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Domingues I, Leclercq IA, Beloqui A. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Current therapies and future perspectives in drug delivery. J Control Release 2023; 363:415-434. [PMID: 37769817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.040] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 25% of the adult population worldwide. This pathology can progress into end-stage liver disease with life-threatening complications, and yet no pharmacologic therapy has been approved. NAFLD is commonly characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver and is in closely associated with insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, which suggests that NAFLD is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Regarding treatment options, the current validated strategy relies on lifestyle modifications (exercise and diet restrictions). Although there are no approved drug-based treatments, several clinical trials are ongoing. Novel targets are being discovered, and the repurposing of drugs that show promising effects in NAFLD is starting to gain more interest. The field of nanotechnology has been growing at an increasing rate, with new and more efficient drug delivery strategies being developed for NAFLD treatment. Nanocarriers can easily encapsulate drugs that need to be better protected from the organism to exert their effect or that need help at reaching their target, thereby helping achieve a better bioavailability. Drug delivery systems can also be designed to target the site of the disease, in this case, the liver. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of NAFLD pathology, the targets being considered for clinical trials, and the current guidelines and ongoing clinical trials, with a specific focus on potential oral treatments for NAFLD using promising drug delivery strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Domingues
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials Group, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle A Leclercq
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Laboratory of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 53, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Ana Beloqui
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials Group, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; WEL Research Institute, Avenue Pasteur, 6, 1300 Wavre, Belgium.
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2
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Hoekstra M, Van Eck M. High-density lipoproteins and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Atheroscler Plus 2023; 53:33-41. [PMID: 37663008 PMCID: PMC10469384 DOI: 10.1016/j.athplu.2023.08.001] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a high incidence liver pathology, is associated with a ∼1.5-fold higher cardiovascular disease risk. This phenomenon is generally attributed to the NAFLD-associated increase in circulating levels of pro-atherogenic apolipoprotein B100-containing small dense low-density lipoprotein and plasma hypertriglyceridemia. However, also a significant reduction in cholesterol transported by anti-atherogenic high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is frequently observed in subjects suffering from NAFLD as compared to unaffected people. In this review, we summarize data regarding the relationship between NAFLD and plasma HDL-cholesterol levels, with a special focus on highlighting potential causality between the NAFLD pathology and changes in HDL metabolism. Methods and results Publications in PUBMED describing the relationship between HDL levels and NAFLD susceptibility and/or disease severity, either in human clinical settings or genetically-modified mouse models, were critically reviewed for subsequent inclusion in this manuscript. Furthermore, relevant literature describing effects on lipid loading in cultured hepatocytes of models with genetic alterations related to HDL metabolism have been summarized. Conclusions Although in vitro observations suggest causality between HDL formation by hepatocytes and protection against NAFLD-like lipid accumulation, current literature remains inconclusive on whether relative HDL deficiency is actually driving the development of fatty liver disease in humans. In light of the current obesity pandemic and the associated marked rise in NAFLD incidence, it is of clear scientific and societal interest to gain further insight into the relationship between HDL-cholesterol levels and fatty liver development to potentially uncover the therapeutic potential of pharmacological HDL level and/or function modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno Hoekstra
- Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Pharmacy Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Miranda Van Eck
- Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Pharmacy Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
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3
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Musso G, Saba F, Cassader M, Gambino R. Lipidomics in pathogenesis, progression and treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): Recent advances. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101238. [PMID: 37244504 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease affecting up to 30% of the general adult population. NAFLD encompasses a histological spectrum ranging from pure steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can progress to cirrhosis and is becoming the most common indication for liver transplantation, as a result of increasing disease prevalence and of the absence of approved treatments. Lipidomic readouts of liver blood and urine samples from experimental models and from NASH patients disclosed an abnormal lipid composition and metabolism. Collectively, these changes impair organelle function and promote cell damage, necro-inflammation and fibrosis, a condition termed lipotoxicity. We will discuss the lipid species and metabolic pathways leading to NASH development and progression to cirrhosis, as well as and those species that can contribute to inflammation resolution and fibrosis regression. We will also focus on emerging lipid-based therapeutic opportunities, including specialized proresolving lipid molecules and macrovesicles contributing to cell-to-cell communication and NASH pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Musso
- Dept of Emergency Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
| | - Francesca Saba
- Dept. of Medical Sciences, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cassader
- Dept. of Medical Sciences, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambino
- Dept. of Medical Sciences, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Fraser DA, Harrison SA, Schuppan D. Icosabutate: targeting metabolic and inflammatory pathways for the treatment of NASH. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:1269-1278. [PMID: 36527256 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2159804] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Via pleiotropic targeting of membrane and nuclear fatty acid receptors regulating key metabolic and inflammatory pathways in the liver, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids could offer a unique therapeutic approach for the treatment of metabolic-inflammatory diseases such as NASH. However, they lack efficacy for the treatment of NASH, likely due to unfavorable distribution, metabolism, and susceptibility to peroxidation. AREAS COVERED Structurally engineered fatty acids (SEFAs), as exemplified by icosabutate, circumvent the inherent limitations of unmodified long-chain fatty acids, and demonstrate markedly enhanced pharmacodynamic effects without sacrificing safety and tolerability. We cover icosabutate's structural modifications, their rationale and the fatty acid receptor and pathway targeting profile. We also provide an overview of the clinical data to date, including interim data from a Phase 2b trial in NASH subjects. EXPERT OPINION Ideally, candidate drugs for NASH and associated liver fibrosis should be pleiotropic in mechanism and work upstream on multiple drivers of NASH, including lipotoxic lipid species, oxidative stress, and key modulators of inflammation, liver cell injury, and fibrosis. Icosabutate has demonstrated the ability to target these pathways in preclinical NASH models with interim data from the ICONA trial supporting, at least noninvasively, the clinical translation of highly promising pre-clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen A Harrison
- NorthSea Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford UK
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.,Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Yang L, Zhang B. Protective Mechanism of Nostoc sphaeroides Kütz. Polysaccharide on Liver Fibrosis by HFD-Induced Liver Fat Synthesis and Oxidative Stress. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2022; 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35836833 PMCID: PMC9276475 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1745244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Nostoc sphaeroides Kütz. polysaccharide (NSKP) is one of the main components of Nostoc sphaeroides Kütz. and is often used as health food. We investigated whether NSKP interferes with the progression of liver fibrosis. Male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (C), high-fat diet (M), high-fat diet + 0.4 g/kg NSKP (L), and high-fat diet + 0.8 g/kg NSKP (H). C was fed standard diet, M was fed high-fat diet, and L and H were fed high-fat diet in addition to gavage of 0.4 g/kg or 0.8 g/kg NSKP, respectively, for 22 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the serum and liver oxidative stress, fat accumulation, and fibrosis indexes were detected. The histopathology of liver was also observed. The results showed that the rice of NSKP, compared with M, improved blood lipid level, liver total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and liver antioxidant capacity and effectively interfered with liver fibrosis related indicators. So it is interesting to note that NSKP appeared to be effective in liver injury; further experiments are necessary to clarify the exact mechanisms involved.
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Secor JD, Cho BS, Yu LJ, Pan A, Ko VH, Dao DT, Feigh M, Anez-Bustillos L, Fell GL, Fraser DA, Gura KM, Puder M. Structurally-engineered fatty acid 1024 (SEFA-1024) improves diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Lipids 2022; 57:241-255. [PMID: 35778847 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a global epidemic that drives morbidity and mortality through cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). No definitive therapy has been approved to improve glycemic control and treat NAFLD in obese patients. Here, we investigated a semi-synthetic, long chain, structurally-engineered fatty acid-1024 (SEFA-1024), as a treatment for obesity-induced hyperglycemia, insulin-resistance, and fatty liver disease in rodent models. A single dose of SEFA-1024 was administered to evaluate glucose tolerance and active glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in lean rats in the presence and absence of a DPP-4 inhibitor. The effects of SEFA-1024 on weight loss and glycemic control were assessed in genetic (ob/ob) and environmental (high-fat diet) murine models of obesity. Liver histology, serum liver enzymes, liver lipidomics, and hepatic gene expression were also assessed in the high-fat diet murine model. SEFA-1024 reversed obesity-associated insulin resistance and improved glycemic control. SEFA-1024 increased active GLP-1. In a long-term model of diet-induced obesity, SEFA-1024 reversed excessive weight gain, hepatic steatosis, elevated liver enzymes, hepatic lipotoxicity, and promoted fatty acid metabolism. SEFA-1024 is an enterohepatic-targeted, eicosapentaenoic acid derivative that reverses obesity-induced dysregulated glucose metabolism and hepatic lipotoxicity in genetic and dietary rodent models of obesity. The mechanism by which SEFA-1024 works may include increasing aGLP-1, promoting fatty acid oxidation, and inhibiting hepatic triglyceride formation. SEFA-1024 may serve as a potential treatment for obesity-related diabetes and NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordon D Secor
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bennet S Cho
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lumeng J Yu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy Pan
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victoria H Ko
