Therapeutic blockade of ER stress and inflammation prevents NASH and progression to HCC.
Ebru Boslem; Saskia Reibe; Rodrigo Carlessi; Benoit Smeuninx; Surafel Tegegne; Casey L Egan; Emma McLennan; Lauren V Terry; Max Nobis; Andre Mu; Cameron Nowell; Neil Horadagoda; Natalie A Mellett; Paul Timpson; Matthew Jones; Elena Denisenko; Alistair R R Forrest; Janina E E Tirnitz-Parker; Peter J Meikle; Stefan Rose-John; Michael Karin; Mark A Febbraio
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rapidly rising largely because of increased obesity leading to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a known HCC risk factor. There are no approved treatments to treat NASH. Here, we first used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to characterize a mouse model that mimics human NASH-driven HCC, the mouse fed a high-fat diet. Activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inflammation was observed in a subset of hepatocytes that was enriched in mice that progress to HCC. We next treated mice with the ER stress inhibitor BGP-15 and soluble gp130Fc, a drug that blocks inflammation by preventing interleukin-6 trans-signaling. Both drugs have progressed to phase 2/3 human clinical trials for other indications. We show that this combined therapy reversed NASH and reduced NASH-driven HCC. Our data suggest that these drugs could provide a potential therapy for NASH progression to HCC.MUP-uPA
Journal | SCIENCE ADVANCES |
ISSN | 2375-2548 |
Published | 15 Sep 2023 |
Volume | 9 |
Issue | 37 |
Pages | eadh0831 eadh0831 |
DOI | 10.1126/sciadv.adh0831 |
Type | Journal Article |
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