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Jones AK, Bajrami B, Campbell MK, Erzurumluoglu AM, Guo Q, Chen H, Zhang X, Zeveleva S, Kvaskoff D, Brunner AD, Muller S, Gathey V, Dave RM, Tanner JW, Rixen S, Struwe MA, Phoenix K, Klumph KJ, Robinson H, Veyel D, Muller A, Noyvert B, Bartholdy BA, Steixner-Kumar AA, Stutzki J, Drichel D, Omland S, Sheehan R, Hill J, Bretschneider T, Gottschling D, Scheidig AJ, Clement B, Giera M, Ding Z, Broadwater J, Warren CR. mARC1 in MASLD: Modulation of lipid accumulation in human hepatocytes and adipocytes. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0365. [PMID: 38619429 PMCID: PMC11019821 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000365] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in the gene MTARC1 (mitochondrial amidoxime-reducing component 1) protect carriers from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and cirrhosis. MTARC1 encodes the mARC1 enzyme, which is localized to the mitochondria and has no known MASH-relevant molecular function. Our studies aimed to expand on the published human genetic mARC1 data and to observe the molecular effects of mARC1 modulation in preclinical MASH models. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified a novel human structural variant deletion in MTARC1, which is associated with various biomarkers of liver health, including alanine aminotransferase levels. Phenome-wide Mendelian Randomization analyses additionally identified novel putatively causal associations between MTARC1 expression, and esophageal varices and cardiorespiratory traits. We observed that protective MTARC1 variants decreased protein accumulation in in vitro overexpression systems and used genetic tools to study mARC1 depletion in relevant human and mouse systems. Hepatocyte mARC1 knockdown in murine MASH models reduced body weight, liver steatosis, oxidative stress, cell death, and fibrogenesis markers. mARC1 siRNA treatment and overexpression modulated lipid accumulation and cell death consistently in primary human hepatocytes, hepatocyte cell lines, and primary human adipocytes. mARC1 depletion affected the accumulation of distinct lipid species and the expression of inflammatory and mitochondrial pathway genes/proteins in both in vitro and in vivo models. CONCLUSIONS Depleting hepatocyte mARC1 improved metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-related outcomes. Given the functional role of mARC1 in human adipocyte lipid accumulation, systemic targeting of mARC1 should be considered when designing mARC1 therapies. Our data point to plasma lipid biomarkers predictive of mARC1 abundance, such as Ceramide 22:1. We propose future areas of study to describe the precise molecular function of mARC1, including lipid trafficking and subcellular location within or around the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K. Jones
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Besnik Bajrami
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Morgan K. Campbell
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Abdullah Mesut Erzurumluoglu
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Qiusha Guo
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hongxing Chen
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Svetlana Zeveleva
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - David Kvaskoff
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Andreas-David Brunner
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Stefanie Muller
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Vasudha Gathey
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rajvee M. Dave
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - James W. Tanner
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sophia Rixen
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Institute, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michel A. Struwe
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Institute, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology-Structural Biology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathryn Phoenix
- Department of Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kaitlyn J. Klumph
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Heather Robinson
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Daniel Veyel
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Annkatrin Muller
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Boris Noyvert
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Boris Alexander Bartholdy
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Agnes A. Steixner-Kumar
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Jan Stutzki
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Data Science Chapter, BI X GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Dmitriy Drichel
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Data Science Chapter, BI X GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Steffen Omland
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- Data Science Chapter, BI X GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Ryan Sheehan
- Department of Immunology and Respiratory Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jon Hill
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tom Bretschneider
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Dirk Gottschling
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Axel J. Scheidig
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology-Structural Biology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bernd Clement
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Institute, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Martin Giera
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Discovery Science Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
- The Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Zhihao Ding
- Department of Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co., Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - John Broadwater
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Curtis R. Warren
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
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Wu M, Tie M, Hu L, Yang Y, Chen Y, Ferguson D, Chen Y, He A. Fatty liver disease protective MTARC1 p.A165T variant reduces the protein stability of MTARC1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 702:149655. [PMID: 38340654 PMCID: PMC10940201 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149655] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. MTARC1, encoded by the MTARC1 gene, is a mitochondrial outer membrane-anchored enzyme. Interestingly, the MTARC1 p.A165T (rs2642438) variant is associated with a decreased risk of NAFLD, indicating that MTARC1 might be an effective target. It has been reported that the rs2642438 variant does not have altered enzymatic activity so we reasoned that this variation may affect MTARC1 stability. In this study, MTARC1 mutants were generated and stability was assessed using a protein stability reporter system both in vitro and in vivo. We found that the MTARC1 p.A165T variant has dramatically reduced the stability of MTARC1, as assessed in several cell lines. In mice, the MTARC1 A168T mutant, the equivalent of human MTARC1 A165T, had diminished stability in mouse liver. Additionally, several MTARC1 A165 mutants, including A165S, A165 N, A165V, A165G, and A165D, had dramatically decreased stability as well, suggesting that the alanine residue of MTARC1 165 site is essential for MTARC1 protein stability. Collectively, our data indicates that the MTARC1 p.A165T variant (rs2642438) leads to reduced stability of MTARC1. Given that carriers of rs2642438 show a decreased risk of NAFLD, the findings herein support the notion that MTARC1 inhibition may be a therapeutic target to combat NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyue Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Meng Tie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Liwei Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yunzhi Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Daniel Ferguson
