0000000000289079
AUTHOR
Shelly C. Lu
Identification of a gene-pathway associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Background/Aims We have integrated gene expression profiling of liver biopsies of NASH patients with liver samples of a mouse model of steatohepatitis (MAT1A-KO) to identify a gene-pathway associated with NASH. Methods Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays were used to evaluate nine patients with NASH, six patients with steatosis, and six control subjects; Affymetrix MOE430A microarrays were used to evaluate wild-type and MAT1A-KO mice at 15 days, 1, 3, 5 and 8 months after birth. Transcriptional profiles of patients with NASH and MAT1A-KO mice were compared with those of their proficient controls. Results We identified a gene-pathway associated with NASH, that accurately distinguishes betwe…
Liver-specific methionine adenosyltransferase MAT1A gene expression is associated with a specific pattern of promoter methylation and histone acetylation: implications for MAT1A silencing during transformation.
Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), the main donor of methyl groups in the cell. In mammals MAT is the product of two genes, MAT1A and MAT2A. MAT1A is expressed only in the mature liver whereas fetal hepatocytes, extrahepatic tissues and liver cancer cells express MAT2A. The mechanisms behind the tissue and differentiation state specific MAT1A expression are not known. In the present work we examined MAT1A promoter methylation status by means of methylation sensitive restriction enzyme analysis. Our data indicate that MAT1A promoter is hypomethylated in liver and hypermethylated in kidney and fetal rat hepatocytes…
Hepatocyte growth factor induces MAT2A expression and histone acetylation in rat hepatocytes: role in liver regeneration 1
SPECIFIC AIMSWe have studied the molecular mechanisms and mediators behind the induction of methionine adenosyltransferase 2 A (MAT2A) gene expression in the regenerating rat liver after partial he...
Fatty Liver and Fibrosis in Glycine N-Methyltransferase Knockout Mice Is Prevented by Nicotinamide
Deletion of glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), the main gene involved in liver S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) catabolism, leads to the hepatic accumulation of this molecule and the development of fatty liver and fibrosis in mice. To demonstrate that the excess of hepatic SAM is the main agent contributing to liver disease in GNMT knockout (KO) mice, we treated 1.5-month-old GNMT-KO mice for 6 weeks with nicotinamide (NAM), a substrate of the enzyme NAM N-methyltransferase. NAM administration markedly reduced hepatic SAM content, prevented DNA hypermethylation, and normalized the expression of critical genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, cell proliferation, …
Reduced mRNA abundance of the main enzymes involved in methionine metabolism in human liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Abstract Background/Aims: It has been known for at least 50 years that alterations in methionine metabolism occur in human liver cirrhosis. However, the molecular basis of this alteration is not completely understood. In order to gain more insight into the mechanisms behind this condition, mRNA levels of methionine adenosyltransferase ( MAT1A ), glycine methyltransferase ( GNMT ), methionine synthase ( MS ), betaine homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT ) and cystathionine β-synthase ( CBS ) were examined in 26 cirrhotic livers, five hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and ten control livers. Methods: The expression of the above-mentioned genes was determined by quantitative RT-PCR analy…