Cited by 271Liver physiology and pathologyLiver Disease Diagnosis and TreatmentCardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling

Pharmacological inhibition of the chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) accelerates liver fibrosis regression by suppressing Ly-6C+ macrophage infiltration in mice

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Baeck, Christer, Wei, Xiao, Bartneck, Matthias, Fech, Viktor, Heymann, Felix, Gassler, Nikolaus, Hittatiya, Kanishka, Eulberg, Dirk +3 more·2014·Hepatology

Abstract

Macrophages constitute a major proinflammatory component during chronic liver diseases and are considered a key factor in promoting hepatic fibrosis. However, there is increasing evidence that distinct monocyte and macrophage subsets exert critical functions in regression from organ fibrosis as well. Experimental mouse models of fibrosis regression have identified “restorative” macrophages as Ly-6C (Ly6C, Gr1) low-expressing, monocyte-derived cells. We investigated molecular pathways balancing proinflammatory and restorative macrophages during fibrosis regression as well as pharmacologically augmenting beneficial macrophage functionality in fibrosis resolution. Therefore, we employed a Spiegelmer-based inhibitor of the chemokine, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2; monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), termed mNOX-E36, in the regression phase of two murine models of toxic (CCl 4 ) and metabolic (methionine-choline–deficient diet) liver fibrosis. Although inflammation rapidly declined after cessation of injury, we observed a transient influx of Ly-6C + infiltrating monocytes (iMΦ), which are characterized by typical macrophage morphology, up-regulated expression of CCR2, and the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in injured liver. By inhibiting the early influx of Ly-6C + iMΦ by the CCL2 inhibitor, mNOX-E36, the intrahepatic macrophage equilibration shifted toward the “restorative” Ly-6C - subset of iMΦ. Consequently, fibrosis resolution was significantly accelerated upon mNOX-E36 administration in both models. Blocking transient recruitment of infiltrating Ly-6C + monocytes, but not direct effects of the inhibitor on the remaining macrophages, resulted in reduced intrahepatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion : Transient CCL2-dependent recruitment of infiltrating Ly-6C + monocytes during fibrosis regression counteracts scar resolution by perpetuating inflammatory reactions through release of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF. Pharmacological inhibition of Ly-6C + monocyte recruitment using the CCL2-inhibitor, mNOX-E36, accelerates regression from toxic and metabolic liver fibrosis in two independent experimental models. (HEPATOLOGY 2014;59:1060–1072)

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  • Genetic deletion of CCL2 in CX3CR1-/- mice ameliorates fibrosis by limiting macrophage infiltration and promoting restorative macrophage polarization.

    “Interestingly, genetic deletion of CCL2 in CX3CR1-/- mice ameliorated fibrosis by limiting macrophage infiltration and promoting restorative macrophage polarization, consistent with the antifibrotic effects of CCL2 inhibition (102).”
  • Pharmacological inhibition of CCL2 by mNOX-E36 or the use of cenicriviroc, a CCR2/CCR5 antagonist, gave promising anti-inflammatory and antifibrogenic results in mouse models.

    “Pharmacological inhibition of CCL2 by mNOX-E36 (121) or the use of cenicriviroc, a CCR2/CCR5 antagonist, gave promising anti-inflammatory and antifibrogenic results in mouse models (122).”
  • Infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages can promote both fibrogenesis and fibrosis resolution.

    “These infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages can promote both fibrogenesis71 and fibrosis resolution.72,73”

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Authors
Baeck, C., Wei, X., Bartneck, M., Fech, V., Heymann, F., Gassler, N., Hittatiya, K., Eulberg, D., Luedde, T., Trautwein, C., & Tacke, F.
Affiliations
  • Universitätsklinikum Aachen (DE)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • Noxxon Pharma (Germany) (DE)
Corresponding author
Tacke, Frank
Venue
Hepatology
Published
2014-03
Volume
59
Issue
3
Pages
1060-1072
ISSN
0270-9139 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2022790785
Cited by
270
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 14
FWCI
15.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hepatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Ta434/2–1, SFB‐TRR57, Ta434/2-1, DFG: SFB/TRR57)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver physiology and pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling
Keywords
liver fibrosis regression, MCP-1, Spiegelmers, infiltrating monocytes, CCR2, TNF-α, inflammatory cytokines, carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury, methionine-choline-deficient diet
MeSH terms
Animals, Chronic Disease, Disease Models, Animal, Liver Cirrhosis, Macrophages, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Cytokines, Chemokine CCL2, Mice, Aptamers, Nucleotide, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury

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