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Tian R, Yang J, Wang X, Liu S, Dong R, Wang Z, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Cai Z, Yang H, Hu Y, She ZG, Li H, Zhou J, Zhang XJ. Honokiol acts as an AMPK complex agonist therapeutic in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Chin Med 2023; 18:30. [PMID: 36932412 PMCID: PMC10024454 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00729-5] [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: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and its related metabolic syndrome have become major threats to human health, but there is still a need for effective and safe drugs to treat these conditions. Here we aimed to identify potential drug candidates for NAFLD and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS A drug repositioning strategy was used to screen an FDA-approved drug library with approximately 3000 compounds in an in vitro hepatocyte model of lipid accumulation, with honokiol identified as an effective anti-NAFLD candidate. We systematically examined the therapeutic effect of honokiol in NAFLD and metabolic syndrome in multiple in vitro and in vivo models. Transcriptomic examination and biotin-streptavidin binding assays were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, confirmed by rescue experiments. RESULTS Honokiol significantly inhibited metabolic syndrome and NAFLD progression as evidenced by improved hepatic steatosis, liver fibrosis, adipose inflammation, and insulin resistance. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects of honokiol were largely through AMPK activation. Rather than acting on the classical upstream regulators of AMPK, honokiol directly bound to the AMPKγ1 subunit to robustly activate AMPK signaling. Mutation of honokiol-binding sites of AMPKγ1 largely abolished the protective capacity of honokiol against NAFLD. CONCLUSION These findings clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of honokiol in multiple models and reveal a previously unappreciated signaling mechanism of honokiol in NAFLD and metabolic syndrome. This study also provides new insights into metabolic disease treatment by targeting AMPKγ1 subunit-mediated signaling activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Tian
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jinjie Yang
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuaiyang Liu
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ruixiang Dong
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhenya Wang
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zifeng Yang
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yingping Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Zhiwei Cai
- Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hailong Yang
- Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yufeng Hu
- Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Zhi-Gang She
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hongliang Li
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China. .,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China. .,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China. .,Medical Science Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Junjie Zhou
- Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China. .,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Xiao-Jing Zhang
- Department of Cardiology,Renmin Hospital; School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China. .,Institute of Model Animal of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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