Volume 12, Issue 9 e1048
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access

Hepatic interleukin-1 receptor type 1 signalling regulates insulin sensitivity in the early phases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nadine Gehrke

Nadine Gehrke

I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, 55131 Germany

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Lea J. Hofmann

Lea J. Hofmann

I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, 55131 Germany

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Beate K. Straub

Beate K. Straub

Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

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Frank Rühle

Frank Rühle

Bioinformatics Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany

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Ari Waisman

Ari Waisman

Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

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Peter R. Galle

Peter R. Galle

I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, 55131 Germany

Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

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Jörn M. Schattenberg

Corresponding Author

Jörn M. Schattenberg

I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, 55131 Germany

Correspondence

Jörn M. Schattenberg, Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 13 September 2022
Citations: 2

Abstract

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with hepatic as well as systemic insulin resistance even in the absence of type 2 diabetes. The extent and pathways through which hepatic inflammation modulates insulin sensitivity in NAFLD are only partially understood. We explored the contribution of hepatic interleukin (IL)-1 signalling in a novel conditional knockout mouse model and expand the knowledge on this signalling pathway with regard to its liver-specific functions.

Methods

A high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet (HFD) over 12 weeks was used in male hepatocyte-specific IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) knockout mice (Il1r1Hep−/–) and wild-type (WT) littermates.

Results

Both genotypes developed an obese phenotype and accompanying macrovesicular hepatic steatosis. In contrast to WT mice, microvesicular steatosis and ballooning injury was less pronounced in HFD-fed Il1r1Hep−/– mice, and alanine aminotransferase remained in the normal range. This was paralleled by the suppression of injurious and proinflammatory hepatic c-Jun N-terminal kinases and extracellular signal-regulated kinases signalling, stable peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha and farnesoid X receptor-alpha expression and preservation of mitochondrial function. Strikingly, despite HFD-feeding Il1r1Hep−/– mice remained highly insulin sensitive as indicated by lower insulin levels, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, higher glucose tolerance, more stable hepatic insulin signalling cascade, and less adipose tissue inflammation compared to the WT.

Conclusions

The current data highlights that hepatocyte IL-1R1 contributes to hepatic and extrahepatic insulin resistance. Future liver-directed therapies in NAFLD could have effects on insulin sensitivity when improving hepatic inflammation and IL-1R1 signalling.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

JMS declares consultant honorary from BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Echosens, Genfit, Gilead Sciences, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Madrigal, Merck, Nordic Bioscience, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, and Siemens Healthcare GmbH, research funding from Gilead Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, and speaker honorarium form Falk Foundation. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data available on request from the authors.

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