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Cheng X, Baki VB, Moran M, Liu B, Yu J, Zhao M, Li Q, Riethoven JJ, Gurumurth CB, Harris EN, Sun X. Liver matrin-3 protects mice against hepatic steatosis and stress response via constitutive androstane receptor. Mol Metab 2024; 86:101977. [PMID: 38936659 PMCID: PMC11267048 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101977] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) continues to rise with the increasing obesity epidemic. Rezdiffra as an activator of a thyroid hormone receptor-beta is the only Food and Drug Administration approved therapy. As such, there is a critical need to improve our understanding of gene expression regulation and signaling transduction in MASLD to develop new therapies. Matrin-3 is a DNA- and RNA-binding protein involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Here we examined its previously uncharacterized role in limiting hepatic steatosis and stress response via the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). METHODS Matrin-3 floxed and liver-specific knockout mice were fed either a chow diet or 60 kcal% high-fat diet (HFD) for up to 16 weeks. The mice were euthanized for different analysis including liver histology, lipid levels, and gene expression. Bulk RNA-seq, bulk ATAC-seq, and single-nucleus Multiome were used to examine changes of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility in the liver. Integrative bioinformatics analysis of our data and publicly available datasets and different biochemical assays were performed to identify underlying the molecular mechanisms mediating matrin-3's effects. Liver-tropic adeno-associated virus was used to restore the expression of CAR for lipid, acute phase genes, and histological analysis. RESULTS Matrin-3 expression is induced in the steatotic livers of mice. Liver-specific matrin-3 deletion exacerbated HFD-induced steatosis, acute phase response, and inflammation in the liver of female mice. The transcriptome and chromatin accessibility were re-programmed in the liver of these mice with signatures indicating that CAR signaling is dysregulated. Mechanistically, matrin-3 interacts with CAR mRNA, and matrin-3 deficiency promotes CAR mRNA degradation. Consequently, matrin-3 deletion impaired CAR signaling by reducing CAR expression. Matrin-3 levels positively correlate with CAR expression in human livers. Ces2a and Il1r1 were identified as new target genes of CAR. Interestingly, we found that CAR discords with the expression of its target genes including Cyp2b10 and Ces2a in response to HFD, indicating CAR signaling is dysregulated by HFD despite increased CAR expression. Dysregulated CAR signaling upon matrin-3 deficiency reduced Ces2a and de-repressed Il1r1 expression. CAR restoration partially abrogated the dysregulated gene expression, exacerbated hepatic steatosis, acute phase response, and inflammation in liver-specific matrin-3 knockout mice fed a HFD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that matrin-3 is a key upstream regulator maintaining CAR signaling upon metabolic stress, and the matrin-3-CAR axis limits hepatic steatosis and stress response signaling that may give insights for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Vijaya Bhaskar Baki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Matthew Moran
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Baolong Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 230 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922, USA
| | - Jiujiu Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 230 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922, USA
| | - Miaoyun Zhao
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Qingsheng Li
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jean-Jack Riethoven
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | | | - Edward N Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA
| | - Xinghui Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA.
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Sonkar R, Ma H, Waxman DJ. Steatotic liver disease induced by TCPOBOP-activated hepatic constitutive androstane receptor: primary and secondary gene responses with links to disease progression. Toxicol Sci 2024; 200:324-345. [PMID: 38710495 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae057] [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] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, Nr1i3), a liver nuclear receptor and xenobiotic sensor, induces drug, steroid, and lipid metabolizing enzymes, stimulates liver hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and ultimately, hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The mechanisms linking early CAR responses to later disease development are poorly understood. Here we show that exposure of CD-1 mice to TCPOBOP (1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene), a halogenated xenochemical and selective CAR agonist ligand, induces pericentral steatosis marked by hepatic accumulation of cholesterol and neutral lipid, and elevated circulating alanine aminotransferase, indicating hepatocyte damage. TCPOBOP-induced steatosis was weaker in the pericentral region but stronger in the periportal region in females compared with males. Early (1 day) TCPOBOP transcriptional responses were enriched for CAR-bound primary response genes, and for lipogenesis and xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress protection pathways; late (2 weeks) TCPOBOP responses included many CAR binding-independent secondary response genes, with enrichment for macrophage activation, immune response, and cytokine and reactive oxygen species production. Late upstream regulators specific to TCPOBOP-exposed male liver were linked to proinflammatory responses and hepatocellular carcinoma progression. TCPOBOP administered weekly to male mice using a high corn oil vehicle induced carbohydrate-responsive transcription factor (MLXIPL)-regulated target genes, dysregulated mitochondrial respiratory and translation regulatory pathways, and induced more advanced liver pathology. Overall, TCPOBOP exposure recapitulates histological and gene expression changes characteristic of emerging steatotic liver disease, including secondary gene responses in liver nonparenchymal cells indicative of transition to a more advanced disease state. Upstream regulators of both the early and late TCPOBOP response genes include novel biomarkers for foreign chemical-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Sonkar
- Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Hong Ma
- Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - David J Waxman
- Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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Liu H, Yerevanian A, Westerhoff M, Hastings MH, Guerra JRB, Zhao M, Svensson KJ, Cai B, Soukas AA, Rosenzweig A. Roles of Activin A and Gpnmb in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Diabetes 2024; 73:260-279. [PMID: 37934943 PMCID: PMC10796305 DOI: 10.2337/db23-0357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) are leading chronic liver diseases, driving cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality. MASLD/MASH is associated with increased senescence proteins, including Activin A, and senolytics have been proposed as a therapeutic approach. To test the role of Activin A, we induced hepatic expression of Activin A in a murine MASLD/MASH model. Surprisingly, overexpression of hepatic Activin A dramatically mitigated MASLD, reducing liver steatosis and inflammation as well as systemic fat accumulation, while improving insulin sensitivity. Further studies identified a dramatic decrease in the lipid-associated macrophages marker glycoprotein NMB (Gpnmb) by Activin A, and Gpnmb knockdown in the same model produced similar benefits and transcriptional changes to Activin A expression. These studies reveal a surprising protective role for Activin A in MASLD and the potential for SASP proteins to have context-specific beneficial effects. Moreover, they implicate both Activin A and Gpnmb as potential therapeutic targets for this condition. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Armen Yerevanian
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Margaret H. Hastings
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Justin Ralph Baldovino Guerra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Katrin J. Svensson
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Bishuang Cai
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Alexander A. Soukas
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anthony Rosenzweig
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
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Syed-Abdul MM. Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Metabolites 2023; 14:12. [PMID: 38248815 PMCID: PMC10818604 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14010012] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a cluster of pathological conditions primarily developed due to the accumulation of ectopic fat in the hepatocytes. During the severe form of the disease, i.e., metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), accumulated lipids promote lipotoxicity, resulting in cellular inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatocellular ballooning. If left untreated, the advanced form of the disease progresses to fibrosis of the tissue, resulting in irreversible hepatic cirrhosis or the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although numerous mechanisms have been identified as significant contributors to the development and advancement of MASLD, altered lipid metabolism continues to stand out as a major factor contributing to the disease. This paper briefly discusses the dysregulation in lipid metabolism during various stages of MASLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Mufaqam Syed-Abdul
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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