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Gwag T, Lee S, Li Z, Newcomb A, Otuagomah J, Weinman SA, Liang Y, Zhou C, Wang S. Platelet-derived thrombospondin 1 promotes immune cell liver infiltration and exacerbates diet-induced steatohepatitis. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101019. [PMID: 38455470 PMCID: PMC10918562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Recent studies have implicated platelets, particularly α-granules, in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the specific mechanisms involved have yet to be determined. Notably, thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) is a major component of the platelet α-granules released during platelet activation. Hence, we aimed to determine the role of platelet-derived TSP1 in NASH. Methods Platelet-specific Tsp1 knockout mice (TSP1Δpf4) and their wild-type littermates (TSP1F/F) were used. NASH was induced by feeding the mice with a diet enriched in fat, sucrose, fructose, and cholesterol (AMLN diet). A human liver NASH organoid model was also employed. Results Although TSP1 deletion in platelets did not affect diet-induced steatosis, TSP1Δpf4 mice exhibited attenuated NASH and liver fibrosis, accompanied by improvements in plasma glucose and lipid homeostasis. Furthermore, TSP1Δpf4 mice showed reduced intrahepatic platelet accumulation, activation, and chemokine production, correlating with decreased immune cell infiltration into the liver. Consequently, this diminished proinflammatory signaling in the liver, thereby mitigating the progression of NAFLD. Moreover, in vitro data revealed that co-culturing TSP1-deficient platelets in a human liver NASH organoid model attenuated hepatic stellate cell activation and NASH progression. Additionally, TSP1-deficient platelets play a role in regulating brown fat endocrine function, specifically affecting Nrg4 (neuregulin 4) production. Crosstalk between brown fat and the liver may also influence the progression of NAFLD. Conclusions These data suggest that platelet α-granule-derived TSP1 is a significant contributor to diet-induced NASH and fibrosis, potentially serving as a new therapeutic target for this severe liver disease. Impact and implications Recent studies have implicated platelets, specifically α-granules, in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, yet the precise mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, through the utilization of a tissue-specific knockout mouse model and human 3D liver organoid, we demonstrated that platelet α-granule-derived TSP1 significantly contributes to diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis. This contribution is, in part, attributed to the regulation of intrahepatic immune cell infiltration and potential crosstalk between fat and the liver. These findings suggest that platelet-derived TSP1 may represent a novel therapeutic target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taesik Gwag
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
- Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40502, United States
| | - Sangderk Lee
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
| | - Alana Newcomb
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Josephine Otuagomah
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Steven A. Weinman
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States
- Research Service, Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, United States
| | - Ying Liang
- New York Blood Center, 310 East 72 Street, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Changcheng Zhou
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA92521, United States
| | - Shuxia Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
- Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40502, United States
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Liu J, Zhang Q, Wong YK, Luo P, Chen J, Xie L, Chen J, He X, Shi F, Gong P, Liu X, Wang J. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals the Ameliorative Effect of Oridonin on Septic Liver Injury. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300542. [PMID: 38408269 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300542] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome leading to hemodynamic instability and potential organ dysfunction. Oridonin, commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), exhibits significant anti-inflammation activity. To explore the protective mechanisms of oridonin against the pathophysiological changes, the authors conducted single-cell transcriptome (scRNA-seq) analysis on septic liver models induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). They obtained a total of 63,486 cells, distributed across 11 major cell clusters, and concentrated their analysis on four specific clusters (hepatocytes/Heps, macrophages, endothelial/Endos and T/NK) based on their changes in proportion during sepsis and under oridonin treatment. Firstly, biological changes in Hep, which are related to metabolic dysregulation and pro-inflammatory signaling, are observed during sepsis. Secondly, they uncovered the dynamic profiles of macrophage's phenotype, indicating that a substantial number of macrophages exhibited a M1-skewed phenotype associated with pro-inflammatory characteristics in septic model. Thirdly, they detected an upregulation of both inflammatory cytokines and transcriptomic factor Nfkb1 expression within Endo, along with slight capillarization during sepsis. Moreover, excessive accumulation of cytotoxic NK led to an immune imbalance. Though, oridonin ameliorated inflammatory-related responses and improved the liver dysfunction in septic mice. This study provides fundamental evidence of the protective effects of oridonin against sepsis-induced cytokine storm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Yin Kwan Wong
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Piao Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Junhui Chen
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Lulin Xie
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Jiayun Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xueling He
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Fei Shi
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Ping Gong
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Xueyan Liu
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of Critical Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
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Parola M, Pinzani M. Liver fibrosis in NAFLD/NASH: from pathophysiology towards diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 95:101231. [PMID: 38056058 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101231] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis, as an excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, results from chronic liver injury as well as persistent activation of inflammatory response and of fibrogenesis. Liver fibrosis is a major determinant for chronic liver disease (CLD) progression and in the last two decades our understanding on the major molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the fibrogenic progression of CLD has dramatically improved, boosting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials designed to find novel therapeutic approaches. From these studies several critical concepts have emerged, starting to reveal the complexity of the pro-fibrotic microenvironment which involves very complex, dynamic and interrelated interactions between different hepatic and extrahepatic cell populations. This review will offer first a recapitulation of established and novel pathophysiological basic principles and concepts by intentionally focus the attention on NAFLD/NASH, a metabolic-related form of CLD with a high impact on the general population and emerging as a leading cause of CLD worldwide. NAFLD/NASH-related pro-inflammatory and profibrogenic mechanisms will be analysed as well as novel information on cells, mediators and signalling pathways which have taken advantage from novel methodological approaches and techniques (single cell genomics, imaging mass cytometry, novel in vitro two- and three-dimensional models, etc.). We will next offer an overview on recent advancement in diagnostic and prognostic tools, including serum biomarkers and polygenic scores, to support the analysis of liver biopsies. Finally, this review will provide an analysis of current and emerging therapies for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Parola
- Dept. Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Corso Raffaello 30, 10125, Torino, Italy.
