Apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter inhibition with volixibat improves metabolic aspects and components of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice

PLoS One. 2019 Jun 24;14(6):e0218459. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218459. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Interruption of bile acid recirculation through inhibition of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) is a promising strategy to alleviate hepatic cholesterol accumulation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and improve the metabolic aspects of the disease. Potential disease-attenuating effects of the ASBT inhibitor volixibat (5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) were investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice over 24 weeks. Plasma and fecal bile acid levels, plasma insulin, lipids, and liver enzymes were monitored. Final analyses included liver histology, intrahepatic lipids, mesenteric white adipose tissue mass, and liver gene profiling. Consistent with its mechanism of action, volixibat significantly increased the total amount of bile acid in feces. At the highest dose, volixibat significantly attenuated the HFD-induced increase in hepatocyte hypertrophy, hepatic triglyceride and cholesteryl ester levels, and mesenteric white adipose tissue deposition. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) was significantly lower in volixibat-treated mice than in the HFD controls. Gene profiling showed that volixibat reversed the inhibitory effect of the HFD on metabolic master regulators, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β, insulin receptor, and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2. Volixibat may have beneficial effects on physiological and metabolic aspects of NASH pathophysiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Beige / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Benzothiepins / pharmacology*
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Glycosides / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Lipid Regulating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
  • Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Risk Factors
  • Symporters / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Benzothiepins
  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Biomarkers
  • Glycosides
  • Lipid Regulating Agents
  • Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent
  • Symporters
  • sodium-bile acid cotransporter
  • volixibat

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Shire Development LLC, now part of Takeda. Volixibat was a Shire investigational medical product at time of study. Volixibat is now owned by Mirum Pharmaceuticals. TNO received funding from Shire Development LLC for designing and conducting this study and for analyzing and reporting the results.