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Liu X, Li J, Shi M, Fu J, Wang Y, Kang W, Liu J, Zhu F, Huang K, Chen X, Liu Y. Melatonin improves cholestatic liver disease via the gut-liver axis. J Pineal Res 2024; 76:e12929. [PMID: 38047407 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12929] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Cholestatic liver disease is characterized by disturbances in the intestinal microbiota and excessive accumulation of toxic bile acids (BA) in the liver. Melatonin (MT) can improve liver diseases. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of MT on hepatic BA synthesis, liver injury, and fibrosis in 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-fed and Mdr2-/- mice. MT significantly improved hepatic injury and fibrosis with a significant decrease in hepatic BA accumulation in DDC-fed and Mdr2-/- mice. MT reprogramed gut microbiota and augmented fecal bile salt hydrolase activity, which was related to increasing intestinal BA deconjugation and fecal BA excretion in both DDC-fed and Mdr2-/- mice. MT significantly activated the intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR)/fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF-15) axis and subsequently inhibited hepatic BA synthesis in DDC-fed and Mdr2-/- mice. MT failed to improve DDC-induced liver fibrosis and BA synthesis in antibiotic-treated mice. Furthermore, MT provided protection against DDC-induced liver injury and fibrosis in fecal microbiota transplantation mice. MT did not decrease liver injury and fibrosis in DDC-fed intestinal epithelial cell-specific FXR knockout mice, suggesting that the intestinal FXR mediated the anti-fibrosis effect of MT. In conclusion, MT ameliorates cholestatic liver diseases by remodeling gut microbiota and activating intestinal FXR/FGF-15 axis-mediated inhibition of hepatic BA synthesis and promotion of BA excretion in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjiao Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinyan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengdie Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Fu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yubo Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weili Kang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinyan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fenxia Zhu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kehe Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingxiang Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunhuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Animal Nutritional Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- MOE Joint International Research, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Goldberg AR, Ferguson M, Pal S, Cohen R, Orlicky DJ, McCullough RL, Rutkowski JM, Burchill MA, Tamburini BAJ. Oxidized low density lipoprotein in the liver causes decreased permeability of liver lymphatic- but not liver sinusoidal-endothelial cells via VEGFR-3 regulation of VE-Cadherin. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1021038. [PMID: 36338478 PMCID: PMC9626955 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1021038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The lymphatic vasculature of the liver is vital for liver function as it maintains fluid and protein homeostasis and is important for immune cell transport to the lymph node. Chronic liver disease is associated with increased expression of inflammatory mediators including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Intrahepatic levels of oxLDL are elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and cholestatic liver diseases. To determine if liver lymphatic function is impaired in chronic liver diseases, in which increased oxLDL has been documented, we measured liver lymphatic function in murine models of NAFLD, ALD and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We found that Mdr2-/- (PSC), Lieber-DeCarli ethanol fed (ALD) and high fat and high cholesterol diet fed (NAFLD) mice all had a significant impairment in the ability to traffic FITC labeled dextran from the liver parenchyma to the liver draining lymph nodes. Utilizing an in vitro permeability assay, we found that oxLDL decreased the permeability of lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC)s, but not liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC)s. Here we demonstrate that LECs and LSECs differentially regulate SRC-family kinases, MAPK kinase and VE-Cadherin in response to oxLDL. Furthermore, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)C or D (VEGFR-3 ligands) appear to regulate VE-Cadherin expression as well as decrease cellular permeability of LECs in vitro and in vivo after oxLDL treatment. These findings suggest that oxLDL acts to impede protein transport through the lymphatics through tightening of the cell-cell junctions. Importantly, engagement of VEGFR-3 by its ligands prevents VE-Cadherin upregulation and improves lymphatic permeability. These studies provide a potential therapeutic target to restore liver lymphatic function and improve liver function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R. Goldberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition. Children’s Hospital Colorado, Digestive Health Institute- Pediatric Liver Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Megan Ferguson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Sarit Pal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Rachel Cohen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - David J. Orlicky
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Rebecca L. McCullough
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Joseph M. Rutkowski
- Division of Lymphatic Biology, Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Matthew A. Burchill
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Beth A. Jirón Tamburini
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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