Deletion of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 in myeloid cells reduces hepatic inflammatory macrophages and attenuates MASH

Background: Immune cell-driven inflammation is a key mediator of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) progression. We have previously demonstrated that pharmacological sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulation ameliorates MASH and is associated with attenuated accumulation of intrahepatic macrophage and T cell subsets. Although S1P receptors are expressed on several immune cell types, given the prominent role of monocyte-derived recruited macrophages in the sterile inflammation of MASH, we hypothesized that deletion of S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) on myeloid cells may ameliorate MASH by reducing the accumulation of proinflammatory monocyte-derived macrophages into the liver. Methods: The LyzMCre approach was used to generate myeloid cell-specific knockout mice, termed S1pr1MKO. Littermate S1pr1loxp/loxp mice were used as wild-type (WT) controls. MASH was established by feeding mice a high-fat, fructose, and -cholesterol (FFC) diet for 24 weeks which leads to the development of steatohepatitis and MASH-defining cardiometabolic risk factors. Liver injury and inflammation were determined by histological and gene expression analyses. Intrahepatic leukocyte populations were analyzed by mass cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: Histological examination demonstrated a reduction in liver inflammatory infiltrates and fibrosis in FFC-fed S1pr1MKO compared to WT. There was a corresponding reduction in alanine aminotransferase, a sensitive marker for liver injury. As determined by mass cytometry, a significant decrease in recruited macrophages was noted in the livers of FFC-fed S1pr1MKO mice compared to WT. Gene ontology pathway analysis revealed a significant suppression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in S1pr1MKO consistent with attenuated MASH in mice. Conclusion: Deletion of S1P1 in myeloid cells is sufficient to attenuate intrahepatic accumulation of monocyte-derived macrophages and ameliorate murine MASH.