Dr. O. Distler has received consulting fees from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, FibroGen, Ergonex, NicOx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource, Medac GmbH, and Biovitrium and honoraria from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, and Ergonex (less than $10,000 each); he has received scleroderma treatment research grants from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, FibroGen, Ergonex, NicOx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource, Medac, and Biovitrium.
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Systemic Sclerosis
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Inhibition of Notch signaling prevents experimental fibrosis and induces regression of established fibrosis
Article first published online: 27 APR 2011
DOI: 10.1002/art.30254
Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Rheumatology
Additional Information
How to Cite
Dees, C., Zerr, P., Tomcik, M., Beyer, C., Horn, A., Akhmetshina, A., Palumbo, K., Reich, N., Zwerina, J., Sticherling, M., Mattson, M. P., Distler, O., Schett, G. and Distler, J. H. W. (2011), Inhibition of Notch signaling prevents experimental fibrosis and induces regression of established fibrosis. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 63: 1396–1404. doi: 10.1002/art.30254
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Dr. O. Distler has received consulting fees from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, FibroGen, Ergonex, NicOx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource, Medac GmbH, and Biovitrium and honoraria from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, and Ergonex (less than $10,000 each); he has received scleroderma treatment research grants from Actelion, Pfizer, Encysive, FibroGen, Ergonex, NicOx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi-Aventis, United BioSource, Medac, and Biovitrium.
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Dr. J. H. W. Distler has received consulting fees, speaking fees, and/or honoraria from Pfizer, Encysive, Actelion, and GlaxoSmithKline (less than $10,000 each).
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 APR 2011
- Article first published online: 27 APR 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 10 FEB 2011 12:07PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 11 JAN 2011
- Manuscript Received: 19 APR 2010
Funded by
- Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft. Grant Number: DI 1537/2-1
- Interdisciplinary Center of Clinical Research, Erlangen. Grant Number: IZKF grant A20
- CMH Research Project. Grant Number: 0000023728
- NIH (National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program)
- Career Support Award of Medicine from the Ernst Jung Foundation
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Abstract
Objective
Tissue fibrosis caused by pathologic activation of fibroblasts with increased synthesis of extracellular matrix components is a major hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Notch signaling regulates tissue differentiation, and abnormal activation of Notch signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignancies. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of Notch signaling in SSc and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Notch inhibition for the treatment of fibrosis.
Methods
Activation of the Notch pathways was analyzed by staining for the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and quantification of levels of HES-1 messenger RNA. In the mouse model of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis and in tight skin 1 mice, Notch signaling was inhibited by the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT and by overexpression of a Notch-1 antisense construct.
Results
Notch signaling was activated in SSc in vivo, with accumulation of the NICD and increased transcription of the target gene HES-1. Overexpression of a Notch antisense construct prevented bleomycin-induced fibrosis and hypodermal thickening in tight skin 1 mice. Potent antifibrotic effects were also obtained with DAPT treatment. In addition to prevention of fibrosis, targeting of Notch signaling resulted in almost complete regression of established experimental fibrosis.
Conclusion
The present results demonstrate that pharmacologic as well as genetic inhibition of Notch signaling exerts potent antifibrotic effects in different murine models of SSc. These findings might have direct translational implications because different inhibitors of the γ-secretase complex are available and have yielded promising results in cancer trials.