Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sangam Rajak, Pratima Gupta, Baby Anjum, Sana Raza, Archana Tewari, Sujoy Ghosh, Madhulika Tripathi, Brijesh K. Singh, Rohit A. Sinha
Summary: NASH is an important stage of NAFLD in humans, and there are currently no approved drugs for its treatment. The upregulation of AKR1B10 gene in NASH patients has been identified, and the inhibition of AKR1B10 has shown promising effects in reducing the pathological features of NASH.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Nelson Kei, Vincent Wai Sun Wong, Susana Lauw, Lijun You, Peter Chi Keung Cheung
Summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with no approved drug treatment. This review focuses on preclinical animal studies that demonstrate the beneficial effects of food-derived beta-glucan in preventing and treating NAFLD. Beta-glucan shows hepatoprotective, anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant activities, and may function through its impact on gut microbiota and metabolites.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Youmin Su, Zhiqing Luo, Dongshan Sun, Bishan Yang, Quhuan Li
Summary: The interaction between integrin alpha 4 beta 7 and mucosal vascular addressin cell-adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) plays a role in lymphocyte adhesion in inflammatory bowel diseases. The mechanism of this interaction is regulated by force, and it occurs through a catch-bond mechanism. The adhesion process is flow-enhanced and dependent on ions and cytokines.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen D. H. Malnick, Pavel Alin, Marina Somin, Manuela G. Neuman
Summary: Both alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) involve abnormal fat accumulation in the liver, potentially caused by excessive alcohol consumption and the combination of alcohol consumption and medications. The liver pathology is similar in both conditions, progressing from simple steatosis to inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Evaluating the medical history of alcohol consumption, laboratory markers, AST/ALT ratio, and features of the metabolic syndrome can help estimate the contribution of alcohol intake and metabolic syndrome to liver steatosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodrigo Zamignan Carpi, Sandra M. Barbalho, Katia Portero Sloan, Lucas Fornari Laurindo, Heron Fernando Gonzaga, Paulo Cesar Grippa, Tereza L. Menegucci Zutin, Raul J. S. Girio, Claudia Sampaio Fonseca Repetti, Claudia Rucco Penteado Detregiachi, Patricia C. Santos Bueno, Eliana de Souza Bastos Mazuqueli Pereira, Ricardo de Alvares Goulart, Jesselina Francisco Dos Santos Haber
Summary: The use of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics may be an important strategy for regulating the gut microbiota and improving NAFLD. Clinical trials have shown that interventions targeting the gut microbiota can improve various markers of NAFLD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Jeong Woo Kim, Chang Hee Lee, Baek-Hui Kim, Young-Sun Lee, Soon-Young Hwang, Bit Na Park, Yang Shin Park
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using ultrasonography (US) for predicting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to develop various US indices combining US parameters and laboratory data for the detection of NASH. The results showed that the index combining gray-scale US parameters and AST had the best diagnostic performance for detecting NASH in NAFLD patients, suggesting its potential use as an alternative to liver biopsy.
