Cooperative role of Lymphotoxin β Receptor and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor p55 in murine liver regeneration (PHx Control vs Enbrel)

The liver exhibits a unique capacity for regeneration in response to injury. Lymphotoxin β Receptor (LTβR), a core member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)/TNF Receptor (TNFR) superfamily is known to play an important role in this process. However, LTβR functions in the pathophysiological alterations and molecular mechanisms of liver regeneration are so far ill-characterized. Interestingly, LTβR / mice suffered from increased and prolonged liver tissue damage after 70 % hepatectomy (PHx), a finding accompanied by elevated alkaline phosphatase levels and deregulated bile acid (BA) homeostasis. Pronounced differences in the expression patterns of genes relevant for BA synthesis and recirculation were observed. Transcriptome analysis revealed a marked disparity in gene expression programs in LTβR / vs. WT liver tissue, where gene ontology (GO) terms related to transcription, gene expression and metabolic pathways were over-represented in the latter. In addition, murinoglobulin 2 (Mug2), a gene product to date not implicated in liver regeneration, was identified as one of the most differentially regulated genes after PHx in WT compared to LTβR / and TNFRp55-/- livers. LTβR and TNFRp55 share downstream signaling elements. TNFRp55 is known to also play an important role in liver regeneration after PHx. Therefore, LTβR / mice were treated with Etanercept to create mice functionally deficient in both signaling pathways. Strikingly, the combined blockade of TNFR and LTβR signaling leads to complete failure of liver regeneration resulting in death within 24 to 48 hours after PHx. LTβR is essential for efficient liver regeneration and cooperates with TNFRp55 in this process. Differences in survival kinetics strongly suggest distinct functions for these two cytokine receptors in liver regeneration. Failure of TNFR and LTβR signaling renders liver regeneration impossible. 24 hrs before surgery, LTRβ-/- animals were treated with Etanercept. 12 h after PHx, mice were sacrificed and liver tissue obtained and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Next, RNA was isolated from whole liver tissue after micing of liver tissues and lysis of cells in Trizol (Invitrogen). After purification, RNA was stored at -80°C before further use.