| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Regular Articles |
B Is Activated in Cholestasis and Functions to Reduce Liver Injury
From the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
B)-dependent survival signaling cascade in cultured hepatocytes.
These data suggest that in cholestasis where liver tissue bile acid
concentrations are increased, NF-
B should be activated and
inhibition of NF-
B should potentiate liver injury. Our aims were to
test these two predictions. Cholestasis was obtained by common bile
duct ligation in mice. NF-
B activation was demonstrated in nuclear
extracts by the electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay from
3-day bile duct-ligated (BDL) mice but not in controls.
Immunohistochemistry for NF-
B demonstrated nuclear localization in
hepatocytes of BDL mice consistent with its activation in this liver
cell type. Electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay and
immunohistochemistry for NF-
B in BDL tumor necrosis factor-receptor
1 knockout mice demonstrated hepatocyte NF-
B activation,
suggesting that tumor necrosis factor-
was not responsible for the
activation of this transcription factor. Liver injury was assessed in
BDL mice after administration of the adenovirus 5 inhibitor of kappa B
superrepressor (Ad5I
Bsr) to inhibit NF-
B. TUNEL-positive cells
and serum alanine aminotransferase values were increased at least
threefold in mice treated with the Ad5I
Bsr
versus the empty virus. Liver histology also
demonstrated increased liver injury in the BDL mice treated with the
Ad5I
Bsr. In conclusion, NF-
B is activated in hepatocytes
during obstructive cholestasis and functions to reduce liver
injury.
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Numerous studies have now shown that bile acid
concentrations that occur during cholestasis induce hepatocyte
apoptosis, thus providing a cellular mechanism for bile acid-mediated
liver injury.6
Not all bile acids are toxic, however, and
minor changes in bile acid structure alter their potential
cytotoxicity. For example, the glycine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate
induces hepatocyte apoptosis in vitro, whereas the taurine
conjugate does not.7
Previous concepts suggested that bile
acid toxicity correlated with relative hydrophobicity, with hydrophobic
bile acids being cytotoxic and hydrophilic bile acids nontoxic.
However, we could not establish a relationship between bile
acid-induced apoptosis and their relative hydrophobicity.7
More recently we have demonstrated in isolated cell systems that
selective hydrophobic bile acids such as taurochenodeoxycholate
activate a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent
survival pathway, which prevent their otherwise inherent
toxicity.8
In this study, we also identified the
transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-
B) as one of the
downstream targets of the taurochenodeoxycholate-stimulated PI3-kinase
activity. Inhibition of NF-
B resulted in hepatocyte apoptosis by
taurochenodeoxycholate.8
Attenuation of bile acid-induced
apoptosis by NF-
B is consistent with other studies demonstrating
that NF-
B also reduces hepatocyte apoptosis by tumor necrosis
factor-
(TNF-
) and during liver regeneration.9
The activation of NF-
B by bile acids in vitro results in
two predictions relevant to cholestatic liver diseases where liver
tissue bile acid concentrations are increased. First, NF-
B should be
activated in the liver during cholestasis. Second, inhibition of
NF-
B should accentuate cholestasis-associated liver injury. The
overall objective of the current study was to test these two
hypotheses. Our specific aims were to address the following questions
using the bile duct-ligated (BDL) mouse as a model of cholestasis: Is
NF-
B activated in hepatocytes? Does inhibition of NF-
B result in
increased apoptosis of hepatocytes? Is increased apoptosis caused by
inhibiting NF-
B associated with an exacerbation of liver injury?
Collectively, the results of the current study demonstrate that NF-
B
is activated during cholestasis and functions to reduce liver injury.
These data suggest that the rate and progression of human cholestatic
liver injury may depend on the activation status of NF-
B.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The care and use of animals for these studies were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the Mayo Foundation. Six- to 12-week-old male C57B6 and tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 (TNF-R1) knockout mice (Jackson Labs, Bar Harbor, ME) were used for these studies. Under ether anesthesia using a nose cone containing ether-soaked tissue, a laparotomy was performed via a midline abdominal incision. The common bile duct was identified, isolated, and double-ligated using 5-0 silk (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ). The common bile duct was next transected between the ligatures. The abdominal incision was closed in layers using 3-0 chromic gut sutures (Ethicon). Sham operations were performed as above by identifying but not ligating the common bile duct.
