Research Article Details
| Article ID: | A20835 |
| PMID: | 25703085 |
| Source: | J Hepatol |
| Title: | PPARα gene expression correlates with severity and histological treatment response in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND & AIMS: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have been implicated in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis, mainly based on animal data. Gene expression data in NASH patients are scarce. We studied liver PPARα, β/δ, and γ expression in a large cohort of obese patients assessed for presence of NAFLD at baseline and 1 year follow-up. METHODS: Patients presented to the obesity clinic underwent a hepatic work-up. If NAFLD was suspected, liver biopsy was performed. Gene expression was studied by mRNA quantification. Patients were reassessed after 1 year. RESULTS: 125 patients were consecutively included in the study, of which 85 patients had paired liver biopsy taken at 1 year of follow-up. Liver PPARα expression negatively correlated with the presence of NASH (p=0.001) and with severity of steatosis (p=0.003), ballooning (p=0.001), NASH activity score (p=0.008) and fibrosis (p=0.003). PPARα expression was positively correlated to adiponectin (R(2)=0.345, p=0.010) and inversely correlated to visceral fat (R(2)=-0.343, p<0.001), HOMA IR (R(2)=-0.411, p<0.001) and CK18 (R(2)=-0.233, p=0.012). Liver PPARβ/δ and PPARγ expression did not correlate with any histological feature nor with glucose metabolism or serum lipids. At 1 year, correlation of PPARα expression with liver histology was confirmed. In longitudinal analysis, an increase in expression of PPARα and its target genes was significantly associated with histological improvement (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Human liver PPARα gene expression negatively correlates with NASH severity, visceral adiposity and insulin resistance and positively with adiponectin. Histological improvement is associated with an increase in expression of PPARα and its target genes. These data might suggest that PPARα is a potential therapeutic target in NASH. |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.02.019 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
| D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |