Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway

Background and aims: Acrylamide (ACR) induces hepatotoxicity, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our prior proteomic analysis of serum from occupationally ACR-exposed individuals identified significantly elevated levels of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Given that...

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Main Authors: Zhi-Ming Li, Xiao-Li Wang, Hong-Wei Yao, Guo-Bing Yu, Xin-Yu Wang, Ru-Nan Zhang, Xiao-Xiao Hao, Wei-Wei Ma, Yu-Meng Xu, Hong-Qiu Li, Ya-Ting Lei, Fang-Fang Zhao, Cui-Ping Yu, Yong-Hui Wu, Yu-Lin Pan, Sheng-Yuan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325012436
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author Zhi-Ming Li
Xiao-Li Wang
Hong-Wei Yao
Guo-Bing Yu
Xin-Yu Wang
Ru-Nan Zhang
Xiao-Xiao Hao
Wei-Wei Ma
Yu-Meng Xu
Hong-Qiu Li
Ya-Ting Lei
Fang-Fang Zhao
Cui-Ping Yu
Yong-Hui Wu
Yu-Lin Pan
Sheng-Yuan Wang
author_facet Zhi-Ming Li
Xiao-Li Wang
Hong-Wei Yao
Guo-Bing Yu
Xin-Yu Wang
Ru-Nan Zhang
Xiao-Xiao Hao
Wei-Wei Ma
Yu-Meng Xu
Hong-Qiu Li
Ya-Ting Lei
Fang-Fang Zhao
Cui-Ping Yu
Yong-Hui Wu
Yu-Lin Pan
Sheng-Yuan Wang
author_sort Zhi-Ming Li
collection DOAJ
description Background and aims: Acrylamide (ACR) induces hepatotoxicity, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our prior proteomic analysis of serum from occupationally ACR-exposed individuals identified significantly elevated levels of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Given that eEF2 activity is regulated by its phosphorylation status, which is solely mediated by eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), we investigated the role of eEF2K in ACR-induced hepatic injury. Methods: eEF2K gene knockout (eEF2K-/-) mice were used to assess the impact of eEF2K ablation on ACR-induced hepatotoxicity. Downstream mechanisms were explored by liver metabolomics and Western blot analysis. Results: ACR exposure significantly increased hepatic eEF2K expression and eEF2 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). eEF2K knockout (KO) significantly attenuated ACR-induced hepatic injury, indicated by improved histopathology, reduced serum ALT/AST levels, and restored liver coefficients (P < 0.05). Metabolomics revealed that eEF2K ablation counteracted ACR-induced perturbations in sphingolipid metabolism. Mechanistically, eEF2K deficiency normalized sphingolipid metabolism and prevented MAPK signaling dysregulation induced by ACR. Conclusions: This study identifies eEF2K as a key regulator in ACR-induced hepatic injury. ACR exposure promotes MAPK signaling hyperactivation via eEF2K-dependent dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism, contributing to hepatic injury. Inhibition of eEF2K attenuates ACR-induced hepatic injury. Inhibition of eEF2K represents a novel therapeutic strategy for mitigating ACR-associated hepatic injury.
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spelling doaj-art-97cb8032ca0849a6be3ad3ef23c0c3752025-08-22T04:54:46ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130311889810.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118898Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathwayZhi-Ming Li0Xiao-Li Wang1Hong-Wei Yao2Guo-Bing Yu3Xin-Yu Wang4Ru-Nan Zhang5Xiao-Xiao Hao6Wei-Wei Ma7Yu-Meng Xu8Hong-Qiu Li9Ya-Ting Lei10Fang-Fang Zhao11Cui-Ping Yu12Yong-Hui Wu13Yu-Lin Pan14Sheng-Yuan Wang15Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaNational Key Discipline, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaHarbin Railway Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR ChinaDepartment of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China; Correspondence to: Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nan gang District, Harbin 150086, PR China.Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China; Correspondence to: Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nan gang District, Harbin 150086, PR China.Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China; Correspondence to: Department of Occupational Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nan gang District, Harbin 150086, PR China.Background and aims: Acrylamide (ACR) induces hepatotoxicity, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our prior proteomic analysis of serum from occupationally ACR-exposed individuals identified significantly elevated levels of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Given that eEF2 activity is regulated by its phosphorylation status, which is solely mediated by eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), we investigated the role of eEF2K in ACR-induced hepatic injury. Methods: eEF2K gene knockout (eEF2K-/-) mice were used to assess the impact of eEF2K ablation on ACR-induced hepatotoxicity. Downstream mechanisms were explored by liver metabolomics and Western blot analysis. Results: ACR exposure significantly increased hepatic eEF2K expression and eEF2 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). eEF2K knockout (KO) significantly attenuated ACR-induced hepatic injury, indicated by improved histopathology, reduced serum ALT/AST levels, and restored liver coefficients (P < 0.05). Metabolomics revealed that eEF2K ablation counteracted ACR-induced perturbations in sphingolipid metabolism. Mechanistically, eEF2K deficiency normalized sphingolipid metabolism and prevented MAPK signaling dysregulation induced by ACR. Conclusions: This study identifies eEF2K as a key regulator in ACR-induced hepatic injury. ACR exposure promotes MAPK signaling hyperactivation via eEF2K-dependent dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism, contributing to hepatic injury. Inhibition of eEF2K attenuates ACR-induced hepatic injury. Inhibition of eEF2K represents a novel therapeutic strategy for mitigating ACR-associated hepatic injury.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325012436AcrylamideEEF2KHepatic injurySphingolipidsMAPK signaling pathway
spellingShingle Zhi-Ming Li
Xiao-Li Wang
Hong-Wei Yao
Guo-Bing Yu
Xin-Yu Wang
Ru-Nan Zhang
Xiao-Xiao Hao
Wei-Wei Ma
Yu-Meng Xu
Hong-Qiu Li
Ya-Ting Lei
Fang-Fang Zhao
Cui-Ping Yu
Yong-Hui Wu
Yu-Lin Pan
Sheng-Yuan Wang
Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Acrylamide
EEF2K
Hepatic injury
Sphingolipids
MAPK signaling pathway
title Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
title_full Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
title_fullStr Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
title_full_unstemmed Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
title_short Inhibition of eEF2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by ACR through regulation of the MAPK pathway
title_sort inhibition of eef2 kinase ameliorates hepatic injury induced by acr through regulation of the mapk pathway
topic Acrylamide
EEF2K
Hepatic injury
Sphingolipids
MAPK signaling pathway
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325012436
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