Adenovirus 5 Inhibitor of
B Superrepressor
(Ad5I
Bsr)
The recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus 5 inhibitor of
B (Ad5I
B), containing an I
B in which serines 32 and 36 are
mutated to alanines (generous gift of D. A. Brenner, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC), and Ad5
E1, an empty
adenovirus for control experiments, were grown and purified as
described previously.8,9
Experimental Protocol
On postoperative day 2, 0.22 ml of 1.6 x
109
plaque-forming units (pfu)/ml of Ad5I
B or
Ad5
E1, which was stored in 10% glycerol and diluted in saline
immediately before use, were injected into the tail veins under ether
anesthesia. Mice were sacrificed on postoperative day 3 under deep
ether anesthesia. Blood samples (0.4 ml) were obtained from
infrahepatic vena cava using a 28 gauge needle attached to a
1-ml syringe. Immediately after the venipuncture for blood sampling,
the portal vein was cannulated using a 20 gauge angiocath, and the
liver was flushed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4, 25°C)
containing 137 mmol/L NaCl, 2.7 mmol/L KCl, 8 mmol/L
Na2HPO4 ·
7H2O, and 1.5 mmol/L
KH2PO4. Blood was flushed
out of the liver by transecting the infrahepatic inferior vena cava.
The liver was cut into small pieces (approximately 1 x 1 x
0.5 cm) and used for the experiments described below.
Electrophoretic Mobility Gel Shift Assay (EMSA)
Nuclear protein extracts from liver tissue were prepared using
NE-PER nuclear and cytoplasmic extraction reagents, CER, (Pierce,
Rockford, IL) according to the manufacturers instructions. Briefly,
liver tissue was homogenized in 4 ml of PBS and centrifuged for 10
minutes at 500 x g at 4°C. All subsequent
steps were performed at 4°C. After removing the supernatant, the
pellet was resuspended in 500 µl CER I buffer including protease
inhibitors (250 mg/ml benzamidine, 2 mg/ml aprotinin, 2 mg/ml
leupeptin, 0.2 mol/L phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride), and incubated on
ice for 10 minutes. Then, 27.5 µl CER II buffer was added to the
sample, vortexed, and centrifuged at 16,000 x g for 5
minutes. The supernatant, containing the cytosolic proteins, was
removed and stored at -80°C. The pellet was resuspended in 250 µl
of NER buffer including protease inhibitors, vortexed every 10 minutes
for 40 minutes, and then centrifuged at 16,000 x g for
10 minutes. Nuclear proteins (the supernatant) were used immediately or
stored at -80°C. For the EMSA, 10 µg of nuclear proteins were
incubated in binding buffer (Promega, Madison, WI) with 3.5 pmol of
double-stranded DNA oligonucleotide containing a NF-
B consensus
binding sequence (5'-AGT TGA GGG GAC TTT CCC AGG C-3') which was
labeled with [
-32P]-ATP using T4
polynucleotide kinase (Promega). Binding reactions were completed by
incubating reaction solution for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Protein-DNA complexes were separated from the unbound DNA probe by
electrophoresis through 5% native polyacrylamide gels containing 0.5x
Tris-Borate-EDTA. The gel was dried and exposed to BiomaxMR film
(Kodak, Rochester, NY). Specificity of binding was verified by
competition with a 40-fold molar excess of unlabeled double-stranded
consensus oligonucleotide. Two micrograms of the antibody for the p65
subunit of NF-
B (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA) was used
for the supershift assay.
Immunohistochemistry for NF-
B and the Neoepitope of Caspases 3/7
Antisera for the p65 subunit of NF-
B and the neoepitope of
caspases 3/7 were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology and from Anu
Srinivasan at IDUN Pharmaceuticals (La Jolla, CA), respectively. The
caspase antisera recognizes a common neoepitope shared by activated
caspase 3 and 7.10
Liver tissue was fixed and sectioned as
previously described by us.11
The liver specimens were
incubated with blocking buffer (PBS containing 0.5% bovine serum
albumin, 0.3% Triton X-100, and 0.2% horse serum or 0.2% goat serum;
horse serum was used for the NF-
B immunohistochemistry, goat serum
for the caspase immunohistochemistry). The primary antibody was used at
a 1:50 dilution in PBS containing 0.5% bovine serum albumin plus 0.2%
horse serum for NF-
B; and at a 1:100 dilution in PBS containing
0.5% bovine serum albumin plus 0.2% goat serum for caspases 3/7. The
primary antibodies were incubated with the specimens for 1 hour at
25°C, followed by washing with PBS. The immunoreactivity was
visualized using the avidin and biotinylated horseradish peroxidase
macromolecular complex and diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride system
(Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA). Specimens were counterstained
with eosin using standard techniques. Hematoxylin and eosin staining
was also performed for histological examination.
