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Chao X, Wang S, Ma X, Zhang C, Qian H, Williams SN, Sun Z, Peng Z, Liu W, Li F, Sheshadri N, Zong WX, Ni HM, Ding WX. Persistent mTORC1 activation due to loss of liver tuberous sclerosis complex 1 promotes liver injury in alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatology 2023; 78:503-517. [PMID: 36999531 PMCID: PMC10363242 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The aim of the study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in alcohol-associated liver disease. APPROACH AND RESULTS Liver-specific Tsc1 knockout (L- Tsc1 KO) mice and their matched wild-type mice were subjected to Gao-binge alcohol. Human alcoholic hepatitis (AH) samples were also used for immunohistochemistry staining, western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) analysis. Human AH and Gao-binge alcohol-fed mice had decreased hepatic TSC1 and increased mTORC1 activation. Gao-binge alcohol markedly increased liver/body weight ratio and serum alanine aminotransferase levels in L- Tsc1 KO mice compared with Gao-binge alcohol-fed wild-type mice. Results from immunohistochemistry staining, western blot, and q-PCR analysis revealed that human AH and Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mouse livers had significantly increased hepatic progenitor cells, macrophages, and neutrophils but decreased HNF4α-positive cells. Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice also developed severe inflammation and liver fibrosis. Deleting Tsc1 in cholangiocytes but not in hepatocytes promoted cholangiocyte proliferation and aggravated alcohol-induced ductular reactions, fibrosis, inflammation, and liver injury. Pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 partially reversed hepatomegaly, ductular reaction, fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and liver injury in alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that persistent activation of mTORC1 due to the loss of cholangiocyte TSC1 promotes liver cell repopulation, ductular reaction, inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury in Gao-binge alcohol-fed L- Tsc1 KO mice, which phenocopy the pathogenesis of human AH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Chao
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Shaogui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Xiaowen Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Hui Qian
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Sha Neisha Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Zhaoli Sun
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
| | - Zheyun Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Wanqing Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Namratha Sheshadri
- Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Wei-Xing Zong
- Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Hong-Min Ni
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | - Wen-Xing Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
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