Liver-specific knockout of B cell lymphoma 6 suppresses progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 16;10(1):9704. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66539-z.

Abstract

The prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rapidly increases with metabolic disorders such as dyslipidaemia, high blood pressure, and hyperglycaemia. B cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6), a transcriptional repressor, is essential for the formation of germinal centre B cells. In this study, we analysed the role of Bcl6 in NASH progression-associated pathological changes, such as hepatic lipid accumulation, liver fibrosis, and hepatocarcinogenesis. The roles of Bcl6 in NASH were analysed using liver-specific Bcl6 knockout (Bcl6-LKO) and control wild-type (WT) mice. The murine NASH model was established by feeding the mice with choline-deficient, L-amino-acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD). Feeding the WT mice with CDAHFD for 7 weeks induced the formation of histopathological features resembling human NASH, such as hepatic lipid accumulation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis. These histopathological changes were significantly attenuated in Bcl6-LKO mice. Additionally, feeding the male WT mice with CDAHFD for 38 weeks induced the formation of liver tumours, which was suppressed in Bcl6-LKO mice. These findings indicate that Bcl6 is involved in the progression of NASH and NASH-derived tumours.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / physiology
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Triglycerides / analysis
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Triglycerides