenesis. We examined human embryonic lung fibroblasts that constitutively express the B1 receptor and report that engagement of the B1 receptor by des-Arg(10)-kallidin stabilized connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA, stimulated an increase in alpha1(I) collagen mRNA, and stimulated type I collagen production. These events were not observed in B2 receptor-activated fibroblasts. In addition, B1 receptor activation by des-Arg(10)-kallidin induced a rise in cytosolic Ca(2+) that is consistent with B1 receptor pharmacology. Our results show that the des-Arg(10)-kallidin-stimulated increase in alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was time- and dose-dependent, with a peak response observed at 20 h with 100 nM des-Arg(10)-kallidin. The increase in CTGF mRNA was also time- and dose-dependent, with a peak response observed at 4 h with 100 nM des-Arg(10)-kallidin. The increase in CTGF mRNA was blocked by the B1 receptor antagonist des-Arg(10),Leu(9)-kallidin. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide did not block the des-Arg(10)-kallidin-induced increase in CTGF mRNA. These results suggest that engagement of the kinin B1 receptor contributes to fibrogenesis through increased expression of CTGF.

Highlights

  • Kinins are involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and cellular functions, including smooth muscle tone, pain perception, inflammation, and cellular proliferation [1, 2]

  • It was proposed that TGF-␤ stimulates fibrogenesis and proliferation in fibroblasts via a mechanism that requires de novo synthesis of a secondary factor, which has been identified as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) [18]

  • We found that activation of the B1 receptor by des-Arg10-kallidin induced a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca2ϩ in human lung fibroblasts (Fig. 1)

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Summary

Introduction

Kinins are involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and cellular functions, including smooth muscle tone, pain perception, inflammation, and cellular proliferation [1, 2]. Activation of the B1 receptor induces cellular and physiological responses that often mimic the responses observed following activation of the B2 receptor. Both receptors activate nuclear factor ␬B in fibroblasts [6], modulate vascular tone [7], and activate phospholipase C in mesangial cells [8]. Activation of the B2 receptor induces a variety of effects, including increased neutrophil proliferation, stimulation of macrophage spreading, release of histamine from mast cells, synthesis of platelet-activating factor and prostaglandins in endothelial cells, release of tachykinin and acetylcholine from sensory nerve endings, increased microvascular permeability, and fibroblast proliferation [2]. CCN proteins possess a secretory signal peptide and four distinct protein modules: an insulin-like growth factor-binding domain, a von Willebrand factor type C repeat, a

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