Inhibition of TGF-β signaling by an ALK5 inhibitor protects rats from dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis

1 Chronic liver disease is characterized by an exacerbated accumulation of matrix, causing progressive fibrosis, which may lead to cirrhosis. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a well-known profibrotic cytokine, transduces its signal through the ALK5 ser/thr kinase receptor, and increases transcription of different genes including PAI-1 and collagens. The identification of GW6604 (2-phenyl-4-(3-pyridin-2-yl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridine), an ALK5 inhibitor, allowed us to evaluate the therapeutic potential of inhibiting TGF-β pathway in different models of liver disease. 2 A cellular assay was used to identify GW6604 as a TGF-β signaling pathway inhibitor. This ALK5 inhibitor was then tested in a model of liver hepatectomy in TGF-β-overexpressing transgenic mice, in an acute model of liver disease and in a chronic model of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis. 3 In vitro, GW6604 inhibited autophosphorylation of ALK5 with an IC50 of 140 nM and in a cellular assay inhibited TGF-β-induced transcription of PAI-1 (IC50: 500 nM). In vivo, GW6604 (40 mg kg(-1) p.o.) increased liver regeneration in TGF-β-overexpressing mice, which had undergone partial hepatectomy. In an acute model of liver disease, GW6604 reduced by 80 % the expression of collagen IA1. In a chronic model of DMN-induced fibrosis where DMN was administered for 6 weeks and GW6604 dosed for the last 3 weeks (80 mg kg(-1) p.o., b.i.d.), mortality was prevented and DMN-induced elevations of mRNA encoding for collagen IA1,IA2, III, TIMP-1 and TGF-b were reduced by 50 - 75 %. Inhibition of matrix genes overexpression was accompanied by reduced matrix deposition and reduction in liver function deterioration, as assessed by bilirubin and liver enzyme levels. 4 Our results suggest that inhibition of ALK5 could be an attractive new approach to treatment of liver fibrotic diseases by both preventing matrix deposition and promoting hepatocyte regeneration.