Dihydroartemisinin modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and mitigated liver inflammation by inhibiting the activation of 5-LOX and COX-2
Yu Xue,
Junlan Lu,
Yiwei Liu,
Yuting Gao,
Yi Gong,
Yanguang Yang,
Yajun Xiong,
Xinli Shi
Affiliations
Yu Xue
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Junlan Lu
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Yiwei Liu
Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Yuting Gao
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Yi Gong
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Yanguang Yang
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China
Yajun Xiong
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China
Xinli Shi
Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China; Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050200, China; Corresponding author. Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030000, China.
Background: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of Artemisia annua, has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Besides, Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) plays a crucial role in maintaining liver homeostasis. Methods: This study used Yap1Flox/Flox, Albumin-Cre mice with hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout (referred to as Yap1LKO) and their control mice (Yap1Flox/Flox, referred to as Yap1Flox). The effect of Yap1 on lipid metabolism homeostasis was investigated through non-targeted metabolomic analysis of mouse liver. Subsequently, DHA was administered to Yap1LKO mice to assess its potential as a treatment. Liver pathology was evaluated via H&E staining, and the levels of AST, ALT, and TG were quantified using biochemical assays. The contents of arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), and leukotrienes (LT) in the liver were measured using ELISA, while the protein expressions of PLIN2, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were analyzed through IHC staining. Results: Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout activated the AA metabolic pathway, resulting in increased elevated levels of AA, PGE1, and LT levels, along with inflammatory cytokine infiltration. DHA mitigated the elevation of metabolites such as PGE1 and LT caused by the AA metabolic pathway activation by down-regulating the levels of COX-2 and 5-LOX in the liver of Yap1LKO mice. Moreover, it alleviated the accumulation of lipid vacuoles and reduced triglyceride (TG) and perilipin-2 (PLIN2) levels in the liver of Yap1LKO mice. Conclusions: Excessively low YAP1 expression induces liver inflammation and disturbances in lipid metabolism, whereas DHA modulated AA metabolism and mitigated liver inflammation by inhibiting the activation of 5-LOX and COX-2.
