非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠PPARα基因表达及脂代谢和胰岛素水平的变化

目的观察非酒精性脂肪肝（NAFLD）大鼠肝组织中PPARα基因的表达,并用PPARct激动剂进行干预,探讨其与胰岛素抵抗、脂代谢紊乱的关系。方法大鼠随机分为①正常对照组、②高脂模型组、③PPARα激动剂干预组,利用高脂饮食建立大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝模型。12周后,检测大鼠血脂、肝功能、血糖、胰岛素水平及胰岛素抵抗指数;RT-PCR法分析PPARα基因的表达;观察肝脏的形态学改变。结果PPARa激动剂可降低NAFLD大鼠转氨酶、血脂水平及胰岛素抵抗指数,可促进NAFLD大鼠中PPARa基因的表达;肝脏形态学明显改善。结论PPARα激动剂能改善NAFLD大鼠脂质代谢紊乱,有明显的保肝降酶作用,具有适度的胰岛素增敏作用。PPARα及其配体在NAFLD发病机制及治疗中的进一步深入研究,将为临床防治NAFLD提供新的思路。     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病大鼠肝组织瘦素受体表达的变化

目的检测高脂饮食诱发的非酒精性脂肪性肝病(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)大鼠肝组织瘦素受体的表达,探讨NAFLD瘦素抵抗的发生机制及瘦素抵抗在NAFLD发病中的作用.方法采用高脂饮食制备Wistar大鼠NAFLD模型;ELISA法测定大鼠血清瘦素(leptin,LP)浓度;全自动生化分析仪测血清甘油三酯(triglyceride,TG)、空腹血糖(fasting blood glucose,FBG),比色法测游离脂肪酸(free fatty acid,FFA),放射免疫法测空腹血清胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS),计算空腹状态下胰岛素抵抗指数;对肝组织分别进行HE染色、苏丹Ⅳ染色、瘦素受体免疫组化染色,并进行半定量分析.利用SAS 8.0统计软件处理实验数据.结果模型组大鼠肝组织瘦素受体表达比正常组明显减弱,且与血清瘦素浓度、游离脂肪酸、胰岛素敏感指数、肝细胞脂变、炎症活动度显著负相关,相关系数分别为r = -0.83,-0.71, -0.65,-0.83, -0.87.多元线性回归分析显示,瘦素受体表达减弱是肝脂变的独立影响因素.结论肝组织瘦素受体表达减弱是NAFLD瘦素抵抗的重要病理机制之一,瘦素抵抗与胰岛素抵抗相互作用,共同促进了脂肪肝的发生发展.     

益生菌对高脂饮食诱导的大鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的 观察益生菌对高脂饲料喂养的SD大鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响.方法 30只雄性健康SD大鼠正常喂养1周后,随机分为正常对照组、高脂模型组、益生菌干预组[即在高脂饲料喂养的基础上给予培菲康210 mg/(只·d)灌胃].14周末,处死所有大鼠,测量大鼠体重,检测血清及肝匀浆液中脂质和葡萄糖的变化,评价胰岛素抵抗程度,并检测血浆内毒素水平.结果 (1)与对照组比较,模型组大鼠肝指数明显升高(P＜0.05);益生菌治疗后肝指数无明显降低(P＞0.05).(2)与对照组比较,模型组存在脂质代谢紊乱(P＜0.05),益生菌治疗后脂代谢紊乱明显改善(P＜0.05).(3)与对照组比较,模型组胰岛素抵抗指数明显升高(P＜0.05),胰岛素敏感指数明显降低(P＜0.05),存在胰岛素抵抗,益生菌治疗后胰岛素抵抗改善(P＜0.05).(4)与对照组比较,模型组血浆内毒素水平明显升高(P＜0.05),存在内毒素血症,益生菌治疗后内毒素血症减轻(P＜0.05).结论 益生菌可减轻内毒素血症,改善高脂饮食诱导的胰岛素抵抗.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯抑制肥胖大鼠肝中TLR4炎症通路及胰岛素抵抗

