Methionine sulfoxide reductase A deficiency exacerbates acute liver injury induced by acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose induces acute liver injury via enhanced oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) acts as a reactive oxygen species scavenger by catalyzing the cyclic reduction of methionine-S-sulfoxide. Herein, we investigated the protective role of MsrA against APAP-induced liver damage using MsrA gene-deleted mice (MsrA−/−). We found that MsrA−/− mice were more susceptible to APAP-induced acute liver injury than wild-type mice (MsrA+/+). The central lobule area of the MsrA−/− liver was more impaired with necrotic lesions. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in MsrA−/− than in MsrA+/+ mice after APAP challenge. Deletion of MsrA enhanced APAP-induced hepatic GSH depletion and oxidative stress, leading to increased susceptibility to APAP-induced liver injury in MsrA-deficient mice. APAP challenge increased Nrf2 activation more profoundly in MsrA−/− than in MsrA+/+ livers. Expression and nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and its target gene expression were significantly elevated in MsrA−/− than in MsrA+/+ livers after APAP challenge. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MsrA protects the liver from APAP-induced toxicity. The data provided herein constitute the first in vivo evidence of the involvement of MsrA in hepatic function under APAP challenge.