Vitamin E Modulates Hepatic Extracellular Adenosine Signaling to Attenuate Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

TL;DR

Vitamin E reduces liver fat and inflammation in a zebrafish model of liver disease by lowering adenosine and improving calcium regulation.

Contribution

Vitamin E's mechanism in reducing MASLD involves modulating extracellular adenosine and SERCA-mediated calcium regulation.

Findings

High-cholesterol diet increases hepatic extracellular adenosine and ER stress gene expression.

Vitamin E lowers extracellular adenosine and lipid accumulation in the liver.

Vitamin E restores SERCA-related gene expression and reduces hepatic injury.

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) involves early disturbances such as excessive lipid accumulation, sterile inflammation, and hepatocellular stress. The results of recent studies have highlighted extracellular ATP and its metabolite adenosine (Ado) as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that drive inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and steatosis, contributing to MASLD progression. Although vitamin E is clinically used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it remains unclear whether its therapeutic effects involve modulation of DAMP-associated signaling. To address this gap, we used transgenic zebrafish expressing a liver-specific G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based adenosine sensor (GRABAdo). We found that a high-cholesterol diet markedly increased hepatic extracellular Ado levels, combined with inflammatory and ER stress-associated gene expression. Vitamin E significantly reduced extracellular Ado levels and hepatic lipid accumulation. Based on RNA sequencing results, vitamin E restored the expression of genes encoding calcium-handling proteins, including atp2a1 and atp1b1b. These genes encode components of the sarco/ER Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) machinery, which is essential for maintaining ER Ca2+ homeostasis and preventing stress-induced hepatic injury. CDN1163-mediated SERCA activation phenocopied the protective effect of vitamin E, supporting a Ca2+-dependent mechanism. Together, these findings highlight extracellular Ado signaling and impaired SERCA-mediated Ca2+ regulation as early drivers of MASLD and demonstrate that vitamin E ameliorates steatosis by targeting both pathways.

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