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Gao J, Xiang X, Yan Q, Ding Y. CDCS-TCM: A framework based on complex network theory to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 328:118100. [PMID: 38537843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118100] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional Chinese medicine, with the feature of synergistic effects of multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target, plays an important role in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, etc. However, chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine are complex and most of the pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear, especially the relationships of chemical components change during the metabolic process. AIM OF STUDY Our aim is to provide a method based on complex network theory to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS We proposed a framework named CDCS-TCM to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation between substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine. Our method mainly consists two parts. The first part is to discover the local and global causality by the causality network. The second part is to investigate the dynamic correlations and identify the essential substance by dynamic substance correlation network. RESULTS We developed a CDCS-TCM method to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances. Using the XiangDan Injection for ischemic stroke as an example, we have identified the important substances in the metabolic process including substance pairs with strong causality and the dynamic changes of the core effector substance clusters. CONCLUSION The proposed framework will be useful for exploring the correlations of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine more effectively and will provide a new perspective for the elucidation of drug action mechanisms and the new drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Gao
- School of Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyang Xiang
- School of Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Qunfang Yan
- School of Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Yanrui Ding
- School of Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Adorini L, Rigbolt K, Feigh M, Roth J, Erickson M. Increased hepatoprotective effects of the novel farnesoid X receptor agonist INT-787 versus obeticholic acid in a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300809. [PMID: 38662778 PMCID: PMC11045142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a master regulator of bile acid and metabolic homeostasis, is a key target for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study compared efficacy of FXR agonists obeticholic acid (OCA) and INT-787 by liver histopathology, plasma biomarkers of liver damage, and hepatic gene expression profiles in the Amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet-induced and biopsy-confirmed Lepob/ob mouse model of NASH. Lepob/ob mice were fed the AMLN diet for 12 weeks before liver biopsy and subsequent treatment with vehicle, OCA, or INT-787 for 8 weeks. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis (liver lipids, galectin-3, and collagen 1a1 [Col1a1], respectively), as well as plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels, were assessed. Hepatic gene expression was assessed in Lepob/ob mice that were fed the AMLN diet for 14 weeks then treated with vehicle, OCA, or INT-787 for 2 weeks. INT-787, which is equipotent to OCA but more hydrophilic, significantly reduced liver lipids, galectin-3, and Col1a1 compared with vehicle, and to a greater extent than OCA. INT-787 significantly reduced plasma ALT and AST levels, whereas OCA did not. INT-787 modulated a substantially greater number of genes associated with FXR signaling, lipid metabolism, and stellate cell activation relative to OCA in hepatic tissue. These findings demonstrate greater efficacy of INT-787 treatment compared with OCA in improving liver histopathology, decreasing liver enzyme levels, and enhancing gene regulation, suggesting superior clinical potential of INT-787 for the treatment of NASH and other chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Adorini
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | | | - Jonathan Roth
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Mary Erickson
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
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Alkhouri N, LaCerte C, Edwards J, Poordad F, Lawitz E, Lee L, Karan S, Sawhney S, Erickson M, MacConell L, Zaru L, Chen J, Campagna J. Safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of obeticholic acid in subjects with fibrosis or cirrhosis from NASH. Liver Int 2024; 44:966-978. [PMID: 38293761 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15816] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Fibrosis stage is a strong predictor of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) outcomes. Two blinded studies evaluated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of obeticholic acid (OCA) in subjects with staged NASH fibrosis or cirrhosis. METHODS Study 747-117 randomized 51 subjects with NASH (fibrosis stages F1-F4) to daily placebo, OCA 10 or OCA 25 mg (1:2:2) for 85 days. Study 747-118 randomized 24 subjects with NASH cirrhosis (F4; Child-Pugh [CP]-A) and normal liver control subjects matched for similar body weight to daily OCA 10 or OCA 25 mg (1:1) for 28 days. Individual and combined study data were analysed. RESULTS No severe or serious adverse events (AEs) or AEs leading to discontinuation or death occurred. Pruritus was the most frequent AE. Plasma OCA exposure (dose-normalized area under the curve) increased with fibrosis stage but was a relatively poor predictor of hepatic OCA exposure (primary site of action), which remained constant across fibrosis stages F1-F3 and increased 1.8-fold compared with F1 in subjects with cirrhosis due to NASH. Both cohorts showed robust changes in farnesoid X receptor activation markers with OCA treatment and marked decreases in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS Despite higher drug exposures in subjects with NASH cirrhosis, short-term daily treatment with OCA 10 or 25 mg was generally safe and well tolerated in subjects with NASH fibrosis or NASH CP-A cirrhosis. Both cohorts experienced improvements in nonhistologic pharmacodynamic markers consistent with previously conducted OCA phase 2 and phase 3 studies in NASH fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naim Alkhouri
- The Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Arizona Liver Health, Chandler, Arizona, USA
| | - Carl LaCerte
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Fred Poordad
- The Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Eric Lawitz
- The Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Lois Lee
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sharon Karan
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Mary Erickson
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Luna Zaru
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jianfen Chen
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jason Campagna
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
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Lu H, Ban Z, Xiao K, Sun M, Liu Y, Chen F, Shi T, Chen L, Shao D, Zhang M, Li W. Hepatic-Accumulated Obeticholic Acid and Atorvastatin Self-Assembled Nanocrystals Potentiate Ameliorative Effects in Treatment of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2308866. [PMID: 38196299 PMCID: PMC10933608 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308866] [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: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Exploration of medicines for efficient and safe management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains a challenge. Obeticholic acid (OCA), a selective farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been reported to ameliorate injury and inflammation in various liver diseases. However, its clinical application is mainly limited by poor solubility, low bioavailability, and potential side effects. Herein a hepatic-targeted nanodrugs composed of OCA and cholesterol-lowering atorvastatin (AHT) with an ideal active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content for orally combined treatment of MAFLD is created. Such carrier-free nanocrystals (OCAHTs) are self-assembled, not only improving the stability in gastroenteric environments but also achieving hepatic accumulation through the bile acid transporter-mediated enterohepatic recycling process. Orally administrated OCAHT outperforms the simple combination of OCA and AHT in ameliorating of liver damage and inflammation in both acetaminophen-challenged mice and high-fat diet-induced MAFLD mice with less systematic toxicity. Importantly, OCAHT exerts profoundly reverse effects on MAFLD-associated molecular pathways, including impairing lipid metabolism, reducing inflammation, and enhancing the antioxidation response. This work not only provides a facile bile acid transporter-based strategy for hepatic-targeting drug delivery but also presents an efficient and safe full-API nanocrystal with which to facilitate the practical translation of nanomedicines against MAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanfen Lu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong511442China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Zhenglan Ban
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
- School of MedicineSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Kai Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
- School of MedicineSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Madi Sun
- School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong511442China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- College of Chinese Medicinal MaterialsJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchun130118China
| | - Fangman Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Tongfei Shi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong511442China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Li Chen
- College of MedicineJilin UniversityChangchun130021China
| | - Dan Shao
- School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong511442China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and ReconstructionSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
- School of MedicineSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdong510006China
| | - Ming Zhang
- College of MedicineJilin UniversityChangchun130021China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Chinese Medicinal MaterialsJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchun130118China
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Zhao J, Li B, Zhang K, Zhu Z. The effect and safety of obeticholic acid for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37271. [PMID: 38363900 PMCID: PMC10869096 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037271] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the primary causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Obeticholic acid (OCA), a potent farnesoid X nuclear receptor activator, has shown promise for treating NASH-related fibrosis due to its anti-fibrotic effects. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of OCA for patients with NASH as well as to investigate its impact on dyslipidemia. METHOD A search of databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from January 1, 2010, to November 1, 2022, was conducted to identify systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials involving NASH patients. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials that specifically addressed NASH as diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or histology. The results were then categorized, with consideration given to both biochemical and histological outcomes. RESULT Five NASH studies were ultimately selected for further analysis. In terms of biochemical indicators, patients receiving OCA treatment showed improvements in alanine transaminase (mean difference: -19.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -24.39 to 14.58; P < .05) and aspartate aminotransferase (mean difference: -9.22, 95% CI: -12.70 to 5.74; P < .05). As for histological improvement, OCA treatment reduced fibrosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.47-2.59; P = .001) and steatosis (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.47-2.59; P = .001). No significant differences were observed regarding adverse events (1.44, 95% CI: 0.57-3.62; P > .001). Regarding dyslipidemia, mean differences between total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were found to be high (0.33, 95% CI: 0.01-0.64, P < .05; 0.39, 95% CI: 0.04-0.73, P < .05). In the case of pruritus, OCA achieved a high OR (3.22, 95% CI: 2.22-4.74) compared with placebo. CONCLUSION OCA also reduced several liver test markers compared to placebo, including the biochemical indicators alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and improved hepatocellular ballooning, fibrosis, steatosis, and lobular inflammation. Although the incidence of adverse events did not significantly differ between OCA and placebo groups among NASH patients, OCA treatment was found to elevate total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels, and the reported severity of pruritus increased with higher doses of OCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Baozhen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Shandong Drug and Food Vocational College, Weihai, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
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Rahmani R, Eivazi N, Emamgholipour S, Aminian M, Jalilian A, Paknejad M. The obeticholic acid can positively regulate the cancerous behavior of MCF7 breast cancer cell line. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:250. [PMID: 38302816 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09106-9] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis and treatment processes of cancer are among the main challenges of medical science in recent decades. The use of different therapeutic agents is one of the most common methods frequently utilized for cancer treatment. Accumulating evidence points to a potential effect of Obeticholic acid (OCA), a specific ligand for farnesoid X receptor, on the regulation of cancer-associated pathways. In spite of tremendous efforts to introduce OCA into the clinical setting, there is a great deal of uncertainty about its impact on breast cancer treatment. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of OCA on breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS In this experiment, the MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cell line was treated with 0.1 µM OCA, and cancerous characteristics of the MCF-7 cell line was evaluated by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2 H-tetrazolium bromide) assay, gelatin zymography, western blot, Real-time PCR, flow cytometry, and ELISA techniques. The results indicated that OCA increased the rate of apoptosis and the expression levels of PPARα (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) and TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) genes in this cell line, while it reduced the mRNA levels of MMP7 (matrix metalloproteinase 7) and Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) genes, as well as the protein levels of the active form of AKT (protein kinase B), Erk1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) and STAT3 (Signal transducers and activators of transcription-3). Also, OCA decreased the activity of MMP9, while it increased the secretion of VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor-A). CONCLUSIONS It seems that OCA can exert anti-cancer effects on the MCF-7 cells by reducing growth, proliferation, migration, invasion, and regulation of the expression of genes involved in cancer-associated pathways. However, it should be noted that further studies are warranted to establish this concept, especially the increase of VEGF-A can be considered a challenge for the results of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Rahmani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Eivazi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Solaleh Emamgholipour
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Aminian
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Jalilian
- Department of plant secondary metabolites, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran-Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maliheh Paknejad
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Okabe-Miyamoto K, Walsh LC, Ozer DJ, Lyubomirsky S. Measuring the experience of social connection within specific social interactions: The Connection During Conversations Scale (CDCS). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0286408. [PMID: 38236933 PMCID: PMC10795981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have demonstrated that social connection is fundamental to health and well-being. The benefits of connection are observed with both close and distant others, within both new and established relationships, and even with exchanges that unfold over a relatively short timeframe. Because social connection is fundamental to well-being, many existing measures in the literature aim to assess either a global sense of connection or partner-specific (relationship-specific) connection. What is missing are measures of connection felt in specific social interactions or conversations. In three studies (Study 1: N = 351; Study 2: Time 1 N = 397, Time 2 N = 336, Time 3 N = 299; Study 3: N = 235), we developed the Connection During Conversations Scale (CDCS), a 14-item measure of conversation-specific social connection that assesses connection experienced during a social interaction (or conversation). Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that a four-factor model fit our samples well, which resulted in four subscales: Shared Reality, Partner Responsiveness, Participant Interest, and Affective Experience. The overall CDCS measure, along with its four subscales, was significantly correlated with established measures of loneliness, partner responsiveness, relatedness, positivity resonance, and shared reality. Because of the importance of frequent interactions-whether with family, friends, coworkers, or strangers-our new scale will allow researchers to better understand how, when, and where such conversations may contribute to social connection and well-being. (225 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karynna Okabe-Miyamoto
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Lisa C. Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Ozer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Sonja Lyubomirsky
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
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Meshanni JA, Lee JM, Vayas KN, Sun R, Jiang C, Guo GL, Gow AJ, Laskin JD, Laskin DL. Suppression of Lung Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Fibrosis following Nitrogen Mustard Exposure by the Selective Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist Obeticholic Acid. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 388:586-595. [PMID: 37188530 PMCID: PMC10801770 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001557] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen mustard (NM) is a cytotoxic vesicant known to cause pulmonary injury that can progress to fibrosis. NM toxicity is associated with an influx of inflammatory macrophages in the lung. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor involved in bile acid and lipid homeostasis that has anti-inflammatory activity. In these studies, we analyzed the effects of FXR activation on lung injury, oxidative stress, and fibrosis induced by NM. Male Wistar rats were exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (vehicle control) or NM (0.125 mg/kg) by intratracheal Penncentury-MicroSprayer aerosolization; this was followed by treatment with the FXR synthetic agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA, 15 mg/kg), or vehicle control (0.13-0.18 g peanut butter) 2 hours later and then once per day, 5 days per week thereafter for 28 days. NM caused histopathological changes in the lung, including epithelial thickening, alveolar circularization, and pulmonary edema. Picrosirius red staining and lung hydroxyproline content were increased, indicative of fibrosis; foamy lipid-laden macrophages were also identified in the lung. This was associated with aberrations in pulmonary function, including increases in resistance and hysteresis. Following NM exposure, lung expression of HO-1 and iNOS, and the ratio of nitrates/nitrites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), markers of oxidative stress increased, along with BAL levels of inflammatory proteins, fibrinogen, and sRAGE. Administration of OCA attenuated NM-induced histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered lung function. These findings demonstrate that FXR plays a role in limiting NM-induced lung injury and chronic disease, suggesting that activating FXR may represent an effective approach to limiting NM-induced toxicity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this study, the role of farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) in mustard vesicant-induced pulmonary toxicity was analyzed using nitrogen mustard (NM) as a model. This study's findings that administration of obeticholic acid, an FXR agonist, to rats reduces NM-induced pulmonary injury, oxidative stress, and fibrosis provide novel mechanistic insights into vesicant toxicity, which may be useful in the development of efficacious therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclynn A Meshanni
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Jordan M Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Kinal N Vayas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Rachel Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Chenghui Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Grace L Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Andrew J Gow
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Jeffrey D Laskin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Debra L Laskin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (J.A.M., J.M.L., K.N.V., R.S., C.J., G.L.G., A.J.G., D.L.L.) and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, School of Public Health (J.D.L.), Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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9
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Narayanan AK, Surendran S, Balakrishnan D, Gopalakrishnan U, Malick S, Valsan A, Philips CA, Watson CJE. A Short Review on Obeticholic Acid: An Effective Modulator of Farnesoid X Receptor. Curr Rev Clin Exp Pharmacol 2024; 19:225-233. [PMID: 38708917 DOI: 10.2174/0127724328239536230919070001] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as an orphan nuclear receptor resembling the steroid receptor in the late '90s. Activation of FXR is a crucial step in many physiological functions of the liver. A vital role of FXR is impacting the amount of bile acids in the hepatocytes, which it performs by reducing bile acid synthesis, stimulating the bile salt export pump, and inhibiting its enterohepatic circulation, thus protecting the hepatocytes against the toxic accumulation of bile acids. Furthermore, FXR mediates bile acid biotransformation in the intestine, liver regeneration, glucose hemostasis, and lipid metabolism. In this review, we first discuss the mechanisms of the disparate pleiotropic actions of FXR agonists. We then delve into the pharmacokinetics of Obeticholic acid (OCA), the first-in-class selective, potent FXR agonist. We additionally discuss the clinical journey of OCA in humans, its current evidence in various human diseases, and its plausible roles in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anila Kutty Narayanan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Sudhindran Surendran
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Dinesh Balakrishnan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Unnikrishnan Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Shweta Malick
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Solid Organ Transplant, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Arun Valsan
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita University, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India
| | - Cyriac Abby Philips
- Department of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, The Liver Institute, Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva, Kerala, India
| | - Christopher John Edward Watson
- University of Cambridge and Honorary Consultant Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 OQQ, UK
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10
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Zhang T, Feng S, Li J, Wu Z, Deng Q, Yang W, Li J, Pan G. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists induce hepatocellular apoptosis and impair hepatic functions via FXR/SHP pathway. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1829-1843. [PMID: 35267068 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays an indispensable role in liver homeostasis and has been a promising drug target for hepatic diseases. However, the concerns of undesired biological actions limit the clinical applications of FXR agonists. To reveal the intrinsic mechanism of FXR agonist-induce hepatotoxicity, two typical FXR agonists with different structures (obeticholic acid (OCA) and Px-102) were investigated in the present study. By detecting MMP, ROS, and ATP and analyzing the fate of cells, we found that both OCA and Px-102 reduced the mitochondrial function of hepatocytes and promoted cell apoptosis. Gene ablation or inhibition of FXR or SHP ameliorated the cytotoxicities of OCA and Px-102, which indicated the adverse actions of FXR/SHP activation including down-regulation of phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and functional hepatic genes. The dose-related injurious effects of OCA (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) and Px-102 (5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg) on the liver were confirmed on a high-fat diet mouse model. The decrease of hepatocyte-specific genes and augmenter of liver regeneration in the liver caused by OCA or Px-102 suggested an imbalance of liver regeneration and a disruption of hepatic functions. Exploration of intestinally biased FXR agonists or combination of FXR agonist with apoptosis inhibitor may be more beneficial strategies for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shanshan Feng
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd., Dongguan, 523871, China
| | - Jiahuan Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd., Dongguan, 523871, China
| | - Zhitao Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Qiangqiang Deng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Non-Clinical Evaluation and Research, Guangdong Lewwin Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, 510990, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd., Dongguan, 523871, China.
| | - Guoyu Pan
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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11
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Zhou Z, Ren Q, Jiao S, Cai Z, Geng X, Deng L, Wang B, Hu L, Zhang L, Yang Y, Li Z. Discovery of new and highly effective quadruple FFA1 and PPARα/γ/δ agonists as potential anti-fatty liver agents. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 229:114061. [PMID: 34954593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114061] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common hepatic disease, while no drug was approved until now. The previous study reported that the quadruple FFA1/PPAR-α/γ/δ agonist RLA8 provided better efficacy than obeticholic acid on NASH. In the present study, two design strategies were introduced to explore better quadruple FFA1/PPAR-α/γ/δ agonists with improved metabolic stability. These efforts ultimately resulted in the identification of ZLY18, a quadruple FFA1/PPAR-α/γ/δ agonist with twice higher metabolic half-life than RLA8 in the liver microsome. In the triton-1339W-induced hyperlipidemic model, ZLY18 reversed hyperlipidemia to an almost normal level, which exhibited far stronger lipid-lowering effects than that of RLA8. Moreover, ZLY18 significantly decreased steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, inflammation and liver fibrosis in NASH model even better than RLA8. Further mechanism studies suggested that ZLY18 exerts stronger effects than RLA8 on the regulation of the gene related to lipid synthesis, oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, ZLY18 is more effective than pirfenidone in the prevention of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Besides, ZLY18 has an acceptable safety profile in the acute toxicity study at a high dose of 500 mg/kg. Therefore, ZLY18 represents a novel and highly promising quadruple FFA1/PPAR-α/γ/δ agonist worth of further investigation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongtao Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Qiang Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Shixuan Jiao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zongyu Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Xinqian Geng
- Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University and the Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, 650021, PR China
| | - Liming Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Lijun Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Luyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University and the Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, 650021, PR China.
| | - Zheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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12
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Huuskonen MT, Wang Y, Nikolakopoulou AM, Montagne A, Dai Z, Lazic D, Sagare AP, Zhao Z, Fernandez JA, Griffin JH, Zlokovic BV. Protection of ischemic white matter and oligodendrocytes in mice by 3K3A-activated protein C. J Exp Med 2022; 219:e20211372. [PMID: 34846535 PMCID: PMC8635278 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Subcortical white matter (WM) stroke accounts for 25% of all strokes and is the second leading cause of dementia. Despite such clinical importance, we still do not have an effective treatment for ischemic WM stroke, and the mechanisms of WM postischemic neuroprotection remain elusive. 3K3A-activated protein C (APC) is a signaling-selective analogue of endogenous blood protease APC that is currently in development as a neuroprotectant for ischemic stroke patients. Here, we show that 3K3A-APC protects WM tracts and oligodendrocytes from ischemic injury in the corpus callosum in middle-aged mice by activating protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) and PAR3. We show that PAR1 and PAR3 were also required for 3K3A-APC's suppression of post-WM stroke microglia and astrocyte responses and overall improvement in neuropathologic and functional outcomes. Our data provide new insights into the neuroprotective APC pathway in the WM and illustrate 3K3A-APC's potential for treating WM stroke in humans, possibly including multiple WM strokes that result in vascular dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko T. Huuskonen
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yaoming Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Angeliki Maria Nikolakopoulou
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Axel Montagne
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Zhonghua Dai
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Divna Lazic
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Abhay P. Sagare
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jose A. Fernandez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - John H. Griffin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Berislav V. Zlokovic
- The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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13
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Schierle S, Brunst S, Helmstädter M, Ebert R, Kramer JS, Steinhilber D, Proschak E, Merk D. Development and in vitro Profiling of Dual FXR/LTA4H Modulators. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2366-2374. [PMID: 33856122 PMCID: PMC8453936 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Designed polypharmacology presents as an attractive strategy to increase therapeutic efficacy in multi-factorial diseases by a directed modulation of multiple involved targets with a single molecule. Such an approach appears particularly suitable in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which involves hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis as pathological hallmarks. Among various potential pharmacodynamic mechanisms, activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXRa) and inhibition of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4Hi) hold promise to counteract NASH according to preclinical and clinical observations. We have developed dual FXR/LTA4H modulators as pharmacological tools, enabling evaluation of this polypharmacology concept to treat NASH and related pathologies. The optimized FXRa/LTA4Hi exhibits well-balanced dual activity on the intended targets with sub-micromolar potency and is highly selective over related nuclear receptors and enzymes rendering it suitable as tool to probe synergies of dual FXR/LTA4H targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Schierle
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Steffen Brunst
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Moritz Helmstädter
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Roland Ebert
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Jan S. Kramer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Dieter Steinhilber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Ewgenij Proschak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Str. 960438FrankfurtGermany
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14
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Hu C, Li Y, Liu Y, Lai Y, Ding L. A Sensitive HPLC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Obeticholic Acid in Human Plasma: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Healthy Volunteers. J Chromatogr Sci 2021; 60:545-550. [PMID: 34313291 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
A rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and fully validated for the determination of obeticholic acid in human plasma. Glimepiride was used as internal standard. For this method, liquid-liquid extraction was performed to extract analyte from the plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 (2.1 × 50 mm, 2.7 μm, Agilent) column with isocratic elution using water containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The mass detection was performed in negative mode. The precursor-product ion pairs for MRM were m/z 465.3 → 419.3 for obeticholic acid and m/z 489.3 → 224.8 for the IS. The method exhibited great linearity over the concentration range of 0.150-100 ng/mL for obeticholic acid. The sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effect and stability of this method were all within the acceptable limits. The method was successfully validated and applied to the pharmacokinetic studies in healthy Chinese volunteers after a single oral dose administration of obeticholic acid tablets of 10 mg, and the pharmacokinetic characteristics of obeticholic acid in human were reported for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Hu
- College of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
- Nanjing Clinical Tech Laboratories Inc., Nanjing 211000, China
| | - Ya Li
- Nanjing Clinical Tech Laboratories Inc., Nanjing 211000, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Nanjing Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yong Lai
- College of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Nanjing Clinical Tech Laboratories Inc., Nanjing 211000, China
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15
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Huang S, Wu Y, Zhao Z, Wu B, Sun K, Wang H, Qin L, Bai F, Leng Y, Tang W. A new mechanism of obeticholic acid on NASH treatment by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophage. Metabolism 2021; 120:154797. [PMID: 33984334 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2021.154797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Obeticholic acid (OCA) has been proved to play potential therapeutic effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Up to now, the study of OCA on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophage is still blank and merits great attention. Here, we aimed to better characterize the role and mechanism of OCA on NASH treatment focusing on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. METHODS The effects of OCA on inflammasome activation were investigated in BMDM, Kupffer cell, BMDC and LX2 cell. Preconditioned media from BMDM culture was used to treat primary hepatocytes to explore the effects of macrophage NLRP3 inflammasome activation on the function of hepatocytes. In vivo, high fat diet plus CCl4 (DIO + CCl4) induced murine NASH model and choline-deficient and amino acid-defined (CDA) diet-induced NASH mice were used to verify the inhibitory effect of OCA on inflammasome activation in liver macrophages and recapitulate its protective role on NASH progressing. To clear up the effect of OCA on macrophage is FXR dependent or not, FXR siRNA was introduced into BMDMs. RESULTS OCA blockaded NLRP3 inflammasome in BMDMs by impacting on the activation stage and disrupting ASC oligomerization. Preconditioned supernatant from LPS + ATP treated BMDMs increased mRNA expression of lipogenic enzymes and lipid content, whereas preconditioned supernatant from OCA treated BMDM blocked these effects in both normal and the FXR knockdown hepatocytes. In DIO + CCl4 mice, the population of inflammatory myeloid lineage cells in livers was decreased upon OCA treatment. Accordingly, the level of IL-1β and IL-18 in liver, the hepatic expression of ASC, pro-caspase-1 and active caspase-1, the expression of caspase 1 p20 in liver macrophages were also reduced. Similar results were obtained in CDA diet-fed mice. Furthermore, OCA maintained the inhibition on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in FXR knockdown BMDMs, suggesting FXR could be dispensable in this effect. CONCLUSIONS This finding brings up a new mechanism of OCA on NASH treatment, suggested by direct inhibition on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophage, further suppression on inflammasome activation-elicited hepatic lipid accumulation, and contributing to the amelioration of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suling Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Yanwei Wu
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Zhuohui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Bing Wu
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Kai Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Li Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Fang Bai
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Ying Leng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
| | - Wei Tang
- Laboratory of Anti-inflammation, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
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16
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van der Schoor LWE, Verkade HJ, Bertolini A, de Wit S, Mennillo E, Rettenmeier E, Weber AA, Havinga R, Valášková P, Jašprová J, Struik D, Bloks VW, Chen S, Schreuder AB, Vítek L, Tukey RH, Jonker JW. Potential of therapeutic bile acids in the treatment of neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11107. [PMID: 34045606 PMCID: PMC8160219 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90687-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice is associated with kernicterus, resulting in permanent neurological damage or even death. Conventional phototherapy does not prevent hyperbilirubinemia or eliminate the need for exchange transfusion. Here we investigated the potential of therapeutic bile acids ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA, 6-α-ethyl-CDCA), a farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) agonist, as preventive treatment options for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using the hUGT1*1 humanized mice and Ugt1a-deficient Gunn rats. Treatment of hUGT1*1 mice with UDCA or OCA at postnatal days 10-14 effectively decreased bilirubin in plasma (by 82% and 62%) and brain (by 72% and 69%), respectively. Mechanistically, our findings indicate that these effects are mediated through induction of protein levels of hUGT1A1 in the intestine, but not in liver. We further demonstrate that in Ugt1a-deficient Gunn rats, UDCA but not OCA significantly decreases plasma bilirubin, indicating that at least some of the hypobilirubinemic effects of UDCA are independent of UGT1A1. Finally, using the synthetic, non-bile acid, FXR-agonist GW4064, we show that some of these effects are mediated through direct or indirect activation of FXR. Together, our study shows that therapeutic bile acids UDCA and OCA effectively reduce both plasma and brain bilirubin, highlighting their potential in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori W E van der Schoor
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henkjan J Verkade
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Bertolini
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne de Wit
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elvira Mennillo
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Eva Rettenmeier
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - André A Weber
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Rick Havinga
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra Valášková
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Jašprová
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dicky Struik
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent W Bloks
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Shujuan Chen
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Andrea B Schreuder
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Libor Vítek
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert H Tukey
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Johan W Jonker
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Laboratory of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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17
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Guo D, He L, Gao Y, Jin C, Lin H, Zhang L, Wang L, Zhou Y, Yao J, Duan Y, Yang R, Qiu W, Jiang W. Obeticholic Acid Derivative, T-2054 Suppresses Osteoarthritis via Inhibiting NF-κB-Signaling Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083807. [PMID: 33916928 PMCID: PMC8067620 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disorder, has been reported as the most common cause of disability worldwide. The production of inflammatory cytokines is the main factor in OA. Previous studies have been reported that obeticholic acid (OCA) and OCA derivatives inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines in acute liver failure, but they have not been studied in the progression of OA. In our study, we screened our small synthetic library of OCA derivatives and found T-2054 had anti-inflammatory properties. Meanwhile, the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells and ATDC5 cells were not affected by T-2054. T-2054 treatment significantly relieved the release of NO, as well as mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, T-2054 promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in TNF-α-treated ATDC5 chondrocytes. Moreover, T-2054 could relieve the infiltration of inflammatory cells and degeneration of the cartilage matrix and decrease the levels of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in DMM-induced C57BL/6 mice models. At the same time, T-2054 showed no obvious toxicity to mice. Mechanistically, T-2054 decreased the extent of p-p65 expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and TNF-α-treated ATDC5 chondrocytes. In summary, we showed for the first time that T-2054 effectively reduced the release of inflammatory mediators, as well as promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis via the NF-κB-signaling pathway. Our findings support the potential use of T-2054 as an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Guo
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Liming He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China; (L.H.); (L.W.)
| | - Yaoxin Gao
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Chenxu Jin
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Haizhen Lin
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Liting Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China; (L.H.); (L.W.)
