Research Article Details
Article ID: | A01846 |
PMID: | 34591986 |
Source: | Hepatology |
Title: | OTUB1 alleviates NASH through inhibition of the TRAF6-ASK1 signaling pathways. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: NAFLD is considered as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, which includes insulin resistance, obesity and hyperlipidemia. NASH is a progressive stage of NAFLD with severe hepatic steatosis, hepatocyte death, inflammation, and fibrosis. Currently, no pharmacological interventions specifically tailored for NASH are approved. Ovarian tumor domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1 (OTUB1), the founding member of deubiquitinases, regulates many metabolism-associated signaling pathways. However, the role of OTUB1 in NASH is unclarified. METHODS AND RESULTS: We demonstrated that mice with Otub1 deficiency exhibited aggravated high-fat diet-induced and high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet-induced hyperinsulinemia and liver steatosis. Notably, hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Otub1 markedly alleviated HFHC diet-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammatory responses, and liver fibrosis. Mechanistically, we identified apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) as a key candidate target of OTUB1 through RNA-sequencing analysis and immunoblot analysis. Through immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry analysis, we further found that OTUB1 directly bound to tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and suppressed its lysine 63-linked polyubiquitination, thus inhibiting the activation of ASK1 and its downstream pathway. CONCLUSION: OTUB1 is a key suppressor of NASH that inhibits polyubiquitinations of TRAF6 and attenuated TRAF6-mediated ASK1 activation. Targeting the OTUB1-TRAF6-ASK1 axis may be a promising therapeutic strategy for NASH. |
DOI: | 10.1002/hep.32179 |

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 |
S13 | Anti-apoptosis | hepatocyte apoptosis; hepatic autophagy; apoptosis | Pan-caspase inhibitor | Emricasan | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S05 | Anti-inflammatory | inflammatory | Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor | Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; | 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 |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D010 | Amoxicillin | Chemical drug | DB01060 | -- | -- | 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 |