Background & Aims Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is commonly observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, and thiazolidinediones (TZD) are considered a potential therapy for NASH. Although TZD increase insulin sensitivity and partially reduce steatosis and alanine aminotransferase, the efficacy of TZD on resolving liver pathology is limited. In fact, TZD may activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in hepatocytes and promote steatosis. Therefore, we assessed the role that hepatocyte-specific PPARγ plays in the development of NASH, and how it alters the therapeutic effects of TZD on the liver of mice with diet-induced NASH. Methods Hepatocyte-specific PPARγ expression was knocked out in adult mice before and after the development of NASH induced with a high fat, cholesterol, and fructose (HFCF) diet. Results HFCF diet increased PPARγ expression in hepatocytes, and rosiglitazone further activated PPARγ in hepatocytes of HFCF-fed mice in vivo and in vitro. Hepatocyte-specific loss of PPARγ reduced the progression of HFCF-induced NASH in male mice and increased the benefits derived from the effects of TZD on extrahepatic tissues and non-parenchymal cells. RNAseq and metabolomics indicated that HFCF diet promoted inflammation and fibrogenesis in a hepatocyte PPARγ–dependent manner and was associated with dysregulation of hepatic metabolism. Specifically, hepatocyte-specific loss of PPARγ plays a positive role in the regulation of methionine metabolism, and that could reduce the progression of NASH. Conclusions Because of the negative effect of hepatocyte PPARγ in NASH, inhibition of mechanisms promoted by endogenous PPARγ in hepatocytes may represent a novel strategy that increases the efficiency of therapies for NAFLD.

Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists that may reduce hepatic steatosis through their effects in adipose tissue and therefore have been assessed as potential therapies to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. However, some studies suggest that expression and activation of hepatocyte PPARγ promotes steatosis and that would limit the benefits of TZD as a NAFLD therapy. To further explore this possibility, we examined the impact of short-term rosiglitazone maleate treatment after the development of moderate or severe diet-induced obesity, in both control and adult-onset hepatocyte-specific PPARγ knockout (PpargΔHep) mice. Independent of the level of obesity and hepatic PPARγ expression, the TZD treatment enhanced insulin sensitivity, associated with an increase in white adipose tissue (WAT) fat accumulation, consistent with clinical observations. However, TZD treatment increased hepatic triglyceride content only in control mice with severe obesity. Under these conditions, PpargΔHep reduced diet-induced steatosis and prevented the steatogenic effects of short-term TZD treatment. In these mice, subcutaneous WAT was enlarged and associated with increased levels of adiponectin, while hepatic levels of phosphorylated adenosine 5′-monophosphate–activated protein kinase were also increased. In addition, in mice with severe obesity, the expression of hepatic Cd36, Cidea, Cidec, Fabp4, Fasn, and Scd-1 was increased by TZD in a PPARγ-dependent manner. Taken together, these results demonstrate that hepatocyte PPARγ expression offsets the antisteatogenic actions of TZD in mice with severe obesity. Therefore, in obese and insulin resistant humans, TZD-mediated activation of hepatocyte PPARγ may limit the therapeutic potential of TZD to treat NAFLD.

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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) belongs to a family of nuclear receptors that could serve as lipid sensors. PPARγ is the target of a group of insulin sensitizers called thiazolidinediones (TZD) which regulate the expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as adipokines that regulate metabolic function in other tissues. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high prevalence worldwide and is even higher in patients with obesity and insulin resistance. TZD-mediated activation of PPARγ could serve as a good treatment for NAFLD because TZD have shown anti-fibrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, and increase insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues which improves liver pathology. However, mechanistic studies in mouse models suggest that the activation of PPARγ in hepatocytes might reduce or limit the therapeutic potential of TZD against NAFLD. In this review, we briefly describe the short history of PPAR isoforms, the relevance of their expression in different tissues, as well as the pathogenesis and potential therapeutics for NAFLD. We also discuss some evidence derived from mouse models that could be useful for endocrinologists to assess tissue-specific roles of PPARs, complement reverse endocrinology approaches, and understand the direct role that PPARγ has in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells.

Pparg is a nuclear receptor that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are PPARG agonists that may reduce hepatic steatosis through their effects in adipose tissue. However, some studies suggest that expression and activation of hepatocyte Pparg promotes steatosis. In this study, we have assessed the relevance of hepatocyte Pparg, and its TZD-mediated activation in the development and/or reduction of steatosis, with adult-onset hepatocyte-specific Pparg knockout (PpargΔHep) mice. We reported that a single iv injection of AAV8-TBG-Cre in Pparg-floxed mice, knocked out hepatocyte Pparg expression (PpargΔHep mice), and that prevented diet-induced steatosis. In this study, a group of 5 wk-old Pparg-floxed mice were fed a low fat (LF) or a high fat (HF) diet for 7 weeks before generating control and PpargΔHep mice. Then, half of the HF-fed mice in each group were switched to a HF diet supplemented with the TZD Rosiglitazone maleate, for 5 weeks. HF diet induced mild obesity (36.8 +/- 1.4 g of body weight [BW]), while TZD slightly increased BW (41.3 +/- 1.3 g) and insulin sensitivity. Liver weight was not altered in HF-fed mice with or without TZD, and we did not observe any effect induced by PpargΔHep. Due to the mild phenotype observed in this cohort, we generated a 2nd cohort adjusting for age and length of diet. Briefly, 10 wk-old Pparg-floxed mice were fed a LF or HF diet for 16 weeks before generating control and PpargΔHep mice. Then, half of the HF-fed mice in each group were switched to a HF diet supplemented with Rosiglitazone maleate for 7 weeks. In this group of mice, HF diet induced obesity (50.1 +/- 1.05 g BW), and increased liver weight independent of hepatic Pparg expression. TZD treatment exacerbated obesity (62.4 +/- 1.2g BW) and adiposity, but increased insulin sensitivity as compared to mice fed a HF diet without TZD. Interestingly, PpargΔHep mice fed a HF diet with TZD showed enlarged subcutaneous white and brown adipose tissue weight, and a dramatic reduction in liver weight and steatosis as compared to obese control mice treated with TZD. The expression of hepatic Cd36, Cidea, Cidec, and Fabp4 was increased by TZD in a Pparg-dependent manner in HF-fed mice. Altogether, this data suggest that hepatocyte Pparg expression may offset the antisteatogenic actions of TZD in mice with severe obesity. In obese and insulin resistant individuals, TZD-mediated activation of hepatocyte Pparg may exacerbate steatosis.