AUTHOR=Pellegrina Diogo , Prayitno Khairunnadiya , Azhie Amirhossein , Pasini Elisa , Baciu Cristina , Fischer Sandra , Reimand Jüri , Bhat Mamatha TITLE=Transcriptomic changes in liver transplant recipients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis indicate dysregulation of wound healing JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1111614 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1111614 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=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.