Dynamin-related protein 1 deficiency impairs mitophagy and accelerates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in mice
Abstract Mitochondrial fusion and fission, which are strongly related to normal mitochondrial function, are referred to as mitochondrial dynamics. Mitochondrial fusion defects in the liver cause a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-like phenotype and liver cancer. However, whether mitochondrial fission defect directly impair liver function and stimulate liver disease progression, too, is unclear. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is a key factor controlling mitochondrial fission. We hypothesized that DRP1 defects are a causal factor directly involved in liver disease development and stimulate liver disease progression. We administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to liver-specific Drp1-knockout (Drp1LiKO) mice. We observed an enhanced inflammatory response accompanied by mitophagy impairment. Drp1 defects directly promoted hepatocyte apoptosis and subsequently induced infiltration of inflammatory macrophages enhanced inflammasome activation in the liver and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the liver and serum. Drp1 deletion increased the expression of numerous genes involved in the immune response and DNA damage in Drp1LiKO mouse primary hepatocytes. This is a novel mechanism of liver disease development in which Drp1 defect-induced mitochondrial dynamics dysfunction directly regulates the fate and function of hepatocytes and enhances LPS-induced acute liver injure in vivo.