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Lodge M, Dykes R, Kennedy A. Regulation of Fructose Metabolism in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:845. [PMID: 39062559 PMCID: PMC11274671 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070845] [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: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Elevations in fructose consumption have been reported to contribute significantly to an increased incidence of obesity and metabolic diseases in industrial countries. Mechanistically, a high fructose intake leads to the dysregulation of glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol metabolism in the liver, and causes elevations in inflammation and drives the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A high fructose consumption is considered to be toxic to the body, and there are ongoing measures to develop pharmaceutical therapies targeting fructose metabolism. Although a large amount of work has summarized the effects fructose exposure within the intestine, liver, and kidney, there remains a gap in our knowledge regarding how fructose both indirectly and directly influences immune cell recruitment, activation, and function in metabolic tissues, which are essential to tissue and systemic inflammation. The most recent literature demonstrates that direct fructose exposure regulates oxidative metabolism in macrophages, leading to inflammation. The present review highlights (1) the mechanisms by which fructose metabolism impacts crosstalk between tissues, nonparenchymal cells, microbes, and immune cells; (2) the direct impact of fructose on immune cell metabolism and function; and (3) therapeutic targets of fructose metabolism to treat NAFLD. In addition, the review highlights how fructose disrupts liver tissue homeostasis and identifies new therapeutic targets for treating NAFLD and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arion Kennedy
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, 128 Polk Hall Campus, Box 7622, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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2
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Qian S, Wang X, Chen Y, Zai Q, He Y. Inflammation in Steatotic Liver Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets. Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 38838739 DOI: 10.1055/a-2338-9261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), two main types of steatotic liver disease (SLDs), are characterized by a wide spectrum of several different liver disorders, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Multiple immune cell-mediated inflammatory responses not only orchestrate the killing and removal of infected/damaged cells but also exacerbate the development of SLDs when excessive or persistent inflammation occurs. In recent years, single-cell and spatial transcriptome analyses have revealed the heterogeneity of liver-infiltrated immune cells in ALD and MASLD, revealing a new immunopathological picture of SLDs. In this review, we will emphasize the roles of several key immune cells in the pathogenesis of ALD and MASLD and discuss inflammation-based approaches for effective SLD intervention. In conclusion, the study of immunological mechanisms, especially highly specific immune cell population functions, may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for this life-threatening disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengying Qian
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingfen Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuhong Zai
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Wang H, Tsung A, Mishra L, Huang H. Regulatory T cell: a double-edged sword from metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma. EBioMedicine 2024; 101:105031. [PMID: 38401419 PMCID: PMC10904199 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming a leading cause of end-stage liver disease globally. Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) represents a progressive inflammatory manifestation of MASLD. MASH underlies a versatile and dynamic inflammatory microenvironment, accompanied by aberrant metabolism and ongoing liver regeneration, establishing itself as a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mechanisms underlying the escape and survival of malignant cells within the extensive inflammatory microenvironment of MASH remain elusive. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and preventing excessive immune responses in the liver. Paradoxically, Tregs have been implicated in inhibiting tumour-promoting inflammation and facilitating the evasion of cancer cells. Recent studies have unveiled distinct behaviours of Tregs at different stages of MASLD, suggesting a dual role in the pathogenesis. In this review, we explore the fate of Tregs from MASLD to HCC, offering recent insights into potential targets for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Allan Tsung
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lopa Mishra
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Hai Huang
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA.
