Carvedilol is a widely used beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist for multiple cardiovascular indications; however, it may induce cholestasis in patients, but the mechanism for this effect is unclear. Carvedilol also prevents the development of various forms of experimental liver injury, but its effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is largely unknown. In this study, we determined the effect of carvedilol (10 mg/kg/day p.o.) on bile formation and bile acid (BA) turnover in male C57BL/6 mice consuming either a chow diet or a western-type NASH-inducing diet. BAs were profiled by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and BA-related enzymes, transporters, and regulators were evaluated by western blot analysis and qRT-PCR. In chow diet-fed mice, carvedilol increased plasma concentrations of BAs resulting from reduced BA uptake to hepatocytes via Ntcp transporter downregulation. Inhibition of the β-adrenoreceptor-cAMP-Epac1-Ntcp pathway by carvedilol may be the post-transcriptional mechanism underlying this effect. In contrast, carvedilol did not worsen the deterioration of BA homeostasis accompanying NASH; however, it shifted the spectra of BAs toward more hydrophilic and less toxic α-muricholic and hyocholic acids. This positive effect of carvedilol was associated with a significant attenuation of liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in NASH mice. In conclusion, our results indicate that carvedilol may increase BAs in plasma by modifying their liver transport. In addition, carvedilol provided significant hepatoprotection in a NASH murine model without worsening BA accumulation. These data suggest beneficial effects of carvedilol in patients at high risk for developing NASH.

• Klíčová slova
• bile acids, carvedilol, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,
• MeSH
• homeostáza MeSH
• játra MeSH
• karvedilol farmakologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránové transportní proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nealkoholová steatóza jater * metabolismus   MeSH
• žlučové kyseliny a soli metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• karvedilol MeSH
• membránové transportní proteiny MeSH
• žlučové kyseliny a soli MeSH

Bile acids (BA) play a significant role in the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The present study evaluates the modulation of bile acid metabolomics by atorvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering agent commonly used to treat cardiovascular complications accompanying NASH. NASH was induced in mice by 24 weeks of consuming a high-saturated fat, high-fructose, and high-cholesterol diet (F), with atorvastatin administered orally (20 mg/kg/day) during the last three weeks. Biochemical and histological analyses confirmed the effectiveness of the F diet in inducing NASH. Untreated NASH animals had significantly reduced biliary secretion of BA and increased fecal excretion of BA via decreased apical sodium-dependent bile salt transporter (Asbt)-mediated reabsorption. Atorvastatin decreased liver steatosis and inflammation in NASH animals consistently with a reduction in crucial lipogenic enzyme stearoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) desaturase-1 and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B-cell pro-inflammatory signaling, respectively. In this group, atorvastatin also uniformly enhanced plasma concentration, biliary secretion and fecal excretion of the secondary BA, deoxycholic acid (DCA). However, in the chow diet-fed animals, atorvastatin decreased plasma concentrations of BA, and reduced BA biliary secretions. These changes stemmed primarily from the increased fecal excretion of BA resulting from the reduced Asbt-mediated BA reabsorption in the ileum and suppression of synthesis in the liver. In conclusion, our results reveal that atorvastatin significantly modulates BA metabolomics by altering their intestinal processing and liver synthesis in control and NASH mice.

• Klíčová slova
• apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter, atorvastatin, bile acids, deoxycholic acid, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,
• MeSH
• atorvastatin farmakologie   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• dieta s vysokým obsahem tuků MeSH
• homeostáza * MeSH
• játra metabolismus   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nealkoholová steatóza jater farmakoterapie   etiologie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• statiny farmakologie   MeSH
• triglyceridy biosyntéza   MeSH
• žlučové kyseliny a soli metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• atorvastatin MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• statiny MeSH
• triglyceridy MeSH
• žlučové kyseliny a soli MeSH

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world, and it persists at a high prevalence. NAFLD is characterised by the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and includes a spectrum of histopathological findings, ranging from simple fatty liver through non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis, which may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is closely related to the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of NAFLD in humans has currently been limited by the lack of satisfactory animal models. The ideal animal model for NAFLD should reflect all aspects of the intricate etiopathogenesis of human NAFLD and the typical histological findings of its different stages. Within the past several years, great emphasis has been placed on the development of an appropriate model for human NASH. This paper reviews the widely used experimental models of NAFLD in rats. We discuss nutritional, genetic and combined models of NAFLD and their pros and cons. The choice of a suitable animal model for this disease while respecting its limitations may help to improve the understanding of its complex pathogenesis and to discover appropriate therapeutic strategies. Considering the legislative, ethical, economical and health factors of NAFLD, animal models are essential tools for the research of this disease.

• Klíčová slova
• Animal model, High-fat diet, Methionine- and choline-deficient diet, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima fatty rats, Zucker rats,
• MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genetická predispozice k nemoci MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza metabolismus   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• játra metabolismus   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
• nealkoholová steatóza jater * etiologie   genetika   metabolismus   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• nutriční stav MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH