Project description:BCAA were administered to atherogenic and high-fat (Ath & HF) diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice and platelet-derived growth factor C transgenic mice (Pdgf-c Tg). Liver histology, tumor incidence, and gene expression profiles were evaluated. BCAA supplementation improved hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and tumors in the NASH mouse model, possibly through the modification of mTORC1 signaling.
Project description:Whole Exome Sequencing of cohorts of Mutant Braf mouse model melanoma DNA and germline DNA. The cohorts are (1) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas, (2) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas from UVR exposed mice and (3) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas from UVR exposed, sunscreen protected mice.
Project description:Through mass spectrometry, we quantified liver global proteomes of Simple steatosis and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis in a HFHC diet induced mouse model
Project description:Liver zonation characterizes the separation of metabolic pathways along the lobules and is required for optimal hepatic function. Wnt signaling is a master regulator of spatial liver zonation. A perivenous-periportal Wnt activity gradient orchestrates metabolic zonation by activating genes in perivenous hepatocytes, while suppressing genes in their periportal counterparts. The understanding of liver gene zonation and zonation regulators in disease was limited. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Here, we investigated the perturbation of liver gene zonation in a mouse NASH model by combination of spatial transcriptomics, bulk RNAseq and in situ hybridization. Wnt target genes represented a major subset of genes showing altered spatial expression in the NASH liver. The altered Wnt target gene expression level and zonation spatial pattern were in line with the upregulation of Wnt regulators and the augmentation of Wnt signaling. Particularly, we found that the Wnt activator Rspo3 expression was restricted to the perivenous zone in control livers, whereas expanded to the periportal zone in NASH livers. AAV8-mediated RSPO3 overexpression in controls resulted in a zonation change, and further amplified the disturbed zonation of Wnt target genes in NASH, but had no impacts on steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. In summary, our study demonstrated the alteration of Wnt signaling in a mouse NASH model, leading to perturbed liver zonation.
Project description:The mechanisms underlying the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not completely elucidated. In this study we have integrated gene expression profiling of liver biopsies of NASH patients with translational studies in a mouse model of steatohepatitis and with pharmacological interventions in isolated hepatocytes to identify a novel mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of NASH. By using high-density oligonucleotide microarray analysis we identified a significant enrichment of known genes involved in the multi-step catalysis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including delta-5 and 6 desaturases. A combined inhibitor of delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation and inflammatory gene expression in isolated hepatocytes. Gas chromatography analysis revealed impaired delta-5 desaturase activity toward the omega-3 pathway in livers from mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH. Consistently, restoration of omega-3 index in transgenic fat-1 mice expressing an omega-3 desaturase, which allows the endogenous conversion of omega-6 into omega-3 fatty acids, produced a significant reduction in hepatic insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, macrophage infiltration and necroinflammatory liver injury, accompanied by attenuated expression of genes involved in inflammation, fatty acid uptake and lipogenesis. These results were comparable to those obtained in a group of mice receiving a HFD supplemented with EPA/DHA. Of interest, hepatocytes from fat-1 mice or supplemented with EPA exhibited synergistic anti-steatotic and anti-inflammatory actions with the delta-5/ delta-6 inhibitor. Conclusion: These findings indicate that both endogenous and exogenous restoration of the hepatic balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and/or modulation of desaturase activities exert preventive actions in NASH. The complete database comprised the expression measurements of 18185 genes for liver sample groups: 8 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH ) and 7 control samples. This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.
Project description:It has been recently reported that the patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) had accompanied with cardiac dysfunction. However, an animal model of steatohepatitis related cardiomyopathy has not been reported. In the current study, we have developed a mouse model of steatohepatitis-related cardiomyopathy and examined whether a selective PPARα modulator, pemafibrate would improve both steatohepatitis and cardiomyopathy. C57Bl/6 male mice were fed 1. normal chow diet (C group), 2. high fat/high cholesterol/high sucrose/bile acid diet (N group), or 3. N with pemafibrate 0.1 mg/kg (NP group) for three or eight weeks, respectively. Cardiac function was evaluated by ultra-high magnetic field 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (7T-MRI). Even at the eight weeks, we have detected cholesterol crystals, free cholesterol accumulation in liver, followed by macrophage infiltration and fibrosis as wells as activation of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1βmRNA. At the same time in heart, the ratio of heart to body was increased in N group compared to C group. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) was moderately decreased in N group compared to C group (50.2±2.8 vs 59.8±2.1, p<0.05). LV circumferential strain and radial strain are focally attenuated in N group, suggesting the early lesion of myocardial damages. mRNA expression of Nlrp3, Caspase1 and Il1b were enhanced in N group, followed by increased protein levels of Caspase-1 and Asc. Rna-sequence analysis revealed that NOD-like receptor and PI3 kinase-AKT pathways were up-regulated, suggesting hypertrophic phenotypes. in N group. Importantly, NLRP3 inflammasome activation were suppressed both in liver and heart in NP group, suggesting pemafibrate had the beneficial effect on steatohepatitis and cardiomyopathy. In addition, four week treatment by pemafibrate improved steatohepatitis and cardiomyopathy after development for eight week. We have first developed the animal model of steatohepatitis-related cardiomyopathy, characterized by the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway both in liver and heart. Steatohepatitis-related cardiomyopathy displayed moderate reduction of LVEF and focal impairment of LV strain by 7T-MRI. Pemafibrate suppressed steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis and cardiomyopathy.