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Hvid H, Hjuler ST, Bedossa P, Tiniakos DG, Kamzolas I, Harder LM, Xue Y, Perfield JW, Kirk RK, Latta M, Mikkelsen LF, Pedersen HD. Choline-deficient, high-fat diet-induced MASH in Göttingen Minipigs: characterization and effects of a chow reversal period. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 327:G571-G585. [PMID: 39041677 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00120.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is increasing, and translational animal models are needed to develop novel treatments for this disease. The physiology and metabolism of pigs have a relatively high resemblance to humans, and the present study aimed to characterize choline-deficient and high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-fed Göttingen Minipigs as a novel animal model of MASLD/MASH. Göttingen Minipigs were fed CDAHFD for up to 5 mo, and the phenotype was investigated by the analysis of plasma parameters and repeated collection of liver biopsies. Furthermore, changes in hepatic gene expression during the experiment were explored by RNA sequencing. For a subset of the minipigs, the diet was changed from CDAHFD back to chow to investigate whether the liver pathology was reversible. Göttingen Minipigs on CDAHFD gained body weight, and plasma levels of cholesterol, AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT were increased. CDAHFD-fed minipigs developed hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, which in 5 of 16 animals progressed to cirrhosis. During an 11-wk chow reversal period, steatosis regressed, while fibrosis persisted. Regarding inflammation, the findings were less clear, depending on the type of readout. MASH Human Proximity Scoring (combined evaluation of transcriptional, phenotypic, and histopathological parameters) showed that CDAHFD-fed Göttingen Minipigs resemble human MASLD/MASH better than most rodent models. In conclusion, CDAHFD-fed minipigs develop a MASH-like phenotype, which, in several aspects, resembles the changes observed in human patients with MASLD/MASH. Furthermore, repeated collection of liver biopsies allows detailed characterization of histopathological changes over time in individual animals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The physiology and metabolism of pigs have a relatively high resemblance to humans. This study characterizes a new animal model of MASLD/MASH using CDAHFD-fed Göttingen Minipigs. Göttingen Minipigs fed CDAHFD gained weight and developed hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. After an 11-wk chow-reversal period, hepatic steatosis and some inflammatory parameters reversed. Combined evaluation of phenotypic, transcriptional, and histological parameters revealed the minipig model showed a higher resemblance to human disease than many rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Hvid
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Sara T Hjuler
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | | | - Dina G Tiniakos
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Kamzolas
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Lea M Harder
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Yaxin Xue
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - James W Perfield
- Lilly Research Labs, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| | - Rikke K Kirk
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Markus Latta
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
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Taberner-Cortés A, Aguilar-Ballester M, Jiménez-Martí E, Hurtado-Genovés G, Martín-Rodríguez RM, Herrero-Cervera A, Vinué Á, Martín-Vañó S, Martínez-Hervás S, González-Navarro H. Treatment with 1.25% cholesterol enriched diet produces severe fatty liver disease characterized by advanced fibrosis and inflammation and impaired autophagy in mice. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 134:109711. [PMID: 39111707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109711] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reaching pandemic proportions due to overnutrition. The understanding of advanced stages that recapitulate the human pathology is of great importance to get a better mechanistic insight. We hypothesized that feeding of WT (C57BL) mice with a diet containing a high content of fat (21%), sugar (41.5%) and 1.25% of cholesterol (called from now on high fat, sucrose and cholesterol diet, HFSCD) will reproduce the characteristics of disease severity. Analysis of 16 weeks HFSCD-fed mice demonstrated increased liver weight and plasmatic liver damage markers compared with control diet (CD)-fed mice. HFSCD-fed mice developed greater hepatic triglyceride, cholesterol and NEFA content, inflammation and NAFLD activity score (NAS) indicating an advanced disease. HFSCD-fed mice displayed augmented hepatic total CD3+ T and Th9 lymphocytes, as well as reduced Th2 lymphocytes and CD206 anti-inflammatory macrophages. Moreover, T cells and anti-inflammatory macrophages correlated positively and inversely, respectively, with intrahepatic cholesterol content. Consistently, circulating cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes, Th1, and B cell levels were elevated in HFSCD-fed WT mice. Hepatic and adipose tissue expression analysis demonstrated changes in fibrotic and metabolic genes related with cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acid synthesis in HFSCD-fed WT. These mice also exhibited reduced antioxidant capacity and autophagy and elevated ERK signaling pathway activation and CHOP levels. Our results indicate that the feeding with a cholesterol-enriched diet in WT mice produces an advanced NAFLD stage with fibrosis, characterized by deficient autophagy and ER stress along with inflammasome activation partially via ERK pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena Jiménez-Martí