- Division of Nutritional Science and Obesity Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, United States
| | - Yali Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Anyuan He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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3
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Smagris E, Shihanian LM, Mintah IJ, Bigdelou P, Livson Y, Brown H, Verweij N, Hunt C, Johnson RO, Greer TJ, Hartford SA, Hindy G, Sun L, Nielsen JB, Halasz G, Lotta LA, Murphy AJ, Sleeman MW, Gusarova V. Divergent role of Mitochondrial Amidoxime Reducing Component 1 (MARC1) in human and mouse. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011179. [PMID: 38437227 PMCID: PMC10939284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011179] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent human genome-wide association studies have identified common missense variants in MARC1, p.Ala165Thr and p.Met187Lys, associated with lower hepatic fat, reduction in liver enzymes and protection from most causes of cirrhosis. Using an exome-wide association study we recapitulated earlier MARC1 p.Ala165Thr and p.Met187Lys findings in 540,000 individuals from five ancestry groups. We also discovered novel rare putative loss of function variants in MARC1 with a phenotype similar to MARC1 p.Ala165Thr/p.Met187Lys variants. In vitro studies of recombinant human MARC1 protein revealed Ala165Thr substitution causes protein instability and aberrant localization in hepatic cells, suggesting MARC1 inhibition or deletion may lead to hepatoprotection. Following this hypothesis, we generated Marc1 knockout mice and evaluated the effect of Marc1 deletion on liver phenotype. Unexpectedly, our study found that whole-body Marc1 deficiency in mouse is not protective against hepatic triglyceride accumulation, liver inflammation or fibrosis. In attempts to explain the lack of the observed phenotype, we discovered that Marc1 plays only a minor role in mouse liver while its paralogue Marc2 is the main Marc family enzyme in mice. Our findings highlight the major difference in MARC1 physiological function between human and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriks Smagris
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Lisa M Shihanian
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Ivory J Mintah
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Parnian Bigdelou
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Yuliya Livson
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Heather Brown
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Niek Verweij
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Charleen Hunt
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | | | - Tyler J Greer
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Suzanne A Hartford
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - George Hindy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Luanluan Sun
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Jonas B Nielsen
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Gabor Halasz
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Luca A Lotta
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Mark W Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
| | - Viktoria Gusarova
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, Unites States of America
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Shin S, Kim J, Lee JY, Kim J, Oh CM. Mitochondrial Quality Control: Its Role in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). J Obes Metab Syndr 2023; 32:289-302. [PMID: 38049180 PMCID: PMC10786205 DOI: 10.7570/jomes23054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is characterized by hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction and is often associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Recent research indicates a rapid escalation in MASLD cases, with projections suggesting a doubling in the United States by 2030. This review focuses on the central role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of MASLD and explores potential therapeutic interventions. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that orchestrate hepatic energy production and metabolism and are critically involved in MASLD. Dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to lipid accumulation, inflammation, and liver fibrosis. Genetic associations further underscore the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and MASLD susceptibility. Although U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for MASLD remain elusive, ongoing clinical trials have highlighted promising strategies that target mitochondrial dysfunction, including vitamin E, metformin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. In preclinical studies, novel therapeutics, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ precursors, urolithin A, spermidine, and mitoquinone, have shown beneficial effects, such as improving mitochondrial quality control, reducing oxidative stress, and ameliorating hepatic steatosis and inflammation. In conclusion, mitochondrial dysfunction is central to MASLD pathogenesis. The innovative mitochondria-targeted approaches discussed in this review offer a promising avenue for reducing the burden of MASLD and improving global quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Ju Yeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Chang-Myung Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
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5
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Francque SM. Towards precision medicine in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2023; 24:885-899. [PMID: 37477772 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09820-6] [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] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) refers to the accumulation of lipid laden vacuoles in hepatocytes, occurring in the context of visceral adiposity, insulin resistance and other features of the metabolic syndrome. Its more severe form (NASH, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) is becoming the leading aetiology of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, and also contributes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and extrahepatic malignancy. Management is currently limited to lifestyle modification and optimisation of the metabolic co-morbidities, with some of the drugs used for the latter also having shown some benefit for the liver. Licensed treatment modalities are currently lacking. A particular difficulty is the notorious heterogeneity of the patient population, which is poorly understood. A spectrum of disease severity associates in a non-linear way with a spectrum of severity of underlying metabolic factors. Heterogeneity of the liver in terms of mechanisms to cope with the metabolic and inflammatory stress and in terms of repair mechanisms, and a lack of knowledge hereof, further complicate the understanding of inter-individual variability. Genetic factors act as disease modifiers and potentially allow for some risk stratification, but also only explain a minor fraction of disease heterogeneity. Response to treatment shows a large variation in treatment response, again with little understanding of what is driving the absence of response in individual patients. Management can be tailored to patient's preferences in terms of diet modification, but tailoring treatment to knowledge on disease driving mechanisms in an individual patient is still in its infancy. Recent progress in analysing liver tissue as well as non-invasive tests hold, however, promise to rapidly improve our understanding of disease heterogeneity in NAFLD and provide individualised management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven M Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, B-2650, 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, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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