Research Article Details
Article ID: | A14072 |
PMID: | 29602237 |
Source: | J Cell Mol Med |
Title: | NEFA-induced ROS impaired insulin signalling through the JNK and p38MAPK pathways in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in hepatic oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes (COs) in patients and cows with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to investigate the mechanism that links mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatic insulin resistance induced by non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Patients and cows with NASH displayed high blood NEFAs, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations, mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), mitofusin-2 (Mfn-2) and OXPHOS complexes (human: COI and COIII; cow: COI-IV) were significantly decreased in patients and cows with NASH. NEFA treatment significantly impaired mitochondrial function and, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and excessive ROS overactivated the JNK and p38MAPK pathways and induced insulin resistance in cow hepatocytes. PGC-1α and Mfn-2 overexpression significantly decreased the NEFA-induced ROS production and TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expressions, reversed the inhibitory effect of NEFAs on mitochondrial function and attenuated the overactivation of the ROS-JNK/p38MAPK pathway, alleviated insulin resistance induced by NEFAs in cow hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. These findings indicate that NEFAs induce mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance mediated by the ROS-JNK/p38MAPK pathway. PGC-1α or Mfn-2 overexpression reversed the lipotoxicity of NEFAs on mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. Our study clarified the mechanism that links hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance in NASH. |
DOI: | 10.1111/jcmm.13617 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T08 | Tumor necrosis factor | TNF | inhibitor | Cytokine | P01375 | TNFA_HUMAN | Details |
T20 | Fatty acid synthase | FASN | inhibitor | Enzyme | P49327 | FAS_HUMAN | Details |
T05 | Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma | PPARG | agonist | Nuclear hormone receptor | P37231 | PPARG_HUMAN | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D581 | sobetirome | Chemical drug | -- | Thyroid hormone receptor beta agonists | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D080 | Citrulline | Chemical drug | DB00155 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D083 | CLA | Chemical drug | DB01211 | KCNH2; SLCO1B1; SLCO1B3 | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |