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Yu W, Yin G, Chen S, Zhang X, Meng D, Wang L, Liu H, Jiang W, Sun Y, Zhang F. Diosgenin attenuates metabolic-associated fatty liver disease through the hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112581. [PMID: 38944952 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112581] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide; however, its pathogenesis and treatment methods have not been perfected. NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) is a promising therapeutic target for MAFLD. Diosgenin (DG) is a natural compound that was identified in a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic activities. In this study, we examined the effects and molecular mechanisms of DG on MAFLD in vitro and in vivo. We established a rat model by administering a high-fat diet (HFD). We also generated an in vitro MAFLD model by treating HepG2 cells with free fatty acids (FFAs). The results indicated that DG attenuated lipid accumulation and liver injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. DG downregulated the expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speckle-like protein (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D (GSDMD), GSDMD-n, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In addition, we silenced and overexpressed NLRP3 in vitro to determine the effects of DG on antiMAFLD. Silencing NLRP3 enhanced the effect of DG on the treatment of MAFLD, whereas NLRP3 overexpression reversed its beneficial effects. Taken together, the results show that DG has a favorable effect on attenuating MAFLD through the hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent signaling pathway. DG represents a natural NLRP3 inhibitor for the MAFLD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Yu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoliang Yin
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Suwen Chen
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Decheng Meng
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Linya Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongshuai Liu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenying Jiang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Sun
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengxia Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, People's Republic of China.
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Cheng X, Baki VB, Moran M, Liu B, Yu J, Zhao M, Li Q, Riethoven JJ, Gurumurth CB, Harris EN, Sun X. Liver matrin-3 protects mice against hepatic steatosis and stress response via constitutive androstane receptor. Mol Metab 2024; 86:101977. [PMID: 38936659 PMCID: PMC11267048 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) continues to rise with the increasing obesity epidemic. Rezdiffra as an activator of a thyroid hormone receptor-beta is the only Food and Drug Administration approved therapy. As such, there is a critical need to improve our understanding of gene expression regulation and signaling transduction in MASLD to develop new therapies. Matrin-3 is a DNA- and RNA-binding protein involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Here we examined its previously uncharacterized role in limiting hepatic steatosis and stress response via the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). METHODS Matrin-3 floxed and liver-specific knockout mice were fed either a chow diet or 60 kcal% high-fat diet (HFD) for up to 16 weeks. The mice were euthanized for different analysis including liver histology, lipid levels, and gene expression. Bulk RNA-seq, bulk ATAC-seq, and single-nucleus Multiome were used to examine changes of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility in the liver. Integrative bioinformatics analysis of our data and publicly available datasets and different biochemical assays were performed to identify underlying the molecular mechanisms mediating matrin-3's effects. Liver-tropic adeno-associated virus was used to restore the expression of CAR for lipid, acute phase genes, and histological analysis. RESULTS Matrin-3 expression is induced in the steatotic livers of mice. Liver-specific matrin-3 deletion exacerbated HFD-induced steatosis, acute phase response, and inflammation in the liver of female mice. The transcriptome and chromatin accessibility were re-programmed in the liver of these mice with signatures indicating that CAR signaling is dysregulated. Mechanistically, matrin-3 interacts with CAR mRNA, and matrin-3 deficiency promotes CAR mRNA degradation. Consequently, matrin-3 deletion impaired CAR signaling by reducing CAR expression. Matrin-3 levels positively correlate with CAR expression in human livers. Ces2a and Il1r1 were identified as new target genes of CAR. Interestingly, we found that CAR discords with the expression of its target genes including Cyp2b10 and Ces2a in response to HFD, indicating CAR signaling is dysregulated by HFD despite increased CAR expression. Dysregulated CAR signaling upon matrin-3 deficiency reduced Ces2a and de-repressed Il1r1 expression. CAR restoration partially abrogated the dysregulated gene expression, exacerbated hepatic steatosis, acute phase response, and inflammation in liver-specific matrin-3 knockout mice fed a HFD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that matrin-3 is a key upstream regulator maintaining CAR signaling upon metabolic stress, and the matrin-3-CAR axis limits hepatic steatosis and stress response signaling that may give insights for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Vijaya Bhaskar Baki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Matthew Moran
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Baolong Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 230 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922, USA
| | - Jiujiu Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 230 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922, USA
| | - Miaoyun Zhao
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Qingsheng Li
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jean-Jack Riethoven
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | | | - Edward N Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA
| | - Xinghui Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA.