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Duy T Dao
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Lorenzo Anez-Bustillos
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gillian L Fell
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kathleen M Gura
- Department of Pharmacy, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Puder
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
Hypertriglyceridemia is a common lipid disorder encountered in clinical practice. Plasma triglycerides are a marker for the concentration of triglycerides carried in chylomicrons and very low-density lipoprotein particles. A fasting triglyceride level <150 mg/dL is accepted widely as the upper limit of normal range. Guidelines for hypertriglyceridemia are variable without a global consensus on classification and goals for triglyceride levels. A general classification of hypertriglyceridemia is mild < 200 mg/dL, moderate = 200 to 500 mg/dL, moderate to severe = 500 to 1000 mg/dL, and severe > 1000 mg/dL. Because moderate hypertriglyceridemia does increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, it is important to determine the underlying etiology to guide appropriate and timely management. This article provides stepwise recommendations on the diagnosis and management of moderate hypertriglyceridemia, based on 3 common scenarios encountered in clinical practice. Initial steps in management include evaluating for secondary contributors, especially diabetes mellitus. Based on patient characteristics, appropriate management decisions include lifestyle adjustments aimed at weight loss and decreasing alcohol consumption and use of statin and nonstatin therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savitha Subramanian
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA
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8
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Fraser DA, Wang X, Lund J, Nikolić N, Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta M, Skjaeret T, Alonso C, Kastelein JJP, Rustan AC, Kim YO, Schuppan D. A structurally engineered fatty acid, icosabutate, suppresses liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. J Hepatol 2022; 76:800-811. [PMID: 34915054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Although long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn-3FAs) regulate inflammatory pathways of relevance to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), their susceptibility to peroxidation may limit their therapeutic potential. We compared the metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with an engineered EPA derivative (icosabutate) in human hepatocytes in vitro and their effects on hepatic glutathione metabolism, oxidised lipids, inflammation, and fibrosis in a dietary mouse model of NASH, and in patients prone to fatty liver disease. METHODS Oxidation rates and cellular partitioning of EPA and icosabutate were compared in primary human hepatocytes. Comparative effects of delayed treatment with either low- (56 mg/kg) or high-dose (112 mg/kg) icosabutate were compared with EPA (91 mg/kg) or a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist in a choline-deficient (CD), L-amino acid-defined NASH mouse model. To assess the translational potential of these findings, effects on elevated liver enzymes and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were assessed in overweight, hyperlipidaemic patients at an increased risk of NASH. RESULTS In contrast to EPA, icosabutate resisted oxidation and incorporation into hepatocytes. Icosabutate also reduced inflammation and fibrosis in conjunction with a reversal of CD diet-induced changes in the hepatic lipidome. EPA had minimal effect on any parameter and even worsened fibrosis in association with depletion of hepatic glutathione. In dyslipidaemic patients at risk of NASH, icosabutate rapidly normalised elevated plasma ALT, GGT and AST and reduced FIB-4 in patients with elevated ALT and/or AST. CONCLUSION Icosabutate does not accumulate in hepatocytes and confers beneficial effects on hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in mice. In conjunction with reductions in markers of liver injury in hyperlipidaemic patients, these findings suggest that structural engineering of LCn-3FAs offers a novel approach for the treatment of NASH. LAY SUMMARY Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are involved in multiple pathways regulating hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, but their susceptibility to peroxidation and use as an energy source may limit their clinical efficacy. Herein, we show that a structurally modified omega-3 fatty acid, icosabutate, overcame these challenges and had markedly improved antifibrotic efficacy in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A hepatoprotective effect of icosabutate was also observed in patients with elevated circulating lipids, in whom it led to rapid reductions in markers of liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jenny Lund
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Nataša Nikolić
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Cristina Alonso
- OWL Metabolomics, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - John J P Kastelein
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arild C Rustan
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Yong Ook Kim
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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Sofias AM, De Lorenzi F, Peña Q, Azadkhah Shalmani A, Vucur M, Wang JW, Kiessling F, Shi Y, Consolino L, Storm G, Lammers T. Therapeutic and diagnostic targeting of fibrosis in metabolic, proliferative and viral disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113831. [PMID: 34139255 PMCID: PMC7611899 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common denominator in many pathologies and crucially affects disease progression, drug delivery efficiency and therapy outcome. We here summarize therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for fibrosis targeting in atherosclerosis and cardiac disease, cancer, diabetes, liver diseases and viral infections. We address various anti-fibrotic targets, ranging from cells and genes to metabolites and proteins, primarily focusing on fibrosis-promoting features that are conserved among the different diseases. We discuss how anti-fibrotic therapies have progressed over the years, and how nanomedicine formulations can potentiate anti-fibrotic treatment efficacy. From a diagnostic point of view, we discuss how medical imaging can be employed to facilitate the diagnosis, staging and treatment monitoring of fibrotic disorders. Altogether, this comprehensive overview serves as a basis for developing individualized and improved treatment strategies for patients suffering from fibrosis-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Marios Sofias