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-Mediated Deoxyuridine Triphosphate Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) Assay
The TUNEL assay was performed as we have previously described in detail using the fluorescein fluorescence-based In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN). Specimens were observed by fluorescent microscope Eclipse TE200 (Nikon, Melville, NY). Hepatocyte nuclei were counted in a minimum of five low power fields (20 x 10) per specimen. TUNEL-positive nuclei were expressed as a percentage of all hepatocyte nuclei in the low power field as previously described.11
Determination of Serum Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Serum ALT was measured using the Sigma (St. Louis, MO) diagnostics kit No. 505.
Measurement of Liver Caspase 3/7-Like Protease Activity
Caspase 3/7-like activity was measured in liver cytosol using the fluorogenic substrate DEVD-AMC as we have previously described in detail.11
Statistical Analysis
All data are expressed as mean ± SD from at least 3 separate experiments. Differences between groups were compared using an analysis of variance for repeated measures and a post hoc Bonferroni test to compare for multiple comparisons. All statistical analyses were performed using Instat Software (GraphPAD, San Diego, CA).
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
B Activated in Hepatocytes of BDL Mice?
NF-
B activation in the BDL mouse liver was assessed by EMSA,
and immunohistochemistry was performed to determine whether NF-
B was
activated in hepatocytes. The EMSA revealed that nuclear protein
extracts from the livers of BDL mice contained activated NF-
B
(Figure 1A)
. However, activated NF-
B
was not observed in sham-operated mice. Binding specificity was
verified by loss of binding in the presence of a 40-fold molar excess
of unlabeled oligonucleotide and supershift of the band by p65
antisera. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that in hepatocytes of
sham-operated mice, the immunoreactivity for the p65 subunit of NF-
B
was excluded from the nucleus and localized exclusively to the
cytoplasm. In contrast, immunoreactivity for NF-
B was predominantly
detected in hepatocyte nuclei of BDL mice (Figure 1B)
. Translocation of
NF-
B to the nuclei of other liver cell types was not observed (data
not shown). Thus, NF-
B is translocated to the nucleus from cytosol
in hepatocytes of the BDL mouse, consistent with hepatocyte NF-
B
activation in the BDL animals.
|
B Activation Inhibited by the I
B
Superrepressor in BDL Mice?
We sought to determine the role of NF-
B in cholestasis by
transfecting hepatocytes with the Ad5I
B superrepressor to inhibit
NF-
B activation. This mutated I
B cannot be phosphorylated and
thus remains tightly bound to NF-
B, preventing its activation and
translocation to the nucleus despite appropriate activation stimuli.
Although inhibition of NF-
B by the Ad5I
Bsr has been demonstrated
in normal liver, its effectiveness in the BDL mouse liver has not
established. The EMSA demonstrated activated NF-
B in liver nuclear
protein extracts isolated from BDL animals treated with Ad5
E1 (a
control for virus infection) but not in nuclear protein extracts from
Ad5I
Bsr-treated BDL animals (Figure 1A)
. Immunohistochemistry for
NF-
B also showed translocation of NF-
B to the nucleus in the
Ad5
E1-treated BDL mice, but not in BDL animals treated with the
Ad5I
Bsr (Figure 1B)
. These results directly demonstrate that
Ad5I
Bsr effectively blocks NF-
B nuclear translocation in
hepatocytes of the BDL mice.
Is TNF-
Responsible for the Activation of NF-
B in BDL Mice?
TNF-
is increased in the serum of BDL mice and is known to
activate NF-
B in hepatocytes by binding to the TNF receptor 1
(TNF-R1).12,13
To determine whether hepatocyte NF-
B
activation during cholestasis is potentially mediated by TNF-
, we
performed EMSA and immunohistochemistry for NF-
B in BDL TNF-R1
knockout mice. Both the EMSA and immunohistochemistry demonstrated
NF-
B translocation to the nucleus in hepatocytes of the TNF-R1
knockout mice (Figure 2, A and B)
.
Moreover, hepatocyte apoptosis in the BDL TNF-R1 knockout mouse was
similar to that observed in the BDL-wild-type animal (8.3 ± 3.4
vs. 7.2 ± 1.0, P = n.s.). These data
suggest that both hepatocyte NF-
B activation and apoptosis in BDL
mice is independent of the TNF-R1 signaling pathway and further support
our hypothesis that bile acids may mediate the hepatocyte activation of
this transcription factor.
|
B Result in Caspase Activation and
Apoptosis of Hepatocytes in the BDL Mice?
