2016
Tenascin-C drives persistence of organ fibrosis
Bhattacharyya S, Wang W, Morales-Nebreda L, Feng G, Wu M, Zhou X, Lafyatis R, Lee J, Hinchcliff M, Feghali-Bostwick C, Lakota K, Budinger GR, Raparia K, Tamaki Z, Varga J. Tenascin-C drives persistence of organ fibrosis. Nature Communications 2016, 7: 11703. PMID: 27256716, PMCID: PMC4895803, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11703.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic sclerosisToll-like receptorsOrgan fibrosisFibrosis resolutionPathogenesis of SScTreatment of SScLevels of tenascinEndogenous danger signalsSSc skin biopsy samplesSkin biopsy samplesMechanism of actionLung fibrosisPathogenic roleTLR activatorsMouse modelBiopsy samplesFibroblast activationDanger signalsMyofibroblast transformationFibrosisSSc fibroblastsCollagen gene expressionSkin fibroblastsAmplification loopTenascinThe relationship between skin symptoms and the scleroderma modification of the health assessment questionnaire, the modified Rodnan skin score, and skin pathology in patients with systemic sclerosis
Ziemek J, Man A, Hinchcliff M, Varga J, Simms RW, Lafyatis R. The relationship between skin symptoms and the scleroderma modification of the health assessment questionnaire, the modified Rodnan skin score, and skin pathology in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology 2016, 55: 911-917. PMID: 26880832, PMCID: PMC5854039, DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRodnan skin scoreHealth Assessment QuestionnaireSkin symptomsSkindex-29Skin scoreAssessment QuestionnaireSkin diseasesSkin pathologySSc skin diseaseSymptom assessment questionnairePatient's skin symptomsSSc patientsSystemic sclerosisAtopic dermatitisPathological featuresSymptom assessmentPhysical examMyofibroblast infiltrationPathological changesPathological measuresPatientsSymptom instrumentsSymptomsDiseaseSHAQ
2014
FibronectinEDA Promotes Chronic Cutaneous Fibrosis Through Toll-Like Receptor Signaling
Bhattacharyya S, Tamaki Z, Wang W, Hinchcliff M, Hoover P, Getsios S, White ES, Varga J. FibronectinEDA Promotes Chronic Cutaneous Fibrosis Through Toll-Like Receptor Signaling. Science Translational Medicine 2014, 6: 232ra50. PMID: 24739758, PMCID: PMC4414050, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008264.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsToll-like receptor 4Endogenous TLR4 ligandsCutaneous fibrosisTLR4 ligandToll-like receptor signalingProgressive autoimmune diseaseLesional skin biopsiesFibronectin extra domain ATreatment of fibrosisTissue repair responseHallmark of sclerodermaPersistent fibroblast activationExtra domain ATLR4 blockadeAutoimmune diseasesChronic conditionsChronic fibrosisReceptor 4Skin biopsiesFibrotic responseOrganotypic skin equivalentsMultiple organsPotent stimulusSclerodermaFibroblast activation
2011
Canonical Wnt signaling induces skin fibrosis and subcutaneous lipoatrophy: A novel mouse model for scleroderma?
Wei J, Melichian D, Komura K, Hinchcliff M, Lam AP, Lafyatis R, Gottardi CJ, MacDougald OA, Varga J. Canonical Wnt signaling induces skin fibrosis and subcutaneous lipoatrophy: A novel mouse model for scleroderma? Arthritis & Rheumatism 2011, 63: 1707-1717. PMID: 21370225, PMCID: PMC3124699, DOI: 10.1002/art.30312.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic sclerosisSubcutaneous adipose tissueTransgenic miceWnt-10bBiopsy specimensDermal fibrosisMouse modelAdipose tissueLesional skin biopsy specimensSkin biopsy specimensNovel mouse modelMesenchymal cellsSmooth muscle actin gene expressionSkin fibroblastsNovel animal modelFibrotic gene expressionWnt/β-catenin signalingSetting of fibrosisGrowth factor βΒ-catenin signalingPulmonary fibrosisSubcutaneous lipoatrophySkin fibrosisGene expressionMyofibroblast accumulation