Immune Cells and Cytokine in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury: Comparison
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Please note this is a comparison between Version 2 by Peter Tang and Version 1 by Tao Yang.

Acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP), a commonly used antipyretic analgesic, is becoming increasingly toxic to the liver, resulting in a high rate of acute hepatic failure in Europe and the United States. Excessive APAP metabolism in the liver develops an APAP–protein adduct, which causes oxidative stress, MPTP opening, and hepatic necrosis. HMGB-1, HSP, nDNA, mtDNA, uric acid, and ATP are DMAPs released during hepatic necrosis. DMAPs attach to TLR4-expressing immune cells such KCs, macrophages, and NK cells, activating them and causing them to secrete cytokines. Immune cells and their secreted cytokines have been demonstrated to have a dual function in acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI), with a role in either proinflammation or pro-regeneration, resulting in contradicting findings and some research confusion. Neutrophils, KCs, MoMFs, NK/NKT cells, γδT cells, DCs, and inflammasomes have pivotal roles in AILI.

  • innate immune response
  • acetyl-para-aminophenol-induced liver injury
  • neutrophils
  • macrophages
  • cytokine

1. Introduction

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a common hepatology disease caused by the direct or indirect action of the drugs or their metabolites on the liver after exposure to a specific drug in clinical practice. It can present in various presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to hepatocellular or cholestatic jaundice, liver failure, or chronic hepatitis [1]. The most prevalent medicines that induce DILI in Western countries include antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), herbal and dietary supplements (HDS), cardiovascular drugs, central nervous system (CNS) agents, and anticancer drugs. A prospective study from the United States showed that the annual incidence was 2.7 cases of DILI per 100,000 adults in 2014, with antibiotics (45.4%), HDS (16.1%), and cardiovascular drugs (10%) [2]. A multicenter, retrospective study from China included 25,927 patients with DILI in 308 medical centers. It showed that the annual incidence of DILI in the general population in mainland China was 23.8 per 100,000 persons, which is higher than the data reported in Western countries [3]. Traditional Chinese medicines or HDS (26.81%), antituberculosis medications (21.99%), and antineoplastic drugs or immunomodulators (8.34%) were the leading causes of DILI in China [3].
DILI is classified into two categories: intrinsic (direct) DILI is dose-and time-dependent and happens in a substantial proportion of people exposed to the medicine (predictable), occurs quickly (hours to days) after therapy, and can be replicated in animal models. Idiosyncratic DILI is frequently dose-independent, affects only a tiny fraction of people exposed (unpredictable), and manifests after a day-to-week delay; it is often unreproducible in animal models [4]. In addition, indirect DILI is a new and not yet entirely accepted category, defined as hepatotoxicity secondary to the biological effects of the drug [5], which is partially dose- and time-dependent, somewhat predictable, occurs over several months, and is partially reproducible in animal models. The represented drugs include immune checkpoints inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD20 rituximab), protein kinase inhibitors, anti-PSCK9 (hypercholesterolemia), daclixumab, and corticosteroids [5].
Acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP), also known as paracetamol or N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, is likely the most well-known and extensively used drug to cause intrinsic DILI [6]. APAP is also not dose-dependent in some idiosyncratic individuals, suggesting that host susceptibility factors are involved in the pathogenesis of APAP-induced liver injury (AILI). According to studies in America and China, APAP may not be the most prevalent cause of DILI, but it is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF). APAP overdose was the leading cause of ALF and responsible for 46% of all ALF cases in the USA [7], ranking as the first etiology in California [8] and 42% of patients in Sweden [9]. AILI causes a fast-progressing condition that includes liver and kidney failure, hepatic encephalopathy, acidosis, and multi-organ failure (MOF) [10].

