| First Author | Wermuth PJ | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Lab Invest | Volume | 99 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 470-482 |
| PubMed ID | 30470772 | Mgi Jnum | J:295710 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6454256 | Doi | 10.1038/s41374-018-0161-1 |
| Citation | Wermuth PJ, et al. (2019) Abrogation of transforming growth factor-beta-induced tissue fibrosis in mice with a global genetic deletion of Nox4. Lab Invest 99(4):470-482 |
| abstractText | Excessive connective tissue deposition in skin and various internal organs is characteristic of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The profibrotic growth factor TGF-beta plays a crucial role in SSc pathogenesis. The expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a critical mediator of oxidative stress, is potently stimulated by TGF-beta. Here, we evaluated the effect of NOX4 on the development of TGF-beta-induced tissue fibrosis. C57BL6/J control mice and Nox4 knockout mice were implanted subcutaneously with osmotic pumps containing either saline or 2.5 microg TGF-beta1. After 28 days, skin and lung samples were isolated for histopathologic analysis, measurement of hydroxyproline content and gene expression analysis. Histopathology of skin and lungs from normal C57BL6/J mice treated with TGF-beta1 showed profound dermal fibrosis and peribronchial and diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis. In contrast, TGF-beta-treated Nox4 knockout mice showed normal skin and lung histology. Hydroxyproline levels in TGF-beta-treated C57BL6/J mice skin and lungs demonstrated significant increases, however, hydroxyproline content of TGF-beta-treated Nox4 knockout mice tissues was not changed. Expression of various profibrotic and fibrosis-associated genes was upregulated in skin and lungs of TGF-beta1-treated C57BL6/J mice but was not significantly changed in TGF-beta1-treated Nox4 knockout mice. The induction of skin and lung tissue fibrosis by TGF-beta1 parenteral administration in mice was abrogated by the genetic deletion of Nox4 confirming that NOX4 is an essential mediator of the profibrotic effects of TGF-beta. These results suggest Nox4 inhibition as a potential therapeutic target for SSc and other fibroproliferative disorders. |
