Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2020.
World J Hepatol. Aug 27, 2020; 12(8): 423-435
Published online Aug 27, 2020. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v12.i8.423
Table 2 Preclinical research cholestatic liver diseases
Area of concernFindingsApproachRef.
Mitochondrial damage by GCDCAMitofusin 2 protects hepatocyte mitochondrial functionIn vitro (LO2 cell lines)[59]
Immunomodulation in primary biliary cholangitis with CTLA-4-Ig (immunoglobulin) as an immunotherapeutic agentSignaling by CTLA-4 can modulate costimulation and induce inhibitory signalsIn vivo (murine models)[60]
Immunomodulation in primary biliary cholangitis with anti-CD40LReduced liver inflammation significantly initial lowering of anti-mitochondrial antibodies was observed but non-sustained.In vivo (murine models)[61]
Action of nuclear bile acid receptor FXR in cholestasisHepatoprotection from cholestasis by inducing FGF-15In vivo (murine model)[9]
Immunomodulation Anti-CCR5/CCR2 in combination with all-trans-retinoic acidSignificant reduction in plasma liver enzymes, bilirubin, liver fibrosis, bile duct proliferation and hepatic infiltration of neutrophils and T cells and expression of cytokinesIn vivo (murine model)[62]
Curcumin acts through FXR signalingProtection against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ANIT-induced cholestasisIn vitro and in vivo (murine model)[63]
Modulation of bile duct proliferation, with MelatoninGnRH stimulated fibrosis gene expression in Hepatic stellate cells; melatonin may improve outcomes of cholestasis by suppressing GnRH.In vivo (murine model)[64]
Apamin, an apitoxin (bee venom) derivate prevented tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosisApamin suppressed the deposition of collagen, the proliferation of BECs and expression of fibrogenic genesIn vivo (murine model)[65]
Toxic bile acids induce mitochondrial fragmentation. Preventing fragmentation improved outcomeDecreasing mitochondrial fission substantially diminished ROS levels, liver injury, and fibrosis under cholestatic conditionsIn vivo Knockout mouse models[66]
Epigenetic approach Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) restores prohibitin-1 (PHB1)Genomic reprogramming, with regression of the fibrotic phenotypeIn vivo Knockout mouse models[67]
Anti-γ-glutamyl transpeptidase antibody for osteodystrophy in cholestatic liver diseaseGGT inhibited mineral nodule formation and expression of alkaline phosphatase and bone sialoprotein in osteoblastic cells.In vivo (murine model)[68]
EGFR signaling protects from cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis.STAT3 is a negative regulator of bile acids synthesis and protects from bile acid-induced apoptosis. Additionally, it regulates EGFR expressionIn vivo Knockout mouse models[69]
Necroptosis pathway in primary biliary cholangitisNecroinflammatory pathways regulated by receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), with deleterious progress in cholestatic diseases. RIP3 deficiency blocked bile-duct-ligation-induced (BDL) necroinflammation at 3 and 14 d post-BDLIn vivo Knockout mouse models[70]
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid modulates apoptosis in miceSignificant reduction of liver fibrosis, accompanied by a slight decrease of liver damageIn vivo (murine model)[71]