Pharmacological manipulation of liver fibrosis progression using novel <scp>HDAC</scp>6 inhibitors
Chronic liver injury characterized by unresolved hepatitis leads to fibrosis, potentially progressing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Effective treatments for halting or reversing liver fibrosis are currently lacking. This study investigates the potential of HDAC6 as a therapeutic target in liver fibrosis. We synthesized two selective HDAC6 inhibitors, DR-3 and FDR2, and assessed their effects on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and liver fibrosis using human precision cut liver slices (hPCLS). Molecular docking, deacetylation inhibition assays, and various cellular assays were employed to evaluate the specificity and anti-fibrotic efficacy of these inhibitors. DR-3 and FDR2 demonstrated high selectivity for HDAC6 over HDAC1, significantly inhibiting HSC activation markers and fibrogenic gene expression. Both inhibitors increased acetylation of α-tubulin and suppressed TGF-β1-induced SMAD signaling in HSCs. In human precision cut liver slices (hPCLS), DR-3 and FDR2 reduced fibrogenic protein levels and collagen deposition. The selective inhibition of HDAC6 by DR-3 and FDR2 effectively reduces HSC activation and fibrogenesis in liver models, supporting further investigation of HDAC6 inhibitors as potential anti-fibrotic therapies.
Authors
- Fiona Oakley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8692-1836)
- David M. Bulmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0157-9790)
- Sanjay Pandanaboyana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3099-2197)
- Lee A. Borthwick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2885-3382)
- Stuart Robinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2623-094X)
- B. Radović (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1133-5705)
- Jeremy French (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3383-6985)
- Katarina Nikolić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3656-9245)
- Glyn Nelson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1895-4772)
- Wasfi Alrawashdeh
- John Moir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3161-4713)
- Elizabeth Graham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6328-6945)
- María Teresa Borrello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1365-1358)
- Miloš Petković (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9637-1380)
- Hannah L. Paish (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2536-8138)
- Colin Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1515-8690)
- John Hammond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4400-8461)
- Dušan Ružić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0546-8265)
- Derek A. Mann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0950-243X)
- Amy Collins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3619-2588)
- Steve White
- S. Higginbotham
- Jelena Mann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7197-5425)
- Rodrigo Figueiredo
- Rohan Thakkar
- Rebecca Scott
Institutions
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Belgrade (RS)
- University of Sunderland (GB)
- Newcastle University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- FEBS Journal
- Published
- 2025-03-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.70062
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Liver physiology and pathology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.64
Funders
- Cancer Research UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Rosetrees Trust
- Medical Research Council