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Qian S, Wang X, Chen Y, Zai Q, He Y. Inflammation in Steatotic Liver Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets. Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 38838739 DOI: 10.1055/a-2338-9261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), two main types of steatotic liver disease (SLDs), are characterized by a wide spectrum of several different liver disorders, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Multiple immune cell-mediated inflammatory responses not only orchestrate the killing and removal of infected/damaged cells but also exacerbate the development of SLDs when excessive or persistent inflammation occurs. In recent years, single-cell and spatial transcriptome analyses have revealed the heterogeneity of liver-infiltrated immune cells in ALD and MASLD, revealing a new immunopathological picture of SLDs. In this review, we will emphasize the roles of several key immune cells in the pathogenesis of ALD and MASLD and discuss inflammation-based approaches for effective SLD intervention. In conclusion, the study of immunological mechanisms, especially highly specific immune cell population functions, may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for this life-threatening disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengying Qian
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingfen Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuhong Zai
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Lopez-Alcantara N, Oelkrug R, Sentis SC, Kirchner H, Mittag J. Lack of thyroid hormone receptor beta is not detrimental for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis progression. iScience 2023; 26:108064. [PMID: 37822510 PMCID: PMC10563054 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Agonists for thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) show promise in preclinical studies and clinical trials to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A recent study on human livers, however, revealed reduced TRβ expression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), indicating a developing thyroid hormone resistance, which could constitute a major obstacle for those agonists. Using a rapid NASH paradigm combining choline-deficient high-fat diet and thermoneutrality, we confirm that TRβ declines during disease progression in mice similar to humans. Contrary to expectations, mice lacking TRβ showed less liver fibrosis, and NASH marker genes were not elevated. Conversely, increasing TRβ expression in wild-type NASH mice using liver-targeted gene therapy did not improve histology, gene expression, or metabolic parameters, indicating that TRβ receptor levels are of minor relevance for NASH development and progression in our model, and suggest that liver-rather than isoform-specificity might be more relevant for NASH treatment with thyroid hormone receptor agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Lopez-Alcantara
- Institut für Endokrinologie und Diabetes, AG Molekulare Endokrinologie, Universität zu Lübeck / Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Center for Brain Behavior and Metabolism CBBM, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Rebecca Oelkrug
- Institut für Endokrinologie und Diabetes, AG Molekulare Endokrinologie, Universität zu Lübeck / Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Center for Brain Behavior and Metabolism CBBM, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sarah Christine Sentis
- Institut für Endokrinologie und Diabetes, AG Molekulare Endokrinologie, Universität zu Lübeck / Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Center for Brain Behavior and Metabolism CBBM, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Henriette Kirchner
- Institut für Humangenetik, AG Epigenetik und Metabolismus, Universität zu Lübeck / Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Center for Brain Behavior and Metabolism CBBM, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jens Mittag
- Institut für Endokrinologie und Diabetes, AG Molekulare Endokrinologie, Universität zu Lübeck / Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Center for Brain Behavior and Metabolism CBBM, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
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5
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Sanchez-Quant E, Richter ML, Colomé-Tatché M, Martinez-Jimenez CP. Single-cell metabolic profiling reveals subgroups of primary human hepatocytes with heterogeneous responses to drug challenge. Genome Biol 2023; 24:234. [PMID: 37848949 PMCID: PMC10583437 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03075-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xenobiotics are primarily metabolized by hepatocytes in the liver, and primary human hepatocytes are the gold standard model for the assessment of drug efficacy, safety, and toxicity in the early phases of drug development. Recent advances in single-cell genomics demonstrate liver zonation and ploidy as main drivers of cellular heterogeneity. However, little is known about the impact of hepatocyte specialization on liver function upon metabolic challenge, including hepatic metabolism, detoxification, and protein synthesis. RESULTS Here, we investigate the metabolic capacity of individual human hepatocytes in vitro. We assess how chronic accumulation of lipids enhances cellular heterogeneity and impairs the metabolisms of drugs. Using a phenotyping five-probe cocktail, we identify four functional subgroups of hepatocytes responding differently to drug challenge and fatty acid accumulation. These four subgroups display differential gene expression profiles upon cocktail treatment and xenobiotic metabolism-related specialization. Notably, intracellular fat accumulation leads to increased transcriptional variability and diminishes the drug-related metabolic capacity of hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that, upon a metabolic challenge such as exposure to drugs or intracellular fat accumulation, hepatocyte subgroups display different and heterogeneous transcriptional responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sanchez-Quant
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (HPC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maria Lucia Richter
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (HPC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maria Colomé-Tatché
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
- TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354, Freising, Germany.
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 82152, Munich, Germany.
| | - Celia Pilar Martinez-Jimenez
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (HPC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
- TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich (TUM), 80333, Munich, Germany.
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6
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Xie B, Gao D, Zhou B, Chen S, Wang L. New discoveries in the field of metabolism by applying single-cell and spatial omics. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:711-725. [PMID: 37577385 PMCID: PMC10422156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell multi-Omics (SCM-Omics) and spatial multi-Omics (SM-Omics) technologies provide state-of-the-art methods for exploring the composition and function of cell types in tissues/organs. Since its emergence in 2009, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has yielded many groundbreaking new discoveries. The combination of this method with the emergence and development of SM-Omics techniques has been a pioneering strategy in neuroscience, developmental biology, and cancer research, especially for assessing tumor heterogeneity and T-cell infiltration. In recent years, the application of these methods in the study of metabolic diseases has also increased. The emerging SCM-Omics and SM-Omics approaches allow the molecular and spatial analysis of cells to explore regulatory states and determine cell fate, and thus provide promising tools for unraveling heterogeneous metabolic processes and making them amenable to intervention. Here, we review the evolution of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics technologies, and describe the progress in the application of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics in metabolism-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We also conclude that the application of SCM-Omics and SM-Omics approaches can help resolve the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases in the body and facilitate therapeutic measures for metabolism-related diseases. This review concludes with an overview of the current status of this emerging field and the outlook for its future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baocai Xie
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Research and Application Center of Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450014, China
| | - Dengfeng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Biqiang Zhou
- Department of Geriatric & Spinal Pain Multi-Department Treatment, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Lianrong Wang
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Research and Application Center of Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450014, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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7
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Kang HM, Lee JH. Spatial Single-Cell Technologies for Exploring Gastrointestinal Tissue Transcriptome. Compr Physiol 2023; 13:4709-4718. [PMID: 37358516 PMCID: PMC10386894 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
In the gastrointestinal (GI) system, like in other organ systems, the histological structure is a key determinant of physiological function. Tissues form multiple layers in the GI tract to perform their specialized functions in secretion, absorption, and motility. Even at the single layer, the heterogeneous cell population performs a diverse range of digestive or regulatory functions. Although many details of such functions at the histological and cell biological levels were revealed by traditional methods such as cell sorting, isolation, and culture, as well as histological methods such as immunostaining and RNA in situ hybridization, recent advances in spatial single-cell technologies could further contribute to our understanding of the molecular makeup of GI histological structures by providing a genome-wide overview of how different genes are expressed across individual cells and tissue layers. The current minireview summarizes recent advances in the spatial transcriptomics field and discusses how such technologies can promote our understanding of GI physiology. © 2023 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 13:4709-4718, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Min Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jun Hee Lee
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Tryndyak VP, Willett RA, Nagumalli SK, Li D, Avigan MI, Beland FA, Rusyn I, Pogribny IP. Effect of an obesogenic high-fat and high-sucrose diet on hepatic gene expression signatures in male Collaborative Cross mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 324:G232-G243. [PMID: 36625475 PMCID: PMC10191133 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00225.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prevalent chronic liver disease, is characterized by substantial variations in case-level severity. In this study, we used a genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse population model to analyze the global transcriptome and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in hepatic fat accumulation that determine the level and severity of NAFLD. Twenty-four strains of male CC mice were maintained on a high-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet for 12 wk, and their hepatic gene expression profiles were determined by next-generation RNA sequencing. We found that the development of the nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) phenotype in CC mice coincided with significant changes in the expression of hepatic genes at the population level, evidenced by the presence of 724 differentially expressed genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, cell morphology, vitamin and mineral metabolism, energy production, and DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Importantly, expression of 68 of these genes strongly correlated with the extent of hepatic lipid accumulation in the overall population of HF/HS diet-fed male CC mice. Results of partial least squares (PLS) modeling showed that these derived hepatic gene expression signatures help to identify the individual mouse strains that are highly susceptible to the development of NAFLD induced by an HF/HS diet. These findings imply that gene expression profiling, combined with a PLS modeling approach, may be a useful tool to predict NAFLD severity in genetically diverse patient populations.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Feeding male Collaborative Cross mice an obesogenic diet allows modeling NAFLD at the population level. The development of NAFLD coincided with significant hepatic transcriptomic changes in this model. Genes (724) were differentially expressed and expression of 68 genes strongly correlated with the extent of hepatic lipid accumulation. Partial least squares modeling showed that derived hepatic gene expression signatures may help to identify individual mouse strains that are highly susceptible to the development of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr P Tryndyak
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Rose A Willett
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Suresh K Nagumalli
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Dan Li
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Food and Drug Agency-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Mark I Avigan
- Office of Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology, Food and Drug Administration-Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Frederick A Beland
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Igor P Pogribny
- Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
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Selective PPARα Modulator Pemafibrate and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Tofogliflozin Combination Treatment Improved Histopathology in Experimental Mice Model of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040720. [PMID: 35203369 PMCID: PMC8870369 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes is a major distinguishing histological feature of non-alcoholic steatosis (NASH) progression that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we evaluated the effect of the selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) pemafibrate (Pema) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor tofogliflozin (Tofo) combination treatment on pathological progression in the liver of a mouse model of NASH (STAM) at two time points (onset of NASH progression and HCC survival). At both time points, the Pema and Tofo combination treatment significantly alleviated hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The combination treatment significantly reduced ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. RNA-seq analysis suggested that Pema and Tofo combination treatment resulted in an increase in glyceroneogenesis, triglyceride (TG) uptake, lipolysis and liberated fatty acids re-esterification into TG, lipid droplet (LD) formation, and Cidea/Cidec ratio along with an increased number and reduced size and area of LDs. In addition, combination treatment reduced expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (Ire1a, Grp78, Xbp1, and Phlda3). Pema and Tofo treatment significantly improved survival rates and reduced the number of tumors in the liver compared to the NASH control group. These results suggest that SPPARMα and SGLT2 inhibitor combination therapy has therapeutic potential to prevent NASH-HCC progression.
