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Oral ampicillin inhibits liver regeneration by breaking hepatic innate immune tolerance normally maintained by gut commensal bacteria
Author(s) -
Wu Xunyao,
Sun Rui,
Chen Yongyan,
Zheng Xiaodong,
Bai Li,
Lian Zhexiong,
Wei Haiming,
Tian Zhigang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.27791
Subject(s) - natural killer t cell , regeneration (biology) , biology , liver regeneration , immunology , immune system , innate immune system , cd1d , hepatocyte , immune tolerance , interleukin 22 , microbiology and biotechnology , interleukin , cytokine , t cell , biochemistry , in vitro
Commensal bacteria have been proposed to play a role in liver repair after partial (67%) hepatectomy. However, the underlying immune mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that liver regeneration was impaired in antibiotic (Atb) water‐treated mice and this impairment strongly correlated with commensal bacterial load. Among the various Atbs used in our cocktail, ampicillin‐sensitive commensal bacterial was associated with normal liver regeneration. The number of CD1d‐dependent natural killer T (NKT) cells in Atb‐treated hepatectomized mice was markedly increased, and these NKT cells were functionally overactivated to produce higher interferon‐γ. Deficiency of NKT cells or antibody blockade of the CD1d‐NKT interaction increased hepatocyte proliferation, which improved liver regeneration. Importantly, an increased number of Kupffer cells were observed in Atb‐treated mice, and these Kupffer cells produced higher interleukin‐12, which then functioned to activate hepatic NKT cells. Interleukin‐12p40 deficiency or treatment with an anti‐interleukin‐12 antibody significantly inhibited NKT cell overactivation and recovered liver regeneration in Atb‐treated mice. Conclusion: Commensal bacteria play a critical role in maintaining Kupffer cells in a tolerant state, preventing subsequent NKT cell overactivation during liver regeneration. Moreover, our data suggest that long‐term Atb use, which can impair the gut microbiota, may influence liver function by retarding liver regeneration. (H epatology 2015;62:253‐264)