Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism

Hepatoprotective potential of four fruit extracts rich in different structural flavonoids against alcohol-induced liver injury via gut microbiota-liver axis

Alcoholic liver injury (ALI) accounts for a major share of the global burden of non-viral liver disease. In the absence of specialized medications, research on using fruit flavonoids as a treatment is gaining momentum. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of four fruits rich in structurally diverse flavonoids: ougan (Citrus reticulata cv. Suavissima, OG), mulberry (Morus alba L., MB), apple (Malus × domestica Borkh., AP), and turnjujube (Hovenia dulcis Thunnb., TJ). A total of one flavanone glycoside, three polymethoxyflavones, two anthocyanins, one flavonol glycoside, and one dihydroflavonol were identified through UPLC analysis. In an acute ethanol-induced ALI mouse model, C57BL/6J mice were supplemented with 200 mg/kg·BW/day of different fruit extracts for three weeks. Our results showed that the four extracts exhibited promising benefits in improving lipid metabolism disorders, iron overload, and oxidative stress. RT-PCR and Western blot tests suggested that the potential mechanism may partially be attributed to the activation of the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response and the inhibition of ferroptosis pathways. Furthermore, fruit extracts administration demonstrated a specific regulatory role in intestinal microecology, with increases in beneficial bacteria such as Dubosiella, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong links between intestinal flora, lipid metabolism, and iron homeostasis, implying that the fruit extracts mitigated ALI via the gut microbiota-liver axis. In vitro experiments reaffirmed the activity against ethanol-induced oxidative damage and highlighted the positive effects of flavonoid components. These findings endorse the prospective application of OG, MB, AP, and TJ as dietary supplements or novel treatments for ALI.

Fatty acid synthesis is indispensable for Kupffer cells to eliminate bacteria in ALD progression

BACKGROUND

Dysregulated fatty acid metabolism is closely linked to the development of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). KCs, which are resident macrophages in the liver, play a critical role in ALD pathogenesis. However, the effect of alcohol on fatty acid metabolism in KCs remains poorly understood. The current study aims to investigate fatty acid metabolism in KCs and its potential effect on ALD development.

METHODS

Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were fed a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet for 3 days. Then, the liver injury and levels of intrahepatic bacteria were assessed. Next, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of ethanol exposure on fatty acid metabolism and the phagocytosis of KCs, both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we generated KCs-specific Fasn knockout and overexpression mice to evaluate the impact of FASN on the phagocytosis of KCs and ethanol-induced liver injury.

RESULTS

Using Bodipy493/503 to stain intracellular neutral lipids, we found significantly reduced lipid levels in KCs from mice fed an alcohol-containing diet for 3 days and in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to ethanol. Mechanistically, alcohol exposure suppressed sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 transcriptional activity, thereby inhibiting fatty acid synthase (FASN)-mediated de novo lipogenesis in macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. We show that genetic ablation and pharmacologic inhibition of FASN significantly impaired KC's ability to take up and eliminate bacteria. Conversely, KCs-specific Fasn overexpression reverses the impairment of macrophage phagocytosis caused by alcohol exposure. We also revealed that KCs-specific Fasn knockout augmented KCs apoptosis and exacerbated liver injury in mice fed an alcohol-containing diet for 3 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate the crucial role of de novo lipogenesis in maintaining effective KCs phagocytosis and suggest a therapeutic target for ALD based on fatty acid synthesis in KCs.

Elucidating hydroxysafflor yellow A's multi-target mechanisms against alcoholic liver disease through integrative pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) significantly contributes to global liver-related morbidity and mortality. Natural products play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of ALD. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a unique and primary component of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius l.), exhibits diverse pharmacological activities. However, the impact and mechanism of HSYA on ALD have not been fully elucidated.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to employ an integrative pharmacology approach to assess the multi-targeted mechanism of HSYA against ALD.

METHODS

Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to analyze the potential therapeutic signaling pathways and targets of HSYA against ALD. An ALD model in zebrafish larvae was established. Larvae were pretreated with HSYA and then exposed to ethanol. Liver injury was measured by fluorescence expression analysis in the liver-specific transgenic zebrafish line Tg (fabp10a:DsRed) and liver tissue H&E staining. Liver steatosis was determined by whole-mount oil red O staining and TG level. Additionally, an ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury model was established in vitro to observe hepatocyte damage (cell viability, ALT level), lipid accumulation (oil red O staining, TC and TG), and oxidative stress (ROS, MDA, GPx and SOD) in HepG2 cells treated with or without HSYA. Finally, qRT-PCR combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking was employed to validate the effects of HSYA on targets.

RESULTS

HSYA exhibited a significant, dose-dependent improvement in ethanol-induced liver injury in zebrafish larvae and HepG2 cells. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that HSYA may exert pharmacological effects against ALD through 341 potential targets. These targets are involved in various signaling pathways, including lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and ALD itself. Molecular docking studies displayed that HSYA had a strong binding affinity toward the domains of IL1B, IL6, TNF, PPARA, PPARG, HMGCR and ADH5. qRT-PCR assays demonstrated that HSYA effectively reversed the ethanol-induced aberrant gene expression of SREBF1, FASN, ACACA, CPT1A, PPARA, IL1B, IL6, TNFα, ADH5, and ALDH2 in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a comprehensive investigation into the anti-ALD mechanisms of HSYA using an integrative pharmacology approach. The potential targets of HSYA may be implicated in enhancing ethanol catabolism, reducing lipid accumulation, mitigating oxidative stress, and inhibiting inflammatory response.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and lipid metabolism: Novel targets and therapeutic strategies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly prevalent disease that is associated with high and continually rising mortality rates. Lipid metabolism holds a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HCC, in which abnormalities pertaining to the delicate balance of lipid synthesis, breakdown, and storage, predispose for the pathogenesis of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease precursor to HCC. If caught early enough, HCC treatment may be curative. In later stages, treatment is only halting the inevitable outcome of death, boldly prompting for novel drug discovery to provide a fighting chance for this patient population. In this review, we begin by providing a summary of current local and systemic treatments against HCC. From such we discuss hepatic lipid metabolism and highlight novel targets that are ripe for anti-cancer drug discovery. Lastly, we provide a targeted summary of current known risk factors for HCC pathogenesis, providing key insights that will be essential for rationalizing future development of anti-HCC therapeutics.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside alleviates ethanol-induced liver injury by promoting mitophagy in a Gao-binge mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease

BACKGROUND

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of liver disease-related deaths worldwide. Unfortunately, approved medications for the treatment of this condition are quite limited. One promising candidate is the anthocyanin, Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), which has been reported to protect mice against hepatic lipid accumulation, as well as fibrosis in different animal models. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of C3G on ALD remain to be investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In this report, a Gao-binge mouse model of ALD was used to investigate the effects of C3G on ethanol-induced liver injury. The mechanisms of these C3G effects were assessed using AML12 hepatocytes.

RESULTS

C3G administration ameliorated ethanol-induced liver injury by suppressing hepatic oxidative stress, as well as through reducing hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. Mechanistically, C3G activated the AMPK pathway and enhanced mitophagy to eliminate damaged mitochondria, thus reducing mitochondria-derived reactive oxidative species in ethanol-challenged hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that mitophagy plays a potentially important role underlying the hepatoprotective action of C3G, as demonstrated in a Gao-binge mouse model of ALD. Accordingly, C3G may serve as a promising, new therapeutic drug candidate for use in ALD.

Endogenous ethanol production in health and disease

The gut microbiome exerts metabolic actions on distal tissues and organs outside the intestine, partly through microbial metabolites that diffuse into the circulation. The disruption of gut homeostasis results in changes to microbial metabolites, and more than half of the variance in the plasma metabolome can be explained by the gut microbiome. Ethanol is a major microbial metabolite that is produced in the intestine of nearly all individuals; however, elevated ethanol production is associated with pathological conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and auto-brewery syndrome, in which the liver's capacity to metabolize ethanol is surpassed. In this Review, we describe the mechanisms underlying excessive ethanol production in the gut and the role of ethanol catabolism in mediating pathogenic effects of ethanol on the liver and host metabolism. We conclude by discussing approaches to target excessive ethanol production by gut bacteria.

