1. Academic Validation
  2. Role of macrophage AHR/TLR4/STAT3 signaling axis in the colitis induced by non-canonical AHR ligand aflatoxin B1

Role of macrophage AHR/TLR4/STAT3 signaling axis in the colitis induced by non-canonical AHR ligand aflatoxin B1

  • J Hazard Mater. 2023 Mar 23;452:131262. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131262.
Liwen Zhang 1 Dong Cheng 2 Jing Zhang 2 Hui Tang 2 Fenghua Li 2 Yi Peng 3 Xinglan Duan 3 En Meng 3 Cuili Zhang 1 Tao Zeng 1 Fuyong Song 1 Jia-Sheng Wang 4 Xiulan Zhao 5 Jun Zhou 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, China; Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China.
  • 2 Division of Toxicology, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China; Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China.
  • 3 Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China; School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, China.
  • 4 Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China; Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
  • 5 Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, China; Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China. Electronic address: zhao.xl@sdu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Department of Toxicology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, China; Division of Chemistry and Physics, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China. Electronic address: zhjccm@sdu.edu.cn.
Abstract

Here we report that macrophage AHR/TLR/STAT signaling axis is implicated in the colon colitis induced by non-canonical AHR ligand aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In BALB/c mice gavaged with 5, 25 and 50 µg/kg body weight/day AFB1, we observed severe colitis featured by over-recruitment of myeloid lineage immune cells such as monocytes/macrophage in colon lamina propria. Stressed and damaged colon epithelial cells were observed in low-dose group, while twisted and shortened intestinal crypts being found in middle dose group. Severe tissue damage was induced in the high-dose group. Dose-dependent increases of ROS, NO, and decrease of mitochondrial ROS-suppressor STAT3 were observed in the exposure groups. Further investigation in AFB1-treated human macrophage model found: (1) functional adaptations such as elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion, stimulation of phagocytosis, elevation of LTE4 level; (2) overall inflammatory status confirmed by RNA-sequence analysis, in line with up-regulation of immune functional proteins such as ICAM-1, IDO-1, NF-kB-p65, NLRP3, COX-2 and iNOS; (3) mRNA disruption of mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation complex I units and STATs; (4) perturbation of AHR/TLR/STAT3 signaling axis, including elevated AHR, TLR2, TLR4, and decreased STAT3, p-STAT3 Ser727. Mechanism investigation revealed regulatory links of ligand-dependent AHR/TLR4/STAT3. AHR-TLR4 together regulate MyD88, and STAT3 may be directly regulated by MyD88 (TLR4 downstream molecule) upon AHR/TLR4 binding with ligands. Solely protein level changes of AHR/TLR4 cannot regulate STAT3. Our study suggests that macrophage AHR/TLR4/STAT3 is involved with the colitis induced by sub-acute exposure to AFB1. Future follow-up study will focus on the intervention of the colitis using AHR-anti-inflammatory ligands.

Keywords

Aflatoxin B1; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Colitis; Macrophage; Mitochondrial ROS.

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