Role of hyperglycemia-induced 5-hydroxytryptamine degradation of hepatic stellate cells in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • Xiu-rui LIANG ,
  • Xue-chun SHAN ,
  • Jing GUAN ,
  • Rui ZHANG ,
  • Jing YANG ,
  • Yi ZHANG ,
  • Jia-qi JIN ,
  • Yu-xin ZHANG ,
  • Fan XU ,
  • Ji-hua FU
Expand
  • 1. College of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
    2. Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China

Received date: 2020-09-21

  Online published: 2022-12-19

Supported by

China Pharmaceutical University "Double First Class" Discipline Innovation Team Building Project(CPU2018GY23);Jiangsu Postgraduate Scientific Research and Innovation Program(KYCX19_0690);National Natural Science Foundation of China(81570720)

Abstract

Objective: To explore the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were used to establish T2DM model by high-fat diet feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Then, the mice with hyperglycemia were still fed with high-fat diet for nine weeks, and treated with or without 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) antagonist sarpogrelate hydrochloride (SH) and 5-HT synthesis inhibitor carbidopa (CDP) (alone or in combination). To observe the role of 5-HT in the myofibroblastization of hepa-tic stellate cells (HSCs), human HSCs LX-2 were exposed to high glucose, and were treated with or without SH, CDP or monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor clorgiline (CGL). Hematoxylin & eosin and Masson staining were used to detect the pathological lesions of liver tissue section, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to analyze protein expression, biochemical indicators were measured by ELISA or enzyme kits, and levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by fluorescent probe. Results: There were up-regulated expressions of 5-HT2AR, 5-HT synthases and MAO-A, and elevated levels of 5-HT in the liver of the T2DM mice. In addition to reduction of the hepatic 5-HT levels and MAO-A expression, treatment with SH and CDP could effectively ameliorate liver lesions in the T2DM mice, both of which could ameliorate hepatic injury and steatosis, significantly inhibit the increase of hepatic ROS (H2O2) levels to alleviate oxidative stress, and markedly suppress the production of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and the development of inflammation and fibrosis in liver. More importantly, there was a synergistic effect between SH and CDP. Studies on LX-2 cells showed that high glucose could induce up-regulation of 5-HT2AR, 5-HT synthases and MAO-A expression, increase intracellular 5-HT level, increase the production of ROS, and lead to myofibroblastization of LX-2, resulting in the increase of TGF-β1 synthesis and production of inflammatory and fibrosis factors. The effects of high glucose could be significantly inhibited by 5-HT2AR antagonist SH or be markedly abolished by mitochondrial 5-HT degradation inhibitor CGL. In addition, SH significantly suppressed the up-regulation of 5-HT synthases and MAO-A induced by high glucose in LX-2. Conclusion: Hyperglycemia-induced myofibroblastization and TGF-β1 production of HSCs, which leads to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in T2DM mice, is probably due to the up-regulation of 5-HT2AR expression and increase of 5-HT synthesis and degradation, resulting in the increase of ROS production in mitochondria. Among them, 5-HT2AR is involved in the regulation of 5-HT synthases and MAO-A expression.

Cite this article

Xiu-rui LIANG , Xue-chun SHAN , Jing GUAN , Rui ZHANG , Jing YANG , Yi ZHANG , Jia-qi JIN , Yu-xin ZHANG , Fan XU , Ji-hua FU . Role of hyperglycemia-induced 5-hydroxytryptamine degradation of hepatic stellate cells in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus[J]. Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences), 2022 , 54(6) : 1141 -1150 . DOI: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2022.06.014

References

1 Younossi ZM , Golabi P , de Avila L , et al. The global epidemiology of NAFLD and NASH in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. J Hepatol, 2019, 71 (4): 793- 801.
2 Ban CR , Twigg SM . Fibrosis in diabetes complications: Pathoge-nic mechanisms and circulating and urinary markers[J]. Vasc Health Risk Manag, 2008, 4 (3): 575- 596.
3 Gaspar P , Cases O , Maroteaux L . The developmental role of serotonin: News from mouse molecular genetics[J]. Nat Rev Neuro-sci, 2003, 4 (12): 1002- 1012.
4 Murphy DL , Lesch KP . Targeting the murine serotonin transporter: Insights into human neurobiology[J]. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2008, 9 (2): 85- 96.
5 Keszthelyi D , Troost FJ , Masclee AAM . Understanding the role of tryptophan and serotonin metabolism in gastrointestinal function[J]. Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2009, 21 (12): 1239- 1249.
6 Nickel AG , von Hardenberg A , Hohl M , et al. Reversal of mitochondrial transhydrogenase causes oxidative stress in heart failure[J]. Cell Metab, 2015, 22 (3): 472- 484.
7 Boess FG , Martin IL . Molecular biology of 5-HT receptors[J]. Neuropharmacology, 1994, 33 (3/4): 275- 317.
8 Tsuchida T , Lee YA , Fujiwara N , et al. A simple diet- and chemical-induced murine NASH model with rapid progression of steatohepatitis, fibrosis and liver cancer[J]. J Hepatol, 2018, 69 (2): 385- 395.
9 Nocito A , Dahm F , Jochum W , et al. Serotonin mediates oxidative stress and mitochondrial toxicity in a murine model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis[J]. Gastroenterology, 2007, 133 (2): 608- 618.
10 Knockaert L , Berson A , Ribault C , et al. Carbon tetrachloride-mediated lipid peroxidation induces early mitochondrial alterations in mouse liver[J]. Lab Invest, 2012, 92 (3): 396- 410.
11 Kim DC , Jun DW , Kwon YI , et al. 5-HT2A receptor antagonists inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation and facilitate apoptosis[J]. Liver Int, 2013, 33 (4): 535- 543.
12 Fu JH , Li C , Zhang GL , et al. Crucial roles of 5-HT and 5-HT2 receptor in diabetes-related lipid accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine generation in hepatocytes[J]. Cell Physiol Biochem, 2018, 48 (6): 2409- 2428.
13 Fu JH , Ma SX , Li X , et al. Long-term stress with hyperglucocorticoidemia-induced hepatic steatosis with VLDL overproduction is dependent on both 5-HT2 receptor and 5-HT synthesis in liver[J]. Int J Biol Sci, 2016, 12 (2): 219- 234.
14 Ma SX , Li T , Guo KK , et al. Effective treatment with combination of peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine synthetic inhibitor and 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 receptor antagonist on glucocorticoid-induced whole-body insulin resistance with hyperglycemia[J]. J Diabetes Investig, 2016, 7 (6): 833- 844.
15 Li X , Guo KK , Li T , et al. 5-HT 2 receptor mediates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and very low density lipoprotein overproduction in rats[J]. Obes Res Clin Pract, 2018, 12 (Suppl 2): 16- 28.
16 Zhang YX , Li C , Liang XR , et al. Role of 5-HT degradation in acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride[J]. Eur J Pharmacol, 2021, 908, 174355.
17 Zhang YX , Liang XR , Guan J , et al. Carbon tetrachloride induced mitochondrial division, respiratory chain damage, abnormal intracellular [H+] and apoptosis are due to the activation of 5-HT degradation system in hepatocytes[J]. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 2022, 439, 115929.
18 Schuppan D , Pinzani M . Anti-fibrotic therapy: Lost in translation?[J]. J Hepatol, 2012, 56 (Suppl 1): S66- S74.
19 Park SY , Shin HW , Lee KB , et al. Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in thioacetamide-induced chronic liver injury[J]. J Korean Med Sci, 2010, 25 (4): 570- 576.
20 Zhang CY , Yuan WG , He P , et al. Liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cells: Etiology, pathological hallmarks and therapeutic targets[J]. World J Gastroenterol, 2016, 22 (48): 10512- 10522.
21 Weiskirchen R , Tacke F . Liver Fibrosis: From pathogenesis to novel therapies[J]. Dig Dis, 2016, 34 (4): 410- 422.
22 Mitchell C , Couton D , Couty JP , et al. Dual role of CCR2 in the constitution and the resolution of liver fibrosis in mice[J]. Am J Pathol, 2009, 174 (5): 1766- 1775.
23 Sugimoto R , Enjoji M , Kohjima M , et al. High glucose stimulates hepatic stellate cells to proliferate and to produce collagen through free radical production and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase[J]. Liver Int, 2005, 25 (5): 1018- 1026.
24 Shih JC , Chen K , Ridd MJ . Monoamine oxidase: from genes to behavior[J]. Annu Rev Neurosci, 1999, 22, 197- 217.
25 Farzanegi P , Dana A , Ebrahimpoor Z , et al. Mechanisms of beneficial effects of exercise training on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Roles of oxidative stress and inflammation[J]. Eur J Sport Sci, 2019, 19 (7): 994- 1003.
26 Ruddell RG , Mann DA , Ramm GA . The function of serotonin within the liver[J]. J Hepatol, 2008, 48 (4): 666- 675.
27 Papadimas GK , Tzirogiannis KN , Mykoniatis MG , et al. The emerging role of serotonin in liver regeneration[J]. Swiss Med Wkly, 2012, 142, w13548.
28 Choi W , Namkung J , Hwang I , et al. Serotonin signals through a gut-liver axis to regulate hepatic steatosis[J]. Nat Commun, 2018, 9 (1): 4824.
Outlines

/