Expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase relates to monocyte dysfunction and severity of cirrhosis
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Infectious complications in patients with cirrhosis frequently initiate episodes of decompensation and substantially contribute to the high mortality. Mechanisms of the underlying immuneparesis remain underexplored. TAM receptors (TYRO3/AXL/MERTK) are important inhibitors of innate immune responses. To understand the pathophysiology of immuneparesis in cirrhosis, we detailed TAM receptor expression in relation to monocyte function and disease severity prior to the onset of acute decompensation. TNF-α/IL-6 responses to lipopolysaccharide were attenuated in monocytes from patients with cirrhosis (n = 96) compared with controls (n = 27) and decreased in parallel with disease severity. Concurrently, an AXL-expressing (AXL+) monocyte population expanded. AXL+ cells (CD14+CD16highHLA-DRhigh) were characterised by attenuated TNF-α/IL-6 responses and T cell activation but enhanced efferocytosis and preserved phagocytosis of Escherichia coli. Their expansion correlated with disease severity, complications, infection, and 1-yr mortality. AXL+ monocytes were generated in response to microbial products and efferocytosis in vitro. AXL kinase inhibition and down-regulation reversed attenuated monocyte inflammatory responses in cirrhosis ex vivo. AXL may thus serve as prognostic marker and deserves evaluation as immunotherapeutic target in cirrhosis.
Date Issued
2020-01-01
Date Acceptance
2019-12-02
Citation
Life Science Alliance, 2020, 3 (1), pp.1-16
ISSN
2575-1077
Publisher
Life Science Alliance
Start Page
1
End Page
16
Journal / Book Title
Life Science Alliance
Volume
3
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Brenig et al.
This article is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International, as described at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This article is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International, as described at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000511446200004&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Biology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
CHRONIC LIVER-FAILURE
BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS
ACUTE DECOMPENSATION
IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION
APOPTOTIC CELLS
DR EXPRESSION
METFORMIN
MACROPHAGES
INTERLEUKIN-1
INFLAMMATION
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e201900465
Date Publish Online
2019-12-10