thapsigargin and Liver-Diseases

Liver injury triggers adaptive remodeling of the hepatic transcriptome for repair/regeneration. We demonstrate that this involves particularly profound transcriptomic alterations where acute induction of genes involved in handling of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is accompanied by partial hepatic dedifferentiation. Importantly, widespread hepatic gene downregulation could not simply be ascribed to cofactor squelching secondary to ERS gene induction, but rather involves a combination of active repressive mechanisms. ERS acts through inhibition of the liver-identity (LIVER-ID) transcription factor (TF) network, initiated by rapid LIVER-ID TF protein loss. In addition, induction of the transcriptional repressor NFIL3 further contributes to LIVER-ID gene repression. Alteration to the liver TF repertoire translates into compromised activity of regulatory regions characterized by the densest co-recruitment of LIVER-ID TFs and decommissioning of BRD4 super-enhancers driving hepatic identity. While transient repression of the hepatic molecular identity is an intrinsic part of liver repair, sustained disequilibrium between the ERS and LIVER-ID transcriptional programs is linked to liver dysfunction as shown using mouse models of acute liver injury and livers from deceased human septic patients.

Topics: Animals; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing; Down-Regulation; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Regulatory Networks; Hepatocytes; Humans; Liver Diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Nuclear Proteins; Thapsigargin; Transcription Factors; Transcriptome; Up-Regulation

Activation of death receptors and mitochondrial damage are well-described common apoptotic pathways. Recently, a novel pathway via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported. We assessed the role of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in inhibition of caspase-12 activation and its effect on calcium homeostasis in an ER stress-induced model of apoptosis. The human liver-derived cell line, Huh7, was treated with thapsigargin (TG) to induce ER stress. Typical morphologic changes of ER stress preceded development of apoptotic changes, including DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as well as activation of caspase-3 and -7. Elevation of intracellular calcium levels without loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was shown using Fluo-3/Fura-red labeling and flow cytometry, and confirmed by induction of Bip/GRP78, a calcium-dependent chaperon of ER lumen. These changes were accompanied by procaspase-12 processing. TUDCA abolished TG-induced markers of ER stress; reduced calcium efflux, induction of Bip/GRP78, and caspase-12 activation; and subsequently inhibited activation of effector caspases and apoptosis. In conclusion, we propose that mitochondria play a secondary role in ER-mediated apoptosis and that TUDCA prevents apoptosis by blocking a calcium-mediated apoptotic pathway as well as caspase-12 activation. This novel mechanism of TUDCA action suggests new intervention methods for ER stress-induced liver disease.

Topics: Apoptosis; Calcium; Caspase 12; Caspase 3; Caspase 7; Caspases; Cell Line; Cholagogues and Choleretics; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hepatocytes; Humans; Liver Diseases; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; Thapsigargin