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology (MSSO), Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO(ABCD)), University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Federica De Lorenzi
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Quim Peña
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Armin Azadkhah Shalmani
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Jiong-Wei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yang Shi
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lorena Consolino
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Gert Storm
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Targeted Therapeutics, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
| | - Twan Lammers
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Targeted Therapeutics, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
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10
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Huisman TM, Dieterich DT, Friedman SL. Experimental and Investigational Targeted Therapies for the Management of Fibrosis in NASH: An Update. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:329-338. [PMID: 33776490 PMCID: PMC7987269 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s265286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been major advances in the treatment of HBV and HCV with anti-viral treatments, which is reducing the prevalence of fibrosis due to these viruses and obviating the need for anti-fibrotic therapies in these diseases. At the same time, however, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing, of which a substantial fraction of patients have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to cirrhosis. Accordingly, NASH is emerging as the leading indication for liver transplantation in North America and Europe. Progress in uncovering pathogenic determinants of fibrosis in NASH include metabolic dysregulation in hepatocytes that induce inflammation and cytokine secretion leading to cell injury and apoptosis, among others. These pathogenic events converge upon hepatic stellate cells, which are the primary fibrogenic cell in liver, and represent a target of new therapeutic candidates that are currently being evaluated in animal models and clinical trials. This review highlights key experimental and investigational therapies for NASH fibrosis, whose evaluation will be accelerated as new non-invasive markers of fibrosis are established. While no drugs are approved yet for NASH fibrosis, there is growing optimism that new pharmacotherapies are likely to emerge within the next 3 years that will favorably alter the natural history of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsipora M Huisman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Douglas T Dieterich
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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11
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van den Hoek AM, Verschuren L, Caspers MPM, Worms N, Menke AL, Princen HMG. Beneficial effects of elafibranor on NASH in E3L.CETP mice and differences between mice and men. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5050. [PMID: 33658534 PMCID: PMC7930243 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83974-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most rapidly growing liver disease that is nevertheless without approved pharmacological treatment. Despite great effort in developing novel NASH therapeutics, many have failed in clinical trials. This has raised questions on the adequacy of preclinical models. Elafibranor is one of the drugs currently in late stage development which had mixed results for phase 2/interim phase 3 trials. In the current study we investigated the response of elafibranor in APOE*3Leiden.CETP mice, a translational animal model that displays histopathological characteristics of NASH in the context of obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. To induce NASH, mice were fed a high fat and cholesterol (HFC) diet for 15 weeks (HFC reference group) or 25 weeks (HFC control group) or the HFC diet supplemented with elafibranor (15 mg/kg/d) from week 15–25 (elafibranor group). The effects on plasma parameters and NASH histopathology were assessed and hepatic transcriptome analysis was used to investigate the underlying pathways affected by elafibranor. Elafibranor treatment significantly reduced steatosis and hepatic inflammation and precluded the progression of fibrosis. The underlying disease pathways of the model were compared with those of NASH patients and illustrated substantial similarity with molecular pathways involved, with 87% recapitulation of human pathways in mice. We compared the response of elafibranor in the mice to the response in human patients and discuss potential pitfalls when translating preclinical results of novel NASH therapeutics to human patients. When taking into account that due to species differences the response to some targets, like PPAR-α, may be overrepresented in animal models, we conclude that elafibranor may be particularly useful to reduce hepatic inflammation and could be a pharmacologically useful agent for human NASH, but probably in combination with other agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita M van den Hoek
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Lars Verschuren
- Department of Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Martien P M Caspers
- Department of Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Worms
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aswin L Menke
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans M G Princen
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands
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