PRDX6 inhibits hepatic stellate cells activation and fibrosis via promoting MANF secretion

Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic inflammatory process with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), a multifunctional protein, was reported to protect against liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion and high-fat diet. However, the effect of PRDX6 on hepatic fibrosis remains unclear. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 4-8 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Here, we found that PRDX6 was mainly expressed in hepatocytes and significantly upregulated in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. To clarify the impact of PRDX6 in hepatic fibrosis, we constructed a PRDX6 knockout (PRDX6^-/-) rat model by using CRISPR/Cas9 method. We found that PRDX6 deficiency accelerated CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. Furthermore, we found that PRDX6 knockout promoted α-SMA expression in normal and fibrotic conditions, especially in hepatic fibrosis. PRDX6 knockout significantly upregulated Col1α1 and Col3α1 in fibrotic tissues. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we identified mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), a suppressor for hepatic fibrosis and NF-κB pathway, as an interacting protein of PRDX6. PRDX6 promoted MANF secretion by binding to the C-terminus of MANF, which did not depend on its peroxidase and PLA₂ activities. Similarly, MANF increased PRDX6 protein level and promoted its secretion. Additionally, PRDX6 knockout increased p65 level either in cytoplasm or nuclei in HSCs under fibrotic condition. In conclusion, PRDX6 is an effective inhibitor for hepatic fibrosis through a non-enzymic dependent interacting with MANF, which will offer a potential target for hepatic fibrosis therapy.