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Yamada-Shimizu M, Tamaki N, Kurosaki M, Uchihara N, Suzuki K, Tanaka Y, Miyamoto H, Ishido S, Nobusawa T, Matsumoto H, Keitoku T, Higuchi M, Takaura K, Tanaka S, Maeyashiki C, Yasui Y, Takahashi Y, Tsuchiya K, Nakanishi H, Izumi N. A Comparison of Alanine Aminotransferase Normalization between Pemafibrate and Bezafibrate in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Intern Med 2024; 63:1185-1190. [PMID: 37779070 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2248-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Pemafibrate is a recently developed selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator that can improve alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the effectiveness of ALT normalization with pemafibrate and bezafibrate, a traditional fibrate, has not been compared. Methods In this retrospective study, we compared the effects of pemafibrate and bezafibrate on ALT normalization in patients with NAFLD. The primary endpoint was the ALT normalization rate at 12 months after administration. Patients Twenty and 14 patients with NAFLD receiving pemafibrate and bezafibrate, respectively, were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients had elevated ALT levels and dyslipidemia at entry. Results The ALT normalization rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 40%, 55%, and 60% for pemafibrate and 14.3%, 28.6%, and 14.3% for bezafibrate, respectively. The ALT normalization rate at 12 months was significantly higher in patients treated with pemafibrate than in those treated with bezafibrate (p=0.01). Pemafibrate, when compared with bezafibrate, was shown to be a significant factor for ALT normalization in a multivariable analysis with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 13.8 (1.6-115, p=0.01). Conclusion Pemafibrate is effective in ALT normalization in patients with NAFLD and may be used as a treatment for NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nobuharu Tamaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Masayuki Kurosaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Naoki Uchihara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Keito Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Yuki Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Haruka Miyamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Shun Ishido
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Nobusawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Matsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Taisei Keitoku
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Mayu Higuchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Kenta Takaura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Shohei Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Chiaki Maeyashiki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yasui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Yuka Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Kaoru Tsuchiya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakanishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
| | - Namiki Izumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan
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Ono H, Atsukawa M, Tsubota A, Arai T, Suzuki K, Higashi T, Kitamura M, Shioda‐Koyano K, Kawano T, Yoshida Y, Okubo T, Hayama K, Itokawa N, Kondo C, Nagao M, Iwabu M, Iwakiri K. Impact of pemafibrate in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease complicated by dyslipidemia: A single-arm prospective study. JGH Open 2024; 8:e13057. [PMID: 38572327 PMCID: PMC10986296 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.13057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Background and Aim This study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of 48-week pemafibrate treatment in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) complicated by dyslipidemia. Methods A total of 110 patients diagnosed with MASLD complicated by dyslipidemia received pemafibrate at a dose of 0.1 mg twice daily for 48 weeks. Results The participants were 54 males and 37 females, with a median age of 63 (52-71) years. Besides improvement in lipid profile, significant reductions from baseline to 48 weeks of treatment were found in liver-related enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.001 for all). A significant decrease in the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was observed in patients with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5) (4.34 at baseline to 3.89 at Week 48, P < 0.05). Moreover, changes in ALT were weakly correlated with those in HOMA-IR (r = 0.34; p < 0.05). Regarding noninvasive liver fibrosis tests, platelets, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2-binding protein, type IV collagen 7s, and the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score significantly decreased from baseline to Week 48. Most adverse events were Grades 1-2, and no drug-related Grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed. Conclusion This study demonstrated that 48-week pemafibrate administration improved liver-related enzymes and surrogate marker of liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD. The improvement of insulin resistance by pemafibrate may contribute to the favorable effect on MASLD complicated by dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ono
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Masanori Atsukawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Akihito Tsubota
- Project Research Units (PRU) Research Center for Medical ScienceThe Jikei University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Taeang Arai
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Kenta Suzuki
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Tetsuyuki Higashi
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Michika Kitamura
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | | | - Tadamichi Kawano
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Yuji Yoshida
- Division of GastroenterologyNippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh HospitalChibaJapan
| | - Tomomi Okubo
- Division of GastroenterologyNippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh HospitalChibaJapan
| | - Korenobu Hayama
- Division of GastroenterologyNippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh HospitalChibaJapan
| | - Norio Itokawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Chisa Kondo
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Mototsugu Nagao
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Masato Iwabu
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
| | - Katsuhiko Iwakiri
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Medical SchoolTokyoJapan