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Jie Yao
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Yixin Duan
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Renzheng Yang
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
| | - Wenwei Qiu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China; (L.H.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: (W.Q.); (W.J.)
| | - Wenzheng Jiang
- Department of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (D.G.); (Y.G.); (C.J.); (H.L.); (L.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (Y.D.); (R.Y.)
- Correspondence: (W.Q.); (W.J.)
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Zhou J, Chen Y, Yu J, Li T, Lu Z, Chen Y, Zhang X, Ye F. The efficacy of novel metabolic targeted agents and natural plant drugs for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatment: A PRISMA-compliant network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e24884. [PMID: 33761646 PMCID: PMC9282112 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000024884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent chronic liver disease characterized by excess accumulation of fat in hepatocytes. Because no drug has been approved for NAFLD treatment, this work analyzed the effects of agents resulting from 2 research hotspots, metabolic target agents, and natural plant drugs, on NAFLD with network meta-analysis. METHODS Public databases were searched through August 14, 2020. Randomized controlled trials that compared obeticholic acid, elafibranor, cenicriviroc, selonsertib, curcumin, silymarin, and resveratrol to placebo were included. Liver pathology improvement, hepatic biochemical indicators, and lipid metabolism indicators were analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-five studies were included in the meta-analysis. Obeticholic acid was found to significantly increase the frequency of liver biopsy improvement compared to placebo (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.60, 2.77). The ranking results among the hepatic biochemical indicators showed that obeticholic acid (94.9%) and elafibranor (86.3%) have a relative advantage in reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and obeticholic acid also had an advantage (95.4%) in reducing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Considering lipid metabolic indicators, elafibranor (expSMD: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.05; SUCRA: 100%), and obeticholic acid (expSMD: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.28,0.84; SUCRA: 75.6%) significantly reduced triglyceride (TG) levels compared with placebo; moreover, obeticholic acid, but not elafibranor, caused a serious increase in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. CONCLUSIONS Novel metabolic targeted agents generally have better effects than natural plant drugs, especially obeticholic acid, and elafibranor. However, obeticholic acid showed serious adverse effects such as increasing LDL-C levels and decreasing HDL-C levels. Curcumin showed potential advantages for NAFLD but lacked statistical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhou
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine
| | - Yidi Chen
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Jun Yu
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing
| | - Tianci Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing
| | - Ziyu Lu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Yan Chen
- Taizhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taizhou, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine
| | - Fang Ye
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing
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de Haan LR, Verheij J, van Golen RF, Horneffer-van der Sluis V, Lewis MR, Beuers UHW, van Gulik TM, Olde Damink SWM, Schaap FG, Heger M, Olthof PB. Unaltered Liver Regeneration in Post-Cholestatic Rats Treated with the FXR Agonist Obeticholic Acid. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020260. [PMID: 33578971 PMCID: PMC7916678 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study, obeticholic acid (OCA) increased liver growth before partial hepatectomy (PHx) in rats through the bile acid receptor farnesoid X-receptor (FXR). In that model, OCA was administered during obstructive cholestasis. However, patients normally undergo PHx several days after biliary drainage. The effects of OCA on liver regeneration were therefore studied in post-cholestatic Wistar rats. Rats underwent sham surgery or reversible bile duct ligation (rBDL), which was relieved after 7 days. PHx was performed one day after restoration of bile flow. Rats received 10 mg/kg OCA per day or were fed vehicle from restoration of bile flow until sacrifice 5 days after PHx. Liver regeneration was comparable between cholestatic and non-cholestatic livers in PHx-subjected rats, which paralleled liver regeneration a human validation cohort. OCA treatment induced ileal Fgf15 mRNA expression but did not enhance post-PHx hepatocyte proliferation through FXR/SHP signaling. OCA treatment neither increased mitosis rates nor recovery of liver weight after PHx but accelerated liver regrowth in rats that had not been subjected to rBDL. OCA did not increase biliary injury. Conclusively, OCA does not induce liver regeneration in post-cholestatic rats and does not exacerbate biliary damage that results from cholestasis. This study challenges the previously reported beneficial effects of OCA in liver regeneration in cholestatic rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne R. de Haan
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, Zhejiang, China;
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.v.G.); (P.B.O.)
| | - Joanne Verheij
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Rowan F. van Golen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Verena Horneffer-van der Sluis
- National Phenome Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (V.H.-v.d.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Matthew R. Lewis
- National Phenome Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (V.H.-v.d.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Ulrich H. W. Beuers
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam Gastroenterology & Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Thomas M. van Gulik
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.v.G.); (P.B.O.)
| | - Steven W. M. Olde Damink
- Department of Surgery & NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (S.W.M.O.D.); (F.G.S.)
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank G. Schaap
- Department of Surgery & NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (S.W.M.O.D.); (F.G.S.)
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michal Heger
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, Zhejiang, China;
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.v.G.); (P.B.O.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +86-138-19345926 or +31-30-2533966
| | - Pim B. Olthof
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.M.v.G.); (P.B.O.)
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune liver disease that predominantly affects women. It is characterised by a chronic and destructive, small bile duct, granulomatous lymphocytic cholangitis, with typical seroreactivity for antimitochondrial antibodies. Patients have variable risks of progressive ductopenia, cholestasis, and biliary fibrosis. Considerations for the cause of this disease emphasise an interaction of chronic immune damage with biliary epithelial cell responses and encompass complex, poorly understood genetic risks and environmental triggers. Licensed disease-modifying treatment focuses on amelioration of cholestasis, with weight-dosed oral ursodeoxycholic acid. For patients who do not respond sufficiently, or patients with ursodeoxycholic acid intolerance, conditionally licensed add-on therapy is with the FXR (NR1H4) agonist, obeticholic acid. Off-label therapy is recognised as an alternative, notably with the pan-PPAR agonist bezafibrate; clinical trial agents are also under development. Baseline characteristics, such as young age, male sex, and advanced disease, and serum markers of liver injury, particularly bilirubin and ALP, are used to stratify risk and assess treatment responsiveness. Parallel attention to the burden of patient symptoms is paramount, including pruritus and fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Giu-Qiang Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Merrill Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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21
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Ferrigno A, Palladini G, Di Pasqua LG, Berardo C, Richelmi P, Cadamuro M, Fabris L, Perlini S, Adorini L, Vairetti M. Obeticholic acid reduces biliary and hepatic matrix metalloproteinases activity in rat hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238543. [PMID: 32911524 PMCID: PMC7482919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We have previously shown that obeticholic acid (OCA) upregulates the biliary excretion of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an inhibitor of iNOS regulating the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Here, the effects of OCA on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in liver, bile and serum were evaluated after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Material and methods Male Wistar rats (n = 20) were orally administered 10 mg/kg/day of OCA (5 days) and subjected to a 60-min ischemia and 60-min reperfusion. Bile, serum and tissue were collected for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity quantification. The MMP regulator tissue reversion-inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), iNOS and biliary levels of LDH, γGT, glucose and ADMA were quantified. Results In the I/R group, OCA administration reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver, bile and serum. A downregulation of tissue RECK and TIMPs, observed under I/R, were recovered by OCA. Immunohistochemical staining of hepatic tissue demonstrated that RECK expression is mainly localized in both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Hepatic iNOS positively correlated with tissue MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Biliary levels of LDH, γGT and glucose were lower in I/R rats treated with OCA; in bile, MMP levels positively correlated with LDH and γGT. Conclusion Thus, OCA administration confers protection to cholangiocytes via downregulation of biliary MMPs in livers submitted to I/R. This event is associated with hepatic RECK- and TIMP-mediated MMP decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ferrigno
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- * E-mail: (MV); (AF)
| | - Giuseppina Palladini
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Clarissa Berardo
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Plinio Richelmi
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Luca Fabris
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine (DMM), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Stefano Perlini
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luciano Adorini
- Intecept Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Mariapia Vairetti
- Dept. of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- * E-mail: (MV); (AF)
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22
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Malnick S, Somin M. Clinical endpoints are necessary in the interim analysis of REGENERATE. Lancet 2020; 396:663. [PMID: 32891201 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30810-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Malnick
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Marina Somin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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23
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Stefela A, Kaspar M, Drastik M, Holas O, Hroch M, Smutny T, Skoda J, Hutníková M, Pandey AV, Micuda S, Kudova E, Pavek P. 3β-Isoobeticholic acid efficiently activates the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) due to its epimerization to 3α-epimer by hepatic metabolism. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 202:105702. [PMID: 32505574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bile acids (BAs) are important signaling molecules acting via the farnesoid X nuclear receptor (FXR) and the membrane G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1). Besides deconjugation of BAs, the oxidoreductive enzymes of colonic bacteria and hepatocytes enable the conversion of BAs into their epimers or dehydrogenated forms. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is the first-in-class BA-derived FXR agonist approved for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis. Herein, a library of OCA derivatives, including 7-keto, 6-ethylidene derivatives and 3β-epimers, was synthetized and investigated in terms of interactions with FXR and GPBAR1 in transaction assays and evaluated for FXR target genes expression in human hepatocytes and C57BL/6 mice. The derivatives were further subjected to cell-free analysis employing in silico molecular docking and a TR-FRET assay. The conversion of the 3βhydroxy epimer and its pharmacokinetics in mice were studied using LC-MS. We found that only the 3β-hydroxy epimer of OCA (3β-isoOCA) possesses significant activity to FXR in hepatic cells and mice. However, in a cell-free assay, 3β-isoOCA had about 9-times lower affinity to FXR than did OCA. We observed that 3β-isoOCA readily epimerizes to OCA in hepatocytes and murine liver. This conversion was significantly inhibited by the hydroxy-Δ5-steroid dehydrogenase inhibitor trilostane. In addition, we found that 3,7-dehydroobeticholic acid is a potent GPBAR1 agonist. We conclude that 3β-isoOCA significantly activates FXR due to its epimerization to the more active OCA by hepatic metabolism. Other modifications as well as epimerization on the C3/C7 positions and the introduction of 6-ethylidene in the CDCA scaffold abrogate FXR agonism and alleviate GPBAR1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Stefela
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kaspar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Nam. 2, Prague 6 - Dejvice, 166 10, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, Prague 2, 128 43, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Drastik
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Holas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Milos Hroch
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870/13, Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Smutny
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Skoda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Miriama Hutníková
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic
| | - Amit V Pandey
- Pediatric Endocrinology, University Children's Hospital, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stanislav Micuda
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870/13, Hradec Kralove, 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Nam. 2, Prague 6 - Dejvice, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pavek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Czech Republic.
