Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains the primary obstacle limiting the success of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with end-stage liver disease and those with tumors of hepatic origin. Our group has pioneered the concept that hepatic IRI, an exogenous Ag-independent, innate immune-dominated sterile inflammation response, requires activated CD4+ T cells to facilitate tissue damage. T cell Immunoglobulin Mucin (TIM)-3 receptor has been recognized as a central regulator of T cell activation in a number of auto- / allo-immunity pathologies and organ transplantation. We reported that disruption of TIM-3 - Gal-9 pathway exacerbated hepatocellular injury in mouse livers subjected to warm IR. Then, we found that recipient CD4+TIM-3+ cells conferred resistance against liver IRI, suggesting a discrete host T cell subset should be spared while applying T cell-targeted therapy in transplant recipients. This proposal explores the function of TIM-3 signaling pathway in the mechanism of hepatic IRI in a clinically relevant mouse model of extended cold storage followed by orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). First, we found that stressed hepatocytes express Gal-9 and HMGB1, i.e., known TIM-3 ligands. Second, we discovered robust expression of TIM-3 on activated liver endothelial cells (LEC). These preliminary data have led us to a central hypothesis that negative regulation between hepatocellular-derived Gal-9/HMGB1 and TIM-3 expressed on host circulating CD4+ T cells/graft LEC is essential to control tissue injury, and impose cytoprotective phenotype in IR-stressed OLT. Two interlocked specific aims will test this hypothesis:
Aim 1 : Define molecular mechanisms by which hepatocyte Gal-9 - CD4+ T cell TIM-3 negative regulation confers OLT resistance against IR stress.
Aim 1. 1. Hypothesis: Gal-9 - TIM-3 signaling triggers anti-oxidant response in which amplified Nrf2 activity represses macrophage NF?B/inflammation responses.
Aim 1. 2. Hypothesis: Gal-9 - TIM-3 signaling enhances hepatocyte autophagy via Keap1/Nrf2 redox network.
Aim 2 : Define molecular mechanisms by which hepatocellular HMGB1 - endothelial TIM-3 negative regulation alleviates IRI in OLT.
Aim 2. 1. Hypothesis: HMGB1 conditioning prior to IR insult triggers activation of liver endothelial TIM-3 to repress macrophage trafficking and sequestration in OLT.
Aim 2. 2. Hypothesis: Hepatocellular HMGB1 - endothelial TIM-3 signaling promotes LEC protective phenotype. These studies will discern novel mechanisms at the innate-adaptive immune interface, which control organ damage/promote homeostasis in IR-stressed OLT; and should contribute to the development of new therapies to increase donor organ pool and improve clinical outcomes.
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been established as definitive therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease. The damage to the liver associated with ischemia-reperfusion (IRI) remains one of the most understudied yet critical clinical problems. This proposal will address novel concepts in the mechanism in liver IRI and cytoprotection, which should facilitate the development of new therapies for liver transplant patients.
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