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The fat-derived hormone adiponectin alleviates alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in mice
Aimin Xu, … , Karen S.L. Lam, Garth J.S. Cooper
Aimin Xu, … , Karen S.L. Lam, Garth J.S. Cooper
Published July 1, 2003
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2003;112(1):91-100. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI17797.
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Article Hepatology

The fat-derived hormone adiponectin alleviates alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in mice

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Abstract

Adiponectin has recently been shown to be a promising candidate for the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic syndromes. Replenishment of recombinant adiponectin in mice can decrease hyperglycemia, reverse insulin resistance, and cause sustained weight loss without affecting food intake. Here we report its potential roles in alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in mice. Circulating concentrations of adiponectin decreased significantly following chronic consumption of high-fat ethanol-containing food. Delivery of recombinant adiponectin into these mice dramatically alleviated hepatomegaly and steatosis (fatty liver) and also significantly attenuated inflammation and the elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase. These therapeutic effects resulted partly from the ability of adiponectin to increase carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity and enhance hepatic fatty acid oxidation, while it decreased the activities of two key enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, adiponectin treatment could suppress the hepatic production of TNF-α and plasma concentrations of this proinflammatory cytokine. Adiponectin was also effective in ameliorating hepatomegaly, steatosis, and alanine aminotransferase abnormality associated with nonalcoholic obese, ob/ob mice. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism of adiponectin action and suggest a potential clinical application of adiponectin and its agonists in the treatment of liver diseases.

Authors

Aimin Xu, Yu Wang, Hussila Keshaw, Lance Yi Xu, Karen S.L. Lam, Garth J.S. Cooper

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Figure 7

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Effects of adiponectin on proteins involved in fatty acid synthesis and ...
Effects of adiponectin on proteins involved in fatty acid synthesis and uptake. Three groups of animals were treated with LC diet, LE diet, or LE + Ad diet as described in Figure 4. (a) Activity of hepatic ACC expressed as nanomoles of 14C malonyl-CoA produced per milligram of protein per minute. (b) Hepatic FAS activity expressed as nanomoles of 14C-labeled fatty acids produced per milligram of protein per minute. (c) Northern blot analysis of steady-state mRNA levels for ACC, FAS, and CD36. (d) The results from c were quantified by PhosphorImaging (n = 5). All mRNA levels are expressed relative to untreated LC pair-fed controls, after being normalized against the abundance of 18S RNA. #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 for LC-treated mice versus LE-treated mice; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for LE + Ad–treated mice versus LE-treated mice.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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