Hop-derived Humulinones Reveal Protective Effects in in vitro Models of Hepatic Steatosis, Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Specific pharmacologic therapy for NAFLD is a major unmet medical need. Recently, iso-alpha acids, hop-derived bitter compounds in beer, have been shown to beneficially affect NAFLD pathology. Humulinones are further hop derived bitter acids particularly found in modern styles of beer. So far, biological effects of humulinones have been unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of humulinones in in vitro models for hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Humulinones dose-dependently inhibited fatty acid induced lipid accumulation in primary human hepatocytes. Humulinones reduced the expression of fatty acid uptake transporter CD36 and key enzymes of (de novo) lipid synthesis. Conversely, humulinones increased the expression of FABP1, CPT1 and ACOX1, indicative for increased lipid combustion. Furthermore, humulinones ameliorated steatosis induced pro-inflammatory gene expression. Furthermore, humulinones significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic factors in control as well as lipopolysaccharide treated activated hepatic stellate cells, which play a key role in hepatic fibrosis. In conclusion, humulinones beneficially affect different pathophysiological steps of NAFLD. Our data suggest humulinones as promising therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

A Xanthohumol-Rich Hop Extract Diminishes Endotoxin-Induced Activation of TLR4 Signaling in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Study in Healthy Women.

Infections with Gram-negative bacteria are still among the leading causes of infection-related deaths. Several studies suggest that the chalcone xanthohumol (XN) found in hop (Humulus lupulus) possesses anti-inflammatory effects. In a single-blinded, placebo controlled randomized cross-over design study we assessed if the oral intake of a single low dose of 0.125 mg of a XN derived through a XN-rich hop extract (75% XN) affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) ex vivo in normal weight healthy women (n = 9) (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04847193) and determined associated molecular mechanisms. LPS-stimulation of PBMCs isolated from participants 1 h after the intake of the placebo for 2 h resulted in a significant induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine release which was significantly attenuated when participants had consumed XN. The XN-dependent attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine release was less pronounced 6 h after the LPS stimulation while the release of sCD14 was significantly reduced at this timepoint. The LPS-dependent activation of hTLR4 transfected HEK293 cells was significantly and dose-dependently suppressed by the XN-rich hop extract which was attenuated when cells were co-challenged with sCD14. Taken together, our results suggest even a one-time intake of low doses of XN consumed in a XN-rich hop extract can suppress LPS-dependent stimulation of PBMCs and that this is related to the interaction of the hop compound with the CD14/TLR4 signaling cascade.

Iso-alpha acids from hops (Humulus lupulus) inhibit hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Iso-alpha acids (IAAs), hop-derived bitter compounds in beer, have been shown to beneficially affect different components of the metabolic syndrome such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. However, IAAs have not yet been studied in the context of chronic liver disease. Here we analyzed the effect of IAA on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Once, we applied IAA to mice in combination with a NAFLD-inducing Western-type diet (WTD), and observed that IAA significantly inhibited WTD-induced body weight gain, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis. Fitting to this, IAA dose-dependently inhibited cellular lipid accumulation in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) in vitro. Reduced expression of PPAR-gamma and key enzymes of lipid synthesis as well as increased expression of PPAR-alpha, indicative for increased lipid combustion, were identified as underlying mechanisms of reduced hepatocellular steatosis in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of hepatic HMOX1 expression indicated reduced oxidative stress in IAA-treated mice, which was paralleled by reduced activation of the JNK pathway and pro-inflammatory gene expression and immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, IAA reduced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and pro-fibrogenic gene expression. Similarly, IAA also dose-dependently reduced oxidative stress and JNK activation in steatotic PHH, inhibited HSC activation, and reduced proliferation and pro-fibrogenic gene expression in already activated HSC in vitro. In conclusion, IAAs inhibit different pathophysiological steps of disease progression in NAFLD. Together with previous studies, which demonstrated the safety of even long-term application of IAA in humans, our data suggest IAA as promising therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of (non)alcoholic (fatty) liver disease.

Wild type Kirsten rat sarcoma is a novel microRNA-622-regulated therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma and contributes to sorafenib resistance.

