Stat4 and Stat6 signaling in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice: HO-1 dependence of Stat4 disruption-mediated cytoprotection.
Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains an important problem in clinical organ transplantation. There is growing evidence that T lymphocytes, and activated CD4+ T cells in particular, play a key role in hepatic I/R injury. This study analyzes the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (Stat4) and Stat6 signaling in liver I/R injury. Using a partial lobar warm ischemia model, groups of wild-type (WT), T cell-deficient, Stat4-/Stat6-deficient knockout (KO) mice were assessed for the extent/severity of I/R injury. Ninety minutes of warm ischemia followed by 6 hours of reperfusion induced a fulminant liver failure in WT and Stat6 KO mice, as assessed by hepatocellular damage (serum alanine aminotransferase [sALT] levels), neutrophil accumulation (myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity) and histology (Suzuki scores). In contrast, T cell deficiency (nu/nu mice) or disruption of Stat4 signaling (Stat4 KO mice) reduced I/R insult. Unlike adoptive transfer of WT or Stat6-deficient T cells, infusion of Stat4-deficient T cells failed to restore hepatic I/R injury and prevented tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in nu/nu mice. Diminished TNF-alpha/Th1-type cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA)/protein elaborations patterns, along with overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-accompanied hepatic cytoprotection in Stat4 KO recipients. In contrast, HO-1 depression restored hepatic injury in otherwise I/R resistant Stat4 KOs. In conclusion, Stat4 signaling is required for, whereas Stat4 disruption protects against, warm hepatic I/R injury in mice. The cytoprotection rendered by Stat4 disruption remains HO-1-dependent.
Shen
Xiu-Da
XD
Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Ke
Bibo
B
Zhai
Yuan
Y
Gao
Feng
F
Anselmo
Dean
D
Lassman
Charles R
CR
Busuttil
Ronald W
RW
Kupiec-Weglinski
Jerzy W
JW
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics; D008819:Mice, Nude; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse