Mareike Kellerer, Sana Javed, Christian Casar, Nico Will, Laura K Berkhout, Dorothee Schwinge, Christian F Krebs, Christoph Schramm, Katrin Neumann, Gisa Tiegs
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by biliary inflammation and fibrosis. We showed an elevated interferon γ response in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and in multidrug resistance protein 2-deficient ( Mdr2-/- ) mice developing sclerosing cholangitis. Interferon γ induced expression of the cytotoxic molecules granzyme B (GzmB) and TRAIL in hepatic lymphocytes and mediated liver fibrosis in sclerosing cholangitis.
Approach and results: In patient samples and Mdr2-/- mice, we identified lymphocyte clusters with a cytotoxic gene expression profile using single-cell RNA-seq and cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing analyses combined with multi-parameter flow cytometry. CD8 + T cells and NK cells showed increased expression of GzmB and TRAIL in sclerosing cholangitis. Depletion of CD8 + T cells ameliorated disease severity in Mdr2-/- mice. By using Mdr2-/- × Gzmb-/- and Mdr2-/- × Tnfsf10-/- mice, we investigated the significance of GzmB and TRAIL for disease progression in sclerosing cholangitis. Interestingly, the lack of GzmB resulted in reduced cholangiocyte apoptosis, liver injury, and fibrosis. In contrast, sclerosing cholangitis was aggravated in the absence of TRAIL. This correlated with elevated GzmB and interferon γ expression by CD8 + T cells and NK cells enhanced T-cell survival, and increased apoptosis and expansion of cholangiocytes.
Conclusions: GzmB induces apoptosis and fibrosis in sclerosing cholangitis, whereas TRAIL regulates inflammatory and cytotoxic immune responses, subsequently leading to reduced liver injury and fibrosis.
期刊介绍:
HEPATOLOGY is recognized as the leading publication in the field of liver disease. It features original, peer-reviewed articles covering various aspects of liver structure, function, and disease. The journal's distinguished Editorial Board carefully selects the best articles each month, focusing on topics including immunology, chronic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, genetic and metabolic liver diseases, liver cancer, and drug metabolism.