OBJECTIVE: Sorafenib is the only effective therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combinatory approaches targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)- and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein-kinase B(AKT) signalling yield major therapeutic improvements. RAS proteins regulate both RAF/MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling. However, the most important RAS isoform in carcinogenesis, Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS), remains unexplored in HCC. DESIGN: Human HCC tissues and cell lines were used for expression and functional analysis. Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells were newly generated. RNA interference and the novel small molecule deltarasin were used for KRAS inhibition both in vitro and in a murine syngeneic orthotopic HCC model. RESULTS: Expression of wild type KRAS messenger RNA and protein was increased in HCC and correlated with extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activation, proliferation rate, advanced tumour size and poor patient survival. Bioinformatic analysis and reporter assays revealed that KRAS is a direct target of microRNA-622. This microRNA was downregulated in HCC, and functional analysis demonstrated that KRAS-suppression is the major mediator of its inhibitory effect on HCC proliferation. KRAS inhibition markedly suppressed RAF/ERK and PI3K/AKT signalling and proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Combinatory KRAS inhibition and sorafenib treatment revealed synergistic antitumorigenic effects in HCC. Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells showed elevated KRAS expression, and KRAS inhibition resensitised sorafenib-resistant cells to suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: KRAS is dysregulated in HCC by loss of tumour-suppressive microRNA-622, contributing to tumour progression, sorafenib sensitivity and resistance. KRAS inhibition alone or in combination with sorafenib appears as novel promising therapeutic strategy for HCC.

An iso-α-acid-rich extract from hops (Humulus lupulus) attenuates acute alcohol-induced liver steatosis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Results of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that consumption of beer is less harmful for the liver than consumption of spirits. It also has been suggested that secondary plant compounds derived from hops such as xanthohumol or iso-α-acids may have beneficial effects on the development of liver diseases of various etiologies. The aim of this study was to determine whether iso-α-acids consumed in doses achieved by "normal" beer consumption have beneficial effects on health. METHODS: Female C57 Bl/6 J mice, pretreated for 4 d with an iso-α-acid-rich extract (∼30% iso-α-acids from hops, 0.75 mg/kg body weight), were fed one bolus of ethanol (6 g/kg body weight intragastric) or an iso-caloric maltodextrin solution. Markers of liver damage, toll-like receptor-4 signaling, and lipid peroxidation were determined. Furthermore, the effect of isohumulone on the lipopolysaccharide-dependent activation of J774 A.1 macrophages, used as a model of Kupffer cells, was determined. RESULTS: In the liver, acute ethanol administration led to a significant accumulation of fat (∼10-fold), which was accompanied by significantly higher inducible nitric oxide synthase protein level, elevated nitric oxide production, and increased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 protein concentration when compared to controls. In mice pretreated with iso-α-acids, these effects of alcohol were markedly attenuated. Pretreatment of J774 A.1 macrophages with isohumulone significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin-6 as well as the release of nitric oxide. CONCLUSION: Taken together, iso-α-acids markedly attenuated the development of acute alcohol-induced damage in mice.

Hop bitter acids inhibit tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Bitter acids (BAs) from the hop plant Humulus lupulus L. exhibit multiple beneficial biological properties with promising effects in cancer therapy and prevention, but information regarding the effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is missing. Here, we used two different hop bitter acid extracts enriched for either α-acids or ß-acids to obtain insight into whether biological activity varies between these two groups of BAs. At a concentration of 25 µg/ml, only the ß-acid rich started to induce aspartate transaminase (AST) release, and a significant increase was detected with 50 µg/ml of both extracts. Already at lower concentrations both extracts led to a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation, and migration was suppressed at a concentration as low as 5 µg/ml in HCC cells. The focus on different signaling pathways revealed an inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, downregulation of AP-1 activity and an alleviation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activity in HepG2 cells incubated with 5 µg/ml of both extracts, whereby the ß-acid rich extract showed more pronounced effects. In conclusion, we identified ERK1/2, AP-1 and NFκB, which are important factors in tumor development and progression, as targets of hop BAs. Thus, these data suggest the potential use of BAs as functional nutrients for both prevention and treatment of HCC.

