scholarly journals Rubicon inhibits autophagy and accelerates hepatocyte apoptosis and lipid accumulation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

Hepatology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1994-2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Tanaka ◽  
Hayato Hikita ◽  
Tomohide Tatsumi ◽  
Ryotaro Sakamori ◽  
Yasutoshi Nozaki ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Erjiong Huang ◽  
Ke Xu ◽  
Xuemei Gu ◽  
Qihan Zhu

PIN2/TRF1-interacting telomerase inhibitor 1 (PinX1) can inhibit tumor growth by inhibiting telomerase activity. However, only few studies investigated the expression and function of PinX1 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thus, here we aimed to explore the roles of PinX1 in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD in mice and in isolated hepatocytes. The mRNA expression of PinX1 and mTERT as well as telomere length were analyzed by RT-PCR. Pathological changes were detected by HE staining and oil red O staining. Triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartic aminotransferase, and telomerase activity were detected by ELISA. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined by TUNEL and flow cytometry, and protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. We found that the expression of PinX1 was upregulated in the HFD group compared with the WT group. <i>PinX1</i> knockout improved HFD-induced liver injury in mice and exhibited less lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Moreover, telomere length, telomerase activity, and mTERT expression were significantly reduced in liver tissues of HFD-induced mice and palmitic acid-induced hepatocytes, while <i>PinX1</i> knockout attenuated the effect. Furthermore, HFD-induced <i>PinX1</i><sup>−/−</sup> mice exhibited less hepatocyte apoptosis than HFD-induced WT mice. Besides, <i>PinX1</i> knockout inhibited the increase of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP expression in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, inhibition of mTERT reversed the effect of <i>PinX1</i> knockout in hepatocytes. Taken together, our findings indicate that PinX1 promotes hepatocyte apoptosis and lipid accumulation by decreasing telomere length and telomerase activity in the development of NAFLD. PinX1 might be a target for the treatment of NAFLD.


2012 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciaran E. Fealy ◽  
Jacob M. Haus ◽  
Thomas P. J. Solomon ◽  
Mangesh Pagadala ◽  
Chris A. Flask ◽  
...  

Increased hepatocyte apoptosis is a hallmark of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and contributes to the profibrogenic state responsible for the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Strategies aimed at reducing apoptosis may result in better outcomes for individuals with NAFLD. We therefore examined the effect of a short-term exercise program on markers of apoptosis—plasma cytokeratin 18 (CK18) fragments, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), soluble Fas (sFas), and sFas ligand (sFasL)—in 13 obese individuals with NAFLD [body mass index 35.2 ± 1.2 kg/m2, >5% intrahepatic lipid (IHL) assessed by 1H-MR spectroscopy]. Exercise consisted of treadmill walking for 60 min/day on 7 consecutive days at ∼85% of maximal heart rate. Additionally, subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and a maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max) test before and after the exercise intervention. The Matsuda index was used to assess insulin sensitivity. We observed significant decreases in CK18 fragments (558.4 ± 106.8 vs. 323.4 ± 72.5 U/l, P < 0.01) and ALT (30.2 ± 5.1 vs. 24.3 ± 4.8 U/l, P < 0.05), and an increase in whole body fat oxidation (49.3 ± 6.1 vs. 69.4 ± 7.1 mg/min, P < 0.05), while decreases in circulating sFasL approached statistical significance (66.5 ± 6.0 vs. 63.0 ± 5.7 pg/ml, P = 0.06), as did the relationship between percent change in circulating CK18 fragments and ALT (r = 0.55, P = 0.05). We also observed a significant correlation between changes in fat oxidation and circulating sFasL (rho = −0.65, P < 0.05). There was no change in IHL following the intervention (18.2 ± 2.5 vs. 17.5 ± 2.1%, NS). We conclude that short-term exercise reduces a circulatory marker of hepatocyte apoptosis in obese individuals with NAFLD and propose that changes in the proapoptotic environment may be mediated through improved insulin sensitivity and increased oxidative capacity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Yong Zou ◽  
Zhengtang Qi

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is globally prevalent and characterized by abnormal lipid accumulation in the liver, frequently accompanied by insulin resistance (IR), enhanced hepatic inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent studies showed that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) at the subcellular level underlies these featured pathologies in the development of NAFLD. As an effective treatment, exercise significantly reduces hepatic lipid accumulation and thus alleviates NAFLD. Confusingly, these benefits of exercise are associated with increased or decreased ERS in the liver. Further, the interaction between diet, medication, exercise types, and intensity in ERS regulation is more confusing, though most studies have confirmed the benefits of exercise. In this review, we focus on understanding the role of exercise-modulated ERS in NAFLD and ERS-linked molecular pathways. Moderate ERS is an essential signaling for hepatic lipid homeostasis. Higher ERS may lead to increased inflammation and apoptosis in the liver, while lower ERS may lead to the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Therefore, exercise acts like an igniter or extinguisher to keep ERS at an appropriate level by turning it up or down, which depends on diet, medications, exercise intensity, etc. Exercise not only enhances hepatic tolerance to ERS but also prevents the malignant development of steatosis due to excessive ERS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhe Cui ◽  
Qiuju Wang ◽  
Renxu Chang ◽  
Ahmad Aboragah ◽  
Juan J. Loor ◽  
...  

