| First Author | Hatten H | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis | Volume | 1870 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 167321 |
| PubMed ID | 38943920 | Mgi Jnum | J:353456 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7714253 | Doi | 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167321 |
| Citation | Hatten H, et al. (2024) Loss of Toll-like receptor 9 protects from hepatocellular carcinoma in murine models of chronic liver disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 1870(7):167321 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND & AIMS: Toll-like receptor 9 (Tlr9) is a pathogen recognition receptor detecting unmethylated DNA derivatives of pathogens and damaged host cells. It is therefore an important modulator of innate immunity. Here we investigated the role of Tlr9 in fibrogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated mice with a constitutive deletion of Tlr9 (Tlr9(-/-)) with DEN/CCl(4) for 24 weeks. As a second model, we used hepatocyte-specific Nemo knockout (Nemo(Deltahepa)) mice and generated double knockout (Nemo(Deltahepa)Tlr9(-/-)) animals. RESULTS: We show that Tlr9 is in the liver primarily expressed in Kupffer cells, suggesting a key role of Tlr9 in intercellular communication during hepatic injury. Tlr9 deletion resulted in reduced liver fibrosis as well as tumor burden. We observed down-regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and consequently decreased collagen production in both models. Tlr9 deletion was associated with decreased apoptosis and compensatory proliferation of hepatocytes, modulating the initiation and progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. These findings were accompanied by a decrease in interferon-beta and an increase in chemokines having an anti-tumoral effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our data define Tlr9 as an important receptor involved in fibrogenesis, but also in the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma during chronic liver diseases. |