QUANTITATIVE IMAGING IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Xiaobo Wang, Sharon Zeldin, Hongxue Shi, Changyu Zhu, Yoshinobu Saito, Kathleen E. Corey, Stephanie A. Osganian, Helen E. Remotti, Elizabeth C. Verna, Utpal B. Pajvani, Robert F. Schwabe, Ira Tabas
Summary: This study demonstrates that TAZ protein in pre-tumor NASH-hepatocytes promotes damage to the DNA of hepatocytes, contributing to eventual HCC. Targeting TAZ in NASH therapies may prevent NASH-HCC.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Naim Alkhouri, Robert Herring, Heidi Kabler, Zeid Kayali, Tarek Hassanein, Anita Kohli, Ryan S. Huss, Yanni Zhu, Andrew N. Billin, Lars Holm Damgaard, Kristine Buchholtz, Mette Skalshoi Kjaer, Clare Balendran, Robert P. Myers, Rohit Loomba, Mazen Noureddin
Summary: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining semaglutide with cilofexor and/or firsocostat in patients with NASH. The combination therapy was generally well tolerated and resulted in additional benefits over semaglutide monotherapy, including improvements in liver steatosis and biochemistry. Double-blind placebo-controlled trials with larger patient numbers are needed to further assess the efficacy and safety of these combination therapies in NASH.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Pong-Chi Yuen, Andy Jinhua Ma, Anthony Wing-Hung Chan, Howard Ho-Wai Leung, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
Summary: The increasing use of AI in healthcare, particularly in the care of patients with chronic liver disease, has provided new insights for better patient care. Various AI approaches, such as logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and XGBoost, have been utilized in applications such as liver biopsy and liver images to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Olivier Govaere, Sine Kragh Petersen, Nuria Martinez-Lopez, Jasper Wouters, Matthias Van Haele, Rosellina M. Mancina, Oveis Jamialahmadi, Orsolya Bilkei-Gorzo, Pierre Bel Lassen, Rebecca Darlay, Julien Peltier, Jeremy M. Palmer, Ramy Younes, Dina Tiniakos, Guruprasad P. Aithal, Michael Allison, Michele Vacca, Melker Goransson, Rolando Berlinguer-Palmini, James E. Clark, Michael J. Drinnan, Hannele Yki-Jarvinen, Jean-Francois Dufour, Mattias Ekstedt, Sven Francque, Salvatore Petta, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Jorn M. Schattenberg, Christopher P. Day, Heather J. Cordell, Baki Topal, Karine Clement, Stefano Romeo, Vlad Ratziu, Tania Roskams, Ann K. Daly, Quentin M. Anstee, Matthias Trost, Anetta Hartlova
Summary: MSR1 plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated NAFLD by regulating lipid uptake and accumulation, influencing hepatic inflammation and metabolic disorder, and could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NAFLD.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiangbing Shu, Meng Li, Ying Cao, Chunlin Li, Wenjun Zhou, Guang Ji, Li Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates that berberine alleviates NASH by modulating the interplay of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism, as well as the subsequent intestinal FXR activation.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yoshio Shimizu, Takafumi Tamura, Akira Kemmochi, Yohei Owada, Yusuke Ozawa, Katsuji Hisakura, Takashi Matsuzaka, Hitoshi Shimano, Noriyuki Nakano, Shingo Sakashita, Tatsuya Oda, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi
Summary: The study aims to evaluate the effects of long-term liver X receptor (LXR) agonist stimulation on hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet and oxidative stress. The findings in mice successfully replicated liver conditions similar to humans with NASH progressing to HCC, providing new insights into the progression and therapy of NASH-related HCC.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuhiko Kotani, Jun Watanabe, Kouichi Miura, Alejandro Gugliucci
Summary: PON1 activity, particularly paraoxonase, is lower in patients with NAFLD, while arylesterase activity shows no significant difference. Patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD have lower activity, whereas those diagnosed by ultrasonography or laboratory data have similar activity to non-NAFLD patients. Further studies are needed to confirm the relevance of PON1 measurements in NAFLD patients.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Lourianne Nascimento Cavalcante, Jun Porto, Daniel Mazo, Adhemar Longatto-Filho, Jose Tadeu Stefano, Andre Castro Lyra, Flair Jose Carrilho, Rui Manuel Reis, Venancio A. F. Alves, Arun J. Sanyal, Claudia P. Oliveira
Summary: The PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 variants are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between genetic ancestry, represented by ancestry informative markers (AIM), and PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 polymorphisms in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD in an admixed population. The results showed that greater African genetic ancestry was associated with a lower frequency of the PNPLA3 G allele, indicating a potential protective factor against NAFLD in individuals with African ancestry.
ANNALS OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Yang Yu, Lina Yu, Nuo Cheng, Xiaoguang Liu, Chunlu Fang, Shujing Liu, Lin Zhu
Summary: The study demonstrated that exercise can improve HFD-induced NASH by enhancing the inhibitory effects of ApoA5 on the TLR4-mediated NF-kappa B pathway, reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Constance C. F. M. J. Baaten, Jonas R. Schroer, Jurgen Floege, Nikolaus Marx, Joachim Jankowski, Martin Berger, Heidi Noels
Summary: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk of cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications, as well as hemorrhages. Altered platelet function may contribute to these complications. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these abnormalities and optimize antiplatelet treatment strategies for CKD patients.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Harlacher, Julia Wollenhaupt, Constance C. F. M. J. Baaten, Heidi Noels
Summary: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a highly increased risk of cardiovascular complications. This study systematically reviewed literature on CKD-associated endothelial dysfunction, revealing the role of inflammation, oxidative stress, leukocyte migration, and thrombosis in CKD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Josefin Soppert, Janina Frisch, Julia Wirth, Christian Hemmers, Peter Boor, Rafael Kramann, Sonja Vondenhoff, Julia Moellmann, Michael Lehrke, Mathias Hohl, Emiel P. C. van der Vorst, Christian Werner, Thimoteus Speer, Christoph Maack, Nikolaus Marx, Joachim Jankowski, Leticia Prates Roma, Heidi Noels
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of developing uremic cardiomyopathy, and animal studies are used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. This review systematically analyzed 88 studies and performed meta-analyses of 52 to identify suitable animal models for future experimental studies. The results showed variations in different mouse strains and the effects of CKD on cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and function. Multifactorial hit models consistently induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis compared to single hit kidney injury models.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Shruti Bhargava, Erik Merckelbach, Heidi Noels, Ashima Vohra, Joachim Jankowski
Summary: The gut microbiota plays an important role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but can also exacerbate the disease. Alterations in the gut microbiota lead to metabolic changes and the accumulation of uremic toxins, inhibiting renal functions and increasing comorbidities. Gut-derived uremic metabolites damage the intestinal epithelial cell wall, leading to the translocation of bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream, accelerating CKD progression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Wollenhaupt, Janina Frisch, Eva Harlacher, Dickson W. L. Wong, Han Jin, Corinna Schulte, Sonja Vondenhoff, Julia Moellmann, Barbara Mara Klinkhammer, Li Zhang, Adelina Baleanu-Curaj, Elisa A. Liehn, Thimoteus Speer, Andrey Kazakov, Christian Werner, Emiel P. C. van der Vorst, Simina-Ramona Selejan, Mathias Hohl, Michael Bohm, Rafael Kramann, Erik A. L. Biessen, Michael Lehrke, Nikolaus Marx, Joachim Jankowski, Christoph Maack, Peter Boor, Leticia Prates Roma, Heidi Noels
Summary: CKD increases cardiac oxidative stress responses in the heart, but additional hits are required to induce uremic cardiomyopathy.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kim van Kuijk, Ian R. McCracken, Renee J. H. A. Tillie, Sebastiaan E. J. Asselberghs, Dlzar A. Kheder, Stan Muitjens, Han Jin, Richard S. Taylor, Ruud Wichers Schreur, Christoph Kuppe, Ross Dobie, Prakesh Ramachandran, Marion J. Gijbels, Lieve Temmerman, Phoebe M. Kirkwoord, Joris Luyten, Yanming Li, Heidi Noels, Pieter Goossens, John R. Wilson-Kanamori, Leon J. Schurgers, Ying H. Shen, Barend M. E. Mees, Erik A. L. Biessen, Neil C. Henderson, Rafael Kramann, Andrew H. Baker, Judith C. Sluimer
Summary: This study established specific markers for adventitial fibroblasts and analyzed their heterogeneity in response to cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. The findings revealed the functional diversity and gene expression differences among different fibroblast clusters, which are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study is important for understanding cardiovascular diseases and developing targeted therapies.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Josefin Soppert, Elisa Fabiana Brandt, Nicole Maria Heussen, Emona Barzakova, Lars Mathias Blank, Lars Kuepfer, Mathias Walter Hornef, Jonel Trebicka, Joachim Jankowski, Marie -Luise Berres, Heidi Noels
Summary: This study provides evidence that blood endotoxin levels are associated with gut permeability and disease stage in patients with NAFLD. Blood endotoxin levels can serve as a diagnostic biomarker for NAFLD and can be used for staging during disease progression.
