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Li P, Ma X, Huang D, Gu X. Exploring the roles of non-coding RNAs in liver regeneration. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:945-953. [PMID: 38680418 PMCID: PMC11046251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver regeneration (LR) is a complex process encompassing three distinct phases: priming, proliferation phase and restoration, all influenced by various regulatory factors. After liver damage or partial resection, the liver tissue demonstrates remarkable restorative capacity, driven by cellular proliferation and repair mechanisms. The essential roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), predominantly microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNA (circRNA), in regulating LR have been vastly studied. Additionally, the impact of ncRNAs on LR and their abnormal expression profiles during this process have been extensively documented. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that ncRNAs interact with genes involved in proliferation to regulate hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation, along with liver progenitor cell proliferation and migration. Given the significant role of ncRNAs in LR, an in-depth exploration of their involvement in the liver's self-repair capacity can reveal promising therapeutic strategies for LR and liver-related diseases. Moreover, understanding the unique regenerative potential of the adult liver and the mechanisms and regulatory factors of ncRNAs in LR are crucial for improving current treatment strategies and exploring new therapeutic approaches for various liver-related diseases. This review provides a brief overview of the LR process and the ncRNA expression profiles during this process. Furthermore, we also elaborate on the specific molecular mechanisms through which multiple key ncRNAs regulate the LR process. Finally, based on the expression characteristics of ncRNAs and their interactions with proliferation-associated genes, we explore their potential clinical application, such as developing predictive indicators reflecting liver regenerative activity and manipulating LR processes for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Child Health Care, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China
| | - Xinyu Gu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China
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2
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Wang W, Yan J, Han L, Zou ZL, Xu AL. Silencing METTL14 alleviates liver injury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:505-519. [PMID: 37902450 PMCID: PMC11088893 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9698] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important pathogenic factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) has been implicated in mitochondrial fission processes. This research aimed to investigate the mechanism of METTL14 in the mitochondrial function of NAFLD. We first established NAFLD mouse models and cell models, recording body and liver weights and examining pathological changes in liver tissues. Subsequently, serum levels of liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], total cholesterol [TC], and triglycerides [TG]), inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-1β), and mitochondrial dysfunction indicators (fission 1 protein [Fis1], dynamin-related protein 1 [Drp1], mitofusin 2 [Mfn2], SID1 transmembrane family member 2 [SIDT2], and mitochondrial membrane potential [MMP]) in the liver and cells were evaluated. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification level of primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) and m6A enrichment on pri-miR-34a were quantified. Co-immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were utilized to validate gene interactions. Our findings revealed highly elevated METTL14 expression in NAFLD mouse and cell models. Silencing METTL14 reduced weight gain and mitigated adverse liver function indices, inflammation, hepatic steatosis, and structural damage in NAFLD mice. It also led to a decrease in Fis1/Drp1 levels and an increase in MMP/Mfn2 in the liver and cells. Moreover, METTL14 increased the m6A level, promoting the binding of DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (DGCR8) to pri-miR-34a, which enhanced miR-34a-5p expression. Databases and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays indicated that miR-34a-5p could suppress SIDT2 expression. The overexpression of miR-34a-5p or inhibition of SIDT2 expression negated the alleviative effects of METTL14 silencing on mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance. In conclusion, METTL14, through m6A modification, modulates the miR-34a-5p/SIDT2 axis, impairing mitochondrial homeostasis in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Long Han
- Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Zi-Lin Zou
- Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Ai-Lei Xu
- Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, China
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Tak J, Nguyen TK, Lee K, Kim SG, Ahn HC. Utilizing machine learning to identify nifuroxazide as an inhibitor of ubiquitin-specific protease 21 in a drug repositioning strategy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116459. [PMID: 38518599 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116459] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease (USP), an enzyme catalyzing protein deubiquitination, is involved in biological processes related to metabolic disorders and cancer proliferation. We focused on constructing predictive models tailored to unveil compounds boasting USP21 inhibitory attributes. Six models, Extra Trees Classifier, Random Forest Classifier, LightGBM Classifier, XGBoost Classifier, Bagging Classifier, and a convolutional neural network harnessed from empirical data were selected for the screening process. These models guided our selection of 26 compounds from the FDA-approved drug library for further evaluation. Notably, nifuroxazide emerged as the most potent inhibitor, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 14.9 ± 1.63 μM. The stability of protein-ligand complexes was confirmed using molecular modeling. Furthermore, nifuroxazide treatment of HepG2 cells not only inhibited USP21 and its established substrate ACLY but also elevated p-AMPKα, a downstream functional target of USP21. Intriguingly, we unveiled the previously unknown capacity of nifuroxazide to increase the levels of miR-4458, which was identified as downregulating USP21. This discovery was substantiated by manipulating miR-4458 levels in HepG2 cells, resulting in corresponding changes in USP21 protein levels in line with its predicted interaction with ACLY. Lastly, we confirmed the in vivo efficacy of nifuroxazide in inhibiting USP21 in mice livers, observing concurrent alterations in ACLY and p-AMPKα levels. Collectively, our study establishes nifuroxazide as a promising USP21 inhibitor with potential implications for addressing metabolic disorders and cancer proliferation. This multidimensional investigation sheds light on the intricate regulatory mechanisms involving USP21 and its downstream effects, paving the way for further exploration and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Tak
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Tan Khanh Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Geon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee-Chul Ahn
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10326, Republic of Korea.
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Xie X, Wang Y, Ma F, Ma R, Du L, Chen X. High-Temperature-Induced Differential Expression of miRNA Mediates Liver Inflammatory Response in Tsinling Lenok Trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis). MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024:10.1007/s10126-024-10315-x. [PMID: 38647909 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10315-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
High-temperature stress poses a significant environmental challenge for aquatic organisms, including tsinling lenok trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis). This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in inducing liver inflammation in tsinling lenok trout under high-temperature stress. Tsinling lenok trout were exposed to high-temperature conditions (24 °C) for 8 h, and liver samples were collected for analysis. Through small RNA sequencing, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the liver of high-temperature-stressed tsinling lenok trout compared to the control group (maintained at 16 °C). Several miRNAs, including novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x, showed significant changes in expression levels. Additionally, we conducted bioinformatics analysis to explore the potential target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs. Our findings revealed that these miRNA target genes are involved in inflammatory response pathways, such as NFKB1 and MAP3K5. The downregulation of novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x in the liver of high-temperature-stressed tsinling lenok trout suggests their role in regulating liver inflammatory responses. To validate this, we performed a dual-luciferase reporter assay to confirm the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and target genes. Our results demonstrated that novel-m0105-5p and miR-8159-x enhance the inflammatory response of hepatocytes by promoting the expression of NFKB1 and MAP3K5, respectively. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that high-temperature stress induces liver inflammation in tsinling lenok trout through dysregulation of miRNAs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response in tsinling lenok trout under high-temperature stress is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental stressors on fish health and aquaculture production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Xie
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ruilin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Leqiang Du
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Solid Waste in Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University, South Xihe Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, 741000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
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Samy AM, Kandeil MA, Sabry D, Abdel-Ghany AA, Mahmoud MO. Exosomal miR-122, miR-128, miR-200, miR-298, and miR-342 as novel diagnostic biomarkers in NAFL/NASH: Impact of LPS/TLR-4/FoxO3 pathway. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300631. [PMID: 38574101 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300631] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disorder affecting a quarter of the global residents. Progression of NAFL into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and failure. Gut microbiota imbalance causes microbial components translocation into the circulation, triggering liver inflammation and NASH-related fibrosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression via repressing target genes. Exosomal miRNAs are diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for NAFL and NASH liver damage. Our work investigated the role of the gut microbiota in NAFLD pathogenesis via the lipopolysaccharide/toll-like receptor 4/Forkhead box protein O3 (LPS/TLR-4/FoxO3) pathway and certain miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for NAFL or its development to NASH. miRNA expression levels were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 50 NAFL patients, 50 NASH patients, and 50 normal controls. Plasma LPS, TLR-4, adiponectin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), and FoxO3 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In NAFL and NASH patients, miR-122, miR-128, FoxO3, TLR-4, LPS, and PPAR-γ were upregulated while miR-200, miR-298, miR-342, and adiponectin were downregulated compared with the normal control. The examined miRNAs might distinguish NAFL and NASH patients from the normal control using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Our study is the first to examine these miRNAs in NAFLD. Our findings imply that these are potentially promising biomarkers for noninvasive early NAFL diagnosis and NASH progression. Understanding the LPS/TLR-4/FoxO3 pathway involvement in NAFL/NASH pathogenesis may aid disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Samy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Kandeil
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Dina Sabry
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - A A Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit branch, Egypt
| | - Mohamed O Mahmoud
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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Lu T, Zheng Y, Chen X, Lin Z, Liu C, Yuan C. miR-743b-3p promotes hepatic lipogenesis via branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) metabolism by targeting PPM1K in aged mice. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 123:105424. [PMID: 38565071 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105424] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipid metabolism disorders appear to play an important role in the ageing process, thus understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association of ageing with elevated vulnerability to lipid metabolism related diseases is crucial towards promoting quality of life in old age. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators of lipid metabolism, and some miRNAs have key roles in ageing. METHODS In this study, we investigated changes in liver lipid metabolism of ageing mice and the mechanisms of the altered expression of miRNAs in the ageing liver which contributes to the age-dependent increase in lipid synthesis. Here we found that miR-743b-3p was higher expressed in the liver tissues of ageing mice through the small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, and its target PPM1K was predicted and confirmed the target relationship of miR-743b-3p with PPM1K in the aged mouse liver tissues and the cultured senescent hepatocytes in vitro. Moreover, using the transfected miR-743b-3p mimics/inhibitors into the senescent hepatocyte AML12. RESULTS We found that miR-743b-3p inhibition reversed the hepatocyte senescence, and finally decreased the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis(Chrebp, Fabp4, Acly and Pparγ) through increasing the target gene expression of PPM1K which regulated the expression of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) metabolism-related genes (Bckdhα, Bckdk, Bcat2, Dbt). CONCLUSIONS These results identify that age-induced expression of miR-743b-3p inhibits its target PPM1K which induces BCAA metabolic disorder and regulates hepatocyte lipid accumulation during ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lu
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Zhiyong Lin
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Chaoqi Liu
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China.
| | - Chengfu Yuan
- Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Key Laboratory of Hubei province in China, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China; College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China; Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, School of Medicine, Yichang, 443002, China.
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Soto A, Spongberg C, Martinino A, Giovinazzo F. Exploring the Multifaceted Landscape of MASLD: A Comprehensive Synthesis of Recent Studies, from Pathophysiology to Organoids and Beyond. Biomedicines 2024; 12:397. [PMID: 38397999 PMCID: PMC10886580 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020397] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread contributor to chronic liver disease globally. A recent consensus on renaming liver disease was established, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, MASLD, was chosen as the replacement for NAFLD. The disease's range extends from the less severe MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), to the more intense metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by inflammation and apoptosis. This research project endeavors to comprehensively synthesize the most recent studies on MASLD, encompassing a wide spectrum of topics such as pathophysiology, risk factors, dietary influences, lifestyle management, genetics, epigenetics, therapeutic approaches, and the prospective trajectory of MASLD, particularly exploring its connection with organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Soto
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
| | - Colby Spongberg
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
| | | | - Francesco Giovinazzo
- General Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Li YJ, Baumert BO, Stratakis N, Goodrich JA, Wu HT, He JX, Zhao YQ, Aung MT, Wang HX, Eckel SP, Walker DI, Valvi D, La Merrill MA, Ryder JR, Inge TH, Jenkins T, Sisley S, Kohli R, Xanthakos SA, Baccarelli AA, McConnell R, Conti DV, Chatzi L. Circulating microRNA expression and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents with severe obesity. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:332-345. [PMID: 38313232 PMCID: PMC10835537 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i4.332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases in children and adolescents. NAFLD ranges in severity from isolated hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), wherein hepatocellular inflammation and/or fibrosis coexist with steatosis. Circulating microRNA (miRNA) levels have been suggested to be altered in NAFLD, but the extent to which miRNA are related to NAFLD features remains unknown. This analysis tested the hypothesis that plasma miRNAs are significantly associated with histological features of NAFLD in adolescents. AIM To investigate the relationship between plasma miRNA expression and NAFLD features among adolescents with NAFLD. METHODS This study included 81 adolescents diagnosed with NAFLD and 54 adolescents without NAFLD from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery study. Intra-operative core liver biopsies were collected from participants and used to characterize histological features of NAFLD. Plasma samples were collected during surgery for miRNA profiling. A total of 843 plasma miRNAs were profiled using the HTG EdgeSeq platform. We examined associations of plasma miRNAs and NAFLD features using logistic regression after adjusting for age, sex, race, and other key covariates. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis was used to identify biological functions of miRNAs that were associated with multiple histological features of NAFLD. RESULTS We identified 16 upregulated plasma miRNAs, including miR-193a-5p and miR-193b-5p, and 22 downregulated plasma miRNAs, including miR-1282 and miR-6734-5p, in adolescents with NAFLD. Moreover, 52, 16, 15, and 9 plasma miRNAs were associated with NASH, fibrosis, ballooning degeneration, and lobular inflammation, respectively. Collectively, 16 miRNAs were associated with two or more histological features of NAFLD. Among those miRNAs, miR-411-5p was downregulated in NASH, ballooning, and fibrosis, while miR-122-5p, miR-1343-5p, miR-193a-5p, miR-193b-5p, and miR-7845-5p were consistently and positively associated with all histological features of NAFLD. Pathway analysis revealed that most common pathways of miRNAs associated with multiple NAFLD features have been associated with tumor progression, while we also identified linkages between miR-122-5p and hepatitis C virus and between miR-199b-5p and chronic hepatitis B. CONCLUSION Plasma miRNAs were associated with NAFLD features in adolescent with severe obesity. Larger studies with more heterogeneous NAFLD phenotypes are needed to evaluate miRNAs as potential biomarkers of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jie Li
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Brittney O Baumert
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Nikos Stratakis
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health, Barcelona Institute of Global Health, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Jesse A Goodrich
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Hao-Tian Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Jing-Xuan He
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Yin-Qi Zhao
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Max T Aung
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Hong-Xu Wang
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Douglas I Walker
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Justin R Ryder
- Department of Surgery, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Thomas H Inge
- Department of Surgery, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Todd Jenkins
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Stephanie Sisley
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Research Center USDA/ARS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Rohit Kohli
- Department of Gastroenterology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States
| | - Stavra A Xanthakos
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - David V Conti
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
| | - Lida Chatzi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
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Wu Y, Zhao J, Cui C, Zhang Y, Zhu Q, Han S, Yang C, Yin H. MiRNA-21-5p induces chicken hepatic lipogenesis by targeting NFIB and KLF3 to suppress the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae055. [PMID: 38563227 PMCID: PMC11015050 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae055] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a critical role in metabolic activity and is the body's first immune barrier, and maintaining liver health is particularly important for poultry production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a wide range of biological activities due to their capacity as posttranscriptional regulatory elements. A growing body of research indicates that miR-21-5p plays a vital role as a modulator of liver metabolism in various species. However, the effect of miR-21-5p on the chicken liver is unclear. In the current study, we discovered that the fatty liver had high levels of miR-21-5p. Then the qPCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, dual-luciferase, and immunofluorescence assays were, respectively, used to determine the impact of miR-21-5p in the chicken liver, and it turned out that miR-21-5p enhanced lipogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, which ultimately induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Mechanically, we verified that miR-21-5p can directly target nuclear factor I B (NFIB) and kruppel-like factor 3 (KLF3). Furthermore, our experiments revealed that the suppression of NFIB promoted apoptosis and inflammation, and the KLF3 inhibitor accelerated lipogenesis and enhanced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the cotransfection results suggest that the PI3K/AKT pathway is also involved in the process of miRNA-21-5p-mediate liver metabolism regulation. In summary, our study demonstrated that miRNA-21-5p plays a role in hepatocyte lipogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, via targeting NFIB and KLF3 to suppress the PI3K/AKT signal pathway in chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Can Cui
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shunshun Han
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Chaowu Yang
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Huadong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
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10
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Dandare A, Khan MJ, Naeem A, Liaquat A. Clinical relevance of circulating non-coding RNAs in metabolic diseases: Emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. Genes Dis 2023; 10:2393-2413. [PMID: 37554181 PMCID: PMC10404886 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in the regulation of several cellular processes including transcription, RNA processing and genome rearrangement. The aberrant expression of ncRNAs is associated with several pathological conditions. In this review, we focused on recent information to elucidate the role of various regulatory ncRNAs i.e., micro RNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long-chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), in metabolic diseases, e.g., obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The mechanisms by which ncRNAs participated in disease pathophysiology were also highlighted. miRNAs regulate the expression of genes at transcriptional and translational levels. circRNAs modulate the regulation of gene expression via miRNA sponging activity, interacting with RNA binding protein and polymerase II transcription regulation. lncRNAs regulate the expression of genes by acting as a protein decoy, miRNA sponging, miRNA host gene, binding to miRNA response elements (MRE) and the recruitment of transcriptional element or chromatin modifiers. We examined the role of ncRNAs in the disease pathogenesis and their potential role as molecular markers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic targets. We showed the involvement of ncRNAs in the onset of obesity and its progression to MetS and CVD. miRNA-192, miRNA-122, and miRNA-221 were dysregulated in all these metabolic diseases. Other ncRNAs, implicated in at least three diseases include miRNA-15a, miRNA-26, miRNA-27a, miRNA-320, and miRNA-375. Dysregulation of ncRNAs increased the risk of development of DM and MetS and its progression to CVD in obese individuals. Hence, these molecules are potential targets to arrest or delay the progression of metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullahi Dandare
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 840104, Nigeria
| | - Muhammad Jawad Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Aisha Naeem
- Ministry of Public Health, POB42, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Afrose Liaquat
- Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
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11
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Sun H, Kemper JK. MicroRNA regulation of AMPK in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1974-1981. [PMID: 37653034 PMCID: PMC10545736 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01072-3] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity-associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and is the leading cause of liver failure and death. The function of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master energy sensor, is aberrantly reduced in NAFLD, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Increasing evidence indicates that aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRs) are associated with impaired AMPK function in obesity and NAFLD. In this review, we discuss the emerging evidence that miRs have a role in reducing AMPK activity in NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. We also discuss the underlying mechanisms of the aberrant expression of miRs that can negatively impact AMPK, as well as the therapeutic potential of targeting the miR-AMPK pathway for NAFLD/NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Sun
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Jongsook Kim Kemper
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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12
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Kan Changez MI, Mubeen M, Zehra M, Samnani I, Abdul Rasool A, Mohan A, Wara UU, Tejwaney U, Kumar V. Role of microRNA in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): a comprehensive review. J Int Med Res 2023; 51:3000605231197058. [PMID: 37676968 PMCID: PMC10492500 DOI: 10.1177/03000605231197058] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver condition that affects people who do not overconsume alcohol. Uncertainties exist over how microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood and liver relate to NAFLD. The aim of this narrative review was to investigate the role of miRNAs in the onset and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from NAFLD, and explore their potential as diagnostic tools and treatment targets for NAFLD patients. Liver miRNA-34a levels were found to accurately represent the degree of liver damage, with lower levels suggesting more damage. In patients with NAFLD and severe liver fibrosis, higher levels of miRNA-193a-5p and miRNA-378d were found. Moreover, miRNA-34a, miRNA-122, and miRNA-192 levels might aid in differentiating NASH from NAFLD. Similar to this, miRNA-21 and miRNA-27 levels in rats were able to distinguish between steatosis and steatohepatitis. High-fat diets enhanced the expression of 15 distinct miRNAs in rats, and there were substantial differences in the miRNA expression patterns between obese and lean people. The results from the present review imply that miRNA microarrays and sequencing may be helpful diagnostic tools, and miRNAs may be a possible treatment target for patients with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mah I Kan Changez
- Department of Medicine, Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Maryam Mubeen
- Department of Medicine, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Monezahe Zehra
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Inara Samnani
- Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Anmol Mohan
- Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Um Ul Wara
- Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Usha Tejwaney
- Department of Pharmacy, Valley Health System, New Jersey, USA
| | - Vikash Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York City, NY, USA
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13
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Aggeletopoulou I, Kalafateli M, Tsounis EP, Triantos C. Epigenetic Regulation in Lean Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12864. [PMID: 37629043 PMCID: PMC10454848 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612864] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prominent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, is a rapidly growing epidemic. It consists of a wide range of liver diseases, from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and predisposes patients to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is strongly correlated with obesity; however, it has been extensively reported among lean/nonobese individuals in recent years. Although lean patients demonstrate a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, a percentage of these patients may develop steatohepatitis, advanced liver fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease, and have increased all-cause mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms of lean NAFLD remain vague. Studies have reported that lean NAFLD demonstrates a close association with environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and epigenetic modifications. In this review, we aim to discuss and summarize the epigenetic mechanisms involved in lean NAFLD and to introduce the interaction between epigenetic patterns and genetic or non genetic factors. Several epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the regulation of lean NAFLD. These include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding-RNA-mediated gene regulation. Epigenetics is an area of special interest in the setting of lean NAFLD as it could provide new insights into the therapeutic options and noninvasive biomarkers that target this under-recognized and challenging disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Aggeletopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
| | - Maria Kalafateli
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Patras, 26332 Patras, Greece;
| | - Efthymios P. Tsounis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.A.); (E.P.T.)
