Ge_2020_Int.Immunopharmacol_85_106604

Concanavalin A (Con A) activates innate immunity and causes liver damage mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in mice. The Pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2) is induced by interleukin (IL)-4 in vitro in CTLs and associated with CTL functions. We examined the role of PLRP2 in a mouse model of Con A-induced T cell-mediated hepatitis. PLRP2-knockout and wild-type (WT) mice were inoculated with 20 mg/kg Con A. Mice lacking PLRP2 reduced Con A-induced hepatitis, which was manifested by a decrease in serum aminotransferase and histopathological assessment. The expression and secretion of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-6, and IL-1beta were suppressed in Con A-treated PLRP2-knockout mice. In PLRP2 knockout mice, Con A-induced liver chemokines and adhesion molecules (such as MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, ICAM-1 and MCP-1) were also down regulated. In the WT liver treated with Con A, the number of T cells (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) and macrophages (CD11b(+) F4/80(+)) increased significantly, while the lack of PLRP2 reduced the number of T cells in the liver, but had no effect on macrophages. The shift of the metabolic profiles was impaired in Con A-treated PLRP2-knockout mice compared to WT mice. In conclusion, these results indicate that PLRP2 deficiency reduces T-cell mediated Con A-induced hepatitis, and suggest PLRP2 is a potential target of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs to treat immune-mediated hepatitis.