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Rodrigues PM, Afonso MB, Simão AL, Islam T, Gaspar MM, O'Rourke CJ, Lewinska M, Andersen JB, Arretxe E, Alonso C, Santos-Laso Á, Izquierdo-Sanchez L, Jimenez-Agüero R, Eizaguirre E, Bujanda L, Pareja MJ, Prip-Buus C, Banales JM, Rodrigues CMP, Castro RE. miR-21-5p promotes NASH-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Liver Int 2023; 43:2256-2274. [PMID: 37534739 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The mechanisms governing the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) towards steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. Here, we evaluated the role of hsa-miRNA-21-5p in NASH-related hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS Hepatic hsa-miR-21-5p expression was evaluated in two cohorts of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 199) or HCC (n = 366 HCC and n = 11 NAFLD-HCC). Serum/liver metabolomic profiles were correlated with hsa-miR-21-5p in NAFLD obese patients. Wild-type (WT) and Mir21 KO mice were fed a choline-deficient, amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet for 32 and 66 weeks to induce NASH and NASH-HCC, respectively. RESULTS In obese individuals, hsa-miR-21-5p expression increased with NAFLD severity and associated with a hepatic lipotoxic profile. CDAA-fed WT mice displayed increased hepatic mmu-miR-21-5p levels and progressively developed NASH and fibrosis, with livers presenting macroscopically discernible pre-neoplastic nodules, hyperplastic foci and deregulated cancer-related pathways. Mir21 KO mice exhibited peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) activation, augmented mitochondrial activity, reduced liver injury and NAS below the threshold for NASH diagnosis, with the pro-inflammatory/fibrogenic milieu reversing to baseline levels. In parallel, Mir21 KO mice displayed reduced number of pre-neoplastic nodules, hepatocyte proliferation and activation of oncogenic signalling, being protected from NASH-associated carcinogenesis. The hsa-miRNA-21-5p/PPARα pathway was similarly deregulated in patients with HCC- or NASH-related HCC, correlating with HCC markers and worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Hsa-miR-21-5p is a key inducer of whole-spectrum NAFLD progression, from simple steatosis to NASH and NASH-associated carcinogenesis. The inhibition of hsa-miR-21-5p, leading to a pro-metabolic profile, might constitute an appealing therapeutic approach to ameliorate NASH and prevent progression towards HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Marta B Afonso
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André L Simão
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tawhidul Islam
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria M Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Colm J O'Rourke
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Monika Lewinska
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper B Andersen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Álvaro Santos-Laso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Laura Izquierdo-Sanchez
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Raúl Jimenez-Agüero
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Emma Eizaguirre
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Luis Bujanda
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carina Prip-Buus
- Université Paris Descartes UMR-S1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Jesus M Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui E Castro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Marques V, Afonso MB, Bierig N, Duarte-Ramos F, Santos-Laso Á, Jimenez-Agüero R, Eizaguirre E, Bujanda L, Pareja MJ, Luís R, Costa A, Machado MV, Alonso C, Arretxe E, Alustiza JM, Krawczyk M, Lammert F, Tiniakos DG, Flehmig B, Cortez-Pinto H, Banales JM, Castro RE, Normann A, Rodrigues CMP. Adiponectin, Leptin, and IGF-1 Are Useful Diagnostic and Stratification Biomarkers of NAFLD. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:683250. [PMID: 34249975 PMCID: PMC8260936 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.683250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease where liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Here we aimed to evaluate the role of circulating adiponectin, leptin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels as non-invasive NAFLD biomarkers and assess their correlation with the metabolome. Materials and Methods: Leptin, adiponectin, and IGF-1 serum levels were measured by ELISA in two independent cohorts of biopsy-proven obese NAFLD patients and healthy-liver controls (discovery: 38 NAFLD, 13 controls; validation: 194 NAFLD, 31 controls) and correlated with clinical data, histology, genetic parameters, and serum metabolomics. Results: In both cohorts, leptin increased in NAFLD vs. controls (discovery: AUROC 0.88; validation: AUROC 0.83; p < 0.0001). The leptin levels were similar between obese and non-obese healthy controls, suggesting that obesity is not a confounding factor. In the discovery cohort, adiponectin was lower in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) vs. non-alcoholic fatty liver (AUROC 0.87; p < 0.0001). For the validation cohort, significance was attained for homozygous for PNPLA3 allele c.444C (AUROC 0.63; p < 0.05). Combining adiponectin with specific serum lipids improved the assay performance (AUROC 0.80; p < 0.0001). For the validation cohort, IGF-1 was lower with advanced fibrosis (AUROC 0.67, p < 0.05), but combination with international normalized ratio (INR) and ferritin increased the assay performance (AUROC 0.81; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Serum leptin discriminates NAFLD, and adiponectin combined with specific lipids stratifies NASH. IGF-1, INR, and ferritin distinguish advanced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanda Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta B Afonso
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Filipa Duarte-Ramos
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Álvaro Santos-Laso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Raul Jimenez-Agüero
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Emma Eizaguirre
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Luis Bujanda
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain.,National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rita Luís
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adília Costa
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariana V Machado
- Faculdade de Medicina, Clinica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Enara Arretxe
- OWL Metabolomics, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - José M Alustiza
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain.,Radiology Service, Osatek, Donostia, Spain
| | - Marcin Krawczyk
- Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Metabolic Liver Diseases, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Frank Lammert
- Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Dina G Tiniakos
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Department of Pathology, Aretaieio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Faculdade de Medicina, Clinica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jesus M Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain.,National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), Madrid, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Rui E Castro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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