Liver X Receptor ?-Induced Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Inhibits Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 4 Through miR-27b, Protecting Hepatocytes From TGF-?.

ABSTRACT: Liver X receptor-alpha (LXR?) acts as a double-edged sword in different biological situations. Given the elusive role of LXR? in hepatocyte viability, this study investigated whether LXR? protects hepatocytes from injurious stimuli and the underlying basis. LXR? activation prevented hepatocyte apoptosis from CCl4 challenges in mice. Consistently, LXR? protected hepatocytes specifically from transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?), whereas LXR? deficiency aggravated TGF-?-induced hepatocyte injury. In the Gene Expression Omnibus database analysis for LXR-/- mice, TGF-? receptors were placed in the core network. Hierarchical clustering and correlation analyses enabled us to find cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) as a gene relevant to LXR?. In human fibrotic liver samples, both LXR? and CB2 were lower in patients with septal fibrosis and cirrhosis than those with portal fibrosis. LXR? transcriptionally induced CB2; CB2 then defended hepatocytes from TGF-?. In a macrophage depletion model, JWH133 (a CB2 agonist) treatment prevented toxicant-induced liver injury. MicroRNA 27b (miR-27b) was identified as an inhibitor of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 4 (USP4), deubiquitylating TGF-? receptor 1 (T?RI), downstream from CB2. Liver-specific overexpression of LXR? protected hepatocytes from injurious stimuli and attenuated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusion: LXR? exerts a cytoprotective effect against TGF-? by transcriptionally regulating the CB2 gene in hepatocytes, and CB2 then inhibits USP4-stabilizing T?RI through miR-27b. Our data provide targets for the treatment of acute liver injury.

SUBMITTER: Wu HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6771303 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature