[Study the role of lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A for immune-mediated liver injury of primary biliary cholangitis].

Objective

To investigate the role of lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A (LAMP-2A) for immune-mediated liver injury of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

Methods

The association between LAMP-2A expression and PBC was examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in liver tissue samples from patients with PBC. Furthermore, the immunological damage of LAMP-2A overexpression on mouse liver was observed by adeno-associated virus (AAV) overexpression technique. The expression level of mRNA was analyzed by Student's t-test. The data were graphed and analyzed statistically using graphpad prism 5 (GraphPad Software).A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The expression of LAMP-2A in liver tissue of PBC patients was increased, and the autophagosome formation was observed in hepatocytes. C57BL/6 mice were injected into the caudal vein with LAMP-2A AAV for 6 weeks. The formation of autophagosomes in mouse hepatocytes was increased significantly. The expression of related molecules was abnormal; simultaneously, the degree of lymphocyte infiltration in the liver tissue of mice was significantly higher than the control group.

Conclusion

An overexpression of LAMP-2A in the liver of patients with PBC may induce and/or promote the hepatic inflammatory response, especially the portal inflammatory infiltrate.