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Zhu S, Wu Z, Wang W, Wei L, Zhou H. A revisit of drugs and potential therapeutic targets against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: learning from clinical trials. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:761-776. [PMID: 37839037 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02216-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease, with a worldwide prevalence of 25%. Although numerous clinical trials have been conducted over the last few decades, an effective treatment has not been approved yet. Extensive research has accumulated a large amount of data and experience; however, the vast number of clinical trials and new therapeutic targets for NAFLD make it impossible to keep abreast of the relevant information. Therefore, a systematic analysis of the existing trials is necessary. METHODS Here, we reviewed clinical trials on NAFLD registered in the mandated federal database, ClinicalTrials.gov, to generate a detailed overview of the trials related to drugs and therapeutic targets for NAFLD treatment. Following screening for pertinence to therapy, a total of 440 entries were identified that included active trials as well as those that have already been completed, suspended, terminated, or withdrawn. RESULTS We summarize and systematically analyze the state, drug development pipeline, and discovery of treatment targets for NAFLD. We consider possible factors that may affect clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we discussed these results to explore the mechanisms responsible for clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION We summarised the landscape of current clinical trials and suggested the directions for future NAFLD therapy to assist internal medicine specialists in treating the whole clinical spectrum of this highly prevalent liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zhu
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Z Wu
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - W Wang
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - L Wei
- School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - H Zhou
- School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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Ichikawa T, Oba H, Owada M, Watanabe K, Yoshimura T, Fuchigami A, Nakamura A. Evaluation of the effects of pemafibrate on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease with hypertriglyceridemia using magnetic resonance elastography combined with fibrosis-4 index and the magnetic resonance imaging-aspartate aminotransferase score. JGH Open 2023; 7:959-965. [PMID: 38162848 PMCID: PMC10757500 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.13012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Background and Aim In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effects of pemafibrate treatment in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertriglyceridemia using non-invasive stiffness-based models, including magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) combined with the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) (MEFIB) index and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (MAST) score. Methods In total, 179 patients with MASLD treated with pemafibrate were enrolled. We evaluated the effects of 48-week pemafibrate treatment using the MEFIB index, which classifies patients based on the combination of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) on MRE and FIB-4 and the MAST score, which is calculated based on LSM on MRE, MRI-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), and AST levels. Results Pemafibrate treatment led to significant reduction in AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P = 0.011, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively) and significant improvements in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). The MRI-PDFF values were not significantly altered. However, a significant decrease in LSM on MRE was detected (P = 0.003). Evaluation of fibrosis using the MEFIB index and MAST score demonstrated significant improvement (P = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively). Changes in the MAST score showed positive correlation with changes in ALT and GGT levels (r = 0.821, P < 0.001, and r = 0.808, P < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, ALT and GGT levels at baseline were significantly associated with improvements in the MAST score (P < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion Pemafibrate led to improvements in the MEFIB index and MAST score, as well as liver function. It is a promising therapeutic agent for patients with MASLD and hypertriglyceridemia with the potential to reduce liver-related events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ichikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Haruki Oba
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Mai Owada
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Kazuki Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Tsubasa Yoshimura
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Ayako Fuchigami
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
| | - Atsushi Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyNippon Koukan HospitalKawasakiJapan
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Bołdys A, Bułdak Ł, Maligłówka M, Surma S, Okopień B. Potential Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:1789. [PMID: 37893507 PMCID: PMC10608225 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease is one of the outstanding challenges in gastroenterology. The increasing incidence of the disease is undoubtedly connected with the ongoing obesity pandemic. The lack of specific symptoms in the early phases and the grave complications of the disease require an active approach to prompt diagnosis and treatment. Therapeutic lifestyle changes should be introduced in a great majority of patients; but, in many cases, the adherence is not satisfactory. There is a great need for an effective pharmacological therapy for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease, especially before the onset of steatohepatitis. Currently, there are no specific recommendations on the selection of drugs to treat liver steatosis and prevent patients from progression toward more advanced stages (steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer). Therefore, in this Review, we provide data on the clinical efficacy of therapeutic interventions that might improve the course of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. These include the drugs used in the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemias, as well as affecting the gut microbiota and endocrine system, and other experimental approaches, including functional foods. Finally, we provide advice on the selection of drugs for patients with concomitant Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Łukasz Bułdak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
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Takahashi Y, Seko Y, Yamaguchi K, Takeuchi K, Yano K, Kataoka S, Moriguchi M, Itoh Y. Gamma-glutamyl transferase predicts pemafibrate treatment response in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 38:1743-1749. [PMID: 37221601 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α modulator, has been shown to improve liver function among nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with dyslipidemia. The aim of this retrospective study is to identify predictors of pemafibrate efficacy in NAFLD patients. METHODS A total of 75 NAFLD patients with dyslipidemia who received pemafibrate twice per day for 48 weeks were enrolled in this study. We used the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score as a benchmark for treatment efficacy. RESULTS Median FAST score significantly decreased from 0.96 at baseline to 0.93 at week 48 (P < 0.001). Significant improvements in levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triglycerides were also noted. The serum level of GGT at baseline was correlated with change in FAST score (r = -0.22, P = 0.049). Changes in AST, ALT, and GGT were positively correlated with change in FAST score (r = 0.71, r = 0.61, and r = 0.38). Multivariate analyses identified age and GGT level at baseline as significantly associated with improvement of FAST score by pemafibrate therapy (odds ratio 1.11, 1.02, respectively). Patients over 50 years of age and with a GGT of 90 IU/L or higher showed significantly greater improvement in the FAST score than other groups. CONCLUSIONS Pemafibrate improves the FAST score of NAFLD patients with complicating dyslipidemia, especially in older patients with high GGT level. GGT is useful as an indicator of optimal treatment choice for NAFLD patients with dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Takahashi
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuya Seko
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanji Yamaguchi
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kento Takeuchi
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kota Yano
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seita Kataoka
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Michihisa Moriguchi
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshito Itoh
- Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Yamashita S, Rizzo M, Su TC, Masuda D. Novel Selective PPARα Modulator Pemafibrate for Dyslipidemia, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and Atherosclerosis. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13050626. [PMID: 37233667 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Statins, the intestinal cholesterol transporter inhibitor (ezetimibe), and PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce serum LDL-C levels, leading to a significant reduction in cardiovascular events. However, these events cannot be fully prevented even when maintaining very low LDL-C levels. Hypertriglyceridemia and reduced HDL-C are known as residual risk factors for ASCVD. Hypertriglyceridemia and/or low HDL-C can be treated with fibrates, nicotinic acids, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fibrates were demonstrated to be PPARα agonists and can markedly lower serum TG levels, yet were reported to cause some adverse effects, including an increase in the liver enzyme and creatinine levels. Recent megatrials of fibrates have shown negative findings on the prevention of ASCVD, which were supposed to be due to their low selectivity and potency for binding to PPAR α. To overcome the off-target effects of fibrates, the concept of a selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) was proposed. Kowa Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), has developed pemafibrate (K-877). Compared with fenofibrate, pemafibrate showed more favorable effects on the reduction of TG and an increase in HDL-C. Fibrates worsened liver and kidney function test values, although pemafibrate showed a favorable effect on liver function test values and little effect on serum creatinine levels and eGFR. Minimal drug-drug interactions of pemafibrate with statins were observed. While most of the fibrates are mainly excreted from the kidney, pemafibrate is metabolized in the liver and excreted into the bile. It can be used safely even in patients with CKD, without a significant increase in blood concentration. In the megatrial of pemafibrate, PROMINENT, for dyslipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes, mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C and LDL-C levels, the incidence of cardiovascular events did not decrease among those receiving pemafibrate compared to those receiving the placebo; however, the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was lower. Pemafibrate may be superior to conventional fibrates and applicable to CKD patients. This current review summarizes the recent findings on pemafibrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizuya Yamashita
- Department of Cardiology, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano 598-8577, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manfredi Rizzo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- Promise Department, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ta-Chen Su
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10017, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Daisaku Masuda
- Department of Cardiology, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano 598-8577, Osaka, Japan
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Tamai H, Okamura J. Safety and efficacy of switching to pemafibrate from bezafibrate in patients with chronic liver disease. Hepatol Res 2023; 53:258-266. [PMID: 36378065 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
AIM Although fibrates were developed as lipid-lowering drugs, their efficacy against liver dysfunction in patients with cholestatic liver diseases, such as primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and fatty liver disease, has also been reported. Although fibrates act on some peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), pemafibrate is a novel selective PPAR-α modulator. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of switching from bezafibrate to pemafibrate in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS We analyzed 58 patients with chronic liver disease who switched from bezafibrate to pemafibrate because of minor adverse effects and/or incomplete response. RESULTS This study included 41 patients with cholestatic liver disease and 17 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Reasons for switching to pemafibrate were renal function decline in 31 patients, hemoglobin decline in 17 patients, creatine kinase (CK) elevation in 11 patients, incomplete response of liver dysfunction in 39 patients, and incomplete response of hyperlipidemia in 13 patients. After 3 months, although no significant change in CK was seen, hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate were significantly increased, and creatinine was significantly decreased. Significant decreases in hepatobiliary enzymes were seen in patients with cholestatic liver diseases, but not in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. No significant changes in serum lipids were observed. No patients discontinued pemafibrate due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Switching to pemafibrate could improve adverse effects due to bezafibrate, and appeared effective against liver dysfunction in cholestatic liver disease patients with incomplete response to bezafibrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Tamai
- Department of Hepatology, Wakayama Rosai Hospital, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Jumpei Okamura
- Department of Hepatology, Wakayama Rosai Hospital, Wakayama, Japan
