Arachidyl amido cholanoic acid improves liver glucose and lipid homeostasis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis via AMPK and mTOR regulation

BACKGROUND Arachidyl amido cholanoic acid(Aramchol) is a potent downregulator of hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1) protein expression that reduces liver triglycerides and fibrosis in animal models of steatohepatitis. In a phase IIb clinical trial in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH), 52 wk of treatment with Aramchol reduced blood levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c, an indicator of glycemic control.AIM To assess lipid and glucose metabolism in mouse hepatocytes and in a NASH mouse model [induced with a 0.1% methionine and choline deficient diet(0.1 MCD)] after treatment with Aramchol.METHODS Isolated primary mouse hepatocytes were incubated with 20 μmol/L Aramchol or vehicle for 48 h. Subsequently, analyses were performed including Western blot, proteomics by mass spectrometry, and fluxomic analysis with ~(13)C-uniformly labeled glucose. For the in vivo part of the study, male C57 BL/6 J mice were randomly fed a control or 0.1 MCD for 4 wk and received 1 or 5 mg/kg/d Aramchol or vehicle by intragastric gavage for the last 2 wk. Liver metabolomics were assessed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-MS for the determination of glucose metabolism-related metabolites.RESULTS Combination of proteomics and Western blot analyses showed increased AMPK activity while the activity of nutrient sensor mTORC1 was decreased by Aramchol in hepatocytes. This translated into changes in the content of their downstream targets including proteins involved in fatty acid(FA) synthesis and oxidation [PACCα/β(S79), SCD1, CPT1A/B, HADHA, and HADHB], oxidative phosphorylation(NDUFA9, NDUFB11, NDUFS1, NDUFV1, ETFDH, and UQCRC2), tricarboxylic acid(TCA) cycle(MDH2, SUCLA2, and SUCLG2), and ribosome(P-p70S6K[T389] and P-S6[S235/S236]). Flux experiments with ~(13)C uniformely labeled glucose showed that TCA cycle cataplerosis was reduced by Aramchol in hepatocytes, as indicated by the increase in the number of rounds that malate remained in the TCA cycle. Finally, liver metabolomic analysis showed that glucose homeostasis was improved by Aramchol in 0.1 MCD fed mice in a dose-dependent manner, showing normalization of glucose, G6P, F6P, UDP-glucose, and Rbl5 P/Xyl5 P.CONCLUSION Aramchol exerts its effect on glucose and lipid metabolism in NASH through activation of AMPK and inhibition of mTORC1, which in turn activate FA β-oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation.     

Archaebiotics

Trimethylamine (TMA) is produced by gut bacteria from dietary ingredients. In individuals with a hereditary defect in flavin-containing monooxygenase 3, bacterial TMA production is believed to contribute to the symptoms of trimethylaminuria (TMAU; fish-odor syndrome). Intestinal microbiota TMA metabolism may also modulate atherosclerosis risk by affecting trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) production levels. We propose that reducing TMA formation in the gut by converting it to an inert molecule could be used to prevent or limit these human diseases, while avoiding the major drawbacks of other clinical interventions. Reducing TMA levels by microbiological interventions could also be helpful in some vaginoses. Particular members of a recently discovered group of methanogens, that are variably present in the human gut, are unusual in being apparently restricted to utilizing only methyl compounds including TMA as substrates. We confirmed experimentally that one of these strains tested, Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis B10, is able to deplete TMA, by reducing it with H₂ for methanogenesis. We therefore suggest that members of this archaeal lineage could be used as treatments for metabolic disorders.     

Maternal choline supplementation differentially alters the basal forebrain cholinergic system of young‐adult Ts65Dn and disomic mice

Down syndrome (DS), trisomy 21, is a multifaceted condition marked by intellectual disability and early presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathological lesions including degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) system. Although DS is diagnosable during gestation, there is no treatment option for expectant mothers or DS individuals. Using the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS that displays age‐related degeneration of the BFCN system, we investigated the effects of maternal choline supplementation on the BFCN system in adult Ts65Dn mice and disomic (2N) littermates at 4.3–7.5 months of age. Ts65Dn dams were maintained on a choline‐supplemented diet (5.1 g/kg choline chloride) or a control, unsupplemented diet with adequate amounts of choline (1 g/kg choline chloride) from conception until weaning of offspring; post weaning, offspring were fed the control diet. Mice were transcardially perfused with paraformaldehyde, and brains were sectioned and immunolabeled for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or p75‐neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR). BFCN number and size, the area of the regions, and the intensity of hippocampal labeling were determined. Ts65Dn‐unsupplemented mice displayed region‐ and immunolabel‐dependent increased BFCN number, larger areas, smaller BFCNs, and overall increased hippocampal ChAT intensity compared with 2N unsupplemented mice. These effects were partially normalized by maternal choline supplementation. Taken together, the results suggest a developmental imbalance in the Ts65Dn BFCN system. Early maternal‐diet choline supplementation attenuates some of the genotype‐dependent alterations in the BFCN system, suggesting this naturally occurring nutrient as a treatment option for pregnant mothers with knowledge that their offspring is trisomy 21. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:1390–1410, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves cognitive functioning after brain injury

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been widely applied and recognized in the treatment of brain injury; however, the correlation between the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and changes of metabolites in the brain remains unclear. To investigate the effect and potential mechanism of hy- perbaric oxygen therapy on cognitive functioning in rats, we established traumatic brain injury models using Feeney＇s free falling method. We treated rat models with hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 0.2 MPa for 60 minutes per day. The Morris water maze test for spatial navigation showed that the average escape latency was significantly prolonged and cognitive function decreased in rats with brain injury. After treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 1 and 2 weeks, the rats＇ spatial learning and memory abilities were improved. Hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis showed that the N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio in the hippocampal CA3 region was sig- nificantly increased at 1 week, and the N-acetylaspartate/choline ratio was significantly increased at 2 weeks after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Nissl staining and immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of nerve cells and Nissl bodies in the hippocampal CA3 region was significantly increased, and glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells were decreased after a 2-week hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. Our findings indicate that hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly im- proves cognitive functioning in rats with traumatic brain injury, and the potential mechanism is me- diated by metabolic changes and nerve cell restoration in the hippocampal CA3 region.     

脂欣康对ApoE基因敲除小鼠海马形态学及胆碱乙酰转移酶和突触素表达的影响

目的研究脂欣康对ApoE基因敲除(ApoEKO)小鼠海马形态学及脑胆碱乙酰转移酶(ChAT)和突触素(P38)表达的影响。方法以ApoEKO小鼠为研究对象,随机分为ApoEKO组、脂欣康组、联合干预组,分别给予生理盐水、脂欣康、脂欣康+维生素E灌胃,每日一次,连续灌胃60d,以同龄C57BL/6J小鼠作为正常对照组,之后将所有小鼠断头处死,采用HE染色观察各组小鼠海马神经元组织形态学改变,采用免疫组化技术与计算机图像分析技术检测ApoEKO小鼠海马内ChAT和P38的表达。结果与C57BL/6J小鼠相比,ApoEKO组小鼠海马区神经细胞结构破坏,ChAT阳性神经细胞数目与P38阳性染色颗粒明显减少,染色变浅,ChAT与P38平均灰度值明显增高(P<0.05)。干预组的反应结果介于两者之间,联合干预组表达优于脂欣康组。结论脂欣康能够减轻ApoEKO小鼠海马区神经损害,增强ChAT与P38的表达,与维生素E间有协同作用。     

Proton MR spectroscopy in the breast: Technical innovations and clinical applications

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a promising noninvasive diagnostic technique for investigation of breast cancer metabolism. Spectroscopic imaging data may be obtained following contrast‐enhanced MRI by applying the point‐resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) or the stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence from the MR voxel encompassing the breast lesion. Total choline signal (tCho) measured in vivo using either a qualitative or quantitative approach has been used as a diagnostic test in the workup of malignant breast lesions. In addition to tCho metabolites, other relevant metabolites, including multiple lipids, can be detected and monitored. MRS has been heavily investigated as an adjunct to morphologic and dynamic MRI to improve diagnostic accuracy in breast cancer, obviating unnecessary benign biopsies. Besides its use in the staging of breast cancer, other promising applications have been recently investigated, including the assessment of treatment response and therapy monitoring. This review provides guidance on spectroscopic acquisition and quantification methods and highlights current and evolving clinical applications of proton MRS. Level of Evidence 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.     

