A Mitochondrial VDAC1-Based Peptide Greatly Suppresses Steatosis and NASH-Associated Pathologies in a Mouse Model

Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy
Srinivas PittalaVarda Shoshan-Barmatz

Abstract

Non-alcoholic steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are liver pathologies characterized by severe metabolic alterations due to fat accumulation that lead to liver damage, inflammation, and fibrosis. We demonstrate that the voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-based peptide R-Tf-D-LP4 arrested steatosis and NASH progression, as produced by a high-fat diet (HFD-32) in a mouse model, and reversed liver pathology to a normal-like state. VDAC1, a multi-functional mitochondrial protein, regulates cellular metabolic and energetic functions and apoptosis and interacts with many proteins. R-Tf-D-LP4 treatment eliminated hepatocyte ballooning degeneration, inflammation, and liver fibrosis associated with steatosis, NASH, and hepatocarcinoma, and it restored liver pathology-associated enzyme and glucose levels. Peptide treatment affected carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, increasing the expression of enzymes and factors associated with fatty acid transport to mitochondria, enhancing β-oxidation and thermogenic processes, yet decreasing the expression of enzymes and regulators of fatty acid synthesis. The VDAC1-based peptide thus offers a promising therapeutic approach for steatosis and NASH.

Citations

Feb 26, 2020·Cells·Srinivas PittalaVarda Shoshan-Barmatz
Oct 30, 2020·Biomolecules·Varda Shoshan-BarmatzAnkit Verma
Aug 12, 2021·Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology·Paul Middleton, Nikhil Vergis
Jul 5, 2021·Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy·Ankit VermaVarda Shoshan-Barmatz

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