Bioenergetic mechanisms of alcohol-associated cirrhosis in patient derived hepatocytes
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ABSTRACT: One in five heavy drinkers develop alcohol-associated cirrhosis. Metabolism, inflammation, signaling, gut microbiome and genetic variations have all been tied to pathogenesis but alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) models in rodents are limited by differences between rodent species and humans in genetic background and bioenergetics. Here, we used iPSC derived hepatocytes (iHLCs) as a tool to understand mechanisms of AC injury, hypothesizing that iHLC’s derived from patients would preserve genetic and bioenergetic differences leading to AC, and as compared to iHLC’s from patients free of liver disease. Bioenergetically, AC iHLCs had lower spare capacity for mitochondrial respiration and produced less ATP. Metabolic capacities of AC iHLC mitochondria for glutamine and fatty acids were reduced. Together with genome wide association (GWAS) studies, these metabolic and histologic profiles of AC derived iHLCs suggest that differences in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and lipid droplet formation predispose to AC.
Project description:Patients with alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis (AC) may develop severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH), but the mechanisms underlying the transition from AC to sAH still remain unclear. We performed single cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing analysis of livers and peripheral white blood cells (WBC) from sAH and AC patients. We found that the significant difference between sAH and AC was that sAH livers had a markedly higher number of neutrophil subsets than AC livers. Thus, we further focused on the neutrophil cluster and found two distinct sAH-specific liver neutrophils are notably characterized by heightened expression of CXCL8 (IL-8) defined as IL-8+ neutrophils blood. Our current study has demonstrated that sAH had self-sustaining IL-8+ neutrophil accumulation that likely drives inexorable liver inflammation and failure in sAH. Based on our study, we believe targeting IL-8+ neutrophils is a promising therapeutic strategy for sAH.
Project description:Alterations in stress-related gene-expression may play a role in stress-related drinking and the risk for alcohol dependence. Microarrays were used to measure changes in gene-expression in peripheral blood in non-smoking, social drinking subjects exposed to three types of personalized imagery: neutral, stressful (but not alcohol- related), and alcohol-related cues. Gene-expression was measured at baseline, immediately after, and 1 hour after stimulus presentation. Subjects were allowed to drink up to 750cc of beer in a “taste-test” following stimulus presentation in each imagery condition, and the amount of beer consumed was recorded. Gene-expression levels were compared in 2 groups of non-smoking subjects (n=11/group): heavy drinkers (HD, defined as regular alcohol use over the past year of at least 8 standard drinks/week for women and at least 15 standard drinks/week for men), and moderate drinkers (MD, defined as up to 7 standard drinks/week for women and 14 standard drinks/week for men). 198 samples total. Total RNA isolated from PAXgene blood RNA tubes from heavy drinkers (n=11) and moderate drinkers (n=11) exposed to 3 different types of personalized imagery (stress, neutral, or alcohol-cue) at three time-points per condition (baseline, immediately after cue presentation,and 1 hour after cue presentation)(9 samples per subject).
Project description:Background: The most important risk factors for head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) are tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, while subgroups are caused by infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Here, we studied alterations of somatic copy-number in whole genome, p16 protein and TP53 mutations by alcohol drinking, smoking and viral infections. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study. DNA obtained from tumors and margin samples as well as peripheral blood was assayed by array comparative genomic hybridization using Agilent Whole Human Genome 180K. Mutations of p53 gene by direct sequencing, detection of HPV by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR), quantification of EBV by reverse transcription-PCR and p16 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were also performed. prospective cohort study: 225 tumor samples were analyzed by Agilent-022060 SurePrint G3 Human CGH miroarray 4x180K. Log2 Ratio (tumor sample DNA/normal DNA) were compared among none alcohol drinkers, moderate alcohol drinkers, heavy alcohol drinkers, none smokers, moderate smokers, heavy smokers and both. Sample characteristics weres scored as following; Human Papilloma Virus Infection (gene detected by PCR in tumor sample): positive=1; negative=0 p16 protein immunohistochemistry: positive=1; negative=0 tumor grade: matured=0; moderate=1; immature=2 Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy after operation: performed =1; not performed =0 Recurrence/relapse: rec =1; not rec =0 suvival status:death=1; survive=0 smoking status (Pack year of smoking): none smoker=0; pack-year <20 = 1 (moderate smoker); pack-year <=20 = 2 (heavy smoker) alcohol drinking: Alcohol drinkers were divided into non-drinker or less than one drink per day =0: one and more but less than two drinks per day = moderate drinker 1: two and more drinks per day=heavy drinker 2: during the 20 years preceding their treatment for HNSCC. One drink was defined as containing approximately 10g of alcohol, which is considered equal to 30 ml of hard liquor, 100 ml of wine containing 12% alcohol, or 360 ml of beer.
Project description:Chronic alcohol abuse has a detrimental effect on the brain and liver. There is no effective treatment for these patients and the mechanism underlying alcohol addiction and consequent alcohol-induced damage of the liver/brain axis remains unresolved. We compared experimental models of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and alcohol dependence in mice and demonstrated that genetic ablation of IL17 Receptor A (IL17ra-/-), or pharmacological blockade of IL17 signaling effectively suppressed the increased voluntary alcohol drinking in alcohol-dependent mice, and blocked alcohol-induced hepatocellular and neurological damage. The level of circulating IL17A positively correlated with the alcohol use in excessive drinkers, and was further increased in patients with ALD as compared to healthy individuals. Our data suggest that IL17A is a common mediator of excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-induced liver/brain injury, and targeting IL17A may provide a novel strategy for treatment of alcohol-induced pathology.
Project description:Alterations in stress-related gene-expression may play a role in stress-related drinking and the risk for alcohol dependence. Microarrays were used to measure changes in gene-expression in peripheral blood in non-smoking, social drinking subjects exposed to three types of personalized imagery: neutral, stressful (but not alcohol- related), and alcohol-related cues. Gene-expression was measured at baseline, immediately after, and 1 hour after stimulus presentation. Subjects were allowed to drink up to 750cc of beer in a “taste-test” following stimulus presentation in each imagery condition, and the amount of beer consumed was recorded. Gene-expression levels were compared in 2 groups of non-smoking subjects (n=11/group): heavy drinkers (HD, defined as regular alcohol use over the past year of at least 8 standard drinks/week for women and at least 15 standard drinks/week for men), and moderate drinkers (MD, defined as up to 7 standard drinks/week for women and 14 standard drinks/week for men).
Project description:Transcriptional study to investigate differences in prefrontal cortex and striatum of mice that consumed ethanol despite negative consequences, which resembles the compulsive aspect of alcohol addiction. The transcriptional analysis performed in the striatum and prefrontal cortex revealed genes and biological pathways differentially regulated specifically in animals of the group Inflexible Drinkers that could be involved with the loss of control over voluntary ethanol consumption (da Silva E Silva et al., 2016; de Paiva Lima et al., 2017).
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm- inherited epigenetic program.
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm-inherited epigenetic program.
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm-inherited epigenetic program.