Abstract
BackgroundBoth cholesterol (Cho) and methionine (Met, a precursor for homocysteine) are risk factors for fatty liver disease. Since Western diets are rich in Cho and Met, we investigated the hepatic effects of feeding a diet enriched in Met and Cho. Further, based on the reported anti-oxidative and lipid lowering properties of sitagliptin (an antidiabetic drug), we tested whether it could counteract the negative effects of high Cho and Met. We therefore hypothesized that sitagliptin would ameliorate the development of liver pathology that is produced by feeding diets rich in either Cho, Met, or both.MethodsMale Sprague Dawley rats were fed ad libitum a) control diet, or b) high Met or c) high Cho, or d) high Met + high Cho diets for 35 days. From day 10 to 35, 50% of rats in each dietary group were gavaged with either vehicle or an aqueous suspension of sitagliptin (100 mg/kg/day). Liver samples were harvested for histological, molecular, and biochemical analyses.ResultsThe high Cho diet produced significant hepatic steatosis which was unaffected by sitagliptin. Contrary to expectation, sitagliptin exacerbated expression of hepatic markers of oxidative stress and fibrosis in rats fed high Cho. Corresponding increases in 4-hydroxynonenal adducts and collagen deposition were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and sirius red staining. These hepatic changes were absent in rats on the high Met diet and they were comparable to controls. The inclusion of Met in the high Cho diet resulted in significant reduction of the hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and fibrosis produced by high Cho alone.ConclusionSitagliptin exacerbated the effects of high Cho on both oxidative stress and fibrosis, resulting in NASH like symptoms that were significantly reversed by the inclusion of Met.
Highlights
The widespread increase in the incidences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and obesity are a global health concern
In anticipation of seeing robust increase in hepatic oxidative stress, fibrosis, and lipid accumulation in rats fed a combination of high Cho with high Met, we investigated the role of sitagliptin in alleviating these effects
In order to assess the impact of dietary Met, Cho and their combination on hepatic markers of oxidative stress, expression of Nox2, Lox1, and Inos mRNAs were measured in the liver (Experiment 1)
Summary
The widespread increase in the incidences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and obesity are a global health concern. Several of these conditions can be reasonably managed by lifestyle changes including diet and exercise. Animal products such as meat, poultry, and dairy are rich in cholesterol (Cho) and methionine (Met). Diabetes and obesity play a (2020) 17:2 prominent role in NAFLD and their incidences are increasing [3] Both cholesterol (Cho) and methionine (Met, a precursor for homocysteine) are risk factors for fatty liver disease. We hypothesized that sitagliptin would ameliorate the development of liver pathology that is produced by feeding diets rich in either Cho, Met, or both
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