Home About us Contact | |||
Macrovesicular Steatosis (macrovesicular + steatosi)
Selected AbstractsIncreased tumor necrosis factor ,,converting enzyme activity induces insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis in mice,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Loredana Fiorentino Tumor necrosis factor ,,converting enzyme (TACE, also known as ADAM17) was recently involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. We observed that TACE activity was significantly higher in livers of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 1 month, and this activity was increased in liver > white adipose tissue > muscle after 5 months compared with chow control. In mouse hepatocytes, C2C12 myocytes, and 3T3F442A adipocytes, TACE activity was triggered by palmitic acid, lipolysaccharide, high glucose, and high insulin. TACE overexpression significantly impaired insulin-dependent phosphorylation of AKT, GSK3, and FoxO1 in mouse hepatocytes. To test the role of TACE activation in vivo, we used tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (Timp3) null mice, because Timp3 is the specific inhibitor of TACE and Timp3,/, mice have higher TACE activity compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Timp3,/, mice fed a HFD for 5 months are glucose-intolerant and insulin-resistant; they showed macrovesicular steatosis and ballooning degeneration compared with WT mice, which presented only microvesicular steatosis. Shotgun proteomics analysis revealed that Timp3,/, liver showed a significant differential expression of 38 proteins, including lower levels of adenosine kinase, methionine adenosysltransferase I/III, and glycine N -methyltransferase and higher levels of liver fatty acid-binding protein 1. These changes in protein levels were also observed in hepatocytes infected with adenovirus encoding TACE. All these proteins play a role in fatty acid uptake, triglyceride synthesis, and methionine metabolism, providing a molecular explanation for the increased hepatosteatosis observed in Timp3,/, compared with WT mice. Conclusion: We have identified novel mechanisms, governed by the TACE,Timp3 interaction, involved in the determination of insulin resistance and liver steatosis during overfeeding in mice. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.) [source] Activation of the complement system in human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Sander S. Rensen Activation of the innate immune system plays a major role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The complement system is an important component of innate immunity that recognizes danger signals such as tissue injury. We aimed to determine whether activation of the complement system occurs in NAFLD, to identify initiating pathways, and to assess the relation between complement activation, NAFLD severity, apoptosis, and inflammatory parameters. Liver biopsies of 43 obese subjects with various degrees of NAFLD and of 10 healthy controls were analyzed for deposition of complement factors C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), C4d, activated C3, and membrane attack complex (MAC)-associated C9. Furthermore, hepatic neutrophil infiltration, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were quantified. Whereas complement activation was undetectable in the liver of healthy subjects, 74% of the NAFLD patients showed hepatic deposition of activated C3 and C4d. C1q as well as MBL accumulation was found in most activated C3-positive patients. Strikingly, 50% of activated C3-positive patients also displayed MAC-associated C9 deposition. Deposition of complement factors was predominantly seen around hepatocytes with macrovesicular steatosis. Subjects showing accumulation of activated C3 displayed increased numbers of apoptotic cells. Importantly, hepatic neutrophil infiltration as well as interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-6 expression was significantly higher in patients showing activated C3 deposition, whereas patients with C9 deposition additionally had increased IL-1, expression. Moreover, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was more prevalent in patients showing hepatic C9 or activated C3 deposition. Conclusion: There is widespread activation of the complement system in NAFLD, which is associated with disease severity. This may have important implications for the pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD given the function of complement factors in clearance of apoptotic cells, hepatic fibrosis, and liver regeneration. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.) [source] Open-labeled pilot study of cysteine-rich whey protein isolate supplementation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patientsJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Taned Chitapanarux Abstract Background and Aims:, Glutathione (GSH) depletion contributes to liver injury and development of steatohepatitis. Undenatured cysteine-rich whey protein isolate has been clinically proven to raise GSH in several patient groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation with whey protein on patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods:, In an open-labeled clinical trial, 38 patients (18 male, 20 female; mean age 48 ± 14 years) with NASH confirmed by computed tomography measurements and liver biochemistries were given with a daily dose of 20 g whey protein isolate for 12 weeks. Results:, A significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (64 ± 72 vs 46 ± 36, P = 0.016) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (45 ± 49 vs 33 ± 18, P = 0.047) were observed. Plasma glutathione and total antioxidant capacity increased significantly at the end of study (53 ± 11 vs 68 ± 11, P < 0.05 and 1.26 ± 0.10 vs 2.03 ± 0.10, P < 0.05). Liver attenuation index improved from ,13.4 ± 11.1 to ,9.7 ± 13.1 (P = 0.048). Hepatic macrovesicular steatosis decreased significantly after 12 weeks of supplementation (33.82 ± 12.82 vs 30.66 ± 15.96, P = 0.046). Whey protein isolate was well tolerated. No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions:, The results indicate that oral supplementation of cysteine-rich whey protein isolate leads to improvements in liver biochemistries, increased plasma GSH, total antioxidant capacity and reduced hepatic macrovesicular steatosis in NASH patients. The results support the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of this disease. [source] Essential pathogenic and metabolic differences in steatosis induced by choline or methione-choline deficient diets in a rat modelJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Reeta Veteläinen Abstract Background and Aim:, Choline deficient (CD) and methione-choline deficient (MCD) diets are rodent models for steatosis, with potentially dissimilar biochemical backgrounds. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic and pathological derangements in rats fed CD and MCD diets. Methods:, Male Wistar rats received CD or MCD diet up to 7 weeks. Nutritional status, liver histopathology, Kupffer cell-mediated inflammation and injury, oxidative stress via thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS), hepatic and plasma glutathione (GSH) and insulin homeostasis were assessed. Results:, In CD-fed rats, mainly microvesicular steatosis developed with occasional inflammatory cells. In MCD-fed rats, macrovesicular steatosis progressed to steatohepatitis (collagen deposition, activated stellate cells). Hepatic TBARS was increased and GSH decreased in the MCD-fed rats compared to no changes in the CD-fed rats. The CD-fed rats developed obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, in contrast to undetectable plasma lipids, unaffected insulin homeostasis and loss of body weight in the MCD-fed rats. Conclusions:, The CD diet induced uncomplicated steatosis as compared to progressive inflammation and fibrinogenesis in the MCD diet. CD and MCD diets represent two pathogenically different models of steatosis. Although equivalence for the outcome of both diets can be found in clinical steatosis, the results of models using these diets should be compared with caution. [source] The biopsied donor liver: Incorporating macrosteatosis into high-risk donor assessment,LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2010Austin L. Spitzer To expand the donor liver pool, ways are sought to better define the limits of marginally transplantable organs. The Donor Risk Index (DRI) lists 7 donor characteristics, together with cold ischemia time and location of the donor, as risk factors for graft failure. We hypothesized that donor hepatic steatosis is an additional independent risk factor. We analyzed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for all adult liver transplants performed from October 1, 2003, through February 6, 2008, with grafts from deceased donors to identify donor characteristics and procurement logistics parameters predictive of decreased graft survival. A proportional hazard model of donor variables, including percent steatosis from higher-risk donors, was created with graft survival as the primary outcome. Of 21,777 transplants, 5051 donors had percent macrovesicular steatosis recorded on donor liver biopsy. Compared to the 16,726 donors with no recorded liver biopsy, the donors with biopsied livers had a higher DRI, were older and more obese, and a higher percentage died from anoxia or stroke than from head trauma. The donors whose livers were biopsied became our study group. Factors most strongly associated with graft failure at 1 year after transplantation with livers from this high-risk donor group were donor age, donor liver macrovesicular steatosis, cold ischemia time, and donation after cardiac death status. In conclusion, in a high-risk donor group, macrovesicular steatosis is an independent risk factor for graft survival, along with other factors of the DRI including donor age, donor race, donation after cardiac death status, and cold ischemia time. Liver Transpl 16:874,884, 2010. © 2010 AASLD. [source] Hepatic Effects of Rosiglitazone in Rats with the Metabolic SyndromeBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Zvi Ackerman In this study, we characterized the hepatic effects of rosiglitazone in fructose-enriched diet rats. Rats were randomly divided into three groups. One group was maintained on standard rat chow diet for 6 weeks, whereas the other two groups were given fructose-enriched diet for 6 weeks. Four weeks after the initiation of fructose-enriched diet, one of the fructose-enriched diet groups was also given rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg/day) for an additional 2 weeks. Rosiglitazone administration to the fructose-enriched diet rats was associated with decreases in the following parameters: blood pressure (,17%), plasma triglycerides (,62%), hepatic total lipids (,19%), hepatic triglycerides (,61%), hepatic malondialdehyde (,88%), glutathione reductase activity (,84%). An increase in adiponectin plasma levels (+329%), hepatic phospholipids (+46%), hepatic ,-tocopherol concentrations (+24%) and hepatic paraoxonase activity (+68%) was observed. Rosiglitazone caused a decrease in hepatic macrovesicular steatosis score but no change in hepatic fibrosis. Administration of rosiglitazone, to rats with the metabolic syndrome has limited hepatic favourable effects: it improves hepatic lipid metabolism, decreases macrovesicular steatosis and improves some of the hepatic oxidative,anti-oxidative milieu but has no effect on hepatic fibrosis. [source] |