Novel Role of IL-13 in Fibrosis Induced by Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Its Amelioration by IL-13R-Directed Cytotoxin in a Rat Model

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the most common cause of chronic liver fibrosis, progresses to cirrhosis in up to 20% of patients. We report that hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in sinusoidal lesions of liver of patients with NASH express high levels of high-affinity IL-13R (IL-13Rα2), which is colocalized with smooth muscle actin, whereas fatty liver and normal liver specimens do not express IL-13Rα2. HSCs engineered to overexpress IL-13Rα2 respond to IL-13 and induce TGFB1 promoter activity and TGF-β1 production. We also developed NASH in rats by feeding a choline-deficient l-amino acid diet. These rats developed liver fibrosis as assessed by H&E staining, Masson’s trichrome and Sirius red staining, and hydroxyproline assays. Treatment of these rats with IL-13R-directed cytotoxin caused a substantial decline in fibrosis and liver enzymes without organ toxicity. These studies demonstrate that functional IL-13Rα2 are overexpressed in activated HSCs involved in NASH and that IL-13 cytotoxin ameliorates pathological features of NASH in rat liver, indicating a novel role of this cytotoxin in potential therapy.