• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.238-246
• /
• 2020

Background: Dietary fat has been suggested to be the cause of various health issues. Obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and kidney disease are known to be associated with a high-fat diet (HFD). Obesity and associated conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are currently a worldwide health problem. Few prospective pharmaceutical therapies that directly target NAFLD are available at present. A Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng-plus-Bai-Hu-Tang (GBHT), is widely used by diabetic patients to control glucose level or thirst. However, whether it has therapeutic effects on fat-induced hepatic steatosis and metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Methods: This study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effect of GBHT on fat-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance in mice. Results: GBHT protected mice against HFD-induced body weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia compared with mice that were not treated. GBHT inhibited the expansion of adipose tissue and adipocyte hypertrophy. No ectopic fat deposition was found in the livers of HFD mice treated with GBHT. In addition, glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in HFD mice was also improved by GBHT. Conclusion: GBHT prevents changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in a HFD mouse model. Our findings provide evidence for the traditional use of GBHT as therapy for the management of metabolic syndrome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제56권2호
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2013

Because nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can progress towards cirrhosis even in children, early detection of hepatic fibrosis and accurate diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are important. Although liver biopsy is regarded as the gold standard of diagnosis, its clinical application is somewhat limited in children due to its invasiveness. Noninvasive diagnostic methods, including imaging studies, biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, hepatic apoptosis, hepatic fibrosis, and noninvasive hepatic fibrosis scores have recently been developed for diagnosing the spectrum of NAFLD, particularly the severity of hepatic fibrosis. Although data and validation are still lacking for these noninvasive modalities in the pediatric population, these methods may be applicable for pediatric NAFLD. Therefore, noninvasive imaging studies, biomarkers, and hepatic fibrosis scoring systems may be useful in the detection of hepatic steatosis and the prediction of hepatic fibrosis, even in children with NAFLD.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
• /
• 제50권12호
• /
• pp.2.1-2.12
• /
• 2018

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has a broad spectrum of biological activity by regulating metabolic processes via both the direct activation of the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors and indirect nonreceptor-mediated pathways. GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have significant therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) in animal models. However, clinical studies indicated that GLP-1 treatment had little effect on hepatic steatosis in some NAFLD patients, suggesting that GLP-1 resistance may occur in these patients. It is well-known that the gut metabolite sodium butyrate (NaB) could promote GLP-1 secretion from intestinal L cells. However, it is unclear whether NaB improves hepatic GLP-1 responsiveness in NAFLD. In the current study, we showed that the serum GLP-1 levels of NAFLD patients were similar to those of normal controls, but hepatic GLP-1R expression was significantly downregulated in NAFLD patients. Similarly, in the NAFLD mouse model, mice fed with a high-fat diet showed reduced hepatic GLP-1R expression, which was reversed by NaB treatment and accompanied by markedly alleviated liver steatosis. In addition, NaB treatment also upregulated the hepatic p-AMPK/p-ACC and insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1 expression levels. Furthermore, NaB-enhanced GLP-1R expression in HepG2 cells by inhibiting histone deacetylase-2 independent of GPR43/GPR109a. These results indicate that NaB is able to prevent the progression of NAFL to NASH via promoting hepatic GLP-1R expression. NaB is a GLP-1 sensitizer and represents a potential therapeutic adjuvant to prevent NAFL progression to NASH.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제51권5호
• /
• pp.209-210
• /
• 2018

NAFLD induces the development of advanced liver diseases such as NASH and liver cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of NAFLD development is critical for its prevention and treatment. Ablation of PTEN or Hippo pathway components induces liver cancer in a murine model by hyperactive AKT or YAP/TAZ, respectively. Although the regulation of these two pathways occurs in the same hepatocyte, the details of crosstalk between Hippo-YAP/TAZ and PTEN-AKT pathways in liver homeostasis and tumorigenesis still remain unclear. Here, we found that depletion of both PTEN and SAV1 in liver promotes spontaneous NAFLD and liver cancer through hyperactive AKT via YAP/TAZ-mediated up-regulation of IRS2 transcription. Conversely, NAFLD is rescued by both ablation of YAP/TAZ and activation of the Hippo pathway. Furthermore, human HCC patients with NAFLD showed strong correlation between YAP/TAZ and IRS2 or phospho-AKT expression. Finally, the inhibition of AKT by MK-2206 treatment attenuates NAFLD development and tumorigenesis. Our findings indicate that Hippo pathway interacts with AKT signaling during the intervention with IRS2 to prevent NAFLD and liver cancer.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제50권1호
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2022

