1. TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in fatty liver disease: a case-control study.
- Author
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Zargar AM, Ali Z, Fallah A, and Mohagheghi S
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Case-Control Studies, Female, Middle Aged, Adult, Fatty Liver metabolism, Fatty Liver genetics, Transforming Growth Factor beta metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta genetics, Smad Proteins metabolism, Smad Proteins genetics, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease metabolism, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease genetics, Transforming Growth Factor beta3 metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta3 genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, Signal Transduction, Smad2 Protein metabolism, Smad2 Protein genetics, Smad3 Protein metabolism, Smad3 Protein genetics, Connective Tissue Growth Factor genetics, Connective Tissue Growth Factor metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta1 metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta1 genetics
- Abstract
Background: Fatty liver disease is a metabolic disorder that recently has been classified into two categories: metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and non-MAFLD. TGF-β signaling pathway is likely a significant factor in the pathogenesis of this condition, exerting its effects through its downstream signaling proteins, Smad2/3. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the TGF-β signaling pathway in the white blood cells (WBCs) of patients with MAFLD compared to those with non-MAFLD and control groups., Methods and Results: In this study, 41 patients with fatty liver were evaluated, comprising 22 patients with MAFLD and 19 patients with non-MAFLD, and compared to 22 healthy controls. Gene expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, and CTGF were quantified using qRT-PCR, and the protein expressions of Smad2/3 and P-Smad2/3 were analyzed using western blotting. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant decrease in the gene expressions of the TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 and an increase in CTGF gene expression in patients with MAFLD and non-MAFLD compared to the control group. Notably, the Smad2/3 protein expression was significantly higher in the non-MAFLD group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the P-smad2/3 protein expression was significantly elevated in the MAFLD group compared to the control group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: TGF-β signaling pathway in WBCs of patients with fatty liver are affected by a complex signaling pathway. However, metabolic factors most probably affect TGF-β1 gene expression and its downstream signaling proteins more than TGF-β3., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)
- Published
- 2024
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