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Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α Prevents the Steatosis‐to‐NASH Progression by Regulating p53 and Bile Acid Signaling (in mice)
Author(s) -
Xu Yanyong,
Zhu Yingdong,
Hu Shuwei,
Xu Yang,
Stroup Diane,
Pan Xiaoli,
Bawa Fathima Cassim,
Chen Shaoru,
Gopoju Raja,
Yin Liya,
Zhang Yanqiao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.31604
Subject(s) - steatosis , endocrinology , medicine , steatohepatitis , hepatocyte nuclear factors , triglyceride , hepatocyte , fatty liver , cholesterol , biology , biochemistry , transcription factor , disease , in vitro , gene
Background and Aims Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is highly enriched in the liver, but its role in the progression of nonalcoholic liver steatosis (NAFL) to NASH has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of gain or loss of HNF4α function on the development and progression of NAFLD in mice. Approach and Results Overexpression of human HNF4α protected against high‐fat/cholesterol/fructose (HFCF) diet–induced steatohepatitis, whereas loss of Hnf4α had opposite effects. HNF4α prevented hepatic triglyceride accumulation by promoting hepatic triglyceride lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and VLDL secretion. Furthermore, HNF4α suppressed the progression of NAFL to NASH. Overexpression of human HNF4α inhibited HFCF diet–induced steatohepatitis in control mice but not in hepatocyte‐specific p53 −/− mice. In HFCF diet–fed mice lacking hepatic Hnf4α, recapitulation of hepatic expression of HNF4α targets cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase and sterol 12α‐hydroxylase and normalized hepatic triglyceride levels and attenuated steatohepatitis. Conclusions The current study indicates that HNF4α protects against diet‐induced development and progression of NAFLD by coordinating the regulation of lipolytic, p53, and bile acid signaling pathways. Targeting hepatic HNF4α may be useful for treatment of NASH.