Attenuated viral hepatitis in Trem1-/- mice is associated with reduced inflammatory activity of neutrophils

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 22:6:28556. doi: 10.1038/srep28556.

Abstract

TREM1 (Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1) is a pro-inflammatory receptor expressed by phagocytes, which can also be released as a soluble molecule (sTREM1). The roles of TREM1 and sTREM1 in liver infection and inflammation are not clear. Here we show that patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection manifest elevated serum levels of sTREM1. In mice, experimental viral hepatitis induced by infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)-WE was likewise associated with increased sTREM1 in serum and urine, and with increased TREM1 and its associated adapter molecule DAP12 in the liver. Trem1-/- mice showed accelerated clearance of LCMV-WE and manifested attenuated liver inflammation and injury. TREM1 expression in the liver of wild-type mice was mostly confined to infiltrating neutrophils, which responded to LCMV by secretion of CCL2 and TNF-α, and release of sTREM1. Accordingly, the production of CCL2 and TNF-α was decreased in the livers of LCMV-infected Trem1-/- mice, as compared to LCMV-infected wildtype mice. These findings indicate that TREM1 plays a role in viral hepatitis, in which it seems to aggravate the immunopathology associated with viral clearance, mainly by increasing the inflammatory activity of neutrophils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Arenaviridae Infections / immunology
  • Arenaviridae Infections / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chemokine CCL2 / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / blood
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis C / blood
  • Hepatitis C / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / immunology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 / blood
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 / deficiency*
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 / genetics
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 / physiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ccl2 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • TREM1 protein, human
  • TREM1 protein, mouse
  • Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha