Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive hepatitis syndrome characterized by high transaminase levels, interface hepatitis, hypergammaglobulinemia, and the presence of autoantibodies. Misdiagnosis or delayed treatment of AIH can lead to cirrhosis or liver failure, which poses a major risk to human health. β-Arrestin2, a key scaffold protein for intracellular signaling pathways, has been found to be involved in many autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. However, whether β-arrestin2 plays a role in AIH remains unknown. In the present study, S-100-induced AIH was established in both wild-type mice and β-arrestin2 knockout (Arrb2 KO) mice, and the experiments identified that liver β-arrestin2 expression was gradually increased, and positively correlated to serum ANA, ALT and AST levels during AIH progression. Furthermore, β-arrestin2 deficiency ameliorated hepatic pathological damage, decreased serum autoantibody and inflammatory cytokine levels. β-arrestin2 deficiency also inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis and prevented the infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages into the damaged liver. In vitro experiments revealed that β-arrestin2 knockdown suppressed the migration and differentiation of THP-1 cells, whereas β-arrestin2 overexpression promoted the migration of THP-1 cells, which was regulated by the activation of the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways. In addition, β-arrestin2 deficiency attenuated TNF-α-induced primary hepatocyte apoptosis by activating the Akt/GSK-3β pathway. These results suggest that β-arrestin2 deficiency ameliorates AIH by inhibiting the migration and differentiation of monocytes, decreasing the infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages into the liver, thereby reducing inflammatory cytokines-induced hepatocytes apoptosis. Therefore, β-arrestin2 may act as an effective therapeutic target for AIH.