Suppression of PAI-1 expression through inhibition of the EGFR-mediated signaling cascade in rat kidney fibroblast by ascofuranone

Fibrosis in glomerulosclerosis causes progressive loss of renal function. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, one of the major profibrotic cytokines, induces the synthesis of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, a factor that plays a crucial role in the development of fibrosis. Here, we found that an isoprenoid antibiotic, ascofuranone, suppresses expression of profibrotic factors including matrix proteins and PAI-1 induced by TGF-β in renal fibroblasts. Ascofuranone selectively inhibits phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and downstream kinases such as Raf-1, MEK-1/2, and ERK-1/2. PAI-1 transcription also is suppressed by treatment with kinase inhibitors for MEK-1/2 or EGFR, and with small interfering RNA for EGFR. Ascofuranone inhibits cellular metalloproteinase activity, and an inhibitor of metalloproteinases suppresses EGFR phosphorylation and PAI-1 transcription. These results suggest that ascofuranone suppresses expression of profibrotic factors through the inhibition of an EGFR-dependent signal transduction pathway activated by metalloproteinases.