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Testing the contribution of FGL1 to the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) begins with simple steatosis, which can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenesis of MASLD alters the secretion of hepatokines such as fibrinogen-like 1 (FGL1), a candidate mediator of liver steatosis and hyperglycemia. To investigate the contribution of FGL1 to liver diseases, we compared wild-type mice to mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Fgl1 subjected to a steatosis or HCC experimental protocol. We found that mice deficient for Fgl1 in hepatocytes showed higher levels of plasma glucose, pronounced metabolic alterations and liver injury when fed a western diet compared to their wild-type counterparts. However, both genotypes exhibited a similar lipid deposition in the liver. Similarly, wild type and Fgl1-deficient mice displayed comparable liver alterations during HCC progression. We observed that FGL1 expression was repressed during MASLD progression in mice and human concomitantly with the severity of liver injury. Altogether, these findings suggest that FGL1 is not a major contributor to the pathogenesis of MASLD and HCC.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE291163 | GEO | 2025/08/27

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, but its pathophysiological mechanisms remain elusive. It is a progressive disease, encompassing hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis with(out) fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. DNA methylation (DNAm) is dysregulated in MASLD and may underpin key pathogenic mechanisms. Additionally, aging is associated with MASLD and shares common processes of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, this study focuses on DNAm changes in relation to MASLD progression and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). Results: Liver biopsies from 22 MASLD patients were analyzed using Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip arrays. Strikingly, progression of MASLD was characterized by gradual DNAm changes, revealing associated KEGG pathways. Additionally, Horvath’s EAA significantly correlated with MASLD stage and individual histological MASLD parameters while LiverClock’s EAA correlated only with MASLD stage. In contrast, both Horvath’s intrinsic EAA and HepClock’s EAA showed no significant correlations. Integrative analyses, leveraging both gradual MASLD and Horvath’s EAA DNAm signatures, gene expression (n = 118), and a MASLD-specific transcriptional regulatory network, identified (regulon-specific) transcription factors implicated in MASLD and EAA progression, representing a transcription factor-network of redox (ferroptosis), immune, and metabolic/endocrine related epigenetic processes. Conclusion: Gradual DNAm changes were found to align with progression of MASLD and EAA, with EAA a potential non-biased quantitative biomarker for MASLD. Integrative analysis highlighted potential new therapeutic transcription factor targets, with special emphasis on AEBP1 and emerging nuclear receptors including CAR(NR1I3), MR(NR3C2), GR(NR3C1), and ESRRG, underscoring the potential of epigenetic redox-metabolic therapies for MASLD

Project description:Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease globally, affecting more than one-third of the world’s population. Its rate has increased by 13%, rising from 25% to 38% over the past three decades. MASLD is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes and, if left untreated, progresses to its more severe form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which poses a significant global health concern as one of the leading causes of cirrhosis, cirrhotic complications, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular determinants of MASLD stratification are not clearly defined and require additional investigation. In this study, we used male and female CC042 mice, a Collaborative Cross mouse strain susceptible to the development of MASLD, to analyze the global transcriptomic profile in liver and to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of the disease. Male and female CC042 mice were maintained on a high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet for 20, 40, or 60 weeks, and hepatic gene expression profiles were determined by next-generation RNA sequencing. Chronic feeding of the HF/HS diet induced profound alterations in gene expression at all time points. The number of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the livers of male mice was greater than female mice at 20 and 40 weeks and reached a maximum of 2764 genes at 40 weeks. In contrast, the number of DEGs in the livers of female mice steadily increased with the time on diet reaching a maximum of 2974 DEGs at 60 weeks after HF/HS diet initiation. The number of upregulated DEGs was higher than downregulated DEGs in both male and female mice at all time points. Functional analysis of DEGs showed that in both sexes, the most dysregulated liver toxicity-related pathways were associated with liver fibrosis, liver necrosis/cell death, inflammation, steatosis, liver damage, and liver proliferation/hyperplasia. In male mice, pathways associated with fibrosis, necrosis/cell death, inflammation, and steatosis remained constant from 20 to 40 weeks, and activation of liver hyperplasia pathway was constant from 40 and 60 weeks. In contrast, in female mice, dysregulation of genes associated with these pathways gradually increased from 20 to 60 weeks after HF/HS diet initiation. Importantly, we found that the expression of 701 and 871 genes significantly correlated with total NASH pathology scores (Pearson r > |0.8|) in the livers of male and female mice, respectively. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the dynamics of time- and sex-specific transcriptomic changes during NAFLD progression. This knowledge can be helpful for identifying promising targets for prevention and treatment, as well as for determining key potential biomarkers of NAFLD to NASH progression.

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Testing the contribution of FGL1 to the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma

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