Liver X Receptor; Controls Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation via Hedgehog Signaling
Liver X receptors (LXR) a and b; serve important roles in cholesterol homeostasis, anti-inflammatory processes and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the development of therapies for liver fibrosis based on LXR agonists have been hampered due to side-effects such as liver steatosis. In this study, we demonstrated that HSCs expressed high levels of LXRb;, but not LXRa;, and that overexpression of LXRb; suppressed fibrosis and HSC activation in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced fibrosis mouse model, without resulting in liver steatosis. Furthermore, Hedgehog (Hh)-regulated proteins, markedly increased in the CCl4-affected liver and mainly expressed in activated HSCs, were repressed under conditions of LXRb; overexpression. In addition, LXRb; knockout led to activation of Hh signaling and triggering of HSC activation, while overexpression of LXRb; led to the inhibition of the Hh pathway and suppression of HSC activation. These results suggest that LXRb; suppresses the activation mechanism of HSCs by inhibiting Hh signaling. In conclusion, LXRb, by restoring the differentiation of HSCs, may be a promising therapeutic target for liver fibrosis without the adverse side-effects of LXRa; activation.