NLRC5 Deficiency Deregulates Hepatic Inflammatory Response but Does Not Aggravate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis.

Akouavi Julite I Quenum,Sheela Ramanathan,Amit Ghosh,Akhil Shukla,Maryse Cloutier,Fjolla Rexhepi,Subburaj Ilangumaran,Thomas A Kufer

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.749646

Abstract

The nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor (NLR) family protein-5 (NLRC5) controls NF-κB activation and production of inflammatory cytokines in certain cell types. NLRC5 is considered a potential regulator of hepatic fibrogenic response due to its ability to inhibit hepatic stellate activation in vitro. To test whether NLRC5 is critical to control liver fibrosis, we treated wildtype and NLRC5-deficient mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and assessed pathological changes in the liver. Serum alanine transaminase levels and histopathology examination of liver sections revealed that NLRC5 deficiency did not exacerbate CCl4-induced liver damage or inflammatory cell infiltration. Sirius red staining of collagen fibers and hydroxyproline content showed comparable levels of liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated NLRC5-deficient and control mice. Myofibroblast differentiation and induction of collagen genes were similarly increased in both groups. Strikingly, the fibrotic livers of NLRC5-deficient mice showed reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (Mmp3) and tissue inhibitor of MMPs-1 (Timp1) but not Mmp2 or Timp2. Fibrotic livers of NLRC5-deficient mice had increased expression of TNF but similar induction of TGFβ compared to wildtype mice. CCl4-treated control and NLRC5-deficient mice displayed similar upregulation of Cx3cr1, a monocyte chemoattractant receptor gene, and the Cd68 macrophage marker. However, the fibrotic livers of NLRC5-deficient mice showed increased expression of F4/80 (Adgre1), a marker of tissue-resident macrophages. NLRC5-deficient livers showed increased phosphorylation of the NF-κB subunit p65 that remained elevated following fibrosis induction. Taken together, NLRC5 deficiency deregulates hepatic inflammatory response following chemical injury but does not significantly aggravate the fibrogenic response, showing that NLRC5 is not a critical regulator of liver fibrosis pathogenesis.

Highlights

Fibrotic diseases of the liver, as well as that of other organs such as lungs, kidneys, heart and pancreas, arise from chronic inflammation that causes perpetual tissue damage [1]
As most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases arise from cirrhotic livers, therapeutic targeting of molecules and cells that promote hepatic fibrogenesis is considered a Abbreviations: alanine transaminase (ALT), alanine transferase; CCl4, carbon tetrachloride; ECM, extracellular matrix; HSC, hepatic stellate cells; matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), matrix metalloproteinase; SMA, alpha smooth muscle actin; TIMP, tissue inhibitor of MMP
This study reported that NLRC5 knockdown increased TNFa-induced IkB phosphorylation, nuclear localisation of the p65 component of nuclear factor kappalight-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and phosphorylation of SMAD3, a key transcription factor activated by the profibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGFb), suggesting an anti-fibrogenic role for NLRC5 [35]

Summary

Introduction

Fibrotic diseases of the liver, as well as that of other organs such as lungs, kidneys, heart and pancreas, arise from chronic inflammation that causes perpetual tissue damage [1]. Chronic inflammatory stimuli that accompany these conditions induce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from injured hepatocytes and liver-resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) that promote recruitment of circulating monocytes and their differentiation towards proinflammatory macrophages [11, 12]. This inflammatory response activates hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which are directly activated by injured hepatocytes, resulting in HSC proliferation and differentiation towards myofibroblasts that express a-smooth muscle actin (aSMA) [13]. As most HCC cases arise from cirrhotic livers, therapeutic targeting of molecules and cells that promote hepatic fibrogenesis is considered a Abbreviations: ALT, alanine transferase; CCl4, carbon tetrachloride; ECM, extracellular matrix; HSC, hepatic stellate cells; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; SMA, alpha smooth muscle actin; TIMP, tissue inhibitor of MMP

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Conclusion