IL-1 Signaling in Obesity-Induced Hepatic Lipogenesis and Steatosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is prevalent in human obesity and type 2 diabetes, and is characterized by increases in both hepatic triglyceride accumulation (denoted as steatosis) and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β. We report here that the development of hepatic steatosis requires IL-1 signaling, which upregulates Fatty acid synthase to promote hepatic lipogenesis. Using clodronate liposomes to selectively deplete liver Kupffer cells in ob/ob mice, we observed remarkable amelioration of obesity-induced hepatic steatosis and reductions in liver weight, triglyceride content and lipogenic enzyme expressions. Similar results were obtained with diet-induced obese mice, although visceral adipose tissue macrophage depletion also occurred in response to clodronate liposomes in this model. There were no differences in the food intake, whole body metabolic parameters, serum β-hydroxybutyrate levels or lipid profiles due to clodronate-treatment, but hepatic cytokine gene expressions including IL-1β were decreased. Conversely, treatment of primary mouse hepatocytes with IL-1β significantly increased triglyceride accumulation and Fatty acid synthase expression. Furthermore, the administration of IL-1 receptor antagonist to obese mice markedly reduced obesity-induced steatosis and hepatic lipogenic gene expression. Collectively, our findings suggest that IL-1β signaling upregulates hepatic lipogenesis in obesity, and is essential for the induction of pathogenic hepatic steatosis in obese mice.     

Interleukin-38 alleviates hepatic steatosis through AMPK/autophagy-mediated suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress in obesity models

Interleukin-38 (IL-38), recently recognized as a cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties that mitigate type 2 diabetes, has been associated with indicators of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated the impact of IL-38 on hepatic lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We assessed protein expression levels using Western blot analysis, while monodansylcadaverine staining was employed to detect autophagosomes in hepatocytes. Oil red O staining was utilized to examine lipid deposition. The study revealed elevated serum IL-38 levels in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and IL-38 secretion from mouse keratinocytes. IL-38 treatment attenuated lipogenic lipid accumulation and ER stress markers in hepatocytes exposed to palmitate. Furthermore, IL-38 treatment increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and autophagy. The effects of IL-38 on lipogenic lipid deposition and ER stress were nullified in cultured hepatocytes by suppressing AMPK through small interfering (si) RNA or 3-methyladenine (3MA). In animal studies, IL-38 administration mitigated hepatic steatosis by suppressing the expression of lipogenic proteins and ER stress markers while reversing AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy markers in the livers of HFD-fed mice. Additionally, AMPK siRNA, but not 3MA, mitigated IL-38-enhanced fatty acid oxidation in hepatocytes. In summary, IL-38 alleviates hepatic steatosis through AMPK/autophagy signaling-dependent attenuation of ER stress and enhancement of fatty acid oxidation via the AMPK pathway, suggesting a therapeutic strategy for treating NAFLD.     

Niacin increases diet-induced hepatic steatosis in B6129 mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder affecting between 20 and 30% of adults in the United States. However, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for treating NAFLD. Niacin, a water-soluble vitamin (B3), at pharmacological doses, decreases hepatic triglyceride (TG) content in NAFLD through inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, a key enzyme that catalyzes the final step in TG synthesis. Alternatively, some studies indicate that niacin induces fatty liver in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether niacin is beneficial in treating NAFLD in two strains of mice, C57BL/6J (B6) and B6129SF2/J (B6129) mice, with 20 weeks of HFD feeding. Niacin treatment was started from week 5 until the end of the study. Niacin treatment increased normalized liver weight, hepatic TG content and NAFLD score in HFD-fed B6129 mice but had no impact on B6 mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that in B6129 mice, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid (4-HPP), which is associated with fatty acid oxidation, did not change with HFD feeding but significantly decreased with niacin treatment. Lipidomics analysis discovered that the abundance of phosphocholine (PC), which is critical for very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)–TG production and secretion, was decreased in HFD-fed B6129 with niacin treatment. In conclusion, niacin had no impact on diet-induced NAFLD development in B6 mice but potentiated hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed B6129 mice due to impaired fatty acid oxidation and decreased VLDL-TG production and secretion.     