Molecular targets of PXR-dependent ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in female mice

The pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2), a xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptor signaling potentiates ethanol (EtOH)-induced hepatotoxicity in male mice, however, how PXR signaling modulates EtOH-induced hepatotoxicity in female mice is unknown. Wild type (WT) and Pxr-null mice received 5 % EtOH-containing diets or paired-fed control diets for 8 weeks followed by assessment of liver injury, EtOH elimination rates, histology, and changes in gene and protein expression; microarray and bioinformatic analyses were also employed to identify PXR targets in chronic EtOH-induced hepatotoxicity. In WT females, EtOH ingestion significantly increased serum ethanol and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic Pxr mRNA, constitutive androstane receptor activation, Cyp2b10 mRNA and protein, oxidative stress, endoplasmic stress (phospho-elF2α) and pro-apoptotic (Bax) protein expression. Unexpectedly, EtOH-fed female Pxr-null mice displayed increased EtOH elimination and elevated levels of hepatic acetaldehyde detoxifying aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1) mRNA and protein, EtOH-metabolizing alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1), and lipid suppressing microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTP) protein, aldo-keto reductase 1b7 (Akr1b7) and Cyp2a5 mRNA, but suppressed CYP2B10 protein levels, with evidence of protection against chronic EtOH-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. While liver injury was not different between the two WT sexes, female sex may suppress EtOH-induced macrovesicular steatosis in the liver. Several genes and pathways important in retinol and steroid hormone biosynthesis, chemical carcinogenesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism were upregulated by EtOH in a PXR-dependent manner in both sexes. Together, these data establish that female Pxr-null mice are resistant to chronic EtOH-induced hepatotoxicity and unravel the PXR-dependent and -independent mechanisms that contribute to EtOH-induced hepatotoxicity.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived liver organoids grown on a Biomimesys® hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold as a new model for studying human lipoprotein metabolism

The liver plays a key role in the metabolism of lipoproteins, controlling both production and catabolism. To accelerate the development of new lipid-lowering therapies in humans, it is essential to have a relevant in vitro study model available. The current hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) models derived from hiPSC can be used to model many genetically driven diseases but require further improvement to better recapitulate the complexity of liver functions. Here, we aimed to improve the maturation of HLCs using a three-dimensional (3D) approach using Biomimesys®, a hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold in which hiPSCs may directly form aggregates and differentiate toward a functional liver organoid model. After a 28-day differentiation 3D protocol, we showed that many hepatic genes were upregulated in the 3D model (liver organoids) in comparison with the 2D model (HLCs). Liver organoids, grown on Biomimesys®, exhibited an autonomous cell organization, were composed of different cell types and displayed enhanced cytochromes P450 activities compared to HLCs. Regarding the functional capacities of these organoids, we showed that they were able to accumulate lipids (hepatic steatosis), internalize low-density lipoprotein and secrete apolipoprotein B. Interestingly, we showed for the first time that this model was also able to produce apolipoprotein (a), the apolipoprotein (a) specific of Lp(a). This innovative hiPSC-derived liver organoid model may serve as a relevant model for studying human lipopoprotein metabolism, including Lp(a).

Postbiotics Prepared Using Lactobacillus reuteri Ameliorates Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury by Regulating the FXR/SHP/SREBP-1c Axis

SCOPE

While probiotics-based therapies have exhibited potential in alleviating alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), the specific role of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) in ALD remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the impact of postbiotics on ameliorating alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using network pharmacology, the study elucidates the targets and pathways impacted by postbiotics from L. reuteri, identifying the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) as a promising target for postbiotics against ALD, and lipid metabolism and alcoholism act as crucial pathways associated with postbiotics-targeting ALD. Furthermore, the study conducts histological and biochemical analyses coupled with LC/MS to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of postbiotics against ALD. Postbiotics may modulate bile acid metabolism in vivo by regulating FXR signaling, activating the FXR/FGF15 pathway, and influencing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids (BAs). Subsequently, postbiotics regulate hepatic FXR activated by BAs and modulate the expression of FXR-mediated protein, including short regulatory partner (SHP) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), thereby ameliorating hepatic steatosis in mice with ALD.

CONCLUSION

Postbiotics effectively alleviate ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating the FXR/SHP/SREBP-1c axis, as rigorously validated in both in vivo and in vitro.

Alcohol-associated liver disease: Emerging therapeutic strategies

The large and growing burden of alcohol-associated liver disease-and the considerable burden of morbidity and mortality associated with it-has been a drive toward ongoing research into novel strategies for its treatment, with a particular focus upon alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). Management of alcohol-use disorder forms the central pillar of alcohol-associated liver disease care, with evidence-based psychological and pharmacological approaches being well established, and certain models demonstrating improved clinical outcomes when hepatology and addiction services are co-located. Corticosteroids have previously been used somewhat indiscriminately in patients with severe AH, but effective tools now exist to assess early response (and limit futile ongoing exposure). Techniques to predict risk of corticosteroid-related infection are also available, although current clinical strategies to mitigate this risk are limited. A variety of novel therapeutic approaches to AH are at different phases of trials and evidence gathering, with some of the most promising signals related to cytokine manipulation, epigenetic modulation, and targeting of the gut microbiota (ie, by means of fecal microbiota transplant). While remaining an ongoing source of debate, early liver transplant in severe AH has grown in interest and acceptability over the past decade as evidence supporting its efficacy builds, in the process challenging paradigms about mandatory pretransplant sobriety periods. However, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal selection criteria, and whether liver transplant has a role for only a highly limited proportion of patients with AH or more widespread application. This review aims to provide an overview of this fast-moving field.

Water decoction of Pericarpium citri reticulatae and Amomi fructus ameliorates alcohol-induced liver disease involved in the modulation of gut microbiota and TLR4/NF-κB pathway

Introduction

Alcohol consumption alters the diversity and metabolic activities of gut microbiota, leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction and contributing to the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is the most prevalent cause of advanced liver diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and action mechanism of an aqueous extraction of Pericarpium citri reticulatae and Amomi fructus (PFE) on alcoholic liver injury.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were used to establish the mouse model of alcoholic liver injury and orally administered 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/d of PFE for 2 weeks. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing were used to analyze the mechanism of action of PFE in the treatment of alcohol-induced liver injury.

Results

Treatment with PFE significantly improved alcohol-induced liver injury, as illustrated by the normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total triglyceride, and cholesterol levels in ALD mice in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of PFE not only maintained the intestinal barrier integrity prominently by upregulating mucous production and tight junction protein expressions but also sensibly reversed the dysregulation of intestinal microecology in alcohol-treated mice. Furthermore, PFE treatment significantly reduced hepatic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and attenuated oxidative stress as well as inflammation related to the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. The PFE supplementation also significantly promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the ALD mice.

Conclusion

Administration of PFE effectively prevents alcohol-induced liver injury and may also regulate the LPS-involved gut-liver axis; this could provide valuable insights for the development of drugs to prevent and treat ALD.

Hepatic lipid droplet-associated proteome changes distinguish dietary-induced fatty liver from glucose tolerance in male mice

Fatty liver is characterized by the expansion of lipid droplets (LDs) and is associated with the development of many metabolic diseases. We assessed the morphology of hepatic LDs and performed quantitative proteomics in lean, glucose-tolerant mice compared with high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice that displayed hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance as well as high-starch diet (HStD) fed mice who exhibited similar levels of hepatic steatosis but remained glucose tolerant. Both HFD- and HStD-fed mice had more and larger LDs than Chow-fed animals. We observed striking differences in liver LD proteomes of HFD- and HStD-fed mice compared with Chow-fed mice, with fewer differences between HFD and HStD. Taking advantage of our diet strategy, we identified a fatty liver LD proteome consisting of proteins common in HFD- and HStD-fed mice, as well as a proteome associated with glucose tolerance that included proteins shared in Chow and HStD but not HFD-fed mice. Notably, glucose intolerance was associated with changes in the ratio of adipose triglyceride lipase to perilipin 5 in the LD proteome, suggesting dysregulation of neutral lipid homeostasis in glucose-intolerant fatty liver. We conclude that our novel dietary approach uncouples ectopic lipid burden from insulin resistance-associated changes in the hepatic lipid droplet proteome.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study identified a fatty liver lipid droplet proteome and one associated with glucose tolerance. Notably, glucose intolerance was linked with changes in the ratio of adipose triglyceride lipase to perilipin 5 that is indicative of dysregulation of neutral lipid homeostasis.

Pharmacological inhibition of the Src homology phosphatase 2 confers partial protection in a mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading factor of liver-related death worldwide. ALD has various manifestations that include steatosis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis and is currently without approved pharmacotherapies. The Src homology phosphatase 2 (Shp2) is a drug target in some cancers due to its positive regulation of Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and cell proliferation. Shp2 pharmacological inhibition yields beneficial outcomes in animal disease models, but its impact on ALD remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of Shp2 inhibition and its validity using a preclinical mouse model of ALD. We report that the administration of SHP099, a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of Shp2, partially ameliorated ethanol-induced hepatic injury, inflammation, and steatosis in mice. Additionally, Shp2 inhibition was associated with reduced ethanol-evoked activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), oxidative, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the liver. Besides the liver, excessive alcohol consumption induces multi-organ injury and dysfunction, including the intestine. Notably, Shp2 inhibition diminished ethanol-induced intestinal inflammation and permeability, abrogated the reduction in tight junction protein expression, and the activation of ERK and stress signaling in the ileum. Collectively, Shp2 pharmacological inhibition mitigates the deleterious effects of ethanol in the liver and intestine in a mouse model of ALD. Given the multifactorial aspects underlying ALD pathogenesis, additional studies are needed to decipher the utility of Shp2 inhibition alone or as a component in a multitherapeutic regimen to combat this deadly malady.

Determinants of echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue in a general middle-aged population - The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the cardiac visceral fat depot proposed to play a role in the etiology of various cardiovascular disease outcomes. Little is known about EAT determinants in a general population. We examined cardiometabolic, dietary, lifestyle and socioeconomic determinants of echocardiograpghically measured EAT in early adulthood. Data on cardiometabolic, dietary, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors were collected from participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS; N = 1667; age 34-49 years). EAT thickness was measured from parasternal long axis echocardiograms. Multivariable regression analysis was used to study potential EAT determinants. Possible effect modification of sex was addressed. Mean EAT thickness was 4.07 mm (95% CI 4.00-4.17). Multivariable analysis [β indicating percentage of change in EAT(mm) per one unit increase in determinant variable] indicated female sex (β = 11.0, P < 0.0001), type 2 diabetes (β = 14.0, P = 0.02), waist circumference (cm) (β = 0.38, P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (β = 0.18, P = 0.02) and red meat intake (g/day) (β = 0.02, P = 0.05) as EAT determinants. Sex-specific analysis revealed age (year) (β = 0.59, P = 0.01), alcohol intake (drinks/day) (β = 4.69, P = 0.006), heavy drinking (yes/no) (β = 30.4, P < 0.0001) as EAT determinants in women and fruit intake (g/day) (β = -1.0, P = 0.04) in men. In the YFS cohort, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and red meat intake were directly associated with EAT among all participants. In women, age, alcohol intake, heavy drinking and type 2 diabetes associated directly with EAT, while an inverse association was observed between fruit intake and EAT in men.

[Hypothetical Alcohol Consumption Interventions and Hepatic Steatosis: A Longitudinal Study in a Large Cohort]

Objective

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-associated fatty liver disease (ALD) are the most common chronic liver diseases. Hepatic steatosis is an early histological subtype of both NAFLD and ALD. Excessive alcohol consumption is widely known to lead to hepatic steatosis and subsequent liver damage. However, reported findings concerning the association between moderate alcohol consumption and hepatic steatosis remain inconsistent. Notably, alcohol consumption as a modifiable lifestyle behavior is likely to change over time, but most previous studies covered alcohol intake only once at baseline. These inconsistent findings from existing studies do not inform decision-making concerning policies and clinical guidelines, which are of greater interest to health policymakers and clinician-scientists. Additionally, recommendations on the types of alcoholic beverages are not available. Usually, assessing the effects of two or more hypothetical alcohol consumption interventions on hepatic steatosis provides answers to questions concerning the population risk of hepatic steatosis if everyone changes from heavy drinking to abstinence, or if everyone keeps on drinking moderately, or if everyone of the drinking population switches from red wine to beer? Thus, we simulated a target trial to estimate the effects of several hypothetical interventions, including changes in the amount of alcohol consumption or the types of alcoholic beverages consumed, on hepatic steatosis using longitudinal data, to inform decisions about alcohol-related policymaking and clinical care.

Methods

This longitudinal study included 12687 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB), all of whom participated in both baseline and repeat surveys. We excluded participants with missing data related to components of alcohol consumption and fatty liver index (FLI) in the baseline and the repeat surveys, as well as those who had reported liver diseases or cancer at the baseline survey. We used FLI as an outcome indicator and divided the participants into non-, moderate, and heavy drinkers. The surrogate marker FLI has been endorsed by many international organizations' guidelines, such as the European Association for the Study of the Liver. The calculation of FLI was based on laboratory and anthropometric data, including triglyceride, gamma-glutamyl transferase, body mass index, and waist circumference. Participants responded to questions about the types of alcoholic beverages, which were defined in 5 categories, including red wine, white wine/fortified wine/champagne, beer or cider, spirits, and mixed liqueurs, along with the average weekly or monthly amounts of alcohol consumed. Alcohol consumption was defined as pure alcohol consumed per week and was calculated according to the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed per week and the average ethanol content by volume in each alcoholic beverage. Participants were categorized as non-drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers according to the amount of their alcohol consumption. Moderate drinking was defined as consuming no more than 210 g of alcohol per week for men and 140 g of alcohol per week for women. We defined the following hypothetical interventions for the amount of alcohol consumed: sustaining a certain level of alcohol consumption from baseline to the repeat survey (e.g., none to none, moderate to moderate, heavy to heavy) and changing from one alcohol consumption level to another (e.g., none to moderate, moderate to heavy). The hypothetical interventions for the types of alcoholic beverages were defined in a similar way to those for the amount of alcohol consumed (e.g., red wine to red wine, red wine to beer/cider). We applied the parametric g-formula to estimate the effect of each hypothetical alcohol consumption intervention on the FLI. To implement the parametric g-formula, we first modeled the probability of time-varying confounders and FLI conditional on covariates. We then used these conditional probabilities to estimate the FLI value if the alcohol consumption level of each participant was under a specific hypothetical intervention. The confidence interval was obtained by 200 bootstrap samples.

Results

For the alcohol consumption from baseline to the repeat surveys, 6.65% of the participants were sustained non-drinkers, 63.68% were sustained moderate drinkers, and 14.74% were sustained heavy drinkers, while 8.39% changed from heavy drinking to moderate drinking. Regarding the types of alcoholic beverages from baseline to the repeat surveys, 27.06% of the drinkers sustained their intake of red wine. Whatever the baseline alcohol consumption level, the hypothetical interventions for increasing alcohol consumption from the baseline alcohol consumption were associated with a higher FLI than that of the sustained baseline alcohol consumption level. When comparing sustained non-drinking with the hypothetical intervention of changing from non-drinking to moderate drinking, the mean ratio of FLI was 1.027 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.997-1.057). When comparing sustained non-drinking with the hypothetical intervention of changing from non-drinking to heavy drinking, the mean ratio of FLI was 1.075 (95% CI: 1.042-1.108). When comparing sustained heavy drinking with the hypothetical intervention of changing from heavy drinking to moderate drinking, the mean ratio of FLI was 0.953 (95% CI: 0.938-0.968). The hypothetical intervention of changing to red wine in the UKB was associated with lower FLI levels, compared with sustained consumption of other types of alcoholic beverages. For example, when comparing sustaining spirits with the hypothetical intervention of changing from spirits to red wine, the mean ratio of FLI was 0.981 (95% CI: 0.948-1.014).

Conclusions

Regardless of the current level of alcohol consumption, interventions that increase alcohol consumption could raise the risk of hepatic steatosis in Western populations. The findings of this study could inform the formulation of future practice guidelines and health policies. If quitting drinking is challenging, red wine may be a better option than other types of alcoholic beverages in Western populations.

Gallstones as a cause in presumed acute alcoholic pancreatitis: observational multicentre study

BACKGROUND

Data on the incidence and clinical relevance of gallstones in patients with suspected acute alcoholic pancreatitis are lacking and are essential to minimize the risk of recurrent acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of gallstones and the associated rate of recurrent acute pancreatitis in patients with presumed acute alcoholic pancreatitis.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2019, 23 hospitals prospectively enrolled patients with acute pancreatitis. Those diagnosed with their first episode of presumed acute alcoholic pancreatitis were included in this study. The term gallstones was used to describe the presence of cholelithiasis or biliary sludge found during imaging. The primary outcome was pancreatitis recurrence during 3 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 334 patients were eligible for inclusion, of whom 316 were included in the follow-up analysis. Gallstone evaluation, either during the index admission or during follow-up, was performed for 306 of 334 patients (91.6%). Gallstones were detected in 54 patients (17.6%), with a median time to detection of 6 (interquartile range 0-42) weeks. During follow-up, recurrent acute pancreatitis occurred in 121 of 316 patients (38.3%), with a significantly higher incidence rate for patients with gallstones compared with patients without gallstones (59% versus 34.2% respectively; P < 0.001), while more patients with gallstones had stopped drinking alcohol at the time of their first recurrence (41% versus 24% respectively; P = 0.020). Cholecystectomy was performed for 19 patients with gallstones (36%). The recurrence rate was lower for patients in the cholecystectomy group compared with patients who did receive inadequate treatment or no treatment (5/19 versus 19/34 respectively; P = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Gallstones were found in almost one in every five patients diagnosed with acute alcoholic pancreatitis. Gallstones were associated with a higher rate of recurrent pancreatitis, while undergoing cholecystectomy was associated with a reduction in this rate.

Enlarged perivascular spaces in alcohol-related brain damage induced by dyslipidemia

Perivascular spaces (PVSs) as the anatomical basis of the glymphatic system, are increasingly recognized as potential imaging biomarkers of neurological conditions. However, it is not clear whether enlarged PVSs are associated with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). We aimed to investigate the effect of long-term alcohol exposure on dyslipidemia and the glymphatic system in ARBD. We found that patients with ARBD exhibited significantly enlargement of PVSs in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia, as well as a notable increased levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). The anatomical changes of the glymphatic drainage system mentioned above were positively associated with TC and TG. To further explore whether enlarged PVSs affects the function of the glymphatic system in ARBD, we constructed long alcohol exposure and high fat diet mice models. The mouse model of long alcohol exposure exhibited increased levels of TC and TG, enlarged PVSs, the loss of aquaporin-4 polarity caused by reactive astrocytes and impaired glymphatic drainage function which ultimately caused cognitive deficits, in a similar way as high fat diet leading to impairment in glymphatic drainage. Our study highlights the contribution of dyslipidemia due to long-term alcohol abuse in the impairment of the glymphatic drainage system.

