Critical role of CD44 in hepatotoxin-mediated liver injury

Background/Aims Blocking of adhesion molecules is considered to be one of the therapeutic strategies inflammatory diseases, although it remains unclear whether this strategy is beneficial. Methods We used CD44-deficient mice to assess whether inhibition of CD44 could control liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Results CD44-deficient mice exhibited suppressed liver inflammation during the early phase (within 6 h) after CCl4 injection due to reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production, but showed severe liver inflammation with increased numbers of apoptotic hepatocytes at the late phase (after 12 h). The induction of hepatocyte apoptosis was triggered by reduced NF-κB activity, which was induced by the low inflammatory cytokine concentrations. Furthermore, macrophages contributed to the induction of hepatocyte apoptosis, since neutralization by an anti-CD11b antibody significantly protected against hepatocyte apoptosis. Finally, we found that blocking of MIP-2 and TNF-α reduced hepatocyte apoptosis with decreased numbers of intrahepatic leukocytes and reduced inflammatory cytokine production. Conclusions These findings suggest that targeting of CD44 as a therapeutic approach for inflammatory liver diseases may require caution for particular immune systems in the liver.