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Probiotics and antibodies to TNF inhibit inflammatory activity and improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Author(s) -
Li Zhiping,
Yang Shiqi,
Lin Huizhi,
Huang Jiawen,
Watkins Paul A.,
Moser Ann B.,
DeSimone Claudio,
Song Xiaoyu,
Diehl Anna Mae
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1053/jhep.2003.50048
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , insulin resistance , tumor necrosis factor alpha , fatty liver , antibody , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , biology , metabolic syndrome , insulin , immunology , diabetes mellitus , disease
Ob/ob mice, a model for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), develop intestinal bacterial overgrowth and overexpress tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). In animal models for alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), decontaminating the intestine or inhibiting TNF‐α improves AFLD. Because AFLD and NAFLD may have a similar pathogenesis, treatment with a probiotic (to modify the intestinal flora) or anti‐TNF antibodies (to inhibit TNF‐α activity) may improve NAFLD in ob/ob mice. To evaluate this hypothesis, 48 ob/ob mice were given either a high‐fat diet alone (ob/ob controls) or the same diet + VSL#3 probiotic or anti‐TNF antibodies for 4 weeks. Twelve lean littermates fed a high‐fat diet served as controls. Treatment with VSL#3 or anti‐TNF antibodies improved liver histology, reduced hepatic total fatty acid content, and decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. These benefits were associated with decreased hepatic expression of TNF‐α messenger RNA (mRNA) in mice treated with anti‐TNF antibodies but not in mice treated with VSL#3. Nevertheless, both treatments reduced activity of Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), a TNF‐regulated kinase that promotes insulin resistance, and decreased the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), the target of IKKβ, another TNF‐regulated enzyme that causes insulin resistance. Consistent with treatment‐related improvements in hepatic insulin resistance, fatty acid β‐oxidation and uncoupling protein (UCP)‐2 expression decreased after treatment with VSL#3 or anti‐TNF antibodies. In conclusion, these results support the concept that intestinal bacteria induce endogenous signals that play a pathogenic role in hepatic insulin resistance and NAFLD and suggest novel therapies for these common conditions.