Dual TBK1/IKK? inhibitor amlexanox attenuates the severity of hepatotoxin-induced liver fibrosis and biliary fibrosis in mice.

ABSTRACT: Although numerous studies have suggested that canonical I?B kinases (IKK) play a key role in the progression of liver fibrosis, the role of non-canonical IKK? and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) on the development and progression of liver fibrosis remains unclear. To demonstrate such issue, repeated injection of CCl₄ was used to induce hepatotoxin-mediated chronic liver injury and biliary fibrosis was induced by 0.1% diethoxycarbonyl-1, 4-dihydrocollidine diet feeding for 4 weeks. Mice were orally administered with amlexanox (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) during experimental period. Significantly increased levels of TBK1 and IKK? were observed in fibrotic livers or hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) isolated from fibrotic livers. Interestingly, amlexanox treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IKK? accompanied by reduced liver injury as confirmed by histopathologic analysis, decreased serum biochemical levels and fibro-inflammatory responses. Additionally, treatment of amlexanox promoted the fibrosis resolution. In accordance with these findings, amlexanox treatment suppressed HSC activation and its related fibrogenic responses by partially inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Furthermore, amlexanox decreased the activation and inflammatory responses in Kupffer cells. Collectively, we found that inhibition of the TBK1 and IKK? by amlexanox is a promising therapeutic strategy to cure liver fibrosis.

SUBMITTER: Zhou Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6991653 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature