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Huebbe P, Bilke S, Rueter J, Schloesser A, Campbel G, Glüer CC, Lucius R, Röcken C, Tholey A, Rimbach G. Human APOE4 Protects High-Fat and High-Sucrose Diet Fed Targeted Replacement Mice against Fatty Liver Disease Compared to APOE3. Aging Dis 2024; 15:259-281. [PMID: 37450924 PMCID: PMC10796091 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent genome- and exome-wide association studies suggest that the human APOE ε4 allele protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while ε3 promotes hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis. The present study aimed at examining the APOE genotype-dependent development of fatty liver disease and its underlying mechanisms in a targeted replacement mouse model. Male mice expressing the human APOE3 or APOE4 protein isoforms on a C57BL/6J background and unmodified C57BL/6J mice were chronically fed a high-fat and high-sucrose diet to induce obesity. After 7 months, body weight gain was more pronounced in human APOE than endogenous APOE expressing mice with elevated plasma biomarkers suggesting aggravated metabolic dysfunction. APOE3 mice exhibited the highest liver weights and, compared to APOE4, massive hepatic steatosis. An untargeted quantitative proteome analysis of the liver identified a high number of proteins differentially abundant in APOE3 versus APOE4 mice. The majority of the higher abundant proteins in APOE3 mice could be grouped to inflammation and damage-associated response, and lipid storage, amongst others. Results of the targeted qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses contribute to the overall finding that APOE3 as opposed to APOE4 promotes hepatic steatosis, inflammatory- and damage-associated response signaling and fibrosis in the liver of obese mice. Our experimental data substantiate the observation of an increased NAFLD-risk associated with the human APOEε3 allele, while APOEε4 appears protective. The underlying mechanisms of the protection possibly involve a higher capacity of nonectopic lipid deposition in subcutaneous adipose tissue and lower hepatic pathogen recognition in the APOE4 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Huebbe
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Bilke
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics & Bioanalytics, Kiel University, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Johanna Rueter
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Anke Schloesser
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Graeme Campbel
- Section Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Claus-C. Glüer
- Section Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ralph Lucius
- Anatomical Institute, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Department of Pathology, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics & Bioanalytics, Kiel University, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Gerald Rimbach
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
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Lu Z, Li Y, Syn WK, Li AJ, Ritter WS, Wank SA, Lopes-Virella MF, Huang Y. GPR40 deficiency is associated with hepatic FAT/CD36 upregulation, steatosis, inflammation, and cell injury in C57BL/6 mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2021; 320:E30-E42. [PMID: 33103454 PMCID: PMC8436599 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00257.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) is highly expressed in pancreatic islets, and its activation increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreas. Therefore, GPR40 is considered as a target for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with T2DM and GPR40 is also expressed by hepatocytes and macrophages, it is important to understand the role of GPR40 in NAFLD. However, the role of GPR40 in NAFLD in animal models has not been well defined. In this study, we fed wild-type or GPR40 knockout C57BL/6 mice a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 wk and then assessed the effect of GPR40 deficiency on HFD-induced NAFLD. Assays on metabolic parameters showed that an HFD increased body weight, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and GPR40 deficiency did not mitigate the HFD-induced metabolic abnormalities. In contrast, we found that GPR40 deficiency was associated with increased body weight, insulin, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and ALT in control mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD). Surprisingly, histology and Oil Red O staining showed that GPR40 deficiency in LFD-fed mice was associated with steatosis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that GPR40 deficiency also increased F4/80, a macrophage biomarker, in LFD-fed mice. Furthermore, results showed that GPR40 deficiency led to a robust upregulation of hepatic fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 expression. Finally, our in vitro studies showed that GPR40 knockdown by siRNA or a GPR40 antagonist increased palmitic acid-induced FAT/CD36 mRNA in hepatocytes. Taken together, this study indicates that GPR40 plays an important role in homeostasis of hepatic metabolism and inflammation and inhibits nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by possible modulation of FAT/CD36 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyang Lu
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Yanchun Li
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Wing-Kin Syn
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea/Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Spain
| | - Ai-Jun Li
- Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - W Sue Ritter
- Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - Stephen A Wank
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maria F Lopes-Virella
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Yan Huang
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Gay MD, Safronenka A, Cao H, Liu FH, Malchiodi ZX, Tucker RD, Kroemer A, Shivapurkar N, Smith JP. Targeting the Cholecystokinin Receptor: A Novel Approach for Treatment and Prevention of Hepatocellular Cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2020; 14:17-30. [PMID: 33115780 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-20-0220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cancer worldwide in part due to the obesity epidemic and fatty liver disease, particularly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Chronic inflammation with the release of cytokines and chemokines with activation of hepatic stellate cells results in changes of the liver extracellular matrix (ECM) that predisposes to the development of HCC. Blood levels of the gastrointestinal peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) are increased in humans and mice consuming a high-fat diet. We found that the CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) expression increased in the livers of mice with NASH. Treatment of mice with a CCK-BR antagonist, proglumide, prevented NASH, lowered hepatic inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, reduced oxidative stress, decreased F4/80+ hepatic macrophages, and prevented HCC. CCK-AR and CCK-BR expression was increased in both murine and human HCC cell lines compared with that of normal liver, and CCK stimulated the growth of wild-type and CCK-A receptor knockout HCC cells in vitro, but not CCK-BR knockout cells suggesting that the CCK-BR mediates proliferation. Proglumide therapy significantly reduced growth by 70% and 73% in mice bearing Dt81Hepa1-6 or in RIL-75 HCC tumors, respectively. IHC of a human liver tissue array with a selective CCK-BR antibody revealed staining of human HCC and no staining in normal liver. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: This investigation demonstrates the role of the gastrointestinal peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and how CCK-BR blockade reverses the premalignant state of the hepatic extracellular matrix hence, rendering it less susceptible to the development of HCC. Thereby, CCK-BR blockade is a novel approach for the prevention/treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha D Gay
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Anita Safronenka
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Hong Cao
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Felice H Liu
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Zoe X Malchiodi
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Robin D Tucker
- Department of Pathology, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Alexander Kroemer
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC
| | - Narayan Shivapurkar
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Jill P Smith
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC. .,Department of Oncology, Georgetown University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
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Lonardo A, Leoni S, Alswat KA, Fouad Y. History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5888. [PMID: 32824337 PMCID: PMC7460697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the assumption that characterizing the history of a disease will help in improving practice while offering a clue to research, this article aims at reviewing the history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults and children. To this end, we address the history of NAFLD histopathology, which begins in 1980 with Ludwig's seminal studies, although previous studies date back to the 19th century. Moreover, the principal milestones in the definition of genetic NAFLD are summarized. Next, a specific account is given of the evolution, over time, of our understanding of the association of NAFLD with metabolic syndrome, spanning from the outdated concept of "NAFLD as a manifestation of the Metabolic Syndrome", to the more appropriate consideration that NAFLD has, with metabolic syndrome, a mutual and bi-directional relationship. In addition, we also report on the evolution from first intuitions to more recent studies, supporting NAFLD as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This association probably has deep roots, going back to ancient Middle Eastern cultures, wherein the liver had a significance similar to that which the heart holds in contemporary society. Conversely, the notions that NAFLD is a forerunner of hepatocellular carcinoma and extra-hepatic cancers is definitely more modern. Interestingly, guidelines issued by hepatological societies have lagged behind the identification of NAFLD by decades. A comparative analysis of these documents defines both shared attitudes (e.g., ultrasonography and lifestyle changes as the first approaches) and diverging key points (e.g., the threshold of alcohol consumption, screening methods, optimal non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and drug treatment options). Finally, the principal historical steps in the general, cellular and molecular pathogenesis of NAFLD are reviewed. We conclude that an in-depth understanding of the history of the disease permits us to better comprehend the disease itself, as well as to anticipate the lines of development of future NAFLD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amedeo Lonardo
- Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, UOC Medicina Metabolica, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna Generale, d’Urgenza e post Acuzie, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Via Giardini 1135, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Simona Leoni
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Khalid A. Alswat
- Liver Research Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11322, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Yasser Fouad
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minya 19111, Egypt;
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Lu Z, Li Y, Syn WK, Wang Z, Lopes-Virella MF, Lyons TJ, Huang Y. Amitriptyline inhibits nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet and LPS through modulation of sphingolipid metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2020; 318:E131-E144. [PMID: 31821039 PMCID: PMC7052581 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00181.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We reported previously that increased acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase)-catalyzed hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, which leads to increases in ceramide and sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P), played a key role in the synergistic upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines by palmitic acid (PA), a major saturated fatty acid, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophages. Since macrophages are vital players in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and atherosclerosis, we assessed the effect of ASMase inhibition on NASH and atherosclerosis cooperatively induced by high-PA-containing high-fat diet (HP-HFD) and LPS in LDL receptor-deficient (LDLR-/-) mice. LDLR-/- mice were fed HP-HFD, injected with low dose of LPS and treated with or without the ASMase inhibitor amitriptyline. The neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor GW4869 was used as control. Metabolic study showed that both amitriptyline and GW4869 reduced glucose, lipids, and insulin resistance. Histological analysis and Oil Red O staining showed that amitriptyline robustly reduced hepatic steatosis while GW4869 had modest effects. Interestingly, immunohistochemical study showed that amitriptyline, but not GW4869, strongly reduced hepatic inflammation. Furthermore, results showed that both amitriptyline and GW4869 attenuated atherosclerosis. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms whereby amitriptyline inhibited both NASH and atherosclerosis, but GW4869 only inhibited atherosclerosis, we found that amitriptyline, but not GW4869, downregulated proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Finally, we found that inhibition of sphingosine 1 phosphate production is a potential mechanism whereby amitriptyline inhibited proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, this study showed that amitriptyline inhibited NASH and atherosclerosis through modulation of sphingolipid metabolism in LDLR-/- mice, indicating that sphingolipid metabolism in macrophages plays a crucial role in the linkage of NASH and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyang Lu
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Yanchun Li
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Wing-Kin Syn
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea/Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Spain
| | - Zhewu Wang
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Maria F Lopes-Virella
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Timothy J Lyons
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Yan Huang
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Erhartova D, Cahova M, Dankova H, Heczkova M, Mikova I, Sticova E, Spicak J, Seda O, Trunecka P. Serum miR-33a is associated with steatosis and inflammation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after liver transplantation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224820. [PMID: 31703079 PMCID: PMC6839850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & aims MiR-33a has emerged as a critical regulator of lipid homeostasis in the liver. Genetic deficiency of miR-33a aggravates liver steatosis in a preclinical model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and relative expression of miR-33a is increased in the livers of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It was unknown whether miR-33a is detectable in the serum of patients with NAFLD. We sought to determine whether circulating miR-33a is associated with histological hepatic steatosis, inflammation, ballooning or fibrosis, and whether it could be used as a serum marker in patients with NAFLD/NASH. Methods We analysed circulating miR-33a using quantitative PCR in 116 liver transplant recipients who underwent post-transplant protocol liver biopsy. Regression analysis was used to determine association of serum miR-33a with hepatic steatosis, inflammation, ballooning and fibrosis in liver biopsy. Results Liver graft steatosis and inflammation, but not ballooning or fibrosis, were significantly associated with serum miR-33a, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance markers on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that steatosis was independently associated with serum miR-33a, ALT, glycaemia and waist circumference, whereas inflammation was independently associated with miR-33a, HbA1 and serum triglyceride levels. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that exclusion of serum miR-33a from multivariate analysis resulted in non-significant reduction of prediction model accuracy of liver steatosis or inflammation. Conclusions Our data indicate that circulating miR-33a is an independent predictor of liver steatosis and inflammation in patients after liver transplantation. Although statistically significant, its contribution to the accuracy of prediction model employing readily available clinical and biochemical variables was limited in our cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisa Erhartova
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
- Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Cahova
- Experimental Medicine Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Dankova
- Experimental Medicine Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Heczkova
- Experimental Medicine Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Mikova
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Sticova
- Clinical and Transplant Pathology Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Spicak
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Seda
- Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Trunecka
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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