Lipocalin 13 protein protects against hepatic steatosis by both inhibiting lipogenesis and stimulating fatty acid β-oxidation

Obesity is associated with hepatic steatosis, partially due to increased lipogenesis and decreased fatty acid β-oxidation in the liver; however, the underlying mechanism of abnormal lipid metabolism is not fully understood. We reported previously that obesity is associated with LCN13 (lipocalin 13) deficiency. LCN13 is a lipocalin family member involved in glucose metabolism, and LCN13 deficiency appears to contribute to hyperglycemia in obese mice. Here, we show that LCN13 is also an important regulator of lipogenesis and β-oxidation in the liver. In primary hepatocytes, recombinant LCN13 directly suppressed lipogenesis and increased fatty acid β-oxidation, whereas neutralization of endogenous LCN13 had an opposite effect. Transgenic overexpression of LCN13 protected against hepatic steatosis in mice with either dietary or genetic (ob/ob) obesity. LCN13 transgenic overexpression also improved hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance in ob/ob mice. Short-term LCN13 overexpression via an adenovirus-mediated gene transfer similarly attenuated hepatic steatosis in db/db mice. LCN13 inhibited the expression of important lipogenic genes and stimulated the genes that promote β-oxidation. These results suggest that LCN13 decreases liver lipid levels by both inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis and stimulating β-oxidation. LCN13 deficiency is likely to contribute to fatty liver disease in obese mice.     

Effect of Octreotide on Hepatic Steatosis in Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by liver lipid dysregulation is linked to obesity. Somatostatin (SST) and its analogs have been used to treat pediatric hypothalamic obesity. However, the application of such drugs for the treatment of NAFLD has not been evaluated.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of important regulators of hepatic lipid metabolism and the possible effect of the SST analog octreotide on these regulators.

Methods

SD rats were assigned to a control group and a high-fat diet group. Obese rats from the high-fat diet group were further divided into the obese and octreotide-treated groups. The body weight, plasma SST, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were measured. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated based on the liver TG content, HE staining and oil red O staining. The SREBP-1c, ACC1, FAS, MTP, apoB and ADRP expression levels in the liver were also determined by RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, western blot or ELISA.

Results

The obese rats induced by high-fat diet expressed more SREBP-1c, FAS and ADRP but less MTP protein in the liver than those of control rats, whereas octreotide intervention reversed these changes and increased the level of apoB protein. Compared to the control group, obese rats showed increased liver ACC1, SREBP-1c and apoB mRNA levels, whereas octreotide-treated rats showed decreased mRNA levels of apoB and SREBP-1c. This was accompanied by increased body weight, liver TG contents, FPG, TG, TC, LDL-C, FFA, insulin and derived homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) values. Octreotide intervention significantly decreased these parameters. Compared to the control group, the obese group showed a decreasing trend on plasma SST levels, which were significantly increased by the octreotide intervention.

Conclusion

Octreotide can ameliorate hepatic steatosis in obese rats, possibly by decreasing hepatic lipogenesis and increasing TG export from hepatocytes.     

GCN2 deficiency protects against high fat diet induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic lipid deposition and oxidative stress. It has been demonstrated that general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) is required to maintain hepatic fatty acid homeostasis under conditions of amino acid deprivation. However, the impact of GCN2 on the development of NAFLD has not been investigated. In this study, we used Gcn2^?/? mice to investigate the effect of GCN2 on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis. After HFD feeding for 12?weeks, Gcn2^?/? mice were less obese than wild-type (WT) mice, and Gcn2^?/? significantly attenuated HFD-induced liver dysfunction, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. In the livers of the HFD-fed mice, GCN2 deficiency resulted in higher levels of lipolysis genes, lower expression of genes related to FA synthesis, transport and lipogenesis, and less induction of oxidative stress. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of GCN2 attenuated, whereas overexpression of GCN2 exacerbated, palmitic acid-induced steatosis, oxidative & ER stress, and changes of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and metallothionein (MT) expression in HepG2 cells. Collectively, our data provide evidences that GCN2 deficiency protects against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting lipogenesis and reducing oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that strategies to inhibit GCN2 activity in the liver may provide a novel approach to attenuate NAFLD development.     

