Involvement of kindlin-2 in irisin’s protection against ischaemia reperfusion-induced liver injury in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Liver steatosis is associated with increased ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our previous studies have shown that irisin, an exercise-induced hormone, mitigates I/R injury via binding to αVβ5 integrin. However, the effect of irisin on I/R injury in steatotic liver remains unknown. Kindlin-2 directly interacts with β integrin. We therefore suggest that irisin protects against I/R injury in steatotic liver via a kindlin-2 dependent mechanism. To study this, hepatic steatosis was induced in male adult mice by feeding them with a 60% high-fat diet (HFD). At 12 weeks after HFD feeding, the mice were subjected to liver ischaemia by occluding partial (70%) hepatic arterial/portal venous blood for 60 minutes, which was followed by 24 hours reperfusion. Our results showed HFD exaggerated I/R-induced liver injury. Irisin (250 μg/kg) administration at the beginning of reperfusion attenuated liver injury, improved mitochondrial function, and reduced oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in HFD-fed mice. However, kindlin-2 inhibition by RNAi eliminated irisin's direct effects on cultured hepatocytes. In conclusion, irisin attenuates I/R injury in steatotic liver via a kindlin-2 dependent mechanism.