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Liver X Receptor; Controls Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation via Hedgehog Signaling

Zhong, L.; Ning, B.; Du, X.; Shengjie, H.; Cai, C.; Zhou, Y.; Deng, L.; Shen, W.

2021-01-08 cell biology
10.1101/577833 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Liver X receptors (LXR) and {beta} serve important roles in cholesterol homeostasis, anti-inflammatory processes and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the development of therapies for liver fibrosis based on LXR agonists have been hampered due to side-effects such as liver steatosis. In this study, we demonstrated that HSCs expressed high levels of LXR{beta}, but not LXR, and that overexpression of LXR{beta} suppressed fibrosis and HSC activation in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced fibrosis mouse model, without resulting in liver steatosis. Furthermore, Hedgehog (Hh)-regulated proteins, markedly increased in the CCl4-affected liver and mainly expressed in activated HSCs, were repressed under conditions of LXR{beta} overexpression. In addition, LXR{beta} knockout led to activation of Hh signaling and triggering of HSC activation, while overexpression of LXR{beta} led to the inhibition of the Hh pathway and suppression of HSC activation. These results suggest that LXR{beta} suppresses the activation mechanism of HSCs by inhibiting Hh signaling. In conclusion, LXR{beta}, by restoring the differentiation of HSCs, may be a promising therapeutic target for liver fibrosis without the adverse side-effects of LXR activation.

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