TNFR1 controls apoptosis and chronic liver disease in hepatocyte-specific IKK (Nemo) mice.

Death receptor-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis is implicated in a wide range of liver diseases including viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, ischemia/reperfusion injury, fulminant hepatic failure, cholestatic liver injury and cancer. Deletion of NF-B essential modulator in hepatocytes (Nemohepa) causes the spontaneous development of hepatocellular carcinoma preceded by steatohepatitis in mice and thus serves as an excellent model for the progression from chronic hepatitis to liver cancer. In the present study we aimed to dissect the death-receptor mediated pathways that contribute to liver injury in Nemohepa mice. Therefore, we generated Nemohepa/TRAIL-/- and Nemohepa/TNFR1-/- animals and analyzed the progression of liver injury. Nemohepa/TRAIL-/- displayed a similar phenotype to Nemohepa mice characteristic of high apoptosis, infiltration of immune cells, hepatocyte proliferation and steatohepatitis. These pathophysiological features were significantly ameliorated in Nemohepa/TNFR1-/- livers. Hepatocyte apoptosis was increased in Nemohepa and Nemohepa/TRAIL-/- mice while Nemohepa/TNFR1-/- animals showed reduced cell death concomitant with a strong reduction in pJNK levels. Cell cycle parameters were significantly less activated in Nemohepa/TNFR1-/- livers. Additionally, markers of liver fibrosis and indicators of tumour progression were significantly decreased in these animals. The present data demonstrate that the death receptor TNFR1 but not TRAIL is important in determining progression of liver injury in hepatocyte-specific Nemo knockout mice.

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Cubero FJ, Singh A, Borkham-Kamphorst E, Nevzorova YA, Al Masaoudi M, Haas U, Boekschoten MV, Gassler N, Weiskirchen R, Muller M, Liedtke C, Trautwein C