The protective role of Per2 against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

Period 2 (Per2) is a key component of the core clock oscillator and is involved in regulating a number of different biological processes and pathways. Here we report that Per2 plays a protective role in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity via the modulation of uncoupling protein-2 (Ucp2) gene expression in mice. Hepatic injury after acute CCl(4) injection was monitored in both wild-type and Per2-null mice. At the 12-hour time point after CCl(4) treatment, many more vacuolations were observed in the liver tissues of Per2-null mice whereas fatty tissue degeneration primarily occurred in the liver tissues of wide-type mice. Serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were elevated in Per2-null mice compared with wide-type mice at 24 hours after CCl(4) treatment, which was in agreement with the observation of significantly larger areas of centrilobular necrosis in the livers of Per2-null mice. A deficit of the Per2 gene enhanced Ucp2 gene expression levels in the liver. As a consequence, intracellular levels of ATP markedly decreased in the liver, allowing increased production of toxic CCl(4) derivatives. The absence of Per2 expression caused a dramatic elevation of Clock expression and influenced Ucp2 through a mechanism that involved a Clock-controlled PPAR-alpha signal transduction pathway. Our studies suggest that the Per2 gene functions in hepatocyte protection from chemical toxicants via the regulation of hepatic Ucp2 gene expression levels.