Inflammasome Is Activated in the Liver of Cholestatic Patients and Aggravates Hepatic Injury in Bile Duct–Ligated Mouse

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver injury, but it is unclear whether the inflammasome is involved and is the objective of this study. METHODS: ) mice for 7 days. Mouse hepatocytes and macrophages were treated with bile acids. RESULTS: BDL livers had more M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages evidenced by more CD206 positive cells and higher expression of IL-4, CD163, Fizz1 and IL-33. When mouse hepatocytes and peritoneal macrophages were exposed to cholestatic levels of major endogenous bile acids (300μM TCA), neither IL-1β induction nor procaspase-1 cleavage were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammasome exacerbates cholestatic liver injury, but bile acids do not directly activate the inflammasome.