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Luo S, Luo R, Lu H, Zhang R, Deng G, Luo H, Yu X, Wang C, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Huang W, Sun J, Liu Y, Huang F, Lei Z. Activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway promotes liver fibrosis and hepatic sinusoidal microthrombosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111132. [PMID: 37951190 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation plays an essential role in the development liver fibrosis.The Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS) is a central cytoplasmic DNA sensor which can recognize cytoplasmic DNA, known to trigger stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and downstream proinflammatory factors. Here, we investigated the role of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis.Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human liver tissue were identified using RNA-Seq analysis. As models of liver fibrosis, chronic Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) exposure were applied in cGAS-knockout mice. LX-2 cells were co-cultured with human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) to explore the underlying mechanisms of hepatic sinusoidal microthrombosis in an inflammatory microenvironment. The endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal vein pressure gradient (EUS-PPG) method was used to analyze the associations between hepatic sinusoidal microthrombosis and PPG in patients with liver fibrosis and portal hypertension (PTH). The RNA-seq analysis results showed that DEGs were enriched in inflammation and endothelial cell activation. The upregulation of the cGAS-STING signaling exacerbated liver fibrosis and intrahepatic inflammation. It also exacerbated LSECs impairment and increased the contribution of hepatic sinusoidal microthrombosis to liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Prothrombotic mediators and proinflammatory factors were associated with PPG in patients with liver fibrosis and portal hypertension. Therefore, activating cGAS-STING signaling pathway promotes liver fibrosis and hepatic sinusoidal microthrombosis, which may lead to increased portal vein pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaobin Luo
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Rongkun Luo
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Huanyuan Lu
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Gang Deng
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hongwu Luo
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Changfa Wang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yuping Zhang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wei Huang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jichun Sun
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yinghong Liu
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Surgery Center, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Feizhou Huang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhao Lei
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.
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