Hop bitter acids exhibit anti-fibrogenic effects on hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Female inflorescences of the hop plant Humulus lupulus L. contain a variety of secondary metabolites with bitter acids (BA) as quantitatively dominating secondary metabolites. The use of hops in beer brewing has a long history due to the antibacterial effects of the BA and their typical bitter taste. Furthermore, hop cones are used in traditional medicine and for pharmaceutical purposes. Recent studies indicate that BA may affect activity of the transcription factor NFκB. NFκB plays a key role in the activation process of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which is the key event of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BA on HSC (activation) and their potential to inhibit molecular processes involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. HSC were isolated from murine and human liver tissue and incubated with a characterized fraction of bitter acids purified from a CO(2) hop extract. At a concentration of 25µg/ml BA started to induce LDH leakage. Already at lower concentrations BA lead to a dose dependent inhibition of HSC proliferation and inhibited IκB-α-phosphorylation, nuclear p65 translocation and binding activity in a dose dependent way (up to 10µg/ml). Accordingly, the same BA-doses inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory and NFκB regulated genes as MCP-1 and RANTES, but did not affect expression of genes not related to NFκB signaling. In addition to the effect on activated HSC, BA inhibited the in vitro activation process of freshly isolated HSC as evidenced by delayed expression of collagen I and α-SMA mRNA and protein. Together, these findings indicate that BA inhibit NFκB activation, and herewith the activation and development of profibrogenic phenotype of HSC. Thus, bitter acids appear as potential functional nutrients for the prevention or treatment hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease.

Xanthohumol feeding does not impair organ function and homoeostasis in mice.

Xanthohumol, the major prenylated chalcone found in hops, is known to exert several beneficial effects but only few studies evaluated the safety profile of this natural compound with in part discrepant results. Here, we fed female BALB/c mice with a standard diet supplemented with xanthohumol for 3 weeks, and thus, achieved a daily dose of approximately 1000 mg xanthohumol/kg body weight. There were no significant differences in body weight or food intake between mice on standard diet and animals receiving the same diet supplemented with xanthohumol. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney, colon, lung, heart, spleen and thymus revealed no signs of xanthohumol-toxicity, and biochemical serum analysis confirmed normal organ function. Further, xanthohumol treatment did not affect hepatic glycogen content CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 expression levels, but CYP3A11 mRNA was approximately 30% reduced. Expression of several genes indicative of early hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic liver injury, did not differ between xanthohumol treated and control mice. In summary, these results indicate that oral administration of xanthohumol exhibits no adverse effects on major organ function and homoeostasis in mice. Particularly, hepatotoxic effects could be ruled out confirming a good safety profile of xanthohumol as prerequisite for further studies in humans.

Xanthohumol, a chalcon derived from hops, inhibits hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Xanthohumol (XN) is a major prenylated chalcone found in hops, which is used to add bitterness and flavor to beer. In this study, we first investigated the effects of XN on hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the central mediators of liver fibrogenesis. XN inhibited the activation of primary human HSC and induced apoptosis in activated HSC in vitro in a dose dependent manner (0-20 microM). In contrast, XN doses as high as 50 microM did not impair viability of primary human hepatocytes. However, in both cell types XN inhibited activation of the transcription factor NFkappaB and expression of NFkappaB dependent proinflammatory genes. In vivo, feeding of XN reduced hepatic inflammation and expression of profibrogenic genes in a murine model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. These data indicate that XN has the potential as functional nutrient for the prevention or treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or other chronic liver disease.

Iron-induced expression of bone morphogenic protein 6 in intestinal cells is the main regulator of hepatic hepcidin expression in vivo.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent studies identified bone morphogenic protein 6 (BMP6) as a key regulator of hepatic hepcidin expression and iron metabolism, but the cellular source of BMP6 and the reason for its specific effect on hepatocytes are unknown. METHODS: BMP and hepcidin expression upon iron sensing were analyzed in vivo in BMP6(-/-) and BMP6(+/+) mice and ex vivo in tissue and in vitro in cells of the liver and the small intestine. RESULTS: BMP6(-/-) mice developed severe hepatic iron accumulation and reduced hepcidin expression with increasing age. This phenotype could be triggered in younger BMP6(-/-) mice by dietary or parenteral iron application. Furthermore, both treatments induced a marked up-regulation of BMP6 expression in the small intestine of BMP6(+/+) mice. Ex vivo treatment of intestinal tissue of BMP6(+/+) mice with iron sulfate or holo-transferrin confirmed epithelial cells as an inducible source of BMP6. In contrast, iron overload did not promote a striking induction of BMP6 expression in hepatocytes or macrophages. Furthermore, iron-supplemented diet induced a compensatory up-regulation of BMP2, BMP4, and BMP9 in the small intestine of BMP6(-/-) mice that was apparently not sufficient to assure iron homeostasis. As a potential explanation, analysis of hepatocytes revealed an expression pattern of BMP receptor subunits preferentially used by BMP6, and treatment of hepatocytes with different recombinant BMPs identified BMP6 as the most potent stimulator of hepcidin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial cells of the small intestine are the predominant cellular source of BMP6 upon iron sensing. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism in which the small intestine controls iron homeostasis.