Interaction between fatty acid oxidation and ethanol metabolism in liver

Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) releases the energy stored in fat to maintain basic biological processes. Dehydrogenation is a major way to oxidize fatty acids, which needs NAD+ to accept the released H+ from fatty acids and form NADH, which increases the ratio of NADH/NAD+ and consequently inhibits FAO leading to the deposition of fat in the liver, which is termed fatty liver or steatosis. Consumption of alcohol (ethanol) initiates simple steatosis that progresses to alcoholic steatohepatitis, which constitutes a spectrum of liver disorders called alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). ALD is linked to ethanol metabolism. Ethanol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), microsomal ethanol oxidation system (MEOS), mainly cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), and catalase. ADH also requires NAD+ to accept the released H+ from ethanol. Thus, ethanol metabolism by ADH leads to increased ratio of NADH/NAD+, which inhibits FAO and induces steatosis. CYP2E1 directly consumes reducing equivalent NADPH to oxidize ethanol, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to cellular injury. Catalase is mainly present in peroxisomes, where very long-chain fatty acids and branched-chain fatty acids are oxidized, and the resultant short-chain fatty acids will be further oxidized in mitochondria. Peroxisomal FAO generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is locally decomposed by catalase. When ethanol is present, catalase uses H2O2 to oxidize ethanol. In this review, we introduce FAO (including α-, β-, and ω-oxidation) and ethanol metabolism (by ADH, CYP2E1, and catalase) followed by the interaction between FAO and ethanol metabolism in the liver and its pathophysiological significance.

Sea Buckthorn Polyphenols Alleviate High-Fat-Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders in Mice via Reprograming Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis Owing to Directly Targeting Fatty Acid Synthase

Our previous studies found that Sea Buckthorn polyphenols (SBP) extract inhibits fatty acid synthase (FAS) in vitro. Thus, we continued to explore possible effects and underlying mechanisms of SBP on complicated metabolic disorders in long-term high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice. To reveal that, an integrated approach was developed in this study. Targeted quantitative lipidomics with a total of 904 unique lipids mapping contributes to profiling the comprehensive features of disarranged hepatic lipid homeostasis and discovering a set of newfound lipid-based biomarkers to predict the occurrence and indicate the progression of metabolic disorders beyond current indicators. On the other hand, technologies of intermolecular interactions characterization, especially surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, contribute to recognizing targeted bioactive constituents present in SBP. Our findings highlight hepatic lipid homeostasis maintenance and constituent-FAS enzyme interactions, to provide new insights that SBP as a functional food alleviates HFD-induced metabolic disorders in mice via reprograming hepatic lipid homeostasis caused by targeting FAS, owing to four polyphenols directly interacting with FAS and cinaroside binding to FAS with good affinity.

Effects of Active Ingredients in Alcoholic Beverages and Their De-Alcoholized Counterparts on High-Fat Diet Bees: A Comparative Study

The mechanisms by which alcohol, alcoholic beverages, and their de-alcoholized derivatives affect animal physiology, metabolism, and gut microbiota have not yet been clarified. The polyphenol, monosaccharide, amino acid, and organic acid contents of four common alcoholic beverages (Chinese Baijiu, beer, Chinese Huangjiu, and wine) and their de-alcoholized counterparts were analyzed. The research further explored how these alcoholic beverages and their non-alcoholic versions affect obesity and gut microbiota, using a high-fat diet bee model created with 2% palm oil (PO). The results showed that wine, possessing the highest polyphenol content, and its de-alcoholized form, particularly when diluted five-fold (WDX5), markedly improved the health markers of PO-fed bees, including weight, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in blood lymphocytes. WDX5 treatment notably increased the presence of beneficial microbes such as Bartonella, Gilliamella, and Bifidobacterium, while decreasing Bombilactobacillus abundance. Moreover, WDX5 was found to closely resemble sucrose water (SUC) in terms of gut microbial function, significantly boosting short-chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide metabolism, and associated enzymatic pathways, thereby favorably affecting metabolic regulation and gut microbiota stability in bees.

Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Outcomes: Critical Mechanisms of Liver Injury Progression

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a spectrum of liver injury beginning with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) progressing to inflammation and culminating in cirrhosis. Multiple factors contribute to ALD progression and disease severity. Here, we overview several crucial mechanisms related to ALD end-stage outcome development, such as epigenetic changes, cell death, hemolysis, hepatic stellate cells activation, and hepatic fatty acid binding protein 4. Additionally, in this review, we also present two clinically relevant models using human precision-cut liver slices and hepatic organoids to examine ALD pathogenesis and progression.

The micro-743a-3p-GSTM1 pathway is an endogenous protective mechanism against alcohol-related liver disease in mice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Epidemiological evidence suggests that the phenotype of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1), a hepatic high-expressed phase II detoxification enzyme, is closely associated with the incidence of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, whether and how hepatic GSTM1 determines the development of ALD is largely unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the role and potential mechanism(s) of hepatic GSTM1 in the pathological process of ALD.

METHODS

GSTM1 was detected in the liver of various ALD mice models and cultured hepatocytes. Liver-specific GSTM1 or/and micro (miR)-743a-3p deficiency mice were generated by adenoassociated virus-8 delivered shRNA, respectively. The potential signal pathways involving in alcohol-regulated GSTM1 and GSTM1-associated ALD were explored via both genetic manipulation and pharmacological approaches.

RESULTS

GSTM1 was significantly upregulated in both chronic alcohol-induced mice liver and ethanol-exposed murine primary hepatocytes. Alcohol-reduced miR-743a-3p directly contributed to the upregulation of GSTM1, since liver specific silencing miR-743a-3p enhanced GSTM1 and miR-743a-3p loss protected alcohol-induced liver dysfunctions, which was significantly blocked by GSTM1 knockdown. GSTM1 loss robustly aggravated alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and early fibrotic-like changes, which was associated with the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. GSTM1 antagonized ASK1 phosphorylation and its downstream JNK/p38 signaling pathway upon chronic alcohol consumption via binding with ASK1. ASK1 blockage significantly rescued hepatic GSTM1 loss-enhanced disorders in alcohol-fed mice liver.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic alcohol consumption-induced upregulation of GSTM1 in the liver provides a feedback protection against hepatic steatosis and liver injury by counteracting ASK1 activation. Down-regulation of miR-743a-3p improves alcohol intake-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury via direct targeting on GSTM1. The miR-743a-3p-GSTM1 axis functions as an innate protective pathway to defend the early stage of ALD.

Novel effects of prohibitin 1 expression level on cholesterol and lipid homeostasis

Prohibitin 1 (PHB1) plays an important role in maintaining liver health and function. The PHB1 level is decreased in patients with various liver diseases. In this study, liver cancer was induced in liver-specific Phb1 knock-out mice, which were then subjected to hepatic gene and metabolomic analysis. The reduced expression of mRNA expression level of Phb1 induced down-regulation of cholesterol and lipid metabolism. This result was confirmed in a cell model. The expression of Hmgcr and Srebp2 in normal cells decreased when they were treated with cholesterol. In HepG2 cells in which the expression of Phb1 was lowered using siPhb1, the mRNA expression of Hmgcr and Srebp2 also decreased when the cells were treated with cholesterol. Furthermore, in the Phb1 knock-out group, the expression of Fasn and Srebp1 related to lipid metabolism increased but the expression of Ldlr decreased. The expression of Cat and Gpx in cells increased when the expression of Phb1 decreased. Altogether, a decreased expression of Phb1 induces down-regulation of cholesterol- and lipid metabolism-related genes and cholesterol homeostasis is not achieved, particularly in a cholesterol-rich environment. The decrease in Phb1 expression causes excessive oxidative stress in cholesterol and lipid metabolism. Therefore, maintaining a normal level of PHB1 expression is crucial for maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in the liver. Thus, PHB1 may become an important target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and lipid metabolism in the future.

Hepatic protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 disruption mitigates the adverse effects of ethanol in the liver by modulating oxidative stress and ERK signaling

AIMS

Chronic excessive alcohol intake is a significant cause of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), a leading contributor to liver-related morbidity and mortality. The Src homology phosphatase 2 (Shp2; encoded by Ptpn11) is a widely expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase that modulates hepatic functions, but its role in ALD is mostly uncharted.

MAIN METHODS

Herein, we explore the effects of liver-specific Shp2 genetic disruption using the established chronic-plus-binge mouse model of ALD.

KEY FINDINGS

We report that the hepatic Shp2 disruption had beneficial effects and partially ameliorated ethanol-induced injury, inflammation, and steatosis in the liver. Consistently, Shp2 deficiency was associated with decreased ethanol-evoked activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and oxidative stress in the liver. Moreover, primary hepatocytes with Shp2 deficiency exhibited similar outcomes to those observed upon Shp2 disruption in vivo, including diminished ethanol-induced ERK activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of ERK in primary hepatocytes mimicked the effects of Shp2 deficiency and attenuated oxidative stress caused by ethanol.

SIGNIFICANCE

Collectively, these findings highlight Shp2 as a modulator of hepatic oxidative stress upon ethanol challenge and suggest the evaluation of this phosphatase as a potential therapeutic target for ALD.

What are the common downstream molecular events between alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver?

Liver fat storage, also called hepatic steatosis, is increasingly common and represents a very frequent diagnosis in the medical field. Excess fat is not without consequences. In fact, hepatic steatosis contributes to the progression toward liver fibrosis. There are two main types of fatty liver disease, alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although AFLD and NAFLD are similar in their initial morphological features, both conditions involve the same evolutive forms. Moreover, there are various common mechanisms underlying both diseases, including alcoholic liver disease and NAFLD, which are commonalities. In this Review, the authors explore similar downstream signaling events involved in the onset and progression of the two entities but not completely different entities, predominantly focusing on the gut microbiome. Downstream molecular events, such as the roles of sirtuins, cytokeratins, adipokines and others, should be considered. Finally, to complete the feature, some new tendencies in the therapeutic approach are presented.

