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Li Z, Zhu X, Li C, Tang R, Zou Y, Liu S. Integrated serum metabolomics, 16S rRNA sequencing and bile acid profiling to reveal the potential mechanism of gentiopicroside against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in lean mice. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 334:118526. [PMID: 38972531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Lean nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. Herbs of the genus Gentiana have been used for centuries to treat hepatic disease or have been consumed for hepatic protection efficiency. Gentiopicroside (GPS), the main bioactive component of Gentiana herbs, has been shown to be beneficial for protecting the liver, improving intestinal disorders, modulating bile acid profiles, ameliorating alcoholic hepatosteatosis, and so on. It is plausible to speculate that GPS may hold potential as a therapeutic strategy for lean NASH. However, no related studies have been conducted thus far. AIM OF THE STUDY The present work aimed to investigate the benefit of GPS on NASH in a lean mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS NASH in a lean mouse model was successfully established via a published method. GPS of 50 and 100 mg/kg were orally administered to verify the effect. Untargeted metabolomics, 16S rDNA sequencing and bile acid (BA) profiling, as well as qPCR and Western blotting analysis were employed to investigate the mechanism underlying the alleviating effect. RESULTS GPS significantly reduced the increase in serum biochemicals and liver index, and attenuated the accumulation of fat in the livers of lean mice with NASH. Forty-two potential biomarkers were identified by metabolomics analysis, leading to abnormal metabolic pathways of primary bile acid biosynthesis and fatty acid biosynthesis, which were subsequently rebalanced by GPS. A decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and disturbed BA related GM profiles were revealed in lean mice with NASH but were partially recovered by GPS. Furthermore, serum profiling of 23 BAs confirmed that serum BA levels were elevated in the lean model but downregulated by GPS treatment. Pearson correlation analysis validated associations between BA profiles, serum biochemical indices and related GM. qPCR and Western blotting analysis further elucidated the regulation of genes associated with liver lipid synthesis and bile acid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS GPS may ameliorate steatosis in lean mice with NASH, regulating the metabolomic profile, BA metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and BA-related GM. All these factors may contribute to its beneficial effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyun Li
- Department of pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Xueya Zhu
- Department of pharmacy, Zhumadian Central Hospital, Zhumadian, 463000, Henan, China.
| | - Chenhao Li
- Department of pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Ruiting Tang
- Department of pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Zou
- Yichun University, Yichun, 336000, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Shuaibing Liu
- Department of pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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Dang J, Cai T, Tuo Y, Peng S, Wang J, Gu A, Li J, Ding L, Du S, Wang L. Corn Peptides Alleviate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis in Mice by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Regulating Gut Microbiota. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:19378-19394. [PMID: 39166383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c04232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of corn gluten-derived soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory peptides on nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis induced by a high-fat diet and carbon tetrachloride in mice. Mice treated with corn peptides at doses of 500 or 1000 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks exhibited reduced sEH activity in serum and liver, enhanced lipid metabolism, and decreased lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Corn peptides effectively downregulated the mRNA levels of Pro-IL-1β, Pro-IL-18, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), ASC, Pro-caspase-1, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in the liver. This hepatoprotective effect of corn peptides by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation was further validated in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells. Moreover, corn peptides restored the composition of the gut microbiota and promoted short-chain fatty acid production. This study provides evidence that corn-derived sEH inhibitory peptides have hepatoprotective activity against nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and modulating gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Dang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Cai
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanrong Tuo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Siwang Peng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Aiying Gu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialu Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Ding
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuangkui Du
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Research Center of Grain and Oil Functionalized Processing, Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Liying Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Research Center of Grain and Oil Functionalized Processing, Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province 712100, People's Republic of China
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Nian X, Lin P, Bai Y, Yu D, Yang X, Zhou B, Gao J, Zhao Y. Osr1-mediated mesothelial transition of liver mesenchymal cells exacerbates fibrotic liver damage. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2984-2991. [PMID: 38414241 PMCID: PMC11403217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In chronic liver diseases, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are induced to form the myofibroblasts responsible for scar formation, leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing with in vivo lineage tracing in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice reveals a subpopulation of HSCs transitioning back to a state resembling their developmental precursors, mesothelial cells (MCs), after liver injury. These damage-associated intermediates between HSCs and MCs (DIHMs) can be traced with a dual recombinase system by labeling Krt19-expressing cells within prelabeled Pdgfrb+ HSCs, and DIHMs highly express inflammation- and fibrosis-associated genes. Cre and Dre-inducible depletion of DIHMs by administering diphtheria toxin reduces liver fibrosis and alleviates liver damage in NASH model mice. Importantly, knockdown of Osr1, a zinc finger transcription factor of the OSR gene family, can block DIHM induction in vitro. Conditional knockout Osr1 in Pdgfrb-expressing mesenchymal cells in NASH model mice can reduce liver fibrosis in vivo. Our study collectively uncovers an injury-induced developmental reversion process wherein HSCs undergo what we call a mesenchymal-to-mesothelial transition, which can be targeted to develop interventions to treat chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Nian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Pengyan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yunfei Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Donglin Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, P.R. China
| | - Xinyan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhou
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing Key Surgical Basic Research Laboratory of Liver Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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Wang X, Wu Z, Liu Y, Wu C, Jiang J, Hashimoto K, Zhou X. The role of thyroid-stimulating hormone in regulating lipid metabolism: Implications for body-brain communication. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 201:106658. [PMID: 39236910 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroid hormones, primarily thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These hormones are key players in body-brain communication, influencing various physiological processes, including the regulation of metabolism (both peripheral and central effects), feedback mechanisms, and lipid metabolism. Recently, the increasing incidence of abnormal lipid metabolism has highlighted the link between thyroid function and lipid metabolism. Evidence suggests that TSH can affect all bodily systems through body-brain communication, playing a crucial role in growth, development, and the regulation of various physiological systems. Lipids serve dual purposes: they are involved in energy storage and metabolism, and they act as vital signaling molecules in numerous cellular activities, maintaining overall human health or contributing to various diseases. This article reviews the role of TSH in regulating lipid metabolism via body-brain crosstalk, focusing on its implications for common lipid metabolism disorders such as obesity, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, neuropsychiatric disorders (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and depression), and cerebrovascular disorders such as stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Wang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Chengxi Wu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Kenji Hashimoto
- Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Xiangyu Zhou
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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Hu X, Lin H, Qian S, Xu Z, Li Z, Qian S, Yang F, Hou H, Xie Q, Wu W, Hu C, Abou-Elnour A, He Y, Huang Y. A novel experimental mouse model of diabetic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A critical role for acid-sensitive Ion Channel 1a. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 178:117184. [PMID: 39142252 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A two-way relationship exists between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Several diabetic NASH models have the disadvantages of long cycles or inconsistent with the actual incidence of human disease, which would be costly and time-consuming to investigate disease pathogenesis and develop drugs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a diabetic NASH mouse model. METHODS The combination between Fructose-palmitate-cholesterol diet (FPC) and Streptozotocin (STZ) (FPC+STZ) was used to construct diabetic NASH mouse model. The in vivo effects of silencing acid-sensitive Ion Channel 1a (ASIC1a) were examined with an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) carrying ASIC1a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in FPC+STZ model. RESULTS The mice fed with FPC for 12 weeks had insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, lipid accumulation, and increased hepatic levels of inflammatory factors. However, it still did not develop remarkable liver fibrosis. Most interestingly, noticeable fibrotic scars were observed in the liver of mice from FPC+STZ group. Furthermore, insulin therapy significantly ameliorated FPC+STZ-induced NASH-related liver fibrosis, indicating that hyperglycemia is of great significance in NASH development and progression. Importantly, ASIC1a was found to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic NASH as demonstrated that silencing ASIC1a in HSCs significantly ameliorated FPC+STZ-induced NASH fibrosis. Mechanistically, ASIC1a interacted with Poly Adp-adenosine ribose polymerase (PARP1) to promote HSC activation by inducing autophagy. CONCLUSION A FPC diet combined with an injection of STZ induces a diabetic NASH mouse model in a shorter period. Targeting ASIC1a may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Hu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huimin Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China
| | - Shengying Qian
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhou Xu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zihao Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shishun Qian
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Furong Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Hou
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qinxiu Xie
- Department of Infection, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenyong Wu
- Hospital of The Second People's Hospital of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Chengmu Hu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Amira Abou-Elnour
- School of International Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yong He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yan Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Carter JK, Tsai MC, Venturini N, Hu J, Lemasters JJ, Torres Martin M, Sia D, Wang S, Lee YA, Friedman SL. Stellate cell-specific adhesion molecule protocadherin 7 regulates sinusoidal contraction. Hepatology 2024; 80:566-577. [PMID: 38373106 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Sustained inflammation and hepatocyte injury in chronic liver disease activate HSCs to transdifferentiate into fibrogenic, contractile myofibroblasts. We investigated the role of protocadherin 7 (PCDH7), a cadherin family member not previously characterized in the liver, whose expression is restricted to HSCs. APPROACH AND RESULTS We created a PCDH7 fl/fl mouse line, which was crossed to lecithin retinol acyltransferase-Cre mice to generate HSC-specific PCDH7 knockout animals. HSC contraction in vivo was tested in response to the HSC-selective vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 using intravital multiphoton microscopy. To establish a PCDH7 null HSC line, cells were isolated from PCDH7 fl/fl mice and infected with adenovirus-expressing Cre. Hepatic expression of PCDH7 was strictly restricted to HSCs. Knockout of PCDH7 in vivo abrogated HSC-mediated sinusoidal contraction in response to endothelin-1. In cultured HSCs, loss of PCDH7 markedly attenuated contractility within collagen gels and led to altered gene expression in pathways governing adhesion and vasoregulation. Loss of contractility in PCDH7 knockout cells was impaired Rho-GTPase signaling, as demonstrated by altered gene expression, reduced assembly of F-actin fibers, and loss of focal adhesions. CONCLUSIONS The stellate cell-specific cadherin, PCDH7, is a novel regulator of HSC contractility whose loss leads to cytoskeletal remodeling and sinusoidal relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Carter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ming-Chao Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Nicholas Venturini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jiangting Hu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - John J Lemasters
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Miguel Torres Martin
- Genetics Department, Clinical Genomics Unit, Clinical Genetics Service, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela Sia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Youngmin A Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Rivera-Esteban J, Muñoz-Martínez S, Higuera M, Sena E, Bermúdez-Ramos M, Bañares J, Martínez-Gomez M, Cusidó MS, Jiménez-Masip A, Francque SM, Tacke F, Minguez B, Pericàs JM. Phenotypes of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22:1774-1789.e8. [PMID: 38604295 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops as a consequence of liver cirrhosis, but HCC epidemiology has evolved drastically in recent years. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and a leading cause of HCC. A substantial proportion of MASLD-associated HCC (MASLD-HCC) also can develop in patients without cirrhosis. The specific pathways that trigger carcinogenesis in this context are not elucidated completely, and recommendations for HCC surveillance in MASLD patients are challenging. In the era of precision medicine, it is critical to understand the processes that define the profiles of patients at increased risk of HCC in the MASLD setting, including cardiometabolic risk factors and the molecular targets that could be tackled effectively. Ideally, defining categories that encompass key pathophysiological features, associated with tailored diagnostic and treatment strategies, should facilitate the identification of specific MASLD-HCC phenotypes. In this review, we discuss MASLD-HCC, including its epidemiology and health care burden, the mechanistic data promoting MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and MASLD-HCC. Its natural history, prognosis, and treatment are addressed specifically, as the role of metabolic phenotypes of MASLD-HCC as a potential strategy for risk stratification. The challenges in identifying high-risk patients and screening strategies also are discussed, as well as the potential approaches for MASLD-HCC prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Rivera-Esteban
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Muñoz-Martínez
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica Higuera
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sena
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Bermúdez-Ramos
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain; Liver Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Juan Bañares
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Gomez
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Serra Cusidó
- Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Jiménez-Masip
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sven M Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; InflaMed Centre of Excellence, Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatriz Minguez
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan M Pericàs
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Campus Hospitalari, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Madrid, Spain.
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Jiang L, Xu QY, Zhou YC, Xu J, Fan JG. Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals the Transcriptomic Signatures in a Mouse Model of Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00327-4. [PMID: 39222909 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is considered the progressive form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, which is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children. However, the pathogenesis of pediatric MASH remains poorly understood because of the lack of animal models. In this study, we developed a mouse model of pediatric MASH and characterized the hepatic transcriptomic profile using spatial transcriptomics technology. C57BL/6J mice were fed a Western diet (WD) along with weekly injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) from the age of 3 to 8 weeks. After 5 weeks of feeding, WD + CCl4-treated mice showed significant liver injury without the development of insulin resistance. Histologically, WD + CCl4 induced key features of type 2 MASH, the most common type observed in children, characterized by liver steatosis, portal inflammation, and portal fibrosis. Through spatial transcriptomics analysis of liver tissues, we identified that cluster 0 in the mouse from the WD + CCl4 group was enriched in pathways associated with lipid metabolism. Further investigation revealed that cytochrome p450 2E1 was the top marker gene of cluster 0, and its expression was increased in the periportal area of mice from the WD + CCl4 group. These findings suggest that our mouse model of pediatric MASH mirrors the histologic features of human MASH, and the up-regulation of cytochrome p450 2E1 may be linked to the disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Jiang
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Yang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Juan Xu
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Gao Fan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Sharma N, Singh L, Sharma A, Kumar A, Mahajan D. NAFLD-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - A compelling case for repositioning of existing mTORc1 inhibitors. Pharmacol Res 2024; 208:107375. [PMID: 39209081 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern for the high incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) globally. The progression of NAFLD to HCC is heterogeneous and non-linear, involving intermediate stages of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. There is a high unmet clinical need for appropriate diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options to tackle this emerging epidemic. Unfortunately, at present, there is no validated marker to identify the risk of developing HCC in patients suffering from NAFLD or NASH. Additionally, the current treatment protocols for HCC don't differentiate between viral infection or NAFLD-specific etiology of the HCC and have a limited success rate. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORc1) is an important protein involved in many vital cellular processes like lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and inflammation. These cellular processes are highly implicated in NAFLD and its progression to severe liver manifestations. Additionally, hyperactivation of mTORc1 is known to promote cell proliferation, which can contribute to the genesis and progression of tumors. Many mTORc1 inhibitors are being evaluated for different types of cancers under various phases of clinical trials. This paper deliberates on the strong pathological implication of the mTORc1 signaling pathway in NAFLD and its progression to NASH and HCC and advocates for a systematic investigation of known mTORc1 inhibitors in suitable pre-clinical models of HCC having NAFLD/NASH-specific etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nutan Sharma
- Center for Drug Discovery, BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Basic Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram 122505, India
| | - Lakhwinder Singh
- Center for Drug Discovery, BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Aditya Sharma
- Center for Drug Discovery, BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Center for Drug Discovery, BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Dinesh Mahajan
- Center for Drug Discovery, BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India.
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10
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Zhang YH, Xie R, Dai CS, Gao HW, Zhou G, Qi TT, Wang WY, Wang H, Cui YM. Thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist HSK31679 alleviates MASLD by modulating gut microbial sphingolipids. J Hepatol 2024:S0168-8278(24)02486-3. [PMID: 39181210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS As the first approved medication for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), thyroid hormone receptor-beta (THR-β) agonist MGL-3196 (Resmetirom) is highly spotlighted as the liver-directed, bioactive oral drug. However, it was also identified with remarkable heterogeneity of individual clinical efficacy and its interference with gut microbiota in host hepatoenteral circulation was still undocumented. METHODS We compared MASH attenuation by MGL-3196 and its derivative drug HSK31679 between germ-free (GF) and specific-pathogen free (SPF) mice to evaluate the role of gut microbiota. Then cross-omics analyses of microbial metagenome, metabolome and single-cell RNA-sequencing were applied into the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multiple-ascending-dose (MAD) cohort of HSK31679 treatment (n = 40), to comprehensively investigate the altered gut microbiota metabolism and circulating immune signatures. RESULTS HSK31679 outperformed MGL-3196 in ameliorating MASH diet-induced steatohepatitis of SPF mice but not GF mice. In the MAD cohort of HSK31679, relative abundance of B. thetaiotaomicron was significantly enriched to impair glucosylceramide synthase (GCS)-catalyzed monoglucosylation of microbial Cer(d18:1/16:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1). In stark contrast to the non-inferiority MASH resolution between MGL-3196 and HSK31679 for GFBTΔGCS mice, HSK31679 manifested superior steatohepatitis alleviation than MGL-3196 for GFBTWT mice, due to its steric hindrance with R123 and Y401 of gut microbial GCS. For participants with high fecal GCS activity, the administration of 160 mg HSK31679 induced a shift in peripheral compartments towards an immunosuppressive niche, characterized by decreased CD8α+ dendritic cells and MINCLE+ macrophages. CONCLUSIONS This study provided novel insights into the indispensable gut microbiota for HSK31679 treatment, which revealed microbial GCS may serve as its prognostic biomarker of MASH treatment, as well as the new target for further strategies of microbiota-based MASH therapeutics. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Remarkable heterogeneity of individual clinical efficacy of THR-β agonists and their interferences with microbiome in host hepatoenteral circulation are poorly understood. In our current germ-free mice models and randomized, double-blind multiple-dose cohort study, we identified microbial GCS as the prognostic biomarker of HSK31679 treatment, as well as the new target for further strategies of microbiota-based MASLD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hang Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100191; Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100034
| | - Ran Xie
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100191; Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100034
| | - Chen-Shu Dai
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100191; Department of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China, 325035
| | - Hong-Wei Gao
- Biomarker Technologies Corporation, Beijing, China, 101300
| | - Gan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China, 410008
| | - Tian-Tian Qi
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100191
| | - Wen-Yu Wang
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, 100029
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China, 230022; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China, 230032.
| | - Yi-Min Cui
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100191; Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China, 100034.
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11
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Yokoyama S, Muto H, Honda T, Kurokawa Y, Ogawa H, Nakajima R, Kawashima H, Tani H. Identification of Two Long Noncoding RNAs, Kcnq1ot1 and Rmst, as Biomarkers in Chronic Liver Diseases in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8927. [PMID: 39201613 PMCID: PMC11354866 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates novel short-lived long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mice with altered expression in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASH) and liver fibrosis. LncRNAs share similarities with mRNAs in their transcription by RNA polymerase II, possession of a 5' cap structure, and presence of a polyA tail. We identified two lncRNAs, Kcnq1ot1 and Rmst, significantly decreased in both conditions. These lncRNAs showed dramatic expression changes in MASH livers induced by Western diets and CCl4, and in fibrotic livers induced by CCl4 alone. The decrease was more pronounced in liver fibrosis, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for disease progression. Our findings are consistent across different fibrosis models, indicating a crucial role for these lncRNAs in MASH and liver fibrosis in mice. With MASH becoming a global health issue and its progression to fibrosis associated with hepatocarcinogenesis and poor prognosis, understanding the underlying mechanisms is critical. This research contributes to elucidating lncRNA functions in murine liver diseases and provides a foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting lncRNAs in MASH and liver fibrosis, offering new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Yokoyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (S.Y.); (H.M.); (T.H.); (H.K.)
| | - Hisanori Muto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (S.Y.); (H.M.); (T.H.); (H.K.)
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University Bantane Hospital, 3-6-10, Otoubashi, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya 454-8509, Japan
| | - Takashi Honda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (S.Y.); (H.M.); (T.H.); (H.K.)
| | - Yoichi Kurokawa
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, Eiheiji-cho, Fukui 910-1195, Japan;
| | - Hirotaka Ogawa
- Nagoya Industrial Science Research Institute, Nagoya 460-0008, Japan;
| | - Riku Nakajima
- Department of Health Pharmacy, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601 Matano, Totsuka, Yokohama 245-0066, Japan;
| | - Hiroki Kawashima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (S.Y.); (H.M.); (T.H.); (H.K.)
| | - Hidenori Tani
- Department of Health Pharmacy, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, 601 Matano, Totsuka, Yokohama 245-0066, Japan;
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12
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Tao L, Yang X, Ge C, Zhang P, He W, Xu X, Li X, Chen W, Yu Y, Zhang H, Chen SD, Pan XY, Su Y, Xu C, Yu Y, Zheng MH, Min J, Wang F. Integrative clinical and preclinical studies identify FerroTerminator1 as a potent therapeutic drug for MASH. Cell Metab 2024:S1550-4131(24)00284-5. [PMID: 39142286 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The complex etiological factors associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), including perturbed iron homeostasis, and the unclear nature by which they contribute to disease progression have resulted in a limited number of effective therapeutic interventions. Here, we report that patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a pathological subtype of MAFLD, exhibit excess hepatic iron and that it has a strong positive correlation with disease progression. FerroTerminator1 (FOT1) effectively reverses liver injury across multiple MASH models without notable toxic side effects compared with clinically approved iron chelators. Mechanistically, our multi-omics analyses reveal that FOT1 concurrently inhibits hepatic iron accumulation and c-Myc-Acsl4-triggered ferroptosis in various MASH models. Furthermore, MAFLD cohort studies suggest that serum ferritin levels might serve as a predictive biomarker for FOT1-based therapy in MASH. These findings provide compelling evidence to support FOT1 as a promising novel therapeutic option for all stages of MAFLD and for future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Tao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Science, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xinquan Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Chaodong Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Science, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Wenjian He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Science, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xingbo Xu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Science, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Wenteng Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yingying Yu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Huai Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Record, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Sui-Dan Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Pan
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yunxing Su
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chengfu Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Yongping Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for The Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Junxia Min
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Fudi Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Science, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
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13
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Zhu M, Wang Y, Lu T, Guo J, Li L, Hsieh MH, Gopal P, Han Y, Fujiwara N, Wallace DP, Yu ASL, Fang X, Ransom C, Verschleisser S, Hsiehchen D, Hoshida Y, Singal AG, Yopp A, Wang T, Zhu H. PKD1 mutant clones within cirrhotic livers inhibit steatohepatitis without promoting cancer. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1711-1725.e8. [PMID: 38901424 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Somatic mutations in non-malignant tissues are selected for because they confer increased clonal fitness. However, it is uncertain whether these clones can benefit organ health. Here, ultra-deep targeted sequencing of 150 liver samples from 30 chronic liver disease patients revealed recurrent somatic mutations. PKD1 mutations were observed in 30% of patients, whereas they were only detected in 1.3% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). To interrogate tumor suppressor functionality, we perturbed PKD1 in two HCC cell lines and six in vivo models, in some cases showing that PKD1 loss protected against HCC, but in most cases showing no impact. However, Pkd1 haploinsufficiency accelerated regeneration after partial hepatectomy. We tested Pkd1 in fatty liver disease, showing that Pkd1 loss was protective against steatosis and glucose intolerance. Mechanistically, Pkd1 loss selectively increased mTOR signaling without SREBP-1c activation. In summary, PKD1 mutations exert adaptive functionality on the organ level without increasing transformation risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhu
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yunguan Wang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Tianshi Lu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jason Guo
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Li
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Meng-Hsiung Hsieh
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yi Han
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Darren P Wallace
- The Jared Grantham Kidney Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Alan S L Yu
- The Jared Grantham Kidney Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Xiangyi Fang
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Crystal Ransom
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sara Verschleisser
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - David Hsiehchen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Adam Yopp
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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14
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Abdelnabi MN, Hassan GS, Shoukry NH. Role of the type 3 cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 in modulating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1437046. [PMID: 39156888 PMCID: PMC11327067 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1437046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) comprises a spectrum of liver diseases that span simple steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and fibrosis and may progress to cirrhosis and cancer. The pathogenesis of MASLD is multifactorial and is driven by environmental, genetic, metabolic and immune factors. This review will focus on the role of the type 3 cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 in MASLD pathogenesis and progression. IL-17 and IL-22 are produced by similar adaptive and innate immune cells such as Th17 and innate lymphoid cells, respectively. IL-17-related signaling is upregulated during MASLD resulting in increased chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines in the liver microenvironment, enhanced recruitment of myeloid cells and T cells leading to exacerbation of inflammation and liver disease progression. IL-17 may also act directly by activating hepatic stellate cells resulting in increased fibrosis. In contrast, IL-22 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a dominantly protective signature in MASLD and is currently being tested as a therapeutic strategy. IL-22 also exhibits beneficial metabolic effects and abrogates MASH-related inflammation and fibrosis development via inducing the production of anti-oxidants and anti-apoptotic factors. A sex-dependent effect has been attributed to both cytokines, most importantly to IL-22 in MASLD or related conditions. Altogether, IL-17 and IL-22 are key effectors in MASLD pathogenesis and progression. We will review the role of these two cytokines and cells that produce them in the development of MASLD, their interaction with host factors driving MASLD including sexual dimorphism, and their potential therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed N. Abdelnabi
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ghada S. Hassan
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Naglaa H. Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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15
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Ji Y, Duan Y, Li Y, Lu Q, Liu D, Yang Y, Chang R, Tian J, Yao W, Yin J, Gao X. A long-acting FGF21 attenuates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis-related fibrosis by modulating NR4A1-mediated Ly6C phenotypic switch in macrophages. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2923-2946. [PMID: 38679486 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Because of the absence of effective therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), there is a rising interest in fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogues due to their potential anti-fibrotic activities in MASH treatment. PsTag-FGF21, a long-acting FGF21 analogue, has demonstrated promising therapeutic effects in several MASH mouse models. However, its efficacy and mechanism against MASH-related fibrosis remain less well defined, compared with the specific mechanisms through which FGF21 improves glucose and lipid metabolism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effectiveness of PsTag-FGF21 was evaluated in two MASH-fibrosis models. Co-culture systems involving macrophages and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were employed for further assessment. Hepatic macrophages were selectively depleted by administering liposome-encapsulated clodronate via tail vein injections. RNA sequencing and cytokine profiling were conducted to identify key factors involved in macrophage-HSC crosstalk. KEY RESULTS We first demonstrated the significant attenuation of hepatic fibrosis by PsTag-FGF21 in two MASH-fibrosis models. Furthermore, we highlighted the crucial role of macrophage phenotypic switch in PsTag-FGF21-induced HSC deactivation. FGF21 was demonstrated to regulate macrophages in a PsTag-FGF21-like manner. NR4A1, a nuclear factor which is notably down-regulated in human livers with MASH, was identified as a mediator responsible for PsTag-FGF21-induced phenotypic switch. Transcriptional control over insulin-like growth factor 1, a crucial factor in macrophage-HSC crosstalk, was exerted by the intrinsically disordered region domain of NR4A1. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our results have elucidated the previously unclear mechanisms through which PsTag-FGF21 treats MASH-related fibrosis and identified NR4A1 as a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiliang Duan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingzhou Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dingkang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifan Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruilong Chang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenbing Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangdong Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Draggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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16
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Srinivas AN, Suresh D, Vishwanath PM, Satish S, Santhekadur PK, Koka S, Kumar DP. TACE inhibition: a promising therapeutic intervention against AATF-mediated steatohepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:1940-1957. [PMID: 38558505 PMCID: PMC11306524 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (MASH-HCC) is a global clinical challenge for which there is a limited understanding of disease pathogenesis and a subsequent lack of therapeutic interventions. We previously identified that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) upregulated apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF) in MASH. Here, we investigated the effect of TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) inhibition as a promising targeted therapy against AATF-mediated steatohepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis. A preclinical murine model that recapitulates human MASH-HCC was used in the study. C57Bl/6 mice were fed with chow diet normal water (CD) or western diet sugar water (WD) along with a low dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 0.2 μL·g-1, weekly) for 24 weeks. TACE activity, TNF-α levels, and AATF expression were measured. The mice were treated with the TACE inhibitor Marimastat for 12 weeks, followed by analyses of liver injury, fibrosis, inflammation, and oncogenic signaling. In vitro experiments using stable clones of AATF control and AATF knockdown were also conducted. We found that AATF expression was upregulated in WD/CCl4 mice, which developed severe MASH at 12 weeks and advanced fibrosis with HCC at 24 weeks. WD/CCl4 mice showed increased TACE activity with reduced hepatic expression of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (Timp3). The involvement of the SIRT1/TIMP3/TACE axis was confirmed by the release of TNF-α, which upregulated AATF, a key molecular driver of MASH-HCC. Interestingly, TACE inhibition by Marimastat reduced liver injury, dyslipidemia, AATF expression, and oncogenic signaling, effectively preventing hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, Marimastat inhibited the activation of JNK, ERK1/2, and AKT, which are key regulators of tumorigenesis in WD/CCl4 mice and in AATF control cells, but had no effect on AATF knockdown cells. This study shows that TACE inhibition prevents AATF-mediated inflammation, fibrosis, and oncogenesis in MASH-HCC, offering a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshatha N. Srinivas
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Lab, JSS Medical CollegeJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
| | - Diwakar Suresh
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Lab, JSS Medical CollegeJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
| | - Prashant M. Vishwanath
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Lab, JSS Medical CollegeJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
| | - Suchitha Satish
- Department of Pathology, JSS Medical College and HospitalJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
| | - Prasanna K. Santhekadur
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Lab, JSS Medical CollegeJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
| | - Saisudha Koka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel School of PharmacyTexas A&M UniversityKingsvilleTXUSA
| | - Divya P. Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Lab, JSS Medical CollegeJSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchMysuruIndia
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17
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Yashaswini CN, Qin T, Bhattacharya D, Amor C, Lowe S, Lujambio A, Wang S, Friedman SL. Phenotypes and ontogeny of senescent hepatic stellate cells in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. J Hepatol 2024; 81:207-217. [PMID: 38508241 PMCID: PMC11269047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the key drivers of fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the fastest growing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. HSCs are heterogenous, and a senescent subset of HSCs is implicated in hepatic fibrosis and HCC. Administration of anti-uPAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) CAR T cells has been shown to deplete senescent HSCs and attenuate fibrosis in murine models. However, the comprehensive features of senescent HSCs in MASH, as well as their cellular ontogeny have not been characterized; hence, we aimed to comprehensively characterize and define the origin of HSCs in human and murine MASH. METHODS To comprehensively characterize the phenotype and ontogeny of senescent HSCs in human and murine MASH, we integrated senescence-associated beta galactosidase activity with immunostaining, flow cytometry and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq). We integrated the immunohistochemical profile with a senescence score applied to snRNAseq data to characterize senescent HSCs and mapped the evolution of uPAR expression in MASH. RESULTS Using pseudotime trajectory analysis, we establish that senescent HSCs arise from activated HSCs. While uPAR is expressed in MASH, the magnitude and cell-specificity of its expression evolve with disease stage. In early disease, uPAR is more specific to activated and senescent HSCs, while it is also expressed by myeloid-lineage cells, including Trem2+ macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, in late disease. Furthermore, we identify novel surface proteins expressed on senescent HSCs in human and murine MASH that could be exploited as therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS These data define features of HSC senescence in human and murine MASH, establishing an important blueprint to target these cells as part of future antifibrotic therapies. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary drivers of scarring in chronic liver diseases. As injury develops, a subset of HSCs become senescent; these cells are non-proliferative and pro-inflammatory, thereby contributing to worsening liver injury. Here we show that senescent HSCs are expanded in MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) in humans and mice, and we trace their cellular origin from the activated HSC subset. We further characterize expression of uPAR (urokinase plasminogen activated receptor), a protein that marks senescent HSCs, and report that uPAR is also expressed by activated HSCs in early injury, and in immune cells as liver injury advances. We have integrated high-resolution single-nucleus RNA sequencing with immunostaining and flow cytometry to identify five other novel proteins expressed by senescent HSCs, including mannose receptor CD206, which will facilitate future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chittampalli N Yashaswini
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tianyue Qin
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dipankar Bhattacharya
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Corina Amor
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States
| | - Scott Lowe
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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18
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Sundi PRIO, Thipe VC, Omar MA, Adelusi TI, Gedefa J, Olaoba OT. Preclinical human and murine models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2024; 48:102418. [PMID: 39004339 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2024.102418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer, which account for more than 90 % of all liver cancer cases. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men. The availability of competent HCC preclinical models is fundamental to the success of mechanistic studies, molecular target identification, and drug testing. However, there are challenges associated with the use of these models. In this review, we provided updates on various cell lines, animals, and human HCC models, their specific preclinic use and associated potential challenges. Overall, the understanding of the merits and demerits of a particular HCC model will improve model selection for various preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pharidah Rajan Ibrahim Omar Sundi
- Lusaka Apex Medical University, Off Mumbwa Road, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; Pan African Organization for Health, Education and Research (POHER), United States
| | - Velaphi C Thipe
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Green Nanotechnology and Cancer Nanotechnology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | | | | | - Jalene Gedefa
- Collage of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
| | - Olamide T Olaoba
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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19
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Akl MG, Li L, Widenmaier SB. Protective Effects of Hepatocyte Stress Defenders, Nrf1 and Nrf2, against MASLD Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8046. [PMID: 39125617 PMCID: PMC11312428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatites liver disease (MASLD) to steatohepatitis (MASH) is driven by stress-inducing lipids that promote liver inflammation and fibrosis, and MASH can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously, we showed coordinated defenses regulated by transcription factors, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-1 (Nrf1) and -2 (Nrf2), protect against hepatic lipid stress. Here, we investigated protective effects of hepatocyte Nrf1 and Nrf2 against MASH-linked liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Male and female mice with flox alleles for genes encoding Nrf1 (Nfe2l1), Nrf2 (Nfe2l2), or both were fed a MASH-inducing diet enriched with high fat, fructose, and cholesterol (HFFC) or a control diet for 24-52 weeks. During this period, hepatocyte Nrf1, Nrf2, or combined deficiency for ~7 days, ~7 weeks, and ~35 weeks was induced by administering mice hepatocyte-targeting adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing Cre recombinase. The effects on MASH, markers of liver fibrosis and proliferation, and liver tumorigenesis were compared to control mice receiving AAV-expressing green fluorescent protein. Also, to assess the impact of Nrf1 and Nrf2 induction on liver fibrosis, HFFC diet-fed C57bl/6J mice received weekly injections of carbon tetrachloride, and from week 16 to 24, mice were treated with the Nrf2-activating drug bardoxolone, hepatocyte overexpression of human NRF1 (hNRF1), or both, and these groups were compared to control. Compared to the control diet, 24-week feeding with the HFFC diet increased bodyweight as well as liver weight, steatosis, and inflammation. It also increased hepatocyte proliferation and a marker of liver damage, p62. Hepatocyte Nrf1 and combined deficiency increased liver steatosis in control diet-fed but not HFFC diet-fed mice, and increased liver inflammation under both diet conditions. Hepatocyte Nrf1 deficiency also increased hepatocyte proliferation, whereas combined deficiency did not, and this also occurred for p62 level in control diet-fed conditions. In 52-week HFFC diet-fed mice, 35 weeks of hepatocyte Nrf1 deficiency, but not combined deficiency, resulted in more liver tumors in male mice, but not in female mice. In contrast, hepatocyte Nrf2 deficiency had no effect on any of these parameters. However, in the 15-week CCL4-exposed and 24-week HFFC diet-fed mice, Nrf2 induction with bardoxolone reduced liver steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and proliferation. Induction of hepatic Nrf1 activity with hNRF1 enhanced the effect of bardoxolone on steatosis and may have stimulated liver progenitor cells. Physiologic Nrf1 delays MASLD progression, Nrf2 induction alleviates MASH, and combined enhancement synergistically protects against steatosis and may facilitate liver repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Scott B. Widenmaier
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (M.G.A.)
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20
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Cigliano A, Liao W, Deiana GA, Rizzo D, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Preclinical Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Utility, Limitations, and Challenges. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1624. [PMID: 39062197 PMCID: PMC11274649 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant primary liver tumor, remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, despite the advances in therapy in recent years. In addition to the traditional chemically and dietary-induced HCC models, a broad spectrum of novel preclinical tools have been generated following the advent of transgenic, transposon, organoid, and in silico technologies to overcome this gloomy scenario. These models have become rapidly robust preclinical instruments to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer and establish new therapeutic approaches against this deadly disease. The present review article aims to summarize and discuss the commonly used preclinical models for HCC, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cigliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Weiting Liao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Giovanni A. Deiana
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Davide Rizzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
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21
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Seubnooch P, Montani M, Dufour JF, Masoodi M. Spatial lipidomics reveals zone-specific hepatic lipid alteration and remodeling in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. J Lipid Res 2024; 65:100599. [PMID: 39032559 PMCID: PMC11388789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Alteration in lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). However, our understanding of alteration in lipid metabolism across liver zonation in MASH remains limited. Within this study, we investigated MASH-associated zone-specific lipid metabolism in a diet and chemical-induced MASH mouse model. Spatial lipidomics using mass spectrometry imaging in a MASH mouse model revealed 130 lipids from various classes altered across liver zonation and exhibited zone-specific lipid signatures in MASH. Triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, sphingolipids and ceramides showed distinct zone-specific changes and re-distribution from pericentral to periportal localization in MASH. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (FA) were the primary FA composition of increased lipids in MASH, while polyunsaturated FAs were the major FA composition of decreased lipids. We observed elevated fibrosis in the periportal region, which could be the result of observed metabolic alteration across zonation. Our study provides valuable insights into zone-specific hepatic lipid metabolism and demonstrates the significance of spatial lipidomics in understanding liver lipid metabolism. Identifying unique lipid distribution patterns may offer valuable insights into the pathophysiology of MASH and facilitate the discovery of diagnostic markers associated with liver zonation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharamon Seubnooch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Montani
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mojgan Masoodi
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
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22
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Wang YL, Liu C, Yang YY, Zhang L, Guo X, Niu C, Zhang NP, Ding J, Wu J. Dynamic changes of gut microbiota in mouse models of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and its transition to hepatocellular carcinoma. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23766. [PMID: 38967214 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400573rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Dysbiosis of gut microbiota may account for pathobiology in simple fatty liver (SFL), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrotic progression, and transformation to MASH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (MASH-HCC). The aim of the present study is to investigate gut dysbiosis in this progression. Fecal microbial rRNA-16S sequencing, absolute quantification, histopathologic, and biochemical tests were performed in mice fed high fat/calorie diet plus high fructose and glucose in drinking water (HFCD-HF/G) or control diet (CD) for 2, 16 weeks, or 14 months. Histopathologic examination verified an early stage of SFL, MASH, fibrotic, or MASH-HCC progression with disturbance of lipid metabolism, liver injury, and impaired gut mucosal barrier as indicated by loss of occludin in ileum mucosa. Gut dysbiosis occurred as early as 2 weeks with reduced α diversity, expansion of Kineothrix, Lactococcus, Akkermansia; and shrinkage in Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, etc., at a genus level. Dysbiosis was found as early as MAHS initiation, and was much more profound through the MASH-fibrotic and oncogenic progression. Moreover, the expansion of specific species, such as Lactobacillus johnsonii and Kineothrix alysoides, was confirmed by an optimized method for absolute quantification. Dynamic alterations of gut microbiota were characterized in three stages of early SFL, MASH, and its HCC transformation. The findings suggest that the extent of dysbiosis was accompanied with MASH progression and its transformation to HCC, and the shrinking or emerging of specific microbial species may account at least in part for pathologic, metabolic, and immunologic alterations in fibrogenic progression and malignant transition in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Li Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Yu Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Niu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning-Ping Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Jing'an District Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
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23
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Reis-Costa A, Belew GD, Viegas I, Tavares LC, Meneses MJ, Patrício B, Gastaldelli A, Macedo MP, Jones JG. The Effects of Long-Term High Fat and/or High Sugar Feeding on Sources of Postprandial Hepatic Glycogen and Triglyceride Synthesis in Mice. Nutrients 2024; 16:2186. [PMID: 39064628 PMCID: PMC11279633 DOI: 10.3390/nu16142186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In MASLD (formerly called NAFLD) mouse models, oversupply of dietary fat and sugar is more lipogenic than either nutrient alone. Fatty acids suppress de novo lipogenesis (DNL) from sugars, while DNL inhibits fatty acid oxidation. How such factors interact to impact hepatic triglyceride levels are incompletely understood. METHODS Using deuterated water, we measured DNL in mice fed 18-weeks with standard chow (SC), SC supplemented with 55/45-fructose/glucose in the drinking water at 30% (w/v) (HS), high-fat chow (HF), and HF with HS supplementation (HFHS). Liver glycogen levels and its sources were also measured. For HS and HFHS mice, pentose phosphate (PP) fluxes and fructose contributions to DNL and glycogen were measured using [U-13C]fructose. RESULTS The lipogenic diets caused significantly higher liver triglyceride levels compared to SC. DNL rates were suppressed in HF compared to SC and were partially restored in HFHS but supplied a minority of the additional triglyceride in HFHS compared to HF. Fructose contributed a significantly greater fraction of newly synthesized saturated fatty acids compared to oleic acid in both HS and HFHS. Glycogen levels were not different between diets, but significant differences in Direct and Indirect pathway contributions to glycogen synthesis were found. PP fluxes were similar in HS and HFHS mice and were insufficient to account for DNL reducing equivalents. CONCLUSIONS Despite amplifying the lipogenic effects of fat, the fact that sugar-activated DNL per se barely contributes suggests that its role is likely more relevant in the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Fructose promotes lipogenesis of saturated over unsaturated fatty acids and contributes to maintenance of glycogen levels. PP fluxes associated with sugar conversion to fat account for a minor fraction of DNL reducing equivalents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Reis-Costa
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.R.-C.); (G.D.B.)
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
- Grupo de Estudos de Investigação Fundamental e Translacional (GIFT) da Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia, 1250-198 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Getachew D. Belew
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.R.-C.); (G.D.B.)
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Ivan Viegas
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Ludgero C. Tavares
- Vasco da Gama Research Center (CIVG), University School Vasco da Gama, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Maria João Meneses
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.J.M.); (B.P.); (M.P.M.)
| | - Bárbara Patrício
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.J.M.); (B.P.); (M.P.M.)
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Amalia Gastaldelli
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Paula Macedo
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.J.M.); (B.P.); (M.P.M.)
- APDP-Diabetes Portugal Education and Research Center (APDP-ERC), 1250-203 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - John G. Jones
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
- Grupo de Estudos de Investigação Fundamental e Translacional (GIFT) da Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia, 1250-198 Lisboa, Portugal
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24
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Huang B, Yu Z, Cui D, Du F. MAPKAP1 orchestrates macrophage polarization and lipid metabolism in fatty liver-enhanced colorectal cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 45:101941. [PMID: 38692197 PMCID: PMC11070763 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Various factors, including fatty liver and macrophage alterations, influence colorectal cancer (CRC). This study explores the mechanistic role of fatty liver in CRC progression, focusing on macrophage polarization and lipid metabolism. A murine fatty liver model was created with a high-fat diet (HFD), and CRC was induced using AOM and DSS. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) identified MAPKAP1 as a critical gene promoting CRC via M2 macrophage polarization and lipid metabolism reprogramming. Prognosis analysis on the TCGA-CRC dataset confirmed MAPKAP1's significance. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that EVs from fatty liver cells enhanced MAPKAP1 expression, accelerating CRC development and metastasis. HFD exacerbated CRC, but fatty acid inhibitors delayed progression. Fatty liver upregulates MAPKAP1, driving M2 macrophage polarization and lipid metabolism changes, worsening CRC. These findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies for CRC, particularly targeting lipid metabolism and macrophage-mediated tumor promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Huang
- Department of Hypertension, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No.28, Guimedical Street, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, PR China.
| | - Zhenqiu Yu
- Department of Hypertension, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No.28, Guimedical Street, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, PR China.
| | - Dejun Cui
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, PR China.
| | - Fawang Du
- Department of Hypertension, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No.28, Guimedical Street, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, PR China
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25
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Jun H, Liu S, Knights AJ, Zhu K, Ma Y, Gong J, Lenhart AE, Peng X, Huang Y, Ginder JP, Downie CH, Ramos ET, Kullander K, Kennedy RT, Xu XZS, Wu J. Signaling through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the liver protects against the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002728. [PMID: 39028754 PMCID: PMC11290650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the progressive form of liver steatosis, the most common liver disease, and substantially increases the mortality rate. However, limited therapies are currently available to prevent MASH development. Identifying potential pharmacological treatments for the condition has been hampered by its heterogeneous and complex nature. Here, we identified a hepatic nonneuronal cholinergic signaling pathway required for metabolic adaptation to caloric overload. We found that cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 subunit (CHRNA2) is highly expressed in hepatocytes of mice and humans. Further, CHRNA2 is activated by a subpopulation of local acetylcholine-producing macrophages during MASH development. The activation of CHRNA2 coordinates defensive programs against a broad spectrum of MASH-related pathogenesis, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatocyte-specific loss of CHRNA2 signaling accelerates the disease onset in different MASH mouse models. Activation of this pathway via pharmacological inhibition of acetylcholine degradation protects against MASH development. Our study uncovers a hepatic nicotinic cholinergic receptor pathway that constitutes a cell-autonomous self-defense route against prolonged metabolic stress and holds therapeutic potential for combatting human MASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejin Jun
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Alexander J. Knights
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Kezhou Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Yingxu Ma
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianke Gong
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Sciences and Technology, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ashley E. Lenhart
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Xiaoling Peng
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Yunying Huang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jared P. Ginder
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Christopher H. Downie
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Erika Thalia Ramos
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert T. Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - X. Z. Shawn Xu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jun Wu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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26
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Karin M, Kim JY. MASH as an emerging cause of hepatocellular carcinoma: current knowledge and future perspectives. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38874196 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the deadliest and fastest-growing cancers. Among HCC etiologies, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has served as a major HCC driver due to its great potential for increasing cirrhosis. The obesogenic environment fosters a positive energy balance and results in a continuous rise of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, it is difficult to understand how metabolic complications lead to the poor prognosis of liver diseases and which molecular mechanisms are underpinning MAFLD-driven HCC development. Thus, suitable preclinical models that recapitulate human etiologies are essentially required. Numerous preclinical models have been created but not many mimicked anthropometric measures and the course of disease progression shown in the patients. Here we review the literature on adipose tissues, liver-related HCC etiologies and recently discovered genetic mutation signatures found in MAFLD-driven HCC patients. We also critically review current rodent models suggested for MAFLD-driven HCC study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Karin
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ju Youn Kim
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan, Korea
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27
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Xie W, Gan J, Zhou X, Tian H, Pan X, Liu W, Li X, Du J, Xu A, Zheng M, Wu F, Li Y, Lin Z. Myocardial infarction accelerates the progression of MASH by triggering immunoinflammatory response and induction of periosti. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1269-1286.e9. [PMID: 38838640 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), especially advanced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Whether CVD events will, in turn, influence the pathogenesis of MASLD remains unknown. Here, we show that myocardial infarction (MI) accelerates hepatic pathological progression of MASLD. Patients with MASLD who experience CVD events after their diagnosis exhibit accelerated liver fibrosis progression. MI promotes hepatic fibrosis in mice with MASH, accompanied by elevated circulating Ly6Chi monocytes and their recruitment to damaged liver tissues. These adverse effects are significantly abrogated when deleting these cells. Meanwhile, MI substantially increases circulating and cardiac periostin levels, which act on hepatocytes and stellate cells to promote hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrosis, finally exacerbating hepatic pathological progression of MASH. These preclinical and clinical results demonstrate that MI alters systemic homeostasis and upregulates pro-fibrotic factor production, triggering cross-disease communication that accelerates hepatic pathological progression of MASLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xie
- The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523326, China; Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jing Gan
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Huiying Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xingchao Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Wenyue Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jie Du
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University, the Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Aimin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Minghua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Fan Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Yuling Li
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University, the Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Zhuofeng Lin
- The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523326, China; Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; The Innovation Center of Cardiometabolic Disease, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
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28
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Ma P, Wang X, Wen X, Pu L, Ou Y. Protective effects of dopamine against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via inhibiting p65 pathways in vivo and in vitro. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2024; 13:tfae068. [PMID: 38737340 PMCID: PMC11082461 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfae068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Currently, the role and mechanism of dopamine in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. Methods In vitro experiments utilized FFA and LPS to establish NASH cell models, while a fibrotic cell model was created using TGFβ1 to investigate the impact of dopamine on cellular lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. In vivo experiments involved the use of MCD and HFD diets to induce NASH in mouse models for observing the effects of dopamine on NASH disease progression. Results Our study showed that dopamine significantly downregulated the expression levels of Caspase 1, IL-1β and IL18 in the HepG2 NASH cell model. In addition, dopamine could inhibit the TGF-β1-induced accumulation of collagen I and α-SMA in LX2 cells. In vivo experiments have shown that dopamine attenuation in mice is associated with MCD diet-induced and HFD-induced steatohepatitis. Mechanically, dopamine inhibits the p65 signaling pathway in NASH. Conclusion In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the role of dopamine in ameliorating the symptoms of NASH and provides a direction for future research on the application of the dopaminergic system to liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ma
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
| | - Xiuqi Wen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
| | - Lingyun Pu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
| | - Yu Ou
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
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29
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Zhou R, Song Y, Xu C, Zhang Y, Wu X, Zhang L, Luo X, Zhao H, Liu M, Xu J, Wang L, Chen Z, Han Q. Altered counts and mitochondrial mass of peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18440. [PMID: 38890792 PMCID: PMC11187856 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) damages liver cells through abnormal immune responses. Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for effector functions of white blood cells (WBCs). The aim was to investigate the altered counts and mitochondrial mass (MM) of WBCs by two novel indicators of mitochondrial mass, MM and percentage of low mitochondrial membrane potential, MMPlow%, due to chronic HBV infection. The counts of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes in the HBV infection group were in decline, especially for lymphocyte (p = 0.034) and monocyte counts (p = 0.003). The degraded MM (p = 0.003) and MMPlow% (p = 0.002) of lymphocytes and MM (p = 0.005) of monocytes suggested mitochondrial dysfunction of WBCs. HBV DNA within WBCs showed an extensive effect on mitochondria metabolic potential of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes indicated by MM; hepatitis B e antigen was associated with instant mitochondrial energy supply indicated by MMPlow% of neutrophils; hepatitis B surface antigen, antiviral therapy by nucleos(t)ide analogues and prolonged infection were also vital factors contributing to WBC alterations. Moreover, degraded neutrophils and monocytes could be used to monitor immune responses reflecting chronic liver fibrosis and inflammatory damage. In conclusion, MM combined with cell counts of WBCs could profoundly reflect WBC alterations for monitoring chronic HBV infection. Moreover, HBV DNA within WBCs may be a vital factor in injuring mitochondria metabolic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo‐Ran Zhou
- Medical Center of Soochow UniversitySuzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Ya‐Hui Song
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Cheng‐Yu Xu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Ying‐Ying Zhang
- Infectious Disease DepartmentThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xiang‐Wei Wu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xi‐Ni Luo
- Medical Center of Soochow UniversitySuzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Han Zhao
- Medical Center of Soochow UniversitySuzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Ming‐Ming Liu
- Infectious Disease DepartmentThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jun‐Chi Xu
- The Fifth People's Hospital of SuzhouSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Lin Wang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Zu‐Tao Chen
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Infectious Disease DepartmentThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Qing‐Zhen Han
- Medical Center of Soochow UniversitySuzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversitySuzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Center of Clinical Laboratory and Translational MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake HospitalSuzhouPeople's Republic of China
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30
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Ning M, Song L, Niu X, Wang Y, Liu W, Hu J, Cai H, Song W, Liu L, Li H, Gong D, Smith J, Huang Y. Multiscale 3D genome organization underlies duck fatty liver with no adipose inflammation or serious injury. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 271:132452. [PMID: 38777007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease. Little is known about how gene expression and chromatin structure are regulated in NAFLD due to lack of suitable model. Ducks naturally develop fatty liver similar to serious human non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) without adipose inflammation and liver fibrosis, thus serves as a good model for investigating molecular mechanisms of adipose metabolism and anti-inflammation. Here, we constructed a NAFLD model without adipose inflammation and liver fibrosis in ducks. By performing dynamic pathological and transcriptomic analyses, we identified critical genes involving in regulation of the NF-κB and MHCII signaling, which usually lead to adipose inflammation and liver fibrosis. We further generated dynamic three-dimensional chromatin maps during liver fatty formation and recovery. This showed that ducks enlarged hepatocyte cell nuclei to reduce inter-chromosomal interaction, decompress chromatin structure, and alter strength of intra-TAD and loop interactions during fatty liver formation. These changes partially contributed to the tight control the NF-κB and the MHCII signaling. Our analysis uncovers duck chromatin reorganization might be advantageous to maintain liver regenerative capacity and reduce adipose inflammation. These findings shed light on new strategies for NAFLD control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Ning
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Linfei Song
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Weitao Song
- Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science, Yangzhou, China
| | - Long Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Huifang Li
- Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science, Yangzhou, China
| | - Daoqing Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jacqueline Smith
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Yinhua Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biology Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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31
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Vacca M, Kamzolas I, Harder LM, Oakley F, Trautwein C, Hatting M, Ross T, Bernardo B, Oldenburger A, Hjuler ST, Ksiazek I, Lindén D, Schuppan D, Rodriguez-Cuenca S, Tonini MM, Castañeda TR, Kannt A, Rodrigues CMP, Cockell S, Govaere O, Daly AK, Allison M, Honnens de Lichtenberg K, Kim YO, Lindblom A, Oldham S, Andréasson AC, Schlerman F, Marioneaux J, Sanyal A, Afonso MB, Younes R, Amano Y, Friedman SL, Wang S, Bhattacharya D, Simon E, Paradis V, Burt A, Grypari IM, Davies S, Driessen A, Yashiro H, Pors S, Worm Andersen M, Feigh M, Yunis C, Bedossa P, Stewart M, Cater HL, Wells S, Schattenberg JM, Anstee QM, Tiniakos D, Perfield JW, Petsalaki E, Davidsen P, Vidal-Puig A. An unbiased ranking of murine dietary models based on their proximity to human metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Nat Metab 2024; 6:1178-1196. [PMID: 38867022 PMCID: PMC11199145 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, encompasses steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Preclinical MASLD research is mainly performed in rodents; however, the model that best recapitulates human disease is yet to be defined. We conducted a wide-ranging retrospective review (metabolic phenotype, liver histopathology, transcriptome benchmarked against humans) of murine models (mostly male) and ranked them using an unbiased MASLD 'human proximity score' to define their metabolic relevance and ability to induce MASH-fibrosis. Here, we show that Western diets align closely with human MASH; high cholesterol content, extended study duration and/or genetic manipulation of disease-promoting pathways are required to intensify liver damage and accelerate significant (F2+) fibrosis development. Choline-deficient models rapidly induce MASH-fibrosis while showing relatively poor translatability. Our ranking of commonly used MASLD models, based on their proximity to human MASLD, helps with the selection of appropriate in vivo models to accelerate preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Vacca
- TVP Lab, WT/MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
- Laboratory of Liver Metabolism and MASLD, Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, London, UK.
| | - Ioannis Kamzolas
- TVP Lab, WT/MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lea Mørch Harder
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fiona Oakley
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Hatting
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Trenton Ross
- Internal Medicine research Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Barbara Bernardo
- Internal Medicine research Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anouk Oldenburger
- CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | | | - Iwona Ksiazek
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Lindén
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Maria Manuela Tonini
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Tamara R Castañeda
- R&D Diabetes & Portfolio Innovation and Excellence, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Aimo Kannt
- R&D Diabetes, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Fraunhofer Innovation Center TheraNova and Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Simon Cockell
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ann K Daly
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michael Allison
- Liver Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yong Ook Kim
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anna Lindblom
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Oldham
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Anne-Christine Andréasson
- Bioscience Cardiovascular, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Franklin Schlerman
- Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Arun Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Marta B Afonso
- Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ramy Younes
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Yuichiro Amano
- Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dipankar Bhattacharya
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric Simon
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Université Paris Diderot and Hôpital Beaujon, Paris, France
| | - Alastair Burt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ioanna Maria Grypari
- Department of Pathology, Aretaeion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Susan Davies
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ann Driessen
- Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hiroaki Yashiro
- Research, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Carla Yunis
- Pfizer, Inc.; Internal Medicine and Hospital, Pfizer Research and Development, Lake Mary, FL, USA
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- LiverPat, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg, Germany
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
- Department of Pathology, Aretaeion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - James W Perfield
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Evangelia Petsalaki
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Peter Davidsen
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, International PharmaScience Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Antonio Vidal-Puig
- TVP Lab, WT/MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, Valencia, Spain.
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Araujo L, Dias C, Sucupira F, Ramalho L, Camporez J. A short-term rodent model for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis induced by a high-fat diet and carbon tetrachloride. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231532. [PMID: 38660995 PMCID: PMC11081943 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Several models of mice-fed high-fat diets have been used to trigger non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and some chemical substances, such as carbon tetrachloride. The present study aimed to evaluate the joint action of a high-fat diet and CCl4 in developing a short-term non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model. C57BL6/J mice were divided into two groups: standard diet-fed (SD), the high-fat diet-fed (HFD) and HFD + fructose-fed and carbon tetrachloride (HFD+CCl4). The animals fed with HFD+CCl4 presented increased lipid deposition compared with both SD and HFD mice. Plasma cholesterol was increased in animals from the HFD+CCl4 group compared with the SD and HFD groups, without significant differences between the SD and HFD groups. Plasma triglycerides showed no significant difference between the groups. The HFD+CCl4 animals had increased collagen deposition in the liver compared with both SD and HFD groups. Hydroxyproline was also increased in the HFD+CCl4 group. Liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, were increased in the HFD+CCl4 group, compared with SD and HFD groups. Also, CCl4 was able to trigger an inflammatory process in the liver of HFD-fed animals by promoting an increase of ∼2 times in macrophage activity, ∼6 times in F4/80 gene expression, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b and TNFa), in addition to an increase in inflammatory pathway protein phosphorylation (IKKbp). HFD e HFD+CCl4 animals increased glucose intolerance compared with SD mice, associated with reduced insulin-stimulated AKT activity in the liver. Therefore, our study has shown that short-term HFD feeding associated with fructose and CCl4 can trigger non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cause damage to glucose metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layanne C.C. Araujo
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina C.B. Dias
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe G. Sucupira
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandra N.Z. Ramalho
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Camporez
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Ling C, Liu SS, Wang YY, Huo GT, Yang YW, Xu N, Wang H, Wu Y, Miao YF, Fu R, Zhao YW, Fan CF. Overexpression of wild-type HRAS drives non-alcoholic steatohepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Zool Res 2024; 45:551-566. [PMID: 38757223 PMCID: PMC11188599 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a prevalent solid carcinoma of significant concern, is an aggressive and often fatal disease with increasing global incidence rates and poor therapeutic outcomes. The etiology and pathological progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related HCC is multifactorial and multistage. However, no single animal model can accurately mimic the full NASH-related HCC pathological progression, posing considerable challenges to transition and mechanistic studies. Herein, a novel conditional inducible wild-type human HRAS overexpressed mouse model (HRAS-HCC) was established, demonstrating 100% morbidity and mortality within approximately one month under normal dietary and lifestyle conditions. Advanced symptoms of HCC such as ascites, thrombus, internal hemorrhage, jaundice, and lung metastasis were successfully replicated in mice. In-depth pathological features of NASH- related HCC were demonstrated by pathological staining, biochemical analyses, and typical marker gene detections. Combined murine anti-PD-1 and sorafenib treatment effectively prolonged mouse survival, further confirming the accuracy and reliability of the model. Based on protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and RNA sequencing analyses, we speculated that overexpression of HRAS may initiate the THBS1-COL4A3 axis to induce NASH with severe fibrosis, with subsequent progression to HCC. Collectively, our study successfully duplicated natural sequential progression in a single murine model over a very short period, providing an accurate and reliable preclinical tool for therapeutic evaluations targeting the NASH to HCC continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ling
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Su-Su Liu
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Yu-Ya Wang
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Gui-Tao Huo
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yan-Wei Yang
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 100176, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Products Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Division of Laboratory Animal Monitoring, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Yu-Fa Miao
- National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 100176, China
| | - Rui Fu
- Division of Laboratory Animal Monitoring, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China
| | - Yu-Wei Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. E-mail:
| | - Chang-Fa Fan
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing 102629, China. E-mail:
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Xie Y, Huang Y, Li ZY, Jiang W, Shi NX, Lu Y, Cao G, Yin Z, Lin XJ. Interleukin-21 receptor signaling promotes metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis-driven hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing immunosuppressive IgA + B cells. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:95. [PMID: 38720319 PMCID: PMC11077880 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02001-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of immune surveillance is tightly linked to the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to determine the role of interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R) in MASH-driven HCC. METHODS The clinical significance of IL-21R was assessed in human HCC specimens using immunohistochemistry staining. Furthermore, the expression of IL-21R in mice was assessed in the STAM model. Thereafter, two different MASH-driven HCC mouse models were applied between IL-21R-deficient mice and wild type controls to explore the role of IL-21R in MASH-driven HCC. To further elucidate the potential mechanisms by which IL-21R affected MASH-driven HCC, whole transcriptome sequencing, flow cytometry and adoptive lymphocyte transfer were performed. Finally, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescent staining, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and western blotting were conducted to explore the mechanism by which IL-21R induced IgA+ B cells. RESULTS HCC patients with high IL-21R expression exhibited poor relapse-free survival, advanced TNM stage and severe steatosis. Additionally, IL-21R was demonstrated to be upregulated in mouse liver tumors. Particularly, ablation of IL-21R impeded MASH-driven hepatocarcinogenesis with dramatically reduction of lipid accumulation. Moreover, cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocyte activation was enhanced in the absence of IL-21R due to the reduction of immunosuppressive IgA+ B cells. Mechanistically, the IL-21R-STAT1-c-Jun/c-Fos regulatory axis was activated in MASH-driven HCC and thus promoted the transcription of Igha, resulting in the induction of IgA+ B cells. CONCLUSIONS IL-21R plays a cancer-promoting role by inducing IgA+ B cells in MASH-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. Targeting IL-21R signaling represents a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Disease Models, Animal
- Fatty Liver/metabolism
- Fatty Liver/pathology
- Fatty Liver/etiology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Immunoglobulin A/metabolism
- Interleukin-21 Receptor alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Interleukin-21 Receptor alpha Subunit/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/etiology
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Receptors, Interleukin-21/metabolism
- Receptors, Interleukin-21/genetics
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xie
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Yu Huang
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Li
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Weihua Jiang
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Nan-Xi Shi
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Yuanzhi Lu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Guangchao Cao
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Zhinan Yin
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Xue-Jia Lin
- The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis & Infection Prevention and Control, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People's Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
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Li Y, Qi P, Song SY, Wang Y, Wang H, Cao P, Liu Y, Wang Y. Elucidating cuproptosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116585. [PMID: 38615611 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging research into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) up until January 2024 has highlighted the critical role of cuproptosis, a unique cell death mechanism triggered by copper overload, in the disease's development. This connection offers new insights into MASLD's complex pathogenesis, pointing to copper accumulation as a key factor that disrupts lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The identification of cuproptosis as a significant contributor to MASLD underscores the potential for targeting copper-mediated pathways for novel therapeutic approaches. This promising avenue suggests that managing copper levels could mitigate MASLD progression, offering a fresh perspective on treatment strategies. Further investigations into how cuproptosis influences MASLD are essential for unraveling the detailed mechanisms at play and for identifying effective interventions. The focus on copper's role in liver health opens up the possibility of developing targeted therapies that address the underlying causes of MASLD, moving beyond symptomatic treatment to tackle the root of the problem. The exploration of cuproptosis in the context of MASLD exemplifies the importance of understanding metal homeostasis in metabolic diseases and represents a significant step forward in the quest for more effective treatments. This research direction lights path for innovative MASLD management and reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamei Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Qi
- Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Yiping Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hailian Wang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center of Organ Transplantation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Yu'e Liu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center of Organ Transplantation, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
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36
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Navarro-Corcuera A, Zhu Y, Ma F, Gupta N, Asplund H, Yuan F, Friedman S, Sansbury BE, Huang X, Cai B. Therapeutic Activity of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) in Murine MASH. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590633. [PMID: 38712196 PMCID: PMC11071427 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Background and Aims Recent studies have highlighted the beneficial effect of resolvin D1 (RvD1), a DHA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediator, on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Our study aims to determine the mechanism by which RvD1 protects against MASH progression. Methods RvD1 was administered to mice with experimental MASH, followed by bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Primary cells including bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), Kupffer cells, T cells, and primary hepatocytes were isolated to elucidate the effect of RvD1 on inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis regression genes. Results Hepatic tissue levels of RvD1 were decreased in murine and human MASH, likely due to an expansion of pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages with diminished ability to produce RvD1. Administering RvD1 reduced inflammation, cell death, and liver fibrosis. Mechanistically, RvD1 reduced inflammation by suppressing the Stat1-Cxcl10 signaling pathway in macrophages and prevented hepatocyte death by alleviating ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, RvD1 induced Mmp2 and decreased Acta2 expression in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and promoted Mmp9 and Mmp12 expression in macrophages, leading to fibrosis regression in MASH. Conclusions RvD1 reduces Stat1-mediated inflammation, mitigates ER stress-induced apoptosis, and promotes MMP-mediated fibrosis regression in MASH. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of RvD1 to treat MASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaia Navarro-Corcuera
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yiwei Zhu
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Fanglin Ma
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Neha Gupta
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Haley Asplund
- Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Feifei Yuan
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Scott Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Brian E. Sansbury
- Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xin Huang
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Bishuang Cai
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Chen D, Wang Y, Yang J, Ou W, Lin G, Zeng Z, Lu X, Chen Z, Zou L, Tian Y, Wu A, Keating SE, Yang Q, Lin C, Liang Y. Shenling Baizhu San ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1343755. [PMID: 38720776 PMCID: PMC11076757 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1343755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its related mortality is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to offer potential for early prevention and treatment of NAFLD. The new mechanism of "Shenling Baizhu San" (SLBZS) is examined in this study for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD at the preclinical level. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal diet (ND), western diet + CCl4 injection (WDC), and SLBZS intervention (WDC + SLBZS). Body weights, energy intake, liver enzymes, pro-inflammatory factors, and steatosis were recorded in detail. Meanwhile, TPH1, 5-HT, HTR2A, and HTR2B were tested using qRT-PCR or ELISA. Dynamic changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites were further detected through the 16S rRNA gene and untargeted metabolomics. Results: SLBZS intervention for 6 weeks could reduce the serum and liver lipid profiles, glucose, and pro-inflammatory factors while improving insulin resistance and liver function indexes in the mice, thus alleviating NAFLD in mice. More importantly, significant changes were found in the intestinal TPH-1, 5-HT, liver 5-HT, and related receptors HTR2A and HTR2B. The 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that SLBZS was able to modulate the disturbance of gut microbiota, remarkably increasing the relative abundance of probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Parvibacter) and inhibiting the growth of pro-inflammatory bacteria (Erysipelatoclostridium and Lachnoclostridium) in mice with NAFLD. Combined with metabolomics in positive- and negative-ion-mode analyses, approximately 50 common differential metabolites were selected via non-targeted metabolomics detection, which indicated that the targeting effect of SLBZS included lipid metabolites, bile acids (BAs), amino acids (AAs), and tryptophan metabolites. In particular, the lipid metabolites 15-OxEDE, vitamin D3, desoxycortone, and oleoyl ethanol amide were restored by SLBZS. Conclusion: Integrating the above results of multiple omics suggests that SLBZS ameliorates NAFLD via specific gut microbiota, gut-derived 5-HT, and related metabolites to decrease fat accumulation in the liver and inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Chen
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuanfei Wang
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jianmei Yang
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wanyi Ou
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guiru Lin
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ze Zeng
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaomin Lu
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zumin Chen
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lili Zou
- School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yaling Tian
- School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Aiping Wu
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shelley E. Keating
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Qinhe Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Health Science Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chenli Lin
- School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Health Science Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yinji Liang
- School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Health Science Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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Shang S, Wan Q, Chen F, Hu J. Co-targeting ASK1 and THRβ synergistically improves steatohepatitis and fibrosis in a MASH animal model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 705:149739. [PMID: 38460439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a liver disease that has gained widespread attention globally. Unfortunately, there is no approved treatment for this condition yet. However, recent research has identified Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and thyroid hormone receptor-β (THR-β) as potential targets for treating MASH. Although the individual effects of these two targets have been studied, their combinatory effect has not been well defined. Therefore, further research is needed to investigate the potential benefits of targeting both ASK1 and THR-β for treating MASH. METHODS We established a MASH model using the HFHFrC diet (high fat, high fructose, and cholesterol) and carbon tetrachloride (CCL4). Forty mice were evenly assigned to four groups: vehicle, GS4997 (an ASK1 inhibitor), MGL3196 (a THRβ agonist), GS4997+ MGL3196 combination (combo). The drugs were administered for 8 weeks, after which the mice were sacrificed for serum biochemical tests, liver TG and TC evaluation, liver histopathological study, and gene expression validation. RESULTS GS4997 and MGL3196, when used in combination, have been shown to have synergistic effects on various parameters. Firstly, they synergistically reduced body weight and liver body weight ratio. Secondly, this combination also synergistically lowered AST and TC. Thirdly, synergistic effects were also observed in liver TG and TC reduction. Fourthly, we further confirmed that GS4997 mildly improved liver inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis, but exhibited incredible histopathological efficacy when combined with MGL3196. Finally, this combinatory effect can be interpreted by synergistically regulating lipid-related genes such as Dio1, Ctp1-α, and Cat, inflammation-related genes such as Il-6, Il-8, and Mcp-1, and fibrosis-related genes such as Tgf-β, Col1α1, and Col6α3. CONCLUSION GS4997 and MGL3196, when used in combination, have been shown to have a comprehensive effect on MASH by synergistically regulating lipid, inflammation, and fibrosis-related gene expression through co-targeting ASK1 and THRβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Shang
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Qin Wan
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Faxiu Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jian Hu
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
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Wang YF, Zhang WL, Li ZX, Liu Y, Tan J, Yin HZ, Zhang ZC, Piao XJ, Ruan MH, Dai ZH, Wang SJ, Mu CY, Yuan JH, Sun SH, Liu H, Yang F. METTL14 downregulation drives S100A4 + monocyte-derived macrophages via MyD88/NF-κB pathway to promote MAFLD progression. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:91. [PMID: 38627387 PMCID: PMC11021505 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01797-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Without intervention, a considerable proportion of patients with metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) will progress from simple steatosis to metabolism-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), liver fibrosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms that control progressive MAFLD have yet to be fully determined. Here, we unraveled that the expression of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL14 is remarkably downregulated in the livers of both patients and several murine models of MAFLD, whereas hepatocyte-specific depletion of this methyltransferase aggravated lipid accumulation, liver injury, and fibrosis. Conversely, hepatic Mettl14 overexpression alleviated the above pathophysiological changes in mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD). Notably, in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies indicated that METTL14 downregulation decreased the level of GLS2 by affecting the translation efficiency mediated by YTHDF1 in an m6A-depedent manner, which might help to form an oxidative stress microenvironment and accordingly recruit Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ monocyte-derived macrophages (Mo-macs). In detail, Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ Mo-macs can be categorized into M1-like macrophages and S100A4-positive macrophages and then further activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to promote liver fibrosis. Further experiments revealed that CX3CR1 can activate the transcription of S100A4 via CX3CR1/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ Mo-macs. Restoration of METTL14 or GLS2, or interfering with this signal transduction pathway such as inhibiting MyD88 could ameliorate liver injuries and fibrosis. Taken together, these findings indicate potential therapies for the treatment of MAFLD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Fan Wang
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Li Zhang
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Xuan Li
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Medical Innovation Research Division and Fourth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100048, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Liu
- The Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Tan
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao-Zan Yin
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Chao Zhang
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-Jie Piao
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Min-Hao Ruan
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Dai
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Si-Jie Wang
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen-Yang Mu
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Hang Yuan
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Han Sun
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Liu
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fu Yang
- The Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biosafety Defense, Ministry of Education, 200433, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, 200433, Shanghai, China.
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Chen Y, Yu M, Chen L, Mao J, Wang W, Yang Z, Cao Z, Liu Y, Wei M, Zhang L, Li Z. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of first-in-class FABP1 inhibitors for the treatment of NASH. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116358. [PMID: 38574638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1) is a fatty acid transporter protein that is considered as an emerging target for metabolic diseases. Despite forceful evidence that the inhibition of FABP1 is essential for ameliorating NASH, pharmacological control and validation of FABP1 are hindered by a lack of relevant inhibitors as pharmacological tool. Therefore, the development of effective FABP1 inhibitors is a current focus of research. Herein, we firstly reported the comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of novel FABP1 inhibitors derived from high throughput screening of our in-house library, which resulting in the identification of the optimal compound 44 (IC50 = 4.46 ± 0.54 μM). Molecular docking studies revealed that 44 forms stable hydrogen bonds with amino acids around the active pocket of FABP1. Moreover, 44 alleviated the typical histological features of fatty liver in NASH mice, including steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning and fibrosis. Additionally, 44 has been demonstrated to have lipid metabolism regulating, anti-oxidative stress and hepatoprotective properties. This study might be provided a promising insight into the field of NASH and inspiration for the development of FABP1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Mingyang Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Lianru Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Jianming Mao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhongcheng Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhijun Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Yuxia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Min Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Luyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Zheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Center for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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Breitenecker K, Heiden D, Demmer T, Weber G, Primorac AM, Hedrich V, Ortmayr G, Gruenberger T, Starlinger P, Herndler-Brandstetter D, Barozzi I, Mikulits W. Tumor-Extrinsic Axl Expression Shapes an Inflammatory Microenvironment Independent of Tumor Cell Promoting Axl Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4202. [PMID: 38673795 PMCID: PMC11050718 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl by Gas6 is a major driver of tumorigenesis. Despite recent insights, tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic Axl functions are poorly understood in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, we analyzed the cell-specific aspects of Axl in liver cancer cells and in the tumor microenvironment. We show that tumor-intrinsic Axl expression decreased the survival of mice and elevated the number of pulmonary metastases in a model of resection-based tumor recurrence. Axl expression increased the invasion of hepatospheres by the activation of Akt signaling and a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the liver tumor burden of Axl+/+ mice induced by diethylnitrosamine plus carbon tetrachloride was reduced compared to systemic Axl-/- mice. Tumors of Axl+/+ mice were highly infiltrated with cytotoxic cells, suggesting a key immune-modulatory role of Axl. Interestingly, hepatocyte-specific Axl deficiency did not alter T cell infiltration, indicating that these changes are independent of tumor cell-intrinsic Axl. In this context, we observed an upregulation of multiple chemokines in Axl+/+ compared to Axl-/- tumors, correlating with HCC patient data. In line with this, Axl is associated with a cytotoxic immune signature in HCC patients. Together these data show that tumor-intrinsic Axl expression fosters progression, while tumor-extrinsic Axl expression shapes an inflammatory microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Breitenecker
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Denise Heiden
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Tobias Demmer
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Gerhard Weber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Ana-Maria Primorac
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Viola Hedrich
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Gregor Ortmayr
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Thomas Gruenberger
- Department of Surgery, HPB Center, Viennese Health Network, Clinic Favoriten and Sigmund Freud Private University, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Starlinger
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Centre of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dietmar Herndler-Brandstetter
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
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Tian Y, Jellinek MJ, Mehta K, Seok SM, Kuo SH, Lu W, Shi R, Lee R, Lau GW, Kemper JK, Zhang K, Ford DA, Wang B. Membrane phospholipid remodeling modulates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis progression by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. Hepatology 2024; 79:882-897. [PMID: 36999536 PMCID: PMC10544743 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS NASH, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis, is emerging as a leading etiology of HCC. Lipidomics analyses in the liver have shown that the levels of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) are decreased in patients with NASH, but the roles of membrane PC composition in the pathogenesis of NASH have not been investigated. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), a phospholipid (PL) remodeling enzyme that produces polyunsaturated PLs, is a major determinant of membrane PC content in the liver. APPROACH AND RESULTS The expression of LPCAT3 and the correlation between its expression and NASH severity were analyzed in human patient samples. We examined the effect of Lpcat3 deficiency on NASH progression using Lpcat3 liver-specific knockout (LKO) mice. RNA sequencing, lipidomics, and metabolomics were performed in liver samples. Primary hepatocytes and hepatic cell lines were used for in vitro analyses. We showed that LPCAT3 was dramatically suppressed in human NASH livers, and its expression was inversely correlated with NAFLD activity score and fibrosis stage. Loss of Lpcat3 in mouse liver promotes both spontaneous and diet-induced NASH/HCC. Mechanistically, Lpcat3 deficiency enhances reactive oxygen species production due to impaired mitochondrial homeostasis. Loss of Lpcat3 increases inner mitochondrial membrane PL saturation and elevates stress-induced autophagy, resulting in reduced mitochondrial content and increased fragmentation. Furthermore, overexpression of Lpcat3 in the liver ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis of NASH. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that membrane PL composition modulates the progression of NASH and that manipulating LPCAT3 expression could be an effective therapeutic for NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Matthew J. Jellinek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kritika Mehta
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sun Mi Seok
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shanny Hsuan Kuo
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ruicheng Shi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Gee W. Lau
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jongsook Kim Kemper
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - David A. Ford
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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43
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Hu Y, Bao X, Zhang Z, Chen L, Liang Y, Qu Y, Zhou Q, Zhou X, Fang J, Xiao Z, Fu Y, Yang H, Liu W, Lv Y, Cao H, Chen G, Ping J, Zhang H, Mu Y, Liu C, Lin CP, Wu J, Liu P, Chen J. Hepatic progenitor cell-originated ductular reaction facilitates liver fibrosis through activation of hedgehog signaling. Theranostics 2024; 14:2379-2395. [PMID: 38646644 PMCID: PMC11024850 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: It is poorly understood what cellular types participate in ductular reaction (DR) and whether DR facilitates recovery from injury or accelerates hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study is to gain insights into the role of hepatic progenitor cell (HPC)-originated DR during fibrotic progression. Methods: DR in liver specimens of PBC, chronic HBV infection (CHB) or NAFLD, and four rodent fibrotic models by different pathogenic processes was evaluated. Gli1 expression was inhibited in rodent models or cell culture and organoid models by AAV-shGli1 or treating with GANT61. Results: Severity of liver fibrosis was positively correlated with DR extent in patients with PBC, CHB or NAFLD. HPCs were activated, expanded, differentiated into reactive cholangiocytes and constituted "HPC-originated DR", accompanying with exacerbated fibrosis in rodent models of HPC activation & proliferation (CCl4/2-AAF-treated), Μdr2-/- spontaneous PSC, BDL-cholestatic fibrosis or WD-fed/CCl4-treated NASH-fibrosis. Gli1 expression was significantly increased in enriched pathways in vivo and in vitro. Enhanced Gli1 expression was identified in KRT19+-reactive cholangiocytes. Suppressing Gli1 expression by administration of AAV-shGli1 or GANT61 ameliorated HPC-originated DR and fibrotic extent. KRT19 expression was reduced after GANT61 treatment in sodium butyrate-stimulated WB-F344 cells or organoids or in cells transduced with Gli1 knockdown lentiviral vectors. In contrast, KRT19 expression was elevated after transducing Gli1 overexpression lentiviral vectors in these cells. Conclusions: During various modes of chronic injury, Gli1 acted as an important mediator of HPC activation, expansion, differentiation into reactive cholangiocytes that formed DR, and subsequently provoked hepatic fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Hu
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Institute of Surgery of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xinyu Bao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Long Chen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yue Liang
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yan Qu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qun Zhou
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhou
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jing Fang
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhun Xiao
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yadong Fu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hailin Yang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ying Lv
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongyan Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai TCM - Integrated hospital, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Gaofeng Chen
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Ping
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yongping Mu
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chenghai Liu
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chao-Po Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiamei Chen
- Institute of Liver diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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44
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Huang C, Yong Q, Lu Y, Wang L, Zheng Y, Zhao L, Li P, Peng C, Jia W, Liu F. Gentiopicroside improves non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by activating PPARα and suppressing HIF1. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1335814. [PMID: 38515850 PMCID: PMC10956515 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1335814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Gentiopicroside (GPS) is a highly water-soluble small-molecule drug and the main bioactive secoiridoid glycoside of Gentiana scabra that has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the effects of GPS on NASH and the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Firstly, a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet and a high-sugar solution containing d-fructose and d-glucose were used to establish a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mice model. Secondly, we confirmed GPS supplementation improve metabolic abnormalities and reduce inflammation in NASH mice induced by HFHC and high-sugar solution. Then we used metabolomics to investigate the mechanisms of GPS in NASH mice. Metabolomics analysis showed GPS may work through the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Functional metabolites restored by GPS included serine, glycine, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis confirmed GPS improve NASH by regulating PPARα and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathways. In vitro, studies further demonstrated EPA and DHA enhance fatty acid oxidation through the PPARα pathway, while serine and glycine inhibit oxidative stress through the HIF-1α pathway in palmitic acid-stimulated HepG2 cells. Our results suggest GPS's anti-inflammatory and anti-steatosis effects in NASH progression are related to the suppression of HIF-1α through the restoration of L-serine and glycine and the activation of PPARα through increased EPA and DHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyuan Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiuhong Yong
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yihui Lu
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yiyuan Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lina Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiwu Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chong Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Jia
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus and Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengbin Liu
- Baiyun Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Lingnan Institute of Spleen and Stomach Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Tsouka S, Kumar P, Seubnooch P, Freiburghaus K, St-Pierre M, Dufour JF, Masoodi M. Transcriptomics-driven metabolic pathway analysis reveals similar alterations in lipid metabolism in mouse MASH model and human. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:39. [PMID: 38443644 PMCID: PMC10914730 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00465-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, and can rapidly progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Accurate preclinical models and methodologies are needed to understand underlying metabolic mechanisms and develop treatment strategies. Through meta-analysis of currently proposed mouse models, we hypothesized that a diet- and chemical-induced MASH model closely resembles the observed lipid metabolism alterations in humans. METHODS We developed transcriptomics-driven metabolic pathway analysis (TDMPA), a method to aid in the evaluation of metabolic resemblance. TDMPA uses genome-scale metabolic models to calculate enzymatic reaction perturbations from gene expression data. We performed TDMPA to score and compare metabolic pathway alterations in MASH mouse models to human MASH signatures. We used an already-established WD+CCl4-induced MASH model and performed functional assays and lipidomics to confirm TDMPA findings. RESULTS Both human MASH and mouse models exhibit numerous altered metabolic pathways, including triglyceride biosynthesis, fatty acid beta-oxidation, bile acid biosynthesis, cholesterol metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. We confirm a significant reduction in mitochondrial functions and bioenergetics, as well as in acylcarnitines for the mouse model. We identify a wide range of lipid species within the most perturbed pathways predicted by TDMPA. Triglycerides, phospholipids, and bile acids are increased significantly in mouse MASH liver, confirming our initial observations. CONCLUSIONS We introduce TDMPA, a methodology for evaluating metabolic pathway alterations in metabolic disorders. By comparing metabolic signatures that typify human MASH, we show a good metabolic resemblance of the WD+CCl4 mouse model. Our presented approach provides a valuable tool for defining metabolic space to aid experimental design for assessing metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Tsouka
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavitra Kumar
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patcharamon Seubnooch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Freiburghaus
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie St-Pierre
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-François Dufour
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Centre des Maladie Digestives, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mojgan Masoodi
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
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Stauffer WT, Goodman AZ, Bobardt M, Ure DR, Foster RT, Gallay P. Mice lacking cyclophilin B, but not cyclophilin A, are protected from the development of NASH in a diet and chemical-induced model. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298211. [PMID: 38427624 PMCID: PMC10906846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclophilins are a diverse family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIases) of importance in a variety of essential cellular functions. We previously reported that the pan-cyclophilin inhibitor drug reconfilstat (CRV431) decreased disease in mice under the western-diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. CRV431 inhibits several cyclophilin isoforms, among which cyclophilin A (CypA) and B (CypB) are the most abundant. It is not known whether simultaneous inhibition of multiple cyclophilin family members is necessary for the observed therapeutic effects or if loss-of-function of one is sufficient. Identifying the responsible isoform(s) would enable future fine-tuning of drug treatments. Features of human liver fibrosis and complete NASH can be reliably replicated in mice by administration of intraperitoneal CCl4 alone or CCl4 in conjunction with high sugar, high cholesterol western diet, respectively. Here we show that while wild-type (WT) and Ppia-/- CypA KO mice develop severe NASH disease features under these models, Ppib-/- CypB KO mice do not, as measured by analysis of picrosirius red and hematoxylin & eosin-stained liver sections and TNFα immuno-stained liver sections. Cyclophilin inhibition is a promising and novel avenue of treatment for diet-induced NASH. In this study, mice without CypB, but not mice without CypA, were significantly protected from the development of the characteristic features of NASH. These data suggest that CypB is necessary for NASH disease progression. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether the specific role of CypB in the endoplasmic reticulum secretory pathway is of significance to its effect on NASH development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winston T. Stauffer
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Asha Z. Goodman
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Bobardt
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Daren R. Ure
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Edison, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Robert T. Foster
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Edison, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Philippe Gallay
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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47
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Tan PK, Ostertag T, Rosenthal SB, Chilin-Fuentes D, Aidnik H, Linker S, Murphy K, Miner JN, Brenner DA. Role of Hepatic Stellate and Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in a Human Primary Cell Three-Dimensional Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:353-368. [PMID: 38158078 PMCID: PMC10913759 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease that has reached epidemic proportions and has no approved pharmacologic therapies. Research and drug development efforts are hampered by inadequate preclinical models. This research describes a three-dimensional bioprinted liver tissue model of NASH built using primary human hepatocytes and nonparenchymal liver cells (hepatic stellate cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells) from either healthy or NASH donors. Three-dimensional tissues bioprinted with cells sourced from diseased patients showed a NASH phenotype, including fibrosis. More importantly, this NASH phenotype occurred without the addition of disease-inducing agents. Bioprinted tissues composed entirely of healthy cells exhibited significantly less evidence of disease. The role of individual cell types in driving the NASH phenotype was examined by producing chimeric bioprinted tissues composed of healthy cells together with the addition of one or more diseased nonparenchymal cell types. These experiments reveal a role for both hepatic stellate and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in the disease process. This model represents a fully human system with potential to detect clinically active targets and eventually therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David A Brenner
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California.
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Liang C, Murray S, Li Y, Lee R, Low A, Sasaki S, Chiang AWT, Lin WJ, Mathews J, Barnes W, Lewis NE. LipidSIM: Inferring mechanistic lipid biosynthesis perturbations from lipidomics with a flexible, low-parameter, Markov modeling framework. Metab Eng 2024; 82:110-122. [PMID: 38311182 PMCID: PMC11163374 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Lipid metabolism is a complex and dynamic system involving numerous enzymes at the junction of multiple metabolic pathways. Disruption of these pathways leads to systematic dyslipidemia, a hallmark of many pathological developments, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and diabetes. Recent advances in computational tools can provide insights into the dysregulation of lipid biosynthesis, but limitations remain due to the complexity of lipidomic data, limited knowledge of interactions among involved enzymes, and technical challenges in standardizing across different lipid types. Here, we present a low-parameter, biologically interpretable framework named Lipid Synthesis Investigative Markov model (LipidSIM), which models and predicts the source of perturbations in lipid biosynthesis from lipidomic data. LipidSIM achieves this by accounting for the interdependency between the lipid species via the lipid biosynthesis network and generates testable hypotheses regarding changes in lipid biosynthetic reactions. This feature allows the integration of lipidomics with other omics types, such as transcriptomics, to elucidate the direct driving mechanisms of altered lipidomes due to treatments or disease progression. To demonstrate the value of LipidSIM, we first applied it to hepatic lipidomics following Keap1 knockdown and found that changes in mRNA expression of the lipid pathways were consistent with the LipidSIM-predicted fluxes. Second, we used it to study lipidomic changes following intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 to induce fast NAFLD/NASH development and the progression of fibrosis and hepatic cancer. Finally, to show the power of LipidSIM for classifying samples with dyslipidemia, we used a Dgat2-knockdown study dataset. Thus, we show that as it demands no a priori knowledge of enzyme kinetics, LipidSIM is a valuable and intuitive framework for extracting biological insights from complex lipidomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenguang Liang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sue Murray
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Richard Lee
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Shruti Sasaki
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Austin W T Chiang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Wen-Jen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Joel Mathews
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Will Barnes
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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49
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Li X, Bhattacharya D, Yuan Y, Wei C, Zhong F, Ding F, D'Agati VD, Lee K, Friedman SL, He JC. Chronic kidney disease in a murine model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Kidney Int 2024; 105:540-561. [PMID: 38159678 PMCID: PMC10922588 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Clinical studies suggest that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but causality and mechanisms linking these two major diseases are lacking. To assess whether NASH can induce CKD, we have characterized kidney function, histological features, transcriptomic and lipidomic profiles in a well-validated murine NASH model. Mice with NASH progressively developed significant podocyte foot process effacement, proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, tubular epithelial cell injury, lipid accumulation, and interstitial fibrosis. The progression of kidney fibrosis paralleled the severity of the histologic NASH-activity score. Significantly, we confirmed the causal link between NASH and CKD by orthotopic liver transplantation, which attenuated proteinuria, kidney dysfunction, and fibrosis compared with control sham operated mice. Transcriptomic analysis of mouse kidney cortices revealed differentially expressed genes that were highly enriched in mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid metabolic process, and insulin signaling pathways in NASH-induced CKD. Lipidomic analysis of kidney cortices further revealed that phospholipids and sphingolipids were the most significantly changed lipid species. Notably, we found similar kidney histological changes in human NASH and CKD. Thus, our results confirm a causative role of NASH in the development of CKD, reveal potential pathophysiologic mechanisms of NASH-induced kidney injury, and established a valuable model to study the pathogenesis of NASH-associated CKD. This is an important feature of fatty liver disease that has been largely overlooked but has clinical and prognostic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuezhu Li
- Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dipankar Bhattacharya
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yue Yuan
- Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengguo Wei
- Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Fang Zhong
- Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Feng Ding
- Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Vivette D D'Agati
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kyung Lee
- Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
| | - John Cijiang He
- Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Renal Program, James J Peters VA Medical Center at Bronx, New York, New York, USA.
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50
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Cuadra B, Silva V, Huang YL, Diaz Y, Rivas C, Molina C, Simon V, Bono MR, Morales B, Rosemblatt M, Silva S, Acuña R, Ezquer F, Ezquer M. The Immunoregulatory and Regenerative Potential of Activated Human Stem Cell Secretome Mitigates Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure in a Rat Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2073. [PMID: 38396750 PMCID: PMC10889754 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome marked by sudden liver function decline and multiorgan failure, predominantly acute kidney injury (AKY), in patients with chronic liver disease. Unregulated inflammation is a hallmark of ACLF; however, the key drivers of ACLF are not fully understood. This study explores the therapeutic properties of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) secretome, particularly focusing on its enhanced anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative properties after the in vitro preconditioning of the cells. We evaluated the efficacy of the systemic administration of MSC secretome in preventing liver failure and AKI in a rat ACLF model where chronic liver disease was induced using by the administration of porcine serum, followed by D-galN/LPS administration to induce acute failure. After ACLF induction, animals were treated with saline (ACLF group) or MSC-derived secretome (ACLF-secretome group). The study revealed that MSC-secretome administration strongly reduced liver histological damage in the ACLF group, which was correlated with higher hepatocyte proliferation, increased hepatic and systemic anti-inflammatory molecule levels, and reduced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. Additionally, renal examination revealed that MSC-secretome treatment mitigated tubular injuries, reduced apoptosis, and downregulated injury markers. These improvements were linked to increased survival rates in the ACLF-secretome group, endorsing MSC secretomes as a promising therapy for multiorgan failure in ACLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Cuadra
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Veronica Silva
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Ya-Lin Huang
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Yael Diaz
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemáticas y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Las Palmeras 3360, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (Y.D.); (C.R.); (C.M.)
| | - Claudio Rivas
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemáticas y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Las Palmeras 3360, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (Y.D.); (C.R.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristobal Molina
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemáticas y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Las Palmeras 3360, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (Y.D.); (C.R.); (C.M.)
| | - Valeska Simon
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Chile, Las Encinas 3370, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800020, Chile; (V.S.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Maria Rosa Bono
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Chile, Las Encinas 3370, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800020, Chile; (V.S.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Bernardo Morales
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Alba, Atrys Chile, Guardia Vieja 339, Providencia, Santiago 7510249, Chile;
| | - Mario Rosemblatt
- Centro de Ciencia & Vida, Av. Del Valle Norte 725, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580702, Chile;
| | - Sebastian Silva
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Rodrigo Acuña
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Fernando Ezquer
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
| | - Marcelo Ezquer
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. La Plaza 680, Las Condes, Santiago 7610658, Chile; (B.C.); (V.S.); (Y.-L.H.); (S.S.); (R.A.); (F.E.)
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