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14
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Khalifa O, Ouararhni K, Errafii K, Alajez NM, Arredouani A. Targeted MicroRNA Profiling Reveals That Exendin-4 Modulates the Expression of Several MicroRNAs to Reduce Steatosis in HepG2 Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11606. [PMID: 37511368 PMCID: PMC10380891 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411606] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Excess hepatic lipid accumulation is the hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which no medication is currently approved. However, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), already approved for treating type 2 diabetes, have lately emerged as possible treatments. Herein we aim to investigate how the GLP-1RA exendin-4 (Ex-4) affects the microRNA (miRNAs) expression profile using an in vitro model of steatosis. Total RNA, including miRNAs, was isolated from control, steatotic, and Ex-4-treated steatotic cells and used for probing a panel of 799 highly curated miRNAs using NanoString technology. Enrichment pathway analysis was used to find the signaling pathways and cellular functions associated with the differentially expressed miRNAs. Our data shows that Ex-4 reversed the expression of a set of miRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted many relevant signaling pathways and cellular functions enriched in the differentially expressed miRNAs, including hepatic fibrosis, insulin receptor, PPAR, Wnt/β-Catenin, VEGF, and mTOR receptor signaling pathways, fibrosis of the liver, cirrhosis of the liver, proliferation of hepatic stellate cells, diabetes mellitus, glucose metabolism disorder and proliferation of liver cells. Our findings suggest that miRNAs may play essential roles in the processes driving steatosis reduction in response to GLP-1R agonists, which warrants further functional investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olfa Khalifa
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Khalid Ouararhni
- Genomics Core Facility, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Khaoula Errafii
- African Genome Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43151, Morocco
| | - Nehad M Alajez
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Abdelilah Arredouani
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
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15
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Heinle JW, DiJoseph K, Sabag A, Oh S, Kimball SR, Keating S, Stine JG. Exercise Is Medicine for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Exploration of Putative Mechanisms. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112452. [PMID: 37299416 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise remains a key component of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) treatment. The mechanisms that underpin improvements in NAFLD remain the focus of much exploration in our attempt to better understand how exercise benefits patients with NAFLD. In this review, we summarize the available scientific literature in terms of mechanistic studies which explore the role of exercise training in modulating fatty acid metabolism, reducing hepatic inflammation, and improving liver fibrosis. This review highlights that beyond simple energy expenditure, the activation of key receptors and pathways may influence the degree of NAFLD-related improvements with some pathways being sensitive to exercise type, intensity, and volume. Importantly, each therapeutic target of exercise training in this review is also the focus of previous or ongoing drug development studies in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and even when a regulatory-agency-approved drug comes to market, exercise will likely remain an integral component in the clinical management of patients with NAFLD and NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Westley Heinle
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Kara DiJoseph
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Angelo Sabag
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sechang Oh
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, R Professional University of Rehabilitation, Tsuchiura 300-0032, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Scot R Kimball
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Shelley Keating
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jonathan G Stine
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Fatty Liver Program, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Liver Center, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Cancer Institute, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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16
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Liu Y, Chen M. Histone Demethylation Profiles in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Prognostic Values in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Bioinformatic Analysis. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:3640-3657. [PMID: 37185761 PMCID: PMC10136463 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45040237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with multifactorial pathogenesis; histone demethylases (HDMs) are emerging as attractive targets. We identified HDM genes (including KDM5C, KDM6B, KDM8, KDM4A, and JMJD7) that were differentially expressed in NAFLD and normal samples by exploring gene expression profiling datasets. There was no significant difference in the expression of genes related to histone demethylation between mild and advanced NAFLD. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that KDM6B and JMJD7 were upregulated at the mRNA level in NAFLD. We explored the expression levels and prognostic values of the identified HDM genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). KDM5C and KDM4A were upregulated in HCC compared to normal tissue, while KDM8 showed downregulation. The abnormal expression levels of these HDMs could provide prognostic values. Furthermore, KDM5C and KDM4A were associated with immune cell infiltration in HCC. HDMs were associated with cellular and metabolic processes and may be involved in the regulation of gene expression. Differentially expressed HDM genes identified in NAFLD may provide value to understanding pathogenesis and in the development of epigenetic therapeutic targets. However, on the basis of the inconsistent results of in vitro studies, future in vivo experiments combined with transcriptomic analysis are needed for further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Mingkai Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, China
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17
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Koustas E, Trifylli EM, Sarantis P, Papadopoulos N, Papanikolopoulos K, Aloizos G, Damaskos C, Garmpis N, Garmpi A, Matthaios D, Karamouzis MV. An Insight into the Arising Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Future Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087168. [PMID: 37108330 PMCID: PMC10138911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a frequent highly malignant form of primary liver cancer and is the third cause of death attributable to malignancy. Despite the improvement in the therapeutic strategies with the exploration of novel pharmacological agents, the survival rate for HCC is still low. Shedding light on the multiplex genetic and epigenetic background of HCC, such as on the emerging role of microRNAs, is considered quite promising for the diagnosis and the prediction of this malignancy, as well as for combatting drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute small noncoding RNA sequences, which play a key role in the regulation of several signaling and metabolic pathways, as well as of pivotal cellular functions such as autophagy, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. It is also demonstrated that miRNAs are significantly implicated in carcinogenesis, either acting as tumor suppressors or oncomiRs, while aberrations in their expression levels are closely associated with tumor growth and progression, as well as with local invasion and metastatic dissemination. The arising role of miRNAs in HCC is in the spotlight of the current scientific research, aiming at the development of novel therapeutic perspectives. In this review, we will shed light on the emerging role of miRNAs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Koustas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni-Myrto Trifylli
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Sarantis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Papadopoulos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, 11525 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Aloizos
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Damaskos
- 'N.S. Christeas' Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Renal Transplantation Unit, 'Laiko' General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Garmpis
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, 'Laiko' General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Garmpi
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Michalis V Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
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18
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MicroRNA-483-5p Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation, Cell Steatosis, and Fibrosis by Targeting PPARα and TIMP2. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061715. [PMID: 36980601 PMCID: PMC10046356 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that bind with the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of genes to regulate expression. Downregulation of miR-483-5p (miR-483) is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the significant roles of miR-483 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic fatty liver diseases (AFLD), and HCC remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated the biological significance of miR-483 in NAFLD, AFLD, and HCC in vitro and in vivo. The downregulation of miR-483 expression in HCC patients’ tumor samples was associated with Notch 3 upregulation. Overexpression of miR-483 in a human bipotent progenitor liver cell line HepaRG and HCC cells dysregulated Notch signaling, inhibited cell proliferation/migration, induced apoptosis, and increased sensitivity towards antineoplastic agents sorafenib/regorafenib. Interestingly, the inactivation of miR-483 upregulated cell steatosis and fibrosis signaling by modulation of lipogenic and fibrosis gene expression. Mechanistically, miR-483 targets PPARα and TIMP2 gene expression, which leads to the suppression of cell steatosis and fibrosis. The downregulation of miR-483 was observed in mice liver fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or a standard Lieber-Decarli liquid diet containing 5% alcohol, leading to increased hepatic steatosis/fibrosis. Our data suggest that miR-483 inhibits cell steatosis and fibrogenic signaling and functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC. Therefore, miR-483 may be a novel therapeutic target for NAFLD/AFLD/HCC management in patients with fatty liver diseases and HCC.