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Sugimoto R, Iwasa M, Eguchi A, Tamai Y, Shigefuku R, Fujiwara N, Tanaka H, Kobayashi Y, Ikoma J, Kaito M, Nakagawa H. Effect of pemafibrate on liver enzymes and shear wave velocity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1073025. [PMID: 36824614 PMCID: PMC9941328 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1073025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims Pemafibrate is a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α modulator that improves serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in dyslipidemia patients. Pemafibrate was reported to reduce ALT in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, but efficacy was not clearly elucidated due to the small size of previous study populations. Therefore, we explored pemafibrate efficacy in NAFLD patients. Methods We retrospectively evaluated pemafibrate efficacy on liver enzymes (n = 132) and liver shear wave velocity (SWV, n = 51) in NAFLD patients who had taken pemafibrate for at least 24 weeks. Results Patient ALT levels were decreased from 81.0 IU/L at baseline to 48.0 IU/L at week 24 (P < 0.0001). Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) and triglyceride (TG) were significantly decreased, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and platelet count were significantly increased, with no change in body weight being observed. Study participant SWV values decreased from 1.45 m/s at baseline to 1.32 m/s at week 48 (P < 0.001). Older age (P = 0.035) and serum TG levels (P = 0.048) were significantly associated with normalized ALT. Changes in AST, ALT, γ-GTP and body weight were significantly correlated with change in SWV. Conclusion Pemafibrate significantly improves liver function, serum TG and liver stiffness in NAFLD patients. Pemafibrate is a promising therapeutic agent for NAFLD and may be a candidate for NAFLD patients with elevated TG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Sugimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Motoh Iwasa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Akiko Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan,*Correspondence: Akiko Eguchi,
| | - Yasuyuki Tamai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Ryuta Shigefuku
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Hideaki Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Kobayashi
- Center for Physical and Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | | | | | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
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Carrillo-Tripp M, Reyes Y, Delgado-Coello B, Mas-Oliva J, Gutiérrez-Vidal R. Peptide Helix-Y 12 as Potential Effector for Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors. PPAR Res 2023; 2023:8047378. [PMID: 37096195 PMCID: PMC10122583 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8047378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors involved in the regulation of lipids and glucose metabolism, and immune response. Therefore, they have been considered pharmacological targets for treating metabolic diseases, such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the available synthetic ligands of PPARs have mild to significant side effects, generating the necessity to identify new molecules that are selective PPAR ligands with specific biological responses. This study aimed to evaluate some components of the atheroprotective and hepatoprotective HB-ATV-8 nanoparticles [the amphipathic peptide Helix-Y12, thermozeaxanthin, thermozeaxanthin-13, thermozeaxanthin-15, and a set of glycolipids], as possible ligands of PPARs through blind molecular docking. According to the change in free energy upon protein-ligand binding, ∆G b, thermozeaxanthins show a more favorable interaction with PPARs, followed by Helix-Y12. Moreover, Helix-Y12 interacts with most parts of the Y-shaped ligand-binding domain (LBD), surrounding helix 3 of PPARs, and reaching helix 12 of PPARα and PPARγ. As previously reported for other ligands, Tyr314 and Tyr464 of PPARα interact with Helix-Y12 through hydrogen bonds. Several PPARα's amino acids are involved in the ligand binding by hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, we identified additional PPARs' amino acids interacting with Helix-Y12 through hydrogen bonds still not reported for known ligands. Our results show that, from the studied ligand set, the Helix-Y12 peptide and Tzeaxs have the most significant probability of binding to the PPARs' LBD, suggesting novel ligands for PPARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Carrillo-Tripp
- Biomolecular Diversity Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Monterrey, Vía del Conocimiento 201, PIIT, C.P. 66600, Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Yair Reyes
- Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Monterrey, Vía del Conocimiento 201, PIIT, C.P. 66600, Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Universidad Politécnica de Puebla, Tercer Carril del Ejido, Serrano s/n, Cuanalá, C.P. 7264, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Blanca Delgado-Coello
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Jaime Mas-Oliva
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Roxana Gutiérrez-Vidal
- Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Monterrey, Vía del Conocimiento 201, PIIT, C.P. 66600, Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Programa de Investigadoras e Investigadores por México, Conacyt, CDMX, Mexico
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Morishita A, Oura K, Takuma K, Nakahara M, Tadokoro T, Fujita K, Tani J, Shi T, Himoto T, Tatsuta M, Moriya A, Senoo T, Tsutsui A, Nagano T, Takaguchi K, Ono M, Masaki T. Pemafibrate improves liver dysfunction and non-invasive surrogates for liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with hypertriglyceridemia: a multicenter study. Hepatol Int 2022. [PMID: 36583842 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10453-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This retrospective, multicenter study evaluated the effect of pemafibrate treatment on liver function and fibrosis by liver function tests (LFTs) and various fibrotic biomarkers including FibroScan in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS A total of 138 NAFLD patients treated with pemafibrate at three hospitals between September 2018 and April 2021 were included. To evaluate the effect of pemafibrate treatment, FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score, a novel index of steatohepatitis that can be calculated based on the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) value, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was used. RESULTS Serum TG levels were significantly decreased 4 weeks after pemafibrate treatment (p = 0.003). The levels of AST (p = 0.038), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = 0.003), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p = 0.047) also significantly diminished 12 weeks after pemafibrate administration compared to before administration (p < 0.05). However, serum HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.193), LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.967), and eGFR (p = 0.909) levels were not significantly altered 12 weeks after pemafibrate administration. In addition, the fibrosis biomarkers' Type IV collagen (p = 0.753) and FIB-4 index (p = 0.333) did not significantly differ, while Autotaxin (p = 0.006) and the AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (p = 0.003) significantly decreased 48 weeks after pemafibrate administration. No significant reductions in LSM (p = 0.959) and CAP (p = 0.266) were detected using FibroScan 48 weeks after pemafibrate administration. FAST score was significantly improved (p = 0.0475). CONCLUSION Pemafibrate improved LFTs, including fibrotic biomarkers and FAST score, due to the hepatic anti-inflammatory effect, suggesting that pemafibrate may prevent disease progression in NAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
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Iwadare T, Kimura T, Kunimoto H, Tanaka N, Wakabayashi SI, Yamazaki T, Okumura T, Kobayashi H, Yamashita Y, Sugiura A, Joshita S, Umemura T. Higher Responsiveness for Women, High Transaminase Levels, and Fat Percentage to Pemafibrate Treatment for NAFLD. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112806. [PMID: 36359326 PMCID: PMC9687993 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Pemafibrate (PEM) is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator that is effective for hypertriglyceridemia accompanying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (HTG-NAFLD). This study aimed to identify the predictors of PEM efficacy for HTG-NAFLD in clinical practice. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 88 HTG-NAFLD patients treated with PEM for 6 months for the analysis of routine blood and body composition testing. A PEM response was defined as a decrease in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of >30% compared with pre-treatment level. The clinical features related to PEM responsiveness were statistically tested between responders and non-responders. Results: All 88 patients completed the 6 month drug regimen without any adverse effects. PEM treatment significantly decreased liver enzymes, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, without any detectable impact on body weight or body composition. Comparisons of baseline clinical features revealed female and greater aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and fat mass % levels to be significantly associated with a PEM response. The optimal cut-off values to predict responders as determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis were AST 45 U/L, ALT 60 U/L, and fat mass 37%. Conclusions: Female HTG-NAFLD patients with higher transaminase and fat mass % levels may be preferentially indicated for PEM treatment. Additional large-scale prospective studies are warranted to verify our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanobu Iwadare
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kimura
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
- Consultation Center for Liver Diseases, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
- Correspondence: or
| | - Hideo Kunimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nagano Municipal Hospital, Nagano 381-8551, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanaka
- Department of Global Medical Research Promotion, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
- International Relations Office, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Shun-ichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Tomoo Yamazaki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Taiki Okumura
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamashita
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Ayumi Sugiura
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Satoru Joshita
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - Takeji Umemura
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
- Consultation Center for Liver Diseases, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
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Kito K, Nomoto H, Sakuma I, Nakamura A, Cho KY, Kameda H, Miya A, Omori K, Yanagiya S, Handa T, Taneda S, Takeuchi J, Nagai S, Yamashita K, Kurihara Y, Atsumi T, Miyoshi H. Effects of pemafibrate on lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia: A multi-center prospective observational study, the PARM-T2D study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022; 192:110091. [PMID: 36174777 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.110091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Pemafibrate, a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulator, was shown to ameliorate lipid abnormalities in a phase III clinical trial of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, its efficacy has not been demonstrated in real-world clinical practice in patients with T2DM. METHODS We performed a multi-center prospective observational study of the use of pemafibrate in patients with T2DM and hypertriglyceridemia versus conventional therapy, with or without a fibrate. The primary outcomes were the changes from baseline in fasting serum triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations at week 52. RESULTS We recruited 650 patients, and data from 504 (252 per group) were analyzed after propensity score matching. In the pemafibrate group, both TG and HDL-C showed significant improvements (p < 0.001), and several indices reflecting TG-rich lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol particle size, and liver enzyme elevations were significantly ameliorated compared with the control group, but there was no difference in glycemic control markers. One of the key secondary endpoints showed that switching from conventional fibrates to pemafibrate improved eGFR but increased uric acid concentration. CONCLUSIONS In patients with T2DM, pemafibrate has superior effects on lipid profile as well as liver and renal dysfunction to conventional fibrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Kito
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nomoto
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Ichiro Sakuma
- Caress Sapporo Hokko Memorial Clinic, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Akinobu Nakamura
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kyu Yong Cho
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiraku Kameda
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Aika Miya
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazuno Omori
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shingo Yanagiya
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takahisa Handa
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Jun Takeuchi
- Sapporo Diabetes and Thyroid Clinic, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - So Nagai
- NTT-East Sapporo Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | - Tatsuya Atsumi
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hideaki Miyoshi
- Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Aoki Clinic, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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14
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Todisco S, Santarsiero A, Convertini P, De Stefano G, Gilio M, Iacobazzi V, Infantino V. PPAR Alpha as a Metabolic Modulator of the Liver: Role in the Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Biology (Basel) 2022; 11:792. [PMID: 35625520 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary In the context of liver disease, one of the more growing public health problems is the transition from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Profound metabolic dysregulations linked to inflammation and hepatic injury are features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Since the peroxisomal-proliferator-activated receptor alpha has long been considered one of the key transcriptional factors in hepatic metabolism, its role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is discussed in this review. Abstract The strong relationship between metabolic alterations and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) suggests a pathogenic interplay. However, many aspects have not yet been fully clarified. Nowadays, NASH is becoming the main cause of liver-associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, an effort to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of NASH is critical. Among the nuclear receptor transcription factors, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is highly expressed in the liver, where it works as a pivotal transcriptional regulator of the intermediary metabolism. In this context, PPARα’s function in regulating the lipid metabolism is essential for proper liver functioning. Here, we review metabolic liver genes under the control of PPARα and discuss how this aspect can impact the inflammatory condition and pathogenesis of NASH.