2. Metabolism of APAP

APAP is a non-steroidal antipyretic and analgesic medication, and the clinically safe dosage varies from 1 to 4 g per day. Following oral treatment, APAP is absorbed from the gut and transported to the liver for metabolism, which requires a variety of enzymatic reactions [11,12][11][12]. The bulk (80–90%) of APAP is metabolized by UDP glucuronosyltransferase (UGTs) and sulfate transferase (SULTs) to inactive glucuronide (APAP-gluc) and sulfate (APAP sulfate), which is then eliminated in the urine, blood and bile, commonly known as the phase II metabolism reaction [13]. The phase I enzymatic reaction occurs when a minor (5–10%) amount of APAP is metabolized in hepatocytes by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, such as CYP2E1 and CYE1A2, to the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). The hepatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) rapidly converts NAPQI to a harmless form via glutathione-S-transferase in an enzymatic process, forming the APAP-GSH complex (APAP-GSH), which is further metabolized to N-acetyl-L-cysteine adducts, cysteamide adducts, and cysteamide/glycine adducts, excreted through the urine or bile [14]. When the phase II reaction is saturated, excessive APAP is metabolized by the phase I reaction, NAPQI accumulation (Figure 1). When GSH is depleted, the growing concentration of NAPQI forms harmful APAP protein adducts, also known as NAPQI–protein adduct peptides, by covalently reacting with protein sulfur groups. In conclusion, both the generation of APAP protein adducts and the depletion of GSH result in increased protein adduct formation in hepatocytes, resulting in oxidative stress and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, in the mitochondria of hepatocytes, those protein adducts appear to trigger limited oxidative stress, which is responsible for the induction of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); then, MAPK kinases (MKK)-4/7 activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), leading to phosphorylation of JNK in the cytosol [15]. Then, p-JNK is translocated to mitochondria, where it binds the outer mitochondrial membrane anchor protein Sab (SH3-domain-binding protein that preferentially associates with Btk) or Sh3bp5 [16], generating dephosphorylation of intermembrane Src [17]. Thus, activated JNK and mitochondria p-JNK translocation, in turn, further enhances oxidative stress signal to induce the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, causing mitochondrial membrane permeability and dysfunction [18], ultimately leading to hepatocyte necrosis and liver failure. This process needs various kinases involved, for example, mitochondria activating MAP3 kinases (MAP3K) such as maxed-lineage kinase-3 (MLK-3), apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK-1), and MAP2K [19], receptor-interacting protein 1(RIP1), and RIP3 [20]. However, more research is needed to magnify the understanding of the comprehensive relationship between kinases and JNK signals.
Figure 1. The metabolism of APAP and the role of innate immune response in AILI. Following oral treatment, APAP is absorbed from the gut and transported to the liver for metabolism. A large portion (80–90%) of APAP is metabolized by SULTs and UGTs. A minor (5–10%) amount of APAP was metabolized in hepatocytes by CYP450 enzymes to the reactive metabolite NAPQI. The GSH rapidly converts NAPQI forming the APAP-GSH complex. When GSH is depleted, the growing concentration of NAPQI forms harmful APAP protein adducts, resulting in oxidative stress and increased ROS production in the mitochondria of hepatocytes. Protein adducts induce phosphorylation of JNK via ASK-1, MLK-3, and RIP1/3, then induce the MPTP opening, ultimately leading to hepatocyte necrosis and liver failure. The necrotic hepatocyte released various endogenous DAMPs, upregulating the infiltration of neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, activated KCs, DCs, NK/NKT cells, and secreted cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, etc. DAMPs also activate inflammasomes, which participate in the innate immune response by activating caspase-1 to cleave pro-ILβ, and pro-IL-18 into IL-1β and IL-18. APAP—acetyl-para-aminophenol; AILI—APAP-induced liver injury; SULTs—sulfate transferase; UGTs—UDP glucuronosyltransferase; NAPQI—N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine; ROS—reactive oxygen species; MAPK—mitogen-activated protein kinase; JNK—c-Jun N-terminal kinase; MPTP—mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore; DAMPs—damage-associated molecular patterns; KCs—Kupffer cells; DCs—Dendritic cells; NK/NKT cells—natural killer cells/NKT cells; TNF-α—tumor necrosis factor-α; IL—interleukin; INF—interferon; MCP—monocyte chemoattractant protein; MIP—macrophage inflammatory protein; IP—interferon-inducible protein; GSH—glutathione; CYP450—cytochrome P450; MLK-3—maxed-lineage kinase-3; ASK-1—apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1; MKK—MAPK kinases; RIP1/3—receptor-interacting protein-1/3.
Then, the necrotic hepatocyte subsequently releases various endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (Figure 1), including high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1) [21], heat shock proteins (HSPs), nuclear DNA fragments (nDNA fragments) [22] and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), uric acid [23], adenosine triphosphate (ATP) [24], and so on, thereby activating the innate immune response. Furthermore, necrotic hepatocytes also upregulated the infiltration of leucocytes [25], monocytes, activated Kupffer cells (KCs), and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) [26]. KCs and bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages recognize DMAPs via Toll-like receptors (TLR) 4 and are activated, releasing proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, resulting in a “cytokines storm”. In particular, the HMGB-1 binds to and activates KCs via TLR4 [27]; activated KCs release mediators that directly trigger cell death, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Fas ligand (FasL, CD95L), and ROS, or indirectly cause cell death through the recruitment of neutrophils, including interleukin (IL)-1β and CXCL2 [28]. Another critical step in generating an inflammatory response is the formation of inflammasomes, a multiprotein complex, in immune cells [29]. Despite these consequences, the pathophysiological relevance of this sterile inflammatory response following APAP is still a hot issue of debate.

