4-hydroxynonenal decreases interleukin-6 expression and protein production in primary rat Kupffer cells by inhibiting...

Kupffer cells have been documented to play an important role in the early events of liver injury and regeneration by releasing biologically active mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). 4-Hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a major end product of lipid peroxidation, has multiple cytotoxic effects and is implicated in chemical-induced liver injury. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of 4-HNE to modulate IL-6 production in isolated primary rat Kupffer cells. 4-HNE (0.1-10 microM) reduced both lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 protein production and mRNA levels. The role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in IL-6 induction was elucidated using Kupffer cells transduced in vitro with a recombinant adenovirus containing a IkappaBalpha super-repressor resistant to phosphorylation and degradation (Ad5IkappaB). Using this system, LPS-induced IL-6 protein production was inhibited by 65% in Ad5IkappaB-infected cells. The treatment of Kupffer cells for 1 h with 4-HNE followed by stimulation for 1 h with LPS (500 ng/ml) resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in NF-kappaB activation. Similarly, decreased NF-kappaB activity in these cells paralleled a reduction in IkappaBalpha mRNA levels. Furthermore, upon LPS stimulation, 4-HNE stabilized IkappaBalpha, which corresponded to a decrease in phosphorylated IkappaBalpha. At lower 4-HNE concentrations (0-5 microM), interactions between p65 and IkappaBalpha proteins were maintained as detected by immunoprecipitation-immunoblot analyses. In conclusion, these data suggest that 4-HNE inhibits IL-6 production in rat Kupffer cells by preventing activation of the NF-kappaB pathway and suppressing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. These results have functional implications in that 4-HNE may interfere with the ability of Kupffer cells to produce cytokines proposed to play an important role in liver regeneration.