RAS-selective lethal small molecule 3 inhibits the fibrosis of pathological scar fibroblasts

doi:10.12307/2024.202

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Abnormal extracellular matrix accumulation and excessive proliferation of fibroblasts are the main manifestations of pathological scars. Excessive proliferation of fibroblasts leads to the production of large amounts of collagen-based extracellular matrix. Therefore, to investigate the role of fibroblast fibrosis in the formation of pathological scar will provide a new idea for revealing the mechanism of pathological scar and biological therapy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of RAS-selective lethal small molecule 3 (RSL3) on the fibrosis of human pathological scar fibroblasts.
METHODS: Then cases of pathological scar tissue and normal skin tissue samples from the same individuals, provided by the Department of Burn Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, were collected. Fibroblasts of human pathological scar and human normal skin were extracted and used in the following experiments. The general condition of the pathological scar tissue and the normal skin tissue was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The appearance of fibroblasts from pathological scar and normal skin were observed by inverted microscope. The fibroblasts were verified by immunofluorescence assay. The cells were treated with different concentrations of RSL3 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 μmol/L). The inhibitory concentration of RSL3 on fibroblasts was detected by cell counting kit-8. Control group (without treatment) and RSL3 intervention group (treated with 7 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 hours) were set up. The mRNA and protein expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4, type I collagen, type III collagen and α-smooth muscle actin were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Level of malondialdehyde in cells was detected. The residual scratch area was measured by cell scratch test after 24 hours to calculate the percentage of residual scratch area.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the pathological scar group was higher than that in the normal skin group (mRNA: t=3.252, P < 0.01; protein: t=5.075, P < 0.01). The expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the pathological scar fibroblast group was higher than that in the normal skin fibroblast group (mRNA: t=10.32, P < 0.01; protein: t=26.22, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 was decreased (mRNA: t=2.798, P < 0.05; protein: t=4.643, P < 0.01), the content of malondialdehyde was increased (t=2.917, P < 0.05), the expression of type I collagen (mRNA: t=15.84, P < 0.01; protein: t=4.610, P < 0.01), type III collagen (mRNA: t=28.86, P < 0.01; protein: t=7.713, P < 0.01) and α-smooth muscle actin (mRNA: t=2.671, P < 0.05; protein: t=7.417, P < 0.01) were decreased in the RSL3 intervention group. Compared with the control group, the migration ability was weakened in the RSL3 intervention group (t=14.06, P < 0.01). To conclude, RSL3 can inhibit the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 and then inhibit the ability of fibrosis and migration of pathological scar fibroblasts.

Key words: pathological scar, fibroblast, RSL3, glutathione peroxidase 4, α-smooth muscle actin, type I collagen, type III collagen, ferroptosis, fibrosis

CLC Number:

Shen Jiangyong, He Xi, Tang Yuting, Wang Jianjun, Liu Jinyi, Chen Yuanyuan, Wang Xinyi, Liu Tong, Sun Haoyuan. RAS-selective lethal small molecule 3 inhibits the fibrosis of pathological scar fibroblasts[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2024, 28(8): 1168-1173.

Figures/Tables 6

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