Involvement of Activin E depletion in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

ABSTRACT: Activin E is a liver-derived hepatokine belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, and it promotes energy expenditure by activating brown and beige adipocytes. Activin E also possesses anti-lipolytic activity. When Activin E knockout (KO) mice are fed a high-fat diet, energy storage in adipose tissue is impaired, leading to ectopic fat accumulation in the liver. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Activin E depletion in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and we characterized the phenotype of Activin E-KO mice under a high-fat diet. Despite being protected from obesity, Activin E-KO mice developed pronounced hepatomegaly, hepatic triglyceride accumulation, and histological features consistent with MASH, including steatosis, ballooning dege

SUBMITTER: Sakaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12634864 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature