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Berggren KA, Schwartz RE, Kleiner RE, Ploss A. The impact of epitranscriptomic modifications on liver disease. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024; 35:331-346. [PMID: 38212234 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.12.007] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
RNA modifications have emerged as important mechanisms of gene regulation. Developmental, metabolic, and cell cycle regulatory processes are all affected by epitranscriptomic modifications, which control gene expression in a dynamic manner. The hepatic tissue is highly metabolically active and has an impressive ability to regenerate after injury. Cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, which are all essential to the liver response to injury and regeneration, are regulated via RNA modification. Two such modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A)and 5-methylcytosine (m5C), have been identified as prognostic disease markers and potential therapeutic targets for liver diseases. Here, we describe progress in understanding the role of RNA modifications in liver biology and disease and discuss specific areas where unexpected results could lead to improved future understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Berggren
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Robert E Schwartz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ralph E Kleiner
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Luo J, Watson WH, Gripshover TC, Qaissi Z, Wahlang B. Sex-specific effects of acute chlordane exposure in the context of steatotic liver disease, energy metabolism and endocrine disruption. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 180:114024. [PMID: 37666290 PMCID: PMC10617492 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114024] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Chlordane is an organochlorine pesticide (OCP) that is environmentally persistent. Although exposures to OCPs including chlordane have been associated with elevated liver enzymes, current knowledge on OCPs' contribution to toxicant-associated steatotic liver disease (TASLD) and underlying sex-specific metabolic/endocrine disruption are still widely limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the sex-dependent effects of chlordane in the context of TASLD. Age-matched male and female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to chlordane (20 mg/kg, one-time oral gavage) for two weeks. Female mice generally exhibited lower bodyfat content but more steatosis and hepatic lipid levels, consistent with increased hepatic mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid synthesis and uptake. Surprisingly, chlordane-exposed females demonstrated lower hepatic cholesterol levels. With regards to metabolic disruption, chlordane exposure decreased expression of genes involved in glycogen and glucose metabolism (Pklr, Gck), while chlordane-exposed females also exhibited decreased gene expression of HNF4A, an important regulator of liver identity and function. In terms of endocrine endpoints, chlordane augmented plasma testosterone levels in males. Furthermore, chlordane activated hepatic xenobiotic receptors, including the constitutive androstane receptor, in a sex-dependent manner. Overall, chlordane exposure led to altered hepatic energy metabolism, and potential chlordane-sex interactions regulated metabolic/endocrine disruption and receptor activation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhu Luo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Walter H Watson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Tyler C Gripshover
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Zayna Qaissi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Banrida Wahlang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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Petri BJ, Cave MC, Klinge CM. Changes in m6A in Steatotic Liver Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1653. [PMID: 37628704 PMCID: PMC10454815 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatty liver disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Fatty liver includes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now replaced by a consensus group as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). While excess nutrition and obesity are major contributors to fatty liver, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown and therapeutic interventions are limited. Reversible chemical modifications in RNA are newly recognized critical regulators controlling post-transcriptional gene expression. Among these modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant and regulates transcript abundance in fatty liver disease. Modulation of m6A by readers, writers, and erasers (RWE) impacts mRNA processing, translation, nuclear export, localization, and degradation. While many studies focus on m6A RWE expression in human liver pathologies, limitations of technology and bioinformatic methods to detect m6A present challenges in understanding the epitranscriptomic mechanisms driving fatty liver disease progression. In this review, we summarize the RWE of m6A and current methods of detecting m6A in specific genes associated with fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda J. Petri
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
| | - Matthew C. Cave
- Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (CIEHS), University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
- Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Carolyn M. Klinge
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
- Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (CIEHS), University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
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