TJ-M2010-5, A self-developed MyD88 inhibitor, attenuates liver fibrosis by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway

Liver fibrosis is the result of most chronic inflammatory liver damage and seriously endangers human health. However, no drugs have been approved to treat this disease. Previous studies showed that the Toll-like receptors (TLRs)/myeloid differentiation factor-88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathway plays a key role in liver fibrosis. TJ-M2010-5 is a self-developed small molecule MyD88 inhibitor, which has been proven to have a good protective effect in a variety of inflammatory disease models. In the present study, to investigate the anti-fibrotic effect of TJ-M2010-5, mice were injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in vivo and LX2 cells (a human hepatic stellate cell line) were treated with TGF-beta 1 in vitro to induce liver fibrosis. In vivo studies showed that TJM2010-5 attenuated the CCl4-induced liver damage, collagen accumulation, and the activation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting the nuclear transfer of NF-kappa B. Moreover, in vitro experiments of LX2 cells stimulated with TGF-beta 1 further indicated that the NF-kappa B pathway is involved in the development of liver fibrosis. TJ-M2010-5 significantly inhibited the proliferation and activation of LX2 cells. In addition, TJ-M2010-5 upregulated the expression of bone morphogenetic protein and membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) in LX2 cells by blocking the activation of MyD88/NF-kappa B, thereby inhibiting the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and the expression of collagen I (COL1A1) induced by TGF-beta 1. In conclusion, this study illustrates the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of TJ-M2010-5 and provides a new treatment method for liver fibrosis.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of TJ-M2010-5, a small molecule MyD88 inhibitor. TJ-M2010-5 attenuated liver damage and collagen accumulation in mice with induced liver fibrosis, and inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting the nuclear transfer of NF-kappa B. Moreover, in vitro experiments on LX2 cells showed that TJ-M2010-5 inhibited cell proliferation and activation, and upregulated the expression of BAMBI while decreasing the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and the expression of COL1A1. These findings highlight the potential of TJ-M2010-5 as a new treatment for liver fibrosis.