iScience (Apr 2023)

Hepatic ZBTB22-mediated detoxification ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury by inhibiting pregnane X receptor signaling

  • Yingjian Chen,
  • Tianqi Cui,
  • Shaorong Xiao,
  • Tianyao Li,
  • Yadi Zhong,
  • Kaijia Tang,
  • Jingyi Guo,
  • Shangyi Huang,
  • Jiabing Chen,
  • Jiayu Li,
  • Qi Wang,
  • Jiawen Huang,
  • Huafeng Pan,
  • Yong Gao

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 4
p. 106318

Abstract

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Summary: Overdose acetaminophen (APAP) can cause acute liver injury (ALI), but the underlying mechanism remains undetermined. This study explored the role of hepatic Zinc Finger And BTB Domain Containing 22 (ZBTB22) in defense against APAP-mediated hepatotoxicity. The results showed that hepatic ZBTB22 expression was significantly reduced in patients with ALI and mice. In mouse primary hepatocytes (MPHs), ZBTB22 deletion aggravated APAP overdose-induced ALI, whereas ZBTB22 overexpression attenuated that pathological progression. The results were further verified in ZBTB22 over-express or knockout mice models. In parallel, hepatocyte-specific ZBTB22 knockout also enhanced ALI. Furthermore, ZBTB22 decreased pregnane X receptor (PXR) expression, and the PXR activator pregnane-16α-carbonitrile suppressed the protective effect of ZBTB22 in APAP-induced ZBTB22-overexpressing mice. Collectively, our findings highlight the protective effect of ZBTB22 against APAP-induced ALI and unravel PXR signaling as the potential mechanism. Strategies to increase hepatic ZBTB22 expression represent a promising therapeutic approach for APAP overdose-induced ALI.

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