Abstract
BACKGROUND: Induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a central mechanism in alcohol hepatotoxicity. Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), a transcription factor and a tumor-suppressor gene, is an early-responsive gene to injury; however, the effect of ROS and alcohol on KLF6 induction is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of 2 sources of ROS, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), and alcohol on the modulation of KLF6(Full) expression, splicing to KLF6_V1 and KLF6_V2, and the effect on TNFα, a downstream target. METHODS AND RESULTS: Endogenous ROS production in CYP2E1-expressing HepG2 cells induced mRNA and protein expression of KLF6(Full) and its splice variants compared to control cells. Incubation with pro-oxidants such as arachidonic acid (AA), β-naphtoflavone, and H(2) O(2) further enhanced KLF6(Full) and its splice variants. The AA effects on KLF6(Full) and its splice forms were blocked by vitamin E-which prevents lipid peroxidation-and by diallylsulfide-a CYP2E1 inhibitor. Menadione and paraquat, 2 pro-oxidants metabolized via NQO1, induced KLF6(Full) mRNA in a thiol-dependent manner. Antioxidants and an NQO1 inhibitor suppressed the menadione-dependent increase in KLF6(Full) and its splice variants mRNA. Furthermore, primary hepatocytes and livers from chronic alcohol-fed rats, with elevated lipid peroxidation, H(2) O(2) and CYP2E1 but with low GSH, showed a ~2-fold increase in KLF6(Full) mRNA compared to controls. Inhibition of p38 phosphorylation further up-regulated the CYP2E1 and the AA effects on KLF6(Full) mRNA, whereas inhibition JNK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation decreased both. KLF6_V1 but not KLF6(Full) ablation markedly increased TNFα levels in macrophages; thus, TNFα emerges as a downstream target of KLF6_V1. CONCLUSIONS: The novel effect of ROS on modulating KLF6(Full) expression and its splice variants could play a relevant role in liver injury and in TNFα regulation.