CTRP3 ameliorates fructose-induced metabolic associated fatty liver disease via inhibition of xanthine oxidase-associated oxidative stress

Abstract

Objectives: The incidence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) induced by high fructose consumption is dramatically increasing in the world while lacking specifically therapeutic drugs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) on fructose-induced MAFLD and its potential mechanisms.

Method: The animal models with MAFLD were built with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats drinking 10 % fructose solution for 12 weeks. Then, specific hepatic CTRP3 overexpression was conducted by a single caudal-vein injection of CTRP3-expressing adenoviruses. Rats were sacrificed two weeks later.

Results: Drinking 10 % fructose solution for 12 weeks successfully built the rats models with MAFLD. Fructose feeding markedly decreased hepatic CTRP3 expression in rats. However, CTRP3 overexpression in liver alleviated hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, liver function injury, intrahepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation and histological changes of hepatic steatosis in rats fed with fructose. CTRP3 overexpression also inhibited hepatic XO activity in liver and improved subsequent oxidative stress, accompanied with downregulation of gene expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SERBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS).

Conclusion: CTRP3 attenuates MAFLD induced by fructose, which maybe partially attribute to rescued oxidative stress related with xanthine oxidase overactivity.

Keywords: Complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3; Fructose; Metabolic associated fatty liver disease; Oxidative stress; Xanthine oxidase.