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Liver fibrosis induced by  Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)  infection is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). The activated and differentiated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the predominant ECM-producing cell type in the liver. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 pathway activation plays a key role in mice liver fibrosis models induced by alcohol, biliary ligation, and carbon tetrachloride 4. In this work, we found that TLR4 pathway activation correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis post  Sj  infection. The TLR4 receptor inhibitor TAK242 reduced the extent of liver fibrosis. The increased expression of TLR4, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and cytoglobin was observed in the HSCs of mouse liver after  Sj  infection. In response to stimulation with either lipopolysaccharide or  Sj’s  soluble egg antigen (SEA), high levels of TLR4 and α-SMA were induced in HSCs and were inhibited by TAK242 treatment. In previous work, we had reported that a high level of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) is crucial for liver fibrosis post  Sj  infection. Herein, we found that TLR4 signaling also controlled Tgm2 expression. Inhibition of TGM2 activity by cystamine (CTM) in  Sj -infected mice or in HSCs induced with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) stimulation led to a lowered activation of TLR4 signaling and a reduced α-SMA expression. These results were confirmed by downregulating the  Tgm2  gene by specific siRNA. These observations implied the presence of a positive feedback regulation between TGM2 and TLR4 signaling in HSCs that correlated with liver fibrosis post  Sj  infection. This novel connection between TGM2 and TLR4 pathway activation in liver fibrosis induced by  Sj  infection enhances our understanding of liver diseases.

frontiers in immunology

Positive Feedback Regulation between Transglutaminase 2 and Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling in Hepatic Stellate Cells Correlates with Liver Fibrosis Post Schistosoma japonicum Infection