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Castro Limo JD, Romero-Gutiérrez M, Ruiz Martín J. Effective treatment of autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis overlap syndrome with obeticholic acid. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2020; 112:737. [PMID: 32496125 DOI: 10.17235/reed.2020.6883/2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is no consensus treatment for patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) - primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) overlap syndrome who are not responding to conventional therapy. We present a case of a 43-yr-old woman with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome treated with obeticholic acid (OCA). The patient showed a reduction in liver enzymes and no fibrosis progression during 15 months of follow up.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juan Ruiz Martín
- Anatomía Patológica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Toledo, ESPAÑA
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25
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Di X, Han J, Zou S, Wei X, Huang Q, Zhu J, Wang Y, Zhong L, Wang Q. Facial synthesis of key intermediate of obeticholic acid via Pd-catalyzed Kumada-Tamao-Corriu cross-coupling reaction. Steroids 2020; 160:108657. [PMID: 32439409 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2020.108657] [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: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Obeticholic acid (OCA) is used to treatment for Primary Biliary Cholangitis and other Famesoid X Receptor related diseases. Through the palladium catalyzed Kumada-Tamao-Corriu cross-coupling reaction, a novel and efficient method for synthesis of OCA with satisfied yield was successfully developed. The absolute configuration of the key intermediate was confirmed by Single-crystal X-ray Diffraction. It affords good strategy for large-scale synthesis of OCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjie Di
- Department of Chemistry, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China; Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Han
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sheng Zou
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xia Wei
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingfei Huang
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Jin Zhu
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuanhua Wang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, China.
| | - Liu Zhong
- Department of Chemistry, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
| | - Qiwei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China; Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Laschtowitz A, de Veer RC, Van der Meer AJ, Schramm C. Diagnosis and treatment of primary biliary cholangitis. United European Gastroenterol J 2020; 8:667-674. [PMID: 32299307 PMCID: PMC7437077 DOI: 10.1177/2050640620919585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is a cholestatic, chronic autoimmune liver disease with a wide individual variation in disease progression. The diagnosis is predominantly based on chronic elevation of alkaline phosphatase and the presence of anti-mitochondrial antibodies or other specific antinuclear antibodies (i.e. anti-gp210 and anti-sp100). Even in early-stage disease, health-related quality of life can be severely impaired by symptoms such as pruritus, fatigue, and sicca syndrome and metabolic bone disease should be assessed and treated. The prognosis of the disease is, however, largely determined by the development of cirrhosis and its complications. Ursodeoxycholic acid is associated with an improved prognosis and should be initiated and continued in all patients. Clinical outcome is related to the biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid, but the prognosis of those with an incomplete response is still better than those who remain untreated. Obeticholic acid was recently approved as second-line treatment and bezafibrate may serve as an adequate off-label alternative, particularly in patients with pruritus. Preliminary data suggest an additive effect of triple therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid, obeticholic acid, and bezafibrate, whereas other promising drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Laschtowitz
- I Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- European Reference Network for Hepatological Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rozanne C de Veer
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adriaan J Van der Meer
- Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christoph Schramm
- I Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- European Reference Network for Hepatological Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
- Martin Zeitz Center for Rare diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany *shared first co-authorship
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27
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Carino A, Biagioli M, Marchianò S, Fiorucci C, Bordoni M, Roselli R, Di Giorgio C, Baldoni M, Ricci P, Monti MC, Morretta E, Zampella A, Distrutti E, Fiorucci S. Opposite effects of the FXR agonist obeticholic acid on Mafg and Nrf2 mediate the development of acute liver injury in rodent models of cholestasis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158733. [PMID: 32371093 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) is validated target in the cholestatic disorders treatment. Obeticholic acid (OCA), the first in class of FXR agonist approved for clinical use, causes side effects including acute liver decompensation when administered to cirrhotic patients with primary biliary cholangitis at higher than recommended doses. The V-Maf avian-musculoaponeurotic-fibrosarcoma-oncogene-homolog-G (Mafg) and nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related-factor-2 (Nrf2) mediates some of the downstream effects of FXR. In the present study we have investigated the role of FXR/MafG/NRF2 pathway in the development of liver toxicity caused by OCA in rodent models of cholestasis. Cholestasis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) or administration of α-naphtyl-isothiocyanate (ANIT) to male Wistar rats and FXR-/- and FXR+/+ mice. Treating BDL and ANIT rats with OCA exacerbated the severity of cholestasis, hepatocytes injury and severely downregulated the expression of basolateral transporters. In mice, genetic ablation FXR or its pharmacological inhibition by 3-(naphthalen-2-yl)-5-(piperidin-4-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole rescued from negative regulation of MRP4 and protected against liver injury caused by ANIT. By RNAseq analysis we found that FXR antagonism effectively reversed the transcription of over 2100 genes modulated by OCA/ANIT treatment, including Mafg and Nrf2 and their target genes Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Mat1a, Mat2a, Gss. Genetic and pharmacological Mafg inhibition by liver delivery of siRNA antisense or S-adenosylmethionine effectively rescued from damage caused by ANIT/OCA. In contrast, Nrf2 induction by sulforaphane was protective. CONCLUSIONS: Liver injury caused by FXR agonism in cholestasis is FXR-dependent and is reversed by FXR and Mafg antagonism or Nrf2 induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Carino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Biagioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Silvia Marchianò
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Fiorucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Martina Bordoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rosalinda Roselli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli ' Federico II', Napoli, Italy
| | - Cristina Di Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Monia Baldoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ricci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Elva Morretta
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Angela Zampella
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli ' Federico II', Napoli, Italy
| | - Eleonora Distrutti
- SC di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Fiorucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
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Polyzos SA, Kountouras J, Mantzoros CS. Obeticholic acid for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Expectations and concerns. Metabolism 2020; 104:154144. [PMID: 31930974 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stergios A Polyzos
- First Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Jannis Kountouras
- Second Medical Clinic, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Section of Endocrinology, Boston VA Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Singh AB, Dong B, Kraemer FB, Liu J. FXR activation promotes intestinal cholesterol excretion and attenuates hyperlipidemia in SR-B1-deficient mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14387. [PMID: 32170842 PMCID: PMC7070099 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Obeticholic acid (OCA) activates the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to lower circulating total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and to stimulate fecal cholesterol excretion in mice by increasing hepatic SR-B1 expression. Here we show that hepatic SR-B1 depletion by an adenovirus expressing Sr-b1 shRNA (Ad-shSR-B1) attenuated these beneficial effects of OCA in mice on a chow diet. The mRNA levels of ABC cholesterol transporter genes (Abca1, Abcg1, Abcg5, and Abcg8) were unchanged in the liver of hepatic SR-B1-depleted mice regardless of OCA treatment; however, a modest increase in Abca1, Abcg5, and Abcg8 mRNA levels was observed in the ileum of vehicle-treated control mice and Abca1 and Abcg8 mRNA levels were increased more by OCA administration. OCA treatment of Sr-b1 knock out (KO) mice (Sr-b1-/-) fed a normal chow diet (NCD) displayed a similar lack of transhepatic cholesterol movement, as well as a modest increase in the levels of ileum cholesterol transporter expression. However, OCA treatment of Sr-b1 KO mice fed a cholesterol-enriched diet reduced circulating cholesterol and increased fecal cholesterol output to comparable degrees to that of wild-type (WT) mice, and these effects were accompanied by substantial elevations of mRNA levels of Abca1, Abcg1, Abcg5, and Abcg8 in the ileum of Sr-b1 KO mice. Our studies suggest that FXR activation stimulates intestinal cholesterol excretion and reduces diet-induced hyperlipidemia through increased expression of ileal cholesterol transporters when hepatic SR-B1-mediated cholesterol movement is absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar B. Singh
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care SystemPalo AltoCAUSA
| | - Bin Dong
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care SystemPalo AltoCAUSA
| | - Fredric B. Kraemer
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care SystemPalo AltoCAUSA
- Department of MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCAUSA
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care SystemPalo AltoCAUSA
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Eslam
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
| | - Rino Alvani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary Division, Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Gamal Shiha
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; Egyptian Liver Research Institute and Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt
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Younossi ZM, Ratziu V, Loomba R, Rinella M, Anstee QM, Goodman Z, Bedossa P, Geier A, Beckebaum S, Newsome PN, Sheridan D, Sheikh MY, Trotter J, Knapple W, Lawitz E, Abdelmalek MF, Kowdley KV, Montano-Loza AJ, Boursier J, Mathurin P, Bugianesi E, Mazzella G, Olveira A, Cortez-Pinto H, Graupera I, Orr D, Gluud LL, Dufour JF, Shapiro D, Campagna J, Zaru L, MacConell L, Shringarpure R, Harrison S, Sanyal AJ. Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet 2019; 394:2184-2196. [PMID: 31813633 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)33041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 724] [Impact Index Per Article: 144.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. METHODS In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2-F3, or F1 with at least one accompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpoints for the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2-F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. FINDINGS Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1-F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2-F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1-F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). INTERPRETATION Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes. FUNDING Intercept Pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobair M Younossi
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Paris, France
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Rsearch Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mary Rinella
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- The Newcastle Liver Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Zachary Goodman
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Andreas Geier
- Department of Hepatology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Philip N Newsome
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - David Sheridan
- Institute of Translational & Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - James Trotter
- Baylor Health, Liver Consultants of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Eric Lawitz
- Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Manal F Abdelmalek
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Aldo J Montano-Loza
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Jerome Boursier
- HIFIH Laboratory, UPRES EA3859, SFR 4208, Angers University, Angers, France; Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Mazzella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Olveira
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Graupera
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut D'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Orr
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lise Lotte Gluud
- The Gastrounit, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- University Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Luna Zaru
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Alswat KA, Fallatah HI, Al-Judaibi B, Elsiesy HA, Al-Hamoudi WK, Qutub AN, Alturaify N, Al-Osaimi A. Position statement on the diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Saudi Med J 2019; 40:531-540. [PMID: 31219486 PMCID: PMC6778754 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2019.6.23980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major national and international health burden. It is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide and the most common cause of abnormal liver enzymes in many developed countries. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is also known as an important cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis and second leading cause for liver transplantation. It is commonly associated with metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive phenotype of NAFLD. In spite of promising performance of non-invasive tools, liver biopsy remains the gold standard test for NASH diagnosis. Over decades, many drugs have been investigated in phase 2 and 3; however, no approved therapy to date. Despite the alarming global rates of NAFLD, there are no local community-based studies on the prevalence of NAFLD or local practice guidelines on its management; this expert review aims to fill this gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid A Alswat
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail.