3. The Dual Role of Immune Cells and Cytokine

3.1. Neutrophils in AILI

Neutrophils are the first-line defense of the innate immune response, which is the mighty capacity for biosynthetic activity, including complement components, Fc receptors, cytokines, and chemokines [30]. Neutrophils usually are inactivated and travel slowly and aimlessly through the peripheral blood circulation. When the pathogen invades or endogenous stimulants are released, pattern recognition receptors can identify pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and DAMPs. The neutrophils in circulation are activated, which migrate to the injury site [31]. The study revealed that the recruited neutrophils (Mac-1+ Gr-1+) significantly increased in the liver at 6 and 24 h after APAP treatment, and during the recovery period, neutrophils subsequently declined [32]. How do neutrophils recruit to the area of hepatocyte necrosis? First is the release of various endogenous DAMPs by necrotic hepatocytes, as demonstrated in liver biopsies [33]. The HMGB1-TLR4-IL-23-IL-17A axis can facilitate neutrophil penetration after APAP treatment, whereas the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin drastically inhibits IL-23 and IL-17A production as well as hepatic neutrophil accumulation [34]. Further study by L et al. found that APAP increases HMGB1 expression via activating Caspase-1 in hepatocytes, while neutrophil depletion or abolishing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation reduces HMGB1 levels and prevents hepatocyte necrosis [35]. Therefore, those studies confirmed that HMGB1 is an indeed targeted DAMP. The partly humanized anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb; h2G7), as compared with NAC, has high therapeutic efficacy and an extended therapeutic window in APAP-ALI [36]. Other DAMPs, such as the release of endogenous ATP, activate the purinergic P2 receptor (P2R) [37] and uric acid [23], promoting neutrophil infiltration and subsequent mouse hepatocyte death; mtDNA activates neutrophils by binding to TLR-9 [38]. In addition to DAMPs, other molecules, such as CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), formylated peptide [39], and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) [40] could rapidly attract neutrophils to sites of hepatocytes necrosis. The third is other immune cells, such as NK cells and NKT cells, regulating neutrophil accumulation by secreting INF-γ [41]. However, whether the recruited neutrophils have an injurious or protective role in AILI is controversial. It has been hypothesized that neutrophil infiltration protects against hepatic necrosis and promotes liver healing. Hepatic damage has been associated with neutrophil recruitment in studies. There was no increase in Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) expression or L-selectin shedding on circulating neutrophils, and anti-CD18 antibodies were not protective against AILI in the first 24 h [42]. This neutrophil infiltration was dominated by removing necrotic cell debris but was not robust enough to cause further damage. Further studies found that CD18-deficient mice did not differ from wild-type mice regarding an inflammatory response or liver injury in AILI [43]. Neutrophil depletion by anti-neutrophil antibody Gr-1, gp91phox−/− (an essential subunit of NADPH oxidase, a significant source of phagocytic superoxide) [44], anti-Ly6G antibody, genetic knockout in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or genetic deletion in NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) [45] did not protect against APAP hepatotoxicity. Those studies suggested that AILI is dominated by intracellular cell death mechanisms in mice rather than being neutrophil-mediated [43]. The possible reason is that neutrophils are not activated in the early stages of AILI and fail to induce injury. Instead, the activation status (CD11b expression and ROS priming) during and after the damage peak [44]. Then, the neutrophils promote the phenotypic conversion of proinflammatory Ly6ChiCX3CR1lo monocytes/macrophages to pro-resolving Ly6CloCX3CR1hi macrophages by expressing reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting liver repair after APAP injury [45]. In APAP overdose, it has also been suggested that neutrophils cause liver impairment. Liu et al. used an anti-Gr-1 antibody (RB6-8C5) to deplete neutrophils in vivo, which effectively protected against AILI in mice model through reduced FasL expression, direct hepatocytotoxicity, and mitochondrial respiratory chain burst (NO, iNOS) in hepatic leukocytes [32], moreover, ICAM-1 was also involved in the injury process, and AILI was significantly reduced in ICAM-1 deficient mouse. Another study blockade of neutrophil infiltration by anti-granulocyte receptor 1 depletion or combined CXCR2-FPR1 antagonism significantly prevented liver injury after APAP overdose [46]. Both studies used anti-neutrophil antibodies, which selectively deplete circulating neutrophils, causing most neutrophils to wedge in the capillary bed, where they were recognized and phagocytosed by KCs in the liver activated KCs. Activated KCs amplify the inflammatory response and exacerbate the injury by releasing cytokines through phagocytosis. The precise mechanisms of action of neutrophils in AILI are challenging since the exact process by which circulating neutrophils are entirely depleted and interact with other immune cells is unknown. During the injury and recovery stages of AILI, the infiltrating Ly6Chi monocytes, their macrophage descendants, and neutrophils spatially and temporally overlap in the centrilobular necrotic areas [47]. A decrease in neutrophils that produce ROS has been observed following inducible ablation of circulating Ly6Chi monocytes [47]. On the other hand, these controversial opinions may be associated with the experimental protocol of the researcher. Anti-CD18 antibodies, another example, were previously shown to reduce neutrophils by only 50% in an endotoxin shock model [48], which could explain why mice treated with anti-CD18 antibodies are not protected against AILI; similarly, CD18-deficient, neutrophil-specific antibody Ly6G or congenital neutropenia did not affect the AILI. Because partial or selective inhibition may lead to debatable findings, complete eradication of neutrophils and their function is required to account for the crucial role of neutrophils in AILI [49]. Lastly, the experimental observation time point may be relevant. AILI is a progressive process; for example, mechanisms of injury caused by different immune cells recruited at other time points may diverge, so investigators may need to study injury mechanisms at several different time points within 24 h and continually evaluate them.

3.2. Macrophages in AILI

Hepatic macrophages belong to the mononuclear macrophage system and respond to various liver injury signals. The macrophages observed in the currently damaged liver are heterogeneous and have two primary sources: liver-resident macrophages, named Kupffer cells (KCs), which are long-lived, self-renewing, and non-migratory macrophages [74][50]; the other source is blood/bone marrow monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) and peritoneum macrophages, which identify danger signals, such as cytokines and chemokines, migrating to the liver. Liver macrophages that originate from various sources differ in activation and function, with a remarkably flexible and phenotypic alteration. Their functions are multidimensional and even opposing, directly influencing the outcome of the immune response [75][51].

3.3. Dendritic Cells (DCs) in AILI

Dendritic cells (DCs), as the most important antigen-presenting cells (APC), are a critical link between innate and adaptive immunity [93][52]. According to the different differentiation pathways, human DCs originated from hematopoietic stem cells, and divided into myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs(pDCs) [94][53]. Even though most DCs are immature in hepatic, a small part of CD11chi conventional DCs (cDCs) express high levels of costimulatory molecules [95][54]; therefore, DCs are more commonly mediate tolerance rather than immunogenicity in the liver [96,97][55][56]. When the liver is wounded, DCs shift their immunological phenotype and become highly immunogenic, modulating NK cells and activating T cells through the production of TNF-α [98][57]. In AILI, DCs reveal a protective role. Connolly et al. found that liver DCs immune-phenotype was markedly altered after APAP treatment, which expressed higher MHC II, costimulatory molecules, and TLR, and produced IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and TNF-α [68][58]. In the AILI model, depleted DCs aggravated liver necrosis and increased mouse mortality; on the contrary, endogenous DCs expansion using FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) blocked AILI progression in mice. The protective mechanism may prevent NKs cell activation and induce neutrophil apoptosis [68][58]. Due to the role of DCs in AILI being less studied, the dual of DCS needs to be further investigated.