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19
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Li Y, Jin T, Liu N, Wang J, Qin Z, Yin S, Zhang Y, Fu Z, Wu Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Yang M, Pang A, Sun J, Wang Y, Yang X. A short peptide exerts neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation via the miR-6328/IKKβ/NF-κB axis. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:53. [PMID: 36855153 PMCID: PMC9972639 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02739-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite considerable efforts, ischemic stroke (IS) remains a challenging clinical problem. Therefore, the discovery of effective therapeutic and targeted drugs based on the underlying molecular mechanism is crucial for effective IS treatment. METHODS A cDNA-encoding peptide was cloned from RNA extracted from Rana limnocharis skin, and the mature amino acid sequence was predicted and synthesized. Hemolysis and acute toxicity of the peptide were tested. Furthermore, its neuroprotective properties were evaluated using a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model in rats and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model in neuron-like PC12 cells. The underlying molecular mechanisms were explored using microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and western blotting. RESULTS A new peptide (NP1) with an amino acid sequence of 'FLPAAICLVIKTC' was identified. NP1 showed no obvious toxicities in vivo and in vitro and was able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Intraperitoneal administration of NP1 (10 nmol/kg) effectively reduced the volume of cerebral infarction and relieved neurological dysfunction in MCAO/R model rats. Moreover, NP1 significantly alleviated the decrease in viability and increase in apoptosis of neuron-like PC12 cells induced by OGD/R. NP1 effectively suppressed inflammation by reducing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, NP1 up-regulated the expression of miR-6328, which, in turn, down-regulated kappa B kinase β (IKKβ). IKKβ reduced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) and inhibitor of NF-κB (I-κB), thereby inhibiting activation of the NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSIONS The newly discovered non-toxic peptide NP1 ('FLPAAICLVIKTC') exerted neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation via the miR-6328/IKKβ/NF-κB axis. Our findings not only provide an exogenous peptide drug candidate and endogenous small nucleic acid drug candidate but also a new drug target for the treatment of IS. This study highlights the importance of peptides in the development of new drugs, elucidation of pathological mechanisms, and discovery of new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Li
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Kunming, 650032 Yunnan China
| | - Naixin Liu
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Junsong Wang
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Zihan Qin
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Saige Yin
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Yingxuan Zhang
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Zhe Fu
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Yutong Wu
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Yinglei Wang
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Yixiang Liu
- grid.413059.a0000 0000 9952 9510Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources and Key Laboratory of Natural Products Synthetic Biology of Ethnic Medicinal Endophytes, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, School of Ethnic Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504 Yunnan China
| | - Meifeng Yang
- grid.285847.40000 0000 9588 0960Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500 Yunnan China
| | - Ailan Pang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650031, Yunnan, China.
| | - Jun Sun
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources and Key Laboratory of Natural Products Synthetic Biology of Ethnic Medicinal Endophytes, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, School of Ethnic Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, Yunnan, China.
| | - Xinwang Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China.
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20
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An Overview of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Focusing on Non-Cirrhotic NAFLD Patients: A Challenge for Physicians. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020586. [PMID: 36831120 PMCID: PMC9953185 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020586] [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: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide and it ranges from simple steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC represents the first liver tumor and the third source of cancer death. In the next few years, the prevalence of NAFLD and consequently of HCC is estimated to increase, becoming a major public health problem. The NAFLD-HCC shows several differences compared to other causes of chronic liver disease (CLD), including the higher percentage of patients that develop HCC in the absence of liver cirrhosis. In HCC surveillance, the international guidelines suggest a six months abdominal ultrasound (US), with or without alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) evaluation, in patients with cirrhosis and in a subgroup of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. However, this screening program reveals several limitations, especially in NAFLD patients. Thus, new biomarkers and scores have been proposed to overcome the limits of HCC surveillance. In this narrative review we aimed to explore the differences in the HCC features between NAFLD and non-NAFLD patients, and those between NAFLD-HCC developed in the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver. Finally, we focused on the limits of tumor surveillance in NAFLD patients, and we explored the new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC.
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21
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Coronary artery disease patient-derived iPSC-hepatocytes have distinct miRNA profile that may alter lipid metabolism. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1706. [PMID: 36717592 PMCID: PMC9886909 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28981-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction, partly driven by altered liver function, predisposes to coronary artery disease (CAD), but the role of liver in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque development remains unclear. Here we produced hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) from 27 induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines derived from 15 study subjects with stable CAD (n = 5), acute CAD (n = 5) or healthy controls (n = 5). We performed a miRNA microarray screening throughout the differentiation, as well as compared iPSC-HLCs miRNA profiles of the patient groups to identify miRNAs involved in the development of CAD. MicroRNA profile changed during differentiation and started to resemble that of the primary human hepatocytes. In the microarray, 35 and 87 miRNAs were statistically significantly deregulated in the acute and stable CAD patients, respectively, compared to controls. Down-regulation of miR-149-5p, -92a-3p and -221-3p, and up-regulation of miR-122-5p was verified in the stable CAD patients when compared to other groups. The predicted targets of deregulated miRNAs were enriched in pathways connected to insulin signalling, inflammation and lipid metabolism. The iPSC-HLCs derived from stable CAD patients with extensive lesions had a distinct genetic miRNA profile possibly linked to metabolic dysfunction, potentially explaining the susceptibility to developing CAD. The iPSC-HLCs from acute CAD patients with only the acute rupture in otherwise healthy coronaries did not present a distinct miRNA profile, suggesting that hepatic miRNAs do not explain susceptibility to plaque rupture.
