Accumulation of free cholesterol and oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with portal inflammation and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Bibliographic Details
Title: Accumulation of free cholesterol and oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with portal inflammation and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Cheng-Maw Ho, Shu-Li Ho, Yung-Ming Jeng, Yu-Sheng Lai, Ya-Hui Chen, Shao-Chun Lu, Hui-Ling Chen, Po-Yuan Chang, Rey-Heng Hu, Po-Huang Lee
Source: Journal of Inflammation, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2019)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2019.
Publication Year: 2019
Collection: LCC:Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Subject Terms: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Steatohepatitis, Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, RM1-950
More Details: Abstract Background Macrophages engulf oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) leading to accumulation of cellular cholesterol and formation of foam cells, which is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Moreover, recent studies showed that accumulation of free cholesterol in macrophages leading to activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has been linked to atherosclerosis-associated inflammation. However, it is not clear if cholesterol accumulation is associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. In this study, we investigated the association of free cholesterol and oxLDL accumulation in portal vein with the inflammation, atherosclerosis, and fibrosis in human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Serial sections derived from surgical specimens of NAFLD were stained with filipin and antibodies against IL-1β, CD68, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), oxLDL and lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1). Results We show that free cholesterol was colocalized with oxLDL in the wall of portal vein, and which was associated with lumen narrowing, plaque formation, endothelium deformation, and portal venous inflammation. The inflammation was evidenced by the colocalization of Kupffer cells and IL-1β and the expression of LOX-1. Notably, ruptured plaque was closely associated with portal venous inflammation. Moreover, free cholesterol and oxLDL accumulation in periportal and sinusoidal fibrosis, which was associated with regional stellate cell activation and chicken-wire fibrosis. Conclusion These findings reveal a direct association between cholesterol accumulation, portal venous inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1476-9255
Relation: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12950-019-0211-5; https://doaj.org/toc/1476-9255
DOI: 10.1186/s12950-019-0211-5
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/0798af83e6794d0d91b21e867fab0182
Accession Number: edsdoj.0798af83e6794d0d91b21e867fab0182
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:14769255
DOI:10.1186/s12950-019-0211-5
Published in:Journal of Inflammation
Language:English