Krüppel-like factor 10 protects against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by regulating HNF4α-mediated metabolic pathways.

BACKGROUND: Krüppel-like factor 10 (KLF10), a zinc finger transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in modulating TGF-ß-mediated cellular processes such as growth, apoptosis, and differentiation. Recent studies have implicated KLF10 in regulating lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to elucidate the precise role of hepatic KLF10 in developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in diet-induced obese mice. METHODS: We investigated hepatic KLF10 expression under metabolic stress and the effects of overexpression or ablation of hepatic KLF10 on MASH development and lipidemia. We also determined whether hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) mediated the metabolic effects of KLF10. RESULTS: Hepatic KLF10 was downregulated in MASH patients and genetically or diet-induced obese mice. AAV8-mediated overexpression of KLF10 in hepatocytes prevented Western diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and steatohepatitis, whereas inactivation of hepatocyte KLF10 aggravated Western diet-induced steatohepatitis. Mechanistically, KLF10 reduced hepatic triglyceride and free fatty acid levels by inducing lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation and inhibiting lipogenesis, and reducing hepatic cholesterol levels by promoting bile acid synthesis. KLF10 highly induced HNF4α expression by directly binding to its promoter. The beneficial effect of KLF10 on MASH development was abolished in mice lacking hepatocyte HNF4α. In addition, the inactivation of KLF10 in hepatic stellate cells exacerbated Western diet-induced liver fibrosis by activating the TGF-ß/SMAD2/3 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our data collectively suggest that the transcription factor KLF10 plays a hepatoprotective role in MASH development by inducing HNF4α. Targeting hepatic KLF10 may offer a promising strategy for treating MASH.

A synergism model for PPARalpha and PXR agonist effects on HDL-cholesterol and apoA1.

Synergism between gemfibrozil and CDD 3540, drugs used to elevate mouse serum HDL cholesterol and apoprotein A1, is modeled using nonlinear response surface techniques. This approach employs a common simple pharmacological model to describe the dose-response function. Its parameters are modeled as functions of drug mixture fractions using models borrowed from mixture experiment analysis methods. This study advances previous in vitro synergy studies in three key areas. First, it was in vivo, with the associated additional variability. Second, the sample size was much smaller than in previous studies. Finally, this was the first specially designed study with this type of statistical analysis in mind. The design consisted of replicated observations along each of five rays at combination amounts chosen employing the principles of D-optimality. Also, the observed in vivo synergism of the combined use of these drugs, elevated levels of HDL-C and apoA1, and the experimental results and statistical models may provide important clues regarding the biological mechanisms of action of the two compounds.

PXR and the regulation of apoA1 and HDL-cholesterol in rodents.

Orphan nuclear receptors (ONRs) have been implicated in the regulation of lipids. Several clinical studies conducted either prospectively or epidemiologically have pointed to a link between the regulation of hepatic CYP enzymes and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and/or apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1). The treatment of rats with a series of imidazole inducers of CYP3A yielded correlations between in vitro CYP3A activity measured as erythromycin demethylase activity and plasma HDL-C and hepatic apoA1 mRNA. Similarly, a correlation was established between in vivo CYP3A activity, measured as ethosuximide clearance, and plasma HDL-C and hepatic apoA1 mRNA. The treatment of wild-type (WT) mice with PXR agonists elicited increases in serum HDL-C and serum apoA1 levels. On the other hand, the treatment of PXR-knockout mice (PXR-KOs) with the same PXR agonists failed to elicit increases in either serum HDL-C or serum apoA1 levels. Superposition of the structures of three imidazoles known to be active CYP3A inducers in rats with the human PXR pharmacophore demonstrated a partial fit and predicted EC(50) values typical of weak-moderate hPXR inducers in humans. These imidazoles have been shown to increase apoA1 and HDL-C in rats and mice. Taken together, these data suggest that PXR plays an important role in the regulation of apoA1 and HDL-C in rodents.