Authors
Diogo Pellegrina; Khairunnadiya Prayitno; Amirhossein Azhie; Elisa Pasini; Cristina Baciu; Sandra Fischer; Jüri Reimand; Mamatha Bhat
Background
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a leading indication for liver transplantation. However, it often recurs in the graft and can also arise de novo in individuals transplanted for other indications. Post-transplant NASH (PT-NASH) is more aggressive and leads to accelerated fibrosis. The mechanistic basis of PT-NASH has not yet been defined and no specific therapeutic strategies are currently available.
Methods
Here, we profiled the transcriptomes of livers with PT-NASH from liver transplant recipients to identify dysregulated genes, pathways, and molecular interaction networks.
Results
Transcriptomic changes in the PI3K-Akt pathway were observed in association with metabolic alterations in PT-NASH. Other significant changes in gene expression were associated with DNA replication, cell cycle, extracellular matrix organization, and wound healing. A systematic comparison with non-transplant NASH (NT-NASH) liver transcriptomes indicated an increased activation of wound healing and angiogenesis pathways in the post-transplant condition.
Conclusion
Beyond altered lipid metabolism, dysregulation of wound healing and tissue repair mechanisms may contribute to the accelerated development of fibrosis associated with PT-NASH. This presents an attractive therapeutic avenue to explore for PT-NASH to optimize the benefit and survival of the graft.
Read morePosted on: