Murine HSD17β13 does not control liver steatosis and modestly impacts fibrosis in a sex- and diet-specific manner

Abstract

Human genetic studies show that loss of function mutations in 17-Beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17β13) are associated with protection from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). As a result, therapies that reduce HSD17β13 are being pursued for the treatment of NASH. However, inconsistent effects on steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis pathogenesis have been reported in murine Hsd17b13 knockdown or knockout models. To clarify whether murine Hsd17b13 loss regulates liver damage and fibrosis, we characterized Hsd17b13 knockout mice subjected to pro-NASH diets or pro-inflammatory chemical-induced liver injury. There were no effects of Hsd17b13 loss on liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis, or lipids after 28 weeks on the Gubra-Amylin NASH (GAN) diet or 12 weeks on a 45% choline-deficient high-fat diet (CDAHFD). However, AAV-mediated re-expression of murine Hsd17b13 in KO mice increased liver macrophage abundance in both sexes fed the 45% CDAHFD. In contrast, there was a modest reduction in liver fibrosis, but not lipids or inflammation within Hsd17b13 null female, but not male, mice after 12 weeks of a 60% CDAHFD compared to WT littermates. Fibrosis and the abundance of liver macrophages were increased in Hsd17b13 KO females upon adenoviral re-expression of mouse HSD17β13, but this was not reflected in inflammatory markers. Additionally, we found minimal differences in liver injury, lipids, or inflammatory and fibrotic markers 48 h after acute CCl4 exposure. In summary, murine Hsd17b13 loss has modest diet- and sex-specific effects on liver fibrosis which contrasts with human genetic studies. This suggests a disconnect between the biological function of HSD17β13 in mice and humans.