It has been reported that NF-
B inhibits apoptosis by inducing
the transcription of anti-apoptotic proteins.14
Inhibition
of NF-
B would, therefore, be predicted to increase hepatocyte
apoptosis in the BDL animal. To examine the role of NF-
B in
modulation of apoptosis in the BDL mouse liver, we next performed the
TUNEL assay to quantitated apoptosis in the liver tissue from BDL and
control mice (Figure 3)
. Consistent with our previously published
observations,11
the TUNEL assay demonstrated increased
apoptosis in BDL mice as compared to control mice (Figure 3)
. Moreover, apoptosis was significantly
increased in BDL mice treated with the Ad5I
Bsr (Figure 3)
. To
confirm the occurrence of apoptosis, immunohistochemistry for the
activated forms of the effector caspases 3/7 was performed (Figure 4)
.
Effector caspases are proteases that participate in the apoptosis
program, and their activation is biochemical evidence in support of
apoptosis.15
These proteases, synthesized as zymogens,
reveal neoepitopes when activated by proteolytic cleavate.
Immunohistochemistry for the common neoepitope of active caspases 3/7
demonstrated immunoreactivity in livers of BDL mice, but not in
sham-operated mice. Although BDL mice treated with the control
virus Ad5
E1 demonstrated caspase 3/7 activation, caspase 3/7
activation was increased in BDL mice treated with the Ad5I
B
superrepressor (Figure 4)
. Indeed, caspase 3/7 activity in liver
homogenates was 2.5-fold greater in BDL mice treated with the
Ad5I
Bsr compared to control BDL mice, as assessed using the
fluorogenic substrate DEVD-AMC (data not shown). Taken together, these
data suggest that inhibition of NF-
B in the BDL mouse increases
hepatocyte caspase 3/7 activation.
|
|
B
Activation Associated with an Exacerbation of Liver Injury?
Liver injury was examined by measuring serum ALT concentrations
and assessing liver histology. Although serum ALT values were increased
above control values in BDL mice and BDL treated with the Ad5
E1
(Figure 5A)
, the ALT values in
these mice remained below 103 IU/L. In contrast, serum ALT values were
475 ± 78 IU/L in BDL mice receiving the Ad5I
Bsr,
P < 0.01 (Figure 5A)
. As has been previously described
by others,16
histological studies showed liver damage
characterized by bile infarcts in BDL animals (Figure 5B)
. Consistent
with the ALT values, these infarcts were larger and more numerous in
BDL animals treated with the Ad5I
B but not in BDL mice receiving the
empty virus Ad5
E1 (Figure 5B)
. Collectively, these data demonstrate
that inhibition of NF-
B in the BDL mouse is associated with
increased liver injury.
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
B
in cholestatic liver diseases. Using the 3-day BDL mouse as a model of
obstructive cholestasis, the results demonstrate that (i) NF-
B is
activated in the hepatocytes, (ii) NF-
B was activated in
TNF-R1-deficient mice, (iii) the Ad5I
Bsr inhibited NF-
B
activation, and (iv) the Ad5I
Bsr potentiated hepatocyte apoptosis
and liver injury. These data directly demonstrate that NF-
B is
activated in obstructive cholestasis and functions to reduce liver
injury. The rate and progression of human cholestatic liver diseases
may depend on the activation status of NF-
B within hepatocytes.
Using both EMSA and immunohistochemistry, we were able to demonstrate
NF-
B in hepatocytes of BDL mice. NF-
B can be activated by a wide
variety of stimuli including cytokines, oxidant free radicals, ionizing
radiation, and UV light.17,18
Although serum levels of
TNF-
are increased in obstructive cholestasis and binding of this
cytokine to the TNF-R1 receptor is known to activate NF-
B in
hepatocytes,19
we observed NF-
B activation in
hepatocytes of BDL TNF-R1-deficient mice. These data suggest the
TNF-
and TNF-R1 system is not involved in NF-
B activation during
cholestasis. We have recently demonstrated NF-
B activation by
selected bile acids via a PI3-kinase-dependent mechanism.8
Because tissue bile acid concentrations are increased within the liver
during cholestasis,2
it is likely that bile acids
contribute to the activation of NF-
B in the BDL mouse model of
cholestasis. However, we cannot exclude other mechanisms such as
oxidant stress, which has also been demonstrated in the cholestatic
liver.20
We demonstrated an increase in hepatocyte apoptosis as assessed by the
TUNEL assay when NF-
B activation was inhibited by the Ad5I
Bsr. We
confirmed the presence of apoptosis by also demonstrating caspase
activation, proteases essential for the execution of the apoptosis cell
death program.21
NF-
B has been shown to either prevent
or potentiate hepatocyte apoptosis, depending on the model. For
example, NF-
B prevents TNF-
- and Fas death receptor-mediated
hepatocyte apoptosis, but contributes to hepatocyte apoptosis by
hydrogen peroxide.22
We have previously reported that
hepatocyte apoptosis occurs in BDL mice by a Fas death
receptor-dependent process using lpr Fas-deficient mice.11
Thus, our previous observations in conjunction with the work of others
demonstrating inhibition of Fas-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis by
NF-
B are consistent and implicate Fas as the mediator of hepatocyte
apoptosis in cholestasis.11,23
Ad5I
Bsr-treated BDL animals had increased rates of apoptosis,
significantly increased serum higher ALT values, and more histological
liver injury than saline- or empty virus (Ad5
E1)-treated animals.
Because NF-
B functions to inhibit apoptosis, these observations
imply a link between hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury. Indeed, we
previously observed a relationship between hepatocyte apoptosis, serum
ALT values, and animal survival when comparing outcomes in BDL
Fas-deficient and wild-type animals.11
Although apoptosis
is not thought to elicit an inflammatory response or contribute to
tissue destruction, this concept is derived primarily from
developmental studies. Inhibition of apoptosis with caspase inhibitors
has been shown to block liver inflammation after administration of
galactosamine and endotoxin.24
Rapid and extensive
induction of hepatocyte apoptosis with Fas-agonistic antisera is
associated with fulminant hepatic failure.25
Therefore,
hepatocyte apoptosis in inflammatory conditions and disease states
likely contributes to the potentiation of liver injury.26
In this respect, NF-
B activation in cholestasis likely functions not
only to reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, but also to reduce overall liver
injury.
In conclusion, our working hypothesis is that, during cholestasis,
there is retention and accumulation of bile acids within hepatocytes.
The resulting increased hepatocellular concentrations of glycine
conjugates of hydrophobic mono- or dihydroxy bile salts present a
strong pro-apoptotic stimulus to the hepatocyte via activation of
Fas.27
However, taurine conjugates of these bile acids may
induce NF-
B activation functioning as an adaptive mechanism to
attenuate hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury. The ability of
potentially toxic bile acids to activate NF-
B may represent a
pathophysiological adaptation that helps permit survival and continued
function of hepatocytes and the liver despite cholestatic dysfunction.
The rate and progression of human cholestatic liver diseases,
therefore, may be influenced by the status of hepatocyte NF-
B
activation. Therapeutic maneuvers designed to potentiate NF-
B
activation in the cholestatic liver disease (eg, oral administration of
NF-
B-activating bile acids) may help slow the progression of human
cholestatic liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and
primary biliary cirrhosis.
| Acknowledgements |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health DK 41876 (to G.J.G.) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ( to C.R.) and by the Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN.
Accepted for publication December 11, 2000.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
P Georgiev, A A Navarini, J J Eloranta, K S Lang, G A Kullak-Ublick, A Nocito, F Dahm, W Jochum, R Graf, and P-A Clavien Cholestasis protects the liver from ischaemic injury and post-ischaemic inflammation in the mouse Gut, January 1, 2007; 56(1): 121 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Anan, E. S. Baskin-Bey, H. Isomoto, J. L. Mott, S. F. Bronk, J. H. Albrecht, and G. J. Gores Proteasome inhibition attenuates hepatic injury in the bile duct-ligated mouse Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, October 1, 2006; 291(4): G709 - G716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. F. Maddox, A. C. Domzalski, R. A. Roth, and P. E. Ganey 15-Deoxy Prostaglandin J2 Enhances Allyl Alcohol-Induced Toxicity in Rat Hepatocytes Toxicol. Sci., February 1, 2004; 77(2): 290 - 298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A Granato, G Gores, M T Vilei, R Tolando, C Ferraresso, and M Muraca Bilirubin inhibits bile acid induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes Gut, December 1, 2003; 52(12): 1774 - 1778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Fickert, M. Trauner, A. Fuchsbichler, C. Stumptner, K. Zatloukal, and H. Denk Bile Acid-Induced Mallory Body Formation in Drug-Primed Mouse Liver Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2002; 161(6): 2019 - 2026. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. E. Guicciardi, H. Miyoshi, S. F. Bronk, and G. J. Gores Cathepsin B Knockout Mice Are Resistant to Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha}-Mediated Hepatocyte Apoptosis and Liver Injury : Implications for Therapeutic Applications Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2001; 159(6): 2045 - 2054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |