Hepatocyte CB1R nullification mitigates acute liver damage by mediating NF-κB signaling
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ABSTRACT: Cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) expression is upregulated in hepatocytes during viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (FLD), whereas its expression is muted under usual physiological conditions. Inhibiting CB1R has been shown to be beneficial in preserving hepatic function in FLD but it is unclear if inhibiting CB1R during an inflammatory response to an acute hepatic injury, such as toxin - induced injury, would also be beneficial. We tested if nullification of hepatocyte-specific CB1R (hCNR1-/-) in mice protects against concanavalin A (Con A) - induced liver injury. We looked for evidence of liver damage and markers of inflammation in response to Con A by measuring liver enzyme levels and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17) in serum collected from hCNR1-/- and control mice. We observed a shift to the right in the dose-response curve for liver injury and inflammation in hCNR1-/- mice. We also found less inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis in livers of hCNR1-/- mice compared to controls, resulting from downregulated apoptotic markers. This anti-apoptotic mechanism results from increased activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), especially membrane-bound TNF-α, via downregulated TNF-α receptor 2 (TNFR2) transcription levels. We also found that CB1R in hepatocytes regulated liver inflammation - related gene transcription. Collectively, these findings provide insight into involvement of CB1R in the pathogenesis of acute liver injury.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE148309 | GEO | 2020/12/22
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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