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Agoglia L, Cardoso AC, Barbosa L, Victer CSXL, Carneiro S, de França PHC, Chindamo MC, Villela-Nogueira CA. Psoriasis and steatotic liver disease: Are PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 polymorphisms suitable for the hepato-dermal axis hypothesis? Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101477. [PMID: 38360269 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2024.101477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES A high prevalence of steatotic liver disease has been described in psoriasis. However, the influence of genetic polymorphisms has yet to be investigated in this scenario. This study aims to determine the frequency of steatosis, advanced liver fibrosis and PNPLA3/TM6SF2 genotypes in individuals with psoriasis and to evaluate the impact of genetic polymorphisms, metabolic parameters and cumulative methotrexate dose on steatosis and fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cross-sectional study that prospectively included psoriasis outpatients, submitted to clinical and laboratory analysis, transient elastography (FibroScan®, Fr) and PNPLA3/TM6SF2 genotyping. Steatosis was defined by CAP ≥275 dB/m and advanced liver fibrosis as transient elastography ≥10 kPa. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the independent variables related to steatosis and fibrosis; p-value< 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS One hundred and ninety-nine patients were enrolled (age 54.6 ± 12.6 years, 57.3% female). Metabolic syndrome (MetS), steatosis and advanced liver fibrosis prevalence were 55.8%, 54.8% and 9%, respectively. PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 genotypes frequencies were CC 42.3%/CG 49.5%/GG 8.2% and CC 88.7%/ CT 11.3%/ TT 0%. MetS (OR3.01 95%CI 1.51-5.98; p = 0.002) and body mass index (OR1.17 95%CI 1.08-1.26; p < 0.01) were independently associated with steatosis. Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) (OR10.76 95%CI 2.42-47.87; p = 0.002) and harboring at least one PNPLA3 G allele (OR5.66 95%CI 1.08-29.52; p = 0.039) were associated with advanced fibrosis, but not TM6SF2 polymorphism or cumulative MTX dose. CONCLUSIONS MetS and T2DM confer higher odds for steatosis and advanced fibrosis in individuals with psoriasis. PNPLA3 G allele, but not TM6SF2 polymorphism, impacts a 5-fold odds of advanced liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Agoglia
- School of Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Section of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Federal University Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.
| | - Ana Carolina Cardoso
- School of Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lívia Barbosa
- Dermatology Division, Hospital Federal de Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Sueli Carneiro
- School of Medicine and Dermatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Chiara Chindamo
- School of Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Alves Villela-Nogueira
- School of Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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2
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Lopez-Pascual A. Navigating liver disease complexity: Innovations in in vitro modeling and precision medicine. Hepatology 2024; 80:20-23. [PMID: 38088881 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Amaya Lopez-Pascual
- Hepatology Unit, CCUN, Navarra University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
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3
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Shin MR, Kim MJ, Lee JA, Lee ES, Park HJ, Roh SS. Coix Sprouts Affect Triglyceride Metabolism in Huh7 Cells and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice. J Med Food 2024. [PMID: 38808469 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipolysis is the hydrolysis of triglycerides (TGs), commonly known as fats. Intracellular lipolysis of TG is associated with adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which provides fatty acids during times of metabolic need. The aim of this study was to determine whether Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf (Coix) sprouts (CS) can alleviate obesity through lipolysis. Overall, we investigated the potential of CS under in vitro and in vivo conditions and confirmed the underlying mechanisms. Huh7 cells were exposed to free fatty acids (FFAs), and C57BL/6J mice were fed a 60% high-fat diet. When FFA were introduced into Huh7 cells, the intracellular TG levels increased within the Huh7 cells. However, CS treatment significantly reduced intracellular TG levels. Furthermore, CS decreased the expression of Pparγ and Srebp1c mRNA and downregulated the mutant Pnpla3 (I148M) mRNA. Notably, CS significantly upregulated ATGL expression. CS treatment at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in body weight gain and epididymal adipose tissue weight. Specifically, the group treated with CS (200 mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant modulation of serum lipid biomarkers. In addition, CS ameliorated histological alterations in both the liver and adipose tissues. In summary, CS efficiently inhibited lipid accumulation through the activation of the lipolytic enzyme ATGL coupled with the suppression of enzymes involved in TG synthesis. Consequently, CS show promise as a potential anti-obesity agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Rae Shin
- Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ju Kim
- Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Herbal Convergence on Liver Disease, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin A Lee
- Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Song Lee
- Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Eumseong, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Jin Park
- DHU Bio Convergence Testing Center, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Soo Roh
- Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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4
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Bi G, Zhang X, Li W, Lu X, He X, Li Y, Bai R, Zhang H. Modeling alcohol-associated liver disease in humans using adipose stromal or stem cell-derived organoids. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100778. [PMID: 38749443 PMCID: PMC11133832 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a prevalent liver disease, yet research is hampered by the lack of suitable and reliable human ALD models. Herein, we generated human adipose stromal/stem cell (hASC)-derived hepatocellular organoids (hAHOs) and hASC-derived liver organoids (hALOs) in a three-dimensional system using hASC-derived hepatocyte-like cells and endodermal progenitor cells, respectively. The hAHOs were composed of major hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. The hALOs contained hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells and possessed a more mature liver function than hAHOs. Upon ethanol treatment, both steatosis and inflammation were present in hAHOs and hALOs. The incubation of hALOs with ethanol resulted in increases in the levels of oxidative stress, the endoplasmic reticulum protein thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5), the alcohol-metabolizing enzymes ADH1B and ALDH1B1, and extracellular matrix accumulation, similar to those of liver tissues from patients with ALD. These results present a useful approach for understanding the pathogenesis of ALD in humans, thus facilitating the discovery of effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyun Bi
