IL-4 Alleviates Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inducing Kupffer Cells M2 Polarization via STAT6-JMJD3 Pathway after Rat Liver Transplantation

Biomed Res Int. 2020 Mar 18:2020:2953068. doi: 10.1155/2020/2953068. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Background: Liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a problem in liver transplantation. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been found to reduce liver IRI, but the exact mechanism remains unclear.

Methods: Donor livers were infused with recombinant IL-4 or normal saline during cold storage, and the hepatocellular apoptosis and the inflammatory response were detected. The effect of IL-4 treatment on Kupffer cells (KCs) polarization and expression of the STAT6-JMJD3 pathway was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. KCs in donor livers were depleted by clodronate liposome treatment or JMJD3 was inhibited by GSK-J4 before liver transplantation to determine whether the protective effect of IL-4 treatment was dependent on KCs.

Results: IL-4 treatment decreased sALT and sAST levels and alleviated hepatocellular apoptosis and inflammation at 6 h after liver transplantation. IL-4 treatment induced KCs alternatively activated (M2) polarization in vitro. KCs in donor livers were depleted by clodronate liposome treatment or JMJD3 was inhibited by GSK-J4 before liver transplantation to determine whether the protective effect of IL-4 treatment was dependent on KCs. in vivo and in vitro. KCs in donor livers were depleted by clodronate liposome treatment or JMJD3 was inhibited by GSK-J4 before liver transplantation to determine whether the protective effect of IL-4 treatment was dependent on KCs.

Conclusions: IL-4 treatment-induced KCs M2 polarization was dependent on the STAT6-JMJD3 pathway and protected liver grafts from IRI after liver transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology*
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / immunology*
  • Kupffer Cells / immunology*
  • Kupffer Cells / pathology
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reperfusion Injury / immunology*
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / immunology*

Substances

  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Interleukin-4
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Kdm6b protein, rat