Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 as mediator of inflammation in acute liver injury

Abstract

Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 is one of the CXC chemokines and is also known as chemokine CXC ligand (CXCL2). MIP-2 affects neutrophil recruitment and activation through the p38 mitogen-activated-protein-kinase-dependent signaling pathway, by binding to its specific receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2. MIP-2 is produced by a variety of cell types, such as macrophages, monocytes, epithelial cells, and hepatocytes, in response to infection or injury. In liver injury, activated Kupffer cells are known as the major source of MIP-2. MIP-2-recruited and activated neutrophils can accelerate liver inflammation by releasing various inflammatory mediators. Here, we give a brief introduction to the basic molecular and cellular sources of MIP-2, and focus on its physiological and pathological functions in acute liver injury induced by concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharides, irradiation, ischemia/reperfusion, alcohol, and hypoxia, and hepatectomy-induced liver regeneration and tumor colorectal metastasis. Further understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of MIP-2 secretion and activation may be helpful to develop MIP-2-targeted therapeutic strategies to prevent liver inflammation.

Core tip: Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 is produced by a variety of cell types in response to infection or injury, and affects neutrophil recruitment and activation by binding to chemokine CXC receptor (CXCR)1 and CXCR2. MIP-2 plays a complex dual role in the development of liver diseases by mediating liver inflammation at a high concentration and promoting liver regeneration at a low concentration. Here, we review its physiological and pathological functions in various types of liver damage. Further understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of MIP-2 may be helpful to develop MIP-2-targeted therapeutic strategies.

INTRODUCTION

The chemokine family with its ability to mediate leukocyte chemotaxis can be classified into four subgroups according to the polypeptide chain cysteine location: C, CC, CXC, and CX3C[1,2]. To date, about 50 chemokines that exhibit various physiological and pathological properties have been discovered, and most of them belong to the CC and CXC families[3]. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, also known as CXC ligand (CXCL)2, is one of the CXC chemokines. It assists in the recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to sites of injury or infection and thereby modulates immune and inflammatory responses.

MIP-2 is released by a variety of cells in response to infection or injury, and was originally detected in macrophages as a part of their response to inflammatory stimuli. Kupffer cells contribute as potent effectors of inflammation in acute liver injury[4]. In contrast to Kupffer-cell-sufficient mice, Kupffer-cell-ablated mice are resistant to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mortality and acute liver injury[5]. Accumulation of neutrophils, which may drive inflammation in liver injury by releasing cytokines, in the liver of Kupffer-cell-ablated mice is significantly reduced. Since MIP-2 and its related molecules regulate neutrophil infiltration and microabscess formation, further understanding of MIP-2 function and its signaling network may provide new ideas for control of liver inflammation. The present review summarizes the basic molecular and cellular sources of MIP-2, and focuses on MIP-2 production and function in acute liver injury.

BASIC MOLECULAR AND RECEPTORS OF MIP-2

The murine (mu) MIP-2 genomic clone has four exons and three introns, which is the typical structure of platelet factor (PF)4 chemokine sub-family[6-8]. Murine keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC)[9] and rat gene product/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant[10] are involved in the sub-family[6]. There are many human homologs of rodent MIP-2, including human platelet basic protein[11], human growth-related oncogenes/melanoma growth stimulating activity, MIP-2α, and MIP-2β[6,12]. Although MIP-2 is a distinct member of the PF4 family, its sequence is closely related to that of the growth-related oncogene KC cytokines[12]. MIP-2γ is a novel CXC chemokine from a human dendritic cell cDNA library, and has no known ELR motif and shares greatest homology with MIP-2α/β. Murine MIP-2γ is highly homologous to human MIP-2γ[13].

MIP-2 family members are potent chemotactic factors for neutrophils. MIP-2α/β affect neutrophil recruitment and activation through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent signaling pathway, by binding to two specific receptors belonging to the G-protein-coupled receptor family, CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)1 and CXCR2[14]. MIP-2γ can mediate neutrophil recruitment by binding to a novel CXC chemokine receptor, other than CXCR1 or CXCR2[13].

MIP-2 SECRETING CELLS

MIP-2 is produced by a variety of cell types, such as macrophages, monocytes, epithelial cells, and hepatocytes, in response to infection or injury[14]. In liver injury, activated Kupffer cells are the major source of MIP-2. Lentsch et al[15] and Mosher et al[16] reported that the level of plasma MIP-2 in GdCl₃-pretreated mice, in which Kupffer cell activity was inhibited, was significantly reduced in a model of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. The extent of liver injury and neutrophil infiltration was also significantly decreased in GdCl₃-treated mice, which might have been associated with the decreased levels of MIP-2. Kupffer cell blockade by GdCl₃ treatment significantly reduced liver MIP-2 gene expression and liver inflammation after the administration of high doses of adenovirus vectors, which can induce innate immune responses in mice[17].