Prunella vulgaris L. attenuates gut dysbiosis and endotoxin leakage against alcoholic liver disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Prunella vulgaris L. (PVL) is a perennial herb belonging to the Labiate family, first recorded in the "Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica". PVL can enter the liver and gallbladder channel to show its function in clearing the liver fire, dispersing nodules, dissolving swelling, and improving vision. The traditional use of PVL is to protect liver function and has clinical applications in liver diseases therapy. The modern pharmacological studies have been shown to possess potential hepatoprotection, but its underlying mechanisms against alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice remains to be elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to explore the protective effect and potential mechanism of PVL on alcohol induced liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet fed Male C57BL/6 mice for four weeks plus a single binge (NIAAA modified model) to establish an ALD model and explored the protective effects of PVL extract against ALD. Western blot, Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR methods were used to detect lipid metabolism disorders and the inflammatory response induced by macrophages in ALD mice, and the gut microbiota composition changes were detected by 16s rRNA to reveal the potential mechanism of PVL against ALD.

RESULTS

In ALD mice, PVL can ameliorate excessive alcohol intake-induced liver injury and lipid metabolism disorders associated with improvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier damage. PVL reduced the translocation of endotoxin, which subsequently inhibits hepatic inflammation mediated by the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated the protective potential of PVL against gut dysbiosis and endotoxin leakage in ALD mice, which provides a theoretical basis for PVL against liver diseases.

Hepatoprotective effects of peach gum polysaccharides against alcoholic liver injury: moderation of oxidative stress and promotion of lipid metabolism

Natural polysaccharides extracted from plants have received increasing attention due to their rich bioactivity. In our study, peach gum polysaccharides (PGPs) were extracted by water extraction-alcohol precipitation method. PGPs are typical pyranose polysaccharides with a mean molecular weight of 3.68 × 106 g/mol. The antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective capacity of PGPs were studied. In vitro, assays showed that PGPs scavenged DPPH, OH, and O2- in a dose-dependent manner. PGPs exhibited antioxidative properties against alcohol-induced HL7702 cells, as evidenced by the normalization of MDA, SOD, ROS, and GSH levels. To further elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism of PGPs, we carried out in vivo experiments in male mice. PGPs exerted hepatoprotective effects in alcohol liver disease (ALD) mice by exerting antioxidant effects, decreasing the inflammatory response and modulating lipid metabolism. In addition, metabolomic analysis indicated that PGPs mainly regulate D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis to promote hepatic metabolism and maintain body functions. Overall, this study revealed that the hepatoprotective mechanism of PGPs against ALD might be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

Association of a healthy beverage score with total mortality in the adult population of Spain: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Despite the substantial evidence of the relationship between diet and mortality, the role of beverage consumption patterns is not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the adherence to a Healthy Beverage Score (HBS) and all-cause mortality in a representative sample of the Spanish adult population.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted an observational cohort study using data from the Study on Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk in Spain (ENRICA), which included 12,161 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥18 years recruited in 2008 to 2010 and followed until January 2022. At baseline, food consumption was collected using a validated diet history. The HBS consists of 7 items, each of which is scored from 1 to 4 (highest adherence). The HBS ranges from 7 to 28 points with a higher score representing a healthier pattern. Adherence was assigned as a higher consumption of low-fat milk, and coffee and tea, a lower consumption of whole-fat milk, no consumption of fruit juice, artificially sweetened beverages, or sugar-sweetened beverages, and no or moderate consumption of alcohol. Total mortality was ascertained by linkage to the Spanish National Death Index. Statistical analyses were performed with Cox models and adjusted for the main confounders, including sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary variables, and morbidity. After a mean follow-up of 12.5 years (SD: 1.7; range: 0.5 to 12.9), a total of 967 deaths occurred. For all-cause mortality, the fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the highest versus lowest sex-specific quartiles of HBS was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [0.57, 0.91], p linear-trend = 0.015), corresponding to an 8.3% reduction in the absolute risk of death. A linear relationship between the risk of death and the adherence to the HBS was observed using restricted cubic splines. The results were robust to sensitivity analyses. The main limitation was that repeated measurements on beverage consumption were not available and beverage consumption could have changed during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed that higher adherence to the HBS was associated with lower total mortality. Adherence to a healthy beverage pattern could play a role in the prevention of premature mortality.

Human Precision-Cut Liver Slices: A Potential Platform to Study Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) encompasses a range of pathological conditions that are complex to study at the clinical and preclinical levels. Despite the global burden of ALD, there is a lack of effective treatments, and mortality is high. One of the reasons for the unsuccessful development of novel therapies is that experimental studies are hindered by the challenge of recapitulating this multifactorial disorder in vitro, including the contributions of hepatotoxicity, impaired lipid metabolism, fibrosis and inflammatory cytokine storm, which are critical drivers in the pathogenesis of ALD in patients and primary targets for drug development. Here, we present the unique characteristics of the culture of human precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) to replicate key disease processes in ALD. PCLS were prepared from human liver specimens and treated with ethanol alone or in combination with fatty acids and lipopolysaccharide (FA + LPS) for up to 5 days to induce hepatotoxic, inflammatory and fibrotic events associated with ALD. Alcohol insult induced hepatocyte death which was more pronounced with the addition of FA + LPS. This mixture showed a significant increase in the cytokines conventionally associated with the prototypical inflammatory response observed in severe ALD, and interestingly, alcohol alone exhibited a different effect. Profibrogenic activation was also observed in the slices and investigated in the context of slice preparation. These results support the versatility of this organotypic model to study different pathways involved in alcohol-induced liver damage and ALD progression and highlight the applicability of the PCLS for drug discovery, confirming their relevance as a bridge between preclinical and clinical studies.

Tiaogan Jiejiu Tongluo Formula attenuated alcohol-induced chronic liver injury by regulating lipid metabolism in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tiaogan Jiejiu Tongluo Formula (TJTF), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is modified from the well-known ancient prescription Danzhi-Xiaoyao Powder (DXP). Owing to its ability to regulate liver, strengthen spleen, detoxicating, and dredge collaterals in Chinese medicine, TJTF is usually used to treat anxiety, hypertension, alcoholic fatty liver disease in clinical application. However, the protective effect and potential molecular mechanism of TJTF on alcoholic liver injury has not fully been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the effect of TJTF on chronic alcoholic liver injury and figure out whether its effects were due to the regulation of lipid metabolism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

75 male SD rats were divided into the following five groups, control group, EtOH group, TJTF high dose group, TJTF low dose group and silybin group. Then a chronic alcoholic liver injury model was established by increasing concentration of 56% ethanol in rats. The rats in each TJTF group were given the corresponding dose of TJTF, the rats in the silybin group were given silybin, the rats in the control group and the EtOH group were given distilled water by gavage, once a day for 8 consecutive weeks. The components of TJTF were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) was used to assess the severity of liver injury. in the pathological examination. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and oil red O staining were used to evaluate the degree of the liver glycogen accumulation and lipid deposition, respectively. The serum ALT, AST, T-CHO, TG, LDL-C, ADH, HDL-C, and ALDH levels as well as liver tissue GSH, MDA, and SOD levels were analyzed in rats. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect lipid metabolism-related proteins expressed in rat liver.

RESULTS

TJTF significantly alleviated the chronic liver injury caused by alcohol in rats, and enhanced liver function. TJTF significantly decreased AST, ALT, ADH levels and increased ALDH level of serum, and increased GSH, SOD levels and decreased MDA level of liver tissue. In addition, TJTF significantly decreased the serum T-CHO, TG and LDL-C levels and increased HDL-C level in chronic alcoholic liver injury rats by regulating the expression of lipid metabolism associated proteins including p-LKB1, p-AMPKα, p-ACC, FAS, HMGCR, SREBP-1c, PPARα and CPT-1A. The results of western blot and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that TJTF can inhibit lipid production and promote fatty acid oxidation in the liver tissue of chronic alcoholic liver injury rats by activating the LKB1-AMPKα axis and then downregulating the protein expressions of p-ACC, FAS, HMGCR and SREBP-1c, as well as promoting the protein expressions of PPARα and CPT-1A. Meanwhile, TJTF also increased the glycogen content of liver and alleviated the liver damage.

CONCLUSION

According to current research, TJTF is effective in treating chronic liver damage induced by alcohol in rats. Additionally, TJTF exhibits the protective benefits by modulating LKB1-AMPKα signal axis, which in turn inhibits the synthesis of lipids and promotes the oxidation of fatty acids.