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Lange NF, Graf V, Caussy C, Dufour JF. PPAR-Targeted Therapies in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Diabetic Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084305. [PMID: 35457120 PMCID: PMC9028563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), ligand-activated transcription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, have been identified as key metabolic regulators in the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, among others. As a leading cause of liver disease worldwide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cause a significant burden worldwide and therapeutic strategies are needed. This review provides an overview of the evidence on PPAR-targeted treatment of NAFLD and NASH in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We considered current evidence from clinical trials and observational studies as well as the impact of treatment on comorbid metabolic conditions such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. Future areas of research, such as possible sexually dimorphic effects of PPAR-targeted therapies, are briefly reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi F. Lange
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (N.F.L.); (J.-F.D.)
| | - Vanessa Graf
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Clinical Nutrition, and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Cyrielle Caussy
- Univ Lyon, CarMen Laboratory, INSERM, INRA, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France;
- Département Endocrinologie, Diabète et Nutrition, Hôpital Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Jean-François Dufour
- Centre des Maladies Digestives, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss NASH Foundation, 3011 Bern, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (N.F.L.); (J.-F.D.)
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Ikeda S, Sugihara T, Kihara T, Matsuki Y, Nagahara T, Takata T, Kitao S, Okura T, Yamamoto K, Isomoto H. Pemafibrate Ameliorates Liver Dysfunction and Fatty Liver in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Hypertriglyceridemia: A Retrospective Study with the Outcome after a Mid-Term Follow-Up. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122316. [PMID: 34943553 PMCID: PMC8700575 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease related to metabolic syndrome. No standard pharmacological treatment has yet been established. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of pemafibrate in 16 NAFLD patients (11 men and 5 women; median age, 59 years; range, 27–81 years) who had taken pemafibrate for at least one year. They were all diagnosed with fatty liver according to imaging and clinical criteria. They were administered pemafibrate from October 2018 to October 2021 (median, 94 weeks; range, 56–157 weeks). Serum triglyceride was significantly decreased by −41.9% (342.3 ± 54.0 to 198.9 ± 20.4 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels significantly decreased by −42.1% (49.6 ± 7.0 to 28.7 ± 3.4 U/L, p < 0.001), −57.1% (65.1 ± 10.8 to 27.9 ± 3.7 U/L, p < 0.001), and −43.2% (68.9 ± 10.9 to 39.1 ± 5.3 U/L, p < 0.05), respectively. The AST to platelet ratio (APRI) (0.8 ± 0.1 to 0.4 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) and fibrosis based on four factors (FIB-4) index (1.8 ± 0.3 to 1.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) also significantly decreased. Liver attenuation (39.1 ± 1.2 to 57.8 ± 2.7 HU, p = 0.028) and liver/spleen ratio (0.76 ± 0.04 to 1.18 ± 0.02, p = 0.012) significantly improved in three patients, as assessed by computed tomography. In conclusion, pemafibrate significantly improves serum triglyceride levels, liver function, FIB-4 index, APRI, and fatty liver in NAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suguru Ikeda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
| | - Takaaki Sugihara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Takuya Kihara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
| | - Yukako Matsuki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
| | - Takakazu Nagahara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
| | - Tomoaki Takata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
| | - Sonoko Kitao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.K.); (T.O.); (K.Y.)
| | - Tsuyoshi Okura
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.K.); (T.O.); (K.Y.)
| | - Kazuhiro Yamamoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.K.); (T.O.); (K.Y.)
| | - Hajime Isomoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (S.I.); (T.K.); (Y.M.); (T.N.); (T.T.); (H.I.)
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Hatanaka T, Kosone T, Saito N, Takakusagi S, Tojima H, Naganuma A, Takagi H, Uraoka T, Kakizaki S. Effect of 48-week pemafibrate on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with hypertriglyceridemia, as evaluated by the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase score. JGH Open 2021; 5:1183-1189. [PMID: 34622006 PMCID: PMC8485409 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aim This retrospective study investigated the effect of 48‐week pemafibrate therapy in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with hypertriglyceridemia, as evaluated by the FibroScan‐aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score. Methods A total of 31 NAFLD patients who were treated with pemafibrate in Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital and Kusunoki Hospital from September 2018 to April 2020 were included in the current study. We used the FAST score, which is a novel index of steatohepatitis that can be calculated based on the AST value, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), to evaluate the effect of pemafibrate treatment. Results The median age was 64.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 55.0–75.0) years and 14 patients (45.2%) were male. Median body mass index was 26.8 (IQR 23.8–28.8). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were detected in 14 (45.2%) and five (16.1%) patients, respectively. Fasting triglyceride and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly improved (P < 0.001 and 0.013, respectively) and the AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase values were significantly decreased during pemafibrate treatment (P = 0.041, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). While the LSM value and CAP value did not differ to a statistically significant extent (P = 0.19 and 0.140, respectively), the FAST score was significantly improved during pemafibrate treatment (P = 0.029). The delta FAST score was found to be correlated with the variations of ALT (r = 0.504, P = 0.005), which represents the effect of pemafibrate. Conclusions Pemafibrate improved the FAST score due to the hepatic anti‐inflammatory effect, indicating that pemafibrate may prevent disease progression in NAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hatanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital Maebashi Japan
| | - Takashi Kosone
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Kusunoki Hospital Fujioka Japan
| | - Naoto Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital Maebashi Japan
| | - Satoshi Takakusagi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Kusunoki Hospital Fujioka Japan
| | - Hiroki Tojima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Maebashi Japan
| | - Atsushi Naganuma
- Department of Gastroenterology National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center Takasaki Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takagi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Kusunoki Hospital Fujioka Japan
| | - Toshio Uraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Maebashi Japan
| | - Satoru Kakizaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Maebashi Japan.,Department of Clinical Research National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center Takasaki Japan