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4
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Benedé-Ubieto R, Cubero FJ, Nevzorova YA. Breaking the barriers: the role of gut homeostasis in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2331460. [PMID: 38512763 PMCID: PMC10962615 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2331460] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and the gut microbiome intricately interplay in Metabolic-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), previously known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a growing health concern. The complex progression of MASLD extends beyond the liver, driven by "gut-liver axis," where diet, genetics, and gut-liver interactions influence disease development. The pathophysiology of MASLD involves excessive liver fat accumulation, hepatocyte dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis, with subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The gut, a tripartite barrier, with mechanical, immune, and microbial components, engages in a constant communication with the liver. Recent evidence links dysbiosis and disrupted barriers to systemic inflammation and disease progression. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate immunological crosstalk between the gut and liver, recognizing microbial structures and triggering immune responses. The "multiple hit model" of MASLD development involves factors like fat accumulation, insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis, and genetics/environmental elements disrupting the gut-liver axis, leading to impaired intestinal barrier function and increased gut permeability. Clinical management strategies encompass dietary interventions, physical exercise, pharmacotherapy targeting bile acid (BA) metabolism, and microbiome modulation approaches through prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). This review underscores the complex interactions between diet, metabolism, microbiome, and their impact on MASLD pathophysiology and therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Benedé-Ubieto
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Cubero
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yulia A. Nevzorova
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
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5
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Man AWC, Zhou Y, Reifenberg G, Camp A, Münzel T, Daiber A, Xia N, Li H. Deletion of adipocyte NOS3 potentiates high-fat diet-induced hypertension and vascular remodelling via chemerin. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2755-2769. [PMID: 37897505 PMCID: PMC10757584 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad164] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Obesity is an epidemic that is a critical contributor to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Current paradigms suggest that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) in the vessel wall is the primary regulator of vascular function and blood pressure. However, recent studies have revealed the presence of eNOS/NOS3 in the adipocytes of white adipose tissues and perivascular adipose tissues (PVATs). The current understanding of the role of adipocyte NOS3 is based mainly on studies using global knockout models. The present study aimed to elucidate the functional significance of adipocyte NOS3 for vascular function and blood pressure control. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated an adipocyte-specific NOS3 knockout mouse line using adiponectin promoter-specific Cre-induced gene inactivation. Control and adipocyte-specific NOS3 knockout (A-NOS3 KO) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Despite less weight gain, A-NOS3 KO mice exhibited a significant increase in blood pressure after HFD feeding, associated with exacerbated vascular dysfunction and remodelling. A-NOS3 KO mice also showed increased expression of signature markers of inflammation and hypoxia in the PVATs. Among the differentially expressed adipokines, we have observed an upregulation of a novel adipokine, chemerin, in A-NOS3 KO mice. Chemerin was recently reported to link obesity and vascular dysfunction. Treatment with chemerin neutralizing antibody normalized the expression of remodelling markers in the aorta segments cultured in serum from HFD-fed A-NOS3 KO mice ex vivo. CONCLUSION These data suggest that NOS3 in adipocytes is vital in maintaining vascular homeostasis; dysfunction of adipocyte NOS3 contributes to obesity-induced vascular remodelling and hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy W C Man
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Yawen Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gisela Reifenberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alica Camp
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Daiber
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ning Xia
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Huige Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
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Sawada K, Chung H, Softic S, Moreno-Fernandez ME, Divanovic S. The bidirectional immune crosstalk in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Cell Metab 2023; 35:1852-1871. [PMID: 37939656 PMCID: PMC10680147 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an unabated risk factor for end-stage liver diseases with no available therapies. Dysregulated immune responses are critical culprits of MASLD pathogenesis. Independent contributions from either the innate or adaptive arms of the immune system or their unidirectional interplay are commonly studied in MASLD. However, the bidirectional communication between innate and adaptive immune systems and its impact on MASLD remain insufficiently understood. Given that both innate and adaptive immune cells are indispensable for the development and progression of inflammation in MASLD, elucidating pathogenic contributions stemming from the bidirectional interplay between these two arms holds potential for development of novel therapeutics for MASLD. Here, we review the immune cell types and bidirectional pathways that influence the pathogenesis of MASLD and highlight potential pharmacologic approaches to combat MASLD based on current knowledge of this bidirectional crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Sawada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
| | - Hak Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Samir Softic
