Background & aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health burden associated with the metabolic syndrome leading to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and ultimately liver cancer. In humans, the PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism of the phospholipase patatin-like phospholipid domain containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) has a well-documented impact on metabolic liver disease. In this study, we used a mouse model mimicking the human PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism in a long-term high fat diet (HFD) experiment to better define its role for NAFLD progression.
Methods: Male mice bearing wild-type Pnpla3 (Pnpla3WT ), or the human polymorphism PNPLA3 I148M (Pnpla3148M/M ) were subjected to HFD feeding for 24 and 52 weeks. Further analysis concerning basic phenotype, inflammation, proliferation and cell death, fibrosis and microbiota were performed in each time point.
Results: After 52 weeks HFD Pnpla3148M/M animals had more liver fibrosis, enhanced numbers of inflammatory cells as well as increased Kupffer cell activity. Increased hepatocyte cell turnover and ductular proliferation were evident in HFD Pnpla3148M/M livers. Microbiome diversity was decreased after HFD feeding, changes were influenced by HFD feeding (36%) and the PNPLA3 I148M genotype (12%). Pnpla3148M/M mice had more faecal bile acids. RNA-sequencing of liver tissue defined an HFD-associated signature, and a Pnpla3148M/M specific pattern, which suggests Kupffer cell and monocytes-derived macrophages as significant drivers of liver disease progression in Pnpla3148M/M animals.
Conclusion: With long-term HFD feeding, mice with the PNPLA3 I148M genotype show exacerbated NAFLD. This finding is linked to PNPLA3 I148M-specific changes in microbiota composition and liver gene expression showing a stronger inflammatory response leading to enhanced liver fibrosis progression.
Keywords: Kupffer cells; NAFLD; liver chronic inflammation; liver fibrosis.
© 2023 The Authors. Liver International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.