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10
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Li KP, Yuan M, Wu YL, Pineda M, Zhang CM, Chen YF, Chen ZQ, Rong XL, Turnbull JE, Guo J. A high-fat High-fructose Diet Dysregulates the Homeostatic Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiome, Metabolome and Immunity in an Experimental Model of Obesity. Mol Nutr Food Res 2022; 66:e2100950. [PMID: 35072983 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SCOPE Ample evidence supports the prominent role of gut-liver axis in perpetuating pathological networks of high-fat high-fructose (HFF) diet induced metabolic disorders, however, the molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. Herein, we aim to present a holistic delineation and scientific explanation for the crosstalk between the gut and liver, including the potential mediators involved in orchestrating the metabolic and immune systems. METHODS An experimental obesity associated metaflammation rat model was induced with a HFF diet. An integrative multi-omics analysis was then performed. Following the clues illustrated by the multi-omics discoveries, putative pathways were subsequently validated by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS HFF diet led to obese phenotypes in rats, as well as histopathological changes. Integrated omics analysis showed there existed a strong interdependence among gut microbiota composition, intestinal metabolites and innate immunity regulation in the liver. Some carboxylic acids might contribute to gut-liver communication. Moreover, activation of the hepatic LPS-TLR4 pathway in obesity was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS HFF-intake disturbs gut flora homeostasis. Crosstalk between gut microbiota and innate immune system mediated hepatic metaflammation in obese rats, associated with LPS-TLR4 signaling pathway activation. Moreover, α-hydroxyisobutyric acid and some other organic acids may play a role as messengers in the liver-gut axis. High-fat high-fructose diet (HFF) induces obesity associated chronic inflammation; HFF dysregulates the rat intestinal metabolome and gut microbiota composition; HFF impacts hepatic expression of genes involved in innate immunity; Modulation of gut microbiota composition and innate immunity are connected partly via TLR4 signalling; Small molecular carboxylic acids are potential mediators of gut-liver axis communication in chronic obesity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Ping Li
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Min Yuan
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yong-Lin Wu
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Miguel Pineda
- Institute of infection, immunity & inflammation, University of Glasgow, University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Chu-Mei Zhang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yan-Fen Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Quan Chen
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiang-Lu Rong
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jeremy E Turnbull
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jiao Guo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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11
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Su Q, Kim SY, Adewale F, Zhou Y, Aldler C, Ni M, Wei Y, Burczynski ME, Atwal GS, Sleeman MW, Murphy AJ, Xin Y, Cheng X. Single-cell RNA transcriptome landscape of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in healthy and NAFLD mouse liver. iScience 2021; 24:103233. [PMID: 34755088 PMCID: PMC8560975 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health-care problem with limited therapeutic options. To obtain a cellular resolution of pathogenesis, 82,168 single-cell transcriptomes (scRNA-seq) across different NAFLD stages were profiled, identifying hepatocytes and 12 other non-parenchymal cell (NPC) types. scRNA-seq revealed insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease. We discovered a dual role for hepatic stellate cells in gene expression regulation and in the potential to trans-differentiate into myofibroblasts. We uncovered distinct expression profiles of Kupffer cells versus monocyte-derived macrophages during NAFLD progression. Kupffer cells showed stronger immune responses, while monocyte-derived macrophages demonstrated a capability for differentiation. Three chimeric NPCs were identified including endothelial-chimeric stellate cells, hepatocyte-chimeric endothelial cells, and endothelial-chimeric Kupffer cells. Our work identified unanticipated aspects of mouse with NAFLD at the single-cell level and advanced the understanding of cellular heterogeneity in NAFLD livers. Of all, 82,168 single-cell transcriptomes across different NAFLD stages were profiled Hepatocytes and 12 non-parenchymal cell types were identified in mouse liver Three chimeric NPCs were identified in mouse liver
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Su
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Sun Y Kim
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Funmi Adewale
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Ye Zhou
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Christina Aldler
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Min Ni
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Yi Wei
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Michael E Burczynski
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Gurinder S Atwal
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Mark W Sleeman
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Yurong Xin
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
| | - Xiping Cheng
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA
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12
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Steinman JB, Salomao MA, Pajvani UB. Zonation in NASH - A key paradigm for understanding pathophysiology and clinical outcomes. Liver Int 2021; 41:2534-2546. [PMID: 34328687 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) exists as a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to histologically defined hepatocyte injury and inflammatory changes that define steatohepatitis (NASH), and increase risk for fibrosis. Although zonal differences in NASH have not been systematically studied, periportal involvement has been associated with worse metabolic outcomes and more hepatic fibrosis as compared to pericentral disease. These data suggest that hepatic zonation of disease may influence the diversity of clinical presentations. Similarly, several randomized clinical trials suggest a differential response based on zonation of disease, with preferential effects on periportal (cysteamine) or pericentral disease (obeticholic acid, pioglitazone). Intriguingly, morphogenic pathways known to affect zonal development and maintenance - WNT/β-Catenin, Hedgehog, HIPPO/Yap/TAZ and Notch - have been implicated in NASH pathogenesis, and nuclear hormone receptors downstream of potential NASH therapeutics show zonal preferences. In this review, we summarize these data and propose that patient-specific activation of these pathways may explain the variability in clinical presentation, and the zone-specific response observed in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcela A Salomao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Utpal B Pajvani
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Cho CS, Xi J, Si Y, Park SR, Hsu JE, Kim M, Jun G, Kang HM, Lee JH. Microscopic examination of spatial transcriptome using Seq-Scope. Cell 2021; 184:3559-3572.e22. [PMID: 34115981 PMCID: PMC8238917 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Spatial barcoding technologies have the potential to reveal histological details of transcriptomic profiles; however, they are currently limited by their low resolution. Here, we report Seq-Scope, a spatial barcoding technology with a resolution comparable to an optical microscope. Seq-Scope is based on a solid-phase amplification of randomly barcoded single-molecule oligonucleotides using an Illumina sequencing platform. The resulting clusters annotated with spatial coordinates are processed to expose RNA-capture moiety. These RNA-capturing barcoded clusters define the pixels of Seq-Scope that are ∼0.5-0.8 μm apart from each other. From tissue sections, Seq-Scope visualizes spatial transcriptome heterogeneity at multiple histological scales, including tissue zonation according to the portal-central (liver), crypt-surface (colon) and inflammation-fibrosis (injured liver) axes, cellular components including single-cell types and subtypes, and subcellular architectures of nucleus and cytoplasm. Seq-Scope is quick, straightforward, precise, and easy-to-implement and makes spatial single-cell analysis accessible to a wide group of biomedical researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Seok Cho
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jingyue Xi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yichen Si
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sung-Rye Park
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jer-En Hsu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Myungjin Kim
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Goo Jun
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hyun Min Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jun Hee Lee
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Playing Jekyll and Hyde-The Dual Role of Lipids in Fatty Liver Disease. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102244. [PMID: 33036257 PMCID: PMC7601321 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids play Jekyll and Hyde in the liver. On the one hand, the lipid-laden status of hepatic stellate cells is a hallmark of healthy liver. On the other hand, the opposite is true for lipid-laden hepatocytes—they obstruct liver function. Neglected lipid accumulation in hepatocytes can progress into hepatic fibrosis, a condition induced by the activation of stellate cells. In their resting state, these cells store substantial quantities of fat-soluble vitamin A (retinyl esters) in large lipid droplets. During activation, these lipid organelles are gradually degraded. Hence, treatment of fatty liver disease is treading a tightrope—unsophisticated targeting of hepatic lipid accumulation might trigger problematic side effects on stellate cells. Therefore, it is of great importance to gain more insight into the highly dynamic lipid metabolism of hepatocytes and stellate cells in both quiescent and activated states. In this review, part of the special issue entitled “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms underlying the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Fibrosis 2020”, we discuss current and highly versatile aspects of neutral lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
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