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which encompasses alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the economic and health impacts of ALD are clear, few advances have been made in its prevention or treatment. We recently demonstrated that the insect-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities in various cell systems, including neuronal cells and colonic epithelial cells. Here, we tested whether CopA3 inhibits ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with ethanol only or ethanol plus CopA3 for 24 h and then liver injury and inflammatory responses were measured. Ethanol enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10. It also induced hepatocyte apoptosis and ballooning degeneration in hepatocytes. Notably, all these effects were eliminated or significantly reduced by CopA3 treatment. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CopA3 ameliorates ethanol-induced liver cell damage and inflammation, suggesting the therapeutic potential of CopA3 for treating ethanol-induced liver injury.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.233-240
• /
• 2017

본 연구는 소포체스트레스(endoplasmic reticulum stress)에 의해 유발되는 지방간(hepatic steatosis)에 대한 오미자추출물(Schisandra chinensis)의 주요성분인 gomisin A의 지방간 보호 효능에 대하여 연구하였다. 이를 위해 HepG2 세포에 소포체스트레스 유도물질인 tunicamycin 또는 palmitate을 처리하여 세포에서의 지방간 모델을 만들어 실험을 진행 하였으며, 소포체스트레스 표지자(marker)인 GRP78, CHOP, XBP-1의 발현을 측정하였다. Tunicamycin 처리한 세포에서는 GRP78, CHOP, XBP-1의 발현이 증가되었으나, gomisin A를 처리 한 세포에서는 이들의 발현 증가가 억제됨을 확인하였다. 이는 palmitate를 처리한 HepG2 세포에서도 palmitate에 의해 증가하는 소포체스트레스 표지자들이 gomisin A을 처리한 세포에서 발현이 감소함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과에 의해, gomisin A는 소포체스트레스를 억제함을 알 수 있었다. 다음으로 gomisin A가 in vivo에서 소포체스트레스 및 지방간에 대한 보호효과가 있는지 확인하기 위해, tunicamycin과 고지방(high fat diet)으로 식이 한 쥐에서 소포체스트레스와 지방간의 보호효능에 대해 실험을 진행하였다. Tunicamycin과 고지방식이을 한 쥐의 간에서 중성지방이 증가하였으나, gomisin A를 처리한 쥐의 간에서 중성지방의 수준이 유의적으로 감소함을 확인하였다. 소포체스트레스 표지자들 역시 tunicamycin이나 고지방식이을 한 쥐에서 증가되나 gomisin A를 처리한 쥐에서 감소됨을 확인하였다. Gomisin A의 염증 반응에서의 조절기능을 확인하기 위하여 $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6 그리고 MCP1과 같은 염증관련 유전자들의 발현을 분석한 결과, tunicamycin이나 고지방식이을 한 쥐에서 염증유전자들의 발현이 증가하였으나 gomisin A를 처리한 쥐에서는 유의적으로 감소하였다. 종합적으로 본 연구 결과에 의하면, gomsin A는 소포체스트레스를 억제하여 지방간의 생성을 저해함을 알 수 있었다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제31권9호
• /
• pp.796-805
• /
• 2021

