Refine
Has Fulltext
- no (15) (remove)
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (14)
- Doctoral Thesis (1)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (15)
Keywords
- NASH (4)
- inflammation (4)
- cholesterol (3)
- NAFLD (2)
- cyclooxygenase (2)
- hepatic steatosis (2)
- insulin (2)
- oxidative stress (2)
- Dietary Cholesterol (1)
- E-2 (1)
As significant differences between sexes were found in the susceptibility to alcoholic liver disease in human and animal models, it was the aim of the present study to investigate whether female mice also are more susceptible to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed either water or 30% fructose solution ad libitum for 16 wks. Liver damage was evaluated by histological scoring. Portal endotoxin levels and markers of Kupffer cell activation and insulin resistance, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) were measured in the liver. Adiponectin mRNA expression was determined in adipose tissue. Hepatic steatosis was almost similar between male and female mice; however, inflammation was markedly more pronounced in livers of female mice. Portal endotoxin levels, hepatic levels of myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88) (MyD88) protein and of 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts were elevated in animals with NAFLD regardless of sex. Expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 and 2 was decreased to a similar extent in livers of male and female mice with NAFLD. The less pronounced susceptibility to liver damage in male mice was associated with a superinduction of hepatic pAMPK in these mice whereas, in livers of female mice with NAFLD, PAI-1 was markedly induced. Expression of adiponectin in visceral fat was significantly lower in female mice with NAFLD but unchanged in male mice compared with respective controls. In conclusion, our data suggest that the sex-specific differences in the susceptibility to NAFLD are associated with differences in the regulation of the adiponectin-AMPK-PAI-1 signaling cascade. Online address: http://www.molmed.Org doi: 10.2119/molmed.2012.00223
Macrophages in pathologically expanded dysfunctional white adipose tissue are exposed to a mix of potential modulators of inflammatory response, including fatty acids released from insulin-resistant adipocytes, increased levels of insulin produced to compensate insulin resistance, and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) released from activated macrophages. The current study addressed the question of how palmitate might interact with insulin or PGE(2) to induce the formation of the chemotactic pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8). Human THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophages. In these macrophages, palmitate induced IL-8 formation. Insulin enhanced the induction of IL-8 formation by palmitate as well as the palmitate-dependent stimulation of PGE(2) synthesis. PGE(2) in turn elicited IL-8 formation on its own and enhanced the induction of IL-8 release by palmitate, most likely by activating the EP4 receptor. Since IL-8 causes insulin resistance and fosters inflammation, the increase in palmitate-induced IL-8 formation that is caused by hyperinsulinemia and locally produced PGE(2) in chronically inflamed adipose tissue might favor disease progression in a vicious feed-forward cycle.
In a subset of patients, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is complicated by cell death and inflammation resulting in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to fibrosis and subsequent organ failure. Apart from cytokines, prostaglandins, in particular prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), play a pivotal role during inflammatory processes. Expression of the key enzymes of PGE(2) synthesis, cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal PGE synthase 1 (mPGES-1), was increased in human NASH livers in comparison to controls and correlated with the NASH activity score. Both enzymes were also induced in NASH-diet-fed wild-type mice, resulting in an increase in hepatic PGE(2) concentration that was completely abrogated in mPGES-1-deficient mice. PGE(2) is known to inhibit TNF-alpha synthesis in macrophages. A strong infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages was observed in NASH-diet-fed mice, which was accompanied with an increase in hepatic TNF-alpha expression. Due to the impaired PGE(2) production, TNF-alpha expression increased much more in livers of mPGES-1-deficient mice or in the peritoneal macrophages of these mice. The increased levels of TNF-alpha resulted in an enhanced IL-1 beta production, primarily in hepatocytes, and augmented hepatocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, attenuation of PGE(2) production by mPGES-1 ablation enhanced the TNF-alpha-triggered inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis in diet-induced NASH.
In a subset of patients, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is complicated by cell death and inflammation resulting in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to fibrosis and subsequent organ failure. Apart from cytokines, prostaglandins, in particular prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), play a pivotal role during inflammatory processes. Expression of the key enzymes of PGE(2) synthesis, cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal PGE synthase 1 (mPGES-1), was increased in human NASH livers in comparison to controls and correlated with the NASH activity score. Both enzymes were also induced in NASH-diet-fed wild-type mice, resulting in an increase in hepatic PGE(2) concentration that was completely abrogated in mPGES-1-deficient mice. PGE(2) is known to inhibit TNF-alpha synthesis in macrophages. A strong infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages was observed in NASH-diet-fed mice, which was accompanied with an increase in hepatic TNF-alpha expression. Due to the impaired PGE(2) production, TNF-alpha expression increased much more in livers of mPGES-1-deficient mice or in the peritoneal macrophages of these mice. The increased levels of TNF-alpha resulted in an enhanced IL-1 beta production, primarily in hepatocytes, and augmented hepatocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, attenuation of PGE(2) production by mPGES-1 ablation enhanced the TNF-alpha-triggered inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis in diet-induced NASH.
Aggravation by prostaglandin e-2 of interleukin-6-dependent insulin resistance in hepatocytes
(2009)
Hepatic insulin resistance is a major contributor to fasting hyperglycemia in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Circumstantial evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase products in addition to cytokines might contribute to insulin resistance. However, direct evidence for a role of prostaglandins in the development of hepatic insulin resistance is lacking. Therefore, the impact of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) alone and in combination with interleukin-6 (IL-6) on insulin signaling was studied in primary hepatocyte cultures. Rat hepatocytes were incubated with IL-6 and/or PGE(2) and subsequently with insulin. Glycogen synthesis was monitored by radiochemical analysis; the activation state of proteins of the insulin receptor signal chain was analyzed by western blot with phosphospecific antibodies. In hepatocytes, insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis and insulin-dependent phosphorylation of Akt-kinase were attenuated synergistically by prior incubation with IL-6 and/or PGE(2) while insulin receptor autophosphorylation was barely affected. IL-6 but not PGE(2) induced suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS3). PGE(2) but not IL-6 activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) persistently. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activation by PD98059 abolished the PGE(2)-dependent but not the IL-6-dependent attenuation of insulin signaling. In HepG2 cells expressing a recombinant EP3-receptor, PGE(2) pre-incubation activated ERK1/2, caused a serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), and reduced the insulin-dependent Akt-phosphorylation. Conclusion: PGE(2) might contribute to hepatic insulin resistance via an EP3-receptor-dependent ERK1/2 activation resulting in a serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate, thereby preventing an insulin-dependent activation of Akt and glycogen synthesis. Since different molecular mechanisms appear to be employed, PGE(2) may synergize with IL-6, which interrupted the insulin receptor signal chain, principally by an induction of SOCS, namely SOCS3.