多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合复方丹参滴丸对非酒精性脂肪肝的临床研究

目的 研究多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合复方丹参滴丸对非酒精性脂肪肝患者的临床治疗效果。方法 选择2012年1月-2015年12月在西安医学院附属宝鸡医院进行诊治的非酒精性脂肪肝患者116例,随机分为观察组与对照组,每组58例。对照组采用复方丹参滴丸治疗,观察组采用多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合复方丹参滴丸治疗,均治疗3个月。比较两组的临床有效率;分别于治疗前后检测肝功能指标：天氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（γ-GT）、总胆汁酸（TBIL）;血脂指标：总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）;肝纤维化指标：层粘连蛋白（LN）、透明质酸（HA）、Ⅲ型前胶原（PCⅢ）、IV型胶原（IV-C）;并进行上腹部CT平扫,计算肝/脾CT比值。结果 观察组的有效率为91.4%（53/58）,明显高于对照组的72.4%（42/58）（P<0.05）;与同组治疗前比较,治疗后两组的AST、ALT、γ-GT、TBIL、TC、TG水平均明显降低,肝/脾CT比值明显升高（P<0.05）,且观察组的改善程度明显优于对照组（P<0.05）;与治疗前比较,两组治疗后的LN、PCⅢ、IV-C和HA水平均明显降低（P<0.05）,且观察组的降低程度明显优于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合复方丹参滴丸可以明显改善非酒精性脂肪肝患者的肝功能和肝纤维化,降低血脂。     

多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合护肝片治疗药物性肝损伤疗效观察

摘 要 目的： 了解多烯磷脂酰胆碱联合护肝片治疗药物性肝损伤的临床疗效。方法: 80例药物性肝损伤患者随机分为2组各40例。观察组采用多烯磷脂酰胆碱注射液697.5 mg+5%葡萄糖注射液250 ml,ivd,qd,联合护肝片1.44 g,po,tid 治疗,对照组单用多烯磷脂酰胆碱注射液697.5 mg+5%葡萄糖注射液250 ml,ivd,qd,其他护肝对症处理两组相同。两组疗程均为20 d。治疗前后分别检测两组丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、总胆红素（TBIL)、谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)水平,比较两组疗效。结果:治疗后,观察组总有效率为97.5%,明显优于对照组（P<0.01）。两组患者症状、体征,生化检测指标均有明显改善,观察组ALT、AST、GGT降低幅度均明显低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论: 多烯磷脂酰胆碱注射液联合护肝片治疗药物性肝损伤疗效优于单用多烯磷脂酰胆碱,值得临床推广应用。     

Membrane transport mechanisms of choline in human intestinal epithelial LS180 cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the membrane transport mechanisms of choline using human intestinal epithelial LS180 cells. The mRNA of choline transporter‐like proteins (CTLs) was expressed significantly in LS180 cells, and the rank order was CTL1 > CTL4 > CTL3 > CTL2 > CTL5. In contrast, the mRNA expression of other choline transporters, organic cation transporter (OCT) 1, OCT2 and high‐affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), was considerably lower in LS180 cells. Five mm unlabelled choline, hemicolinium‐3 and guanidine, but not tetraethylammonium, inhibited the cellular uptake of 100 µm choline in LS180 cells. The uptake of choline into LS180 cells was virtually Na⁺‐independent. The uptake of choline was significantly decreased by acidification of the extracellular pH; however, it was not increased by alkalization of the extracellular pH. In addition, both acidification and alkalization of intracellular pH decreased the uptake of choline, indicating that the choline uptake in LS180 cells is not stimulated by the outward H⁺ gradient. On the other hand, the uptake of choline was decreased by membrane depolarization along with increasing extracellular K⁺ concentration. In addition, the Na⁺‐independent uptake of choline was saturable, and the K_m value was estimated to be 108 µm . These findings suggest that the uptake of choline into LS180 cells is membrane potential‐dependent, but not outward H⁺ gradient‐dependent. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Circulating microRNA 122 in the methionine and choline‐deficient mouse model of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatic failure. The methionine choline‐deficient diet (MCD) is a frequently used hepatotoxicity animal model of NASH that induces hepatic transaminase (ALT, AST) elevations and hepatobiliary histological changes similar to those observed in human NASH. Liver‐specific microRNA‐122 (miR‐122) has been shown as a key regulator of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in adult liver, and has recently been proposed as a sensitive and specific circulating biomarker of hepatic injury. The purpose of this study was to assess miR‐122 serum levels in mice receiving an MCD diet for 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days and compare the performance vs. routine clinical chemistry when benchmarked against the histopathological liver findings. MiR‐122 levels were quantified in serum using RT‐qPCR. Both miR‐122 and ALT/AST levels were significantly elevated in serum at all timepoints. MiR‐122 levels increased on average by 40‐fold after 3 days of initiating the MCD diet, whereas ALT and AST changes were 4.8‐ and 3.3‐fold, respectively. In general, miR‐122 levels remained elevated across all time points, whereas the ALT/AST increases were less robust but correlated with the progressive severity of NASH as assessed by histopathology. In conclusion, serum levels of miR‐122 can potentially be used as a sensitive biomarker for the early detection of hepatotoxicity and can aid in monitoring the extent of NAFLD‐associated liver injury in mouse efficacy models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.