Cited by 200Cytokine Signaling Pathways and InteractionsLiver physiology and pathologyDrug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 54 of the 54 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 15 of the 24 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

The IL-6–gp130–STAT3 pathway in hepatocytes triggers liver protection in T cell–mediated liver injury

Open access
Klein, Christian, Wüstefeld, Torsten, Assmus, Ulrike, Roskams, Tania, Rose-John, Stefan, Müller, Michael, Manns, Michael P., Ernst, Mattias, Trautwein, Christian·2005·Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

Increasing evidence demonstrates that IL-6 has a protective role during liver injury. IL-6 activates intracellular pathways via the gp130 receptor. In order to identify IL-6-gp130 pathways involved in mediating liver protection, we analyzed hepatocyte-specific gp130 knockout mice in a concanavalin A-induced (Con A-induced) model of immune-mediated hepatitis. We demonstrated that IL-6-gp130-dependent pathways in hepatocytes alone are sufficient for triggering protection in Con A-induced hepatitis. gp130-STAT3 signaling in hepatocytes mediates the IL-6-triggered protective effect. This was demonstrated by analysis of IL-6-induced protection in mice selectively deficient for gp130-dependent STAT1/3 or gp130-SHP2-RAS signaling in hepatocytes. To identify IL-6-gp130-STAT1/3 dependently expressed liver-protective factors, we performed gene array analysis of hepatic gene expression in hepatocyte-specific gp130(-/-) mice as well as in gp130-STAT1/3- and gp130-SHP2-RAS-MAPK-deficient mice. The mouse IL-8 ortholog KC (also known as Gro-alpha) and serum amyloid A2 (SAA2) was identified as differentially IL-6-gp130-STAT3-regulated genes. Hepatic expression of KC and SAA2 mediate the liver-protective potential of IL-6, since treatment with recombinant KC or serum SAA2 effectively reduced liver injury during Con A-induced hepatitis. In summary, this study defines IL-6-gp130-STAT3-dependent gene expression in hepatocytes that mediates IL-6-triggered protection in immune-mediated Con A-induced hepatitis. Additionally, we identified the IL-6-gp130-STAT3-dependent proteins KC and SAA2 as new candidates for therapeutic targets in liver diseases.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a mouse Con A model of T cell–mediated hepatitis, IL-6–gp130–STAT3 signaling specifically in hepatocytes is necessary and sufficient for IL-6-triggered liver protection. The authors identify KC and SAA2 as IL-6–gp130–STAT3–dependent hepatocyte proteins that can themselves reduce Con A–induced liver injury.

Key findings

  • Hepatocyte gp130 is required for IL-6 protection: IL-6 pretreatment completely blocked AST increases in wild-type mice, but failed to protect hepatocyte-specific gp130-null mice; all `alfpCre gp130 LoxP/LoxP` mice died within the first 20 hours after Con A, whereas NaCl- and IL-6-treated wild-type animals survived.
  • The protective signal is gp130-STAT3, not gp130-SHP2-RAS-MAPK: IL-6 pretreatment completely prevented liver damage in `alfpCre gp130 Y757F/LoxP` mice, while all `alfpCre gp130 ΔSTAT/LoxP` mice died within 8 hours after Con A regardless of IL-6, versus 100% survival in the Y757F group.
  • Gene array analysis identified KC and SAA2 as differentially IL-6–gp130-STAT3–regulated genes. Recombinant SAA (0.8 mg/kg) significantly reduced AST increases, and recombinant KC (40 µg/kg) significantly reduced AST levels and led to 100% survival versus 70% in NaCl-treated animals.
  • IL-6 treatment significantly reduced PMN infiltration 4 hours after Con A injection, and IL-6 stimulation induced KC serum levels by approximately 100-fold.

Methods

  • Male BALB/c mice, 8–10 weeks old, were used. Hepatocyte-specific gp130 mutants were generated by crossing `alfpCre` mice with `gp130 LoxP`, `gp130 ΔSTAT/ΔSTAT`, or `gp130 Y757F/Y757F` mice. Con A hepatitis was induced with 32.5 mg/kg i.v.; IL-6 (200 µg/kg) was given i.p. 3 hours before Con A; recombinant SAA (0.8 mg/kg) or KC (40 µg/kg) was given i.v. 1 hour before Con A.
  • Liver injury was quantified by serum AST; cytokine levels by ELISA; STAT1/STAT3/ERK activation by Western blot and immunofluorescence; PMN infiltration by H&E counts.
  • Gene expression profiling used Affymetrix mouse genome GeneChips on pooled liver RNA from 3 mice per group treated with IL-6 or NaCl; primary hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion and stimulated with 200 ng/ml IL-6.

Limitations

  • The paper does not state a limitations section. Evident from the text: all experiments are in mice using the Con A model, so human relevance remains extrapolative.
  • Gene expression profiling used pooled RNA from 3 mice per group, limiting assessment of inter-individual variability.
  • Some supporting observations are reported as “data not shown” (e.g., hepatic mRNA expression and KC-dependent PMN influx), so they cannot be independently verified from the paper.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1172/jci23640

Cites

54 of 54 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

38 Own result · 11 Own interpretation · 7 Partly supported · 4 Supported · 4 No full text of the sources · 3 Own method · 3 No basis given · 1 Supported so far · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 45 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 14
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 15
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
26 of 26
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The overall extent of hepatic gp130 inactivation in alfpCre gp130 LoxP/LoxP mice reflects complete gp130 deletion in hepatocytes.

    “Since nonparenchymal cells show no gp130 deletion, the overall extent of hepatic gp130 inactivation is likely to reflect complete gp130 deletion in hepatocytes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    KC controls chemotaxis and activation of polymorph nuclear cells (PMNs) in areas of inflammation.

    “KC controls chemotaxis and activation of polymorph nuclear cells (PMNs) in areas of inflammation.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    SAA2 is a target of MMP.

    “SAA2 is a known target of MMP and MMP activity induced during T cell-mediated hepatitis.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    KC is an immediate early gene with low or no detectable expression in most tissues.

    “KC is an immediate early gene with low or no detectable expression in most tissues.”
4 of 4

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1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Gantner, 1995, Hepatology., 21, 190

Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Klein, C., Wüstefeld, T., Assmus, U., Roskams, T., Rose-John, S., Müller, M., Manns, M. P., Ernst, M., & Trautwein, C.
Affiliations
  • Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (DE)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
Venue
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Published
2005-03-03
Volume
115
Issue
4
Pages
860-869
ISSN
0021-9738 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2020798985
Cited by
200
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 12
FWCI
4.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
  • RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
  • UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 566, Project B8)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver physiology and pathology
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection
Keywords
interleukin-6, gp130, STAT3, hepatocytes, liver injury, immune-mediated hepatitis, concanavalin A-induced hepatitis, hepatoprotection, SAA2, STAT1, hepatocyte-specific knockout mice, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Serum Amyloid A Protein, Animals, Concanavalin A, DNA-Binding Proteins, Enzyme Activation, Hepatitis, Interferon-gamma, Liver, Male, Membrane Glycoproteins, Mice, Inbred BALB C, T-Lymphocytes, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Signal Transduction, Trans-Activators, Antigens, CD, Interleukin-6, Mice, Knockout, Gene Expression Profiling, Hepatocytes, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, STAT1 Transcription Factor, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Cytokine Receptor gp130, Mice

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