- Department of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Maria E Moreno-Fernandez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| | - Senad Divanovic
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA; Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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7
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Zhang C, Sui Y, Liu S, Yang M. Molecular mechanisms of metabolic disease-associated hepatic inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. EXPLORATION OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES 2023:246-275. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.37349/edd.2023.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading chronic liver disease worldwide, with a progressive form of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It may progress to advanced liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD/NASH is a comorbidity of many metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. These metabolic diseases are often accompanied by systemic or extrahepatic inflammation, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of NAFLD or NASH. Metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, impact the function, inflammation, and death of hepatocytes, the primary parenchymal cells in the liver tissue. Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells that line the bile ducts, can differentiate into proliferative hepatocytes in chronic liver injury. In addition, hepatic non-parenchymal cells, including liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, and innate and adaptive immune cells, are involved in liver inflammation. Proteins such as fibroblast growth factors, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylases, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 are involved in liver metabolism and inflammation, which are potential targets for NASH treatment. This review focuses on the effects of metabolic disease-induced extrahepatic inflammation, liver inflammation, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver metabolism on the development and progression of NAFLD and NASH, as well as the associated treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunye Zhang
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yuxiang Sui
- School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen 041004, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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8
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Wang S, Friedman SL. Found in translation-Fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi0759. [PMID: 37792957 PMCID: PMC10671253 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi0759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a severe form of liver disease that poses a global health threat because of its potential to progress to advanced fibrosis, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recent advances in single-cell methodologies, refined disease models, and genetic and epigenetic insights have provided a nuanced understanding of MASH fibrogenesis, with substantial cellular heterogeneity in MASH livers providing potentially targetable cell-cell interactions and behavior. Unlike fibrogenesis, mechanisms underlying fibrosis regression in MASH are still inadequately understood, although antifibrotic targets have been recently identified. A refined antifibrotic treatment framework could lead to noninvasive assessment and targeted therapies that preserve hepatocellular function and restore the liver's architectural integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
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Abstract
Chronic liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or viral hepatitis are characterized by persistent inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis critically determines long-term morbidity (for example, cirrhosis or liver cancer) and mortality in NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Inflammation represents the concerted response of various hepatic cell types to hepatocellular death and inflammatory signals, which are related to intrahepatic injury pathways or extrahepatic mediators from the gut-liver axis and the circulation. Single-cell technologies have revealed the heterogeneity of immune cell activation concerning disease states and the spatial organization within the liver, including resident and recruited macrophages, neutrophils as mediators of tissue repair, auto-aggressive features of T cells as well as various innate lymphoid cell and unconventional T cell populations. Inflammatory responses drive the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and HSC subsets, in turn, modulate immune mechanisms via chemokines and cytokines or transdifferentiate into matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Current advances in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver, mainly focused on NAFLD or NASH owing to the high unmet medical need, have led to the identification of several therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize the inflammatory mediators and cells in the diseased liver, fibrogenic pathways and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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10
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Kotsiliti E, Leone V, Schuehle S, Govaere O, Li H, Wolf MJ, Horvatic H, Bierwirth S, Hundertmark J, Inverso D, Zizmare L, Sarusi-Portuguez A, Gupta R, O'Connor T, Giannou AD, Shiri AM, Schlesinger Y, Beccaria MG, Rennert C, Pfister D, Öllinger R, Gadjalova I, Ramadori P, Rahbari M, Rahbari N, Healy ME, Fernández-Vaquero M, Yahoo N, Janzen J, Singh I, Fan C, Liu X, Rau M, Feuchtenberger M, Schwaneck E, Wallace SJ, Cockell S, Wilson-Kanamori J, Ramachandran P, Kho C, Kendall TJ, Leblond AL, Keppler SJ, Bielecki P, Steiger K, Hofmann M, Rippe K, Zitzelsberger H, Weber A, Malek N, Luedde T, Vucur M, Augustin HG, Flavell R, Parnas O, Rad R, Pabst O, Henderson NC, Huber S, Macpherson A, Knolle P, Claassen M, Geier A, Trautwein C, Unger K, Elinav E, Waisman A, Abdullah Z, Haller D, Tacke F, Anstee QM, Heikenwalder M. Intestinal B cells license metabolic T-cell activation in NASH microbiota/antigen-independently and contribute to fibrosis by IgA-FcR signalling. J Hepatol 2023; 79:296-313. [PMID: 37224925 PMCID: PMC10360918 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is aggravated by auto-aggressive T cells. The gut-liver axis contributes to NASH, but the mechanisms involved and the consequences for NASH-induced fibrosis and liver cancer remain unknown. We investigated the role of gastrointestinal B cells in the development of NASH, fibrosis and NASH-induced HCC. METHODS C57BL/6J wild-type (WT), B cell-deficient and different immunoglobulin-deficient or transgenic mice were fed distinct NASH-inducing diets or standard chow for 6 or 12 months, whereafter NASH, fibrosis, and NASH-induced HCC were assessed and analysed. Specific pathogen-free/germ-free WT and μMT mice (containing B cells only in the gastrointestinal tract) were fed a choline-deficient high-fat diet, and treated with an anti-CD20 antibody, whereafter NASH and fibrosis were assessed. Tissue biopsy samples from patients with simple steatosis, NASH and cirrhosis were analysed to correlate the secretion of immunoglobulins to clinicopathological features. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis were performed in liver and gastrointestinal tissue to characterise immune cells in mice and humans. RESULTS Activated intestinal B cells were increased in mouse and human NASH samples and licensed metabolic T-cell activation to induce NASH independently of antigen specificity and gut microbiota. Genetic or therapeutic depletion of systemic or gastrointestinal B cells prevented or reverted NASH and liver fibrosis. IgA secretion was necessary for fibrosis induction by activating CD11b+CCR2+F4/80+CD11c-FCGR1+ hepatic myeloid cells through an IgA-FcR signalling axis. Similarly, patients with NASH had increased numbers of activated intestinal B cells; additionally, we observed a positive correlation between IgA levels and activated FcRg+ hepatic myeloid cells, as well the extent of liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Intestinal B cells and the IgA-FcR signalling axis represent potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of NASH. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS There is currently no effective treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with a substantial healthcare burden and is a growing risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously shown that NASH is an auto-aggressive condition aggravated, amongst others, by T cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that B cells might have a role in disease induction and progression. Our present work highlights that B cells have a dual role in NASH pathogenesis, being implicated in the activation of auto-aggressive T cells and the development of fibrosis via activation of monocyte-derived macrophages by secreted immunoglobulins (e.g., IgA). Furthermore, we show that the absence of B cells prevented HCC development. B cell-intrinsic signalling pathways, secreted immunoglobulins, and interactions of B cells with other immune cells are potential targets for combinatorial NASH therapies against inflammation and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kotsiliti
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Valentina Leone
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Research Unit of Radiation Cytogenetics (ZYTO), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Svenja Schuehle
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Hai Li
- Maurice Müller Laboratories (DBMR), University Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Monika J Wolf
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helena Horvatic
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Bierwirth
- Nutrition and Immunology, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany; ZIEL - Institute for Food and Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Jana Hundertmark
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Donato Inverso
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany; European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Laimdota Zizmare
- Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Werner Siemens Imaging Center (WSIC), Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Avital Sarusi-Portuguez
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Revant Gupta
- Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tracy O'Connor
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; North Park University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anastasios D Giannou
- Section of Molecular Immunology und Gastroenterology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg - Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ahmad Mustafa Shiri
- Section of Molecular Immunology und Gastroenterology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yehuda Schlesinger
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maria Garcia Beccaria
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Rennert
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg - Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Pfister
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rupert Öllinger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Iana Gadjalova
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Pierluigi Ramadori
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mohammad Rahbari
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nuh Rahbari
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc E Healy
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mirian Fernández-Vaquero
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Neda Yahoo
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Janzen
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Indrabahadur Singh
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Emmy Noether Research Group Epigenetic Machineries and Cancer, Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chaofan Fan
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center at the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Monika Rau
- Division of Hepatology, University-Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Feuchtenberger
- Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, Kreiskliniken Altötting-Burghausen, Burghausen, Germany
| | - Eva Schwaneck
- Rheumatology, Medical Clinic II, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian J Wallace
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simon Cockell
- School of Biomedical, Nutrition and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Wilson-Kanamori
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Prakash Ramachandran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Celia Kho
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Timothy J Kendall
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anne-Laure Leblond
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Selina J Keppler
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Piotr Bielecki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; Comparative Experimental Pathology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karsten Rippe
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Horst Zitzelsberger
- Research Unit of Radiation Cytogenetics (ZYTO), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Achim Weber
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nisar Malek
- Department Internal Medicine I, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Mihael Vucur
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hellmut G Augustin
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany; European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Richard Flavell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Oren Parnas
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Olivier Pabst
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Samuel Huber
- Section of Molecular Immunology und Gastroenterology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrew Macpherson
- Maurice Müller Laboratories (DBMR), University Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Percy Knolle
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Manfred Claassen
- Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department Internal Medicine I, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Hepatology, University-Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Trautwein
- Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Werner Siemens Imaging Center (WSIC), Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kristian Unger
- Research Unit of Radiation Cytogenetics (ZYTO), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eran Elinav
- Immunology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Cancer-Microbiome Research Division, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ari Waisman
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center at the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Zeinab Abdullah
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dirk Haller
- Nutrition and Immunology, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany; ZIEL - Institute for Food and Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Center, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; M3 Research Institute, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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11
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Qiu J, Wu S, Wang P, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Sun Y, Jiang C. miR-488-5p mitigates hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis via suppressing TET3 expression. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:463-475. [PMID: 36001230 PMCID: PMC10119239 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10404-w] [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: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Numerous studies have demonstrated that hepatic fibrosis, a progressive condition as an endpoint of multiple chronic hepatic diseases, is largely characterized with the extensive activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The precise effect of miR-488-5p in HSCs during hepatic fibrosis has not been elucidated. METHODS In our study, qRT-PCR was applied to assess the level of miR-488-5p in activated HSCs stimulated by TGF-β1. We built murine liver fibrosis models with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), high-fat diet (HFD) and bile duct ligation (BDL). In vitro, the effects of miR-488-5p in HSCs were examined through cell proliferation assay and apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay was applied to identify the underlying target of miR-488-5p. In vivo, the effects of miR-488-5p were explored through mouse liver fibrosis models. RESULTS The reduction of miR-488-5p in the activated HSCs induced by TGF-β1 and three mouse hepatic fibrosis models were identified. The in vitro functional experimentations verified that miR-488-5p restrained expression of fibrosis-related markers and proliferative capacity in HSCs. Mechanically, we identified that miR-488-5p inhibited tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) expression via straightly binding onto the 3' UTR of its mRNA, which sequentially restrained the TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway. TET3 inhibition induced by the overexpression of miR-488-5p reduced extracellular matrix deposition, which contributed to mitigating mouse liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION We highlight that miR-488-5p restrains the activation of HSCs and hepatic fibrosis via targeting TET3 which is involved in the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Collectively, miR-488-5p is identified as a potential therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shasha Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, 223005, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Drum Tower Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongxia Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunping Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Bell S, Young JA, List EO, Basu R, Geitgey DK, Lach G, Lee K, Swegan D, Caggiano LJ, Okada S, Kopchick JJ, Berryman DE. Increased Fibrosis in White Adipose Tissue of Male and Female bGH Transgenic Mice Appears Independent of TGF-β Action. Endocrinology 2023; 164:7069260. [PMID: 36869769 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad038] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathological state caused by excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins in a tissue. Male bovine growth hormone (bGH) transgenic mice experience metabolic dysfunction with a marked decrease in lifespan and with increased fibrosis in several tissues including white adipose tissue (WAT), which is more pronounced in the subcutaneous (Sc) depot. The current study expanded on these initial findings to evaluate WAT fibrosis in female bGH mice and the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the development of WAT fibrosis. Our findings established that female bGH mice, like males, experience a depot-dependent increase in WAT fibrosis, and bGH mice of both sexes have elevated circulating levels of several markers of collagen turnover. Using various methods, TGF-β signaling was found unchanged or decreased-as opposed to an expected increase-despite the marked fibrosis in WAT of bGH mice. However, acute GH treatments in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo did elicit a modest increase in TGF-β signaling in some experimental systems. Finally, single nucleus RNA sequencing confirmed no perturbation in TGF-β or its receptor gene expression in any WAT cell subpopulations of Sc bGH WAT; however, a striking increase in B lymphocyte infiltration in bGH WAT was observed. Overall, these data suggest that bGH WAT fibrosis is independent of the action of TGF-β and reveals an intriguing shift in immune cells in bGH WAT that should be further explored considering the increasing importance of B cell-mediated WAT fibrosis and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Bell
