The overall objectives remain to understand and define the cellular mechanisms culminating in liver cell cytotoxicity. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), present in up to 30% of the American population, is characterized by high levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFA) and hepatocyte apoptotosis. We and others have demonstrated that FFA directly induce hepatocyte apoptosis, termed lipoapoptosis. Due to the public health relevance of liver lipoapoptosis, our program is currently focused on the cellular and subcellular mechanisms of FFA-mediated liver injury. Specifically, our long term objectives are to understand the pivotal mechanisms involved in FFA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Based on extensive preliminary data, we propose the novel CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS that FFA signal lipoapoptosis by regulating expression and function of specific Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) proteins. We will now employ current and complementary, molecular, biochemical and cell biological approaches to ascertain how FFA trigger this largely unexplored pathway of apoptosis.
Our SPECIFIC AIMS will test three hypotheses. FIRST, we will directly test the hypothesis that FFA upregulate expression of PUMA (p53 upregulated modifier of apoptosis), a proapoptotic Bcl-2 protein: a) by a c-Jun-N-terminal Kinase (JNK)-driven activation of the transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1) complex;and b) PUMA expression is essential for activation of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, Bax and/or Bak. SECOND, we will test the hypothesis that FFA-mediate degradation of Mcl-1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1), a potent antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein: a) by a PKC8 (protein kinase C 8)-dependent proteasome degradation pathway;and b) is essential for rapid induction of lipoapoptosis. FINALLY, we will test the hypothesis in animal models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury: a) are reduced by genetic deletion of PUMA;and b) are exacerbated by genetic deletion of Mcl-1 and attenuated by its overexpression. The proposal is technically and conceptually innovative as it tests new mechanisms for FFA cytotoxicity using a variety of sophisticated technologies. Our results will yield new mechanistic insights into lipoapoptosis, further clarify the molecular pathogenesis of NAFLD, and identify potential strategies for the treatment of NAFLD.

Public Health Relevance

The grant examines the cellular mechanisms by which serum free fatty acids, which are elevated in diabetes and obesity syndromes, cause liver injury. We propose that these free fatty acids increase liver cell expression of pro death proteins and deplete the cell of survival factors. This imbalance causes liver cell death which in turn induces liver inflammation and cirrhosis. The results of these studies are germane to mechanisms of liver injury in the common syndrome of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and have the potential to identify new therapeutic strategies for this liver disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK041876-25
Application #
8441585
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DKUS-B (02))
Program Officer
Doo, Edward
Project Start
1992-09-30
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
25
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$312,617
Indirect Cost
$114,382
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Ibrahim, Samar H; Hirsova, Petra; Gores, Gregory J (2018) Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis pathogenesis: sublethal hepatocyte injury as a driver of liver inflammation. Gut 67:963-972
Loarca, Lorena; De Assuncao, Thiago M; Jalan-Sakrikar, Nidhi et al. (2017) Development and characterization of cholangioids from normal and diseased human cholangiocytes as an in vitro model to study primary sclerosing cholangitis. Lab Invest 97:1385-1396
Greuter, Thomas; Malhi, Harmeet; Gores, Gregory J et al. (2017) Therapeutic opportunities for alcoholic steatohepatitis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: exploiting similarities and differences in pathogenesis. JCI Insight 2:
Hirsova, Petra; Guicciardi, Maria Eugenia; Gores, Gregory J (2017) Proapoptotic signaling induced by deletion of receptor-interacting kinase 1 and TNF receptor-associated factor 2 results in liver carcinogenesis. Hepatology 66:983-985
Hirsova, Petra; Weng, Peggy; Salim, Warda et al. (2017) TRAIL Deletion Prevents Liver, but Not Adipose Tissue, Inflammation during Murine Diet-Induced Obesity. Hepatol Commun 1:648-662
Hirsova, Petra; Ibrahim, Samar H; Krishnan, Anuradha et al. (2016) Lipid-Induced Signaling Causes Release of Inflammatory Extracellular Vesicles From Hepatocytes. Gastroenterology 150:956-67
Bergquist, John R; Ivanics, Tommy; Storlie, Curtis B et al. (2016) Implications of CA19-9 elevation for survival, staging, and treatment sequencing in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A national cohort analysis. J Surg Oncol 114:475-82
Ibrahim, Samar H; Hirsova, Petra; Tomita, Kyoko et al. (2016) Mixed lineage kinase 3 mediates release of C-X-C motif ligand 10-bearing chemotactic extracellular vesicles from lipotoxic hepatocytes. Hepatology 63:731-44
Hirsova, Petra; Ibrahim, Samar H; Verma, Vikas K et al. (2016) Extracellular vesicles in liver pathobiology: Small particles with big impact. Hepatology 64:2219-2233
Ibrahim, Samar H; Hirsova, Petra; Malhi, Harmeet et al. (2016) Animal Models of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Eat, Delete, and Inflame. Dig Dis Sci 61:1325-36

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