Cholestatic liver diseases are highly prevalent causes of progressive liver disease in the United States with a significant morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, current medical therapies frequently do not prevent disease progression and are not curative. Over the past decade, the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), an adaptive cellular response to Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many liver diseases. However, the role of the UPR in hepatic bile acid toxicity and cholestatic liver injury remains poorly understood. The Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1?/X-box binding protein 1 (IRE1?/Xbp1) pathway is a highly evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway of the UPR that is both protective to the liver and is important in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that hepatic IRE1?/XBP1s signaling regulates bile acid metabolism, and that bile acid signaling further regulates the IRE1?/XBP1s pathway. We show preliminary data demonstrating that the hepatic IRE1?/Xbp1 pathway is activated by cholestasis, is an important protective response to reduce cholestatic liver injury and regulates bile acid metabolism. Therefore, we will determine the role of the hepatic IRE1?/XBP1 pathway in the regulation of cholestatic liver injury (Specific Aim 1A) and bile acid synthesis (Specific Aim 1B). Hepatic FXR/SHP signaling is an essential bile acid-responsive pathway that regulates many genes and physiologic processes involved in bile acid metabolism. In preliminary studies, we demonstrated that the IRE1?/XBP1s pathway is regulated by the FXR/SHP signaling pathway. Thus, we will define the regulatory mechanisms of FXR/SHP signaling on the hepatic IRE1?/Xbp1s pathway (Specific Aim 2). Finally, FGF19 is an ileal hormone produced in response to bile acids that regulates bile acid synthesis and other hepatic processes. Therefore, we will characterize the regulation of the IRE1?/Xbp1 pathway by FGF19 signaling (Specific Aim 3). Our long- term goal is to further develop a line of research characterizing the mechanisms by which the IRE1?/XBP1s and other UPR signaling pathways reduce liver injury during cholestasis and other forms of liver disease. This proposal utilizes state-of-the-art mouse genetics, molecular biology, proteomics and physiologic techniques to further determine the protective role of the IRE1?/XBP1, FXR/SHP and FGF15/19 signaling pathways in bile acid injury and cholestasis. These investigations may help identify novel regulatory mechanisms of bile acid metabolism and IRE1?/XBP1 signaling that can be used to target new therapies for the treatment of cholestatic liver disease and other hepatic disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Cholestatic liver diseases are common causes of progressive liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Unfortunately, there are few effective medical therapies for cholestatic liver diseases. We will study the role of bile salts in liver injury, and the mechanisms and protective effects of liver proteins named XBP1s and IRE1?.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK093807-07
Application #
9750742
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Burgess-Beusse, Bonnie L
Project Start
2012-09-26
Project End
2021-07-31
Budget Start
2019-08-01
Budget End
2020-07-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Liu, Xiaoying; Guo, Grace L; Kong, Bo et al. (2018) Farnesoid X receptor signaling activates the hepatic X-box binding protein 1 pathway in vitro and in mice. Hepatology 68:304-316
Taylor, Sarah A; Green, Richard M (2018) Bile Acids, Microbiota, and Metabolism. Hepatology 68:1229-1231
Henkel, Anne S; LeCuyer, Brian; Olivares, Shantel et al. (2017) Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Regulates Hepatic Bile Acid Metabolism in Mice. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 3:261-271
Liu, Xiaoying; Henkel, Anne S; LeCuyer, Brian E et al. (2017) Hepatic deletion of X-box binding protein 1 impairs bile acid metabolism in mice. J Lipid Res 58:504-511
Liu, Xiaoying; Green, Richard M (2017) Beyond Farnesoid X receptor to target new therapies for NAFLD. Hepatology 66:1724-1726
Pasricha, Sarina; Kenney-Hunt, Jane; Anderson, Kristy et al. (2015) Identification of eQTLs for hepatic Xbp1s and Socs3 gene expression in mice fed a high-fat, high-caloric diet. G3 (Bethesda) 5:487-96
Liu, Xiaoying; Henkel, Anne S; LeCuyer, Brian E et al. (2015) Hepatocyte X-box binding protein 1 deficiency increases liver injury in mice fed a high-fat/sugar diet. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 309:G965-74
Olivares, Shantel; Green, Richard M; Henkel, Anne S (2014) Endoplasmic reticulum stress activates the hepatic activator protein 1 complex via mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent signaling pathways. PLoS One 9:e103828
Qureshi, Hannan A; Pearl, Jeffrey A; Anderson, Kristy A et al. (2014) Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Activates the Unfolded Protein Response and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation in H-69 Cholangiocyte Cells. J Liver 3:
Henkel, Anne; Green, Richard M (2013) The unfolded protein response in fatty liver disease. Semin Liver Dis 33:321-9

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