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van der Graaff D, Chotkoe S, De Winter B, De Man J, Casteleyn C, Timmermans JP, Pintelon I, Vonghia L, Kwanten WJ, Francque S. Vasoconstrictor antagonism improves functional and structural vascular alterations and liver damage in rats with early NAFLD. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100412. [PMID: 35036886 PMCID: PMC8749167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background & Aims Intrahepatic vascular resistance is increased in early non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), potentially leading to tissue hypoxia and triggering disease progression. Hepatic vascular hyperreactivity to vasoconstrictors has been identified as an underlying mechanism. This study investigates vasoconstrictive agonism and antagonism in 2 models of early NAFLD and in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (ATII) and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) agonism and antagonism were studied by in situ ex vivo liver perfusion and preventive/therapeutic treatment experiments in a methionine-choline-deficient diet model of steatosis. Furthermore, important results were validated in Zucker fatty rats after 4 or 8 weeks of high-fat high-fructose diet feeding. In vivo systemic and portal pressures, ex vivo transhepatic pressure gradients (THPG) and transaminase levels were measured. Liver tissue was harvested for structural and mRNA analysis. Results The THPG and consequent portal pressure were significantly increased in both models of steatosis and in NASH. ET-1, ATII and TxA2 increased the THPG even further. Bosentan (ET-1 receptor antagonist), valsartan (ATII receptor blocker) and celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) attenuated or even normalised the increased THPG in steatosis. Simultaneously, bosentan and valsartan treatment improved transaminase levels. Moreover, bosentan was able to mitigate the degree of steatosis and restored the disrupted microvascular structure. Finally, beneficial vascular effects of bosentan endured in NASH. Conclusions Antagonism of vasoconstrictive mediators improves intrahepatic vascular function. Both ET-1 and ATII antagonists showed additional benefit and bosentan even mitigated steatosis and structural liver damage. In conclusion, vasoconstrictive antagonism is a potentially promising therapeutic option for the treatment of early NAFLD. Lay summary In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatic blood flow is impaired and the blood pressure in the liver blood vessels is increased as a result of an increased response of the liver vasculature to vasoconstrictors. Using drugs to block the constriction of the intrahepatic vasculature, the resistance of the liver blood vessels decreases and the increased portal pressure is reduced. Moreover, blocking the vasoconstrictive endothelin-1 pathway restored parenchymal architecture and reduced disease severity. The transhepatic pressure gradient and thus portal pressure are increased in severe hepatic steatosis. Vasoconstrictor antagonists attenuate the transhepatic gradient to near normal in steatosis. Vasoconstrictor antagonists attenuate the transhepatic gradient in steatosis. Bosentan and valsartan attenuate increased transaminase levels in severe steatosis. Bosentan treatment decreases steatosis and restores the microvascular architecture.
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Key Words
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- ATII, angiotensin II
- COX, cyclooxygenase
- ET, endothelin
- HFHFD, high-fat high-fructose diet
- IHVR, intrahepatic vascular resistance
- Jak2, Janus-kinase-2
- MCD, methionine-choline deficient diet
- Mx, methoxamine
- NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- NO, nitric oxide
- PP, portal pressure
- PR, pulse rate
- SEM, scanning electron microscopy
- TBW, total body weight
- TEM, transmission electron microscopy
- TXAS, thromboxane synthase
- TxA2, thromboxane A2
- ZFR, Zucker fatty rats
- angiotensin II
- endothelin-1
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- portal hypertension
- thromboxane A2
- transhepatic pressure gradient
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise van der Graaff
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Shivani Chotkoe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Benedicte De Winter
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joris De Man
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Casteleyn
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Timmermans
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabel Pintelon
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luisa Vonghia
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wilhelmus J Kwanten
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.,European Reference Network Rare Hepatic Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER).,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Madhusudhan KS, Kilambi R, Shalimar, Pal S, Sharma R, Srivastava DN. Evaluation of Splenic Stiffness in Patients of Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction Using 2D Shear Wave Elastography: Comparison with Intra-Operative Portal Pressure. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2018; 8:250-255. [PMID: 30302041 PMCID: PMC6175726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare splenic stiffness (SS) with intra-operative portal pressures (PPs) in patients of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). METHODS Twenty-one patients (14 males; 7 females) of mean age 20.4 years with clinical and sonographic diagnosis of EHPVO were included in this approved prospective study. Endoscopy for esophageal varices (EV) was done in all patients followed by ultrasonographic 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) of spleen. Three values were taken at different areas of spleen avoiding major vessels and mean was calculated. Intra-operative PP was measured from an omental vein during proximal spleno-renal shunt surgery. The PP was compared and correlated with SS along with other parameters. RESULTS The mean SS was 46.04 ± 8.0 kPa and the mean PP was 33.29 ± 4.1 mmHg. There was no significant correlation between PP and SS (P = 0.61) and between grades of EV and SS (P = 0.38). Significant correlation was seen between grades of EV and PP (0.04). SS also did not show significant correlation with splenic size or duration of disease. CONCLUSION SS measured by 2D SWE did not correlate with PP and thus may not help in predicting gastrointestinal bleed in patients of EHPVO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumble S. Madhusudhan
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India,Address for correspondence: Kumble S. Madhusudhan, Associate Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
| | - Ragini Kilambi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Shalimar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Sujoy Pal
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Raju Sharma
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Deep N. Srivastava
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
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