LIM-only protein FHL2 activates NF-κB signaling in the control of liver regeneration and hepatocarcinogenesis

Mol Cell Biol. 2013 Aug;33(16):3299-308. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00105-13. Epub 2013 Jun 17.

Abstract

Four-and-a-half LIM-only protein 2 (FHL2) is an important mediator in many signaling pathways. In this study, we analyzed the functions of FHL2 in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling in the liver. We show that FHL2 enhanced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) activity in transcriptional activation of NF-κB targets by stabilizing the protein. TRAF6 is a binding partner of FHL2 and an important component of the Toll-like receptor-NF-κB pathway. Knockdown of FHL2 in 293-hTLR4/MD2-CD14 cells impaired lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-κB activity, which regulates expression of inflammatory cytokines. Indeed, FHL2(-/-) macrophages showed significantly reduced production of TNF and interleukin 6 (IL-6) following LPS stimulation. TNF and IL-6 are the key cytokines that prime liver regeneration after hepatic injury. Following partial hepatectomy, FHL2(-/-) mice exhibited diminished induction of TNF and IL-6 and delayed hepatocyte regeneration. In the liver, NF-κB signaling orchestrates inflammatory cross talk between hepatocytes and hepatic immune cells that promote chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. We found that deficiency of FHL2 reduced susceptibility to diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, correlating with the activator function of FHL2 in NF-κB signaling. Our findings demonstrate FHL2 as a positive regulator of NF-κB activity in liver regeneration and carcinogenesis and highlight the importance of FHL2 in both hepatocytes and hepatic immune cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Diethylnitrosamine / adverse effects*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Humans
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / immunology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver / physiology*
  • Liver / ultrastructure
  • Liver Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Regeneration*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / immunology*
  • NF-kappa B / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Fhl2 protein, mouse
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Muscle Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Transcription Factors
  • Diethylnitrosamine