Reich, M., Spomer, L., Klindt, C., Fuchs, K., Stindt, J., Deutschmann, K., Hohne, J., Liaskou, E., Hov, J.R., Karlsen, T.H., Beuers, U., Verheij, J., Ferreira-Gonzalez, S., Hirschfield, G., Forbes, S.J., Schramm, C., Esposito, I., Nierhoff, D., Fickert, P., Fuchs, C.D., Trauner, M., Garcia-Beccaria, M., Gabernet, G., Nahnsen, S., Mallm, J.P., Vogel, M., Schoonjans, K., Lautwein, T., Kohrer, K., Haussinger, D., Luedde, T., Heikenwalder, M., Keitel, V. (2021). J Hepatol 75, 634-646.
DOI:10.1016/j.jhep.2021.03.029
Background & Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the biliary tree. The bile acid receptor TGR5 (GPBAR1) is found on biliary epithelial cells (BECs), where it promotes secretion, proliferation and tight junction integrity. Thus, we speculated that changes in TGR5-expression in BECs may contribute to PSC pathogenesis. Methods: TGR5-expression and -localization were analyzed in PSC livers and liver tissue, isolated bile ducts and BECs from Abcb4-/-, Abcb4-/-/Tgr5Tg and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)- or 24-norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA)-fed Abcb4-/- mice. The effects of IL8/IL8 homologues on TGR5 mRNA and protein levels were studied. BEC gene expression was analyzed by single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) from distinct mouse models. Results: TGR5 mRNA expression and immunofluorescence staining intensity were reduced in BECs of PSC and Abcb4-/- livers, in Abcb4-/- extrahepatic bile ducts, but not in intrahepatic macrophages. No changes in TGR5 BEC fluorescence intensity were detected in liver tissue of other liver diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis. Incubation of BECs with IL8/IL8 homologues, but not with other cytokines, reduced TGR5 mRNA and protein levels. BECs from Abcb4-/- mice had lower levels of phosphorylated Erk and higher expression levels of Icam1, Vcam1 and Tgfβ2. Overexpression of Tgr5 abolished the activated inflammatory phenotype characteristic of Abcb4-/- BECs. NorUDCA-feeding restored TGR5-expression levels in BECs in Abcb4-/- livers. Conclusions: Reduced TGR5 levels in BECs from patients with PSC and Abcb4-/- mice promote development of a reactive BEC phenotype, aggravate biliary injury and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of sclerosing cholangitis. Restoration of biliary TGR5-expression levels represents a previously unknown mechanism of action of norUDCA.
