An NF-kappaB- and IKK-Independent Function of NEMO Prevents Hepatocarcinogenesis by Suppressing Compensatory Liver Regeneration

The I-κB-Kinase (IKK) complex represents a central signaling nexus in the TNF-dependent activation of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway. However, recent studies suggested that the distinct IKK subunits (IKKα, IKKβ, and NEMO) might withhold additional NF-κB-independent functions in inflammation and cancer. Here, we generated mice lacking all three IKK subunits in liver parenchymal cells (LPC) (IKKα/β/NEMO(LPC-KO)) and compared their phenotype with mice lacking both catalytic subunits (IKKα/β(LPC-KO)), allowing to functionally dissect putative I-κB-Kinase-independent functions of the regulatory subunit NEMO. We show that the additional deletion of NEMO rescues IKKα/β(LPC-KO) mice from lethal cholestasis and biliary ductopenia by triggering LPC apoptosis and inducing a strong compensatory proliferation of LPC including cholangiocytes. Beyond this beneficial effect, we show that increased hepatocyte cell-death and compensatory proliferation inhibit the activation of LPC-necroptosis but trigger spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis in IKKα/β/NEMO(LPC-KO) mice. Collectively, our data show that free NEMO molecules unbound to the catalytic IKK subunits control LPC programmed cell death pathways and proliferation, cholestasis and hepatocarcinogenesis independently of an IKK-related function. These findings support the idea of different functional levels at which NEMO controls inflammation and cancer in the liver.