Inflammatory and fibrotic mechanisms in NAFLD—Implications for new treatment strategies

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is comprised of either simple steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver) or a more advanced inflammatory and fibrogenic stage (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]). NASH affects a growing proportion of the global adult and pediatric population, leading to rising rates of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NASH is a multifactorial disease that is part of a systemic metabolic disorder. Here, we provide an overview of the metabolic underpinnings of NASH pathogenesis and established drivers of inflammation and fibrosis. Clarification of underlying fibrogenic and inflammatory mechanisms will advance the development of novel treatment strategies as there are no approved therapies at present. We discuss emerging experimental approaches and potential novel investigational strategies derived from animal models including the inflammasome, epigenetic reprogramming, Hippo signaling, Notch signaling, engineered T cells to remove fibrogenic HSCs, and HSC-specific targeting therapies. Recently completed and ongoing clinical trials and antifibrotics are discussed, illuminating the growing expectation that one or more therapies will yield clinical benefit in NASH in the coming years.     

Effect of saccharin,a non-nutritive sweeteners,on insulin and blood glucose levels in healthy young men: A crossover trial

Background and aimsArtificial sweeteners used instead of sugar were considered as the best alternatives that have no endocrine effects. However, it has recently been suggested that artificial sweeteners may cause impaired metabolic parameters. The hypothesis of the study was there is an association between acute saccharin consumption and both glycemia and insulin response in young healthy adult men.Methods9 healthy adult males were included in this study. This study randomly provided participants with preloads as (a)300 ml of water, or 300 ml of water sweetened with (b)75 g of sucrose, (c)240 mg of saccharine (adjusted to the sweetness of 75 g of sucrose) 1 h before a standard breakfast.ResultsCompared to mean blood glucose and serum insulin after test drinks consumption, there was only one difference between sucrose and saccharin trials in the 15th minute (117.0 ± 18.70, 95.4 ± 5.64 mg/dl respectively, p < 0.05). At the 60th minute, insulin secretion (0.80 ± 0.27 pg/dl) after the sucrose trial was found significantly higher than the saccharin trial (0.53 ± 0.09 pg/dl) and water (0.49 ± 0.06 pg/dl) (p < 0.05). Although at all intervals (except 90th minute), the mean insulin is higher after the saccharin trial compared to the water trial, these were non-statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).ConclusionsConsequently, it was determined that saccharin had no glycemic effect. However, for the effect on serum insulin to be clarified, the long-term effects should be investigated.     

玄参多糖对2型糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢及肝胰岛素信号通路的影响

目的探究玄参多糖对2型糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢及肝胰岛素信号通路的影响。方法采用链脲佐菌素(STZ)注射法制备糖尿病大鼠模型,随机分成5组,分别为模型组、阳性药二甲双胍(200 mg/kg)组及玄参多糖低、中、高剂量(80、160、320 mg/kg)组,另设同周龄普通饲料喂养大鼠为对照组;ig给药6周后监测各组大鼠体质量及生存状态、空腹血糖(FBG)、血脂[总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)]、肝功能[丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)]、肾功能[肌酐(CREA)、血尿素氮(BUN)]、糖化血红蛋白(GHb)、空腹血清胰岛素(FINS)、C-肽、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)等指标的变化;HE染色和油红O染色评估大鼠肝脏病理学变化及脂肪变性;Western blotting法检测肝胰岛素信号通路相关蛋白表达。结果玄参多糖能回升2型糖尿病大鼠体质量,改善代谢功能,降低大鼠FBG、GHb、ALT、AST、CREA、BUN、TC、TG、LDL-C、MDA水平,升高HDL-C、FINS、C-肽、SOD、CAT、GSH-Px水平;Western blotting结果表明玄参多糖能活化IRS-2/PI3K/Akt信号通路,升高过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPAR-γ)、葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT-4)表达水平。结论玄参多糖能够改善2型糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢,其机制可能跟调控肝胰岛素信号通路有关。     

左归降糖解郁方对糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠海马胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的研究左归降糖解郁方对糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠海马胰岛素抵抗的调节作用。方法建立糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠模型,并随机分为4组,模型组,阳性药组(二甲双胍0.18 g/kg+氟西汀1.8 mg/kg),左归降糖解郁方高、低剂量组(20.52、10.26g/kg),另设健康大鼠为对照组。各组大鼠ig给药28 d后,采用血糖仪及ELISA法检测空腹血糖及外周胰岛素抵抗程度。采用旷野实验和强迫游泳实验检测大鼠抑郁样行为。采用免疫荧光法和Western blotting法检测大鼠海马胰岛素受体磷酸化蛋白(p-IR)、磷酸化的胰岛素受体底物-1(p-IRS-1)的表达,采用Westernblotting法检测海马磷酸化的磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(p-PI3K)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B(p-Akt)蛋白的表达。结果与对照组比较,模型组大鼠血糖显著升高并伴随明显的外周胰岛素抵抗,其在旷野实验中的活动次数显著降低、在强迫游泳实验中的不动时间显著延长;蛋白检测结果表明大鼠脑内p-IR、p-IRS-1、p-PI3K、p-Akt表达水平均显著降低。与模型组比较,左归降糖解郁方高剂量组大鼠血糖水平显著降低,外周胰岛素抵抗水平减轻,其在旷野实验中的活动次数显著增加、在强迫游泳实验中的不动时间显著缩短,而海马内p-IR、p-IRS-1、p-PI3K、p-Akt表达显著升高。结论左归降糖解郁方可有效调节糖尿病并发抑郁症大鼠海马胰岛素信号通路,从而改善动物脑内的胰岛素抵抗状态。     

The extracellular matrix enriched with membrane metalloendopeptidase and insulin‐degrading enzyme suppresses the deposition of amyloid‐beta peptide in Alzheimer's disease cell models

Amyloid plaque is a typical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is one of the targets for AD therapy. Membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME) and insulin‐degrading enzyme (IDE) are two types of proteases that could cleave beta‐amyloid (Aβ) peptides generated by neuron cells of AD patients. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in regulating tissue‐specific functions and is an ideal biomaterial for tissue repair. In this study, we extracted the liquid ECM enriched with collagen‐binding‐domain‐fused IDE or MME from human foreskin fibroblast cells. We found that these ECM biomaterials reduced the aggregation of Aβ peptides, prevented the formation of amyloid plaques, and also suppressed phosphorylation of Tau protein in AD cell models. Overall, our research provides a novel ECM biomaterial that can be potentially used for AD therapy.