1. Academic Validation
  2. Hepatocyte FBXW7-dependent activity of nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors controls systemic energy homeostasis and NASH progression in male mice

Hepatocyte FBXW7-dependent activity of nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors controls systemic energy homeostasis and NASH progression in male mice

  • Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 1;14(1):6982. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42785-3.
Hui Xia 1 2 Catherine R Dufour 1 Younes Medkour 1 Charlotte Scholtes 1 Yonghong Chen 1 2 Christina Guluzian 1 2 Wafa B'chir 1 Vincent Giguère 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada.
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
  • 3 Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada. vincent.giguere@mcgill.ca.
  • 4 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada. vincent.giguere@mcgill.ca.
Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is epidemiologically associated with obesity and diabetes and can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. The intricate signaling pathways that orchestrate hepatocyte energy metabolism and cellular stress, intrahepatic cell crosstalk, as well as interplay between peripheral tissues remain elusive and are crucial for the development of anti-NASH therapies. Herein, we reveal E3 Ligase FBXW7 as a key factor regulating hepatic catabolism, stress responses, systemic energy homeostasis, and NASH pathogenesis with attenuated FBXW7 expression as a feature of advanced NASH. Multiomics and pharmacological intervention showed that FBXW7 loss-of-function in hepatocytes disrupts a metabolic transcriptional axis conjointly controlled by the nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors ERRα and PPARα, resulting in suppression of fatty acid oxidation, elevated ER stress, Apoptosis, immune infiltration, fibrogenesis, and ultimately NASH progression in male mice. These results provide the foundation for developing alternative strategies co-targeting ERRα and PPARα for the treatment of NASH.

Figures
Products