Research Article Details
| Article ID: | A17297 |
| PMID: | 27859493 |
| Source: | Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol |
| Title: | Connexin32 deficiency is associated with liver injury, inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
| Abstract: | Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a highly prevalent liver pathology featured by hepatocellular fat deposition and inflammation. Connexin32, which is the major building block of hepatocellular gap junctions, has a protective role in hepatocarcinogenesis and is downregulated in chronic liver diseases. However, the role of connexin32 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis remains unclear. Connexin32-/- mice and their wild-type littermates were fed a choline-deficient high-fat diet. The manifestation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis was evaluated based on a battery of clinically relevant read-outs, including histopathological examination, diverse indicators of inflammation and liver damage, in-depth lipid analysis, assessment of oxidative stress, insulin and glucose tolerance, liver regeneration and lipid-related biomarkers. Overall, more pronounced liver damage, inflammation and oxidative stress were observed in connexin32-/- mice compared to wild-type animals. No differences were found in insulin and glucose tolerance measurements and liver regeneration. However, two lipid-related genes, srebf1 and fabp3, were upregulated in Cx32-/- mice in comparison with wild-type animals. These findings suggest that connexin32-based signalling is not directly involved in steatosis as such, but rather in the sequelae of this process, which underlie progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
| DOI: | 10.1111/1440-1681.12701 |
| 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 |
| S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
| S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
| Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class |
|---|
| Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D075 | Choline | Supplement | DB00122 | PLD2 product of; PLD1 product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D248 | Obeticholic Acid | Chemical drug | DB05990 | NR1H4 activator; NR1H4 agonist; FXR agonist | Enhance lipid metabolism | Approval rejected | Details |
| D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |