TY - JOUR A1 - Krstic, Jelena A1 - Galhuber, Markus A1 - Schulz, Tim Julius A1 - Schupp, Michael A1 - Prokesch, Andreas T1 - p53 as a dichotomous regulator of liver disease BT - the dose makes the medicine JF - International journal of molecular sciences N2 - Lifestyle-related disorders, such as the metabolic syndrome, have become a primary risk factor for the development of liver pathologies that can progress from hepatic steatosis, hepatic insulin resistance, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, to the most severe condition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the prevalence of liver pathologies is steadily increasing in modern societies, there are currently no approved drugs other than chemotherapeutic intervention in late stage HCC. Hence, there is a pressing need to identify and investigate causative molecular pathways that can yield new therapeutic avenues. The transcription factor p53 is well established as a tumor suppressor and has recently been described as a central metabolic player both in physiological and pathological settings. Given that liver is a dynamic tissue with direct exposition to ingested nutrients, hepatic p53, by integrating cellular stress response, metabolism and cell cycle regulation, has emerged as an important regulator of liver homeostasis and dysfunction. The underlying evidence is reviewed herein, with a focus on clinical data and animal studies that highlight a direct influence of p53 activity on different stages of liver diseases. Based on current literature showing that activation of p53 signaling can either attenuate or fuel liver disease, we herein discuss the hypothesis that, while hyper-activation or loss of function can cause disease, moderate induction of hepatic p53 within physiological margins could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of liver pathologies. Hence, stimuli that lead to a moderate and temporary p53 activation could present new therapeutic approaches through several entry points in the cascade from hepatic steatosis to HCC. KW - p53 KW - liver disease KW - insulin resistance KW - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease KW - non-alcoholic steatohepatitis KW - hepatocellular carcinoma KW - liver regeneration KW - mouse models Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030921 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 19 IS - 3 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kleuser, Burkhard T1 - Divergent role of sphingosine 1-phosphate in liver health and disease JF - International journal of molecular sciences N2 - Two decades ago, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) was discovered as a novel bioactive molecule that regulates a variety of cellular functions. The plethora of S1P-mediated effects is due to the fact that the sphingolipid not only modulates intracellular functions but also acts as a ligand of G protein-coupled receptors after secretion into the extracellular environment. In the plasma, S1P is found in high concentrations, modulating immune cell trafficking and vascular endothelial integrity. The liver is engaged in modulating the plasma S1P content, as it produces apolipoprotein M, which is a chaperone for the S1P transport. Moreover, the liver plays a substantial role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. A dysfunction of glucose and lipid metabolism is connected with the development of liver diseases such as hepatic insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or liver fibrosis. Recent studies indicate that S1P is involved in liver pathophysiology and contributes to the development of liver diseases. In this review, the current state of knowledge about S1P and its signaling in the liver is summarized with a specific focus on the dysregulation of S1P signaling in obesity-mediated liver diseases. Thus, the modulation of S1P signaling can be considered as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatic diseases. KW - sphingolipids KW - sphingosine kinase KW - fibrosis KW - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease KW - insulin resistance KW - liver fibrosis Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030722 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 19 IS - 3 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER -