Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Oct 2022)
Semaglutide May Alleviate Hepatic Steatosis in T2DM Combined with NFALD Mice via miR-5120/ABHD6
Abstract
Ran Li,1 Zhengqin Ye,1 Dunmin She,2,3 Ping Fang,1 Guannan Zong,1 Kerong Hu,1 Dehong Kong,1 Wei Xu,1 Ling Li,1 Yun Zhou,1 Keqin Zhang,1 Ying Xue1 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ying Xue; Keqin Zhang, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389, Xincun Road, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-021-66111061, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Although the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been extensively studied, the role of its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear, and there is currently no approved therapeutic strategy for NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to observe the beneficial effects of Semaglutide on NAFLD in vivo and in vitro, as well as its potential molecular mechanisms.Methods: Semaglutide was used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with NAFLD mice for 12 weeks. Hepatic function and structure were evaluated by liver function, blood lipids, liver lipids, H&E staining, oil red staining and Sirius staining. The expression of α/β hydrolase domain-6 (ABHD6) was measured by qPCR and Western blotting in vivo and in vitro. Then, dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the regulation of the upstream miR-5120 on ABHD6.Results: Our data revealed that Semaglutide administration significantly improved liver function and hepatic steatosis in T2DM combined with NAFLD mice. Furthermore, compared with controls, up-regulation of ABHD6 and down-regulation of miR-5120 were found in the liver of T2DM+NAFLD mice and HG+FFA-stimulated Hepa 1– 6 hepatocytes. Interestingly, after Semaglutide intervention, ABHD6 expression was significantly decreased in the liver of T2DM+NAFLD mice and in HG+FFA-stimulated Hepa 1– 6 hepatocytes, while miR-5120 expression was increased. We also found that miR-5120 could regulate the expression of ABHD6 in hepatocytes, while Semaglutide could modulate the expression of ABHD6 through miR-5120. In addition, GLP-1R was widely expressed in mouse liver tissues and Hepa 1– 6 cells. Semaglutide could regulate miR-5120/ABHD6 expression through GLP-1R.Conclusion: Our data revealed the underlying mechanism by which Semaglutide improves hepatic steatosis in T2DM+NAFLD, and might shed new light on the pathological role of miR-5120/ABHD6 in the pathogenesis of T2DM+NAFLD.Keywords: Semaglutide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, α/β hydrolase domain-6, microRNA-5120
