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ABSTRACT: Background and aims
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 1 demonstrated protection against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetic and obese mice by an uncertain mechanism. This study investigated the therapeutic activity and mechanism of a nonmitogenic FGF1 variant carrying 3 substitutions of heparin-binding sites (FGF1△HBS ) against NAFLD.Approach and results
FGF1△HBS administration was effective in 9-month-old diabetic mice carrying a homozygous mutation in the leptin receptor gene (db/db) with NAFLD; liver weight, lipid deposition, and inflammation declined and liver injury decreased. FGF1△HBS reduced oxidative stress by stimulating nuclear translocation of nuclear erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and elevation of antioxidant protein expression. FGF1△HBS also inhibited activity and/or expression of lipogenic genes, coincident with phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its substrates. Mechanistic studies on palmitate exposed hepatic cells demonstrated that NAFLD-like oxidative damage and lipid accumulation could be reversed by FGF1△HBS . In palmitate-treated hepatic cells, small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of Nrf2 abolished only FGF1△HBS antioxidative actions but not improvement of lipid metabolism. In contrast, AMPK inhibition by pharmacological agent or siRNA abolished FGF1△HBS benefits on both oxidative stress and lipid metabolism that were FGF receptor (FGFR) 4 dependent. Further support of these in vitro findings is that liver-specific AMPK knockout abolished therapeutic effects of FGF1△HBS against high-fat/high-sucrose diet-induced hepatic steatosis. Moreover, FGF1△HBS improved high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-induced steatohepatitis and fibrosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.Conclusions
These findings indicate that FGF1△HBS is effective for preventing and reversing liver steatosis and steatohepatitis and acts by activation of AMPK through hepatocyte FGFR4.
SUBMITTER: Lin Q
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8082952 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Lin Qian Q Huang Zhifeng Z Cai Genxiang G Fan Xia X Yan Xiaoqing X Liu Zhengshuai Z Zhao Zehua Z Li Jingya J Li Jia J Shi Hongxue H Kong Maiying M Zheng Ming-Hua MH Conklin Daniel J DJ Epstein Paul N PN Wintergerst Kupper A KA Mohammadi Moosa M Cai Lu L Li Xiaokun X Li Yu Y Tan Yi Y
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) 20210601 6
<h4>Background and aims</h4>Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 1 demonstrated protection against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetic and obese mice by an uncertain mechanism. This study investigated the therapeutic activity and mechanism of a nonmitogenic FGF1 variant carrying 3 substitutions of heparin-binding sites (FGF1<sup>△HBS</sup> ) against NAFLD.<h4>Approach and results</h4>FGF1<sup>△HBS</sup> administration was effective in 9-month-old diabetic mice carrying a homozy ...[more]