Ethnicity-specific alterations of plasma and hepatic lipidomic profiles are related to high NAFLD rate and severity in Hispanic Americans, a pilot study

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive condition that includes steatosis (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In the U.S., Hispanics (HIS) are afflicted with NAFLD at a higher rate and severity compared to other ethnicities. To date, the mechanisms underlying this disparity have not been elucidated. In this pilot study, we compared untargeted plasma metabolomic profiles for primary metabolism, complex lipids, choline and related compounds between a group of HIS (n = 7) and White Caucasian (CAU, n = 8) subjects with obesity and biopsy-characterized NAFL to ethnicity-matched lean healthy controls (n = 14 HIS and 8 CAU). We also compared liver and plasma metabolomic profiles in a group of HIS and CAU subjects with obesity and NASH of comparable NAFLD Activity Scores, to BMI-matched NASH-free subjects in both ethnicities. Results highlight signs of metabolic dysregulation observed in HIS, independent of obesity, including higher plasma triglycerides, acylcarnitines, and free fatty acids. With NASH progression, there were ethnicity-related differences in the hepatic profile, including higher free fatty acids and lysophospholipids seen in HIS, suggesting lipotoxicity is involved in the progression of NASH. We also observed greater hepatic triglyceride content, higher plasma triglyceride concentrations and lower hepatic phospholipids with signs of impaired hepatic mitochondrial β-oxidation. These findings provide preliminary evidence indicating ethnicity-related variations that could potentially modulate the risk for progression of NALD to NASH.

IL28B genotype and the expression of ISGs in normal liver

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Both polymorphisms in the IL28B gene locus and ISG expression levels are associated with the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The two are also interrelated, although the mechanism is unknown. Favourable CC genotype at rs12979860 expresses lower baseline ISG levels and responds better to treatment than unfavourable CT and TT genotypes. Little is known about this relationship in normal, uninfected liver. This study sought to explore this relationship.

METHODS

Normal human liver specimens (64) and HCV positive human liver specimens (95) were genotyped for IL28B rs12979860 C > T. mRNA levels of ISGs and other relevant genes were studied by qPCR.

RESULTS

Most studied ISGs had significantly different expression by IL28B genotype in normal liver. CC genotype expressed the highest levels, CT intermediate and TT the lowest. This is opposite to the pattern seen in HCV patients. Principal component analysis of IL28B genotype and ISG expression further revealed a distinct set of genes correlated with the C allele (ISG15, HTATIP2, LGALS3BP, IRF2 and BCL2) and T allele (IFNα, β, γ, λ3 and CD80).

CONCLUSION

A subset of ISGs was found to be differentially expressed in normal liver by IL28B genotype. This suggests a relationship between IL28B genotype and gene expression before HCV infection.

The association between the SLC6A3 VNTR 9-repeat allele and alcoholism-a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3) represents a promising candidate involved in the development of alcoholism. This study aimed to explore the association between the 9-repeat allele (A9) of a 40-bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the 3' un-translated region (3' UTR) of the SLC6A3 gene and alcoholism.

METHODS

The SLC6A3 VNTR was genotyped by PCR in unrelated Mexican Americans including 337 controls and 365 alcoholics. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the genotype and allele distribution. Meta-analyses were performed for population-based case-control association studies of the SLC6A3 VNTR polymorphism with alcoholism. Data were analyzed under random effect models with the Comprehensive Meta-analysis (v.2) statistical software package.

RESULTS

In Mexican Americans, no significant difference was found in allele and genotype distribution between controls and alcoholics or between controls and alcoholics with alcohol withdrawal seizure (AWS) or delirium tremens (DT) (unadjusted p > 0.05). A total of 13 research articles were included in the meta-analyses. No significant difference of the SLC6A3 VNTR A9 was noted between controls and alcoholics at the genotypic and allelic level when all ethnic populations, only Caucasian populations, or only Asian populations were considered (p > 0.05). Significant associations were observed between SLC6A3 VNTR A9 and alcoholics with AWS or DT at the genotypic as well as allelic level when all ethnic populations or only Caucasian populations were considered (p < 0.05, OR 1.5-2.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Meta-analyses suggest a possible association between the SLC6A3 VNTR A9 and alcoholic subgroup with AWS or DT.

Retinoid X receptor alpha Regulates the expression of glutathione s-transferase genes and modulates acetaminophen-glutathione conjugation in mouse liver

Nuclear receptors, including constitutive androstane receptor, pregnane X receptor, and retinoid X receptor (RXR), modulate acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the expression of phase I cytochrome P450 (P450) genes. It has not been fully resolved, however, whether they regulate APAP detoxification at the phase II level. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of RXRalpha in phase II enzyme-mediated detoxification of APAP. Wild-type and hepatocyte-specific RXRalpha knockout mice were treated with a toxic dose of APAP (500 mg/kg i.p.). Mutant mice were protected from APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, even though basal liver glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly lower in mutant mice compared with those of wild-type mice. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of APAP metabolites revealed significantly greater levels of APAP-GSH conjugates in livers and bile of mutant mice compared with those of wild-type mice. Furthermore, hepatocyte RXRalpha deficiency altered the gene expression profile of the glutathione S-transferase (Gst) family. Basal expression of 13 of 15 Gst genes studied was altered in hepatocyte-specific RXRalpha-deficient mice. This probably led to enhanced APAP-GSH conjugation and reduced accumulation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, a toxic electrophile that is produced by biotransformation of APAP by phase I P450 enzymes. In conclusion, the data presented in this study define an RXRalpha-Gst regulatory network that controls APAP-GSH conjugation. This report reveals a potential novel strategy to enhance the detoxification of APAP or other xenobiotics by manipulating Gst activity through RXRalpha-mediated pathways.

