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Precise molecular pathways involved in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain to be elucidated. As Mallory–Denk bodies were occasionally observed in the enlarged hepatocytes in NASH model rat (SHRSP5/Dmcr) fed high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet, we aimed to clarify the roles of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in NASH progression. Male SHRSP5/Dmcr were randomly divided into 4 groups. Two groups were fed a control diet; the other two groups were fed a HFC diet for 2 and 8 weeks, respectively. The HFC diet increased the autophagy-related proteins levels and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II/I ratio after 2 and 8 weeks, respectively. However, regarding ER stress-related proteins, the HFC diet decreased the levels of phosphorylated (p-) inositol-requiring kinase-1 (p-IRE-1) and p-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase after 2 weeks. Additionally, the HFC diet increased anti-ubiquitin-positive cells and the level of the autophagy substrate p62, suggesting that the HFC diet induced dysfunction in ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathways. In conclusion, the HFC diet arrested the autophagy process in the liver; this was particularly associated with decreases in p-IRE-1 expression.

SummaryWe examined the acute effects of postprandial aerobic exercise on glucose and lipid metabolism following cookie ingestion. Fifteen healthy young women with a sedentary lifestyle, normal weight and apolipoprotein E3/3 participated. After a 12-h overnight fast, each subject ingested a cookie (1.53 g/kg, Meal Test C) and then performed two trials, one with postprandial exercise (E trial) and one without exercise (C trial), in a randomized crossover design. A single 30-min bout of walking exercise was performed 20 min after the cookie intake. Venous blood samples were drawn before (0 h) and 20 min and 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after cookie ingestion. The Dglucose concentration was not significantly different between the two trials, but the Dinsulin concentration at 1 h and the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) (0-2 h)-insulin in the E trial were significantly lower than in the C trial. The ratio of glucose/insulin at 1 h was significantly higher in the E trial than in the C trial. The DTG, DRLP-TG, DapoB48 and DRemL-C concentrations at 1 h in the E trial were significantly higher than in the C trial. The IAUC (0-2 h)-apoB48 in the E trial was significantly larger than in the C trial. Postprandial exercise showed an insulin-sparing effect following the cookie ingestion by increasing insulin sensitivity. However, postprandial exercise transiently stimulated the secretion of exogenous apoB48-containing lipoprotein during the early period, and no further effects were observed. These results suggest that postprandial aerobic exercise is effective for the promotion of postprandial carbohydrate metabolism, but not lipidemia.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. We have previously demonstrated that hypertensive rats fed a high fat and cholesterol (HFC) diet incurred a more severe hepatic inflammatory response and fibrosis. Here we investigated the role of hypertension in NASH by comparing HFC-induced hepatic fibrogenesis between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their normotensive Wistar Kyoto counterpart. Compared to the counterpart, the HFC diet led to stronger aggregation of CD68-positive macrophages in SHRs. HFC feeding also resulted in significantly higher upregulation of the fibrosis-related gene alpha-smooth muscle actin in SHR. The HFC diet induced higher overexpression of serum tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) and greater suppression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2):TIMP1, MMP8:TIMP1, and MMP9:TIMP1 ratios, as a proxy of the activities of these MMPs in SHR. Administration of the antihypertensive agent hydralazine to SHRs significantly ameliorated HFC-induced liver fibrosis; it suppressed the aggregation of CD68-positive macrophages and the upregulation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, and collagen, type 1, alpha-1 chain. In conclusion, a hypertensive environment exacerbated the hepatic fibrogenetic effects of the HFC diet; while the effects were partially reversed by the antihypertensive agent hydralazine. Our data suggest that antihypertensive drugs hold promise for treating NASH exacerbated by hypertension.