SIRT1 antagonizes liver fibrosis by blocking hepatic stellate cell activation in mice

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a maj or source of fibrogenesis in the liver, contributing to cirrhosis. When activated, HSCs transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and undergo profound functional alterations paralleling an overhaul of the transcriptome, the mechanism of which remains largely undefined. We investigated the involvement of the class III deacetylase sirtuin [silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)] in HSC activation and liver fibrosis. SIRT1 levels were down‐regulated in the livers in mouse models of liver fibrosis, in patients with cirrhosis, and in activated HSCs as opposed to quiescent HSCs. SIRT1 activation halted, whereas SIRT1 inhibition promoted, HSC transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts. Liver fibrosis was exacerbated in mice with HSC‐specific deletion of SIRT1 [conditional knockout (cKO)], receiving CCl4 (1 mg/kg) injection or subjected to bile duct ligation, compared to wild‐type littermates. SIRT1 regulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor Y (PPARg) transcription by deacetylating enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in quiescent HSCs. Finally, EZH2 inhibition or PPARg activation ameliorated fibrogenesis in cKO mice. In summary, our data suggest that SIRT1 plays an essential role guiding the transition of HSC phenotypes.—Li, M., Hong, W., Hao, C., Li, L., Wu, D., Shen, A., Lu, J., Zheng, Y., Li, P., Xu, Y. SIRT1 antagonizes liver fibrosis by blocking hepatic stellate cell activation in mice. FASEB J. 32, 500‐511 (2018). www.fasebj.org