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22
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Sarangi R, Mishra S, Das S, Mishra A. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and MicroRNAs: A Weighty Consideration. BIOMEDICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH JOURNAL (BBRJ) 2023. [DOI: 10.4103/bbrj.bbrj_319_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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23
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Pervez MA, Khan DA, Gilani STA, Fatima S, Ijaz A, Nida S. Hepato-Protective Effects of Delta-Tocotrienol and Alpha-Tocopherol in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Regulation of Circulating MicroRNA Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010079. [PMID: 36613525 PMCID: PMC9820400 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the regulation of genes for normal metabolism in the liver. Dysregulation of miRNAs is involved in the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to explore changes in circulating miRNA expression in response to delta-tocotrienol (δT3) and alpha-tocopherol (αTF) supplementation and correlate them with relevant biochemical markers in patients with NAFLD. In total, 100 patients with NAFLD were randomized to either receive δT3 (n = 50) 300 mg or αTF (n = 50) 268 mg twice/day for 48 weeks. Plasma expression of miRNA-122, -21, -103a-2, -421, -375 and -34a were determined at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks of intervention using RT-qPCR. Both δT3 and αTF significantly downregulated expression of miRNA-122, -21, -103a-2, -421, -375 and -34a. Moreover, δT3 was more effective than αTF in reducing expression of miRNA-375 and -34a. A significant correlation was observed between miRNA expression and biochemical markers of hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance (IR), oxidative stress (OS), inflammation and apoptosis. δT3 and αTF exert hepato-protective effects by downregulating miRNAs involved in hepatic steatosis, IR, OS, inflammation and apoptosis in patients with NAFLD. Furthermore, δT3 has more pronounced effects than αTF in reducing miR-375 and miR-34a, which are linked to regulation of inflammation and apoptosis.
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24
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Mukherjee AG, Wanjari UR, Gopalakrishnan AV, Katturajan R, Kannampuzha S, Murali R, Namachivayam A, Ganesan R, Renu K, Dey A, Vellingiri B, Prince SE. Exploring the Regulatory Role of ncRNA in NAFLD: A Particular Focus on PPARs. Cells 2022; 11:3959. [PMID: 36552725 PMCID: PMC9777112 DOI: 10.3390/cells11243959] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases are responsible for global mortality and morbidity and are a significant cause of death worldwide. Consequently, the advancement of new liver disease targets is of great interest. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA), such as microRNA (miRNA) and long ncRNA (lncRNA), has been proven to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of virtually all acute and chronic liver disorders. Recent studies demonstrated the medical applications of miRNA in various phases of hepatic pathology. PPARs play a major role in regulating many signaling pathways involved in various metabolic disorders. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease in the world, encompassing a spectrum spanning from mild steatosis to severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). PPARs were found to be one of the major regulators in the progression of NAFLD. There is no recognized treatment for NAFLD, even though numerous clinical trials are now underway. NAFLD is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its frequency increases as obesity and diabetes become more prevalent. Reprogramming anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drugs is an effective therapy option for NAFLD and NASH. Several studies have also focused on the role of ncRNAs in the pathophysiology of NAFLD. The regulatory effects of these ncRNAs make them a primary target for treatments and as early biomarkers. In this study, the main focus will be to understand the regulation of PPARs through ncRNAs and their role in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramkumar Katturajan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sandra Kannampuzha
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Reshma Murali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arunraj Namachivayam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Raja Ganesan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Sabina Evan Prince
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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25
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Chu K, Gu J. microRNA-103a-3p promotes inflammation and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by targeting HBP1. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2022; 44:993-1003. [PMID: 35848933 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2022.2102988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a metabolic-associated disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development is tightly linked to lipid accumulation, inflammatory response, and fibrosis. Our study was intended to expound the role of microRNA (miR)-103a-3p in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. METHODS First, potentially relevant genes in NAFLD were screened using microarray analysis. The expression of lipid metabolism-related, inflammatory, and liver fibrosis indicators in the serum of patients with NAFLD was analyzed. We established a NAFLD mouse model and analyzed the serum level of lipid metabolism- and inflammation-related factors and fibrosis in the liver tissues of NAFLD mice. The targeting relationship between miR-103a-3p and HBP1 was examined by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blot. Finally, the simultaneous effects of miR-103a-3p and HBP1 knockdown on lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and liver fibrosis in NAFLD mice were analyzed by rescue experiments. RESULTS MiR-103a-3p was upregulated in the serum of NAFLD patients and liver tissues of NAFLD mice, with increased lipid accumulation, inflammation, and liver fibrosis. HBP1 was reduced in liver tissues of NAFLD mice, and miR-103a-3p bound to and negatively regulated HBP1. Inhibition of miR-103a-3p or promotion of HBP1 improved liver function, decreased lipid accumulation, suppressed inflammatory response, and reduced liver fibrosis in NAFLD mice. Moreover, sh-HBP1 partially reversed the effect of miR-103a-3p inhibitor on NAFLD mice, leading to increased lipid accumulation, elevated inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver of mice. CONCLUSIONS miR-103a-3p inhibits the expression of HBP1, thus suppressing lipid metabolism, stimulating inflammatory responses, and promoting liver fibrosis in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaifeng Chu
- Department of Hepatology, Suzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jie Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Suzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Suzhou, P.R. China
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26
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Rusu I, Pirlog R, Chiroi P, Nutu A, Puia VR, Fetti AC, Rusu DR, Berindan-Neagoe I, Al Hajjar N. The Implications of Noncoding RNAs in the Evolution and Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)-Related HCC. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12370. [PMID: 36293225 PMCID: PMC9603983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver pathology worldwide. Meanwhile, liver cancer represents the sixth most common malignancy, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the primary, most prevalent subtype. Due to the rising incidence of metabolic disorders, NAFLD has become one of the main contributing factors to HCC development. However, although NAFLD might account for about a fourth of HCC cases, there is currently a significant gap in HCC surveillance protocols regarding noncirrhotic NAFLD patients, so the majority of NAFLD-related HCC cases were diagnosed in late stages when survival chances are minimal. However, in the past decade, the focus in cancer genomics has shifted towards the noncoding part of the genome, especially on the microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which have proved to be involved in the regulation of several malignant processes. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge regarding some of the main dysregulated, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their implications for NAFLD and HCC development. A central focus of the review is on miRNA and lncRNAs that can influence the progression of NAFLD towards HCC and how they can be used as potential screening tools and future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Rusu
- Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 3rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400186 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Radu Pirlog
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Paul Chiroi
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Nutu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vlad Radu Puia
- 3rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400186 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Surgery, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alin Cornel Fetti
- 3rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400186 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Surgery, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel Radu Rusu
- Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nadim Al Hajjar
- 3rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400186 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Surgery, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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27
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Albadawy R, Hasanin AH, Agwa SHA, Hamady S, Aboul-Ela YM, Raafat MH, Kamar SS, Othman M, Yahia YA, Matboli M. Rosavin Ameliorates Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis in the NASH Rat Model via Targeting Hepatic Cell Death. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710148. [PMID: 36077546 PMCID: PMC9456245 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common form of chronic liver disease that urgently needs effective therapy. Rosavin, a major constituent of the Rhodiola Rosea plant of the family Crassulaceae, is believed to exhibit multiple pharmacological effects on diverse diseases. However, its effect on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of NAFLD, and the underlying mechanisms are not fully illustrated. Aim: Investigate the pharmacological activity and potential mechanism of rosavin treatment on NASH management via targeting hepatic cell death-related (HSPD1/TNF/MMP14/ITGB1) mRNAs and their upstream noncoding RNA regulators (miRNA-6881-5P and lnc-SPARCL1-1:2) in NASH rats. Results: High sucrose high fat (HSHF) diet-induced NASH rats were treated with different concentrations of rosavin (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg/day) for the last four weeks of dietary manipulation. The data revealed that rosavin had the ability to modulate the expression of the hepatic cell death-related RNA panel through the upregulation of both (HSPD1/TNF/MMP14/ITGB1) mRNAs and their epigenetic regulators (miRNA-6881-5P and lnc-SPARCL1-1:2). Moreover, rosavin ameliorated the deterioration in both liver functions and lipid profile, and thereby improved the hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis, as evidenced by the decreased protein levels of IL6, TNF-α, and caspase-3 in liver sections of treated animals compared to the untreated NASH rats. Conclusion: Rosavin has demonstrated a potential ability to attenuate disease progression and inhibit hepatic cell death in the NASH animal model. The produced effect was correlated with upregulation of the hepatic cell death-related (HSPD1, TNF, MMP14, and ITGB1) mRNAs—(miRNA-6881-5P—(lnc-SPARCL1-1:2) RNA panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reda Albadawy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt
- Correspondence: (R.A.); or (M.M.)
