Suppression of Hepatocyte Ferroptosis via USP19-Mediated Deubiquitination of SLC7A11 in Ischemia-Free Liver Transplantation

Lachnospiraceae-bacterium alleviates ischemia-reperfusion injury in steatotic donor liver by inhibiting ferroptosis via the Foxo3-Alox15 signaling pathway

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major obstacle in liver transplantation, especially with steatotic donor livers. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in modulating IRI, and Lachnospiraceae plays a pivotal role in regulating host inflammatory and immune responses, but its specific role in liver transplantation IRI remains unclear. This study explores whether Lachnospiraceae can mitigate IRI and its underlying mechanisms. We found Lachnospiraceae-bacterium (Lachn.) abundance was significantly reduced in rats with liver cirrhosis. Lachn.-treated rats exhibited improved intestinal permeability, reduced IRI severity in both normal and steatotic donor livers, and decreased levels of neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, and inflammatory cytokines. Multi-omics analysis revealed elevated pyruvate levels in transplanted livers after Lachn. treatment, alongside reduced Alox15 and Foxo3 expression. Mechanistically, Lachn.-derived pyruvate inhibited Alox15 expression and reduced ferroptosis in normal and steatotic donor livers. Furthermore, reduced nuclear translocation of Foxo3 further suppressed Alox15 expression, alleviating IRI, especially in steatotic donor livers. Clinical samples confirmed reduced donor livers IRI in cirrhotic recipients with high Lachn. abundance after liver transplantation. In conclusion, Lachn. alleviates IRI in steatotic donor liver transplantation by inhibiting ferroptosis via the Foxo3-Alox15 axis, providing a potential therapeutic strategy to modulate gut microbiota to alleviate IRI following liver transplantation.

Protein modifications in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury: molecular mechanisms and targeted therapy

Ischemia-reperfusion injury refers to the damage that occurs when blood supply is restored to organs or tissues after a period of ischemia. This phenomenon is commonly observed in clinical contexts such as organ transplantation and cardiac arrest resuscitation. Among these, hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a prevalent complication in liver transplantation, significantly impacting the functional recovery of the transplanted liver and potentially leading to primary graft dysfunction. With the growing demand for organ transplants and the limited availability of donor organs, effectively addressing hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is essential for enhancing transplantation success rates, minimizing complications, and improving graft survival. The pathogenesis of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is multifaceted, involving factors such as oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. This article focuses on the role of protein post-translational modifications in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, ADP-ribosylation, SUMOylation, crotonylation, palmitoylation, and S-nitrosylation. Initially, we examined the historical discovery of these protein post-translational modifications and subsequently investigated their impact on cellular signal transduction, enzymatic activity, protein stability, and protein-protein interactions. The emphasis of this study is on the pivotal role of protein post-translational modifications in the progression of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and their potential as therapeutic targets. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in research on protein modifications in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, and explore future research trajectories. Additionally, future research directions are proposed, including the exploration of interactions between various protein modifications, the identification of specific modification sites, and the development of drugs targeting these modifications. These efforts aim to deepen our understanding of protein post-translational modifications in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and pave the way for innovative therapeutic interventions.