Sterol Ferulate Rich Wheat Bran Oil Concentrate Prevents Liver Damage in MAFLD Mouse Model by Modulating FAS and PCSK9

Abstract

Molecular effects of sterol-enriched wheat bran oil (eWBA) on lipid metabolism, inflammatory markers, and liver proteome associated with nonalcoholic/metabolic-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are not completely known. In this study, dietary eWBA intervention was used to investigate its effect in ameliorating liver injury in high fat diet (HFC)-fed C57BL/6 mice. Specifically, we examined eWBA's effects on (i) differentially expressed hepatic factors which regulate carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis markers, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-γ (PPARγ), pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), and apolipoprotein-E (APO-E) factors, and (ii) levels of two cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Liver of HFC-fed mice exhibited characteristic features of MAFLD, such as increased liver injury serum markers (SGOT, SGPT), liver lipids, and PCSK9 protein. Mice fed eWBA-supplemented HFC exhibited amelioration of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, SGOT, and SGPT levels as well as a reduction in liver lipids and PCSK9 and SREBP-2 proteins. Pro-inflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines in the liver of the groups fed with eWBA -supplemented HFC were normalized with respect to the group without eWBA. To conclude, eWBA reduces the expression of SREBP-2, APO-E, and PCSK9 in the liver which down regulates various signal molecules thereby ameliorates liver injury in a mouse model of MAFLD. Down-regulated FAS and ZNF-236 of liver proteins with eWBA intervention could be the initial markers for steatosis.

In vitro fermentation of glycosaminoglycans from mackerel fish waste and its role in modulating the antioxidant status and gut microbiota of high fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice

“…Adipose tissue samples which were preserved for 24 h in 10% buffered formalin were embedded in paraffin and sectioned (4-10 μm thickness); further processing was followed according to the method of Talawar et al (2021), 34 and staining was performed with H&E. The stained adipose sections were examined by a pathologist and their digital images were obtained under ×20 magnification using a light microscope (Olympus CKX53).…”