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Swan J, Szabó Z, Peters J, Kummu O, Kemppi A, Rahtu-Korpela L, Konzack A, Hakkola J, Pasternack A, Ritvos O, Kerkelä R, Magga J. Inhibition of activin receptor 2 signalling ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in western diet/L-NAME induced cardiometabolic disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116683. [PMID: 38705130 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116683] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Blockade of activin 2 receptor (ACVR2) signaling has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and aid in weight loss. Inhibition of ACVR2 signaling restores cardiac function in multiple heart failure models. However, its potential in the treatment of obesity-related cardiometabolic disease remains unknown. Here, we investigated targeting ACVR2 signaling in cardiometabolic disease manifested with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS Mice were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet combined with the administration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME in drinking water, which causes hypertensive stress. For the last eight weeks, the mice were treated with the soluble ACVR2B decoy receptor (sACVR2B-Fc). RESULTS sACVR2B-Fc protected against the development of comorbidities associated with cardiometabolic disease. This was most pronounced in the liver where ACVR2 blockade attenuated the development of MASLD including cessation of pro-fibrotic activation. It also significantly reduced total plasma cholesterol levels, impeded brown adipose tissue whitening, and improved cardiac diastolic function. In vitro, ACVR2 ligands activin A, activin B and GDF11 induced profibrotic signaling and the proliferation of human cardiac fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS Blockade of ACVR2B exerts broad beneficial effects for therapy of cardiometabolic disease. By reducing obesity, ameliorating cardiovascular deterioration and restraining MASLD, blockade of ACVR2B signaling proves a potential target in MASLD and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Swan
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland.
| | - Zoltán Szabó
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Juliana Peters
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Outi Kummu
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Anna Kemppi
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Lea Rahtu-Korpela
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Anja Konzack
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Jukka Hakkola
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Arja Pasternack
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Olli Ritvos
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Risto Kerkelä
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland
| | - Johanna Magga
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5, Oulu 90220, Finland.
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Liu H, Yerevanian A, Westerhoff M, Hastings MH, Guerra JRB, Zhao M, Svensson KJ, Cai B, Soukas AA, Rosenzweig A. Roles of Activin A and Gpnmb in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Diabetes 2024; 73:260-279. [PMID: 37934943 PMCID: PMC10796305 DOI: 10.2337/db23-0357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) are leading chronic liver diseases, driving cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality. MASLD/MASH is associated with increased senescence proteins, including Activin A, and senolytics have been proposed as a therapeutic approach. To test the role of Activin A, we induced hepatic expression of Activin A in a murine MASLD/MASH model. Surprisingly, overexpression of hepatic Activin A dramatically mitigated MASLD, reducing liver steatosis and inflammation as well as systemic fat accumulation, while improving insulin sensitivity. Further studies identified a dramatic decrease in the lipid-associated macrophages marker glycoprotein NMB (Gpnmb) by Activin A, and Gpnmb knockdown in the same model produced similar benefits and transcriptional changes to Activin A expression. These studies reveal a surprising protective role for Activin A in MASLD and the potential for SASP proteins to have context-specific beneficial effects. Moreover, they implicate both Activin A and Gpnmb as potential therapeutic targets for this condition. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Armen Yerevanian
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Margaret H. Hastings
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Justin Ralph Baldovino Guerra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Katrin J. Svensson
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Bishuang Cai
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Alexander A. Soukas
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anthony Rosenzweig
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
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Shen S, Shen M, Kuang L, Yang K, Wu S, Liu X, Wang Y, Wang Y. SIRT1/SREBPs-mediated regulation of lipid metabolism. Pharmacol Res 2024; 199:107037. [PMID: 38070792 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.107037] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Sirtuins, also called silent information regulator 2, are enzymes that rely on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to function as histone deacetylases. Further investigation is warranted to explore the advantageous impacts of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a constituent of the sirtuin group, on lipid metabolism, in addition to its well-researched involvement in extending lifespan. The regulation of gene expression has been extensively linked to SIRT1. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) is a substrate of SIRT1 that has attracted significant interest due to its role in multiple cellular processes including cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, and metabolic functions. Hence, the objective of this analysis was to investigate and elucidate the correlation between SIRT1 and SREBPs, as well as assess the contribution of SIRT1/SREBPs in mitigating lipid metabolism dysfunction. The objective of this research was to investigate whether SIRT1 and SREBPs could be utilized as viable targets for therapeutic intervention in managing complications associated with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shen
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Mingyang Shen
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Lirun Kuang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Keyu Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Shiran Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Xinde Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China.
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Tsai MT, Ou SM, Lee KH, Lin CC, Li SY. Circulating Activin A, Kidney Fibrosis, and Adverse Events. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2023; 19:01277230-990000000-00298. [PMID: 37983094 PMCID: PMC10861103 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000000000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identification of reliable biomarkers to assess kidney fibrosis severity is necessary for patients with CKD. Activin A, a member of the TGF- β superfamily, has been suggested as a biomarker for kidney fibrosis. However, its precise utility in this regard remains to be established. METHODS We investigated the correlation between plasma activin A levels, kidney fibrosis severity, and the incidence of major adverse kidney events in patients who underwent native kidney biopsies at a tertiary medical center. We performed RNA sequencing and histological analyses on kidney biopsy specimens to assess activin A expression. In vitro experiments were also conducted to explore the potential attenuation of TGF- β -induced fibroblast activation through activin A inhibition. RESULTS A total of 339 patients with biopsy-confirmed kidney diseases were enrolled. Baseline eGFR was 36 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , and the urine protein/creatinine ratio was 2.9 mg/mg. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between plasma activin A levels and the extent of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Our RNA sequencing data demonstrated a positive correlation between kidney INHBA expression and plasma activin A levels. Furthermore, the histological analysis showed that myofibroblasts were the primary activin A-positive interstitial cells in diseased kidneys. During a median follow-up of 22 months, 113 participants experienced major adverse kidney events. Cox proportional hazards analysis initially found a positive association between plasma activin A levels and kidney event risk, but it became insignificant after adjusting for confounders. In cultured fibroblasts, knockdown of activin A significantly attenuated TGF- β -induced fibroblast-myofibroblast conversion. CONCLUSIONS Plasma activin A levels correlate with kidney fibrosis severity and adverse outcomes in various kidney disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Tsun Tsai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuo-Ming Ou
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hua Lee
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ching Lin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Szu-yuan Li
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Hamang M, Yaden B, Dai G. Gastrointestinal pharmacology activins in liver health and disease. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 214:115668. [PMID: 37364623 PMCID: PMC11234865 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115668] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Activins are a subgroup of the TGFβ superfamily of growth and differentiation factors, dimeric in nature and consisting of two inhibin beta subunits linked via a disulfide bridge. Canonical activin signaling occurs through Smad2/3, with negative feedback initiated by Smad6/7 following signal transduction, which binds activin type I receptor preventing phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and activation of downstream signaling. In addition to Smad6/7, other inhibitors of activin signaling have been identified as well, including inhibins (dimers of an inhibin alpha and beta subunit), BAMBI, Cripto, follistatin, and follistatin-like 3 (fstl3). To date, activins A, B, AB, C, and E have been identified and isolated in mammals, with activin A and B having the most characterization of biological activity. Activin A has been implicated as a regulator of several important functions of liver biology, including hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis, ECM production, and liver regeneration; the role of other subunits of activin in liver physiology are less understood. There is mounting data to suggest a link between dysregulation of activins contributing to various hepatic diseases such as inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and emerging studies demonstrating the protective and regenerative effects of inhibiting activins in mouse models of liver disease. Due to their importance in liver biology, activins demonstrate utility as a therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatic diseases such as cirrhosis, NASH, NAFLD, and HCC; further research regarding activins may provide diagnostic or therapeutic opportunity for those suffering from various liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Hamang
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, IN, United States.
| | - Benjamin Yaden
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, IN, United States.
| | - Guoli Dai
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, IN, United States.
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Notas G. Hepatic Activin A: An Exciting Target for Cardiometabolic Health. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:350-351. [PMID: 36546320 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- George Notas
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Crete School of Medicine, Greece
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