AUTHOR=Jang Sun Young , Kim Jinjoo , Park Jung Tak , Liu Catherine Y. , Korn Bobby S. , Kikkawa Don O. , Lee Eun Jig , Yoon Jin Sook 

TITLE=Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Periostin in the Treatment of Graves’ Orbitopathy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.900791

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2022.900791

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Periostin is a matricellular protein that is ubiquitously expressed in normal human tissues and is involved in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disease. POSTN (gene encoding periostin) expression in Graves’ orbital tissues and healthy control tissues was studied, and the role of periostin in Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) pathologic mechanism was examined through small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing. POSTN gene expression was significantly higher in Graves’ orbital tissues than healthy control tissues in real-time PCR results and immunohistochemical staining. Silencing periostin significantly attenuated TGF--induced profibrotic protein production and phosphorylated p38 and SMAD protein production. Knockdown of periostin inhibited interleukin-1-induced proinflammatory cytokines production and phosphorylation of NF-κB and Akt signaling protein. Adipogenesis was suppressed in periostin-targeting siRNA transfected GO cells. Periostin might contribute to the pathogenic process of inflammation, fibrosis and adipogenesis of GO. Our study provides in vitro evidence that periostin may be a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of GO.