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Li
- Experimental Center for Basic Medical Teaching, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Experimental Center for Basic Medical Teaching, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xu He
- Experimental Center for Basic Medical Teaching, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yaqiong Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Rixing Bai
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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5
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Osonoi S, Takebe T. Organoid-guided precision hepatology for metabolic liver disease. J Hepatol 2024; 80:805-821. [PMID: 38237864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease affects millions of people worldwide. Progress towards a definitive cure has been incremental and treatment is currently limited to lifestyle modification. Hepatocyte-specific lipid accumulation is the main trigger of lipotoxic events, driving inflammation and fibrosis. The underlying pathology is extraordinarily heterogenous, and the manifestations of steatohepatitis are markedly influenced by metabolic communications across non-hepatic organs. Synthetic human tissue models have emerged as powerful platforms to better capture the mechanistic diversity in disease progression, while preserving person-specific genetic traits. In this review, we will outline current research efforts focused on integrating multiple synthetic tissue models of key metabolic organs, with an emphasis on organoid-based systems. By combining functional genomics and population-scale en masse profiling methodologies, human tissues derived from patients can provide insights into personalised genetic, transcriptional, biochemical, and metabolic states. These collective efforts will advance our understanding of steatohepatitis and guide the development of rational solutions for mechanism-directed diagnostic and therapeutic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Osonoi
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan
| | - Takanori Takebe
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; WPI Premium Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe) and Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan; Communication Design Center, Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
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6
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Sherman DJ, Liu L, Mamrosh JL, Xie J, Ferbas J, Lomenick B, Ladinsky MS, Verma R, Rulifson IC, Deshaies RJ. The fatty liver disease-causing protein PNPLA3-I148M alters lipid droplet-Golgi dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318619121. [PMID: 38657050 PMCID: PMC11067037 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318619121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a progressive metabolic disorder that begins with aberrant triglyceride accumulation in the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. A common variant in the gene PNPLA3, encoding the protein PNPLA3-I148M, is the strongest known genetic risk factor for MASLD. Despite its discovery 20 y ago, the function of PNPLA3, and now the role of PNPLA3-I148M, remain unclear. In this study, we sought to dissect the biogenesis of PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M and characterize changes induced by endogenous expression of the disease-causing variant. Contrary to bioinformatic predictions and prior studies with overexpressed proteins, we demonstrate here that PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M are not endoplasmic reticulum-resident transmembrane proteins. To identify their intracellular associations, we generated a paired set of isogenic human hepatoma cells expressing PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M at endogenous levels. Both proteins were enriched in lipid droplet, Golgi, and endosomal fractions. Purified PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M proteins associated with phosphoinositides commonly found in these compartments. Despite a similar fractionation pattern as the wild-type variant, PNPLA3-I148M induced morphological changes in the Golgi apparatus, including increased lipid droplet-Golgi contact sites, which were also observed in I148M-expressing primary human patient hepatocytes. In addition to lipid droplet accumulation, PNPLA3-I148M expression caused significant proteomic and transcriptomic changes that resembled all stages of liver disease. Cumulatively, we validate an endogenous human cellular system for investigating PNPLA3-I148M biology and identify the Golgi apparatus as a central hub of PNPLA3-I148M-driven cellular change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lei Liu
- Amgen Research, South San Francisco, CA94080
| | | | | | | | - Brett Lomenick
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
| | - Mark S. Ladinsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
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7
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Butcko AJ, Putman AK, Mottillo EP. The Intersection of Genetic Factors, Aberrant Nutrient Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in the Progression of Cardiometabolic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:87. [PMID: 38247511 PMCID: PMC10812494 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiometabolic disease (CMD), which encompasses metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), has been increasing considerably in the past 50 years. CMD is a complex disease that can be influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as diet. With the increased reliance on processed foods containing saturated fats, fructose and cholesterol, a mechanistic understanding of how these molecules cause metabolic disease is required. A major pathway by which excessive nutrients contribute to CMD is through oxidative stress. In this review, we discuss how oxidative stress can drive CMD and the role of aberrant nutrient metabolism and genetic risk factors and how they potentially interact to promote progression of MAFLD, CVD and CKD. This review will focus on genetic mutations that are known to alter nutrient metabolism. We discuss the major genetic risk factors for MAFLD, which include Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), Membrane Bound O-Acyltransferase Domain Containing 7 (MBOAT7) and Transmembrane 6 Superfamily Member 2 (TM6SF2). In addition, mutations that prevent nutrient uptake cause hypercholesterolemia that contributes to CVD. We also discuss the mechanisms by which MAFLD, CKD and CVD are mutually associated with one another. In addition, some of the genetic risk factors which are associated with MAFLD and CVD are also associated with CKD, while some genetic risk factors seem to dissociate one disease from the other. Through a better understanding of the causative effect of genetic mutations in CMD and how aberrant nutrient metabolism intersects with our genetics, novel therapies and precision approaches can be developed for treating CMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Butcko
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (A.J.B.); (A.K.P.)
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Ashley K. Putman
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (A.J.B.); (A.K.P.)
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 784 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Emilio P. Mottillo
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, 6135 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (A.J.B.); (A.K.P.)