目的探讨表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(epigallocatechin gallate,EGCG)对肥胖大鼠肝组织中Toll样受体4(Toll-like receptor 4,TLR4)炎症通路以及胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法将30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为普食组(NC)和高脂饮食组(HFD)。喂养16周后,将高脂饮食组随机分为HFD组与EGCG组继续喂养16周,检测相关代谢指标,测定肝组织甘油三酯含量,并进行油红染色评估肝脂质聚集情况;实时荧光定量PCR检测其肝脏中TLR4和TNF受体相关因子6(TNF receptor associated factor 6,TRAF6)mRNA水平;蛋白质印记检测其肝组织中TLR4信号通路及胰岛素信号通路相关蛋白水平。结果EGCG明显降低大鼠肝脏甘油三酯浓度及脂质聚集、TLR4和TRAF6 mRNA水平,TLR4信号通路相关蛋白水平及胰岛素信号通路相关蛋白水平。结论EGCG抑制肥胖大鼠肝组织中TLR4通路以及胰岛素抵抗。     

GPR81激动剂对非酒精性脂肪肝病大鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的: 探讨NOD样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)信号通路对非酒精性脂肪肝病(NAFLD)大鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响及乳酸受体G蛋白偶联受体81(GPR81)激动剂的干预作用。方法: 选择清洁级SD雄性大鼠30只,随机分为3组,对照组、NAFLD组、GPR81激动剂组,每组10只。用高脂饮食建立大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝模型;GPR81激动剂组:在非酒精性脂肪肝模型基础上腹腔注射GPR81特异性乳酸激动剂(50 nmol/L),每周1次,其余两组注射等量的生理盐水,共12周。测定肝生化指标、空腹血糖及胰岛素和肝匀浆中炎症因子的含量,观察各组肝组织病理学形态;Western blot检测肝组织中NLRP3、含CARD结构域的凋亡相关斑点蛋白(ASC)、天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶1(caspase-1)、胰岛素受体底物-1(IRS-1)、胰岛素受体底物酪氨酸磷酸化(Tyr⁴⁶⁵-IRS-1)、胰岛素受体底物丝氨酸磷酸化(Ser⁶³⁶-IRS-1)、葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)的蛋白表达;qRT-PCR法检测肝组织NLRP3、ASC、caspase-1、IRS-1、GLUT4 mRNA表达水平。结果: 与对照组相比,NAFLD组大鼠血清肝生化指标甘油三酯(TG)、丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)和胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)值均显著升高(P＜0.05);肝组织病理学形态结果表明,NAFLD组大鼠肝组织可见明显的肝脂肪变性,肝细胞有脂肪滴,存在明显的炎性细胞浸润,且NAFLD组肝组织NLRP3、ASC、caspase-1的mRNA和蛋白表达及Ser⁶³⁶-IRS-1的蛋白表达均显著升高,且肝组织及血清中白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和白细胞介素-18(IL-18)的含量升高;而IRS-1、GLUT4 的mRNA和蛋白表达Tyr⁴⁶⁵-IRS-1的蛋白表达显著降低(P＜0.05);与NAFLD组相比,GPR81激动剂组上述指标均得到明显改善。结论: NLRP3信号通路活化介导炎症因子产生促进了NAFLD的发生发展,GPR81激动剂可能成为NAFLD潜在的治疗手段。     

动态分析沙鼠非酒精性脂肪肝病形成及生化影响

目的分析高脂饮食导致的沙鼠NAFLD疾病进展中脂质代谢、肝功能、抗氧化等方面的变化,探讨沙鼠NAFLD的形成机理。方法雄性沙鼠120只,随机分为对照组和模型组。对照组给予普通饲料,模型组高脂饮食建立NAFLD模型。分别于1、2、4、6、8、16周每组各处死10只动物,观察肝脏病理变化,计算肝指数,检测血清CHO、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C、GOP、GPT及肝组织的SOD、GSH-PX、CAT活性和FFA含量。结果模型组病理观察2周形成单纯性脂肪肝,6周动物门管区有轻度炎症,8周出现腺泡Ⅲ带局灶性窦周/细胞周纤维化,16周肝脏中度纤维化;模型组第1、2、4、6、8、16周时CHO、HDL-C、LDL-C及FAA波动性升高,但均高于同期对照组（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,TG在1、2、4周高于同期对照组（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）;16周末GOT、GPT出现了显著性升高（P〈0.01）。抗氧化酶GSH-PX、CAT、SOD活性模型组在第8～16周显著性降低（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。结论高脂饮食使沙鼠2周形成单纯性脂肪肝模型后,随饲喂时间延长,16周末可发展为中度肝纤维化。脂质代谢紊乱与氧化应激在沙鼠NAFLD进展中的发挥了不同的作用。     

IGF-1、IGFBP-3在大鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝病进展中的变化

目的：观察非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）大鼠血清胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白3（ IGFBP-3）的表达及多烯磷脂酰胆碱对其的影响。方法采用高脂饲料喂养建立大鼠NAFLD模型,以多烯磷脂酰胆碱进行干预。 HE染色动态观察大鼠4、8、12周时肝组织病理学变化,IRMA法动态监测血清IGF-1、IGFBP-3含量。结果正常组大鼠各时间点肝组织病理均无明显异常;模型组随高脂饮食时间延长,在4、8、12周3个时相点肝组织脂肪变、炎症程度、气球样变及NAFLD活动度积分逐渐增强,血清IGF-1、IGFBP-3逐渐明显下降,且模型组各时相点IGF-1、IGFBP-3的水平较正常组同一时相点明显降低;应用多烯磷脂酰胆碱干预后,大鼠肝组织炎症程度、NAFLD活动度积分较模型组显著降低,IGF-1、IGFBP-3的水平则较模型组明显增高。结论血清IGF-1、IGFBP-3水平随大鼠NAFLD进展而降低。     

非酒精性脂肪肝病大鼠肝脏SOCS-3的表达与吡格列酮干预研究

目的：探讨SOCS-3在非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）发病中的作用以及吡格列酮的干预作用。方法：29只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（8只）,高脂饮食组（21只）。饲养8周后,从高质饮食组随机抽取5只大鼠证实造模成功后,将该组余下的16只大鼠继续以高脂饲料喂养,并随机分为NAFLD对照组（8只）;吡格酮干预组（8只）,予以吡格列酮3mg·kg^-1·d^-1灌胃。16周末,处死所有大鼠,检测血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏SOCS-3mRNA和SREBP-lcmRNA表达及肝脏病理学。结果：与正常对照组相比,NAFLD组血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平及肝组织SOCS-3mRNA、SREBPlCmRNA表达显著上调。吡格列酮干预组sOCS．3mRNA、SREBP-1cmRNA表达较NAFLD组下调,且血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平下降。SOCS-3mRNA表达水平与胰岛素抵抗指数、SREBP．1cmRNA表达水平、肝脂肪变成显著正相关。结论：SOCS-3可能通过胰岛素抵抗及上调肝组织SREBP-lcmRNA表达参与NAFLD发病,吡格列酮能抑制肝脏SOCS-3的表达,对NAFLD有一定治疗作用。     

非酒精性脂肪肝病大鼠肝脏SOCS-3 的表达与吡格列酮干预研究

目的:探讨SOCS-3在非酒精性脂肪肝病(NAFLD)发病中的作用以及吡格列酮的干预作用。方法:29只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组(8只),高脂饮食组(21只)。饲养8周后,从高质饮食组随机抽取5只大鼠证实造模成功后,将该组余下的16只大鼠继续以高脂饲料喂养,并随机分为NAFLD对照组(8只);吡格列酮干预组(8只),予以吡格列酮3mg·kg-·1d-1灌胃。16周末,处死所有大鼠,检测血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏SOCS-3 mRNA和SREBP-1c mRNA表达及肝脏病理学。结果:与正常对照组相比,NAFLD组血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平及肝组织SOCS-3 mRNA、SREBP1c mRNA表达显著上调。吡格列酮干预组SOCS-3 mRNA、SREBP-1c mRNA表达较NAFLD组下调,且血糖、血胰岛素、血脂、肝脏脂肪变水平下降。SOCS-3 mRNA表达水平与胰岛素抵抗指数、SREBP-1c mRNA表达水平、肝脂肪变成显著正相关。结论:SOCS-3可能通过胰岛素抵抗及上调肝组织SREBP-1c mRNA表达参与NAFLD发病,吡格列酮能抑制肝脏SOCS-3的表达,对NAFLD有一定治疗作用。     

脂代谢紊乱在非酒精性脂肪肝发病中的作用

随着肥胖、2型糖尿病、代谢综合征等疾病发病率的增加,非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)全球患病率也逐年递增.其发病机制较为复杂,通常伴随着胰岛素抵抗、脂代谢紊乱、脂毒性凋亡、炎症反应失调等现象.本文着重对脂代谢紊乱在NAFLD中的作用及其机制进行了综述,同时对细胞脂毒性、胰岛素抵抗及肠道菌群紊乱在其中的作用也进行简要描述,旨在为NAFLD的预防和治疗提供新思路.     

Therapeutic Role of Ursolic Acid on Ameliorating Hepatic Steatosis and Improving Metabolic Disorders in High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rats

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases around the world, and is closely associated with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Ursolic acid (UA), an ubiquitous triterpenoid with multifold biological roles, is distributed in various plants. This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of UA against hepatic steatosis in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat model.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Obese NAFLD model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by 8-week HFD feeding. Therapeutic role of UA was evaluated using 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% UA-supplemented diet for another 6 weeks. The results from both morphologic and histological detections indicated that UA significantly reversed HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury. Besides, hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α was markedly up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels by UA. Knocking down PPAR-α significantly inhibited the anti-steatosis role of UA in vitro. HFD-induced adverse changes in the key genes, which participated in hepatic lipid metabolism, were also alleviated by UA treatment. Furthermore, UA significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Conclusions/Significance

These results demonstrated that UA effectively ameliorated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis through a PPAR-α involved pathway, via improving key enzymes in the controlling of lipids metabolism. The metabolic disorders were accordingly improved with the decrease of hepatic steatosis. Thereby, UA could be a promising candidate for the treatment of NAFLD.     

Free radical biology for medicine: learning from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Reactive oxygen species, when released under controlled conditions and limited amounts, contribute to cellular proliferation, senescence, and survival by acting as signaling intermediates. In past decades there has been an epidemic diffusion of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that represents the result of the impairment of lipid metabolism, redox imbalance, and insulin resistance in the liver. To date, most studies and reviews have been focused on the molecular mechanisms by which fatty liver progresses to steatohepatitis, but the processes leading toward the development of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD are not fully understood yet. Several nuclear receptors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α/γ/δ, PPARγ coactivators 1α and 1β, sterol-regulatory element-binding proteins, AMP-activated protein kinase, liver-X-receptors, and farnesoid-X-receptor, play key roles in the regulation of lipid homeostasis during the pathogenesis of NAFLD. These nuclear receptors may act as redox sensors and may modulate various metabolic pathways in response to specific molecules that act as ligands. It is conceivable that a redox-dependent modulation of lipid metabolism, nuclear receptor-mediated, could cause the development of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Thus, this network may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of hepatic steatosis and its progression to steatohepatitis. This review summarizes the redox-dependent factors that contribute to metabolism alterations in fatty liver with a focus on the redox control of nuclear receptors in normal liver as well as in NAFLD.     

MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or, more accurately, metabolic associated fatty liver disease, accounts for a large proportion of chronic liver disorders worldwide and is closely associated with other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and can progress to cirrhosis and, eventually, also hepatocellular carcinoma. The morbidity and mortality associated with NAFLD are increasing rapidly year on year. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD and identify effective therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), important epigenetic factors, have recently been proposed to participate in NAFLD pathogenesis. Here, we review the roles of miRNAs in lipid metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell activation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress, key factors that contribute to the occurrence and progression of NAFLD. Additionally, we summarize the role of miRNA-enriched extracellular vesicles in NAFLD. These miRNAs may comprise suitable therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition.     

Effects of increased dietary cholesterol with carbohydrate restriction on hepatic lipid metabolism in Guinea pigs

Excessive lipid accumulation within hepatocytes, or hepatic steatosis, is the pathognominic feature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease associated with insulin resistance and obesity. Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) improve these conditions and were implemented in this study to potentially attenuate hepatic steatosis in hypercholesterolemic guinea pigs. Male guinea pigs (n = 10 per group) were randomly assigned to consume high cholesterol (0.25 g/100 g) in either a LCD or a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) for 12 wk. As compared with HCD, plasma LDL cholesterol was lower and plasma triglycerides were higher in animals fed the LCD diet, with no differences in plasma free fatty acids or glucose. The most prominent finding was a 40% increase in liver weight in guinea pigs fed the LCD diet despite no differences in hepatic cholesterol or triglycerides between the LCD and the HCD groups. Regardless of diet, all livers had severe hepatic steatosis on histologic examination. Regression analysis suggested that liver weight was independent of body weight and liver mass was independent of hepatic lipid content. LCD livers had more proliferating hepatocytes than did HCD livers, suggesting that in the context of cholesterol-induced hepatic steatosis, dietary carbohydrate restriction enhances liver cell proliferation.     

Gene expression in human NAFLD

Despite the high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), little is known of its pathogenesis based on study of human liver samples. By the use of Affymetrix GeneChips (17,601 genes), we investigated gene expression in the human liver of subjects with extreme steatosis due to NAFLD without histological signs of inflammation (liver fat 66.0 +/- 6.8%) and in subjects with low liver fat content (6.4 +/- 2.7%). The data were analyzed by using sequence-based reannotation of Affymetrix probes and a robust model-based normalization method. We identified genes involved in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin signaling, inflammation, coagulation, and cell adhesion to be significantly associated with liver fat content. In addition, genes involved in ceramide signaling (MAP2K4) and metabolism (UGCG) were found to be positively associated with liver fat content. Genes involved in lipid metabolism (PLIN, ACADM), fatty acid transport (FABP4, CD36), amino acid catabolism (BCAT1), and inflammation (CCL2) were validated by real-time PCR and were found to be upregulated in subjects with high liver fat content. The data show that multiple changes in gene expression characterize simple steatosis.     

Nrf2及其相关因子在非酒精性脂肪肝炎形成过程中的作用

目的：通过观察大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝炎（NASH）形成过程中脂质代谢、肝组织病理学改变、核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2）及相关键因子的转录和蛋白水平的变化,探讨Nrf2及其相关因子在NASH形成过程中的作用。方法：sD大鼠分为正常组和模型组,以饲喂高脂饲料建立非酒精性脂肪肝炎模型,分别于4、12周末处死,检测血清和肝组织中谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量;油红O染色法检测肝组织内脂肪沉积变化,常规HE染色观察肝组织病理学改变,计算NAFLD活动度积分（NAS）,免疫组化检测肝组织Nrf2表达;Real-time PCR和Westernblot技术检测肝组织Nrf2及其相关因子mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果：①4周模型组大鼠血清ALT、AST、TC和肝组织TC、TG、LDL-C等指标较同期正常组均显著增高（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）,12周模型组大鼠血清、肝组织脂质含量持续增高（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）,肝组织HDL-C较正常组显著降低（P〈0．05）,比4周变化明显。②4周和12周模型组大鼠肝细胞内沉积大量脂肪滴,肝细胞脂肪变严重,伴有肝细胞气球样变;且随着高脂饮食喂养时间的延长,肝组织内脂肪沉积以及肝细胞脂肪变程度明显加重,NAFLD评分、Nrf2表达强度均显著增高（P〈0．01）。③4周、12周模型组大鼠Nrf2、H01、NQOt、rGCS、GST的mRNA和蛋白表达均有不同程度的上调或抑制,且12周比4周变化明显（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）。结论：Nrf2及相关因子可能参与了非酒精性脂肪性肝病的发生发展过程,在NASH形成过程中起着重要的作用。     

A promoter polymorphism in the liver-specific fatty acid transport protein 5 is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome and steatosis

The fatty acid transport protein 5 (FATP5) is exclusively expressed in the liver and is involved in hepatic lipid and bile metabolism. We investigated whether a variation in the FATP5 promoter (rs56225452) is associated with hepatic steatosis and further features of the metabolic syndrome. A total of 716 male subjects from the Metabolic Intervention Cohort Kiel (MICK) and 103 male subjects with histologically proved nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were genotyped for this FATP5 polymorphism rs56225452 and phenotyped for features of the metabolic syndrome. In the MICK cohort, ALT activities, postprandial insulin, and triglyceride concentrations were higher in subjects carrying the rare A-allele compared to GG homozygotes. Accordingly, the insulin sensitivity index determined after a mixed meal and standardized glucose load was lower in A-allele carriers. NAFLD cases carrying allele A were presented with also higher ALT activities. In NAFLD subjects, the association of BMI with the degree of steatosis and glucose concentration differed across FATP5 promoter polymorphism. The FATP5 promoter polymorphism rs56225452 is associated with higher ALT activity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in the general population. The impact of the BMI on the severity of steatosis in NAFLD cases seems to depend on the FATP5 polymorphism.