Abstract
Hepatocyte retinoid X receptor α (RXRα)-deficient mice are more sensitive to ethanol toxicity than wild-type mice. Because RXRα-mediated pathways are implicated in lipid homeostasis and the inflammatory response, we hypothesized that a compromise in lipid metabolism and associated production of proinflammatory mediators are responsible for the hepatotoxicity observed in ethanol-treated hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice. Wild-type and hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice were fed ethanol-containing diets or pair-fed control diets for 6 weeks. After ethanol treatment, serum ALT levels increased significantly (4-fold) in hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice, but not in the wild-type mice. Hepatic liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) mRNA and protein levels were reduced due to RXRα deficiency. Ethanol induced L-FABP mRNA and protein in wild-type mice and provided protection against nonesterified fatty acid toxicity; however, this effect was absent in the mutant mice. Accordingly, hepatic nonesterified fatty acid level was increased in ethanol-fed mutant mice. Ethanol increased nuclear factor (NF)-κB binding activity in hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice, but not in wild-type mice. In agreement, hepatic mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were increased to a greater extent in the mutant than in wild-type mice. Furthermore, signal transducer and activator of transcription factor (STAT) 3 and associated Bcl-xL induction was observed in ethanol-fed wild-type mice but not in ethanol-fed hepatocyte RXRα-deficient mice. Taken together, after ethanol treatment, hepatocyte RXRα deficiency results in lack of L-FABP induction, increased hepatic free fatty acids, NF-κB activation, and proinflammatory cytokines production and a lack of STAT3 activation, which in part may contribute to alcohol-induced liver damage.
Footnotes
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This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants AA14147, CA53596, and AA12081 and by the Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence Molecular Biology Core Grant P20RR021940.
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Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://jpet.aspetjournals.org.
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doi:10.1124/jpet.107.132258.
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ABBREVIATIONS: RXRα, retinoid X receptor α; LXR, liver X receptor; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; ALD, alcoholic liver disease; SAM, S-adenosylmethionine; NF, nuclear factor; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin; MIP, macrophage inflammatory protein; PAI-1; plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription factor; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; NEFA, nonesterified fatty acid; SAH, S-adenosylhomocysteine; L-FABP, liver fatty acid binding protein; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; RA, retinoic acid.
- Received September 27, 2007.
- Accepted October 31, 2007.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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