Involvement of glyphosate in disruption of biotransformation P450 enzymes and hepatic lipid metabolism in chicken

The current study investigated the potentially harmful consequences of pure glyphosate or Roundup® on CYP family members and lipid metabolism in newly hatched chicks. On the sixth day, 225 fertilized eggs were randomly divided into three treatments: (1) the control group injected with deionized water, (2) the glyphosate group injected with 10 mg pure glyphosate/Kg egg mass and (3) the Roundup group injected 10 mg the active ingredient glyphosate in Roundup®/Kg egg. The results of the study revealed a reduction in hatchability in chicks treated with Roundup®. Moreover, change of Lipid concentration in serum and the liver-treated groups. Additionally, increased liver function enzymes and increased oxidative stress in the glyphosate and Roundup® groups. Furthermore, liver tissues showed histological changes and several lipid deposits in glyphosate-treated groups. Hepatic CYP1A2 and CYP1A4 expressions were significantly increased (p < .05) after glyphosate exposure, and suppression of CYP1C1 mRNA expression was significant (p < .05) after Roundup® exposure. The pro-inflammatory cytokines genes IFN-γ and IL-1β expression were significantly increased (p < .05) after Roundup® exposure. In addition, there were significant differences in the levels of expression genes which are related to lipid synthesis or catabolism in the liver. In conclusion, in ovo glyphosate exposure caused disruption of biotransformation, pro-inflammatory and lipid metabolism in chicks.

Reduced myocardial work in asymptomatic heavy alcohol use and its correlation with epicardial adipose tissue volume and serum biomarkers

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether long-term heavy alcohol use leads to early cardiac function decline.

HYPOTHESIS

Long-term heavy alcohol use developed reduced cardiac function in subclinical status by analyzing myocardial work (MW). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and serum biomarkers contribute to identify potential factors sensitive in predicting early cardiac function decline.

METHODS

We enrolled 31 asymptomatic participants with heavy alcohol use and 33 age and sex-matching nondrinking individuals. Participants underwent echocardiography, MW analysis, EAT volume measurement, serum biochemical examinations, and body composition assessment. We used multivariate linear regression to identify correlation between MW and total cholesterol (TC), EAT volume, and placental growth factor (PlGF). To determine global work efficiency (GWE) below the normal reference value of 96%, we developed receiver operating curves with area under curve (AUC) to compare different combinations of TC, EAT volume, and PlGF.

RESULTS

All 64 participants were male. GWE was reduced in the alcohol use group compared with the control group (96, interquartile range [IQR] = [95-97.75] vs. 97, IQR = [97-98], p = .004). TC was positively associated with GWE (β = .434, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.228 to 1.328, p = .008), whereas EAT volume (β = -.398, 95% CI = -0.000446 to -0.000093, p = .005) and PlGF (β = -.493, 95% CI = -1.010 to -0.230, p = .004) were inversely associated with GWE. The most significant AUC for reduced GWE was TC + EAT volume (0.851, 95% CI = 0.671 to 1, p = .006).

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic heavy alcohol use has shown early reduced cardiac function which can be associated with altered fat metabolism, suggesting individuals with alcohol use and abnormal fat metabolism need to be alert to heart damage.

Asperosaponin VI protects alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and injury via regulating lipid metabolism and ER stress

BACKGROUND

Asperosaponin VI (AVI) is a natural triterpenoid saponin isolated from Dipsacus asper Wall with documented anti-inflammatory and bone protective effects. Our previous work reported that AVI protects the liver of septic mice from acute inflammatory damage. In this paper, we further explored the protective effect and the potential mechanisms of AVI in alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD).

METHODS

The Lieber-Decarli model was constructed to evaluate the effect of AVI on AFLD in C57BL/6 J mice. Additional in vitro work was performed to investigate HepG2 cells exposed to alcohol, then analyzed the degree of liver injury by detecting the ALT and AST levels both in the liver and serum. H&E staining and Sirius red staining were used to evaluate the histopathology variations in the liver. Further, observe lipid droplets in the cytoplasm by Oil Red O staining. We detected the expression of inflammatory cytokines with qualitative PCR; ROS, MDA, SOD, and GSH-px levels were analyzed to observe oxidative stress. Finally, exploring the activation of AMPK signaling pathway by real-time PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Histological examination of liver tissue combined with serum ALT and AST levels showed a significant protective effect of AVI against alcoholic liver injury in AFLD mice. Compared with the model group, AVI evidently improved antioxidant capacity, reduced inflammatory response and lipid accumulation both in vitro and in vivo. For mechanically, it was found that AVI up-regulated phosphorylation level of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) pathway in AFLD.

CONCLUSION

AVI protects mice from alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury through activating AMPK signaling and repress ER stress, suggesting that it might be a potential therapeutic agent for AFLD.

Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation promotes lipid accumulation in alcoholic liver disease

Continuous (chronic or sub-chronic) alcohol consumption induces a metabolic byproduct known as ketone bodies, and the accumulation of ketones leads to a life-threatening syndrome called alcoholic ketoacidosis. However, the mechanism underlining the physiological effects of ketone accumulation in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still in its infancy. Here, we discovered that mitochondrial acetyl-CoA accumulation was diverted into the ketogenesis pathway in ethanol-fed mice and ethanol-exposed hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, global protein lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb) was induced in response to increased ketogenesis-derived β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels both in hepatocytes and in livers of mice. Focusing on the solute carrier family (SLCs), we found that SLC25A5 presented obvious Kbhb at lysine residues 147 and 166. Kbhb modifications at these two lysine residues stabilized SLC25A5 expression by blocking ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Subsequent mutation analysis revealed that Kbhb of SLC25A5 at K147 and K166 had site-specific regulatory roles by increasing peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression, which further promoting lipogenesis. Additionally, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a rate-limiting enzyme for BHB production, was profoundly induced by ethanol exposure, and knockout of Hmgcs2 with CRISPR/Cas9 attenuated SLC25A5 Kbhb. Together, our study demonstrated a widespread Kbhb landscape under ethanol exposure and clarified a physiological effect of Kbhb modification on liver lipid accumulation.

Advances in the understanding and management of alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological trends indicate recent and predicted increases in the burden of disease. Disease progression is driven by continued alcohol exposure on a background of genetic predisposition together with environmental cofactors. Most individuals present with advanced disease despite a long history of excessive alcohol consumption and multiple missed opportunities to intervene. Increasing evidence supports the use of non-invasive tests to screen for and identify disease at earlier stages. There is a definite role for public health measures to reduce the overall burden of disease. At an individual level, however, the ability to influence subsequent disease course by modifying alcohol consumption or the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remains limited due to a comparative lack of effective, disease-modifying medical interventions. Abstinence from alcohol is the key determinant of outcome in established ALD and the cornerstone of clinical management. In those with decompensated ALD, liver transplant has a clear role. There is consensus that abstinence from alcohol for an arbitrary period should not be the sole determinant in a decision to transplant. An increasing understanding of the mechanisms by which alcohol causes liver disease in susceptible individuals offers the prospect of new therapeutic targets for disease-modifying drugs. Successful translation will require significant public and private investment in a disease area which has traditionally been underfunded when compared to its overall prevalence.

Effect of natural polysaccharides on alcoholic liver disease: A review

In this study, we systematically collected relevant literature in the past five years on the intervention of natural polysaccharides in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and reviewed the pharmacological activities and potential mechanisms of action. Natural polysaccharides are effective in preventing liver tissue degeneration, inhibiting the alcohol-induced expression of inflammatory factors, inactivation of antioxidant enzymes, and abnormal hepatic lipid deposition. Natural polysaccharides regulate the expression of proteins, such as tight junction proteins, production of small molecule metabolites, and balance of intestinal flora in the intestinal tract to alleviate ALD. Natural polysaccharides also exert therapeutic effects by modulating inflammatory, oxidative, lipid metabolism, and other pathways in the liver. Natural polysaccharides also inhibit alcohol-induced intestinal abnormalities by regulating intestinal flora and feeding back into the liver via the gut-liver axis. However, existing research on natural polysaccharides has many shortcomings: for example, most of the natural polysaccharides for testing are total polysaccharides or crude polysaccharides, progress in research on in vivo metabolic processes and mechanisms is slow, and the degree of industrialisation is insufficient. Finally, we discuss the difficulties in studying natural polysaccharides and future directions to provide a theoretical basis for their development and application.

Nuclear miR-150 enhances hepatic lipid accumulation by targeting RNA transcripts overlapping the PLIN2 promoter

Alcohol-associated liver disease is a prevalent chronic liver disease caused by excessive ethanol consumption. This study aims to investigate the role of miR-150 in regulating hepatic lipid homeostasis in alcoholic fatty liver (AFL). miR-150 was mainly distributed in the nucleus of hepatocytes and correlated with the degree of liver injury. The decreased expression of miR-150 observed in AFL was a compensatory response to ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis. Overexpression of miR-150 facilitated hepatic lipid accumulation in cellulo and exacerbated ethanol-induced liver steatosis in vivo. In silico analysis identified perilipin-2 (PLIN2) as a potential target gene of miR-150. miR-150 activated PLIN2 transcription by directly binding the RNA transcripts overlapping PLIN2 promoter and facilitating the recruitment of DNA helicase DHX9 and RNA polymeraseⅡ. Overall, our study provides fresh insights into the homeostasis regulation of hepatic steatosis induced by ethanol and identifies miR-150 as a pro-steatosis effector driving transcriptional PLIN2 gene activation.