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Hatanaka T, Kakizaki S, Saito N, Nakano Y, Nakano S, Hazama Y, Yoshida S, Hachisu Y, Tanaka Y, Kashiwabara K, Yoshinaga T, Tojima H, Naganuma A, Uraoka T. Impact of Pemafibrate in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia and Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease Pathologically Diagnosed with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Retrospective, Single-arm Study. Intern Med 2021; 60:2167-2174. [PMID: 33612679 PMCID: PMC8355409 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6574-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The therapeutic effect of pemafibrate on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains unknown. This retrospective, single-arm study investigated the efficacy and safety of pemafibrate in MAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods A total of 10 patients who received pemafibrate (oral, 0.1 mg, twice a day) at Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital between September 2018 and September 2019 were included. All patients underwent a liver biopsy, and the disease grade and stage were pathologically assessed based on the FLIP algorithm. Results The median age was 66.0 (53.8-74.8) years old, and 5 patients (50.0%) were men. All patients were diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The fasting and non-fasting triglyceride (TG) levels were 175 (149-247) mg/dL and 228 (169-335) mg/dL, respectively. The AST and ALT values at 6 months were significantly lower than at baseline [AST: 28.0 (22.0-33.8) U/L vs. 43.5 (24.0-55.0) U/L, p=0.008, ALT: 23.0 (14.8-26.5) U/L vs. 51.5 (23.0-65.3) U/L, p=0.005, respectively], especially in NASH patients with significant activity and advanced fibrosis (p=0.040 and 0.014, respectively). Fasting TG levels were significantly lower and HDL-C levels significantly higher at 6 months than at baseline (p=0.005 and 0.032, respectively). At six months, FIB-4, the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, and the macrophage galactose-specific lectin-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer level were significantly improved compared with baseline (p=0.041, 0.005 and 0.005, respectively). Treatment-related adverse events were not observed. Conclusion Pemafibrate treatment may be safe and effective for MAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hatanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Satoru Kakizaki
- Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Naoto Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Yuya Nakano
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Sachi Nakano
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Yoichi Hazama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Sachiko Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Yoko Hachisu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Kenji Kashiwabara
- Department of Pathological Diagnosis, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Teruo Yoshinaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tojima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Atsushi Naganuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center, Japan
| | - Toshio Uraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
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19
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Hoshino T, Ishizuka K, Toi S, Seki M, Kitagawa K. Effects of Pemafibrate in Patients with Stroke and Hypertriglyceridemia: Baseline Cerebral Artery Diseases and 3-Month Laboratory Outcomes. J Atheroscler Thromb 2021; 29:1020-1030. [PMID: 34248089 PMCID: PMC9252640 DOI: 10.5551/jat.63036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The role of hypertriglyceridemia in stroke is poorly understood. The Pemafibrate for Prevention of Atherosclerotic Diseases in Stroke (PPAR Stroke) study was designed to assess the effects of a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, pemafibrate, on vascular outcomes in stroke patients with hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS This was a prospective single-arm study including 74 patients (mean age, 64.1 years; male 75.7%) with stroke and hypertriglyceridemia (defined as fasting serum triglycerides levels of ≥ 150 mg/dL) who were treated with pemafibrate at 0.2 mg or 0.1 mg/day. The present report assessed the association of hypertriglyceridemia with cerebral large and small vessel diseases at baseline and changes in laboratory parameters after a three-month pemafibrate therapy. RESULTS Patients with triglycerides levels of ≥ 227 mg/dL (higher than the median) more often presented with intracranial artery atherosclerotic stenosis than those with triglycerides levels of 150-227 mg/dL (44.4% vs. 21.6%, p=0.037). On the other hand, no differences were found in the prevalence of extracranial artery atherosclerosis and cerebral small vessel diseases. Mean triglycerides levels were significantly reduced from 285 mg/dL at baseline to 175 mg/dL at 3 months (p<0.001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased from 48 mg/dL to 53 mg/dL (p<0.001). In addition, significant reductions in alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and interleukin-6 levels were observed (p<0.001, p=0.002, and p=0.044, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Higher triglycerides levels are associated with intracranial artery atherosclerosis. Pemafibrate showed pleiotropic effects not only in ameliorating atherogenic dyslipidemia but also in the reduction of the levels of inflammatory markers and hepatobiliary enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Hoshino
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Kentaro Ishizuka
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Sono Toi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Misa Seki
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Kazuo Kitagawa
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
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20
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Shinozaki S, Tahara T, Lefor AK, Ogura M. Pemafibrate improves hepatic inflammation, function and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a one-year observational study. Clin Exp Hepatol 2021; 7:172-7. [PMID: 34295984 DOI: 10.5114/ceh.2021.106864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim of the study To optimize the long-term outcomes of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), long-term therapy is important to prevent cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Pemafibrate, a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator, is a promising therapeutic agent for patients with NAFLD. However, only short-term clinical studies are currently available. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with NAFLD treated with pemafibrate. Material and methods This is a retrospective observational study. Patients with NAFLD treated with pemafibrate 0.1 mg twice daily for one year were retrospectively reviewed. Results Twenty-two patients without diabetes mellitus were included and analyzed. Regarding hepatic inflammation markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly decreased during the first three months and was maintained. Low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides significantly decreased at three months and were maintained. Regarding markers of hepatic function, the albumin-bilirubin score decreased significantly during one year of therapy due to significantly elevated serum albumin and decreased total bilirubin levels. Regarding markers of fibrosis, Mac-2 binding protein glucosylation isomer (M2BPGi) significantly decreased, and platelet count increased significantly. Next, we performed correlation analysis between changes in M2BPGi and other parameters. Changes in aspartate aminotransferase, ALT and triglycerides positively correlated with the change in M2BPGi. Conclusions One-year pemafibrate therapy improves markers of hepatic inflammation, function and fibrosis in non-diabetic patients with NAFLD. Improvement of hepatic fibrosis markers significantly correlates with improvement of hepatic inflammation markers and triglyceride levels.
