Work

SRY mediates male-specific susceptibility to acute liver injury

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Sex-determining region on the Y chromosome (SRY), a male-specific gene, can promote the development of various liver diseases including liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma. Its role in acute liver injury (ALI), however, remains elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of SRY on ALI. We constructed hepatocyte-specific Sry-overexpressing transgenic (Sry-TG) and hepatocyte-specific Sry knockout (SryΔHC) mice and subjected them to acetaminophen (APAP) insult to determine the potential function of SRY in ALI. Multiomics analysis was used to explore the molecular mechanisms through which SRY affects ALI. SRY expression was markedly upregulated in the livers of both male patients and mice with ALI. Sry-TG mice exhibited significantly exacerbated liver injury and increased apoptosis and oxidative stress. In contrast, the male SryΔHC mice exhibited a protective phenotype. Mechanistically, RNA-seq revealed that Gstm2/3 expression was downregulated in the hepatocytes of Sry-TG mice. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed PARP-1 as a candidate protein that interacts with SRY. SRY enhances the nuclear accumulation of PARP-1. PARP-1, in turn, suppresses Gstm2/3 mRNA expression by PARylating C/EBPβ and inhibiting the C/EBPβ-mediated transcriptional activation of Gstm2/3. Finally, virtual screening of compounds revealed that dutasteride can bind to SRY. Experiments revealed that dutasteride inhibits SRY expression and attenuates acute liver injury. Our results suggest that greater SRY expression in males may account for the susceptibility of males ALI. Dutasteride binds specifically to SRY and inhibits its expression, making it a promising therapy for the clinical treatment of ALI. SRY expression increases during APAP-induced liver injury. Transgenic overexpression of SRY in the liver exacerbates APAP-induced liver damage. SRY enhances APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by recruiting PARP-1 to the nucleus and inhibiting the transcriptional regulation of Gstm2/3. Dutasteride specifically inhibits SRY expression and attenuates drug-induced liver injury.

Source: Cell Communication and Signaling

DOI: 10.1186/s12964-025-02565-6