Potential Medicinal Value of Rhein for Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the primary cause of mortality among diabetic patients. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, it has become a major concern around the world. The therapeutic effect of clinical use of drugs is far from expected, and therapy choices to slow the progression of DKD remain restricted. Therefore, research on new drugs and treatments for DKD has been a hot topic in the medical field. It has been found that rhein has the potential to target the pathogenesis of DKD and has a wide range of pharmacological effects on DKD, such as anti-nephritis, decreasing blood glucose, controlling blood lipids and renal protection. In recent years, the medical value of rhein in the treatment of diabetes, DKD and renal disease has gradually attracted worldwide attention, especially its potential in the treatment of DKD. Currently, DKD can only be treated with medications from a single symptom and are accompanied by adverse effects, while rhein improves DKD with a multi-pathway and multi-target approach. Therefore, this paper reviews the therapeutic effects of rhein on DKD, and proposes solutions to the limitations of rhein itself, in order to provide valuable references for the clinical application of rhein in DKD and the development of new drugs.

Data-driven transcriptomics analysis identifies PCSK9 as a novel key regulator in liver aging

The liver, as a crucial metabolic organ, undergoes significant pathological changes during the aging process, which can have a profound impact on overall health. To gain a comprehensive understanding of these alterations, we employed data-driven approaches, along with biochemical methods, histology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, to systematically investigate the effects of aging on the liver. Our study utilized a well-established rat aging model provided by the National Institute of Aging. Systems biology approaches were used to analyze genome-wide transcriptomics data from liver samples obtained from young (4-5 months old) and aging (20-21 months old) Fischer 344 rats. Our findings revealed pathological changes occurring in various essential biological processes in aging livers. These included mitochondrial dysfunction, increased oxidative/nitrative stress, decreased NAD + content, impaired amino acid and protein synthesis, heightened inflammation, disrupted lipid metabolism, enhanced apoptosis, senescence, and fibrosis. These results were validated using independent datasets from both human and rat aging studies. Furthermore, by employing co-expression network analysis, we identified novel driver genes responsible for liver aging, confirmed our findings in human aging subjects, and pointed out the cellular localization of the driver genes using single-cell RNA-sequencing human data. Our study led to the discovery and validation of a liver-specific gene, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating the pathological processes associated with aging in the liver. This finding envisions new possibilities for developing interventions aimed to improve liver health during the aging process.

The outcome of boosting mitochondrial activity in alcohol-associated liver disease is organ-dependent

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) accounts for 70% of liver-related deaths in Europe, with no effective approved therapies. Although mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the earliest manifestations of alcohol-induced injury, restoring mitochondrial activity remains a problematic strategy due to oxidative stress. Here, we identify methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ) as a mediator for ALD progression and hypothesize that targeting MCJ may help in recovering mitochondrial fitness without collateral oxidative damage.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

C57BL/6 mice [wild-type (Wt)] Mcj knockout and Mcj liver-specific silencing (MCJ-LSS) underwent the NIAAA dietary protocol (Lieber-DeCarli diet containing 5% (vol/vol) ethanol for 10 days, plus a single binge ethanol feeding at day 11). To evaluate the impact of a restored mitochondrial activity in ALD, the liver, gut, and pancreas were characterized, focusing on lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, intestinal permeability, and microbiota composition. MCJ, a protein acting as an endogenous negative regulator of mitochondrial respiration, is downregulated in the early stages of ALD and increases with the severity of the disease. Whole-body deficiency of MCJ is detrimental during ALD because it exacerbates the systemic effects of alcohol abuse through altered intestinal permeability, increased endotoxemia, and dysregulation of pancreatic function, which overall worsens liver injury. On the other hand, liver-specific Mcj silencing prevents main ALD hallmarks, that is, mitochondrial dysfunction, steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, as it restores the NAD + /NADH ratio and SIRT1 function, hence preventing de novo lipogenesis and improving lipid oxidation.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving mitochondrial respiration by liver-specific Mcj silencing might become a novel therapeutic approach for treating ALD.

Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Risk by Oxidative Contributors in Alcohol Use Disorder

Objective

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a condition described as the inability to control or stop alcohol consumption. The patients with AUD have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis-related diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate oxidative contributors of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with AUD.

Methods

The male subjects diagnosed with AUD (n = 45) and the male subjects as control (n = 35) were enrolled in this study. All participants were undergone psychiatric evaluation and sociodemographic tests. Also, serum oxidative contributors of atherosclerosis including myeloperoxidase (MPO), ferroxidase, catalase (CAT), and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were measured. Additionally, serum lipid profile tests and atherogenic indicators including atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were also analyzed.

Results

The AUD subject had significantly elevated MPO activity and LOOH levels with decreased antioxidant capacity. AIP and non-HDL cholesterol levels, the atherogenic indicators, were also higher in AUD group compared to the control group. We found the MPO activity and LOOH levels were positively correlated with AIP, non-HDL cholesterol levels, and amount of alcohol consumption. Additionally, CAT activity was negatively correlated with duration of alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that MPO and LOOH levels were elevated by severe alcohol intake and the atherogenic indicators, AIP and non-HDL cholesterol, were significantly correlated alcohol induced elevated oxidative risk factors. Therefore, it can be suggested that MPO activity and LOOH levels may be useful to determine jeopardy of atherosclerotic and the therapeutic interventions that reduce oxidative load could be taken into account to prevent atherosclerotic diseases before clinical manifestation.

A new perspective on mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for liver diseases: restoring mitochondrial function

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative treatment for liver disease due to their roles in regeneration, fibrosis inhibition, and immunoregulation. Mitochondria are crucial in maintaining hepatocyte integrity and function. Mitochondrial dysfunction, such as impaired synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), decreased activity of respiratory chain complexes, and altered mitochondrial dynamics, is observed in most liver diseases. Accumulating evidence has substantiated that the therapeutic potential of MSCs is mediated not only through their cell replacement and paracrine effects but also through their regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction in liver disease. Here, we comprehensively review the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of liver disease and how MSCs can target mitochondrial dysfunction. We also discuss recent advances in a novel method that modifies MSCs to enhance their functions in liver disease. A full understanding of MSC restoration of mitochondrial function and the underlying mechanisms will provide innovative strategies for clinical applications. Video Abstract.

Increased age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and creatinine score to triglyceride ratio are associated with alcohol-associated primary liver carcinoma: a single-centered retrospective study

BACKGROUND

This study analyzed the clinical features and biomarkers of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) to investigate the diagnostic value of age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), and creatinine (ABIC) score to triglyceride (TG) ratio (ABIC/TG) in ALD-associated primary liver carcinoma (PLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected from 410 participants with ALD, and the epidemiological and clinical records of 266 participants were analyzed. Participants were divided into ALD-without-PLC and ALD-associated-PLC groups. Relationships between clinical characteristics, biomarkers and ALD-associated PLC were estimated. Serum lipid levels and liver function were compared between ALD patients without PLC and patients with ALD-associated PLC. Scoring systems were calculated to investigate ALD severity. The robustness of the relationship was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

Age and dyslipidemia were more strongly associated with ALD-associated PLC than with ALD-without PLC, with AORs of 2.39 and 0.25, respectively, with P less than 0.05. Drinking time and average daily intake, ABIC score, and ABIC/TG ratio were significantly higher in the ALD-associated-PLC group than in the ALD-without-PLC group. The AUC for the ABIC/TG ratio predicting the incidence of PLC was 0.80 (P < 0.01), which was higher than that of the ABIC and TG scores alone; additionally, the specificity and Youden index for the ABIC/TG ratio were also higher, and the cutoff value was 6.99.

CONCLUSIONS

In ALD patients, age, drinking time, and average daily intake were risk factors for PLC. Drinking time, average daily intake, TG and ABIC score have diagnostic value for ALD-associated PLC. The ABIC/TG ratio had a higher AUC value and Youden index than the ABIC score and TG level.

Mulberry fruit repairs alcoholic liver injury by modulating lipid metabolism and the expression of miR-155 and PPARα in rats

As alcohol consumption increases, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has become more popular and is threating our human life. In this study, we found mulberry fruit extract (MFE) repaired alcohol-caused liver diseases by regulating hepatic lipid biosynthesis pathway and oxidative singling in alcoholically liver injured (ALI) rats. MFE administration inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation and improved liver steatosis in ALI rats. MFE also enhanced the antioxidant capacity and alleviated the inflammatory response by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing the contents of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Additionally, MFE regulated the expression of miRNA-155 and lipid metabolism-related PPARα protein in rats. Both miR-155 and PPARα play important roles in liver function. The results indicate that MFE has hepatoprotective effects against ALI in rats.

Inhibition of ACSS2 attenuates alcoholic liver steatosis via epigenetically regulating de novo lipogenesis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Steatosis is the early pathological change in alcohol-associated liver disease. However, its precise mechanism is still unclear. The present study is aimed to explore the role and mechanism of acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) in acute alcohol-induced lipogenesis.

METHODS

The increase in ACSS2 nuclear import and histone H3 acetylation were observed in mice after intraperitoneally injected with 2 g/kg ethanol or oral administration of 5 g/kg ethanol and also validated in hepatocytes stimulated with ethanol or acetate. The role of ACSS2 was further explored in liver-specific ACSS2 knockdown mice fed with ethanol-containing diet.

RESULTS

Alcohol challenge induced hepatic lipid deposition and upregulated lipogenic genes in mice. It also promoted ACSS2 nuclear import and increased histone H3 acetylation. In hepatocytes, ethanol induced similar phenomena whereas ACSS2 knockdown blocked histone acetylation and lipogenic gene induction. P300/CBP associated factor (PCAF), but not general control nonderepressible 5, CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300, facilitated H3K9 acetylation responding to ethanol challenge. CUT&RUN assay showed the enrichment of acetylated histone H3K9 surrounding Fasn and Acaca promoters. These results indicated that ethanol metabolism promoted ACSS2 nuclear import to support lipogenesis via H3K9 acetylation. In alcohol-feeding mice, liver-specific ACSS2 knockdown blocked the interaction between PCAF and H3K9 and suppressed lipogenic gene induction in the liver, demonstrating the critical role of ACSS2 in lipogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that alcohol metabolism generated acetyl-CoA in the nucleus dependently on nuclear ACSS2, contributing to epigenetic regulation of lipogenesis in hepatic steatosis. Targeting ACSS2 may be a potential therapeutical strategy for acute alcoholic liver steatosis.

Chronic-binge ethanol feeding aggravates systemic dyslipidemia in Ldlr-/- mice, thereby accelerating hepatic fibrosis

Objective

Chronic ethanol consumption is known to cause alcohol-associated liver disease, which poses a global health concern as almost a quarter of heavy drinkers develop severe liver damage. Alcohol-induced liver disease ranges from a mild, reversible steatotic liver to alcoholic steatohepatitis and irreversible liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, ultimately requiring liver transplantation. While ethanol consumption is associated with dysregulated lipid metabolism and altered cholesterol homeostasis, the impact of dyslipidemia and pre-existing hypercholesterolemia on the development of alcohol-associated liver disease remains to be elucidated.

Design

To address the influence of systemic dyslipidemia on ethanol-induced liver disease, chronic-binge ethanol feeding was applied to female C57BL/6J (wild type) mice and mice deficient for the low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr-/-), which display a human-like lipoprotein profile with elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in circulation. Respective control groups were pair-fed an isocaloric diet.

Results

Chronic-binge ethanol feeding did not alter systemic lipid levels in wild type mice. While increased systemic cholesterol levels in Ldlr-/- mice were not affected by ethanol feeding, chronic-binge ethanol diet aggravated elevated plasma triglyceride levels in Ldlr-/- mice. Despite higher circulatory triglyceride levels in Ldlr-/- mice, hepatic lipid levels and the development of hepatic steatosis were not different from wild type mice after ethanol diet, while hepatic expression of genes related to lipid metabolism (Lpl) and transport (Cd36) showed minor changes. Immunohistochemical assessment indicated a lower induction of infiltrating neutrophils in the livers of ethanol-fed Ldlr-/- mice compared to wild type mice. In line, hepatic mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory genes Ly6g, Cd11b, Ccr2, Cxcl1 and F4/80 were reduced, indicating less inflammation in the livers of Ldlr-/- mice which was associated with reduced Tlr9 induction. While systemic ALT and hepatic MDA levels were not different, Ldlr-deficient mice showed accelerated liver fibrosis development after chronic-binge ethanol diet than wild type mice, as indicated by increased levels of Sirius Red staining and higher expression of pro-fibrotic genes Tgfb, Col1a1 and Col3a1. Ldlr-/- and wild type mice had similar plasma ethanol levels and did not show differences in the hepatic mRNA levels of Adh1 and Cyp2e1, important for ethanol metabolism.

Conclusion

Our results highlight that chronic-binge ethanol feeding enhances systemic dyslipidemia in Ldlr-/- mice which might accelerate the development of hepatic fibrosis, independent of hepatic lipid levels.

Alcoholic Setdb1 suppression promotes hepatosteatosis in mice by strengthening Plin2

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatosteatosis is one of the early features of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and pharmaceutical or genetic interfering of the development of hepatosteatosis will efficiently alleviate the progression of ALD. Currently, the role of histone methyltransferase Setdb1 in ALD is not yet well understood.

METHOD

Lieber-De Carli diet mice model and NIAAA mice model were constructed to confirm the expression of Setdb1. The hepatocyte-specific Setdb1-knockout (Setdb1-HKO) mice was established to determine the effects of Setdb1 in vivo. Adenovirus-Setdb1 were produced to rescue the hepatic steatosis in both Setdb1-HKO and Lieber-De Carli mice. The enrichment of H3k9me3 in the upstream sequence of Plin2 and the chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) of Plin2 were identified by ChIP and co-IP. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the interaction of Setdb1 3'UTR and miR216b-5p in AML12 or HEK 293 T cells.

RESULTS

We found that Setdb1 was downregulated in the liver of alcohol-fed mice. Setdb1 knockdown promoted lipid accumulation in AML12 hepatocytes. Meanwhile, hepatocyte-specific Setdb1-knockout (Setdb1-HKO) mice exhibited significant lipid accumulation in the liver. Overexpression of Setdb1 was performed with an adenoviral vector through tail vein injection, which ameliorated hepatosteatosis in both Setdb1-HKO and alcoholic diet-fed mice. Mechanistically, downregulated Setdb1 promoted the mRNA expression of Plin2 by desuppressing H3K9me3-mediated chromatin silencing in its upstream sequence. Pin2 acts as a critical membrane surface-associated protein to maintain lipid droplet stability and inhibit lipase degradation. The downregulation of Setdb1 also maintained the stability of Plin2 protein through inhibiting Plin2-recruited chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). To explore the reasons for Setdb1 suppression in ALD, we found that upregulated miR-216b-5p bound to the 3'UTR of Setdb1 mRNA, disturbed its mRNA stability, and eventually aggravated hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Setdb1 suppression plays an important role in the progression of alcoholic hepatosteatosis via elevating the expression of Plin2 mRNA and maintaining the stability of Plin2 protein. Targeting hepatic Setdb1 might be a promising diagnostic or therapeutic strategy for ALD.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction: At the Nexus between Alcohol-Associated Immunometabolic Dysregulation and Tissue Injury

Alcohol misuse, directly or indirectly as a result of its metabolism, negatively impacts most tissues, including four with critical roles in energy metabolism regulation: the liver, pancreas, adipose, and skeletal muscle. Mitochondria have long been studied for their biosynthetic roles, such as ATP synthesis and initiation of apoptosis. However, current research has provided evidence that mitochondria participate in myriad cellular processes, including immune activation, nutrient sensing in pancreatic β-cells, and skeletal muscle stem and progenitor cell differentiation. The literature indicates that alcohol impairs mitochondrial respiratory capacity, promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and disrupting mitochondrial dynamics, leading to dysfunctional mitochondria accumulation. As discussed in this review, mitochondrial dyshomeostasis emerges at a nexus between alcohol-disrupted cellular energy metabolism and tissue injury. Here, we highlight this link and focus on alcohol-mediated disruption of immunometabolism, which refers to two distinct, yet interrelated processes. Extrinsic immunometabolism involves processes whereby immune cells and their products influence cellular and/or tissue metabolism. Intrinsic immunometabolism describes immune cell fuel utilization and bioenergetics that affect intracellular processes. Alcohol-induced mitochondrial dysregulation negatively impacts immunometabolism in immune cells, contributing to tissue injury. This review will present the current state of literature, describing alcohol-mediated metabolic and immunometabolic dysregulation from a mitochondrial perspective.

Pathogenic mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholism is a widespread and damaging behaviour of people throughout the world. Long-term alcohol consumption has resulted in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) being the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Many metabolic enzymes, including alcohol dehydrogenases such as ADH, CYP2E1, and CATacetaldehyde dehydrogenases ALDHsand nonoxidative metabolizing enzymes such as SULT, UGT, and FAEES, are involved in the metabolism of ethanol, the main component in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol consumption changes the functional or expression profiles of various regulatory factors, such as kinases, transcription factors, and microRNAs. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of ALD are complex, involving inflammation, mitochondrial damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, nitrification, and oxidative stress. Moreover, recent evidence has demonstrated that the gut-liver axis plays a critical role in ALD pathogenesis. For example, ethanol damages the intestinal barrier, resulting in the release of endotoxins and alterations in intestinal flora content and bile acid metabolism. However, ALD therapies show low effectiveness. Therefore, this review summarizes ethanol metabolism pathways and highly influential pathogenic mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in ALD pathology with the aim of new therapeutic insights.

From liver fibrosis to hepatocarcinogenesis: Role of excessive liver H2O2 and targeting nanotherapeutics

Liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been worldwide threats nowadays. Liver fibrosis is reversible in early stages but will develop precancerosis of HCC in cirrhotic stage. In pathological liver, excessive H₂O₂ is generated and accumulated, which impacts the functionality of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), leading to genesis of fibrosis and HCC. H₂O₂ accumulation is associated with overproduction of superoxide anion (O₂^•−) and abolished antioxidant enzyme systems. Plenty of therapeutics focused on H₂O₂ have shown satisfactory effects against liver fibrosis or HCC in different ways. This review summarized the reasons of liver H₂O₂ accumulation, and the role of H₂O₂ in genesis of liver fibrosis and HCC. Additionally, nanotherapeutics targeting H₂O₂ were summarized for further consideration of antifibrotic or antitumor therapy.

•

Liver fibrosis and HCC are closely related because ROS induced liver damage and inflammation, especially over-cumulated H₂O₂.

•

Excess H₂O₂ diffusion in pathological liver was due to increased metabolic rate and diminished cellular antioxidant systems.

•

Freely diffused H₂O₂ damaged liver-specific cells, thereby leading to fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis.

•

Nanotherapeutics targeting H₂O₂ are summarized for treatment of liver fibrosis and HCC, and also challenges are proposed.