3.4. Natural Killer Cells (NK Cells) and NKT Cells in AILI

Innate lymphocytes, such as NK cells, NKT cells, and γδT cells, as well as adaptive lymphocytes, such as αβT cells and B cells, are stored in the liver. NK cells, NKT cells, and T cells are up to 65% of all hepatic lymphocytes in humans [99][59], with NK cells accounting for 30–50% [100][60]. The liver NK cells can divide into two subsets, CD49a−DX5+ (conventional NK cells, cNK cells) and CD49a+DX5− (the liver-resident NK cells) [101][61]. NKT cells are a subpopulation of T cells that express both NK cell receptors and T cell receptors, and are MHC I–like molecules, are CD1d-restricted, and are glycolipid antigen reactive [102][62]. Activated NKs and NKTs produce inflammatory mediators such as interferon (IFN)-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-4, then induce apoptosis. Activated NK cell ligand-protein levels were significantly increased after drug exposure and activated NK cells exacerbated hepatocytotoxicity by secreting IFN-α. In contrast, specific antibodies for NK cell receptors attenuated drug hepatotoxicity [103][63]. It has been reported that activation of NKs and NKTs amplifies the immune response and leads to the exacerbation of AILI by upregulating IFN-γ, FasL-Keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), IP-10 (interferon-inducible protein), Mig (monokine induced by IFN-gamma), MCP-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, and increased neutrophil accumulation in the liver [41]. Indeed, the pathogenic effects of NKT cells and NK cells in AILI in mice were dependent on the presence of Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and DMSO-activated hepatic NKT cells and NK cells in vivo, as evidenced by increased numbers of NKT cells and increased intracellular levels of the cytotoxic effector molecules IFN-γ and granzyme B [69][64]. Depletion of NK cells and NKT cells with NK1.1 antibodies attenuate AILI [41]. Similarly, Vα14iNKT-cells-deficient (Jα18−/−) mice could be resistant to AILI, possibly related to APAP metabolic alterations resulting in reduced hepatic GSH binding and glucuronide binding [70][65]. However, studies have also shown that NK/NKT cells have a protective effect against AILI. For example, NKT-cells-deficient mice (CD1d−/− and Jα18−/−) were more vulnerable to AILI than wild-type animals, by a mechanism that involves upregulation and activation of CYP2E1 expression, ultimately leading to APAP protein adduct formation [71][66]. NKT cells also mediate endogenous IL-4 production, while glutathione synthesis is regulated by endogenous IL-4 under stress conditions to control the severity of AILI [71][66]. Kwon et al. also found that NKT cells are beneficial in AILI, but they also reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines [72][67]. Currently, there is no definitive research on the effect of NK/NKT cells in AILI.

3.5. γδT Cells in AILI

γδT cells are another type of lymphocyte that plays an essential role in immune response and immunopathological processes and have received widespread attention [104,105][68][69]. Like NKT cells, γδT cells are innate-like T cells, which are an integral component of innate immunity and play an essential role in killing infected or damaged cells and regulating functions of innate cells [106][70]. It was found that IL-17A+ CD3+ γδT cell receptor (TCR) (+) cells were significantly increased in the AILI model, and depletion of γδT cells significantly reduced IL-17A production and attenuated liver injury by reducing hepatic neutrophil recruitment; further studies revealed that γδT cells were activated by macrophage-derived IL-1β and IL-23 [34]. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF) expression in T cells attenuated abnormal γδT cell recruitment and alleviated APAP-induced acute inflammatory response, thereby reducing neutrophil infiltration in the liver [73][71]. Both studies suggest that γδT cells play a traumatic role in AILI; however, the specific mechanism of injury remains to be further studied.

3.6. Cytokine Storm in AILI

Cytokine storm was first described in 1993 [107][72] that developed after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy [108][73]. David C. illustrates that cytokine storm and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndromes involving elevated levels of circulating cytokines and immunity caused by various therapies, pathogens, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and single-gene diseases [109][74]. There is no doubt that the changes in serum cytokines in AILI patients and animal models may contribute to the development of systemic inflammation and may even lead to acute liver failure or MOF. In AILI, necrotic hepatocytes release DMAPs to recruit immune cells, subsequently activating immune cells to release cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1). The released cytokines then are involved in inflammatory responses or immune-mediated liver injury, resulting in a vicious cycle between cytokines and liver damage.  Why do cytokines appear to have opposite results in AILI? First, the mechanism of cytokine secretion is complex, and the same cytokine may be secreted by several immune cells. For example, TNF-α can be secreted by KCs, macrophages, and DC cells; the mechanism of KCs in AILI is oppositional [52,54][75][76]. Second, cytokine secretion is also regulated by cellular signaling pathways, such as JNK [116][77], STAT3 [117][78], MAPK [118][79], and TLR4 [50][80] signaling pathways. Lastly, there may be inconsistencies between animal models and patients with APAP overdose. For instance, in animal experiments, IL-10-deficiency-enhanced cytokine secretion (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1α) and iNOS expression have been observed [121][81]. At the same time, a minor increase in plasma IL-10 has been observed in patients with APAP overdose, and there was no relationship between IL-10 concentrations and the severity of the hepatic injury [122][82]. Therefore, the mechanisms of cytokine secretion, regulation, and effects are complex and need to be further investigated.

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