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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8
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Chotiprasidhi P, Sato-Espinoza AK, Wangensteen KJ. Germline Genetic Associations for Hepatobiliary Cancers. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 17:623-638. [PMID: 38163482 PMCID: PMC10899027 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Hepatobiliary cancers (HBCs) include hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder carcinoma, which originate from the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder, respectively. They are responsible for a substantial burden of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite knowledge of risk factors and advancements in therapeutics and surgical interventions, the prognosis for most patients with HBC remains bleak. There is evidence from familial aggregation and case-control studies to suggest a familial risk component in HBC susceptibility. Recent progress in genomics research has led to the identification of germline variants including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in cancer-associated genes associated with HBC risk. These findings emerged from genome-wide association studies and next-generation sequencing techniques such as whole-exome sequencing. Patients with other cancer types, including breast, colon, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, are recommended by guidelines to undergo germline genetic testing, but similar recommendations are lagging in HBC. This prompts the question of whether multi-gene panel testing should be integrated into clinical guidelines for HBC management. Here, we review the hereditary genetics of HBC, explore studies investigating SNPs and P/LP variants in HBC patients, discuss the clinical implications and potential for personalized treatments and impact on patient's family members, and conclude that additional studies are needed to examine how genetic testing can be applied clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perapa Chotiprasidhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Kirk J Wangensteen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
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9
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Dehghan H, Ghasempour A, Sabeti Akbar-Abad M, Khademi Z, Sedighi M, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A. An update on the therapeutic role of RNAi in NAFLD/NASH. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 204:45-67. [PMID: 38458743 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Unhealthy lifestyles have given rise to a growing epidemic of metabolic liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD often occurs as a consequence of obesity, and currently, there is no FDA-approved drug for its treatment. However, therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as RNA interference (RNAi), represent a promising class of pharmacotherapy that can target previously untreatable conditions. The potential significance of RNAi in maintaining physiological homeostasis, understanding pathogenesis, and improving metabolic liver diseases, including NAFLD, is discussed in this article. We explore why NAFLD/NASH is an ideal target for therapeutic oligonucleotides and provide insights into the delivery platforms of RNAi and its therapeutic role in addressing NAFLD/NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Dehghan
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Alireza Ghasempour
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Sabeti Akbar-Abad
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Zahra Khademi
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mahsa Sedighi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Tannaz Jamialahmadi
- Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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10
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Hendriks D, Brouwers JF, Hamer K, Geurts MH, Luciana L, Massalini S, López-Iglesias C, Peters PJ, Rodríguez-Colman MJ, Chuva de Sousa Lopes S, Artegiani B, Clevers H. Engineered human hepatocyte organoids enable CRISPR-based target discovery and drug screening for steatosis. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1567-1581. [PMID: 36823355 PMCID: PMC10635827 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01680-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The lack of registered drugs for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is partly due to the paucity of human-relevant models for target discovery and compound screening. Here we use human fetal hepatocyte organoids to model the first stage of NAFLD, steatosis, representing three different triggers: free fatty acid loading, interindividual genetic variability (PNPLA3 I148M) and monogenic lipid disorders (APOB and MTTP mutations). Screening of drug candidates revealed compounds effective at resolving steatosis. Mechanistic evaluation of effective drugs uncovered repression of de novo lipogenesis as the convergent molecular pathway. We present FatTracer, a CRISPR screening platform to identify steatosis modulators and putative targets using APOB-/- and MTTP-/- organoids. From a screen targeting 35 genes implicated in lipid metabolism and/or NAFLD risk, FADS2 (fatty acid desaturase 2) emerged as an important determinant of hepatic steatosis. Enhancement of FADS2 expression increases polyunsaturated fatty acid abundancy which, in turn, reduces de novo lipogenesis. These organoid models facilitate study of steatosis etiology and drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delilah Hendriks
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jos F Brouwers
- Research Group Analysis Techniques in the Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, The Netherlands
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karien Hamer
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten H Geurts
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Léa Luciana
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Simone Massalini
- The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carmen López-Iglesias
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J Peters
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maria J Rodríguez-Colman
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Benedetta Artegiani
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Pharma, Research and Early Development of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
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11
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Sherman DJ, Liu L, Mamrosh JL, Xie J, Ferbas J, Lomenick B, Ladinsky MS, Verma R, Rulifson IC, Deshaies RJ. The fatty liver disease-causing protein PNPLA3-I148M alters lipid droplet-Golgi dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.13.562302. [PMID: 37873239 PMCID: PMC10592801 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.13.562302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a progressive metabolic disorder that begins with aberrant triglyceride accumulation in the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. A common variant in the gene PNPLA3, encoding the protein PNPLA3-I148M, is the strongest known genetic risk factor for MASLD to date. Despite its discovery twenty years ago, the function of PNPLA3, and now the role of PNPLA3-I148M, remain unclear. In this study, we sought to dissect the biogenesis of PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M and characterize changes induced by endogenous expression of the disease-causing variant. Contrary to bioinformatic predictions and prior studies with overexpressed proteins, we demonstrate here that PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M are not endoplasmic reticulum-resident transmembrane proteins. To identify their intracellular associations, we generated a paired set of isogenic human hepatoma cells expressing PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M at endogenous levels. Both proteins were enriched in lipid droplet, Golgi, and endosomal fractions. Purified PNPLA3 and PNPLA3-I148M proteins associated with phosphoinositides commonly found in these compartments. Despite a similar fractionation pattern as the wild-type variant, PNPLA3-I148M induced morphological changes in the Golgi apparatus, including increased lipid droplet-Golgi contact sites, which were also observed in I148M-expressing primary human patient hepatocytes. In addition to lipid droplet accumulation, PNPLA3-I148M expression caused significant proteomic and transcriptomic changes that resembled all stages of liver disease. Cumulatively, we validate an endogenous human cellular system for investigating PNPLA3-I148M biology and identify the Golgi apparatus as a central hub of PNPLA3-I148M-driven cellular change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lei Liu
- Amgen Research, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - John Ferbas
- Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
| | - Brett Lomenick
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mark S. Ladinsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Rati Verma
- Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
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Shi F, Zhao M, Zheng S, Zheng L, Wang H. Advances in genetic variation in metabolism-related fatty liver disease. Front Genet 2023; 14:1213916. [PMID: 37753315 PMCID: PMC10518415 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1213916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the world. Its pathogenesis is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. With the upgrading of gene screening methods and the development of human genome project, whole genome scanning has been widely used to screen genes related to MAFLD, and more and more genetic variation factors related to MAFLD susceptibility have been discovered. There are genetic variants that are highly correlated with the occurrence and development of MAFLD, and there are genetic variants that are protective of MAFLD. These genetic variants affect the development of MAFLD by influencing lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. Therefore, in-depth analysis of different mechanisms of genetic variation and targeting of specific genetic variation genes may provide a new idea for the early prediction and diagnosis of diseases and individualized precision therapy, which may be a promising strategy for the treatment of MAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Shi
- School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shudan Zheng
- School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Lihong Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Haiqiang Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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13
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Faccioli LAP, Cetin Z, Kocas-Kilicarslan ZN, Ortiz K, Sun Y, Hu Z, Kurihara T, Tafaleng EN, Florentino RM, Wang Z, Xia M, Miedel MT, Taylor DL, Behari J, Ostrowska A, Constantine R, Li A, Soto-Gutierrez A. Evaluation of Human Hepatocyte Drug Metabolism Carrying High-Risk or Protection-Associated Liver Disease Genetic Variants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13406. [PMID: 37686209 PMCID: PMC10487897 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which affects 30 million people in the US and is anticipated to reach over 100 million by 2030, places a significant financial strain on the healthcare system. There is presently no FDA-approved treatment for MASLD despite its public health significance and financial burden. Understanding the connection between point mutations, liver enzymes, and MASLD is important for comprehending drug toxicity in healthy or diseased individuals. Multiple genetic variations have been linked to MASLD susceptibility through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), either increasing MASLD risk or protecting against it, such as PNPLA3 rs738409, MBOAT7 rs641738, GCKR rs780094, HSD17B13 rs72613567, and MTARC1 rs2642438. As the impact of genetic variants on the levels of drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in human hepatocytes has not been thoroughly investigated, this study aims to describe the analysis of metabolic functions for selected phase I and phase II liver enzymes in human hepatocytes. For this purpose, fresh isolated primary hepatocytes were obtained from healthy liver donors (n = 126), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed. For the cohorts, participants were classified into minor homozygotes and nonminor homozygotes (major homozygotes + heterozygotes) for five gene polymorphisms. For phase I liver enzymes, we found a significant difference in the activity of CYP1A2 in human hepatocytes carrying MBOAT7 (p = 0.011) and of CYP2C8 in human hepatocytes carrying PNPLA3 (p = 0.004). It was also observed that the activity of CYP2C9 was significantly lower in human hepatocytes carrying HSD17B13 (p = 0.001) minor homozygous compared to nonminor homozygous. No significant difference in activity of CYP2E1, CYP2C8, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4, ECOD, FMO, MAO, AO, and CES2 and in any of the phase II liver enzymes between human hepatocytes carrying genetic variants for PNPLA3 rs738409, MBOAT7 rs641738, GCKR rs780094, HSD17B13 rs72613567, and MTARC1 rs2642438 were observed. These findings offer a preliminary assessment of the influence of genetic variations on drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in healthy human hepatocytes, which may be useful for future drug discovery investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanuza A. P. Faccioli
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Zeliha Cetin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Zehra N. Kocas-Kilicarslan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Kimberly Ortiz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Yiyue Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Zhiping Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Takeshi Kurihara
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Edgar N. Tafaleng
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
| | - Rodrigo M. Florentino
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Human Synthetic Liver Biology Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.L.T.); (J.B.)
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Mengying Xia
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.X.); (M.T.M.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Mark T. Miedel
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.X.); (M.T.M.)
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - D. Lansing Taylor
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Human Synthetic Liver Biology Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.L.T.); (J.B.)
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.X.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Jaideep Behari
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Human Synthetic Liver Biology Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.L.T.); (J.B.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alina Ostrowska
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Human Synthetic Liver Biology Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.L.T.); (J.B.)
| | | | - Albert Li
- Discovery Life Sciences, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA; (R.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (Z.C.); (Z.N.K.-K.); (K.O.); (Y.S.); (Z.H.); (T.K.); (E.N.T.); (R.M.F.); (A.O.)
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Human Synthetic Liver Biology Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (D.L.T.); (J.B.)
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.X.); (M.T.M.)
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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14
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Luo Q, Wang N, Que H, Mai E, Hu Y, Tan R, Gu J, Gong P. Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells: Induction Methods and Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11592. [PMID: 37511351 PMCID: PMC10380504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of regenerative medicine provides new options for the treatment of end-stage liver diseases. Stem cells, such as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are effective tools for tissue repair in regenerative medicine. iPSCs are an appropriate source of hepatocytes for the treatment of liver disease due to their unlimited multiplication capacity, their coverage of the entire range of genetics required to simulate human disease, and their evasion of ethical implications. iPSCs have the ability to gradually produce hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) with homologous phenotypes and physiological functions. However, how to induce iPSCs to differentiate into HLCs efficiently and accurately is still a hot topic. This review describes the existing approaches for inducing the differentiation of iPSCs into HLCs, as well as some challenges faced, and summarizes various parameters for determining the quality and functionality of HLCs. Furthermore, the application of iPSCs for in vitro hepatoprotective drug screening and modeling of liver disease is discussed. In conclusion, iPSCs will be a dependable source of cells for stem-cell therapy to treat end-stage liver disease and are anticipated to facilitate individualized treatment for liver disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiulin Luo
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Hanyun Que
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Erziya Mai
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Yanting Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Rui Tan
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610032, China
| | - Jian Gu
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Puyang Gong
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610225, China
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15
