Liver X Receptor Activation Alleviates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Diabetes by Inhibiting NF-κB-NLRP3 Activation.

INTRODUCTION

Hyperglycemia has been reported to be a crucial factor that aggravates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Macrophage-mediated inflammatory injury is vital to liver IRI. A positive effect of Liver X receptor (LXR) on diabetes has been proven; however, the function and mechanism of LXR in diabetic liver IRI remain unclear. Accordingly, our study concentrates on the mechanism underly.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg)-treated diabetic mice were used to establish a liver IRI model. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were used in studying the role of macrophage inflammation in diabetic liver. GW3965 hydrochloride was used to activate LXR in vivo and in vitro. QD394, a lipid peroxidation agonist, was used to verify the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

Hyperglycemia exacerbates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) by promoting hepatic cell death and inflammation in vivo. In diabetic livers, the expression of liver X receptors (LXRs) is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the ischemia-reperfusion process itself further decreases LXR levels. Application of the LXR agonist GW3965 mitigates macrophage lipid peroxidation and inflammasome NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3) inflammasome activation in vitro, thereby protecting the liver from severe IRI. The results were further confirmed by the rescue experiments.

CONCLUSIONS

LXRs play an important role in diabetic liver IRI and macrophage-associated inflammation. Pharmacologic activation of LXRs alleviates macrophage inflammatory activation in diabetic liver IRI, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for diabetes-related liver injury.