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α2-Antiplasmin as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Systemic Sclerosis
Yosuke Kanno1,2, En Shu2
1Department of Clinical Pathological Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, 97-1 Kodo Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0395, Japan.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Systemic sclerosis involves immune issues and fibrosis. Blocking alpha2-antiplasmin, a key inhibitor, reduced fibrosis and vascular problems in mouse models, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Connective tissue diseases
- Immunology
- Vascular biology
- Fibrosis research
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis is a complex connective tissue disease with unknown causes, marked by immune system dysfunction, vascular damage, and widespread fibrosis.
- Alpha2-antiplasmin (A2AP) is the primary plasmin inhibitor, influencing cell differentiation, cytokine production, immune system regulation, endothelial homeostasis, and extracellular matrix metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of alpha2-antiplasmin in the progression of systemic sclerosis.
- To explore alpha2-antiplasmin as a potential therapeutic target for systemic sclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on alpha2-antiplasmin and systemic sclerosis.
- Analysis of studies involving alpha2-antiplasmin expression in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts.
- Examination of data from systemic sclerosis model mice where alpha2-antiplasmin was blocked.
Main Results:
- Alpha2-antiplasmin expression is notably increased in dermal fibroblasts of systemic sclerosis patients.
- Blocking alpha2-antiplasmin activity effectively suppressed fibrosis progression in systemic sclerosis model mice.
- Inhibition of alpha2-antiplasmin also mitigated vascular dysfunction observed in systemic sclerosis models.
Conclusions:
- Alpha2-antiplasmin plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.
- The blockade of alpha2-antiplasmin demonstrates therapeutic potential for treating systemic sclerosis.
- Alpha2-antiplasmin represents a promising target for future systemic sclerosis therapies.
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