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Jonathan A Young
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Edward O List
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Reetobrata Basu
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | | | - Grace Lach
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Kevin Lee
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Deborah Swegan
- College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | | | - Shigeru Okada
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - John J Kopchick
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Darlene E Berryman
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
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13
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Yang L, Hao Y, Boeckmans J, Rodrigues RM, He Y. Immune cells and their derived microRNA-enriched extracellular vesicles in nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases: Novel therapeutic targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 243:108353. [PMID: 36738973 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Despite extensive research and multiple clinical trials, there are still no FDA-approved therapies to treat the most severe forms of NAFLD. This is largely due to its complicated etiology and pathogenesis, which involves visceral obesity, insulin resistance, gut dysbiosis, etc. Although inflammation is generally believed to be one of the critical factors that drive the progression of simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the exact type of inflammation and how it contributes to NASH pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Liver inflammation is accompanied by the elevation of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and chemokines and consequently intrahepatic infiltration of multiple types of immune cells. Recent studies revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from inflammatory cells and hepatocytes play an important role in controlling liver inflammation during NASH. In this review, we highlight the roles of innate and adaptive immune cells and their microRNA-enriched EVs during NAFLD development and discuss potential drugs that target inflammatory pathways for the treatment of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yawen Hao
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Joost Boeckmans
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robim M Rodrigues
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Yong He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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14
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Jiao J, Sanchez JI, Saldarriaga OA, Solis LM, Tweardy DJ, Maru DM, Stevenson HL, Beretta L. Spatial molecular and cellular determinants of STAT3 activation in liver fibrosis progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100628. [PMID: 36687470 PMCID: PMC9850198 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is increasing. Individuals with NASH often develop liver fibrosis and advanced liver fibrosis is the main determinant of mortality in individuals with NASH. We and others have reported that STAT3 contributes to liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Methods Here, we explored whether STAT3 activation in hepatocyte and non-hepatocyte areas, measured by phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3), is associated with liver fibrosis progression in 133 patients with NAFLD. We further characterized the molecular and cellular determinants of STAT3 activation by integrating spatial distribution and transcriptomic changes in fibrotic NAFLD livers.Results: pSTAT3 scores in non-hepatocyte areas progressively increased with fibrosis severity (r = 0.53, p <0.001). Correlation analyses between pSTAT3 scores and expression of 1,540 immune- and cancer-associated genes revealed a large effect of STAT3 activation on gene expression changes in non-hepatocyte areas and confirmed a major role for STAT3 activation in fibrogenesis. Digital spatial transcriptomic profiling was also performed on 13 regions selected in hepatocyte and non-hepatocyte areas from four NAFLD liver biopsies with advanced fibrosis, using a customized panel of markers including pSTAT3, PanCK+CK8/18, and CD45. The regions were further segmented based on positive or negative pSTAT3 staining. Cell deconvolution analysis revealed that activated STAT3 was enriched in hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and sinusoidal endothelial cells. Regression of liver fibrosis upon STAT3 inhibition in mice with NASH resulted in a reduction of HPCs, demonstrating a direct role for STAT3 in HPC expansion. Conclusion Increased understanding of the spatial dependence of STAT3 signaling in NASH and liver fibrosis progression could lead to novel targeted treatment approaches. Impact and implications Advanced liver fibrosis is the main determinant of mortality in patients with NASH. This study showed using liver biopsies from 133 patients with NAFLD, that STAT3 activation in non-hepatocyte areas is strongly associated with fibrosis severity, inflammation, and progression to NASH. STAT3 activation was enriched in hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs), as determined by innovative technologies interrogating the spatial distribution of pSTAT3. Finally, STAT3 inhibition in mice resulted in reduced liver fibrosis and depletion of HPCs, suggesting that STAT3 activation in HPCs contributes to their expansion and fibrogenesis in NAFLD.
