Anti-miR-96 and Hh pathway inhibitor MDB5 synergistically ameliorate alcohol-associated liver injury in mice

Noncoding RNA-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation in Hepatic Stellate Cells of Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a significant contributor to liver-related disease mortality on a global scale. Despite this, there remains a dearth of effective therapeutic interventions capable of reversing this condition. Consequently, it is imperative that we gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving liver fibrosis. In this regard, the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is recognized as a pivotal factor in the development and progression of liver fibrosis. The role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in epigenetic regulation of HSCs transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts has been established, providing new insights into gene expression changes during HSCs activation. NcRNAs play a crucial role in mediating the epigenetics of HSCs, serving as novel regulators in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. As research on epigenetics expands, the connection between ncRNAs involved in HSCs activation and epigenetic mechanisms becomes more evident. These changes in gene regulation have attracted considerable attention from researchers in the field. Furthermore, epigenetics has contributed valuable insights to drug discovery and the identification of therapeutic targets for individuals suffering from liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. As such, this review offers a thorough discussion on the role of ncRNAs in the HSCs activation of liver fibrosis.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 Isolated from Infant Feces Ameliorates the Alcoholic Liver Damage by Regulating the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Barrier in C57BL/6J Mice

Alcoholic liver damage is caused by long-term or heavy drinking, and it may further progress into alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). Probiotic supplements have been suggested for the prevention or improvement of liver damage. This study was designed to consider the ameliorative effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 isolated from infant feces against alcoholic liver damage. The mice were gavaged with a 50% ethanol solution and treated with 109 CFU of L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 suspension. The factors for liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal barrier integrity were measured. The results showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could decrease the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to 61% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to 50% compared with ethanol given by gavage. It could inhibit the expression level of malondialdehyde (MDA), increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) to relieve oxidative stress, and down-regulate the cytokines to decrease hepatic inflammation. After treatment, the level of triglycerides was reduced, and the expression levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) pathway were up-regulated. Additionally, the 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, etc. At the same time, L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could significantly reduce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and enhance intestinal tight junction proteins. These results demonstrated that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could reduce the level of oxidative stress, fat accumulation, and liver inflammation caused by alcohol in the host. The underlying mechanism could be that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 inhibits LPS by regulating the gut microbiota and repairing the intestinal barrier. Thereby, these findings support L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 as a potential functional food for the relief of ALD.

Therapeutic perspectives on PDE4B inhibition in adipose tissue dysfunction and chronic liver injury

INTRODUCTION

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a complex disease associated with profound dysfunction. Despite an incredible burden, the first and only pharmacotherapy for metabolic-associated steatohepatitis was only approved in March of this year, indicating a gap in the translation of preclinical studies. There is a body of preclinical work on the application of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors in CLD, none of these molecules have been successfully translated into clinical use.

AREAS COVERED

To design therapies to combat CLD, it is essential to consider the dysregulation of other tissues that contribute to its development and progression. As such, proper therapies must combat this throughout the body rather than focusing only on the liver. To detail this, literature characterizing the pathogenesis of CLD was pulled from PubMed, with a particular focus placed on the role of PDE4 in inflammation and metabolism. Then, the focus is shifted to detailing the available information on existing PDE4 inhibitors.

EXPERT OPINION

This review gives a brief overview of some of the pathologies of organ systems that are distinct from the liver but contribute to disease progression. The demonstrated efficacy of PDE4 inhibitors in other human inflammatory diseases should earn them further examination for the treatment of CLD.

Reappraisal of the Roles of the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

HCC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death globally. The main challenges in treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) primarily arise from high rates of postoperative recurrence and the limited efficacy in treating advanced-stage patients. Various signaling pathways involved in HCC have been reported. Among them, the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is crucial. The presence of SHH ligands is identified in approximately 60% of HCC tumor tissues, including tumor nests. PTCH-1 and GLI-1 are detected in more than half of HCC tissues, while GLI-2 is found in over 84% of HCC tissues. The SHH signaling pathway (including canonical and non-canonical) is involved in different aspects of HCC, including hepatocarcinogenesis, tumor growth, tumor invasiveness, progression, and migration. The SHH signaling pathway also contributes to recurrence, metastasis, modulation of the cancer microenvironment, and sustaining cancer stem cells. It also affects the resistance of HCC cells to chemotherapy, target therapy, and radiotherapy. Reappraisal of the roles of the SHH signaling pathway in HCC may trigger some novel therapies for HCC.

Sonic hedgehog-heat shock protein 90β axis promotes the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and heat shock protein 90β (HSP90β) have been implicated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) but their molecular mechanisms of action remain elusive. We find that HSP90β is a key SHH downstream molecule for promoting NASH process. In hepatocytes, SHH reduces HSP90β ubiquitylation through deubiquitylase USP31, thus preventing HSP90β degradation and promoting hepatic lipid synthesis. HSP90β significantly increases in NASH mouse model, leading to secretion of exosomes enriched with miR-28-5p. miR-28-5p directly targetes and decreases Rap1b levels, which in turn promotes NF-κB transcriptional activity in macrophages and stimulates the expression of inflammatory factors. Genetic deletion, pharmacological inhibition of the SHH-HSP90β axis, or delivery of miR-28-5p to macrophages in the male mice liver, impairs NASH symptomatic development. Importantly, there is a markedly higher abundance of miR-28-5p in NASH patient sera. Taken together, the SHH-HSP90β-miR-28-5p axis offers promising therapeutic targets against NASH, and serum miR-28-5p may serve as a NASH diagnostic biomarker.

Amelioration of Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury via Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Modulating Inflammation by Means of Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Zein Nanoparticles

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been broadly adopted for the clinical treatment of hepatic and biliary diseases; however, its poor water-solubility becomes an obstacle in wide applications. To overcome these challenges, herein, a two-tier UDCA-embedded system of zein nanoparticles (NPs) along with a polyelectrolyte complex was designed under facile conditions. Both the UDCA-zein NPs and their inclusion microcapsules showed a spherical shape with a uniform size. A typical wall plus capsule/core structure was formed in which UDCA-zein NPs distributed evenly in the interior. The UDCA inclusion microcapsules had an encapsulation rate of 67% and were released in a non-Fickian or anomalous transport manner. The bioavailability and efficacy of UDCA-zein NPs were assessed in vivo through the alcoholic liver disease (ALD) mouse model via intragastric administration. UDCA-zein NPs ameliorated the symptoms of ALD mice remarkably, which were mainly exerted through attenuation of antioxidant stress levels. Meanwhile, it notably upregulated the intestinal tight junction protein expression and improved and maintained the integrity of the mucosal barrier effectively. Collectively, with the improvement of bioavailability, the UDCA-zein NPs prominently alleviated the oxidative damage induced by alcohol, modulating the inflammation so as to restore ALD. It is anticipated that UDCA-zein NPs have great therapeutic potential as sustained-nanovesicles in ALD treatment.