Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a burden of global health, yet the mechanism of the disease is not fully elucidated. General control non-repressed protein 5 (GCN5) is histone acetyltransferases. We invesgated the effect of GCN5 deletion on gene expression in a NAFLD cell model.
Project description:We perform RNAseq in NAFLD livers from WT and miR-33-AlbCRE conditional knock-out mice. Liver were isolated from mice after 3 months of feeding a choline deficient high fat diet to analyze the effect of miR-33 deficiency.
Project description:We perform sc-RNAseq in NASH livers from WT and miR-33-AlbCRE conditional knock-out mice. Liver were isolated from mice after 6 months of feeding a choline deficient high fat diet to analyze the effect of miR-33 deficiency specifically in hepatocytes and the crosstalk between hepatocytes and other cell types in the liver.
Project description:Objective:Phospholipase D1 (PLD1), a phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing enzyme, has been found to be involved in cellular lipid metabolism. However, how PLD1 involves in hepatocyte lipid metabolism and thus affects non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) has not been explicitly explored. Method: NAFLD is induced in hepatocyte-specific Pld1 knockout (Pld1(H)-KO) mice or control (Pld1-Flox) mice with a high fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks. Plasma glucose and lipid levels, liver lipid and function parameters and inflammation- and fibrogenesis-related gene expression levels were studied. Changes in lipid composition of liver were detected by lipidomic analyses. Changes in gene expression profile were detected by mRNA sequencing. In vitro, alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells were incubated with sodium palmitate (SP) to explore the mechanisms of PLD1 on development of NAFLD. The protein levels of PLD1 and CD36 were detected in the liver tissues of NAFLD patients. Finally, the therapeutic effect of NAFLD by inhibiting PLD with 5-Fluoro-2-indolyl deschlorohalopemide (FIPI) was examined. Results: PLD1 expression levels were increased in the liver tissues of NAFLD patients and the hepatocytes of HFD-induced mice. Compared with Pld1-Flox mice, Pld1(H)-KO mice exhibited lower plasma glucose and lipids levels, and decreased lipid accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis related gene expression levels in the liver tissues after HFD feeding. Inhibition of hepatocyte PLD1 significantly altered lipid composition, especially phosphatidic acids (PA) and lyso-PAs (LPA) levels in the liver tissues after NAFLD. Transcriptomic analysis showed that hepatocyte specific deficiency of PLD1 mainly decreased CD36 expression levels in the NAFLD liver tissues, which was confirmed at the protein and gene expression levels. In vitro, inhibition of PLD1 markedly decreased CD36 expression and lipid accumulation in SP treated AML12 cells. Furthermore, PA, the downstream product catalyzed by PLD1, increased the expression levels of CD36 and lipid accumulation in vitro, which was reversed by PPARγ antagonist. These suggested that PPARγ played an important role in transcriptional regulation of CD36 expression after PA stimulation. Finally, PLD inhibitor FIPI had significant therapeutic effect on HFD-induced NAFLD. Conclusion: Hepatocyte-specific deficiency of PLD1 ameliorates lipid accumulation and NAFLD development by inhibiting PPARγ/CD36 pathway conducted by PA.
Project description:Background: Senescent hepatocytes accumulate in parallel with fibrosis progression during NASH. The mechanisms that enable progressive expansion of nonreplicating cell populations and the significance of that process in determining NASH outcomes are unclear. Many types of senescing cells upregulate the THBD-PAR-1 signaling axis to remain viable. Vorapaxar, an FDA-approved PAR-1 inhibitor, blocks the activity of that pathway. We used vorapaxar to determine if and how THBD-PAR1 signaling promotes fibrosis progression in NASH. Methods: We evaluated the THBD-PAR1 pathway in liver biopsies from NAFLD patient cohorts with a spectrum of liver fibrosis. Chow fed mice were treated with viral vectors to over-express p16 specifically in hepatocytes and induce replicative senescence. Effects on the THBD-PAR-1 axis and regenerative capacity were assessed; the transcriptome of p16 over-expressing hepatocytes was characterized and we examined how conditioned medium from senescent but viable (dubbed ‘undead’) hepatocytes reprograms hepatic stellate cells. A genetically obese mouse model of NASH with little liver fibrosis, and a diet-induced mouse model of NASH with advanced fibrosis were treated with vorapaxar to determine effects on hepatocyte senescence and liver damage. Results: Inducing senescence up-regulates the THBD-PAR1 signaling axis in hepatocytes and induces their expression of fibrogenic factors, including hedgehog ligands. Hepatocyte THBD-PAR1 signaling increases in NAFLD and supports sustained hepatocyte senescence that limits effective liver regeneration and promotes maladaptive repair. Inhibiting PAR-1 signaling with vorapaxar interrupts this process, reduces the burden of ‘undead’ senescent cells, and safely improves NASH and fibrosis despite ongoing lipotoxic stress Conclusion: The THBD-PAR1 signaling axis is a novel therapeutic target for NASH because blocking this pathway prevents accumulation of senescing but viable hepatocytes that generate factors that promote maladaptive liver repair.
Project description:80% of the genomic binding sites of the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 are colocalizing with CP190 binding. Depletion of CP190 reduces the number of Gcn5 binding sites and binding strength to chromatin. Binding dependency was further supported by Gcn5 mediated co-precipitation of CP190
Project description:80% of the genomic binding sites of the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 are colocalizing with CP190 binding. Depletion of CP190 reduces the number of Gcn5 binding sites and binding strength to chromatin. Binding dependency was further supported by Gcn5 mediated co-precipitation of CP190