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gema Hurtado-Genovés
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Ángela Vinué
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Susana Martín-Vañó
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sergio Martínez-Hervás
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Endocrinology and Nutrition Department Clinic Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Metabolic Diseases Group, CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Herminia González-Navarro
- Metabolic Diseases Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Metabolic Diseases Group, CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Mendoza YP, Tsouka S, Semmler G, Seubnooch P, Freiburghaus K, Mandorfer M, Bosch J, Masoodi M, Berzigotti A. Metabolic phenotyping of patients with advanced chronic liver disease for better characterization of cirrhosis regression. J Hepatol 2024:S0168-8278(24)02334-1. [PMID: 38944391 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Regression of cirrhosis has been observed in patients with viral and non-viral etiologies of liver disease in whom the underlying cause of liver injury was effectively suppressed. However, the understanding of the factors contributing to reversibility of fibrosis and cirrhosis is limited. Our aims were to assess clinical factors, perform genotyping of known variants, and comprehensive metabolic phenotyping to characterize the regression of fibrosis in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). METHODS In a case-control pilot study of 81 patients with cACLD, we compared individuals exhibiting histological or clinical evidence of cACLD regression ("regressors"; n = 44) with those showing no improvement ("non-regressors"; n = 37) after a minimum of 24 months of successful treatment of the cause of liver disease. Data were validated using an external validation cohort (n = 30). RESULTS Regardless of the cause of cACLD, the presence of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 0.267 95% CI 0.072-0.882; p = 0.049), high liver stiffness (OR 0.960, 95% CI 0.925-0.995; p = 0.032), and carriage of GCKR variant rs1260326 (OR 0.148, 95% CI 0.030-0.773; p = 0.019) are associated with a reduced likelihood of fibrosis regression in a subgroup of 60 patients with ACLD genotyped for known genetic variants. Using liver tissue transcriptomics, we identified metabolic pathways differentiating regressors from non-regressors, with top pathways associated with lipid metabolism - especially fatty acids, bile acids, phospholipids, triacylglycerides (biosynthesis), and the carnitine shuttle. In the entire discovery cohort, we further measured metabolites within the defined pathways, which led to the identification of 33 circulating markers differentiating regressors from non-regressors after etiological therapy. The validation cohort confirmed 14 of the differentially expressed markers. CONCLUSIONS We identified and validated a group of lipid biomarkers associated with regression of fibrosis that could be used as non-invasive biomarkers for detecting regression of fibrosis in cACLD. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Regression of cirrhosis/advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) after removal of the underlying cause of liver injury has been observed in human cirrhosis. However, detailed characterization of ACLD regression remains an unmet need. In this study, we provide a comprehensive phenotyping of individuals likely to experience ACLD regression. While obesity, carriage of GCKR variant rs1260326 and high liver stiffness were associated with lower likelihood of regression of ACLD, a signature of circulating lipid metabolites enabled differentiation of regressors from non-regressors after effective etiologic therapy. The lipid signature we discovered and externally validated could be used as non-invasive biomarker to detect regression of fibrosis in patients with compensated ACLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuly P Mendoza
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences (GHS), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Tsouka
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Georg Semmler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patcharamon Seubnooch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Freiburghaus
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jaime Bosch
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mojgan Masoodi
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland.
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Wang XX, Jin R, Li XH, Yang Q, Teng X, Liu FF, Wu N, Rao HY, Liu F. Collagen co-localized with macrovesicular steatosis better differentiates fibrosis progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse models. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1172058. [PMID: 37332758 PMCID: PMC10272541 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1172058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global commonly occurring liver disease. However, its exact pathogenesis is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the progression of steatosis and fibrosis by examining their distribution, morphology, and co-localization in NAFLD animal models. Methods Six mouse NAFLD groups were established: (1) western diet (WD) group; (2) WD with fructose in drinking water (WDF) group; (3) WDF + carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group, WDF plus intraperitoneal injection of CCl4; (4) high-fat diet (HFD) group, (5) HFD with fructose (HFDF) group; and (6) HFDF + CCl4 group, HFDF plus intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Liver tissue specimens from NAFLD model mice were collected at different time points. All the tissues were serially sectioned for histological staining and second-harmonic generation (SHG)/two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging (TPEF) imaging. The progression of steatosis and fibrosis was analyzed using SHG/TPEF quantitative parameters with respect to the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network scoring system. Results qSteatosis showed a good correlation with steatosis grade (R: 0.823-0.953, p < 0.05) and demonstrated high performance (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.617-1) in six mouse models. Based on their high correlation with histological scoring, qFibrosis containing four shared parameters (#LongStrPS, #ThinStrPS, #ThinStrPSAgg, and #LongStrPSDis) were selected to create a linear model that could accurately identify differences among fibrosis stages (AUC: 0.725-1). qFibrosis co-localized with macrosteatosis generally correlated better with histological scoring and had a higher AUC in six animal models (AUC: 0.846-1). Conclusion Quantitative assessment using SHG/TPEF technology can be used to monitor different types of steatosis and fibrosis progression in NAFLD models. The collagen co-localized with macrosteatosis could better differentiate fibrosis progression and might aid in developing a more reliable and translatable fibrosis evaluation tool for animal models of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xiao Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Jin
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-He Li
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Hangzhou Choutu Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Teng
- HistoIndex Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fang-Fang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Ying Rao
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis, Beijing, China
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5
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Expression and functions of transient receptor potential channels in liver diseases. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:445-459. [PMID: 36873177 PMCID: PMC9978971 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases constitute a major healthcare burden globally, including acute hepatic injury resulted from acetaminophen overdose, ischemia-reperfusion or hepatotropic viral infection and chronic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Attainable treatment strategies for most liver diseases remain inadequate, highlighting the importance of substantial pathogenesis. The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels represent a versatile signalling mechanism regulating fundamental physiological processes in the liver. It is not surprising that liver diseases become a newly explored field to enrich our knowledge of TRP channels. Here, we discuss recent findings revealing TRP functions across the fundamental pathological course from early hepatocellular injury caused by various insults, to inflammation, subsequent fibrosis and hepatoma. We also explore expression levels of TRPs in liver tissues of ALD, NAFLD and HCC patients from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) or The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and survival analysis estimated by Kaplan-Meier Plotter. At last, we address the therapeutical potential and challenges by pharmacologically targeting TRPs to treat liver diseases. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the implications of TRP channels in liver diseases, contributing to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and efficient drugs.
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6
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Wang XX, Xie C, Libby AE, Ranjit S, Levi J, Myakala K, Bhasin K, Jones BA, Orlicky DJ, Takahashi S, Dvornikov A, Kleiner DE, Hewitt SM, Adorini L, Kopp JB, Krausz KW, Rosenberg A, McManaman JL, Robertson CE, Ir D, Frank DN, Luo Y, Gonzalez FJ, Gratton E, Levi M. The role of FXR and TGR5 in reversing and preventing progression of Western diet-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in mice. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102530. [PMID: 36209823 PMCID: PMC9638804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common chronic liver disease in the US, partly due to the increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The roles of bile acids and their receptors, such as the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G protein-coupled receptor TGR5, on the development of NASH are not fully clear. C57BL/6J male mice fed a Western diet (WD) develop characteristics of NASH, allowing determination of the effects of FXR and TGR5 agonists on this disease. Here we show that the FXR-TGR5 dual agonist INT-767 prevents progression of WD-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, as determined by histological and biochemical assays and novel label-free microscopy imaging techniques, including third harmonic generation, second harmonic generation, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Furthermore, we show INT-767 decreases liver fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid and cholesterol uptake, as well as liver inflammation. INT-767 markedly changed bile acid composition in the liver and intestine, leading to notable decreases in the hydrophobicity index of bile acids, known to limit cholesterol and lipid absorption. In addition, INT-767 upregulated expression of liver p-AMPK, SIRT1, PGC-1α, and SIRT3, which are master regulators of mitochondrial function. Finally, we found INT-767 treatment reduced WD-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Interestingly, the effects of INT-767 in attenuating NASH were absent in FXR-null mice, but still present in TGR5-null mice. Our findings support treatment and prevention protocols with the dual FXR-TGR5 agonist INT-767 arrest progression of WD-induced NASH in mice mediated by FXR-dependent, TGR5-independent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxin X Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
| | - Cen Xie
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew E Libby
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Suman Ranjit
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Jonathan Levi
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Komuraiah Myakala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kanchan Bhasin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Bryce A Jones
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - David J Orlicky
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Shogo Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Alexander Dvornikov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - David E Kleiner
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen M Hewitt
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey B Kopp
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristopher W Krausz
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Avi Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James L McManaman
- The Integrated Physiology Program, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Diana Ir
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel N Frank
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Yuhuan Luo
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado AMC, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Enrico Gratton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Moshe Levi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
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Selicean S, Wang C, Guixé-Muntet S, Stefanescu H, Kawada N, Gracia-Sancho J. Regression of portal hypertension: underlying mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Hepatol Int 2021; 15:36-50. [PMID: 33544313 PMCID: PMC7886770 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-021-10135-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Portal hypertension is the main non-neoplastic complication of chronic liver disease, being the cause of important life-threatening events including the development of ascites or variceal bleeding. The primary factor in the development of portal hypertension is a pathological increase in the intrahepatic vascular resistance, due to liver microcirculatory dysfunction, which is subsequently aggravated by extra-hepatic vascular disturbances including elevation of portal blood inflow. Evidence from pre-clinical models of cirrhosis has demonstrated that portal hypertension and chronic liver disease can be reversible if the injurious etiological agent is removed and can be further promoted using pharmacological therapy. These important observations have been partially demonstrated in clinical studies. This paper aims at providing an updated review of the currently available data regarding spontaneous and drug-promoted regression of portal hypertension, paying special attention to the clinical evidence. It also considers pathophysiological caveats that highlight the need for caution in establishing a new dogma that human chronic liver disease and portal hypertension is reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Selicean
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cong Wang
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sergi Guixé-Muntet
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Horia Stefanescu
- Department of Hepatology, Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Norifumi Kawada
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Inselspital, Murtenstrasse 35, Maurice E. Müller-Haus, F821a, 3008, Bern, Switzerland.
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain.
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Hansen HH, Ægidius HM, Oró D, Evers SS, Heebøll S, Eriksen PL, Thomsen KL, Bengtsson A, Veidal SS, Feigh M, Suppli MP, Knop FK, Grønbæk H, Miranda D, Trevaskis JL, Vrang N, Jelsing J, Rigbolt KTG. Human translatability of the GAN diet-induced obese mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. BMC Gastroenterol 2020; 20:210. [PMID: 32631250 PMCID: PMC7336447 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-020-01356-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Animal models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are important tools in preclinical research and drug discovery. Gubra-Amylin NASH (GAN) diet-induced obese (DIO) mice represent a model of fibrosing NASH. The present study directly assessed the clinical translatability of the model by head-to-head comparison of liver biopsy histological and transcriptome changes in GAN DIO-NASH mouse and human NASH patients. Methods C57Bl/6 J mice were fed chow or the GAN diet rich in saturated fat (40%), fructose (22%) and cholesterol (2%) for ≥38 weeks. Metabolic parameters as well as plasma and liver biomarkers were assessed. Liver biopsy histology and transcriptome signatures were compared to samples from human lean individuals and patients diagnosed with NASH. Results Liver lesions in GAN DIO-NASH mice showed similar morphological characteristics compared to the NASH patient validation set, including macrosteatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning degeneration and periportal/perisinusoidal fibrosis. Histomorphometric analysis indicated comparable increases in markers of hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation and collagen deposition in GAN DIO-NASH mice and NASH patient samples. Liver biopsies from GAN DIO-NASH mice and NASH patients showed comparable dynamics in several gene expression pathways involved in NASH pathogenesis. Consistent with the clinical features of NASH, GAN DIO-NASH mice demonstrated key components of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity and impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusions The GAN DIO-NASH mouse model demonstrates good clinical translatability with respect to the histopathological, transcriptional and metabolic aspects of the human disease, highlighting the suitability of the GAN DIO-NASH mouse model for identifying therapeutic targets and characterizing novel drug therapies for NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sara Heebøll
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Lykke Eriksen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karen Louise Thomsen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Malte P Suppli
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Filip K Knop
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henning Grønbæk
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Ægidius HM, Veidal SS, Feigh M, Hallenborg P, Puglia M, Pers TH, Vrang N, Jelsing J, Kornum BR, Blagoev B, Rigbolt KTG. Multi-omics characterization of a diet-induced obese model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1148. [PMID: 31980690 PMCID: PMC6981216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58059-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To improve the understanding of the complex biological processes underlying the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a multi-omics approach combining bulk RNA-sequencing based transcriptomics, quantitative proteomics and single-cell RNA-sequencing was used to characterize tissue biopsies from histologically validated diet-induced obese (DIO) NASH mice compared to chow-fed controls. Bulk RNA-sequencing and proteomics showed a clear distinction between phenotypes and a good correspondence between mRNA and protein level regulations, apart from specific regulatory events discovered by each technology. Transcriptomics-based gene set enrichment analysis revealed changes associated with key clinical manifestations of NASH, including impaired lipid metabolism, increased extracellular matrix formation/remodeling and pro-inflammatory responses, whereas proteomics-based gene set enrichment analysis pinpointed metabolic pathway perturbations. Integration with single-cell RNA-sequencing data identified key regulated cell types involved in development of NASH demonstrating the cellular heterogeneity and complexity of NASH pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Philip Hallenborg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Michele Puglia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tune H Pers
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Vrang
- Gubra, Hørsholm Kongevej 11B, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Birgitte R Kornum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Blagoy Blagoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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10
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Baandrup Kristiansen MN, Veidal SS, Christoffersen C, Feigh M, Vrang N, Roth JD, Erickson M, Adorini L, Jelsing J. Validity of biopsy-based drug effects in a diet-induced obese mouse model of biopsy-confirmed NASH. BMC Gastroenterol 2019; 19:228. [PMID: 31883514 PMCID: PMC6935483 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-019-1149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Compounds in clinical development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) improve liver histopathology in diet-induced obese mouse models of biopsy-confirmed NASH. Since the biopsy section used for histopathological evaluation represents only < 1% of the whole mouse liver, we evaluated how well biopsy-based quantitative image analyses correlate to stereology-based whole-liver quantitative changes upon drug treatment. Methods Male leptin-deficient Lepob/Lepob mice were fed the Amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet for 16 weeks before stratification into treatment groups using a biopsy-based evaluation of type I collagen αI (col1a1) levels. Mice were treated for 8 weeks with either vehicle (PO, QD), liraglutide (0.4 mg/kg, SC, QD), elafibranor (30 mg/kg, PO, QD) or INT-767 (10 mg/kg, PO, QD). Terminal quantitative histological assessment of liver lipid (hematoxylin-eosin staining), inflammation (galectin-3 immunohistochemistry (IHC); gal-3), and fibrosis (col1a1 IHC) was performed on terminal liver biopsies and compared with stereologically sampled serial sections spanning the medial, left and right lateral lobe of the liver. Results The distribution of liver lipid and fibrosis was markedly consistent across lobes, whereas inflammation showed some variability. While INT-767 and liraglutide significantly reduced total liver weight by 20 and 48%, respectively, elafibranor tended to exacerbate hepatomegaly in Lepob/Lepob-NASH mice. All three compounds markedly reduced biopsy-based relative liver lipid content. Elafibranor and INT-767 significantly reduced biopsy-based relative gal-3 levels (P < 0.001), whereas INT-767 and liraglutide tended to reduce relative col1a1 levels. When changes in liver weight was accounted for, both INT-767 and liraglutide significantly reduced biopsy-based total col1a1 content. Although minor differences in absolute and relative liver lipid, inflammation and fibrosis levels were observed across lobes, the interpretation of drug-induced effects were consistent with biopsy-based conclusions. Notably, the incorporation of changes in total liver mass revealed that liraglutide’s efficacy reached statistical significances for all analyzed parameters. Conclusions In conclusion, in-depth analyses of liver homogeneity demonstrated that drug-induced improvement in liver biopsy-assessed histopathology is representative for overall liver effects assessed using stereology. Importantly, these findings reveal how changes in whole-liver mass should be considered to provide a deeper understanding of apparent drug treatment efficacy in preclinical NASH studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Nicoline Baandrup Kristiansen
- Gubra Aps, Hoersholm, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Christina Christoffersen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital and Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Mary Erickson
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, California, USA
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11
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Boland ML, Oró D, Tølbøl KS, Thrane ST, Nielsen JC, Cohen TS, Tabor DE, Fernandes F, Tovchigrechko A, Veidal SS, Warrener P, Sellman BR, Jelsing J, Feigh M, Vrang N, Trevaskis JL, Hansen HH. Towards a standard diet-induced and biopsy-confirmed mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Impact of dietary fat source. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:4904-4920. [PMID: 31543682 PMCID: PMC6737317 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i33.4904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The trans-fat containing AMLN (amylin liver non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH) diet has been extensively validated in C57BL/6J mice with or without the Lepob/Lepob (ob/ob) mutation in the leptin gene for reliably inducing metabolic and liver histopathological changes recapitulating hallmarks of NASH. Due to a recent ban on trans-fats as food additive, there is a marked need for developing a new diet capable of promoting a compatible level of disease in ob/ob and C57BL/6J mice.
AIM To develop a biopsy-confirmed mouse model of NASH based on an obesogenic diet with trans-fat substituted by saturated fat.
METHODS Male ob/ob mice were fed AMLN diet or a modified AMLN diet with trans-fat (Primex shortening) substituted by equivalent amounts of palm oil [Gubra amylin NASH, (GAN) diet] for 8, 12 and 16 wk. C57BL/6J mice were fed the same diets for 28 wk. AMLN and GAN diets had similar caloric content (40% fat kcal), fructose (22%) and cholesterol (2%) level.
RESULTS The GAN diet was more obesogenic compared to the AMLN diet and impaired glucose tolerance. Biopsy-confirmed steatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, fibrotic liver lesions and hepatic transcriptome changes were similar in ob/ob mice fed the GAN or AMLN diet. C57BL/6J mice developed a mild to moderate fibrotic NASH phenotype when fed the same diets.
CONCLUSION Substitution of Primex with palm oil promotes a similar phenotype of biopsy-confirmed NASH in ob/ob and C57BL/6J mice, making GAN diet-induced obese mouse models suitable for characterizing novel NASH treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Boland
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
- Pharmacology, Gubra, Hørsholm DK-2970, Denmark
| | - Denise Oró
- Pharmacology, Gubra, Hørsholm DK-2970, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Taylor S Cohen
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | - David E Tabor
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | - Fiona Fernandes
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | - Andrey Tovchigrechko
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | | | - Paul Warrener
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | - Bret R Sellman
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
| | | | | | - Niels Vrang
- Pharmacology, Gubra, Hørsholm DK-2970, Denmark
| | - James L Trevaskis
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases, MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States
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12
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Hepatoprotection of yangonin against hepatic fibrosis in mice via farnesoid X receptor activation. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 75:105833. [PMID: 31450152 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.105833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible would-healing response following chronic liver injury of different aetiologies and represents a major worldwide health problem. Up to date, there is no satisfactory drugs treated for liver fibrosis. The present study was to investigate hepatoprotection of yangonin against liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in mice and further to clarify the involvement of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in vivo and in vitro. Yangonin treatment remarkably ameliorated TAA-induced liver injury by reducing relative liver weight, as well as serum ALT and AST activities. Moreover, yangonin alleviated TAA-induced accumulation of bile acids through increasing the expression of bile acid efflux transporters such as Bsep and Mrp2, and reducing hepatic uptake transporter Ntcp expression, all of these are FXR-target genes. The liver sections stained by H&E indicated that the histopathological change induced by TAA was improved by yangonin. Masson and Sirius red staining indicated the obvious anti-fibrotic effect of yangonin. The mechanism of anti-fibrotic effect of yangonin was that yangonin reduced collagen content by regulating the genes involved in hepatic fibrosis including COL1-α1 and TIMP-1. Besides, yangonin inhibited hepatic stellate cell activation by reducing TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression. In addition, yangonin protected against TAA-induced hepatic inflammation via its inhibition of NF-κB and TNF-α. These hepatoprotective effects of yangonin were abrogated by guggulsterone which is a FXR antagonist. In vitro experiment further demonstrated dose-dependent activation of FXR by yangonin using dual-luciferase reporter assay. In summary, yangonin produces hepatoprotection against TAA-induced liver fibrosis via FXR activation.
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13
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Patel DP, Yan T, Kim D, Dias HB, Krausz KW, Kimura S, Gonzalez FJ. Withaferin A Improves Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2019; 371:360-374. [PMID: 31420528 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.119.256792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that highly increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and there are few therapeutic options available in the clinic. Withaferin A (WA), extracted from the ayurvedic medicine Withania somnifera, has a wide range of pharmacological activities; however, little is known about its effects on NASH. To explore the role of WA in treating NASH, two well defined NASH models were used, the methionine-choline-deficient diet and the 40 kcal% high-fat diet (HFD). In both NASH models, WA treatment or control vehicle was administered to evaluate its hepatoprotective effects. As assessed by biochemical and histologic analyses, WA prevented and therapeutically improved liver injury in both models, as revealed by lower serum aminotransaminases, hepatic steatosis, liver inflammation, and fibrosis. In the HFD-induced NASH model, both elevated serum ceramides and increased hepatic oxidative stress were decreased in the WA-treated group compared with the control vehicle-treated group. To further explore whether WA has an anti-NASH effect independent of its known action in leptin signaling associated with obesity, leptin signaling-deficient ob/ob mice maintained on an HFD were used to induce NASH. WA therapeutically reduced NASH in HFD-treated leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, thus demonstrating a leptin-independent hepatoprotective effect. This study revealed that WA treatment could be an option for NASH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daxesh P Patel
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Tingting Yan
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Donghwan Kim
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Henrique B Dias
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Kristopher W Krausz
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Shioko Kimura
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (D.P.P., T.Y., D.K., H.B.D., K.W.K., S.K., F.J.G.) and Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (H.B.D.)
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14
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Roth JD, Veidal SS, Fensholdt LKD, Rigbolt KTG, Papazyan R, Nielsen JC, Feigh M, Vrang N, Young M, Jelsing J, Adorini L, Hansen HH. Combined obeticholic acid and elafibranor treatment promotes additive liver histological improvements in a diet-induced ob/ob mouse model of biopsy-confirmed NASH. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9046. [PMID: 31227742 PMCID: PMC6588626 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45178-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obeticholic acid (OCA) and elafibranor (ELA) are selective and potent agonists for the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/δ (PPAR-α/δ), respectively. Both agents have demonstrated clinical efficacy in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The present study used OCA and ELA to compare the effects of mono- and combination therapies on metabolic and histological endpoints in Lepob/ob mice with established diet-induced and biopsy-confirmed NASH (ob/ob-NASH). ob/ob-NASH mice were fed the AMLN diet high in trans-fat, fructose and cholesterol for 15 weeks, whereafter they received vehicle, OCA (30 mg/kg, PO, QD), ELA (3, 10 mg/kg, PO, QD), or combinations (OCA + ELA) for eight weeks. Within-subject comparisons were performed on histomorphometric changes, including fractional area of liver fat, galectin-3 and Col1a1. OCA and ELA monotherapies improved all quantitative histopathological parameters and OCA + ELA combinations exerted additive effects on metabolic and histological endpoints. In agreement with their different molecular mechanisms of action, OCA and ELA monotherapies elicited distinct hepatic gene expression profiles and their combination led to profound transcriptome changes associated with further improvements in lipid handling and insulin signaling, suppression of immune responses and reduced extracellular matrix formation. In conclusion, these findings provide preclinical proof-of-concept for combined FXR and PPAR-α/δ agonist-based therapies in NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark Young
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, USA
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15
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Dang Y, Hao S, Zhou W, Zhang L, Ji G. The traditional Chinese formulae Ling-gui-zhu-gan decoction alleviated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via inhibiting PPP1R3C mediated molecules. Altern Ther Health Med 2019; 19:8. [PMID: 30616587 PMCID: PMC6323852 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2424-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Ling-gui-zhu-gan decoction (LGZG), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been confirmed to be effective in improving steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism under the efficacy remains unclear. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of LGZG on alleviating steatosis. Methods Twenty four rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, NAFLD group, fed with high fat diet (HFD) and LGZG group (fed with HFD and supplemented with LGZG). After 4 weeks intervention, blood and liver were collected. Liver steatosis was detected by Oil Red O staining, and blood lipids were biochemically determined. Whole genome genes were detected by RNA-Seq and the significant different genes were verified by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3C (PPP1R3C) and key molecules of glycogen and lipid metabolism were measured by western blot. Chromophore substrate methods measured glycogen phosphorylase (GPa) activity and glycogen content. Results HFD can markedly induce hepatic steatosis and promote liver triglyceride (TG) and serum cholesterol (CHOL) contents, while liver TG and serum CHOL were both markedly decreased by LGZG treatment for 4 weeks. By RNA sequencing, we found that NAFLD rats showed significantly increase of PPP1R3C expression and LGZG reduced its expression. RT-qPCR and Western blot both verified the alteration of PPP1R3C upon LGZG intervention. LGZG also promoted the activity of glycogen phosphorylase liver type (PYGL) and inhibited the activity of glycogen synthase (GS) in NAFLD rats, resulting in glycogenolysis increase and glycogen synthesis decrease in the liver. By detecting glycogen content, we also found that LGZG reduced hepatic glycogen in NAFLD rats. In addition, we analyzed the key molecules in hepatic de novo lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis, and indicated that LGZG markedly inhibited the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol receptor element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), resulting in lipid synthesis decrease in the liver. Conclusion Our data highlighted the role of PPP1R3C targeting pathways, and found that hepatic glycogen metabolism might be the potential target of LGZG in preventing NAFLD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2424-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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