Abstract
Background Fibrosis is defined as an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components with an associated loss of normal tissue architecture and function. Fibrosis occurs in many different auto-inflammatory (auto-immune) diseases. Current therapies targeting fibrosis are limited and we are in great need for novel therapeutic regimens. In fibrosis, abnormal fibroblast proliferation and ECM production by fibroblasts is stimulated by factors released by different cell types, amongst which macrophages. Macrophages produce many pro-fibrotic factors, such as IL-6, CCL2, PDGF and TGF-beta. In rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, somatostatin analogues exerted strong anti-inflammatory effects, by inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Somatostatin analogues bind to somatostatin receptors (sst) and we demonstrated sst subtype 2 expression on human macrophages. In the present study we investigated the effects of somatostatin, octreotide, a clinically used somatostatin analogue, and cortistatin, an endogenously expressed somatostatin-like peptide, on macrophage-induced fibroblast proliferation.
Highlights
Fibrosis is defined as an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components with an associated loss of normal tissue architecture and function
Somatostatin analogues bind to somatostatin receptors and we demonstrated sst subtype 2 expression on human macrophages
In the present study we investigated the effects of somatostatin, octreotide, a clinically used somatostatin analogue, and cortistatin, an endogenously expressed somatostatin-like peptide, on macrophage-induced fibroblast proliferation
Summary
Macrophage-fibroblast interplay: a target for neuropeptide-based treatment of fibrotic disease?. Sita Virakul1*, Willem A Dik, Leo J Hofland, P Martin van Hagen, Virgil ASH Dalm. From 7th European Workshop on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Noordwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. From 7th European Workshop on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Noordwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. 28-30 November 2012
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.