Research Article Details
Article ID: | A23023 |
PMID: | 24106929 |
Source: | Liver Int |
Title: | Inhibition of ceramide de novo synthesis reduces liver lipid accumulation in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an insulin resistance-related hepatic disorder which can transform to cirrhosis. Insulin resistance deregulates hepatic lipid metabolism, leading to accumulation of cytotoxic lipids including ceramide and diacylglycerols. Myriocin, obtained from fungi traditionally used in Chinese medicine in an effort to attain eternal youth, is a potent pharmacological inhibitor of ceramide de novo synthesis. We examined whether inhibition of ceramide de novo synthesis with myriocin ameliorate hepatic lipid accumulation and reverse NAFLD. METHODS: The experiment was carried out on male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four groups: (i) control group, fed standard rodent diet, (ii) group, fed standard diet also treated with myriocin for 7 days, (iii) group, fed high-fat diet for 5 weeks, (iv) group, fed high-fat diet and treated with myriocin. In liver samples sphingolipids: ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphatate and neutral lipids, such as diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols were measured. In peripheral blood samples, glucose and insulin levels and aminotransferases activities were measured. RESULTS: High-fat diet feeding caused NAFLD, confirmed by histological assessment, with increased hepatic lipids accumulation and whole-body insulin resistance. After treating with inhibitor of ceramide de novo synthesis, decrease in hepatic ceramide and other toxic lipids were noticed. Moreover, histological analysis of liver samples revealed that inhibition of ceramide de novo synthesis reduced hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of ceramide de novo synthesis reduced hepatic lipid accumulation in rats with NAFLD, this led to amelioration of hepatic steatosis. |
DOI: | 10.1111/liv.12331 |

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 |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | 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 |