Retinoid X receptor alpha regulates glutathione homeostasis and xenobiotic detoxification processes in mouse liver

Retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) plays a pivotal role in regulating liver metabolism. RXRalpha-mediated gene expression involved in amino acid metabolism was examined using the NIA Mouse 15K cDNA microarray containing 15,000 different expressed sequence tags. Seven amino acid metabolic genes, three of which encode enzymes involved in phase II detoxification process, were identified as RXRalpha target genes in mouse liver. Glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutathione S-transferasemu, and glutathione peroxidase 1 were down-regulated in the liver of hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient mice. The down-regulation of GCLC in RXRalpha-deficient mice led to 40% and 45% reductions in the rate of glutathione (GSH) synthesis and level of hepatic GSH, respectively. Primary hepatocytes from RXRalpha-deficient mice were more sensitive to t-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. However, GSH diminished RXRalpha-deficient mice were resistant to acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. Analysis of phase I detoxification genes revealed that CYP1A2 and CYP3A11 were up-regulated in wild-type mice but down-regulated in RXRalpha-deficient mice after APAP administration. Taken together, the data indicate that RXRalpha centrally regulates both phase I and phase II drug metabolism and detoxification. Regulation of hepatic GSH levels by RXRalpha is essential to protect hepatocytes from oxidative stress, whereas up-regulation of phase I drug metabolism genes by RXRalpha may render the liver more sensitive to APAP-induced toxicity.

RXRα mRNA expression is associated with cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation in Hep3B cell

Retinoids are well-characterized differentiation and anti-proliferation agents. The functional role of retinoid x receptor alpha (RXRalpha) in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation is not well understood. Using human Hep3B cell line, we showed that the mRNA level of RXRalpha was closely associated with cell growth. RXRalpha mRNA expression elevated along with the proliferation of Hep3B cells. This association was most evident in RXRalpha and was also noted with retinoic acid (RA) receptor alpha (RARalpha), but not found in other RARs and RXRs. The expression of RXRalpha and cyclin A mRNA was co-regulated when Hep3B cells were cultured in serum-free medium. The mRNA levels of RXRalpha and cyclin A appeared to be highest in G1/S phase in Hep3B cells treated by aphidicolin. Taken together, our data suggest that RXRalpha may be actively involved in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation in Hep3B cells.

RXRalpha-regulated liver SAMe and GSH levels influence susceptibility to alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity

Retinoids influence the pathogenesis of alcohol liver disease (ALD). To analyze the impact of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) on ALD, alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity was studied using mice fed ethanol intragastrically for 25 days. Alcohol-induced microvesicular fat around the central vein and drug-induced morphological changes (loss of rough endoplasmic reticulum, pinkish cytoplasm, and enlarged hepatocyte) in the pericentral area were observed in the liver of wild-type mice. In the hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient mouse liver, alcohol induced fat accumulation, mitosis, acute inflammation, and necrosis. The histology score after alcohol treatment was significantly higher in mutant mice than in wild-type mice. However, drug-induced morphological changes were not apparent in alcohol-treated hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient mice. Northern analysis showed that the basal and alcohol-induced CYP2B, CYP2A, and CYP3A mRNA levels were lower in hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient mice than in wild-type mice, which in turn may protect mutant mice from morphological changes. Compared with wild-type mice, hepatocyte RXRalpha-deficient mice have significant lower levels of S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione, which is further reduced after alcohol treatment, and that may account for severe liver injury induced by alcohol. The overall result suggests an important role of RXRalpha in preventing alcohol-induced liver injury.

Long-term, low-dose lead exposure alters the gonadotropin-releasing hormone system in the male rat

Lead is a male reproductive toxicant. Data suggest that rats dosed with relatively high levels of lead acetate for short periods of time induced changes in the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at the molecular level, but these changes were attenuated with increased concentration of exposure. The current study evaluated whether exposure to low levels of lead acetate over longer periods of time would produce a similar pattern of adaptation to toxicity at the molecular and biologic levels. Adult 100-day-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were dosed with 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3% lead acetate in water. Animals were killed after 1, 4, 8, and 16 weeks of treatment. Luteinzing hormone (LH) and GnRH levels were measured in serum, and lead levels were quantified in whole blood. Hypothalamic GnRH mRNA levels were also quantified. We found no significant differences in serum LH and GnRH among the groups of animals treated within each time period. A significant dose-related increase of GnRH mRNA concentrations with lead dosing occurred in animals treated for 1 week. Animals treated for more than 1 week also exhibited a significant increase in GnRH mRNA, but with an attenuation of the increase at the higher concentrations of lead with increased duration of exposure. We conclude that the signals within and between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland appear to be disrupted by long-term, low-dose lead exposure.