The effects of ethanol administration on brush border membrane glycolipids in rat intestine

Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Fatty Liver a Narrative Review

Alcohol effect hepatic lipid metabolism through various mechanisms, leading synergistically to an accumulation of fatty acids (FA) and triglycerides. Obesity, as well as dietary fat (saturated fatty acids (FA) versus poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)) may modulate the hepatic fat. Alcohol inhibits adenosine monophosphate activated kinase (AMPK). AMPK activates peroxisome proliferator activated receptor a (PPARα) and leads to a decreased activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SRABP1c). The inhibition of AMPK, and thus of PPARα, results in an inhibition of FA oxidation. This ß-oxidation is further reduced due to mitochondrial damage induced through cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1)-driven oxidative stress. Furthermore, the synthesis of FAs is stimulated through an activation of SHREP1. In addition, alcohol consumption leads to a reduced production of adiponectin in adipocytes due to oxidative stress and to an increased mobilization of FAs from adipose tissue and from the gut as chylomicrons. On the other side, the secretion of FAs via very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) from the liver is inhibited by alcohol. Alcohol also affects signal pathways such as early growth response 1 (Egr-1) associated with the expression of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF α), and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) a key regulator of autophagy. Both have influence the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver. Alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis contributes to the severity of ALD by increasing the metabolism of ethanol in the gut and promoting intestinal dysfunction. Moreover, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) via specific Toll-like receptor (TLR) bacterial overgrowth leads to the translocation of bacteria. Endotoxins and toxic ethanol metabolites enter the enterohepatic circulation, reaching the liver and inducing the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB) pathway. Pro-inflammatory cytokines released in the process contribute to inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, cellular apoptosis is inhibited in favour of necrosis.

Innate lymphocytes: Role in alcohol-induced immune dysfunction

Alcohol use is known to alter the function of both innate and adaptive immune cells, such as neutrophils, macrophages, B cells, and T cells. Immune dysfunction has been associated with alcohol-induced end-organ damage. The role of innate lymphocytes in alcohol-associated pathogenesis has become a focus of research, as liver-resident natural killer (NK) cells were found to play an important role in alcohol-associated liver damage pathogenesis. Innate lymphocytes play a critical role in immunity and homeostasis; they are necessary for an optimal host response against insults including infections and cancer. However, the role of innate lymphocytes, including NK cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, gamma delta T cells, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) type 1–3, remains ill-defined in the context of alcohol-induced end-organ damage. Innate-like B lymphocytes including marginal zone B cells and B-1 cells have also been identified; however, this review will address the effects of alcohol misuse on innate T lymphocytes, as well as the consequences of innate T-lymphocyte dysfunction on alcohol-induced tissue damage.

The Gut-Liver Axis in Chronic Liver Disease: A Macrophage Perspective

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a growing health concern which accounts for two million deaths per year. Obesity, alcohol overconsumption, and progressive cholestasis are commonly characterized by persistent low-grade inflammation and advancing fibrosis, which form the basis for development of end-stage liver disease complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. CLD pathophysiology extends to the intestinal tract and is characterized by intestinal dysbiosis, bile acid dysregulation, and gut barrier disruption. In addition, macrophages are key players in CLD progression and intestinal barrier breakdown. Emerging studies are unveiling macrophage heterogeneity and driving factors of their plasticity in health and disease. To date, in-depth investigation of how gut-liver axis disruption impacts the hepatic and intestinal macrophage pool in CLD pathogenesis is scarce. In this review, we give an overview of the role of intestinal and hepatic macrophages in homeostasis and gut-liver axis disruption in progressive stages of CLD.

Structural Insights in Mammalian Sialyltransferases and Fucosyltransferases: We Have Come a Long Way, but It Is Still a Long Way Down

Mammalian cell surfaces are modified with complex arrays of glycans that play major roles in health and disease. Abnormal glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer; terminal sialic acid and fucose in particular have high levels in tumor cells, with positive implications for malignancy. Increased sialylation and fucosylation are due to the upregulation of a set of sialyltransferases (STs) and fucosyltransferases (FUTs), which are potential drug targets in cancer. In the past, several advances in glycostructural biology have been made with the determination of crystal structures of several important STs and FUTs in mammals. Additionally, how the independent evolution of STs and FUTs occurred with a limited set of global folds and the diverse modular ability of catalytic domains toward substrates has been elucidated. This review highlights advances in the understanding of the structural architecture, substrate binding interactions, and catalysis of STs and FUTs in mammals. While this general understanding is emerging, use of this information to design inhibitors of STs and FUTs will be helpful in providing further insights into their role in the manifestation of cancer and developing targeted therapeutics in cancer.

Cytotoxicity and metabolic stress induced by acetaldehyde in human intestinal LS174T goblet-like cells

There is compelling evidence indicating that ethanol and its oxidative metabolite acetaldehyde can disrupt intestinal barrier function. Apart from the tight junctions, mucins secreted by goblet cells provide an effective barrier. Ethanol has been shown to induce goblet cell injury associated with alterations in mucin glycosylation. However, effects of its most injurious metabolite acetaldehyde remain largely unknown. This study aimed to assess short-term effects of acetaldehyde (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 μM) on functional characteristics of intestinal goblet-like cells (LS174T). Oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, ATP, and intramitochondrial calcium (Ca(2+)) were assessed by dichlorofluorescein, methyltetrazolium, and bioluminescence, MitoTracker green and rhod-2 double-labeling. Membrane integrity and apoptosis were evaluated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), caspase 3/7, and cleavage of cytokeratin 18 (CK18). Expression of mucin 2 (MUC2) was determined by cell-based ELISA. Acetaldehyde significantly increased reactive oxygen species generation and decreased mitochondrial function compared with negative controls (P < 0.05). In addition, acetaldehyde dose-dependently decreased ATP levels and induced intramitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation compared with negative controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, acetaldehyde induced LDH release and increased caspase3/7 activity and percentage of cells expressing cleaved CK18 and increased MUC2 protein expression compared with negative controls (P < 0.0001). ATP depletion and LDH release could be largely prevented by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, suggesting a pivotal role for oxidative stress. Our data demonstrate that acetaldehyde has distinct oxidant-dependent metabolic and cytotoxic effects on LS174T cells that can lead to induction of cellular apoptosis. These effects may contribute to acetaldehyde-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and subsequently to liver injury.