The production of MIP-2 is regulated by multiple factors. Synthesis of chemokines is regulated at the transcriptional level by signaling through Toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR3, and TLR4 in response to diverse pathogens[18]. MIP-2 production can be effectively inhibited in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, through downregulating mRNA accumulation and protein expression of membrane TLR4/mCD14. This indicates that upstream inhibition of the TLR4/CD14-mediated inflammation pathway may be an effective therapeutic approach for attenuating damaging immune activation[19]. So et al[20] found that Scutellariae Radix and Liriopis Tuber (SL) significantly inhibited the release of MIP-2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Another study showed that histone deacetylase modulated MIP-2 secretion. The secretion of MIP-2 was enhanced in LPS-stimulated and interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated rat small intestinal epithelial cells by butyrate, a bacterial metabolite, through modulating histone acetylase. Furthermore, acetylation of histones by a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylase enhanced MIP-2 expression in IL-1β-stimulated cells[21].

MIP-2 MEDIATES INFLAMMATION BY NEUTROPHIL RECRUITMENT

Neutrophils are the most abundant circulating white blood cell type and a major innate immune cell subset in humans. Inappropriate activation and recruitment of neutrophils to the microvasculature contributes to the pathological manifestations of many types of inflammation[22]. In the liver, the recruitment of neutrophils to the sites of injury or infection is MIP-2 dependent.

MIP-2 as potent neutrophil chemotactic factor

MIP-2 is a potent chemotactic and activation factor of neutrophils and plays a critical role in neutrophil recruitment during acute inflammation in rat disease models[23]. It was found that corneal MIP-2 levels were correlated with persistence of PMNs in the cornea of susceptible (cornea perforates) mice after Pseudomonas aeruginosa challenge. By treating systemically with recombinant MIP-2, the number of corneal PMNs was significantly increased, and resulted in exacerbated corneal disease in resistant (cornea heals) mice[24]. In the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model for sepsis, MIP-2 mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated after CLP in mice, while the neutralization of MIP-2 by anti-MIP-2 antibody reduced peritoneal PMN migration. Mercer-Jones et al[25] also found that mast cells were necessary for PMN migration into the peritoneum, and significantly less migration of PMNs into the peritoneal cavity in the mast-cell-deficient mice after MIP-2 injection. MIP-2 was also involved in neutrophil recruitment in the central nervous system during experimental bacterial meningitis. The kinetics of MIP-2 mRNA expression are paralleled by the recruitment of inflammatory cells and disease severity. Blocking of MIP-2 bioactivity by anti-MIP-2 antibodies results in significantly decreased neutrophil influx[26,27]. When injected in vivo as recombinant chemokines, KC and MIP-2 in models of inflammation, can cause neutrophil influx[28,29]. The results of other studies have highlighted MIP-2 as the major chemoattractant[29]. In liver injury, neutralizing KC and MIP-2 result in less neutrophil extravasation and reduce neutrophil-induced injury in a mouse model of cholestatic liver damage[30]. Further studies have shown that neutrophil extravasation into the parenchyma requires a chemotactic signal such as MIP-2 and KC from macrophages, hepatocytes, or already-extravasated neutrophils. Tissue damage and cell necrosis often result in the release of damage-associated molecular patterns, which lead to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 upregulation on sinusoidal endothelial cells. Neutrophils are then recruited to endothelial cells or hepatocytes via a β2 integrin macrophage antigen (Mac)-1-dependent adhesion mechanism[24,31-35].

Neutrophils drive inflammation in liver injury by releasing inflammatory mediators

The recruitment of neutrophils to target cells triggers full activation of the neutrophils with a long-lasting adherence dependent oxidative stress and degranulation. The activated neutrophils release various inflammatory mediators, including proteolytic enzymes, lipocalin 2, arachidonic acid metabolites, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)[36-40].

Several mechanisms of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury have been proposed. One is the production of reactive oxygen intermediates, which may directly induce hepatic endothelial damage or indirectly induce tissue injury by triggering other inflammatory mediators[41,42]. Neutrophil-derived proteases facilitate extravasation and are involved in the regulation of inflammatory mediator production. The adhesion via Mac-1 triggers superoxide formation by NADPH oxidase and degranulation with the release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteases[43]. Optimal oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity depends on MPO as the critical enzyme for the generation of hypochlorous acid and other toxic oxygen products. Although the proteases appear to be mainly involved in the promotion of chemokines, hydrogen peroxide, and MPO-derived hypochlorite, they also induce intracellular oxidative stress in hepatocytes and eventually cause oncotic necrosis[44,45].

Liver dysfunction and cell injury induced by neutrophils have been demonstrated in several experimental models including hepatic IR injury[46], endotoxic shock[47], sepsis[48], alcoholic hepatitis[49], obstructive cholestasis[50], LPS injury[51], remote organ trauma[52], and concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury[53]. Neutrophil-mediated injury was also demonstrated in two-hit models of IR injury or drug hepatotoxicity in combination with endotoxemia[54].

Recruitment of neutrophils to the sites of liver injury is MIP-2 dependent, and the activated neutrophils can accelerate liver inflammation by releasing various inflammatory mediators.

MIP-2 PRODUCTION IN MURINE MODELS OF ACUTE LIVER INJURY

MIP-2 plays an important role in the progression of inflammation. Some clinical studies have shown the correlation between MIP-2 and organ inflammation, such as in pneumonia[55]. However, there are few clinical reports about the effect of MIP-2 in acute liver injury. At present, most of the studies on the mechanism of MIP-2 secretion and regulation in acute liver injury have been in animal models.

ConA-induced acute liver injury

ConA-induced hepatitis is a well-characterized form of autoimmune hepatic damage in murine models, with a pathophysiology similar to that of human viral and autoimmune hepatitis[56]. T cells, particularly CD4⁺ cells, play an essential role in the development of ConA-induced hepatitis. Activated T lymphocyte infiltration induces hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis and provokes production and secretion of a series of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6 and ROS[57,58]. Besides that, MIP-2 is another major mediator of ConA-mediated inflammation[53]. The infiltration of F4/80⁺ macrophages and the mRNA level of MIP-2 were dramatically increased in the liver of ConA-treated mice[53,54]. The plasma MIP-2 level was elevated and reached a peak value at 2 h after ConA injection[59]. Pretreatment with anti-MIP-2 antibody suppressed the elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and reduce hepatic necrosis in a dose-dependent manner[20,32,60]. Hepatic infiltration of neutrophils was also attenuated by MIP-2 blockade[60,61]. Another study showed that antithrombin III, an important physiological inhibitor of the coagulation cascade, prevents ConA-induced liver injury through inhibition of MIP-2 release[59]. Our previous study showed that emodin pretreatment protects against ConA-induced liver injury in mice, and this effect may occur partially through inhibition of macrophages infiltration and activation of the p38 MAPK/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway in macrophages[53].

LPS-induced acute liver injury

LPS is one of the most potent innate immune-activating stimuli. LPS binds to TLR4 to induce macrophage activation, which results in the secretion of the CXC chemokines and proinflammatory mediators. Inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, T lymphocytes, multiple leukocyte subtypes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells can be attracted into the injured tissue sections through the portal vessels and play a pivotal role in initiating an inflammatory response[23,62-64]. Some studies have shown that MIP-2 is one of the key mediators in LPS-induced liver injury[65,66]. MIP-2 expression was induced in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes following treatment with LPS[67]. The hepatic expression of chemokine mRNAs was elevated after LPS exposure, with the maximal expression of MIP-2 mRNA at 1 h after LPS treatment[66,68]. LPS in vivo also induced high levels of chemokine MIP-2 mRNA in mouse liver and lung, with a concomitant increase in circulating MIP-2 protein[69]. MIP-2 production was inhibited in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 though downregulation of mRNA accumulation and protein expression of TLR4[19], indicating that TLR4 is the important receptor in LPS-induced liver injury. Further studies have shown that the LPS-induced MIP-2 production is dependent on NF-κB activation via inhibition of the IKK pathway[70-72]. Intraperitoneal injection of anti-MIP-2 antibody significantly decreases the influx of neutrophils in the liver of rats after LPS injection[73]. Interference with MIP-2 function protects against septic liver damage, which may constitute a potential therapeutic strategy to control pathological inflammation in endotoxemia[74].

Irradiation-induced acute liver injury

Liver is considered to be a radiosensitive organ. Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays to treat local or regional malignancies. Free radicals such as ROS containing unpaired electrons are generated after irradiation in the irradiated tissue, and cells that are chemically active are prone to oxidative stress. Liver damage is a serious clinical complication of radiation therapy[64,75]. Single dose γ-irradiation (25 Gy) focused on the liver recruits neutrophils attached to the portal vessels and to portal (myo) fibroblasts in the liver, and several chemokines may be necessary in their recruitment, adhesion, and transmigration. Rapid and early induction of expression of several chemokines and chemokine receptor CXCR2 genes in irradiated liver tissue and portal area has been observed. MIP-2 has been detected in the portal vessel walls, and CXCR2 in the portal area but not in the parenchyma[64,76]. The induction of the mediators in cells of portal area (mainly myofibroblasts) may happen through ROS[39].

IR-induced acute liver injury

IR-induced hepatic injury is an important clinical problem after liver resection or transplantation. Initial IR-induced hepatic injury is reported to be mediated by activated Kupffer cells without dependence on neutrophils[77,78]. The later phase of IR injury is dependent upon hepatic neutrophil sequestration, and the subsequent increased adherence between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Depletion of neutrophils and Kupffer cells before ischemia greatly reduces reperfusion injury[79,80]. MIP-2 is also known as an important mediator in IR-induced liver injury by regulating hepatic neutrophil accumulation[41,42,73,81,82]. Expression of MIP-2 mRNA was induced within 3 h after reperfusion, before neutrophil accumulation in the liver, and was increased to a greater extent in the ischemic liver lobe at 9 h post-reperfusion[15]. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 affects inflammatory reactions partly through inhibitory effects on NF-κB. Yoshidome et al[83] found that IL-10 protects against hepatic IR injury by suppressing NF-κB activation as well as hepatic mRNA expression and the serum level of MIP-2. A recent study showed that Pin1, as a critical regulator for NF-κB/DNA binding and activation, might be an important protective factor for hepatocytes against IR injury by reducing serum MIP-2 level after reperfusion[84].

Alcohol-induced acute liver injury

Alcohol is a well-known risk factor related to liver injury. Excessive alcohol exposure leads to alcohol liver disease; a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Alcohol abuse also causes hepatic steatosis. Alcohol combination with a high-fructose diet could aggravate alcoholic fatty liver disease[85]. The major pathogenetic factors are multifactorial and complex, involving increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis and triglyceride synthesis, impaired mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, decreased very low-density lipoprotein secretion, and increased levels of chemokine secretion and adhesion molecule expression[86-88].

MIP-2 also plays a potent role in alcohol-induced liver injury. In alcohol-fed male Sprague-Dawley rats, alcohol intoxication induced hepatic injury through endotoxin influx in the circulation, and stimulated the Kupffer cells to produce MIP2 and upregulated expression of adhesion molecules on hepatic cells, which resulted in altered hepatic function and hepatotoxicity by hepatic neutrophils recruitment[89]. Nanji et al[90] showed that alcohol-induced liver injury was more severe in female than in male rats. Female rats had higher levels of endotoxin, lipid peroxidation, non-heme iron, and chemokines MCP-1 and MIP-2 after alcohol intake. The upregulation of MIP-2 in alcohol-induced liver injury has also been shown to be NF-κB dependent[90,91]. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by treatment with a phenolic antioxidant, curcumin, prevented the pathological and biochemical changes induced by alcohol, and enhanced MIP-2 expression[91,92].

Hypoxia-induced liver injury

In cellular responses to hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factors as well as proinflammatory cytokine/chemokines are released. Oxygen consumption by hepatocytes and infiltrating inflammatory leukocytes is dramatically increased. Mice exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) exhibited lobular inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. CIH caused significant increases in lipid peroxidation in serum and liver, and increased hepatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and CXC chemokine MIP-2[93]. An in vitro study showed that MIP-2 expression was prominently induced by hypoxia both at the mRNA and protein level in RAW264.7 cells, while it was abolished by a mutation targeted to an NF-κB binding site in the MIP-2 promoter, suggesting that hypoxia-induced MIP-2 expression occurs exclusively via the NF-κB pathway. Further study of the mechanism by using inhibitors of signaling kinases have shown that the induction of MIP-2 is correlated with p42/p44 and PI3 kinase but not p38 kinase signaling in hypoxia[94].

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF MIP-2

Apart from its major role in mediating inflammation, MIP-2 also plays important roles in liver regeneration and engraftment of colorectal metastasis at extrahepatic sites. Administration of exogenous MIP-2 after 70% hepatectomy dramatically increases hepatocyte proliferation. Inhibition of the MIP-2 receptor, CXCR2, decreases baseline hepatocyte proliferation in the setting of partial hepatectomy. These data suggest that MIP-2 is important for hepatocyte proliferation and pharmacological doses of MIP-2 after hepatic injury may accelerate hepatic regeneration[95]. Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy or acetaminophen ingestion often produces profound hepatocellular injury. MIP-2 has a protective role in both adenovirus- and acetaminophen-mediated hepatotoxicity, suggesting that MIP-2 promotes hepatic regeneration following acute hepatic injury[96,97]. CCR2 is the primary receptor for chemokine MCP-1, which mainly attracts macrophages to secrete MIP-2. It was shown that CCR2-deficient mice had increased hepatic toxicity after acetaminophen exposure[98]. Further studies have shown that the properties in liver regeneration of ELR-CXC chemokines, such as MIP-2, in acetaminophen challenge are attributed mainly to the ELR motif[77,99,100].

Other studies have demonstrated the role of MIP-2 in the hepatectomy-induced acceleration of tumor growth[101,102]. Major liver resection often initiates rapid regeneration of the remnant liver to restore functional hepatic capacity. Besides parenchymal regeneration, hepatectomy also accelerates tumor growth in the remaining liver and remote organ sites[6]. MIP-2 contributes to liver-resection-induced acceleration of colorectal metastasis at extrahepatic sites. Blockade of MIP-2 decreases the hepatectomy-induced increase of CXCR2 expression on tumor cells, thus attenuating the augmentation of angiogenesis and metastatic tumor growth after hepatectomy[103]. A further study showed that liver-resection-associated MIP-2 upregulation stimulates extrahepatic tumor cell engraftment but not the growth of established metastases[101].

MIP-2 SIGNALING PATHWAYS

A variety of cytokines and signal pathways regulate the production level of MIP-2 in macrophages (Figure 1). MIP-2 expression is partially inhibited by intradermal injection of a neutralizing antibody against IL-1, which has modest stimulus activity for MIP-2[103]. Fas ligation induces MIP-2 expression in the liver through activation of caspase-3 and nuclear translocation of activator protein-1[104]. The increased production of ROS by ATP-stimulated macrophages activates the signaling pathways that promote MIP-2 production, which, in turn, induces neutrophil migration[105]. Cotreatment with IL-17A synergistically enhances the upregulation of MIP-2 in taurocholic-acid-treated primary mouse hepatocytes, suggesting that IL-17A promotes hepatic inflammation by enhancing bile-acid-induced production of MIP-2[106]. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with an inhibitor of p38 attenuated the synergistic effects of C5a and MIP-2 on cells primed with muramyl dipeptide[107]. Another study has shown that inhibiting ELR-CXC chemokines can block ELR⁺ CXC chemokines neutrophil recruitment and activation in vitro. In IR-induced hepatic injury, the hepatic levels of ELR⁺ chemokines, including MIP-2, were decreased in response to IFN-γ, which is known to upregulate ELR-CXC chemokines[108]. IL-10 also shown protects against hepatic IR injury by suppressing NF-κB activation and subsequent expression of MIP-2[83,109].

Figure 1.

Molecular mechanisms involved in macrophage inflammatory protein-2 secretion of macrophages. The Figure illustrates several reciprocal molecular pathways for the secretion of MIP-2. These include: LPS-mediated induction of MIP-2, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α through the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway; IL-6-mediated induction of MIP-2 through the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway; TNF-α-mediated induction of MIP-2 through the NF-κB/MAPK, caspase-3 signaling pathway; FasL-mediated induction of MIP-2 through the caspase-3 signaling pathway; Ca²⁺- and ATP-mediated induction of MIP-2 through the PI3K signaling pathway; IL-1β-mediated induction of MIP-2 through the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway; IFN-γ and IL-10-mediated inhibition of MIP-2, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway; SOCS3-mediated inhibition of JAK/STAT3. MIP-2: Macrophage inflammatory protein-2; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; IL: Interleukin; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.

CONCLUSION

MIP-2 plays a dual role in mediating liver inflammation and promoting liver regeneration. Liver regeneration depends on the physiological concentration of MIP-2, however, excessive elevation of MIP-2 induced by acute liver injury promotes liver inflammation by neutrophil recruitment. An imbalance of MIP-2 secretion resulting in a disorder between the pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators may be vital in determining the outcome of liver injury. Since the signaling mechanisms of MIP-2 secretion remain to be elucidated, further understanding of the regulation mechanism of MIP-2 secretion is helpful to develop MIP-2-targeted therapeutic strategies for preventing liver inflammation.