Hepatocyte-secreted FAM3D ameliorates hepatic steatosis by activating FPR1-hnRNP U-GR-SCAD pathway to enhance lipid oxidation

NORAD exacerbates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease development via the miR-511-3p/Rock2 axis and inhibits ubiquitin-mediated degradation of ROCK2

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Abnormal regulation of lncRNA is strongly linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the roles of noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD)/miR-511-3p/Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (Rock2) axis and the NORAD/ROCK2 interaction in the development of MASLD.

METHODS

In vitro and in vivo models of MASLD were created using high-fat diet-fed mice and free fatty acid (FFA)-treated hepatocytes. To examine the relationships between NORAD, miR-511-3p, and ROCK2, we employed bioinformatics, luciferase assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and biotinylated NORAD pull-down assays. MASLD progression was assessed based on food intake, energy expenditure, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, white fat growth, and liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

NORAD and ROCK2 were upregulated, while miR-511-3p was downregulated in MASLD liver tissues and FFA-treated hepatocytes. Mechanistically, NORAD competitively interacted with miR-511-3p to modulate Rock2 mRNA expression, and directly stabilized ROCK2 protein by abrogating its ubiquitination degradation. Functionally, liver-specific knockdown of NORAD or overexpression of miR-511-3p significantly slowed MASLD progression. Overexpression of NORAD or ROCK2 partially reversed miR-511-3p-induced inhibition of MASLD. Additionally, ROCK2 knockdown attenuated NORAD-induced worsening of MASLD. Moreover, overexpressing NORAD or ROCK2 or interfering miR-511-3p influenced resmetirom treatment to suppress MASLD development. Finally, metabolic changes in liver driven by the NORAD/miR-511-3p/Rock2 axis and NORAD/ROCK2 interaction also influenced white adipose growth, pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation, and liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The NORAD/miR-511-3p/Rock2 axis and the NORAD/ROCK2 interaction play critical roles in MASLD progression, identifying potential therapeutic targets for its treatment.

Exploring the mechanism of berberine treatment for atherosclerosis combined with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on bioinformatic and experimental study

Atherosclerosis (AS) and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are chronic metabolic disorders with high prevalence and significant health impacts. Both conditions share common pathophysiological pathways including abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is known for its beneficial effects on various metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. This study investigates BBR's impact on AS and NAFLD through bioinformatics analysis and experimental models. This study utilized various bioinformatics methods, including transcriptome analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), machine learning, and molecular docking, to identify key genes and pathways involved in AS and NAFLD. Subsequently an animal model of AS combined with NAFLD was established using ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet. The efficacy and mechanism of action of BBR were verified using methods such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Oil Red O staining, and real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR). Through transcriptome analysis, WGCNA, and machine learning, this study identified 48 key genes involved in both AS and NAFLD. Function analysis revealed that the implicated genes were significantly involved in pathways like cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling, and IL-17 signaling pathway, suggesting their role in inflammation and immune responses. Single cell validation identified six key genes: dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6), chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), complement component 5a receptor 1 (C5AR1), formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA), and proviral integration site of murine 2(PIM2). Finally, molecular docking and animal experiments showed that BBR significantly reduced lipid deposits and inflammatory markers in liver and aortic tissues. In conclusion, BBR can improve AS combined with NAFLD by regulating genes like MNDA, PIM2, DUSP6, CCL3, C5AR1, and FPR1, with the mechanism related to inflammation control. The findings suggest potential clinical benefits of BBR in reducing the progression of both AS and NAFLD, warranting further investigation.

Atg5-deficient mesenchymal stem cells protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver by accelerating hepatocyte growth factor secretion

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promising therapeutic potential in treating liver diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Genetic modification has been employed to enhance the characteristics of MSCs for more effective disease treatment. Here, we present findings on human adipose-derived MSCs with Atg5 deficiency, investigating their therapeutic impact and the associated mechanisms in NAFLD.

METHODS

In vitro, lentiviral transduction was employed to downregulate Atg5 or HGF in human adipose-derived MSCs using short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Subsequently, experiments were conducted to evaluate cell senescence, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and other pertinent aspects. In vivo, a non-alcoholic fatty liver mouse model was established by feeding them a high-fat diet (HFD), and the effects of MSCs transplantation were assessed through serological, biochemical, and pathological analyses.

RESULTS

Our research findings indicate that Atg5-deficient MSCs display heightened proliferative activity. Subsequent co-culturing of MSCs with hepatocytes and the transplantation of Atg5-deficient MSCs into NAFLD mouse models demonstrated their ability to effectively reduce lipid accumulation in the NAFLD disease model by modulating the AMPKα/mTOR/S6K/Srebp1 pathway. Furthermore, we observed that Atg5 deficiency enhances the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by promoting recycling endosome (RE) production. Lastly, our study revealed that 3-MA-primed MSCs can improve the characteristics of NAFLD by boosting the secretion of HGF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research findings suggest that Atg5-deficient MSCs protect against NAFLD by accelerating HGF secretion. This indicates that Atg5 gene-modified MSCs may represent a promising strategy for treating NAFLD.

Examining the Pathogenesis of MAFLD and the Medicinal Properties of Natural Products from a Metabolic Perspective

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), characterized primarily by hepatic steatosis, has become the most prevalent liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately two-fifths of the global population. The pathogenesis of MAFLD is extremely complex, and to date, there are no approved therapeutic drugs for clinical use. Considerable evidence indicates that various metabolic disorders play a pivotal role in the progression of MAFLD, including lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and micronutrients. In recent years, the medicinal properties of natural products have attracted widespread attention, and numerous studies have reported their efficacy in ameliorating metabolic disorders and subsequently alleviating MAFLD. This review aims to summarize the metabolic-associated pathological mechanisms of MAFLD, as well as the natural products that regulate metabolic pathways to alleviate MAFLD.