Hyperglycemia-triggered ATF6-CHOP pathway aggravates acute inflammatory liver injury by β-catenin signaling

CTGF regulated by ATF6 inhibits vascular endothelial inflammation and reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Vascular endothelial inflammation is crucial in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Our previous research has shown that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), secreted by endothelial cells, protects against acute liver injury, but its upstream mechanism is unclear. We aimed to clarify the protective role of CTGF in endothelial cell inflammation during IRI and reveal the regulation between endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and CTGF. Hypoxia/reoxygenation in endothelial cells, hepatic IRI in mice and clinical specimens were used to examine the relationships between CTGF and inflammatory factors and determine how ATF6 regulates CTGF and reduces damage. We found that activating ATF6 promoted CTGF expression and reduced liver damage in hepatic IRI. In vitro, activated ATF6 upregulated CTGF and downregulated inflammation, while ATF6 inhibition had the opposite effect. Dual-luciferase assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that activated ATF6 binds to the CTGF promoter, enhancing its expression. Activated ATF6 increases CTGF and reduces extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, decreasing inflammatory factors. Conversely, inhibiting ATF6 decreases CTGF and increases the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, increasing inflammatory factor levels. ERK1/2 inhibition reverses this effect. Clinical samples have shown that CTGF increases after IRI, inversely correlating with inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, ATF6 activation during liver IRI enhances CTGF expression and reduces endothelial inflammation via ERK1/2 inhibition, providing a novel target for diagnosing and treating liver IRI.

The influence of indole propionic acid on molecular markers of steroidogenesis, ER stress, and apoptosis in rat granulosa cells exposed to high glucose conditions

Hyperglycemia is known as one of the main causes of infertility in human societies. Indole propionic acid (IPA) is produced by intestinal microbiota and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the effects of IPA on molecular indices of steroidogenesis, ER stress, and apoptosis induced by high glucose (HG) in granulosa cells. Primary GCs, isolated from ovarian follicles of Rats were cultured in 5 mM (control) and 30 mM (HG) of glucose and in the presence of 10 and 20 µM of IPA for 24 h. The cell viability was assessed by MTT. The gene expression of P450SCC, 3βHSD, CYP19A, BAX, BCL2, and STAR was evaluated by Real-Time PCR. Protein expression of ATF6, PERK, GRP78, and CHOP determined by western blot. Progesterone, estradiol, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. HG decreased the viability, and expression of P450SCC, 3βHSD, CYP19A, BCL2, STAR, and increased BAX. 10 and 20 µM of IPA increased cell viability, expression of P450SCC, 3βHSD, CYP19A, BCL2 and STAR and decreased BAX compared to the HG group. The expression of ATF6, PERK, GRP78, and CHOP proteins increased by HG and IPA decreased the expression of these proteins compared to the HG group. Also, HG decreased progesterone and estradiol levels and increased IL-1β and TNF-α. IPA significantly increased progesterone and estradiol and decreased IL-1β and TNF-α compared to the HG group. IPA can improve the side effects of HG in GCs of rats, as responsible cells for fertility, by improving steroidogenesis, regulation of ER-stress pathway, suppression of inflammation, and apoptosis.

Unfolded Protein Response Signaling in Liver Disorders: A 2023 Updated Review

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site for synthesis and folding of secreted and transmembrane proteins. Disturbance in the functioning of ER leads to the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins, which finally activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling. The three branches of UPR-IRE1 (Inositol requiring enzyme 1), PERK (Protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR)-like ER kinase), and ATF6 (Activating transcription factor 6)-modulate the gene expression pattern through increased expression of chaperones and restore ER homeostasis by enhancing ER protein folding capacity. The liver is a central organ which performs a variety of functions which help in maintaining the overall well-being of our body. The liver plays many roles in cellular physiology, blood homeostasis, and detoxification, and is the main site at which protein synthesis occurs. Disturbance in ER homeostasis is triggered by calcium level imbalance, change in redox status, viral infection, and so on. ER dysfunction and subsequent UPR signaling participate in various hepatic disorders like metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease, liver cancer, viral hepatitis, and cholestasis. The exact role of ER stress and UPR signaling in various liver diseases is not fully understood and needs further investigation. Targeting UPR signaling with drugs is the subject of intensive research for therapeutic use in liver diseases. The present review summarizes the role of UPR signaling in liver disorders and describes why UPR regulators are promising therapeutic targets.

Amelioration of autophagy and inflammatory signaling pathways via α-lipoic acid, burdock and bee pollen versus lipopolysaccharide-induced insulin resistance in murine model

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has previously been implicated in insulin resistance by generating an innate immune response and activating inflammatory cascades. Many studies have discovered a relationship between high levels of serum LPS and the advancement of diabetic microvascular problems, indicating that LPS may play a role in the control of critical signaling pathways connected to insulin resistance. The current study focused on signaling pathways linked to insulin resistance and explored probable mechanisms of LPS-induced insulin resistance in a murine model. It next looked at the effects of burdock, bee pollen, and -lipoic acid on LPS-induced inflammation and autoimmune defects in rats. LPS intoxication was induced via ip injection for one week in a dose of 10 mg/kg followed by α-lipoic acid, Burdock and bee pollen in an oral treatment for one month. Following that, biochemical and molecular studies were performed. The RNA expression of the regulating genes STAT5A and PTEN was measured. In addition, ATF-4 and CHOP as autophagy biomarkers were also subjected to mRNA quantification. The results demonstrated a considerable improvement in the -lipoic acid, Burdock, and bee pollen treated groups via modifying oxidative stress indicators as well as molecular ones. Furthermore, glucose concentration in serum and α-amylase were also improved upon treatment with the superiority of α-lipoic acid for modulating all estimated parameters. In conclusion: the results declared in the current study suggested that α-lipoic acid could regulate insulin resistance signaling pathways induced by LPS intoxication.

Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM1223 Protects against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice by Regulating the “Gut–Liver” Axis

Background: Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM1223, a probiotic previously isolated from the healthy people’s intestine, exerts the beneficial influence of preventing the development of inflammation. Methods: The aim of this research was to explore the beneficial effects of L. paracasei CCFM1223 to prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) and elaborate on its hepatoprotective mechanisms. Results: L. paracasei CCFM1223 pretreatment remarkably decreased the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mice with LPS treatment and remarkably recovered LPS-induced the changes in inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-10, and LPS) and antioxidative enzymes activities (total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT)). Metagenomic analysis showed that L. paracasei CCFM1223 pretreatment remarkably increased the relative abundance of Catabacter compared with the LPS group but remarkably reduced the relative abundance of [Eubacterium] xylanophilumgroup, ASF356, LachnospiraceaeNK4A136group, and Lachnoclostridium, which is closely associated with the inflammation cytokines and antioxidative enzymes. Furthermore, L. paracasei CCFM1223 pretreatment remarkably increased the colonic, serum, and hepatic IL-22 levels in ALI mice. In addition, L. paracasei CCFM1223 pretreatment remarkably down-regulated the hepatic Tlr4 and Nf-kβ transcriptions and significantly up-regulated the hepatic Tlr9, Tak1, Iκ-Bα, and Nrf2 transcriptions in ALI mice. Conclusions: L. paracasei CCFM1223 has a hepatoprotective function in ameliorating LPS-induced ALI by regulating the “gut–liver” axis.