Adaptive failure to high-fat diet characterizes steatohepatitis in Alms1 mutant mice

The biochemical differences between simple steatosis, a benign liver disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which leads to cirrhosis, are unclear. Fat aussie is an obese mouse strain with a truncating mutation (foz) in the Alms1 gene. Chow-fed female foz/foz mice develop obesity, diabetes, and simple steatosis. We fed foz/foz and wildtype mice a high-fat diet. Foz/foz mice developed serum ALT elevation and severe steatohepatitis with hepatocyte ballooning, inflammation, and fibrosis; wildtype mice showed simple steatosis. Biochemical pathways favoring hepatocellular lipid accumulation (fatty acid uptake; lipogenesis) and lipid disposal (fatty acid beta-oxidation; triglyceride egress) were both induced by high-fat feeding in wildtype but not foz/foz mice. The resulting extremely high hepatic triglyceride levels were associated with induction of mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 and adipocyte-specific fatty acid binding protein-2, but not cytochrome P4502e1 or lipid peroxidation. In this model of metabolic syndrome, transition of steatosis to steatohepatitis was associated with hypoadiponectinemia, a mediator of hepatic fatty acid disposal pathways.     

Tuberous sclerosis complex-1 deficiency attenuates diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is causally linked to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. In a normal liver, insulin suppresses gluconeogenesis and promotes lipogenesis. In type 2 diabetes, the liver exhibits selective insulin resistance by failing to inhibit hepatic glucose production while maintaining triglyceride synthesis. Evidence suggests that the insulin pathway bifurcates downstream of Akt to regulate these two processes. Specifically, mTORC1 has been implicated in lipogenesis, but its role on hepatic steatosis has not been examined. Here, we generated mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Tsc1 to study the effects of constitutive mTORC1 activation in the liver. These mice developed normally but displayed mild hepatomegaly and insulin resistance without obesity. Unexpectedly, the Tsc1-null livers showed minimal signs of steatosis even under high-fat diet condition. This 'resistant' phenotype was reversed by rapamycin and could be overcome by the expression of Myr-Akt. Moreover, rapamycin failed to reduce hepatic triglyceride levels in models of steatosis secondary to Pten ablation in hepatocytes or high-fat diet in wild-type mice. These observations suggest that mTORC1 is neither necessary nor sufficient for steatosis. Instead, Akt and mTORC1 have opposing effects on hepatic lipid accumulation such that mTORC1 protects against diet-induced steatosis. Specifically, mTORC1 activity induces a metabolic shift towards fat utilization and glucose production in the liver. These findings provide novel insights into the role of mTORC1 in hepatic lipid metabolism.     

The role of AMPKα2 in the HFD-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with hepatic steatosis, inflammation and liver fibrosis and has become one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of hepatic steatosis and the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not fully understood. Herein, we discovered that AMPKα2 catalytic subunit showed reduced expression in the liver following high fat diet (HFD) feeding to mice. Importantly, knockout of AMPKα2 in mice aggravated NAFLD, hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. On the other hand, hepatocyte-targeted overexpression of AMPKα2 prevented or reversed NAFLD indications. In vivo mechanistic studies revealed that increased phosphorylation of IKKα/β and NF-κB in HFD-fed AMPKα2^−/− mice compared to WT mice, and treatment of these mouse cohorts with an inhibitor of NF-κB signaling for 4 weeks, effectively attenuated the progression of steatohepatitis and metabolic disorder features. In summary, AMPKα2 provides a protective role in the process of hepatic steatosis to NASH progression through suppression of liver NF-κB signaling.     