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Kasarinaite A, Sinton M, Saunders PTK, Hay DC. The Influence of Sex Hormones in Liver Function and Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1604. [PMID: 37371074 PMCID: PMC10296738 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver performs a multitude of bodily functions, whilst retaining the ability to regenerate damaged tissue. In this review, we discuss sex steroid biology, regulation of mammalian liver physiology and the development of new model systems to improve our understanding of liver biology in health and disease. A major risk factor for the development of liver disease is hepatic fibrosis. Key drivers of this process are metabolic dysfunction and pathologic activation of the immune system. Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is largely regarded as benign, it does progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a subset of patients, increasing their risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD susceptibility varies across the population, with obesity and insulin resistance playing a strong role in the disease development. Additionally, sex and age have been identified as important risk factors. In addition to the regulation of liver biochemistry, sex hormones also regulate the immune system, with sexual dimorphism described for both innate and adaptive immune responses. Therefore, sex differences in liver metabolism, immunity and their interplay are important factors to consider when designing, studying and developing therapeutic strategies to treat human liver disease. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with a general overview of sex steroid biology and their regulation of mammalian liver physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvile Kasarinaite
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Matthew Sinton
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 9TA, UK
| | - Philippa T. K. Saunders
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - David C. Hay
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
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16
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Valenzuela-Vallejo L, Sanoudou D, Mantzoros CS. Precision Medicine in Fatty Liver Disease/Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13050830. [PMID: 37241000 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13050830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, and is related to fatal and non-fatal liver, metabolic, and cardiovascular complications. Its non-invasive diagnosis and effective treatment remain an unmet clinical need. NAFLD is a heterogeneous disease that is most commonly present in the context of metabolic syndrome and obesity, but not uncommonly, may also be present without metabolic abnormalities and in subjects with normal body mass index. Therefore, a more specific pathophysiology-based subcategorization of fatty liver disease (FLD) is needed to better understand, diagnose, and treat patients with FLD. A precision medicine approach for FLD is expected to improve patient care, decrease long-term disease outcomes, and develop better-targeted, more effective treatments. We present herein a precision medicine approach for FLD based on our recently proposed subcategorization, which includes the metabolic-associated FLD (MAFLD) (i.e., obesity-associated FLD (OAFLD), sarcopenia-associated FLD (SAFLD, and lipodystrophy-associated FLD (LAFLD)), genetics-associated FLD (GAFLD), FLD of multiple/unknown causes (XAFLD), and combined causes of FLD (CAFLD) as well as advanced stage fibrotic FLD (FAFLD) and end-stage FLD (ESFLD) subcategories. These and other related advances, as a whole, are expected to enable not only improved patient care, quality of life, and long-term disease outcomes, but also a considerable reduction in healthcare system costs associated with FLD, along with more options for better-targeted, more effective treatments in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Valenzuela-Vallejo
- Department of Medicine, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Clinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, 4(th) Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Center for New Biotechnologies and Precision Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Department of Medicine, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
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17
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Conway J, Pouryahya M, Gindin Y, Pan DZ, Carrasco-Zevallos OM, Mountain V, Subramanian GM, Montalto MC, Resnick M, Beck AH, Huss RS, Myers RP, Taylor-Weiner A, Wapinski I, Chung C. Integration of deep learning-based histopathology and transcriptomics reveals key genes associated with fibrogenesis in patients with advanced NASH. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101016. [PMID: 37075704 PMCID: PMC10140650 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common chronic liver disease globally and a leading cause for liver transplantation in the US. Its pathogenesis remains imprecisely defined. We combined two high-resolution modalities to tissue samples from NASH clinical trials, machine learning (ML)-based quantification of histological features and transcriptomics, to identify genes that are associated with disease progression and clinical events. A histopathology-driven 5-gene expression signature predicted disease progression and clinical events in patients with NASH with F3 (pre-cirrhotic) and F4 (cirrhotic) fibrosis. Notably, the Notch signaling pathway and genes implicated in liver-related diseases were enriched in this expression signature. In a validation cohort where pharmacologic intervention improved disease histology, multiple Notch signaling components were suppressed.
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Wei J, Zhang W, Zhao B. Human liver organoid: modeling liver steatosis and beyond. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 12:17. [PMID: 37009924 PMCID: PMC10068683 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-023-00161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Steatosis, as the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty acid disease (NAFLD), would progress into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver failure without intervention. Despite the development of animal models, there is still a lack of the human-relevant platform for steatosis modeling and drug & target discovery. Hendriks et al., reporting in Nature Biotechnology, leveraged human fetal liver organoids to recapitulate steatosis by introducing nutritional and genetic triggers. Using these engineered liver organoid-derived steatosis models, they screened drugs that alleviate steatosis, and mined common mechanism of effective compounds. Further, inspired by the results of drug screening, the arrayed CRISPR-LOF screening targeting 35 lipid metabolism genes was performed, and FADS2 was identified as a critical regulator of steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), Fudan University, Nansha District, 511458, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Institute of Organoid Technology, bioGenous Biotechnology, Inc, 215125, Suzhou, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Concise review of lipidomics in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. DIABETES & METABOLISM 2023; 49:101432. [PMID: 36781065 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2023.101432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses simple liver steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and liver fibrosis that can progress to cirrhosis. NAFLD has become the principal cause of chronic liver disease in many parts of the world. Lipidomic studies, by allowing to determine concentrations of lipid classes and fatty acid composition of different lipid species, have been of great interest to help understand NAFLD pathophysiology and potentially identify novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Indeed, lipidomic data give information on qualitative lipid abnormalities associated with NAFLD. The aim of our article was to create a comprehensive and more synthetic review of main results from lipidomic studies in NAFLD. Literature was searched for all human lipidomic studies evaluating plasma samples of individuals with NAFLD. Results were regrouped by the degree of liver damage, either simple steatosis, NASH or liver fibrosis, and presented by lipid categories. Overall, we summarized the main lipidomic abnormalities associated with NAFLD as follows: modification of free fatty acid distribution, increase in ceramides, reduced phosphatidylcholine / phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, and increase in eicosanoids. These lipid abnormalities are likely to promote NASH and liver fibrosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Although these lipidomic abnormalities are consistently reported in many studies, further research is needed to clarify whether they may be predictive for liver steatosis, NASH or liver fibrosis.