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine - Royal Free Hospital, London, NW32PF, United Kingdom.
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Yang S, Liu C, Jiang M, Liu X, Geng L, Zhang Y, Sun S, Wang K, Yin J, Ma S, Wang S, Belmonte JCI, Zhang W, Qu J, Liu GH. A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of primate liver aging uncovers the pro-senescence role of SREBP2 in hepatocytes. Protein Cell 2024; 15:98-120. [PMID: 37378670 PMCID: PMC10833472 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging increases the risk of liver diseases and systemic susceptibility to aging-related diseases. However, cell type-specific changes and the underlying mechanism of liver aging in higher vertebrates remain incompletely characterized. Here, we constructed the first single-nucleus transcriptomic landscape of primate liver aging, in which we resolved cell type-specific gene expression fluctuation in hepatocytes across three liver zonations and detected aberrant cell-cell interactions between hepatocytes and niche cells. Upon in-depth dissection of this rich dataset, we identified impaired lipid metabolism and upregulation of chronic inflammation-related genes prominently associated with declined liver functions during aging. In particular, hyperactivated sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) signaling was a hallmark of the aged liver, and consequently, forced activation of SREBP2 in human primary hepatocytes recapitulated in vivo aging phenotypes, manifesting as impaired detoxification and accelerated cellular senescence. This study expands our knowledge of primate liver aging and informs the development of diagnostics and therapeutic interventions for liver aging and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Chengyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lingling Geng
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yiyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuhui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Kang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Si Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | | | - Weiqi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
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Kram M. Galectin-3 inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis liver fibrosis. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:201-207. [PMID: 36926236 PMCID: PMC10011901 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i2.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to be one of the major health challenges facing the world, with estimates of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) prevalence in over 25 percent of the world’s population. NASH represents a spectrum of disease that may lead to hepatic fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis, with the risk of cirrhosis decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. New therapies are desperately needed for NASH, especially for later stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis. Galectin-3 inhibition is being explored as a new liver antifibrotic therapy. This concise review will outline the state of the art of this new therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kram
- Department of Gastroenterology, Bon Secours Health System Inc, Monsey, NY 10952, United States
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Kohlhepp MS, Liu H, Tacke F, Guillot A. The contradictory roles of macrophages in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and primary liver cancer-Challenges and opportunities. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1129831. [PMID: 36845555 PMCID: PMC9950415 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1129831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases from varying etiologies generally lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Among them, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects roughly one-quarter of the world population, thus representing a major and increasing public health burden. Chronic hepatocyte injury, inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH) and liver fibrosis are recognized soils for primary liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), being the third most common cause for cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite recent advances in liver disease understanding, therapeutic options on pre-malignant and malignant stages remain limited. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify targetable liver disease-driving mechanisms for the development of novel therapeutics. Monocytes and macrophages comprise a central, yet versatile component of the inflammatory response, fueling chronic liver disease initiation and progression. Recent proteomic and transcriptomic studies performed at singular cell levels revealed a previously overlooked diversity of macrophage subpopulations and functions. Indeed, liver macrophages that encompass liver resident macrophages (also named Kupffer cells) and monocyte-derived macrophages, can acquire a variety of phenotypes depending on microenvironmental cues, and thus exert manifold and sometimes contradictory functions. Those functions range from modulating and exacerbating tissue inflammation to promoting and exaggerating tissue repair mechanisms (i.e., parenchymal regeneration, cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, fibrosis). Due to these central functions, liver macrophages represent an attractive target for the treatment of liver diseases. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted and contrary roles of macrophages in chronic liver diseases, with a particular focus on NAFLD/NASH and HCC. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches targeting liver macrophages.
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