Targeting the gut microbiota with resveratrol: a demonstration of novel evidence for the management of hepatic steatosis

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that has been reported to reduce the risk of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent evidence has demonstrated that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the protection against NAFLD and other metabolic diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiota and the beneficial effects of resveratrol on the amelioration of NAFLD in mice. We observed marked decreases in body weight and liver steatosis and improved insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice treated with resveratrol. Furthermore, we found that resveratrol treatment alleviated NAFLD in HFD-fed mice by improving the intestinal microenvironment, including gut barrier function and gut microbiota composition. On the one hand, resveratrol improved gut intestinal barrier integrity through the repair of intestinal mucosal morphology and increased the expression of physical barrier- and physiochemical barrier-related factors in HFD-fed mice. On the other hand, in HFD-fed mice, resveratrol supplementation modulated the gut bacterial composition. The resveratrol-induced gut microbiota was characterized by a decreased abundance of harmful bacteria, including Desulfovibrio, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A316_group and Alistipes, as well as an increased abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Allobaculum, Bacteroides and Blautia. Moreover, transplantation of the HFDR-microbiota into HFD-fed mice sufficiently decreased body weight, liver steatosis and low-grade inflammation and improved hepatic lipid metabolism. Collectively, resveratrol would provide a potentially dietary intervention strategy against NAFLD through modulating the intestinal microenvironment.     

E4orf1 Improves Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Hepatocytes: A Template to Improve Steatosis & Hyperglycemia

Hepatic steatosis often accompanies obesity and insulin resistance. The cornerstones of steatosis treatment include reducing body weight and dietary fat intake, which are marginally successful over the long term. Ad36, a human adenovirus, may offer a template to overcome these limitations. In vitro and in vivo studies collectively indicate that via its E4orf1 protein, Ad36 improves hyperglycemia, and attenuates hepatic steatosis, despite a high fat diet and without weight loss. Considering that hepatic insulin sensitivity, or the synthesis, oxidation, or export of fatty acid by hepatocytes are the key determinant of hepatic lipid storage, we determined the role of E4orf1 protein in modulating these physiological pathways. For this study, HepG2 cells, or mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected with E4orf1 or the null vector. Glucose output by hepatocytes was determined under gluconeogenic conditions (cAMP and dexamethasone, or glucagon exposure). Also, de-novo lipogenesis, palmitate oxidation, and lipid export as determined by apoB secretion were measured 48 h post transfection. Results show that compared to null vector transfected cells, E4orf1 significantly reduced glucose output in basal and gluconeogenic conditions. E4orf1 reduced de-novo lipogenesis by about 35%, increased complete fatty acid oxidation 2-fold (p<0.0001), and apoB secretion 1.5 fold(p<0.003). Response of key signaling molecules to E4orf1 transfection was in agreement with these findings. Thus, E4orf1 offers a valuable template to exogenously modulate hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism may help develop therapeutic approaches for treating diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).     

Daily exercise increases hepatic fatty acid oxidation and prevents steatosis in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats

Exercise training is commonly prescribed for treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to determine whether exercise training prevents the development of NAFLD in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise on hepatic steatosis. Four-week-old OLETF rats were randomly assigned to either a sedentary control group (Sed) or a group given access to voluntary running wheels for 16 wk (Ex). Wheels were locked 2 days before euthanasia in the Ex animals, and both groups were euthanized at 20 wk old. Voluntary wheel running attenuated weight gain and reduced serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, and triglycerides in Ex animals compared with Sed (P < 0.001). Ex animals exhibited significantly reduced hepatic triglyceride levels and displayed fewer lipid droplets (Oil Red O staining) and reduced lipid droplet size compared with Sed. Wheel running increased by threefold the percent of palmitate oxidized completely to CO(2) in the Ex animals but did not alter AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKalpha) or AMPK phosphorylation status. However, fatty acid synthase and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) content were significantly reduced (approximately 70 and approximately 35%, respectively), and ACC phosphorylation and cytochrome c content were significantly elevated (approximately 35 and approximately 30%, respectively) in the Ex animals. These results unequivocally demonstrate that daily physical activity attenuates hepatic steatosis and NAFLD in an obese rodent model and suggest that this effect is likely mediated, in part, through enhancement of hepatic fatty acid oxidation and reductions in key protein intermediates of fatty acid synthesis.     