간 소포체(ER) 스트레스는 비알콜성지방간과 인슐린 저항성의 발달에 기여하고, unfolded protein response(UPR)의 구성요소는 지질 대사를 조절한다. 최근 연구에 따르면 ER 스트레스와 비정상적인 세포 지질 대사 사이의 연관성이 보고되었으며, 이 과정에서 지질 대사의 중심 조절자인 sterol regulatory element binding proteins(SREBPs)의 관련성이 확인되었다. 그러나 ER 스트레스 동안 지질 대사를 조절하는 SREBP의 정확한 역할과 비알콜성지방간에 대한 기여는 아직 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서 SREBP-1c 결핍은 UPR, 염증 및 지방산 산화 조절을 통해 ER 스트레스에 의해 유도된 비알콜성지방간으로부터 생쥐를 보호한다는 것을 보여준다. SREBP-1c는 inositol requiring kinase 1α (IRE1α) 발현을 직접적으로 조절하고 ER 스트레스에 의해 유도된 tumor necrosis factor-α의 활성화를 매개하여 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC1α)의 감소와 그에 따른 지방산 산화의 장애를 유발한다. 그러나, SREBP-1c의 유전적 결핍은 이러한 현상을 보호하여 간 염증과 지방 축적을 완화시킨다. SREBP-1c 결핍이 ER 스트레스에 의해 유도된 염증 신호를 방지하는 메커니즘은 아직 밝혀지지 않았지만, SREBP-1c가 결핍된 Kupffer 세포에서 IRE1α 신호의 변화가 염증 신호에 관여할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구결과는 SREBP-1c가 ER 스트레스에 의해 유도된 비알콜성지방간에서 UPR 및 염증의 조절에 중요한 역할을 함을 시사한다.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제32권1호
• /
• pp.109-120
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract on the experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) induced by palmitate. Materials and Methods: To generate a cellular model of NAFLD, we used HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line, treated with 0.5 mM palmitate. By this cellular model, effects of KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract were evaluated. Intracellular lipid accumulation, free radical formation, and apoptosis were detected by Nile red staining, 2',7'-dichloroflourescin diacetate(H2DCF-DA), and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI)/propidium iodide(PI) staining, respectively. Some proteins related with NAFLD were determined by western blot. Results: Typical pathological features of NAFLD occurred in the cellular model. Palmitate increased the levels of intracellular lipid vacuoles, decreased cell viability, and increased apoptosis. Palmitate increased free radical formation and lipid peroxidation, too. However, KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract reduced palmitate-induced pathologic features, i.e. steatosis, free radical formation, and apoptosis. In addition, KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract suppressed palmitate-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) signaling, and SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, significantly reversed the palmitate-induced pathologic changes as KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract. It means that the signaling pathway other than JNK can be involved in the KHchunggan-tang mediated cellular protection of palmitate-treated Hep G2 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract has hepatoprotective effects on NAFLD with combined properties in cellular steatosis, ROS production, and cytoprotection, and thus may have valuable clinical applications for treatment of this chronic liver disease.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제45권7호
• /
• pp.396-401
• /
• 2012

Overnutrition is one of the major causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is characterized by an accumulation of lipids (triglycerides) in hepatocytes and is often accompanied by high plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFA). In this study, we compared the energy metabolism in acute steatotic and non-steatotic primary mouse hepatocytes. Acute steatosis was induced by pre-incubation with high concentrations of oleate and palmitate. Labeling experiments were conducted using [$U-^{13}C_5$,$U-^{15}N_2$] glutamine. Metabolite concentrations and mass isotopomer distributions of intracellular metabolites were measured and applied for metabolic flux estimation using transient $^{13}C$ metabolic flux analysis. FFAs were efficiently taken up and almost completely incorporated into triglycerides (TAGs). In spite of high FFA uptake rates and the high synthesis rate of TAGs, central energy metabolism was not significantly changed in acute steatotic cells. Fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation does not significantly contribute to the detoxification of FFAs under the applied conditions.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• 제24권5호
• /
• pp.470-482
• /
• 2021

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between sonographic measurements of fatty liver and body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-Z score), abdominal wall fat thickness (AWFT), and serum biochemical parameters in childhood obesity. Methods: Anthropometric, laboratory, and ultrasonography data were obtained from 174 children with BMI-Z score >1. After the qualitative grading of hepatosteatosis (grades 0-3), the quantitative liver-kidney echogenicity ratio (LKER) was calculated using a software tool. Groups according to sex, age (AG-I to AG-III), BMI-Z score (BMG-I to BMG-III), and hepatosteatosis degree (HS-I and HS-II) were formed. The differences and distributions of the variables were statistically analyzed and compared among the groups. Results: Serum transaminase and glucose levels showed a positive correlation with LKER, whereas the HDL level showed a negative correlation. BMI-Z score and AWFT showed a positive correlation with fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR value. LKER was significantly higher in girls than in boys (p=0.008). In the AG-I group (age 3-8.9 years), the BMI-Z score was significantly higher, whereas AWFT was significantly lower than in the other age groups (p<0.001). The cutoff point of LKER for predicting grade 2 or higher steatosis (HS-II group) was determined to be 1.83. Cardiovascular disease risk was significantly higher in the HS-II group (p=0.035). Conclusion: As a valuable quantitative measurement tool, LKER can be used for the sonographic screening of fatty liver. AWFT, on the basis of its correlation with fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR value, may be a useful sonographic parameter in the management of childhood obesity.