A postprandial FGF19-SHP-LSD1 regulatory axis mediates epigenetic repression of hepatic autophagy

Lysosome-mediated autophagy is essential for cellular survival and homeostasis upon nutrient deprivation, but is repressed after feeding. Despite the emerging importance of transcriptional regulation of autophagy by nutrient-sensing factors, the role for epigenetic control is largely unexplored. Here, we show that Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP) mediates postprandial epigenetic repression of hepatic autophagy by recruiting histone demethylase LSD1 in response to a late fed-state hormone, FGF19 (hFGF19, mFGF15). FGF19 treatment or feeding inhibits macroautophagy, including lipophagy, but these effects are blunted in SHP-null mice or LSD1-depleted mice. In addition, feeding-mediated autophagy inhibition is attenuated in FGF15-null mice. Upon FGF19 treatment or feeding, SHP recruits LSD1 to CREB-bound autophagy genes, including Tfeb, resulting in dissociation of CRTC2, LSD1-mediated demethylation of gene-activation histone marks H3K4-me2/3, and subsequent accumulation of repressive histone modifications. Both FXR and SHP inhibit hepatic autophagy interdependently, but while FXR acts early, SHP acts relatively late after feeding, which effectively sustains postprandial inhibition of autophagy. This study demonstrates that the FGF19-SHP-LSD1 axis maintains homeostasis by suppressing unnecessary autophagic breakdown of cellular components, including lipids, under nutrient-rich postprandial conditions.