Yang S, Zhang R, Deng W, Chang S, Li Y, Li S. Pirfenidone ameliorates liver steatosis by targeting the STAT3-SCD1 axis.
Inflamm Res 2023;
72:1773-1787. [PMID:
37659014 DOI:
10.1007/s00011-023-01776-2]
[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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies reported that pirfenidone (PFD) is associated with liver disease. However, the effects of pirfenidone on energy metabolism and hepatic lipid accumulation are still poorly understood.
METHODS
In this study, C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, and fed a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. At the end of the eighth week, half of the mice fed on both diets were treated with PFD. Biochemical and lipid metabolism-related indices were analyzed. Furthermore, Hepa 1-6 cells and mouse primary hepatocytes (MPHs) were incubated with PFD with or without free fatty acid (FFA) treatment. Then, stattic (a p-STAT3 inhibitor) or Ad-shSTAT3 was used to further elucidate the effects of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling on PFD regulation of hepatic steatosis.
RESULTS
PFD ameliorated obesity and hepatic lipid deposition in HFD mice by decreasing stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) expression and upregulating p-STAT3 in the liver. In Hepa 1-6 cells and MPHs, PFD also down-regulated the expression of SCD1. STAT3 inhibition treatment eliminated the benefits of PFD on both SCD1 and hepatic steatosis.
CONCLUSION
In summary, our data reveal that PFD may play an important role in mitigating hepatic steatosis in a STAT3-SCD1-dependent manner.
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