Telomerase enzyme deficiency promotes metabolic dysfunction in murine hepatocytes upon dietary stress.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Short telomeres and genetic telomerase defects are risk factors for some human liver diseases, ranging from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis to cirrhosis. In murine models, telomere dysfunction has been shown to metabolically compromise hematopoietic cells, liver and heart via the activation of the p53-PGC axis.

Methods

Tert- and Terc-deficient mice were challenged with liquid high-fat diet. Liver metabolic contents were analysed by CE-TOFMS and liver fat content was confirmed by confocal and electronic microscopy.

Results

Tert-deficient but not Terc-deficient mice develop hepatocyte injury and frank steatosis when challenged with liquid high-fat diet. Upon high-fat diet, Tert^-/- hepatocytes fail to engag

SUBMITTER: Alves-Paiva RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5741503 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature