Loss of Ufl1/Ufbp1 in hepatocytes promotes liver pathological damage and carcinogenesis through activating mTOR signaling

Background: Ufm1-specific ligase 1 (Ufl1) and Ufm1-binding protein 1 (Ufbp1), as putative targets of ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1), have been implicated in several pathogenesis-related signaling pathways. However, little is known about their functional roles in liver disease. Methods: Hepatocyte-specific Ufl1 ^Δ/Δhep and Ufbp1 ^Δ/Δhep mice were used to study their role in liver injury. Fatty liver disease and liver cancer were induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and diethylnitrosamine (DEN) administration, respectively. iTRAQ analysis was employed to screen for downstream targets affected by Ufbp1 deletion. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to determine the interactions between the Ufl1/Ufbp1 complex and the mTOR/GβL complex. Results: Ufl1 ^Δ/Δhep or Ufbp1 ^Δ/Δhep mice exhibited hepatocyte apoptosis and mild steatosis at 2 months of age and hepatocellular ballooning, extensive fibrosis, and steatohepatitis at 6–8 months of age. More than 50% of Ufl1 ^Δ/Δhep and Ufbp1 ^Δ/Δhep mice developed spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by 14 months of age. Moreover, Ufl1 ^Δ/Δhep and Ufbp1 ^Δ/Δhep mice were more susceptible to HFD-induced fatty liver and DEN-induced HCC. Mechanistically, the Ufl1/Ufbp1 complex directly interacts with the mTOR/GβL complex and attenuates mTORC1 activity. Ablation of Ufl1 or Ufbp1 in hepatocytes dissociates them from the mTOR/GβL complex and activates oncogenic mTOR signaling to drive HCC development. Conclusions: These findings reveal the potential role of Ufl1 and Ufbp1 as gatekeepers to prevent liver fibrosis and subsequent steatohepatitis and HCC development by inhibiting the mTOR pathway.