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21
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Liu MX, Ding N, Chen S, Yu YL, Wang JH. One-Step Synthesis of Carbon Nanoparticles Capable of Long-Term Tracking Lipid Droplet for Real-Time Monitoring of Lipid Catabolism and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Lipid-Lowering Drugs. Anal Chem 2021; 93:5284-5290. [PMID: 33724008 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular lipid-rich organelles, which not only serve as neutral lipid reservoirs but also involve in many physiological processes and are associated with a variety of metabolic diseases and cancers. Long-term tracking of the state and behavior of LDs is of great significance but challenging. The difficulty is largely due to the lack of low cytotoxicity, high photobleaching resistance, and long intracellular retention probes that are capable of long-term tracking LDs. Herein, we report the discovery of two amphiphilic LD-targeting carbon nanoparticles (CNPs, i.e., CPDs and CDs) prepared by one-step room-temperature and hydrothermal methods. Their high lipid-water partition coefficient (log P > 2.13) and strong positive solvatochromism property ensure the quality of LD imaging. Especially, CDs exhibit favorable biocompatibility (2 mg mL-1, cell viability >90%), excellent photostability (after continuous laser irradiation on a confocal microscope for 2 h, relative FL intensity >85%), and superior intracellular retention ability, thereby enabling long-term tracking of LDs in hepatocytes for up to six passages. Based on the excellent long-term tracking ability, CDs are successfully applied to observe autophagy in a typical catabolic process and to evaluate the effect of a commonly used lipid-lowering drug atorvastatin on hepatocyte lipid uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Xian Liu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Na Ding
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China
| | - Yong-Liang Yu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Jian-Hua Wang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang 110819, China
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22
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Suto K, Fukuda D, Shinohara M, Ganbaatar B, Yagi S, Kusunose K, Yamada H, Soeki T, Hirata KI, Sata M. Pemafibrate, A Novel Selective Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α Modulator, Reduces Plasma Eicosanoid Levels and Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice. J Atheroscler Thromb 2021; 28:1349-1360. [PMID: 33775978 PMCID: PMC8629704 DOI: 10.5551/jat.61101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims:
Various pathological processes related to diabetes cause endothelial dysfunction. Eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid (AA) have roles in vascular regulation. Fibrates have recently been shown to attenuate vascular complications in diabetics. Here we examined the effects of pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α modulator, on plasma eicosanoid levels and endothelial function in diabetic mice.
Methods:
Diabetes was induced in 7-week-old male wild-type mice by a single injection of streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Pemafibrate (0.3 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 3 weeks. Untreated mice received vehicle. Circulating levels of eicosanoids and free fatty acids were measured using both gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively, were analyzed.
Results:
Pemafibrate reduced both triglyceride and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (
P
<0.01), without affecting body weight. It also decreased circulating levels of AA (
P
<0.001), thromboxane B
2
(
P
<0.001), prostaglandin E
2
, leukotriene B
4
(
P
<0.05), and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (
P
<0.001), all of which were elevated by the induction of diabetes. In contrast, the plasma levels of 15-deoxy-Δ
12,14
-prostaglandin J
2
, which declined following diabetes induction, remained unaffected by pemafibrate treatment. In diabetic mice, pemafibrate decreased palmitic acid (PA) and stearic acid concentrations (
P
<0.05). Diabetes induction impaired endothelial function, whereas pemafibrate ameliorated it (
P
<0.001). The results of ex vivo experiments indicated that eicosanoids or PA impaired endothelial function.
Conclusion:
Pemafibrate diminished the levels of vasoconstrictive eicosanoids and free fatty acids accompanied by a reduction of triglyceride. These effects may be associated with the improvement of endothelial function by pemafibrate in diabetic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Suto
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Daiju Fukuda
- Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Masakazu Shinohara
- The Integrated Center for Mass Spectrometry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.,Division of Epidemiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Byambasuren Ganbaatar
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Shusuke Yagi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Kenya Kusunose
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Hirotsugu Yamada
- Department of Community Medicine for Cardiology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Takeshi Soeki
- Department of Community Medicine and Medical Science, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
| | - Ken-Ichi Hirata
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Masataka Sata
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
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