Mismatched effects of receptor interacting protein kinase-3 on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

To validate the effects of receptor interacting protein kinase-3 (RIP3) deletion in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to clarify the mechanism of action.

RIP3 deletion exacerbates steatosis, and partially inhibits inflammation in the HF diet induced NAFLD model.

Wild-type (WT) and RIP3 knockout (KO) mice were fed normal chow and high fat (HF) diets for 12 wk. The body weight was assessed once weekly. After 12 wk, the liver and serum samples were extracted. The liver tissue expression levels of RIP3, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, protein disulfide isomerase, apolipoprotein-B, X-box binding protein-1, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, cluster of differentiation-36, diglyceride acyltransferase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 were assessed. Oleic acid treated primary hepatocytes from WT and RIP3KO mice were stained with Nile red. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, including chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1, CXCL2, and TNF-α, in monocytes was evaluated.

RIP3KO HF diet fed mice showed a significant gain in body weight, and liver weight, liver to body weight ratio, and liver triglycerides were increased in HF diet fed RIP3KO mice compared to HF diet fed WT mice. RIP3KO primary hepatocytes also had increased intracellular fat droplets compared to WT primary hepatocytes after oleic acid treatment. RIP3 overexpression decreased hepatic fat content. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the expression of very-low-density lipoproteins secretion markers (microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, protein disulfide isomerase, and apolipoprotein-B) was significantly suppressed in RIP3KO mice. The overall NAFLD Activity Score was the same between WT and RIP3KO mice; however, RIP3KO mice had increased fatty change and decreased lobular inflammation compared to WT mice. Inflammatory signals (CXCL1/2, TNF-α, and interleukin-6) increased after lipopolysaccharide and pan-caspase inhibitor (necroptotic condition) treatment in monocytes. Neutrophil chemokines (CXCL1, and CXCL2) were decreased, and TNF-α was increased after RIP3 inhibitor treatment in monocytes.