Antifibrotic effects of eupatilin on TGF-β1-treated human vocal fold fibroblasts

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 25;16(3):e0249041. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249041. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Vocal fold scarring is a major cause of dysphonia. Vocal fold fibroblasts (VFFs) and the TGF-β signaling pathway play important roles in scar formation. Eupatilin, a chromone derivative of the Artemisia species, is a traditional folk remedy for wound healing. However, until recently, few studies investigated the therapeutic effects of eupatilin. We investigated the antifibrogenic effects of eupatilin on TGF-β1-treated human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs). The optimal concentration of eupatilin was determined by a cell viability assay. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin during myofibroblast differentiation, fibronectin (FN), collagen type I (Col I), and collagen type III (Col III) extracellular matrix proteins, and Smad2, Smad3, and p38 in the fibrotic pathway. Measurements were made before and after eupatilin treatment. Eupatilin at 100 nM was shown to be safe for use in hVFFs. TGF-β1 induced hVFFs to proliferate and differentiate into myofibroblasts and increased Col III and FN synthesis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Eupatilin suppressed TGF-β1-induced hVFF proliferation and differentiation into myofibroblasts through the Smad and p38 signaling pathways. Furthermore, eupatilin inhibited TGF-β1-induced FN, Col I, and Col III synthesis in hVFFs. Our in vitro findings show that eupatilin effectively suppressed TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes in hVFFs via the Smad and p38 signaling pathways. Thus, eupatilin may be considered a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of vocal fold fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Fibrosis
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Smad2 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / pharmacology*
  • Vocal Cords / pathology*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Flavonoids
  • Imidazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Smad2 Protein
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • eupatilin
  • Collagen
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • SB 203580

Grants and funding

This study was supported by The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (https://www.nrf.re.kr/index) in the form of a grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and awarded to CSK (2020R1G1A1004280), The Catholic University of Korea Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital (https://www.cmcdj.or.kr/) in the form of a Clinical Research Institute Grant awarded to CSK (CMCDJ-P-2019-003), and The E.N.T. Fund of the Catholic University of Korea in the form of a grant made in the program year of 2020 and awarded to CSK (5-2020-B0001-00260).