Transcriptional profile of genes involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in a dietary murine model of steatohepatitis.

Oxidative stress is a core abnormality responsible for disease progression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the relevant pathways that contribute to oxidative damage in vivo remain poorly understood. Here we explore the gene-expression patterns related to oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, and reactive oxygen metabolism in an established dietary murine model of NASH. C57BL/6 mice were placed on either a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) or a control (CTL) diet for 6 weeks. Hepatic oxidative damage and the development of NASH were monitored by biochemical and histologic indices. Analysis of 84 oxidative stress-related genes was performed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the livers of the two groups of mice. Mice on the MCD diet showed increased ALT, histologic features of NASH, and oxidative liver damage with increases in 4-hydroxynonenal and 3-nitrotyrosine. Of the genes analyzed, the GPx family were most significantly upregulated, whereas SCD1 was most significantly downregulated. Other genes that were significantly upregulated included Fmo2 and peroxiredoxins, whereas genes downregulated included Catalase and Serpinb1b. Our data demonstrate that oxidative stress-related genes are differentially expressed in the livers of mice with diet-induced NASH. These findings have important implications for NASH pathogenesis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for patients with this condition.