title: Activation of farnesoid X receptor attenuates liver injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: To investigate the expression and effect of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) liver dysfunction and indicate its hepatoprotective role and the immunomodulatory property. mRNA and protein levels of FXR were determined on the liver specimens of SLE patients with liver injury as well as MRL/lpr rodent models. The FXR agonist chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was administrated to MRL/lpr mice and the control BALB/C with concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury. Blood samples were taken 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 h after ConA injection for the detection of serum ALT, AST, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6. FXR was down-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels in the liver specimens of SLE patients with liver injury as well as MRL/lpr mice. MRL/lpr was more susceptible to ConA than BALB/C indicated by significantly higher levels of aminotransferase and inflammatory cytokines. Activation of FXR by CDCA significantly reduced aminotransferase and inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 caused by ConA injection in MRL/lpr mice. FXR was down-regulated in SLE patients as well as MRL/lpr lupus models with liver dysfunction. FXR activation ameliorated liver injury and suppressed inflammatory cytokines, thereby showing its protective function in SLE. Our findings raised the promising potential target for the treatment of SLE liver injury.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Lian
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Hanshi
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Xiuyan
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Liuqin
authors: L
authors: Liang
authors: Zhongping
authors: Z
authors: Zhan
authors: Yujin
authors: Y
authors: Ye
authors: Minhu
authors: M
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D003208:Concanavalin A; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated