Nrf2 promotes the development of fibrosis and tumorigenesis in mice with defective hepatic autophagy.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Autophagy is an intracellular lysosomal degradation process that plays an important role in regulating normal physiological functions of the liver. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism(s) by which the loss of hepatic autophagy leads to liver inflammation, fibrosis and tumorigenesis.

Methods

Hepatocyte-specific Atg5 knockout mice were generated by crossing Atg5 Flox/Flox mice with albumin Cre mice. These mice were also crossed with Nrf2 knockout mice to generate Atg5 Flox/Flox, Albumin Cre(+)/Nrf2(-/-) double knockout mice. These mice were housed for various time points up to 15 months, and blood and liver tissues were harvested for biochemical and histological analysis.

Results

Hepatocyte-specific deletion of Atg5 resulte

SUBMITTER: Ni HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4143992 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature