Role of Oxidative Stress and Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Exploiting gender-based biomarkers and drug targets: advancing personalized therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma

This review systematically examines gender differences in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), identifying the influence of sex hormones, genetic variance, and environmental factors on the disease's epidemiology and treatment outcomes. Recognizing the liver as a sexually dimorphic organ, we highlight how gender-specific risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and obesity, contribute differently to hepatocarcinogenesis in men and women. We explore molecular mechanisms, including the differential expression of androgen and estrogen receptors, which mediate diverse pathways in tumor biology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Our analysis underscores the critical need for gender-specific research in liver cancer, from molecular studies to clinical trials, to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic effectiveness. By incorporating a gender perspective into all facets of liver cancer research, we advocate for a more precise and personalized approach to cancer treatment that acknowledges gender as a significant factor in both the progression of HCC and its response to treatment. This review aims to foster a deeper understanding of the biological and molecular bases of gender differences in HCC and to promote the development of tailored interventions that enhance outcomes for all patients.

GPAT3 deficiency attenuates corticosterone-caused hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress through GSK3β/Nrf2 signals

The development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may worsen due to chronic stress or prolonged use of glucocorticoids. Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 3 (GPAT3), has a function in obesity and serves as a key rate-limiting enzyme that regulates triglyceride synthesis. However, the precise impact of GPAT3 on corticosterone (CORT)-induced NAFLD and its underlying molecular mechanism remain unclear. For our in vivo experiments, we utilized male and female mice that were GPAT3-/- and wild type (WT) and treated them with CORT for a duration of 4 weeks. In our in vitro experiments, we transfected AML12 cells with GPAT3 siRNA and subsequently treated them with CORT. Under CORT-treated conditions, the absence of GPAT3 greatly improved obesity and hepatic steatosis while enhancing the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, as evidenced by our findings. In addition, the deletion of GPAT3 significantly inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the expression of antioxidant genes, and recovered the mitochondrial membrane potential in AML12 cells treated with CORT. In terms of mechanism, the absence of GPAT3 encouraged the activation of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)/nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, which served as a defense mechanism against liver fat accumulation and oxidative stress. Furthermore, GPAT3 expression was directly controlled at the transcriptional level by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Collectively, our findings suggest that GPAT3 deletion significantly alleviated hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress through promoting GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling pathways.