May the fibrosis be with you: Is discoidin domain receptor 2 the receptor we have been looking for?

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2016 Feb:91:201-3. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.01.006. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Abstract

In a recent issue of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, George et al. [1] identified discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) as a positive modulator of collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II). DDR2 is a tyrosine kinase collagen receptor and is associated with pathological scarring of multiple organs; nevertheless, the functional role of DDR2 in the myocardium remains unclear. George et al. present evidence for the first time that Ang II induces cardiac fibrosis by enhancing DDR2 expression in cardiac fibroblasts via p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)-mediated activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB).

Keywords: Angiotensin II; Discoidin domain receptor 2; Fibroblast; Fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / genetics*
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Collagen / genetics
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Discoidin Domain Receptors
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Fibrosis / drug therapy
  • Fibrosis / genetics*
  • Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Losartan / therapeutic use
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Mitogen / genetics*
  • Receptors, Mitogen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Mitogen
  • Angiotensin II
  • Collagen
  • Discoidin Domain Receptors
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Losartan