Epigenetic silencing of RIPK3 in hepatocytes prevents MLKL-mediated necroptosis from contributing to liver pathologies
Journal Title
Gastroenterology
Publication Type
epub ahead of print
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Necroptosis is a highly inflammatory mode of cell death that has been implicated in causing hepatic injury including steatohepatitis/NASH. However, the evidence supporting these claims has been controversial. A comprehensive, fundamental understanding of cell death pathways involved in liver disease critically underpins rational strategies for therapeutic intervention. We sought to define the role and relevance of necroptosis in liver pathology. METHODS: Several animal models of human liver pathology including diet induced steatohepatitis in male mice and diverse infections in both male and female mice were used to dissect the relevance of necroptosis in liver pathobiology. We applied necroptotic stimuli to primary mouse and human hepatocytes to measure their susceptibility to necroptosis. Paired liver biospecimens from patients with NASH, before and after intervention, were analysed. DNA methylation sequencing was also performed to investigate the epigenetic regulation of RIPK3 expression in primary human and mouse hepatocytes. RESULTS: Identical infection kinetics and pathological outcomes were observed in mice deficient in an essential necroptotic effector protein, MLKL, compared to control animals. Mice lacking MLKL were indistinguishable from wild-type mice when fed on a high fat diet to induce NASH. Under all conditions tested we were unable to induce necroptosis in hepatocytes. We confirmed that a critical activator of necroptosis, RIPK3, was epigenetically silenced in mouse and human primary hepatocytes and rendered them unable to undergo necroptosis. CONCLUSIONS: We have provided compelling evidence that necroptosis is disabled in hepatocytes during homeostasis and in the pathological conditions tested in this study.
Publisher
Elsevier
Keywords
Nash; Necroptosis; Ripk3; cell death; chronic infection
Research Division(s)
Cancer Biology And Stem Cells; Epigenetics And Development; Inflammation; Ubiquitin Signalling; Infectious Diseases And Immune Defence
PubMed ID
36037995
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
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Creation Date: 2022-09-07 09:53:12
Last Modified: 2022-09-07 10:05:41
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