Research Article Details
Article ID: | A21451 |
PMID: | 25310357 |
Source: | Mol Med Rep |
Title: | Ezetimibe prevents the development of non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high‑fat diet in C57BL/6J mice. |
Abstract: | There is currently no established treatment for non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including its most extreme form, non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of Niemann‑Pick C1 Like 1‑dependent cholesterol absorption, improves diet‑induced hyperlipidemia and attenuates liver steatosis and insulin resistance. The aim of the present study was to determine whether ezetimibe treatment is able to inhibit the development of NAFLD, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism, using C57BL/6J (B6) mice maintained on a high‑fat diet. Male B6 mice (20 weeks of age) were divided into the following two groups (n=7 in each group): Mice fed a high‑fat diet for four weeks and mice fed a high‑fat diet with 0.0064% (wt/wt) ezetimibe (5 mg/kg/day) for four weeks. Administration of ezetimibe significantly reduced liver steatosis and fibrosis. Ezetimibe reduced serum cholesterol, hepatic fat accumulation and insulin resistance in the liver of mice fed the high‑fat diet. Furthermore, ezetimibe significantly reduced hepatic mRNA expression of Acc1 and Scd1, which are involved in hepatic fatty acid synthesis. Ezetimibe significantly reduced hepatic Cd36 gene expression, upregulation of which is significantly associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and increased steatosis. The protein expression of SKP2, a viable therapeutic target in human cancer, was also reduced by ezetimibe. These findings suggest that ezetimibe may be an effective therapy for high fat‑induced NAFLD, including NASH. |
DOI: | 10.3892/mmr.2014.2623 |

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 |
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 |
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 |
D131 | Ezetimibe | Chemical drug | DB00973 | SOAT1 inhibitor; | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |