Research Article Details
Article ID: | A51583 |
PMID: | 34869329 |
Source: | Front Cell Dev Biol |
Title: | Combined Analysis of Expression Profiles in a Mouse Model and Patients Identified BHMT2 as a New Regulator of Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. |
Abstract: | Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and other metabolic syndromes. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) plays a prominent role in hepatic lipid metabolism. This study combined the expression of liver genes in FXR knockout (KO) mice and MAFLD patients to identify new pathogenic pathways for MAFLD based on genome-wide transcriptional profiling. In addition, the roles of new target genes in the MAFLD pathogenic pathway were also explored. Two groups of differentially expressed genes were obtained from FXR-KO mice and MAFLD patients by transcriptional analysis of liver tissue samples. The similarities and differences between the two groups of differentially expressed genes were analyzed to identify novel pathogenic pathways and target genes. After the integration analysis of differentially expressed genes, we identified 134 overlapping genes, many of which have been reported to play an important role in lipid metabolism. Our unique analysis method of comparing differential gene expression between FXR-KO mice and patients with MAFLD is useful to identify target genes and pathways that may be strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. The overlapping genes with high specificity were screened using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Through comparison and analysis with the GEO database, we determined that BHMT2 and PKLR could be highly correlated with MAFLD. Clinical data analysis and RNA interference testing in vitro confirmed that BHMT2 may a new regulator of lipid metabolism in MAFLD pathogenesis. These results may provide new ideas for understanding the pathogenesis of MAFLD and thus provide new targets for the treatment of MAFLD. |
DOI: | 10.3389/fcell.2021.741710 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T17 | Farnesoid X-activated receptor | NR1H4 | agonist | Nuclear hormone receptor | Q96RI1 | NR1H4_HUMAN | Details |
T10 | Caspase-1 | CASP1 | inhibitor | Enzyme | P29466 | CASP1_HUMAN | Details |
T07 | Bile acid receptor | NR1H4 | agonist | Nuclear hormone receptor | Q96RI1 | NR1H4_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 |
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 |