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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