scholarly journals Deregulated Serotonin Pathway in Women with Morbid Obesity and NAFLD

Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Jessica Binetti ◽  
Laia Bertran ◽  
David Riesco ◽  
Carmen Aguilar ◽  
Salomé Martínez ◽  
...  

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) extends from simple steatosis (SS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Peripheral serotonin (5-HT) has become as an important regulator of different metabolic pathways. 5-HT has been related to obesity and lipid accumulation in the liver. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the 5-HT signaling pathway and the degree of NAFLD, as well as to investigate whether peripheral 5-HT levels are related to the hepatic and jejunal mRNA abundance of serotonin receptors (HTR) in a cohort of women with morbid obesity (MO) and NAFLD. ELISA was used to quantify the serum 5-HT from normal-weight subjects (n = 26) and patients with MO (n = 58). We used RTq-PCR analysis to evaluate the relative expression of HTR in women with MO with normal liver (n = 22), SS (n = 21), and NASH (n = 15). The 5-HT was diminished in women with MO under a hypocaloric diet, regardless of the presence of NAFLD. Additionally, we report a negative correlation of 5-HT levels with metabolic syndrome criteria, suggesting that serotonin may have a protective role in obesity. Additionally, the hepatic expression of HTR2A and HTR2B were decreased in women with MO and NAFLD, but no significant differences in the HTR jejunal expression according to the presence of NAFLD were found.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 4189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Auguet ◽  
Laia Bertran ◽  
Jessica Binetti ◽  
Carmen Aguilar ◽  
Salomé Martínez ◽  
...  

The progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is linked to systemic inflammation. Currently, two of the aspects that need further investigation are diagnosis and treatment of NASH. In this sense, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between circulating levels of cytokines, hepatic expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs), and degrees of NAFLD, and to investigate whether these levels could serve as noninvasive biomarkers of NASH. The present study assessed plasma levels of cytokines in 29 normal-weight women and 82 women with morbid obesity (MO) (subclassified: normal liver (n = 29), simple steatosis (n = 32), and NASH (n = 21)). We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to quantify cytokine and TLR4 levels and RTqPCR to assess TLRs hepatic expression. IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, tPAI-1, and MCP-1 levels were increased, and adiponectin levels were decreased in women with MO. IL-8 was significantly higher in MO with NASH than in NL. To sum up, high levels of IL-8 were associated with the diagnosis of NASH in a cohort of women with morbid obesity. Moreover, a positive correlation between TLR2 hepatic expression and IL-8 circulating levels was found.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5239
Author(s):  
Laia Bertran ◽  
Angela Pastor ◽  
Marta Portillo-Carrasquer ◽  
Jessica Binetti ◽  
Carmen Aguilar ◽  
...  

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are beginning to be understood. RUNX1 is involved in angiogenesis, which is crucial in inflammation, but its role in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze RUNX1 mRNA hepatic and jejunal abundance in women with morbid obesity (MO) and NAFLD. RUNX1, lipid metabolism-related genes, and TLRs in women with MO and normal liver (NL, n = 28), NAFLD (n = 41) (simple steatosis (SS, n = 24), or NASH (n = 17)) were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The RUNX1 hepatic expression was higher in SS than in NL or NASH, as likewise confirmed by immunohistochemistry. An increased expression of hepatic FAS was found in NAFLD. Hepatic RUNX1 correlated positively with FAS. There were no significant differences in the jejunum RUNX1 expressions in the different groups. Jejunal FXR expression was lower in NASH than in NL, while the TLR9 expression increased as NAFLD progressed. Jejunal RUNX1 correlated positively with jejunal PPARγ, TLR4, and TLR5. In summary, the hepatic expression of RUNX1 seems to be involved in the first steps of the NAFLD process; however, in NASH, it seems to be downregulated. Our findings provide important insights into the role of RUNX1 in the context of NAFLD/NASH, suggesting a protective role.


Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 373
Author(s):  
Beatriz Villar ◽  
Laia Bertran ◽  
Carmen Aguilar ◽  
Jessica Binetti ◽  
Salomé Martínez ◽  
...  

Recent studies suggest a link between pro-neurotensin (pro-NT) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the published data are conflicting. Thus, we aimed to analyze pro-NT levels in women with morbid obesity (MO) and NAFLD to investigate if this molecule is involved in NAFLD and liver lipid metabolism. Plasma levels of pro-NT were determined in 56 subjects with MO and 18 with normal weight (NW). All patients with MO were subclassified according to their liver histology into the normal liver (NL, n = 20) and NAFLD (n = 36) groups. The NAFLD group had 17 subjects with simple steatosis (SS) and 19 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We used a chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay to quantify pro-NT in plasma and RT-qPCR to evaluate the hepatic mRNA levels of several lipid metabolism-related genes. We reported that pro-NT levels were significantly higher in MO with NAFLD than in MO without NAFLD. Additionally, pro-NT levels were higher in NASH patients than in NL. The hepatic expression of lipid metabolism-related genes was found to be altered in NAFLD, as previously reported. Additionally, although pro-NT levels correlated with LDL, there was no association with the main lipid metabolism-related genes. These findings suggest that pro-NT could be related to NAFLD progression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-644
Author(s):  
Jamal Nasser Saleh Al-maamari ◽  
Mahardian Rahmadi ◽  
Sisca Melani Panggono ◽  
Devita Ardina Prameswari ◽  
Eka Dewi Pratiwi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The study aimed to determine the effect of quercetin on the expression of primary regulator gene involved in lipogenesis and triglycerides synthesis in the liver, and the sterol regulatory binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) mRNA in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with a high-fat diet (HFD) model. Methods Fifty-six Balb/c mice were divided into seven groups: standard feed; HFD; HFD and quercetin 50 mg/kg for 28 days; HFD and quercetin 100 mg/kg BW for 28 days; HFD and quercetin 50 mg/kg for 14 days; HFD and quercetin 100 mg/kg for 14 days; HFD and repaired fed for 14 days. Quercetin was administered intraperitoneally. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last treatment; the liver was taken for macroscopic, histopathological staining using hematoxylin–eosin and reverse transcription-PCR analysis sample. Results HFD significantly increased the expression of SREBP-1c mRNA; meanwhile, quercetin and repaired feed significantly reduced the expression of SREBP-1c mRNA in the liver. Quercetin at a dose of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg also improved liver cells’ pathological profile in high-fat diet NAFLD. Conclusions The present study suggests that quercetin has an inhibitory effect on SREBP-1c expression and improved liver pathology in NAFLD mice.


Author(s):  
Sung Eun Kim

<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) is one of the most common pathogens that can cause certain gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Recently, interest in the systemic effects of <i>H. pylori</i> on extragastric manifestations is increasing. Representative diseases include hematologic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, dermatologic, allergic, hepatobiliary, and metabolic diseases. Among them, since the prevalence of metabolic diseases is on the rise worldwide, the relationship between <i>H. pylori</i> infection and metabolic diseases has become an interesting research issue. Many studies have been conducted to clarify any association. However, the results of those studies still remain controversial. This review focuses on recently published studies to investigate the relationship between <i>H. pylori</i> infection and metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their associated pathophysiology.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1346
Author(s):  
Mohammad Shafi Kuchay ◽  
José Ignacio Martínez-Montoro ◽  
Narendra Singh Choudhary ◽  
José Carlos Fernández-García ◽  
Bruno Ramos-Molina

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which approximately affects a quarter of the world’s population, has become a major public health concern. Although usually associated with excess body weight, it may also affect normal-weight individuals, a condition termed as lean/non-obese NAFLD. The prevalence of lean/non-obese NAFLD is around 20% within the NAFLD population, and 5% within the general population. Recent data suggest that individuals with lean NAFLD, despite the absence of obesity, exhibit similar cardiovascular- and cancer-related mortality compared to obese NAFLD individuals and increased all-cause mortality risk. Lean and obese NAFLD individuals share several metabolic abnormalities, but present dissimilarities in genetic predisposition, body composition, gut microbiota, and susceptibility to environmental factors. Current treatment of lean NAFLD is aimed at improving overall fitness and decreasing visceral adiposity, with weight loss strategies being the cornerstone of treatment. Moreover, several drugs including PPAR agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, or GLP-1 receptor agonists could also be useful in the management of lean NAFLD. Although there has been an increase in research regarding lean NAFLD, there are still more questions than answers. There are several potential drugs for NAFLD therapy, but clinical trials are needed to evaluate their efficacy in lean individuals.


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