Research Article Details
Article ID: | A26859 |
PMID: | 19637282 |
Source: | Hepatology |
Title: | Toll-like receptor 4 is involved in the development of fructose-induced hepatic steatosis in mice. |
Abstract: | UNLABELLED: A link between dietary fructose intake, gut-derived endotoxemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been suggested by the results of human and animal studies. To further investigate the role of gut-derived endotoxin in the onset of fructose-induced NAFLD, Toll-like receptor (TLR-) 4-mutant (C3H/HeJ) mice and wildtype (C3H/HouJ) mice were either fed plain water or water enriched with 30% fructose for 8 weeks. Hepatic steatosis, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and markers of insulin resistance as well as portal endotoxin levels were determined. Hepatic levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3 and 7, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) as well as markers of lipid peroxidation were assessed. Chronic intake of 30% fructose solution caused a significant increase in hepatic steatosis and plasma ALT levels in wildtype animals in comparison to water controls. In fructose-fed TLR-4 mutant mice, hepatic triglyceride accumulation was significantly reduced by approximately 40% in comparison to fructose-fed wildtype mice and plasma ALT levels were at the level of water-fed controls. No difference in portal endotoxin concentration between fructose-fed wildtype and TLR-4-mutant animals was detected. In contrast, hepatic lipid peroxidation, MyD88, and TNFalpha levels were significantly decreased in fructose-fed TLR-4-mutant mice in comparison to fructose-fed wildtype mice, whereas IRF3 and IRF7 expression remained unchanged. Markers of insulin resistance (e.g., plasma TNFalpha, retinol binding protein 4, and hepatic phospho-AKT) were only altered in fructose-fed wildtype animals. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data further support the hypothesis that in mice the onset of fructose-induced NAFLD is associated with intestinal bacterial overgrowth and increased intestinal permeability, subsequently leading to an endotoxin-dependent activation of hepatic Kupffer cells. |
DOI: | 10.1002/hep.23122 |

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 |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T08 | Tumor necrosis factor | TNF | inhibitor | Cytokine | P01375 | TNFA_HUMAN | Details |
T09 | Toll-like receptor 4 | TLR4 | antagonist | Membrane receptor | O00206 | TLR4_HUMAN | Details |
T10 | Caspase-1 | CASP1 | inhibitor | Enzyme | P29466 | CASP1_HUMAN | Details |
T18 | Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 | ACACA | inhibitor | Enzyme | Q13085 | ACACA_HUMAN | 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D142 | Fructose | Chemical drug | DB04173 | -- | Intravenous nutrition drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | 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 |