Research Article Details
| Article ID: | A16440 |
| PMID: | 28387617 |
| Source: | J Med Food |
| Title: | Oral Administration of β-Glucosylceramide for the Treatment of Insulin Resistance and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. |
| Abstract: | β-glucosylceramide (GC) is a naturally occurring glycosphingolipid that was shown to improve hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and insulin resistance in animal models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral administration of GC in subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Twenty-three patients with biopsy proven NASH were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were orally administered daily with 7.5 mg of GC. Patients were followed for safety, liver enzymes, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, hepatic fat content as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and NASH score on liver biopsy. No treatment-related adverse events were observed during treatment. In a per protocol analysis of data, oral administration of GC decreased the hepatic fat content as measured by MRI in GC-treated compared with placebo. HbA1C decreased in patients treated with GC. GC treatment was associated with a milder decrease in the high-density lipoprotein serum levels. The beneficial effects were associated with a decrease in CD4 and NKT cell subsets of lymphocytes. Due to the small number of subjects enrolled, differences did reach statistical significance. Oral administration of GC is safe and biologically active in patients with NASH and insulin resistance. |
| DOI: | 10.1089/jmf.2016.3753 |
| 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 |
|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |