Natural killer cell-dependent anti-fibrotic pathway in liver injury via Toll-like receptor-9

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 10;8(12):e82571. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082571. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) agonist cytosine phosphate guanine (CpG), activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and mediates fibrosis. We investigated the TLR9 effects on lymphocyte/HSCs interactions. Liver fibrosis was induced in wild-type (WT) mice by intra-peritoneal carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) induction for 6 weeks. Fibrotic groups were intravenously treated by a vehicle versus CpG along last 2 weeks. Compared to vehicle-treated fibrotic WT, the in-vivo CpG-treatment significantly attenuated hepatic fibrosis and inflammation, associated with decreased CD8 and increased NK liver cells. In-vitro, co-cultures with vehicle-treated fibrotic NK cells increased HSCs proliferation (P<0.001) while their CpG-treated counterparts achieved a significant decrease. To investigate the role of lymphocytes, TLR9(-/-) mice induced-hepatic fibrosis were used. Although TLR9(-/-) mice manifested lower fibrotic profile as compared to their wild-type (WT) counterparts, senescence (SA-β-Gal activity) in the liver and ALT serum levels were significantly greater. In an adoptive transfer model; irradiated WT and TLR9(-/-) recipients were reconstituted with naïve WT or TLR9(-/-) lymphocytes. The adoptive transfer of TLR9(-/-) versus WT lymphocytes led to increased fibrosis of WT recipients. TLR9(-/-) fibrotic recipients reconstituted with TLR9(-/-) or WT lymphocytes showed no changes in hepatic fibrosis severity or ALT serum levels. TLR9 activation had inconsistent effects on lymphocytes and HSCs. The net balance of TLR9 activation in WT, displayed significant anti-fibrotic activity, accompanied by CD8 suppression and increased NK-cells, activity and adherence to HSCs. The pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory properties of TLR9(-/-) lymphocytes fail to activate HSCs with an early senescence in TLR9(-/-) mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / genetics
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / immunology*
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / pathology
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / genetics
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / immunology*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / pathology
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / pharmacology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • CPG-oligonucleotide
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Tlr9 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation no. 1169/09. This study was also supported (in part) by grant no. 3-5937 from the Chief Scientist Office - Ministry of Health, Israel. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.