| | - Amany Helmy Hasanin
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Sara H. A. Agwa
- Clinical Pathology and Molecular Genomics Unit, Medical Ain Shams Research Institute (MASRI), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11382, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa Hamady
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Yasmin M. Aboul-Ela
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Mona Hussien Raafat
- Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Samaa Samir Kamar
- Histology and Cell Biology Department, Kasralainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Othman
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yahia A. Yahia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza 12566, Egypt or
- Chemistry Department, School of Science and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Marwa Matboli
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
- Correspondence: (R.A.); or (M.M.)
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28
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Research Progress on the Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2022; 2022:5259088. [PMID: 35782337 PMCID: PMC9242809 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5259088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, ranging from simple steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Acupuncture is a long-established treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, increasing evidence has pointed to the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of NAFLD, and a certain degree of progress has been made in the study of related mechanisms. However, previous systematic reviews have not discussed the characteristics and the related mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, this review synthesizes the progress in research on acupuncture in the context of NAFLD treatment by the inhibition of inflammatory responses, regulation of lipid metabolism disorder, treatment of insulin resistance, antagonization of oxidative stress injury, and interference with endoplasmic reticulum stress. Overall, we sought to highlight the latest research results, potential applications, and ongoing challenges of this therapy.
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29
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NAFLD: Mechanisms, Treatments, and Biomarkers. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060824. [PMID: 35740949 PMCID: PMC9221336 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is one of the most common causes of liver diseases worldwide. NAFLD is growing in parallel with the obesity epidemic. No pharmacological treatment is available to treat NAFLD, specifically. The reason might be that NAFLD is a multi-factorial disease with an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms involved, an absence of accurate and inexpensive imaging tools, and lack of adequate non-invasive biomarkers. NAFLD consists of the accumulation of excess lipids in the liver, causing lipotoxicity that might progress to metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms for the pathogenesis of NAFLD, current interventions in the management of the disease, and the role of sirtuins as potential targets for treatment are discussed here. In addition, the current diagnostic tools, and the role of non-coding RNAs as emerging diagnostic biomarkers are summarized. The availability of non-invasive biomarkers, and accurate and inexpensive non-invasive diagnosis tools are crucial in the detection of the early signs in the progression of NAFLD. This will expedite clinical trials and the validation of the emerging therapeutic treatments.
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30
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Zhu L, Liao R, Huang J, Yan H, Xiao C, Yang Y, Wang H, Yang C. The miR-216/miR-217 Cluster Regulates Lipid Metabolism in Laying Hens With Fatty Liver Syndrome via PPAR/SREBP Signaling Pathway. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:913841. [PMID: 35711801 PMCID: PMC9195098 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.913841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty liver syndrome (FLS), a common metabolic disease in laying hens, caused by excessive hepatic fat deposition is a bottleneck in the poultry industry. However, no specific therapeutic methods have been developed. Evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for liver lipid metabolism and homeostasis, providing strong evidence for targeting miRNAs as a potential treatment option for liver diseases. However, the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of FLS remain unclear. In present study, RNA-sequencing was performed to discern the expression patterns of miRNAs in normal and fatty livers of laying hens. In total, 12 dysregulated miRNAs (2 down-regulated and 10 up-regulated) were detected between the normal and fatty livers. Functional enrichment analysis showed the potential impacts of the dysregulated miRNAs on lipid metabolism. Notably, miR-216a/b and miR-217-5p, which belong to the miR-216/miR-217 cluster, were up-regulated in the sera and livers of FLS chickens, as well as free fatty acid (FFA)-induced LMH cells. Oil-red O staining revealed that up-regulation of the miR-216/miR-217 cluster induced lipid accumulation in FFA-induced LMH cells. Furthermore, the dual luciferase gene reporter assay and RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase 2, F-box protein 8, and transmembrane 9 superfamily member 3 (TM9SF3) were directly targeted by miR-216a/b and miR-217-5p, respectively, and suppressed in the fatty livers of laying hens. Moreover, overexpression of the miR-216/miR-217 cluster or reduction in TM9SF3 levels led to activation of the proliferator-activated receptor/sterol regulatory-element binding protein (PPAR/SREBP) pathway. Overall, these results demonstrate that the miR-216/miR-217 cluster regulates lipid metabolism in laying hens with FLS, which should prove helpful in the development of new interventional strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Poultry Research Center for Engineering and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongrong Liao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiwen Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huaxiang Yan
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Poultry Research Center for Engineering and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Changfeng Xiao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Poultry Research Center for Engineering and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunzhou Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiying Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Huiying Wang
| | - Changsuo Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Poultry Research Center for Engineering and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Changsuo Yang
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31
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The regulation of HBP1, SIRT1, and SREBP-1c genes and the related microRNAs in non-alcoholic fatty liver rats: The association with the folic acid anti-steatosis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265455. [PMID: 35417465 PMCID: PMC9007334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Folic acid is one of the vital micronutrients that contribute to the genetic stability and other biological activities. In addition, microRNAs regulate gene expression through a multittude of pathways. Our current work aimd to explore the possible ameliorative potency of folic acid and its association with the hepatic miR-21, -34a, and -122 expression as well as their targeted genes, HBP1, SIRT1, and SREBP-1c in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL). A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, a control group (n = 10) and NAFL group (n = 40). Rats in NAFL group were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 20% fats for 14 weeks. The NAFL group was further subdivided into four groups (n = 10/group), one untreated and three orally folic acid-treated groups (25, 50, and 75 μg/Kg b.wt). NAFL characteristics was evaluated in rats in addition to the miR-21, -34a, and -122 profile as well as the transcriptional levels of HBP1, SIRT1, and SREBP-1c genes. NAFL rats exhibited the classic traits of fatty liver disease profile and dysregulation in the pattern of miR-21, -34a, and -122 expression as well as their targeted genes (HBP1, SIRT1, and SREBP-1c, respectively) in the liver. Additionally, NAFL rats had altered levels of TNF-α and adiponectin. These alterations were significantly ameliorated in a dose-dependent pattern following the folic acid treatments. In conclusions, the anti-steatotic, insulin-sensitizing, glucose-lowering and lipotropic potencies of folic acid in NAFL rats may be linked to the epigenetic modulation of the hepatic microRNAs (miR-21, -34a, and -122) and the expression of their target genes (HBP1, SIRT1, and SREBP-1c).