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth/Huo Xiang (HX) is a perennial herb with unique anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus, can positively affect liver function. In this study, we used network pharmacology to predict the potential mechanism of HX on NAFLD. Pharmacological experiments were used to verify the effect of HX on the functions of NAFLD. Network pharmacology identified nine components that interacted with 82 NAFLD-related targets, revealing four target genes: TNF, IL6, TP53, and AKT1. HX prevents the development and progression of NAFLD through different pathways and targets with quercetin-regulated lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant pathways playing an essential role in the treatment of NAFLD. Compared with feeding HFD, HX significantly attenuated lipid accumulation in vivo with mice and also in vitro with mouse liver cells. A high dose of HX decreased hepatocyte lipid accumulation and the abundance of SREBF1 and FASN. Validation experiments revealed that HX inhibited the activation of NF-κB/IκB signaling and decreased the release and levels of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6). These data suggest that HX can attenuate abnormal lipid metabolic responses and enhance antioxidant mechanisms. Thus, the pharmacological effects from plants used in traditional Chinese medicine are achievde through a multi-level response.


Planta Medica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (08) ◽  
pp. 678-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Long Hu ◽  
Ya-Jun Niu ◽  
Mi Chen ◽  
Jia-Hao Feng ◽  
Wei Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Abrus pulchellus subsp. mollis (Hance) Verdc. (Leguminosae) is a well-known edible plant usually added to soups and beverages. In this study, vicenin-2 (1), isoschaftoside (2), schaftoside (3), and their enrichment fraction, total flavonoid C-glycosides, derived from the extracts of A. mollis, were firstly found to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, total flavonoid C-glycosides decreased the lipid accumulation in oleic acid-treated HepG2 cells. The mechanisms of total flavonoid C-glycosides are involved in the regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and its downstream, and the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines. In high-fat diet-induced fatty liver rats, total flavonoid C-glycosides decreased the levels of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminease and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and decreased the lipid accumulation both in the liver and blood without affecting food intake. In addition, total flavonoid C-glycosides also increased the activities of the antioxidant enzyme system in vivo. In conclusion, total flavonoid C-glycosides are active components of A. mollis on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and can be used in functional food and supplements for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevention and treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Luping Ren ◽  
Guangyao Song ◽  
Pu Zhang ◽  
Liying Yang ◽  
...  

Background: Autophagy was recently regarded as a potential mechanism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Silibinin (SIL), a natural flavonoid, has been used to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of SIL on hepatic steatosis and the possible link with autophagy. Methods: The degree of hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cells was observed by oil-red O staining and triglyceride content. The effect of SIL on autophagy was tested by the Autophagy Detection Kit, and the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (srebp-1), Fatty Acid Synthase (Fas), light chain 3, beclin-1, p62, AMP-activated Kinase (AMPK), and mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR) was examined by western blots. Results: The lipid accumulation of HepG2 cells increased significantly in the high-fructose group compared to the control group. After SIL intervention, lipid accumulation was decreased. Using a fluorescence microscope, SIL was found to induce autophagy. Compared to control, the expressions of srebp-1, Fas, and phosphorylated-mTOR were increased by high-fructose, while the expressions of light chain 3 and beclin-1 decreased and srebp-1, Fas, and p62 were increased by autophagy inhibition. In contrast, opposite results were found in the SIL intervention group. The protein content of phosphorylated- mTOR was decreased, while phosphorylated-AMPK was increased in the SIL group compared to the high-fructose group. Conclusion: SIL can reduce lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells exposed to high-fructose by inducing autophagy. The AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway could be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms.


2010 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 3039-3047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuva B. Dahl ◽  
John Willy Haukeland ◽  
Arne Yndestad ◽  
Trine Ranheim ◽  
Ivar P. Gladhaug ◽  
...  

Abstract Context: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in Western and non-Western countries, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Objective: Based on the role of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) in fat and glucose metabolism and cell survival, we hypothesized a role for NAMPT/visfatin in the pathogenesis of NAFLD-related disease. Design and Setting: We conducted clinical studies at a referral medical center in well-characterized NAFLD patients (n = 58) and healthy controls (n = 27). In addition we performed experimental in vitro studies in hepatocytes. Main Outcome Measures: We examined 1) the hepatic and systemic expression of NAMPT/visfatin in patients with NAFLD and control subjects, 2) the hepatic regulation of NAMPT/visfatin, and 3) the effect of NAMPT/visfatin on hepatocyte apoptosis. Results: Our main findings were as follows. 1) Patients with NAFLD had decreased NAMPT/visfatin expression both systemically in serum and within the hepatic tissue, with no difference between simple steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. 2) By studying the hepatic regulation of NAMPT/visfatin in wild-type and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR)α−/− mice as well as in hepatocytes, we showed that PPARα activation and glucose may be involved in the down-regulation of hepatic NAMPT/visfatin expression in NAFLD. 4) Within the liver, NAMPT/visfatin was located to hepatocytes, and our in vitro studies showed that NAMPT/visfatin exerts antiapoptotic effects in these cells, involving enzymatic synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we suggest a role for decreased NAMPT/visfatin levels in hepatocyte apoptosis in NAFLD-related disease.


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