Glycogen synthase kinase-3 facilitates con a-induced IFN-γ-- mediated immune hepatic injury

J Immunol. 2011 Oct 1;187(7):3867-77. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100770. Epub 2011 Aug 26.

Abstract

Immune hepatic injury induced by Con A results primarily from IFN-γ-mediated inflammation, followed by hepatic cell death. Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3, which acts proapoptotically and is proinflammatory, is also important for facilitating IFN-γ signaling. We hypothesized a pathogenic role for GSK-3 in Con A hepatic injury. Con A stimulation caused GSK-3 activation in the livers of C57BL/6 mice. Inhibiting GSK-3 reduced Con A hepatic injury, including hepatic necrosis and apoptosis, inflammation, infiltration of T cells and granulocytes, and deregulated expression of adhesion molecule CD54. Con A induced hepatic injury in an IFN-γ receptor 1-dependent manner. Con A/IFN-γ induced activation and expression of STAT1 in a GSK-3-dependent manner. GSK-3 facilitated IFN-γ-induced inducible NO synthase, but had limited effects on CD95 upregulation and CD95-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis in vitro. Notably, inhibiting GSK-3 decreased Con A-induced IFN-γ production in both wild-type and IFN-γ receptor 1-deficient C57BL/6 mice. In Con A-activated NKT cells, GSK-3 was also activated and was required for nuclear translocation of T-box transcription factor Tbx21, a transcription factor of IFN-γ, but it was not required for CD95 ligand expression or activation-induced cell death. These results demonstrate the dual and indispensable role of GSK-3 in Con A hepatic injury by facilitating IFN-γ-induced hepatopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Separation
  • Concanavalin A / toxicity*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / immunology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism*
  • Liver Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitogens / toxicity*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Mitogens
  • Concanavalin A
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3