Ethanol disrupts hepatic function with the eventual appearance of alcoholic liver disease. Kupffer cells, the resident macrophages in the liver, are critical to the onset of ethanol-induced liver injury. Activation of macrophages by endotoxin/ lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) leads to the production of a variety of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-1 (TNF-1) and reactive oxygen species. During chronic ethanol exposure, abnormal production of TNF-1 is a critical component in the development of inflammation in the liver. Increased TNF-1 production during ethanol exposure is due to both an increased exposure to LPS, as well as a sensitization Kupffer cells to activation by LPS. This ethanol-induced sensitization results from changes in the regulation of TLR-4 signal transduction, culminating in the dysregulation of transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of TNF-1 expression. The long- term goals of this research project are to understand the molecular mechanisms by which chronic ethanol sensitizes Kupffer cells to TLR-4 mediated signalling and then to leverage this novel information to develop therapeutic strategies to normalize hepatic inflammation in alcoholic liver disease. In the past granting period, we have characterized the molecular mechanisms for ethanol-induced sensitization of LPS-stimulated TNF-1 expression, focusing TLR-4-mediated activation of p38 MAPK and regulation of mRNA stability. More recently, we have investigated the interaction between adiponectin, a potent anti-inflammatory adipokine, and Kupffer cells during chronic ethanol exposure. Treatment of Kupffer cells with adiponectin normalizes the increased sensitivity to LPS in Kupffer cells isolated from ethanol-fed rats. Importantly, Kupffer cells from ethanol-fed rats exhibited increased sensitivity to the anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin. The major objective of this proposal is to investigate the molecular mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin. Utilizing primary cultures of Kupffer cells from ethanol- and pair-fed rats, as well as an in vivo model of LPS challenge in ethanol- and pair-fed mice, the Specific Aims of this proposal will test the following hypotheses: 1) The anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin on Kupffer cells are due to increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Further, we hypothesize that adiponectin-stimulated IL-10 production will be higher in Kupffer cells from ethanol-fed rats compared to pair-fed controls. 2) Desensitization of LPS-stimulated signal transduction by adiponectin is due, at least in part, to a normalization of LPS-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity in Kupffer cells from ethanol-fed rats. 3) Adiponectin suppresses/normalizes LPS-stimulated TNF-1 expression in Kupffer cells via transcriptional and post- transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, involving epigenetic regulation and control of mRNA stability, respectively. Understanding the molecular mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin in Kupffer cells after chronic ethanol exposure will enable the design of therapeutic strategies aimed at slowing or reversing the progression of alcoholic liver disease.

Public Health Relevance

Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and recent data indicate that alcoholic liver disease affects over 10 million Americans. The long-term goals of this research project are to investigate the mechanisms by which ethanol disrupts the activity of Kupffer cells, the resident macrophage in the liver. In this application, we will focus on understanding the mechanisms by which the anti-inflammatory mediator, adiponectin, normalizes the sensitivity of Kupffer cells from ethanol-fed animals to stimulation by lipopolysaccharide, a component of gram-negative bacteria. Understanding the mechanisms by which chronic ethanol enhances the inflammatory activity of Kupffer cells will provide the foundation for the future development of rationally designed therapeutic interventions to slow and/or reverse alcoholic liver disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AA011975-11A2
Application #
7778077
Study Section
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP)
Program Officer
Radaeva, Svetlana
Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2010-08-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$353,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Cleveland Clinic Lerner
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135781701
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44195
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Saikia, Paramananda; Bellos, Damien; McMullen, Megan R et al. (2017) MicroRNA 181b-3p and its target importin ?5 regulate toll-like receptor 4 signaling in Kupffer cells and liver injury in mice in response to ethanol. Hepatology 66:602-615
Zhou, Hao; Yu, Minjia; Zhao, Junjie et al. (2016) IRAKM-Mincle axis links cell death to inflammation: Pathophysiological implications for chronic alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 64:1978-1993
Nagy, Laura E; Ding, Wen-Xing; Cresci, Gail et al. (2016) Linking Pathogenic Mechanisms of Alcoholic Liver Disease With Clinical Phenotypes. Gastroenterology 150:1756-68
Park, Pil-Hoon; Sanz-Garcia, Carlos; Nagy, Laura E (2015) Adiponectin as an anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory adipokine in the liver. Curr Pathobiol Rep 3:243-252
Sanz-Garcia, Carlos; Nagy, Laura E; Lasunción, Miguel A et al. (2014) Cot/tpl2 participates in the activation of macrophages by adiponectin. J Leukoc Biol 95:917-30
Kim, Mi Jin; Nagy, Laura E; Park, Pil-Hoon (2014) Globular adiponectin inhibits ethanol-induced reactive oxygen species production through modulation of NADPH oxidase in macrophages: involvement of liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Mol Pharmacol 86:284-96
Bakhautdin, Bakytzhan; Das, Dola; Mandal, Palash et al. (2014) Protective role of HO-1 and carbon monoxide in ethanol-induced hepatocyte cell death and liver injury in mice. J Hepatol 61:1029-37
Roychowdhury, Sanjoy; Chiang, Dian J; McMullen, Megan R et al. (2014) Moderate, chronic ethanol feeding exacerbates carbon-tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis via hepatocyte-specific hypoxia inducible factor 1? Pharmacol Res Perspect 2:e00061
Dixon, Laura J; Barnes, Mark; Tang, Hui et al. (2013) Kupffer cells in the liver. Compr Physiol 3:785-97

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