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Hepatoprotection by the farnesoid X receptor agonist GW4064 in rat models of intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis
Yaping Liu, … , Bryan Goodwin, Stacey A. Jones
Yaping Liu, … , Bryan Goodwin, Stacey A. Jones
Published December 1, 2003
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2003;112(11):1678-1687. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI18945.
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Article Hepatology

Hepatoprotection by the farnesoid X receptor agonist GW4064 in rat models of intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis

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Abstract

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid–activated transcription factor that is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Fxr-null mice exhibit a phenotype similar to Byler disease, an inherited cholestatic liver disorder. In the liver, activation of FXR induces transcription of transporter genes involved in promoting bile acid clearance and represses genes involved in bile acid biosynthesis. We investigated whether the synthetic FXR agonist GW4064 could protect against cholestatic liver damage in rat models of extrahepatic and intrahepatic cholestasis. In the bile duct–ligation and α-naphthylisothiocyanate models of cholestasis, GW4064 treatment resulted in significant reductions in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as other markers of liver damage. Rats that received GW4064 treatment also had decreased incidence and extent of necrosis, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased bile duct proliferation. Analysis of gene expression in livers from GW4064-treated cholestatic rats revealed decreased expression of bile acid biosynthetic genes and increased expression of genes involved in bile acid transport, including the phospholipid flippase MDR2. The hepatoprotection seen in these animal models by the synthetic FXR agonist suggests FXR agonists may be useful in the treatment of cholestatic liver disease.

Authors

Yaping Liu, Jane Binz, Mary Jo Numerick, Steve Dennis, Guizhen Luo, Bhasha Desai, Kathleen I. MacKenzie, Traci A. Mansfield, Steven A. Kliewer, Bryan Goodwin, Stacey A. Jones

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Figure 2

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Protection against ANIT-induced necrosis by GW4064. Rats (n = 6–8) were ...
Protection against ANIT-induced necrosis by GW4064. Rats (n = 6–8) were treated once daily with vehicle (Veh), GW4064, or TUDCA. On the second treatment day the rats received a single dose of ANIT or vehicle. Livers were taken for histological analysis 4 hours after the final dose. The panels show representative H&E-stained liver sections from each treatment group at ×400 magnification. (a) Vehicle/vehicle–treated rat showing normal liver histology. (b) Vehicle/ANIT–treated rat showing a large area of parenchymal necrosis (filled arrow) with inflammatory cell infiltration (open arrow). (c) GW4064/ANIT–treated rat showing inflammatory cell infiltration (open arrow) around the bile duct, but no necrosis. (d) TUDCA/ANIT–treated rat showing parenchymal necrosis (filled arrow) with inflammatory cell infiltration (open arrow).
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