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Manovriti Thakur, Carolina Victoria Cruz Junho, Sarah Maike Bernhard, Marc Schindewolf, Heidi Noels, Yvonne Doering
Summary: Arterial and venous thrombosis are significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The association between thrombotic complications and cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases is well-established. Inflammation and immunothrombosis, the initiation of thrombotic events, are gaining attention, but still not fully understood. However, the clinical relevance of aberrant immunothrombosis, known as thromboinflammation, is evident by the increased risk of thrombosis and cardiovascular events in patients with inflammatory or infectious diseases. This review focuses on the interrelationships and functions between NETs and other mediators in cardiovascular disease, as well as neutrophil phenotype, function, and NET formation in chronic kidney disease. Therapeutic targeting of NETs-induced immunothrombosis is also discussed as a potential intervention beyond current treatment options.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Constance C. F. M. J. Baaten, Sonja Vondenhoff, Heidi Noels
Summary: The endothelium plays a crucial role in maintaining and regulating vascular integrity. In patients with chronic kidney disease, endothelial cell dysfunction contributes to increased cardiovascular complications due to the proinflammatory, prothrombotic, and uremic environment caused by declining kidney function. This review discusses the functioning of endothelial cells in healthy conditions, the phenotypic changes in chronic kidney disease patients, and the relationship between endothelial cell dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease. Additionally, it considers potential pharmacological interventions to improve endothelial health.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Heidi Noels, Joachim Jankowski
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christine Krammer, Bishan Yang, Sabrina Reichl, Simon Besson-Girard, Hao Ji, Verena Bolini, Corinna Schulte, Heidi Noels, Kai Schlepckow, Georg Jocher, Georg Werner, Michael Willem, Omar El Bounkari, Aphrodite Kapurniotu, Ozgun Gokce, Christian Weber, Sarajo Mohanta, Jurgen Bernhagen
Summary: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition of our arteries and the underlying pathology of heart attacks and strokes. The role of the inflammatory cytokine MIF in the progression of atherosclerosis and its relationship with age and atherogenic cytokines are not fully understood.
Review
Immunology
Natalia Torow, Timothy W. Hand, Mathias W. Hornef
Summary: The mucosal immune system of neonates develops through phases influenced by environmental cues and evolutionary developmental programming. The response to exogenous stimuli during early life is tightly regulated, determining future immune responses to diet, microbiota, and pathogens. Early-life exposures, such as breastfeeding and environmental/microbial stimuli, play a role in shaping immunological and metabolic homeostasis and the risk of developing diseases like asthma/allergy and obesity.
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Carolina Victoria Cruz Junho, Janina Frisch, Josefin Soppert, Julia Wollenhaupt, Heidi Noels
Summary: The cardiorenal syndrome is a multi-organ disease involving the heart and kidney. In chronic kidney disease, the heart can be damaged, leading to cardiomyopathy. Various pathological mechanisms contribute to the development of CKD-induced cardiomyopathy, including neurohormonal dysregulation, disturbances in mineral metabolism, and accumulation of uremic toxins. This review summarizes the clinical features, biomarkers, and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of CKD-induced cardiomyopathy.
CLINICAL KIDNEY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Moellmann, Katja Krueger, Dickson W. L. Wong, Barbara M. Klinkhammer, Eva M. Buhl, Jonas Dehairs, Johan V. Swinnen, Heidi Noels, Joachim Jankowski, Corinna Lebherz, Peter Boor, Nikolaus Marx, Michael Lehrke
Summary: In mice, 2,8-dihydroxyadenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to renal activation of mTOR downstream signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, tubular injury, fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired kidney mitochondrial function, accompanied by renal hexosylceramide accumulation.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sonu Subudhi, Hannah K. Drescher, Laura E. Dichtel, Lea M. Bartsch, Raymond T. Chung, Matthew M. Hutter, Denise W. Gee, Ozanan R. Meireles, Elan R. Witkowski, Louis Gelrud, Ricard Masia, Stephanie A. Osganian, Jenna L. Gustafson, Steve Rwema, Miriam A. Bredella, Sangeeta N. Bhatia, Andrew Warren, Karen K. Miller, Georg M. Lauer, Kathleen E. Corey
Summary: In this study, hepatic gene-expression patterns associated with different patterns of liver injury in a high-risk cohort of adults with obesity were identified using NanoString Technologies, revealing perturbations in genes related to inflammation, complement and coagulation pathways, and tissue remodeling as NAFLD progresses. These findings provide insights into the dynamic pathogenesis of NAFLD in high-risk individuals.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
