Coordinated activation of TGF-β and BMP pathways promotes autophagy and limits liver injury after acetaminophen intoxication

Sci Signal. 2022 Jun 28;15(740):eabn4395. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abn4395. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Abstract

Ligands of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, including TGF-βs, activins, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have been implicated in hepatic development, homeostasis, and pathophysiology. We explored the mechanisms by which hepatocytes decode and integrate injury-induced signaling from TGF-βs and activins (TGF-β/Activin) and BMPs. We mapped the spatiotemporal patterns of pathway activation during liver injury induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in dual reporter mice carrying a fluorescent reporter of TGF-β/Activin signaling and a fluorescent reporter of BMP signaling. APAP intoxication induced the expression of both reporters in a zone of cells near areas of tissue damage, which showed an increase in autophagy and demarcated the borders between healthy and injured tissues. Inhibition of TGF-β superfamily signaling by overexpressing the inhibitor Smad7 exacerbated acute liver histopathology but eventually accelerated tissue recovery. Transcriptomic analysis identified autophagy as a process stimulated by TGF-β1 and BMP4 in hepatocytes, with Trp53inp2, which encodes a rate-limiting factor for autophagy initiation, as the most highly induced autophagy-related gene. Collectively, these findings illustrate the functional interconnectivity of the TGF-β superfamily signaling system, implicate the coordinated activation of TGF-β/Activin and BMP pathways in balancing tissue reparatory and regenerative processes upon APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, and highlight opportunities and potential risks associated with targeting this signaling system for treating hepatic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen* / poisoning
  • Activins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / etiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / genetics
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta* / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta* / metabolism

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Activins
  • Acetaminophen