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20
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Rezvani M, Vallier L, Guillot A. Modeling Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Dish Using Human-Specific Platforms: Strategies and Limitations. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:1135-1145. [PMID: 36740045 PMCID: PMC10031472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease affecting multiple cell types of the human liver. The high prevalence of NAFLD and the lack of approved therapies increase the demand for reliable models for the preclinical discovery of drug targets. In the last decade, multiple proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated human-specific NAFLD modeling in the dish. These systems have included technologies based on human induced pluripotent stem cell derivatives, liver tissue section cultures, intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids, and liver-on-a-chip. These platforms differ in functional maturity, multicellularity, scalability, and spatial organization. Identifying an appropriate model for a specific NAFLD-related research question is challenging. Therefore, we review different platforms for their strengths and limitations in modeling NAFLD. To define the fidelity of the current human in vitro NAFLD models in depth, we define disease hallmarks within the NAFLD spectrum that range from steatosis to severe fibroinflammatory tissue injury. We discuss how the most common methods are efficacious in modeling genetic contributions and aspects of the early NAFLD-related tissue response. We also highlight the shortcoming of current models to recapitulate the complexity of inter-organ crosstalk and the chronic process of liver fibrosis-to-cirrhosis that usually takes decades in patients. Importantly, we provide methodological overviews and discuss implementation hurdles (eg, reproducibility or costs) to help choose the most appropriate NAFLD model for the individual research focus: hepatocyte injury, ductular reaction, cellular crosstalk, or other applications. In sum, we highlight current strategies and deficiencies to model NAFLD in the dish and propose a framework for the next generation of human-specific investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Rezvani
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Metabolic Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, Clinician-Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrien Guillot
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Park J, Zhao Y, Zhang F, Zhang S, Kwong AC, Zhang Y, Hoffmann HH, Bushweller L, Wu X, Ashbrook AW, Stefanovic B, Chen S, Branch AD, Mason CE, Jung JU, Rice CM, Wu X. IL-6/STAT3 axis dictates the PNPLA3-mediated susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol 2023; 78:45-56. [PMID: 36049612 PMCID: PMC9772150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A number of genetic polymorphisms have been associated with susceptibility to or protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we focused on the rs738409 C>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which produces the I148M variant of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) and is strongly associated with NAFLD. METHODS To enable mechanistic dissection, we developed a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived multicellular liver culture by incorporating hPSC-derived hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and macrophages. We first applied this liver culture to model NAFLD by utilising a lipotoxic milieu reflecting the circulating levels of disease risk factors in affected individuals. We then created an isogenic pair of liver cultures differing only at rs738049 and compared NAFLD phenotype development. RESULTS Our hPSC-derived liver culture recapitulated many key characteristics of NAFLD development and progression including lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and stellate cell activation. Under the lipotoxic conditions, the I148M variant caused the enhanced development of NAFLD phenotypes. These differences were associated with elevated IL-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity in liver cultures, consistent with transcriptomic data of liver biopsies from individuals carrying the rs738409 SNP. Dampening IL-6/STAT3 activity alleviated the I148M-mediated susceptibility to NAFLD, whereas boosting it in wild-type liver cultures enhanced NAFLD development. Finally, we attributed this elevated IL-6/STAT3 activity in liver cultures carrying the rs738409 SNP to increased NF-κB activity. CONCLUSIONS Our study thus reveals a potential causal link between elevated IL-6/STAT3 activity and 148M-mediated susceptibility to NAFLD. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS An increasing number of genetic variants manifest in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development and progression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. To study these variants in human-relevant systems, we developed an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived multicellular liver culture and focused on a common genetic variant (i.e. rs738409 in PNPLA3). Our findings not only provide mechanistic insight, but also a potential therapeutic strategy for NAFLD driven by this genetic variant in PNPLA3. Our liver culture is therefore a useful platform for exploring genetic variants in NAFLD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwoon Park
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Shaoyan Zhang
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrew C Kwong
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA; The Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Hans-Heinrich Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leila Bushweller
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xin Wu
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alison W Ashbrook
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Branko Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Shuyang Chen
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrea D Branch
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jae U Jung
- Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Xianfang Wu
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA; Infection Biology Program and Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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22
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Jansakun C, Chunglok W, Altamura S, Muckenthaler M, Staffer S, Tuma-Kellner S, Merle U, Chamulitrat W. Myeloid- and hepatocyte-specific deletion of group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 leads to dichotomous opposing phenotypes during MCD diet-induced NASH. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166590. [PMID: 36334837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphisms of phospholipase A2VIA (iPLA2β or PLA2G6) are associated with body weights and blood C-reactive protein. The role of iPLA2β/PLA2G6 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is still elusive because female iPla2β-null mice showed attenuated hepatic steatosis but exacerbated hepatic fibrosis after feeding with methionine- and choline-deficient diet (MCDD). Herein, female mice with myeloid- (MPla2g6-/-) and hepatocyte- (LPla2g6-/-) specific PLA2G6 deletion were generated and phenotyped after MCDD feeding. Without any effects on hepatic steatosis, MCDD-fed MPla2g6-/- mice showed further exaggeration of liver inflammation and fibrosis as well as elevation of plasma TNFα, CCL2, and circulating monocytes. Bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from MPla2g6-/- mice displayed upregulation of PPARγ and CEBPα proteins, and elevated release of IL6 and CXCL1 under LPS stimulation. LPS-stimulated BMDMs from MCDD-fed MPla2g6-/- mice showed suppressed expression of M1 Tnfa and Il6, but marked upregulation of M2 Arg1, Chil3, IL10, and IL13 as well as chemokine receptors Ccr2 and Ccr5. This in vitro shift was associated with exaggeration of hepatic M1/M2 cytokines, chemokines/chemokine receptors, and fibrosis genes. Contrarily, MCDD-fed LPla2g6-/- mice showed a complete protection which was associated with upregulation of Ppara/PPARα and attenuated expression of Pparg/PPARγ, fatty-acid uptake, triglyceride synthesis, and de novo lipogenesis genes. Interestingly, LPla2g6-/- mice fed with chow or MCDD displayed an attenuation of blood monocytes and elevation of anti-inflammatory lipoxin A4 in plasma and liver. Thus, PLA2G6 inactivation specifically in myeloid cells and hepatocytes led to opposing phenotypes in female mice undergoing NASH. Hepatocyte-specific PLA2G6 inhibitors may be further developed for treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutima Jansakun
- Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand
| | - Warangkana Chunglok
- School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand
| | - Sandro Altamura
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 350, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Muckenthaler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 350, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Staffer
- Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Tuma-Kellner
- Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uta Merle
- Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Walee Chamulitrat
- Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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23
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Tomaz RA, Zacharis ED, Bachinger F, Wurmser A, Yamamoto D, Petrus-Reurer S, Morell CM, Dziedzicka D, Wesley BT, Geti I, Segeritz CP, de Brito MC, Chhatriwala M, Ortmann D, Saeb-Parsy K, Vallier L. Generation of functional hepatocytes by forward programming with nuclear receptors. eLife 2022; 11:71591. [PMID: 35959725 PMCID: PMC9374437 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Production of large quantities of hepatocytes remains a major challenge for a number of clinical applications in the biomedical field. Directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) provides an advantageous solution and a number of protocols have been developed for this purpose. However, these methods usually follow different steps of liver development in vitro, which is time consuming and requires complex culture conditions. In addition, HLCs lack the full repertoire of functionalities characterising primary hepatocytes. Here, we explore the interest of forward programming to generate hepatocytes from hPSCs and to bypass these limitations. This approach relies on the overexpression of three hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF1A, HNF6, and FOXA3) in combination with different nuclear receptors expressed in the adult liver using the OPTi-OX platform. Forward programming allows for the rapid production of hepatocytes (FoP-Heps) with functional characteristics using a simplified process. We also uncovered that the overexpression of nuclear receptors such as RORc can enhance specific functionalities of FoP-Heps thereby validating its role in lipid/glucose metabolism. Together, our results show that forward programming could offer a versatile alternative to direct differentiation for generating hepatocytes in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rute A Tomaz
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterini D Zacharis
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fabian Bachinger
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annabelle Wurmser
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Yamamoto
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Petrus-Reurer
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carola M Morell
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dominika Dziedzicka
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Brandon T Wesley
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Imbisaat Geti
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Charis-Patricia Segeritz
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel C de Brito
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mariya Chhatriwala
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Ortmann
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kourosh Saeb-Parsy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Vallier
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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24
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Association of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease with kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2022; 18:259-268. [PMID: 35013596 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-021-00519-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in more than 5% of hepatocytes in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption and other secondary causes of hepatic steatosis. In 2020, the more inclusive term metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) - defined by broader diagnostic criteria - was proposed to replace the term NAFLD. The new terminology and revised definition better emphasize the pathogenic role of metabolic dysfunction and uses a set of definitive, inclusive criteria for diagnosis. Diagnosis of MAFLD is based on evidence of hepatic steatosis (as assessed by liver biopsy, imaging techniques or blood biomarkers and scores) in persons who are overweight or obese and have type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic dysregulation, regardless of the coexistence of other liver diseases or excessive alcohol consumption. The known association between NAFLD and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and our understanding that CKD can occur as a consequence of metabolic dysfunction suggests that individuals with MAFLD - who by definition have fatty liver and metabolic comorbidities - are at increased risk of CKD. In this Perspective article, we discuss the clinical associations between MAFLD and CKD, the pathophysiological mechanisms by which MAFLD may increase the risk of CKD and the potential drug treatments that may benefit both conditions.
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25
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Pirola CJ, Sookoian S. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: advances in genetic and epigenetic implications. Curr Opin Lipidol 2022; 33:95-102. [PMID: 34966133 DOI: 10.1097/mol.0000000000000814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fatty liver associated with metabolic dysfunction, also known under the acronym NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) is the leading global cause of chronic liver disease. In this review, we address the state of research on genetics and epigenetics of NAFLD with focus on key discoveries and conceptual advances over the past 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS The analysis of NAFLD-associated genetic variant effects on the whole-transcriptome, including quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with gene expression (eQTL) or splicing (sQTL) may explain pleiotropic effects. Functional experiments on NAFLD-epigenetics, including profiling of liver chromatin accessibility quantitative trait loci (caQTL) show co-localization with numerous genome-wide association study signals linked to metabolic and cardiovascular traits. Novel studies provide insights into the modulation of the hepatic transcriptome and epigenome by tissue microbiotas. Genetic variation of components of the liver cellular respirasome may result in broad cellular and metabolic effects. Mitochondrial noncoding RNAs may regulate liver inflammation and fibrogenesis. RNA modifications as N6-methyladenosine may explain sex-specific differences in liver gene transcription linked to lipid traits. SUMMARY The latest developments in the field of NAFLD-genomics can be leveraged for identifying novel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets that may prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression. VIDEO ABSTRACT http://links.lww.com/COL/A23.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J Pirola
- Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - University of Buenos Aires
| | - Silvia Sookoian
- Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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26
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Gatzios A, Rombaut M, Buyl K, De Kock J, Rodrigues RM, Rogiers V, Vanhaecke T, Boeckmans J. From NAFLD to MAFLD: Aligning Translational In Vitro Research to Clinical Insights. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010161. [PMID: 35052840 PMCID: PMC8773802 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most same-stage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients exhibit similar histologic sequelae, the underlying mechanisms appear to be highly heterogeneous. Therefore, it was recently proposed to redefine NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in which other known causes of liver disease such as alcohol consumption or viral hepatitis do not need to be excluded. Revised nomenclature envisions speeding up and facilitating anti-MAFLD drug development by means of patient stratification whereby each subgroup would benefit from distinct pharmacological interventions. As human-based in vitro research fulfils an irrefutable step in drug development, action should be taken as well in this stadium of the translational path. Indeed, most established in vitro NAFLD models rely on short-term exposure to fatty acids and use lipid accumulation as a phenotypic benchmark. This general approach to a seemingly ambiguous disease such as NAFLD therefore no longer seems applicable. Human-based in vitro models that accurately reflect distinct disease subgroups of MAFLD should thus be adopted in early preclinical disease modeling and drug testing. In this review article, we outline considerations for setting up translational in vitro experiments in the MAFLD era and allude to potential strategies to implement MAFLD heterogeneity into an in vitro setting so as to better align early drug development with future clinical trial designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joost Boeckmans
- Correspondence: (A.G.); (J.B.); Tel.: +32-(0)-2-477-45-94 (A.G.)