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Levada K, Omelyanchik A, Rodionova V, Weiskirchen R, Bartneck M. Magnetic-Assisted Treatment of Liver Fibrosis. Cells 2019; 8:E1279. [PMID: 31635053 PMCID: PMC6830324 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver injury can be induced by viruses, toxins, cellular activation, and metabolic dysregulation and can lead to liver fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis still remains a major burden on the global health systems. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are considered the main cause of liver fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells are key targets in antifibrotic treatment, but selective engagement of these cells is an unresolved issue. Current strategies for antifibrotic drugs, which are at the critical stage 3 clinical trials, target metabolic regulation, immune cell activation, and cell death. Here, we report on the critical factors for liver fibrosis, and on prospective novel drugs, which might soon enter the market. Apart from the current clinical trials, novel perspectives for anti-fibrotic treatment may arise from magnetic particles and controlled magnetic forces in various different fields. Magnetic-assisted techniques can, for instance, enable cell engineering and cell therapy to fight cancer, might enable to control the shape or orientation of single cells or tissues mechanically. Furthermore, magnetic forces may improve localized drug delivery mediated by magnetism-induced conformational changes, and they may also enhance non-invasive imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Levada
- Institute of Physics, Mathematics and Information Technology, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236016 Kaliningrad, Russia.
| | - Alexander Omelyanchik
- Institute of Physics, Mathematics and Information Technology, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236016 Kaliningrad, Russia.
| | - Valeria Rodionova
- Institute of Physics, Mathematics and Information Technology, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236016 Kaliningrad, Russia.
- National University of Science and Technology "MISiS", 119049 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Matthias Bartneck
- Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Ratziu V, Sanyal AJ, Loomba R, Rinella M, Harrison S, Anstee QM, Goodman Z, Bedossa P, MacConell L, Shringarpure R, Shah A, Younossi Z. REGENERATE: Design of a pivotal, randomised, phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of obeticholic acid in patients with fibrosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Contemp Clin Trials 2019; 84:105803. [PMID: 31260793 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [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: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic, progressive, and severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In FLINT, obeticholic acid (OCA) treatment improved multiple histological NASH features. The design and endpoints of REGENERATE, an ongoing phase 3 study, further evaluate OCA treatment in patients with fibrosis due to NASH. AIMS The Month 18 interim analysis assesses the effect of OCA on liver histology, defined as improvement of fibrosis by ≥1 stage with no worsening of NASH or resolution of NASH with no worsening of fibrosis. The end-of-study analyses evaluate the effect of OCA on mortality, liver-related clinical outcomes, and long-term safety. METHODS REGENERATE is a pivotal, long-term study of ~2400 patients with NASH, including ~2100 patients with stage 2 or 3 liver fibrosis. Additionally, ~300 patients with stage 1 fibrosis and ≥1 accompanying comorbidity are included to gather information on the safety of OCA and liver disease progression. Patients are randomised 1:1:1 to receive placebo or OCA (10 or 25 mg). A liver biopsy evaluation occurs at screening, Months 18 and 48, and end of study. The duration of the study is dependent upon accrual of a predetermined number of clinical outcome events. CONCLUSIONS REGENERATE is designed in conjunction with regulatory authorities to support regulatory approvals in NASH. This robust phase 3 study assesses the effect of OCA on liver histology as a surrogate for transplant-free survival and liver-related outcomes, including progression to cirrhosis and mortality, and will ultimately assess clinical benefit through specific evaluation of these outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT02548351.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié - Salpêtrière, 91-105 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E Marshall St, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mary Rinella
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N Saint Clair St, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Harrison
- Pinnacle Clinical Research Center, 5109 Medical Dr. Ste 200, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Liver Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Zachary Goodman
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Claude Moore Health Education and Research Building, 3300 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA, USA
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR 1149-CRI, Université Denis Diderot Paris-7, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Clichy, France
| | - Leigh MacConell
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, 4760 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Amrik Shah
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, 4760 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Zobair Younossi
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Claude Moore Health Education and Research Building, 3300 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA, USA
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Comeglio P, Filippi S, Sarchielli E, Morelli A, Cellai I, Corno C, Adorini L, Vannelli GB, Maggi M, Vignozzi L. Therapeutic effects of the selective farnesoid X receptor agonist obeticholic acid in a monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension rat model. J Endocrinol Invest 2019; 42:951-965. [PMID: 30674010 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-019-1009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a member of the nuclear receptor steroid superfamily, leads to anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in several tissues, including the lung. We have recently demonstrated a protective effect of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) in rat models of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the positive effects of OCA treatment could be exerted also in established MCT-induced PAH, i.e., starting treatment 2 weeks after MCT administration. METHODS Rats with MCT-induced PAH were treated, 2 weeks after MCT administration, with OCA or tadalafil for two additional weeks. Pulmonary functional tests were performed at week 2 (before treatment) and four (end of treatment). At the same time points, lung morphological features and expression profile of genes related to smooth muscle relaxation/contraction and tissue remodeling were also assessed. RESULTS 2 weeks after MCT-induced injury, the treadmill resistance (a functional parameter related to pulmonary hypertension) was significantly decreased. At the same time point, we observed right ventricular hypertrophy and vascular remodeling, with upregulation of genes related to inflammation. At week 4, we observed a further worsening of the functional and morphological parameters, accompanied by dysregulation of inflammatory and extracellular matrix markers mRNA expression. Administration of OCA (3 or 10 mg/kg/day), starting 2 weeks after MCT-induced injury, significantly improved pulmonary function, effectively normalizing the exercise capacity. OCA also reverted most of the lung alterations, with a significant reduction of lung vascular wall thickness, right ventricular hypertrophy, and restoration of the local balance between relaxant and contractile pathways. Markers of remodeling pathways were also normalized by OCA treatment. Notably, results with OCA treatment were similar, or even superior, to those obtained with tadalafil, a recently approved treatment for pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate a significant therapeutic effect of OCA in established MCT-induced PAH, improving exercise capacity associated with reduction of right ventricular hypertrophy and lung vascular remodeling. Thus, OCA dosing in a therapeutic protocol restores the balance between relaxant and contractile pathways in the lung, promoting cardiopulmonary protective actions in MCT-induced PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Comeglio
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - S Filippi
- Interdepartmental Laboratory of Functional and Cellular Pharmacology of Reproduction, Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - E Sarchielli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Morelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - I Cellai
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - C Corno
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - L Adorini
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA
| | - G B Vannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M Maggi
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture E Biosistemi), Rome, Italy
| | - L Vignozzi
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture E Biosistemi), Rome, Italy.
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McIlvride S, Nikolova V, Fan HM, McDonald JAK, Wahlström A, Bellafante E, Jansen E, Adorini L, Shapiro D, Jones P, Marchesi JR, Marschall HU, Williamson C. Obeticholic acid ameliorates dyslipidemia but not glucose tolerance in mouse model of gestational diabetes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 317:E399-E410. [PMID: 31237448 PMCID: PMC6732461 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00407.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metabolism alters markedly with advancing gestation, characterized by progressive insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and raised serum bile acids. The nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has an integral role in bile acid homeostasis and modulates glucose and lipid metabolism. FXR is known to be functionally suppressed in pregnancy. The FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We therefore hypothesized that OCA treatment during pregnancy could improve disease severity in a mouse model of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD; 60% kcal from fat) for 4 wk before and throughout pregnancy to induce GDM. The impact of the diet supplemented with 0.03% OCA throughout pregnancy was studied. Pregnant HFD-fed mice displayed insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. OCA significantly reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in nonpregnant and pregnant HFD-fed mice (by 22.4%, P < 0.05 and 36.4%, P < 0.001, respectively) and reduced the impact of pregnancy on insulin resistance but did not change glucose tolerance. In nonpregnant HFD-fed mice, OCA ameliorated weight gain, reduced mRNA expression of inflammatory markers in white adipose tissue, and reduced plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 concentrations (by 62.7%, P < 0.01). However, these effects were not evident in pregnant mice. OCA administration can normalize plasma cholesterol levels in a mouse model of GDM. However, the absence of several of the effects of OCA in pregnant mice indicates that the agonistic action of OCA is not sufficient to overcome many metabolic consequences of the pregnancy-associated reduction in FXR activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saraid McIlvride
- School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vanya Nikolova
- School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hei Man Fan
- School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julie A K McDonald
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annika Wahlström
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elena Bellafante
- School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Jansen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Peter Jones
- School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R Marchesi
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Hanns-Ulrich Marschall
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Mach S, Jegorov A, Šimek Z. Metabolism of obeticholic acid in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:20316-20324. [PMID: 31093919 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) bile by ultra performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/HRMS) revealed a series of bile acids similar to those found in humans. Accordingly, we chose this fish as a model organism to examine the metabolism of obeticholic acid, a bile acid used to treat a number of human liver diseases and the one that has the potential to occur as an environmental contaminant. The taurine and glycine conjugates of obeticholic acid and keto-obeticholic acid were identified, as well as the D-cysteinolic acid conjugate of obeticholic acid, likely a metabolite specific to fish. In addition, metabolites of obeticholic acid (sulphate and glucuronide) and several hydroxy-obeticholic acid derivatives were found, representing typical pathways of primary and secondary steroid metabolism. Brown bullhead exposed to obeticholic acid at a dose of 100 mg/kg gave no overt signs of distress or toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Mach
- Teva Czech Industries s.r.o., Ostravská 29, 747 70, Opava, Czech Republic.
- RECETOX, Masaryk University Brno, Kamenice 126/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Alexandr Jegorov
- Teva Czech Industries s.r.o., Ostravská 29, 747 70, Opava, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Šimek
- RECETOX, Masaryk University Brno, Kamenice 126/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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Eaton JE, Gores GJ. Long-term outcomes with obeticholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis: reassuring, but still an itch we need to scratch. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 4:417-418. [PMID: 30922872 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(19)30084-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John E Eaton
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Gregory J Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Comeglio P, Filippi S, Sarchielli E, Morelli A, Cellai I, Corno C, Pini A, Adorini L, Vannelli GB, Maggi M, Vignozzi L. Therapeutic effects of obeticholic acid (OCA) treatment in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat model. J Endocrinol Invest 2019; 42:283-294. [PMID: 29923060 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-018-0913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We recently demonstrated a protective effect of the farnesoid X receptor agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) in rat models of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Aim of the present study was to investigate whether the positive effects of OCA treatment are apparent also on ongoing bleomycin-induced PF, i.e., after 2 weeks of bleomycin administration. METHODS Bleomycin-induced PF rats were treated 2 weeks after bleomycin administration with OCA or pirfenidone for two additional weeks. Pulmonary function test was performed at 2 and 4 weeks in all experimental groups. At the same time points, lung morphological features and mRNA expression profile of genes related to fibrosis, inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were also assessed. RESULTS After 2 weeks, bleomycin significantly increased the pressure at the airway opening (PAO), a functional parameter related to fibrosis-induced lung stiffness, and induced diffuse lung interstitium fibrosis, with upregulation of inflammation (IL1β, MCP1) and tissue remodeling (COL1A1, COL3A1, ET1, MMP7, PDGFa, αSMA, SNAI1) markers. At week four, a further increase of lung fibrosis and PAO was observed, accompanied by upregulation of extracellular matrix-related mRNA expression. OCA administration, even after the establishment of PF, significantly improved pulmonary function, normalizing PAO, and reverted the bleomycin-induced lung alterations, with significant reduction of markers of inflammation (CD206, COX2, HIF1, IL1β, MCP1), epithelial proliferation (CTGF, PDGFa) and fibrosis (COL1A1, COL3A1, ET1, FN1, MMPs, αSMA, SNAIs, TGFβ1, TIMPs). Results with OCA were similar or superior to those obtained with pirfenidone. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our results demonstrate a significant therapeutic effect of OCA in already established PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Comeglio
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - S Filippi
- Interdepartmental Laboratory of Functional and Cellular Pharmacology of Reproduction, Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - E Sarchielli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Morelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - I Cellai
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - C Corno
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - A Pini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - L Adorini
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA
| | - G B Vannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M Maggi
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi), Rome, Italy
| | - L Vignozzi
- Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi), Rome, Italy.
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40
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Ding W, Fan YY, Zhang C, Fu L, Chen X, Xu DX. Obeticholic acid differentially regulates hepatic injury and inflammation at different stages of D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-evoked acute liver failure. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 850:150-157. [PMID: 30772394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/20/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates genes involved in bile acid metabolism. Accumulating data demonstrate that FXR has an anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of obeticholic acid (OCA), a novel synthetic FXR agonist, on D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked acute liver injury. All mice except controls were intraperitoneally injected with GalN (300 mg/kg) plus LPS (2.5 μg/kg). Some mice were pretreated with OCA (10 mg/kg) 48, 24 and 1 h before GalN/LPS. As expected, pretreatment with OCA alleviated hepatocyte apoptosis at early and middle stages of GalN/LPS-induced acute liver failure. By contrast, pretreatment with OCA augmented hepatic injury and inflammatory cell infiltration at middle stage of GalN/LPS-induced acute liver failure. Additional experiment found that OCA inhibited hepatic NF-κB activation at early and middle stages of GalN/LPS-induced acute liver failure. Interestingly, OCA inhibited hepatic proinflammatory cytokine tnf-α and il-6 but upregulated hepatic anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10 at early stage of GalN/LPS-induced acute liver failure. By contrast, OCA suppressed hepatic anti-inflammatory cytokine tgf-β and il-10 at middle stage of GalN/LPS-induced acute liver injury. These results suggest that FXR agonist OCA differentially regulates hepatic injury and inflammation at different stages of GalN/LPS-evoked acute liver failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Ding
- First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Fan
- First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Lin Fu
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xi Chen
- First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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Abstract
Obeticholic acid (OCA), 6α-ethyl-3α,7α-dihydroxy-5-cholan-24-oic acid, is a semisynthetic derivative of the chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA, 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5-cholan-24-oic acid), a relatively hydrophobic primary bile acid synthesized in the liver from cholesterol. OCA, also known as 6-ethyl-CDCA or INT-747, was originally described by investigators at the Perugia University in 2002 as a selective ligand for the bile acid sensor, farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR). In addition to FXR and similarly to CDCA, OCA also activates GPBAR1/TGR5, a cell membrane G protein-coupled receptor for secondary bile acids. In 2016, based on the results of phase II studies showing efficacy in reducing the plasma levels of alkaline phosphatase, a surrogate biomarker for disease progression in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), OCA has gained approval as a second-line treatment for PBC patients nonresponsive to UDCA. The use of OCA in PBC patients associates with several side effects, the most common of which is pruritus, whose incidence is dose-dependent and is extremely high when this agent is used as a monotherapy. Additionally, the use of OCA associates with the increased risk for the development of liver failure in cirrhotic PBC patients. Currently, OCA is investigated for its potential in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Phase II and III trials have shown that OCA might attenuate the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with NASH, but it has no efficacy in reversing the steatotic component of the disease, while reduces the circulating levels of HDL-C and increases LDL-C. In summary, OCA has been the first-in-class of FXR ligands advanced to a clinical stage and is now entering its third decade of life, highlighting the potential benefits and risk linked to FXR-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Fiorucci
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
- Perugia Medical School, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Cristina Di Giorgio
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Abstract
FXR agonists have demonstrated very promising clinical results in the treatment of liver disorders such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH, in particular, is one of the last uncharted white territories in the pharma landscape, and there is a huge medical need and a large potential pharmaceutical market for a NASH pharmacotherapy. Clinical efficacy superior to most other treatment options was shown by FXR agonists such as obeticholic acid (OCA) as they improved various metabolic features including liver steatosis as well as liver inflammation and fibrosis. But OCA's clinical success comes with some major liabilities such as pruritus, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) lowering, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) increase, and a potential for drug-induced liver toxicity. Some of these effects can be attributed to on-target effects exerted by FXR, but with others it is not clear whether it is FXR- or OCA-related. Therefore a quest for novel, proprietary FXR agonists is ongoing with the aim to increase FXR potency and selectivity over other proteins and to overcome at least some of the OCA-associated clinical side effects through an improved pharmacology. In this chapter we will discuss the historical and ongoing efforts in the identification and development of nonsteroidal, which largely means non-bile acid-type, FXR agonists for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gege
- Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, Drug Discovery Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva Hambruch
- Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, Drug Discovery Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Hambruch
- Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, Drug Discovery Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olaf Kinzel
- Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, Drug Discovery Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claus Kremoser
- Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG, Drug Discovery Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
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He XL, Wang LT, Gu XZ, Xiao JX, Qiu WW. A facile synthesis of ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid from cholic acid. Steroids 2018; 140:173-178. [PMID: 30389306 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A novel synthetic route of producing ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA) was developed through multiple reactions from cheap and readily-available cholic acid. The reaction conditions of the key elimination reaction of mesylate ester group were also investigated and optimized, including solvent, base and reaction temperature. In the straightforward synthetic route for preparation of UDCA and OCA, most of the reaction steps have high conversions with average yields of 94% and 92%, and overall yield up to 65% (7 steps) and 36% (11 steps) from cholic acid, respectively. This promising route offers economical and efficient strategies for potential large-scale production of UDCA and OCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Li-Ting Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiang-Zhong Gu
- Department of Research and Development, Jiangsu Jiaerke Pharmaceuticals Group Co., Ltd., Zhenglu Town, Changzhou 213111, China
| | - Jie-Xin Xiao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Wen-Wei Qiu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
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van Golen RF, Olthof PB, Lionarons DA, Reiniers MJ, Alles LK, Uz Z, de Haan L, Ergin B, de Waart DR, Maas A, Verheij J, Jansen PL, Damink SWO, Schaap FG, van Gulik TM, Heger M. FXR agonist obeticholic acid induces liver growth but exacerbates biliary injury in rats with obstructive cholestasis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16529. [PMID: 30409980 PMCID: PMC6224438 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33070-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholestasis impairs liver regeneration following partial liver resection (PHx). Bile acid receptor farnesoid X-receptor (FXR) is a key mediator of liver regeneration. The effects of FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) on liver (re)growth were therefore studied in cholestatic rats. Animals underwent sham surgery or reversible bile duct ligation (rBDL). PHx with concurrent internal biliary drainage was performed 7 days after rBDL. Animals were untreated or received OCA (10 mg/kg/day) per oral gavage from rBDL until sacrifice. After 7 days of OCA treatment, dry liver weight increased in the rBDL + OCA group, indicating OCA-mediated liver growth. Enhanced proliferation in the rBDL + OCA group prior to PHx concurred with a rise in Ki67-positive hepatocytes, elevated hepatic Ccnd1 and Cdc25b expression, and an induction of intestinal fibroblast growth factor 15 expression. Liver regrowth after PHx was initially stagnant in the rBDL + OCA group, possibly due to hepatomegaly prior to PHx. OCA increased hepatobiliary injury markers during BDL, which was accompanied by upregulation of the bile salt export pump. There were no differences in histological liver injury. In conclusion, OCA induces liver growth in cholestatic rats prior to PHx but exacerbates biliary injury during cholestasis, likely by forced pumping of bile acids into an obstructed biliary tree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan F van Golen
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim B Olthof
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniël A Lionarons
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J Reiniers
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lindy K Alles
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zehra Uz
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne de Haan
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bulent Ergin
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk R de Waart
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adrie Maas
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne Verheij
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter L Jansen
- Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Steven W Olde Damink
- Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank G Schaap
- Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas M van Gulik
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Heger
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are epidemiologically and pathophysiologically linked disorders. Here, we summarize the effect of obesity on NASH and how it has a cascading effect on cardiovascular dysfunction. We also review the current and emerging treatment options for NASH. RECENT FINDINGS The link between NASH and cardiac dysfunction has been further delineated in recent studies demonstrating endothelial dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and increased coronary artery calcification in patients with known NASH. Standard treatment of obesity with lifestyle interventions including diet, exercise, and behavioral modification has been shown to improve NASH as well as reduce cardiovascular dysfunction. In addition to FDA-approved drugs like vitamin E and pioglitazone, several agents including NGM282, obeticholic acid, elafibranor, and liraglutide are currently being investigated for their therapeutic potential in NASH. Recent studies show that bariatric surgery results in significant improvement or resolution of NASH. SUMMARY Obesity is a major factor in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to steatohepatitis. Patients with NAFLD have a significant increase in cardiovascular disease risk. For biopsy-proven NASH, vitamin E and pioglitazone are the recommended medical treatments in addition to lifestyle modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin E Mathews
- Comprehensive Weight Control Center, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Hirschfield GM, Dyson JK, Alexander GJM, Chapman MH, Collier J, Hübscher S, Patanwala I, Pereira SP, Thain C, Thorburn D, Tiniakos D, Walmsley M, Webster G, Jones DEJ. The British Society of Gastroenterology/UK-PBC primary biliary cholangitis treatment and management guidelines. Gut 2018; 67:1568-1594. [PMID: 29593060 PMCID: PMC6109281 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis, PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease in which a cycle of immune mediated biliary epithelial cell injury, cholestasis and progressive fibrosis can culminate over time in an end-stage biliary cirrhosis. Both genetic and environmental influences are presumed relevant to disease initiation. PBC is most prevalent in women and those over the age of 50, but a spectrum of disease is recognised in adult patients globally; male sex, younger age at onset (<45) and advanced disease at presentation are baseline predictors of poorer outcome. As the disease is increasingly diagnosed through the combination of cholestatic serum liver tests and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, most presenting patients are not cirrhotic and the term cholangitis is more accurate. Disease course is frequently accompanied by symptoms that can be burdensome for patients, and management of patients with PBC must address, in a life-long manner, both disease progression and symptom burden. Licensed therapies include ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA), alongside experimental new and re-purposed agents. Disease management focuses on initiation of UDCA for all patients and risk stratification based on baseline and on-treatment factors, including in particular the response to treatment. Those intolerant of treatment with UDCA or those with high-risk disease as evidenced by UDCA treatment failure (frequently reflected in trial and clinical practice as an alkaline phosphatase >1.67 × upper limit of normal and/or elevated bilirubin) should be considered for second-line therapy, of which OCA is the only currently licensed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended agent. Follow-up of patients is life-long and must address treatment of the disease and management of associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon M Hirschfield
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Birmingham, UK
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Liver Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jessica K Dyson
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme J M Alexander
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael H Chapman
- Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jane Collier
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford University Hospitals, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefan Hübscher
- Centre for Liver Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Imran Patanwala
- Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen P Pereira
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Douglas Thorburn
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - George Webster
- Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - David E J Jones
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is a progressive, autoimmune disease of the interlobular bile ducts, leading to secondary damage of hepatocytes that may progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Until recently, the only approved treatment was ursodeoxycholic acid. However, 40% of patients do not have an adequate response. Obeticholic acid was approved for treatment as add-on therapy in this group of patients. Off-label use of fibrates has also been reported to be effective. Several new therapies are in development and may further add to the treatment options available to patients with primary biliary cholangitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Wong
- Department of Internal Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4150 V Street, PSSB 3000, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Runalia Bahar
- Department of Internal Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4150 V Street, PSSB 3000, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Chung H Liu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4150 V Street, PSSB 3500, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Christopher L Bowlus
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4150 V Street, PSSB 3500, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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48
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Heebøll S, Vilstrup H, Grønbæk H. [Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease]. Ugeskr Laeger 2018; 180:V12170933. [PMID: 30064623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and especially non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis are associated with severe liver disease and increased cardiovascular risk. It is therefore important to identify patients with NASH fibrosis. Therapeutical options include life style intervention and pharmacological treatment with vitamin E and pioglitazone; however, evidence of effect is scarce for all options. New treatments are under investigation and include glucagon-like peptide-1, farnesoid receptor as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α/δ agonists. Bariatric surgery may be an option in selected patients.
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Hvas CL, Ott P, Paine P, Lal S, Jørgensen SP, Dahlerup JF. Obeticholic acid for severe bile acid diarrhea with intestinal failure: A case report and review of the literature. World J Gastroenterol 2018; 24:2320-2326. [PMID: 29881241 PMCID: PMC5989246 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile acid diarrhea results from excessive amounts of bile acids entering the colon due to hepatic overexcretion of bile acids or bile acid malabsorption in the terminal ileum. The main therapies include bile acid sequestrants, such as colestyramine and colesevelam, which may be given in combination with the opioid receptor agonist loperamide. Some patients are refractory to conventional treatments. We report the use of the farnesoid X receptor agonist obeticholic acid in a patient with refractory bile acid diarrhea and subsequent intestinal failure. A 32-year-old woman with quiescent colonic Crohn’s disease and a normal terminal ileum had been diagnosed with severe bile acid malabsorption and complained of watery diarrhea and fatigue. The diarrhea resulted in hypokalemia and sodium depletion that made her dependent on twice weekly intravenous fluid and electrolyte infusions. Conventional therapies with colestyramine, colesevelam, and loperamide had no effect. Second-line antisecretory therapies with pantoprazole, liraglutide, and octreotide also failed. Third-line treatment with obeticholic acid reduced the number of stools from an average of 13 to an average of 7 per 24 h and improved the patient’s quality of life. The fluid and electrolyte balances normalized. The effect was sustained during follow-up for 6 mo with treatment at a daily dosage of 25 mg. The diarrhea worsened shortly after cessation of obeticholic acid. This case report supports the initial report that obeticholic acid may reduce bile acid production and improve symptoms in patients with bile acid diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lodberg Hvas
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Peter Ott
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Peter Paine
- Department of Gastroenterology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, Manchester M6 8HD, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Lal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, Manchester M6 8HD, United Kingdom
| | - Søren Peter Jørgensen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Jens Frederik Dahlerup
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
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Papazyan R, Liu X, Liu J, Dong B, Plummer EM, Lewis RD, Roth JD, Young MA. FXR activation by obeticholic acid or nonsteroidal agonists induces a human-like lipoprotein cholesterol change in mice with humanized chimeric liver. J Lipid Res 2018; 59:982-993. [PMID: 29559521 PMCID: PMC5983391 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m081935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a selective farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist that regulates bile acid and lipid metabolism. FXR activation induces distinct changes in circulating cholesterol among animal models and humans. The mechanistic basis of these effects has been elusive because of difficulties in studying lipoprotein homeostasis in mice, which predominantly package circulating cholesterol in HDLs. Here, we tested the effects of OCA in chimeric mice whose livers are mostly composed (≥80%) of human hepatocytes. Chimeric mice exhibited a human-like ratio of serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) at baseline. OCA treatment in chimeric mice increased circulating LDL-C and decreased circulating HDL-C levels, demonstrating that these mice closely model the cholesterol effects of FXR activation in humans. Mechanistically, OCA treatment increased hepatic cholesterol in chimeric mice but not in control mice. This increase correlated with decreased SREBP-2 activity and target gene expression, including a significant reduction in LDL receptor protein. Cotreatment with atorvastatin reduced total cholesterol, rescued LDL receptor protein levels, and normalized serum LDL-C. Treatment with two clinically relevant nonsteroidal FXR agonists elicited similar lipoprotein and hepatic changes in chimeric mice, suggesting that the increase in circulating LDL-C is a class effect of FXR activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xueqing Liu
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
| | - Bin Dong
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
| | | | | | | | - Mark A Young
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121.
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