The cytochrome P450 epoxygenase pathway regulates the hepatic inflammatory response in fatty liver disease

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 13;9(10):e110162. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110162. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Fatty liver disease is an emerging public health problem without effective therapies, and chronic hepatic inflammation is a key pathologic mediator in its progression. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases metabolize arachidonic acid to biologically active epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which have potent anti-inflammatory effects. Although promoting the effects of EETs elicits anti-inflammatory and protective effects in the cardiovascular system, the contribution of CYP-derived EETs to the regulation of fatty liver disease-associated inflammation and injury is unknown. Using the atherogenic diet model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), our studies demonstrated that induction of fatty liver disease significantly and preferentially suppresses hepatic CYP epoxygenase expression and activity, and both hepatic and circulating levels of EETs in mice. Furthermore, mice with targeted disruption of Ephx2 (the gene encoding soluble epoxide hydrolase) exhibited restored hepatic and circulating EET levels and a significantly attenuated induction of hepatic inflammation and injury. Collectively, these data suggest that suppression of hepatic CYP-mediated EET biosynthesis is an important pathological consequence of fatty liver disease-associated inflammation, and that the CYP epoxygenase pathway is a central regulator of the hepatic inflammatory response in NAFLD/NASH. Future studies investigating the utility of therapeutic strategies that promote the effects of CYP-derived EETs in NAFLD/NASH are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2J2
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Diet
  • Eicosanoids / metabolism
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / deficiency
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / enzymology*
  • Fatty Liver / genetics
  • Fatty Liver / pathology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Lipids / blood
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways* / genetics
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Eicosanoids
  • Lipids
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2J2
  • Epoxide Hydrolases
  • Ephx2 protein, mouse