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Ma H, Wang X, Liu X, Wang C, Gao X, Niu J. miR-654-5p Contributes to the Activation and Proliferation of Hepatic Stellate Cells by Targeting RXRα. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:841248. [PMID: 35465330 PMCID: PMC9019757 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.841248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis (LF) is a major disease that threatens human health. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute directly to LF via extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion. Moreover, RXRα is an important nuclear receptor that plays a key regulatory role in HSC activation. Meanwhile, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as significant regulators of LF development. In particular, miR-654-5p is involved in cellular migration and proliferation, and via bioinformatics analysis, has been identified as a potential factor that targets RXRα in humans and in mice. However, the precise relationship between miR-654-5p and RXRα in the context of LF, remains unknown and is the primary focus of the current study. To establish in vitro activated cell model human primary HSCs were cultured in vitro and LX-2 cells were stimulated with recombinant human TGF-β1. mRNA and protein levels of RXRα, miR-654-5p and fibrogenic genes were compared in quiescent and activated HSCs. Moreover, after transfected with miR-654-5p mimics, the expression changes of above related genes in LX-2 cells were estimated. Meanwhile, cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected in miR-654-5p overexpressed LX-2 cells. Simultaneously, the targeted binding between miR-654-5p and RXRα was verified in LX-2 cells. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse model with liver fibrosis was use to research the role of the miR-654-5p in vitro. Our results show that miR-654-5p expression levels increased in activated human HSCs and TGFβ-treated LX-2 cells. Moreover, miR-654-5p mimics markedly promoted LX-2 cell proliferation while inhibiting their apoptosis. Accordingly, the expression levels of RXRα are decreased in activated HSCs and LX-2 cells. Additionally, dual-luciferase reporter assay results reveal direct targeting of RXRα by miR-654-5p. Similarly, in vivo miR-654-5p overexpression aggravates LF in mice that are intraperitoneally injected with CCl4. Taken together, our findings elucidated a novel molecular mechanism with potential use for treatment of LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heming Ma
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiuzhu Gao
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xiuzhu Gao, ; Junqi Niu,
| | - Junqi Niu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xiuzhu Gao, ; Junqi Niu,
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Prikhodko VA, Bezborodkina NN, Okovityi SV. Pharmacotherapy for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Emerging Targets and Drug Candidates. Biomedicines 2022; 10:274. [PMID: 35203484 PMCID: PMC8869100 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is characterized by high global incidence and prevalence, a tight association with common metabolic comorbidities, and a substantial risk of progression and associated mortality. Despite the increasingly high medical and socioeconomic burden of NAFLD, the lack of approved pharmacotherapy regimens remains an unsolved issue. In this paper, we aimed to provide an update on the rapidly changing therapeutic landscape and highlight the major novel approaches to the treatment of this disease. In addition to describing the biomolecules and pathways identified as upcoming pharmacological targets for NAFLD, we reviewed the current status of drug discovery and development pipeline with a special focus on recent evidence from clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika A. Prikhodko
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Saint Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University, 14A Prof. Popov Str., 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Natalia N. Bezborodkina
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Sergey V. Okovityi
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Saint Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University, 14A Prof. Popov Str., 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Scientific, Clinical and Educational Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible wound healing process following liver injury. Although this process is necessary for maintaining liver integrity, severe excessive extracellular matrix accumulation (ECM) could lead to permanent scar formation and destroy the liver structure. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key event in hepatic fibrosis. Previous studies show that most antifibrotic therapies focus on the apoptosis of HSCs and the prevention of HSC activation. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a substantial role in HSC activation and are likely to be biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. This review summarizes and discusses the previously reported ncRNAs, including the microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs, highlighting their regulatory roles and interactions in the signaling pathways that regulate HSC activation in hepatic fibrosis.
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Dietary Patterns Influence Target Gene Expression through Emerging Epigenetic Mechanisms in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9091256. [PMID: 34572442 PMCID: PMC8468830 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to the pathologic buildup of extra fat in the form of triglycerides in liver cells without excessive alcohol intake. NAFLD became the most common cause of chronic liver disease that is tightly associated with key aspects of metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. It is generally accepted that multiple mechanisms and pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Heredity, sedentary lifestyle, westernized high sugar saturated fat diet, metabolic derangements, and gut microbiota, all may interact on a on genetically susceptible individual to cause the disease initiation and progression. While there is an unquestionable role for gene-diet interaction in the etiopathogenesis of NAFLD, it is increasingly apparent that epigenetic processes can orchestrate many aspects of this interaction and provide additional mechanistic insight. Exciting research demonstrated that epigenetic alterations in chromatin can influence gene expression chiefly at the transcriptional level in response to unbalanced diet, and therefore predispose an individual to NAFLD. Thus, further discoveries into molecular epigenetic mechanisms underlying the link between nutrition and aberrant hepatic gene expression can yield new insights into the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and allow innovative epigenetic-based strategies for its early prevention and targeted therapies. Herein, we outline the current knowledge of the interactive role of a high-fat high-calories diet and gene expression through DNA methylation and histone modifications on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We also provide perspectives on the advancement of the epigenomics in the field and possible shortcomings and limitations ahead.
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Finotti M, Romano M, Auricchio P, Scopelliti M, Brizzolari M, Grossi U, Piccino M, Benvenuti S, Morana G, Cillo U, Zanus G. Target Therapies for NASH/NAFLD: From the Molecular Aspect to the Pharmacological and Surgical Alternatives. J Pers Med 2021; 11:499. [PMID: 34199535 PMCID: PMC8229090 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease represents an increasing cause of chronic hepatic disease in recent years. This condition usually arises in patients with multiple comorbidities, the so-called metabolic syndrome. The therapeutic options are multiple, ranging from lifestyle modifications, pharmacological options, to liver transplantation in selected cases. The choice of the most beneficial one and their interactions can be challenging. It is mandatory to stratify the patients according to the severity of their disease to tailor the available treatments. In our contribution, we review the most recent pharmacological target therapies, the role of bariatric surgery, and the impact of liver transplantation on the NAFLD outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Finotti
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Maurizio Romano
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Pasquale Auricchio
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, DISCOG, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy; (P.A.); (U.C.)
| | - Michele Scopelliti
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Marco Brizzolari
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Ugo Grossi
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Marco Piccino
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
| | - Stefano Benvenuti
- Gastroenterology Unit (IV), Cà Foncello Regional Hospital, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Morana
- Division of Radiology, Treviso Regional Hospital, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, DISCOG, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy; (P.A.); (U.C.)
| | - Giacomo Zanus
- 4th Surgery Unit, Regional Hospital Treviso, DISCOG, University of Padua, 31100 Padua, Italy; (M.R.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (U.G.); (M.P.); (G.Z.)
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