Fibronectin-α4β1 integrin interactions regulate metalloproteinase-9 expression in steatotic liver ischemia and reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion injury is a major cause of the highly dysfunctional rate observed in marginal steatotic orthotopic liver transplantation. In this study, we document that the interactions between fibronectin, a key extracellular matrix protein, and its integrin receptor α4β1, expressed on leukocytes, specifically up-regulated the expression and activation of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, gelatinase B) in a well-established steatotic rat liver model of ex vivo ice-cold ischemia followed by isotransplantation. The presence of the active form of MMP-9 was accompanied by massive intragraft leukocyte infiltration, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, and impaired liver function. Interestingly, MMP-9 activity in steatotic liver grafts was, to a certain extent, independent of the expression of its natural inhibitor, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1. Moreover, the blockade of fibronectin-α4β1-integrin interactions inhibited the expression/activation of MMP-9 in steatotic orthotopic liver transplantations without significantly affecting the expression of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, gelatinase A). Finally, we identified T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages as major sources of MMP-9 in steatotic liver grafts. Hence, these findings reveal a novel aspect of the function of fibronectin-α4β1 integrin interactions that holds significance for the successful use of marginal steatotic livers in transplantation.