PPARα agonist and metformin co-treatment ameliorates NASH in mice induced by a choline-deficient, amino acid-defined diet with 45% fat

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 11;10(1):19578. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75805-z.

Abstract

We explored the beneficial effects of GW7647, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) agonist, and metformin, an anti-diabetic drug on an advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model in rodents and investigated the possible mechanisms involved. Mice were fed control chow or a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet containing 45% fat (HF-CDAA). The mice fed HF-CDAA diets for 16 weeks were divided into four groups: the no treatment (HF-CDAA), HF-CDAA containing 1000 mg/kg metformin, HF-CDAA containing 10 mg/kg GW7647, and HF-CDAA with both metformin and GW7647 groups. Metformin alone slightly deteriorated the aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) values, whereas co-treatment with GW7647 and metformin greatly suppressed liver injury and fibrosis via activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. Further study revealed that co-treatment decreased the expression of inflammatory-, fibrogenesis-, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes and increased the oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) ratio, suggesting the superiority of co-treatment due to restoration of mitochondrial function. The additive benefits of a PPARα agonist and metformin in a HF-CDAA diet-induced advanced NASH model was firstly demonstrated, possibly through restoration of mitochondrial function and AMPK activation, which finally resulted in suppression of hepatic inflammation, ER stress, then, fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Amino Acids / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Butyrates / pharmacology*
  • Choline Deficiency / complications
  • Diet / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metformin / adverse effects
  • Metformin / pharmacology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
  • PPAR alpha / agonists
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Butyrates
  • GW 7647
  • PPAR alpha
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Ppara protein, mouse
  • fibroblast growth factor 21
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Metformin
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase