The C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 contributes to alcoholic liver disease

Aims: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by aberrant lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation that eventually give rise to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study we investigated the contribution of C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) to ALD pathogenesis. Methods and materials: ALD was induced in mice by binge ethanol gavage or chronic ethanol feeding. Key findings: Bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data indicated that CCL11 expression was up-regulated in hepatocytes from mice subjected to ethanol feeding compared to those from the control mice. Exposure to ethanol led to CCL11 up-regulation in primary murine hepatocytes in vitro. Consistently, Oil Red O (ORO) staining detected elevated lipid accumulation whereas quantitative PCR (qPCR) detected augmented expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in primary murine hepatocytes treated with recombinant CCL11. On the contrary, CCL11 knockout mice (KO) developed a less severe form of ALD compared to wild type littermates when subjected to either binge or chronic ethanol feeding. Finally, CCL11 antagonism by administration with an inhibitor to CCL11 receptor CCR3 (CCR3i) attenuated ALD in mice. Significance: Our data support a role for CCL11 in ALD pathogenesis and provide proof-of-concept that targeting CCL11 can be considered as a therapeutic approach for ALD intervention.