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27
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Zhu X, Xia M, Gao X. Update on genetics and epigenetics in metabolic associated fatty liver disease. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2022; 13:20420188221132138. [PMID: 36325500 PMCID: PMC9619279 DOI: 10.1177/20420188221132138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most frequent chronic liver disease worldwide. Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is suggested to replace the nomenclature of NAFLD. For individuals with metabolic dysfunction, multiple NAFLD-related factors also contribute to the development and progression of MAFLD including genetics and epigenetics. The application of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and exome-wide association study (EWAS) uncovers single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MAFLD. In addition to the classic SNPs in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and GCKR, some new SNPs have been found recently to contribute to the pathogenesis of liver steatosis. Epigenetic factors involving DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs regulations, and RNA methylation also play a critical role in MAFLD. DNA methylation is the most reported epigenetic modification. Developing a non-invasion biomarker to distinguish metabolic steatohepatitis (MASH) or liver fibrosis is ongoing. In this review, we summarized and discussed the latest progress in genetic and epigenetic factors of NAFLD/MAFLD, in order to provide potential clues for MAFLD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan Institute for Metabolic Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Xin Gao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan Institute for Metabolic Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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28
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Pelechá M, Villanueva-Bádenas E, Timor-López E, Donato MT, Tolosa L. Cell Models and Omics Techniques for the Study of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Focusing on Stem Cell-Derived Cell Models. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:86. [PMID: 35052590 PMCID: PMC8772881 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the leading cause of chronic liver disease in western countries. The molecular mechanisms leading to NAFLD are only partially understood, and effective therapeutic interventions are clearly needed. Therefore, preclinical research is required to improve knowledge about NAFLD physiopathology and to identify new therapeutic targets. Primary human hepatocytes, human hepatic cell lines, and human stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells exhibit different hepatic phenotypes and have been widely used for studying NAFLD pathogenesis. In this paper, apart from employing the different in vitro cell models for the in vitro assessment of NAFLD, we also reviewed other approaches (metabolomics, transcriptomics, and high-content screening). We aimed to summarize the characteristics of different cell types and methods and to discuss their major advantages and disadvantages for NAFLD modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pelechá
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.P.); (E.V.-B.); (E.T.-L.)
| | - Estela Villanueva-Bádenas
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.P.); (E.V.-B.); (E.T.-L.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique Timor-López
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.P.); (E.V.-B.); (E.T.-L.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Teresa Donato
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.P.); (E.V.-B.); (E.T.-L.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laia Tolosa
- Unidad de Hepatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.P.); (E.V.-B.); (E.T.-L.)
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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29
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Valenti LVC, Cherubini A. To Be or Not to Be: The Quest for Patatin-Like Phospholipase Domain Containing 3 p.I148M Function. Hepatology 2021; 74:2942-2944. [PMID: 34383326 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luca V C Valenti
- Precision Medicine - Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cherubini
- Precision Medicine - Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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30
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Clinically silent LINE 1 insertion in the PNPLA3 gene may impede genotyping of the p.I148M variant. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20924. [PMID: 34686753 PMCID: PMC8536765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene (viz. its I148M variant) is one of the key players in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We have identified a novel insertion/deletion variant of 1114 bp, localized in the second intron of the PNPLA3 gene, which corresponds to the 3' terminal sequence of the long-interspersed element (LINE-1). DNA analysis of 122 NAFLD patients and 167 control subjects as well as RNA analysis of 19 liver biopsies revealed that the novel variant is very common (frequency = 0.41), fully linked to the clinically important I148M variant, and clinically silent. Although the LINE-1 insertion does not seem to have any biological effect, it can impede genotyping of the I148M variant. If insertion prevents the attachment of the diagnostic primer, then the non-insertion allele will be selectively amplified; and thus the frequency of the 148M "risk" allele will be significantly overestimated due to the complete linkage of the LINE-1 insertion and the 148I allele of the PNPLA3 gene. Therefore, our findings underline the importance of careful design and consistent documentation of the methodology, including primer sequences. Critical revisions of the results of some studies that have already been reported may therefore be needed.
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31
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Meroni M, Longo M, Tria G, Dongiovanni P. Genetics Is of the Essence to Face NAFLD. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1359. [PMID: 34680476 PMCID: PMC8533437 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is closely related to obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidemia so much so it is considered the hepatic manifestation of the Metabolic Syndrome. The NAFLD spectrum extends from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a clinical condition which may progress up to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD is a complex disease whose pathogenesis is shaped by both environmental and genetic factors. In the last two decades, several heritable modifications in genes influencing hepatic lipid remodeling, and mitochondrial oxidative status have been emerged as predictors of progressive hepatic damage. Among them, the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) p.I148M, the Transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) p.E167K and the rs641738 membrane bound-o-acyltransferase domain-containing 7 (MBOAT7) polymorphisms are considered the most robust modifiers of NAFLD. However, a forefront frontier in the study of NAFLD heritability is to postulate score-based strategy, building polygenic risk scores (PRS), which aggregate the most relevant genetic determinants of NAFLD and biochemical parameters, with the purpose to foresee patients with greater risk of severe NAFLD, guaranteeing the most highly predictive value, the best diagnostic accuracy and the more precise individualized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Meroni
- General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pad. Granelli, Via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Miriam Longo
- General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pad. Granelli, Via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.); (G.T.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Giada Tria
- General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pad. Granelli, Via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Paola Dongiovanni
- General Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pad. Granelli, Via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.); (G.T.)
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