Astaxanthin reduces hepatic lipid accumulations in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and inhibition of PPAR gamma and Akt

We have previously reported that astaxanthin (AX), a dietary carotenoid, directly interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPARα and PPARγ, activating PPARα while inhibiting PPARγ, and thus reduces lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in vitro. To investigate the effects of AX in vivo, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice were orally administered AX (6 or 30 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle for 8 weeks. AX significantly reduced the levels of triglyceride both in plasma and in liver compared with the control HFD mice. AX significantly improved liver histology and thus reduced both steatosis and inflammation scores of livers with hematoxylin and eosin staining. The number of inflammatory macrophages and Kupffer cells were reduced in livers by AX administration assessed with F4/80 staining. Hepatic PPARα-responsive genes involved in fatty acid uptake and β-oxidation were upregulated, whereas inflammatory genes were downregulated by AX administration. In vitro radiolabeled assays revealed that hepatic fatty acid oxidation was induced by AX administration, whereas fatty acid synthesis was not changed in hepatocytes. In mechanism studies, AX inhibited Akt activity and thus decreased SREBP1 phosphorylation and induced Insig-2a expression, both of which delayed nuclear translocation of SREBP1 and subsequent hepatic lipogenesis. Additionally, inhibition of the Akt-mTORC1 signaling axis by AX stimulated hepatic autophagy that could promote degradation of lipid droplets. These suggest that AX lowers hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice via multiple mechanisms. In addition to the previously reported differential regulation of PPARα and PPARγ, inhibition of Akt activity and activation of hepatic autophagy reduced hepatic steatosis in mouse livers.     

Mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) ameliorate obesity-induced hepatic lipogenesis,fibrosis, and oxidative stress in high-fat diet-fed mice

Obesity is associated with chronic diseases such as fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and severe metabolic syndrome. Obesity causes metabolic impairment including excessive lipid accumulation and fibrosis in the hepatic tissue as well as the increase in oxidative stress. In order to investigate the effect of mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) extract (MLE) on obesity-induced oxidative stress, lipogenesis, and fibrosis in liver, MLE has been gavaged for 12 weeks in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. MLE treatment significantly ameliorated LXRα-mediated lipogenesis and hepatic fibrosis markers such as α-smooth muscle actin, while MLE up-regulated lipolysis-associated markers such as lipoprotein lipase in the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, MLE normalized the activities of antioxidant enzymes including heme oxygenase-1 and glutathione peroxidase in accordance with protein levels of 4-hydroxynonenal in the HFD-fed mice. MLE has beneficial effects on obesity-related fatty liver disease by regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, fibrosis, and antioxidant defense system. MLE supplementation might be a potential therapeutic approach for obesity-related disease including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.     

Serine prevented high-fat diet-induced oxidative stress by activating AMPK and epigenetically modulating the expression of glutathione synthesis-related genes

Serine deficiency has been observed in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Whether serine supplementation has any beneficial effects on the prevention of NAFLD remains unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of serine supplementation on hepatic oxidative stress and steatosis and its related mechanisms. Forty male C57BL/6J mice (9 week-old) were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 10) and fed: i) a low-fat diet; ii) a low-fat diet supplemented with 1% (wt:vol) serine; iii) a high-fat (HF) diet; and iv) a HF diet supplemented with 1% serine, respectively. Palmitic acid (PA)-treated primary hepatocytes separated from adult mice were also used to study the effects of serine on oxidative stress. The results showed that serine supplementation increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and protected mice from hepatic lipid accumulation, but did not significantly decreased HF diet-induced weight gain. In addition, serine supplementation protected glutathione (GSH) antioxidant system and prevented hypermethylation in the promoters of glutathione synthesis-related genes, while decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mice fed a HF diet. Moreover, we found that serine supplementation increased phosphorylation and S-glutathionylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α subunit (AMPKα), and decreased ROS, malondialdehyde and triglyceride contents in PA-treated primary hepatocytes. However, while AMPK activity or GSH synthesis was inhibited, the abovementioned effects of serine on PA-treated primary hepatocytes were not observed. Our results suggest that serine supplementation could prevent HF diet-induced oxidative stress and steatosis by epigenetically modulating the expression of glutathione synthesis-related genes and through AMPK activation.     

Loss of resistin ameliorates hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in leptin-deficient mice

Resistin has been linked to components of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. We hypothesized that resistin deficiency would reverse hyperlipidemia in genetic obesity. C57Bl/6J mice lacking resistin [resistin knockout (RKO)] had similar body weight and fat as wild-type mice when fed standard rodent chow or a high-fat diet. Nonetheless, hepatic steatosis, serum cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion were decreased in diet-induced obese RKO mice. Resistin deficiency exacerbated obesity in ob/ob mice, but hepatic steatosis was drastically attenuated. Moreover, the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, and glucose were reduced in ob/ob-RKO mice. The antisteatotic effect of resistin deficiency was related to reductions in the expression of genes involved in hepatic lipogenesis and VLDL export. Together, these results demonstrate a crucial role of resistin in promoting hepatic steatosis and hyperlipidemia in obese mice.     

Involvement of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in the development of non-alcoholic steatosis and steatohepatitis in mice and humans

Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are important risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is involved in the development of IR and obesity in vivo. However, its possible contribution to NAFLD and/or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) independently of its role on IR or fat mass accretion has not been explored. Here, we used wild-type (WT) or GRK2 hemizygous (GRK2±) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or a methionine and choline-deficient diet (MCD) as a model of NASH independent of adiposity and IR. GRK2± mice were protected from HFD-induced NAFLD. Moreover, MCD feeding caused an increased in triglyceride content and liver-to-body weight ratio in WT mice, features that were attenuated in GRK2± mice. According to their NAFLD activity score, MCD-fed GRK2± mice were diagnosed with simple steatosis and not overt NASH. They also showed reduced expression of lipogenic and lipid-uptake markers and less signs of inflammation in the liver. GRK2± mice preserved hepatic protective mechanisms as enhanced autophagy and mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis, together with reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress. GRK2 protein was increased in MCD-fed WT but not in GRK2± mice, and enhanced GRK2 expression potentiated palmitic acid-triggered lipid accumulation in human hepatocytes directly relating GRK2 levels to steatosis. GRK2 protein and mRNA levels were increased in human liver biopsies from simple steatosis or NASH patients in two different human cohorts. Our results describe a functional relationship between GRK2 levels and hepatic lipid accumulation and implicate GRK2 in the establishment and/or development of NASH.     

Effect of Bombyx mori on the Liver Protection of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Edible insects, Bombyx mori (silkworm; SW), which feed on mulberry leaves, have been consumed by humans for a long time as supplements or traditional medication. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver metabolic disorder that affects many people worldwide. We examined the hepatoprotective effects of SW using in vitro and high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet-induced obese in vivo model mice by real-time PCR, immunoblot analysis, and fecal microbiota analysis. SW significantly reduced lipid accumulation and expression of the lipogenic genes in HepG2 cells and the livers of HFHF-induced mice. SW caused significant reductions in triglycerides, and total cholesterol in serum and upregulation of fatty acid oxidation markers compared to the HFHF group. Besides, SW significantly induced phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC in both models, suggesting roles in AMPK activation and the ACC signaling pathway. Furthermore, the gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that SW treatment reduced Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios and the relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family compared to HFHF-induced obese mice. These results provide a novel therapeutic agent of hepatoprotective effects of SW for non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis that targets hepatic AMPK and ACC-mediated lipid metabolism.