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Key Words
- DSP, digital spatial profiler
- FC, fold change
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HFD, high-fat diet
- HPCs, hepatic progenitor cells
- HSCs, hepatic stellate cells
- IPA, Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis
- LSECs, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
- NAFLD
- NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NAS, NAFLD activity score
- NASH
- NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- SECs, sinusoidal endothelial cells
- STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription
- STAT3
- cirrhosis
- fibrosis
- liver cancer
- pSTAT3, phospho-STAT3
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Jiao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica I. Sanchez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Omar A. Saldarriaga
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Luisa M. Solis
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David J. Tweardy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dipen M. Maru
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Heather L. Stevenson
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Laura Beretta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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15
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Stasevich EM, Zheremyan EA, Kuprash DV, Schwartz AM. Interaction Between Adipocytes and B Lymphocytes in Human Metabolic Diseases. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:280-288. [PMID: 37072333 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923020104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Diseases associated with the disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism are widespread in the modern world. Interaction between the cells of adipose tissue - adipocytes - and immune system cells is an essential factor in pathogenesis of such diseases. Long-term increase in the glucose and fatty acid levels leads to adipocyte hypertrophy and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines by these cells. As a result, immune cells acquire a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and new leukocytes are recruited. Inflammation of adipose tissue leads to insulin resistance and stimulates formation of atherosclerotic plaques and development of autoimmunity. New studies show that different groups of B lymphocytes play an essential role in regulation of adipose tissue inflammation. Decrease in the number of B-2 lymphocytes suppresses development of a number of metabolic diseases, whereas decreased numbers of the regulatory B lymphocytes and B-1 lymphocytes are associated with more severe pathology. Recent studies showed that adipocytes influence B lymphocyte activity both directly and by altering activity of other immune cells. These findings provide better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of human pathologies associated with impaired carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina M Stasevich
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elina A Zheremyan
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitriy V Kuprash
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Anton M Schwartz
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, 141701, Russia
- Department of Human Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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16
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Kanemitsu-Okada K, Abe M, Nakamura Y, Miyake T, Watanabe T, Yoshida O, Koizumi Y, Hirooka M, Tokumoto Y, Matsuura B, Koizumi M, Hiasa Y. Role of B Cell-Activating Factor in Fibrosis Progression in a Murine Model of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032509. [PMID: 36768854 PMCID: PMC9916461 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease all over the world. Therapeutic strategies targeting its multidirectional pathways are required. Particularly, fibrosis is closely associated with its prognosis. We previously found that B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is associated with severity of NAFLD. Here, we determined the direct in vivo role of BAFF in the development of liver fibrosis. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed using wild-type and BAFF-deficient mice. We established a murine model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using carbon tetrachloride injection accompanied by high-fat/high-cholesterol diet feeding. Additionally, in vitro analysis using mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 and primary hepatic stellate cells was performed. Hepatic steatosis and inflammation, and most importantly, the progression of liver fibrosis, were ameliorated in BAFF-deficient mice compared to those wild-type mice in our model. Additionally, BAFF deficiency reduced the number of CD11c+ M1-type macrophages in the liver. Moreover, BAFF stimulated RAW264.7 cells to secrete nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor α, which drove the activation of hepatic stellate cells. This indicates that BAFF plays a crucial role in NASH development and may be a promising therapeutic target for NASH.
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Role of B Lymphocytes in the Pathogenesis of NAFLD: A 2022 Update. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012376. [PMID: 36293233 PMCID: PMC9603875 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012376] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its related complications are becoming one of the most important health problems globally. The liver functions as both a metabolic and an immune organ. The crosstalk between hepatocytes and intrahepatic immune cells plays a key role in coordinating a dual function of the liver in terms of the protection of the host from antigenic overload as a result of receiving nutrients and gut microbiota antigenic stimulation via facilitating immunologic tolerance. B cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the liver. The crucial role of intrahepatic B cells in energy metabolism under different immune conditions is now emerging in the literature. The accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the antibodies and cytokines produced by B cells in the microenvironment play key and distinct roles in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, we have aimed to consolidate and update the current knowledge about the pathophysiological roles of B cells as well as the underlying mechanisms in energy metabolism. Understanding how B cells can exacerbate and suppress liver damage by exploiting the antibodies and cytokines they produce will be of great importance for designing B-cell targeting therapies to treat various liver diseases.
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18
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Barrow F, Revelo XS. The B side of B cells in NAFLD. Hepatology 2022; 76:914-916. [PMID: 35340064 PMCID: PMC9489625 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fanta Barrow
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Xavier S. Revelo
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Corresponding author: Xavier S. Revelo, Ph.D., Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455,
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19
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Abstract
Obesity is a prevalent health risk by inducing chronic, low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, in part from adipose tissue inflammation perpetuated by activated B cells and other resident immune cells. However, regulatory mechanisms controlling B-cell actions in adipose tissue remain poorly understood, limiting therapeutic innovations. MicroRNAs are potent regulators of immune cell dynamics through fine-tuning a network of downstream genes in multiple signaling pathways. In particular, miR-150 is crucial to B-cell development and suppresses obesity-associated inflammation via regulating adipose tissue B-cell function. Herein, we review the effect of microRNAs on B-cell development, activation, and function and highlight miR-150-regulated B-cell actions during obesity which modulate systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. In this way, we hope to promote translational discoveries that mitigate obesity-induced health risks by targeting microRNA-regulated B-cell actions.
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