Downregulation of RIP3 Improves the Protective Effect of ATF6 in an Acute Liver Injury Model

Background. Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3) are important signaling proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and necroptosis, respectively. However, their regulatory relationship and clinical significance are unknown. We investigate the impact of ATF6 on RIP3 expression, and its role in hepatocyte necroptosis in an acute liver injury model. Methods. In vivo and in vitro experiments were carried out. LO2 cells were treated with thapsigargin (TG). In vivo, male BALB/c mice were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1 mL/kg) or tunicamycin (TM, 2 mg/kg). Then, the impact of ATF6 or RIP3 silencing on liver injury, hepatocyte necroptosis, and ER stress-related protein expression was examined. Results. TG induced ER stress and necroptosis and ATF6 and RIP3 expression in LO2 cells. The knockdown of ATF6 significantly decreased RIP3 expression (p<0.05) and increased ER stress and necroptosis. The downregulation of RIP3 significantly reduced necroptosis and ER stress (p<0.05). Similar results were observed in CCl4 or the TM-induced mouse model. The knockdown of ATF6 significantly decreased CCl4-induced RIP3 expression and increased liver injury, necroptosis, and ER stress in mice livers (p