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Medium-chain fatty acids suppress lipotoxicity-induced hepatic fibrosis via the immunomodulating receptor GPR84

  • Ryuji Ohue-Kitano
  • , Hazuki Nonaka
  • , Akari Nishida
  • , Yuki Masujima
  • , Daisuke Takahashi
  • , Takako Ikeda
  • , Akiharu Uwamizu
  • , Miyako Tanaka
  • , Motoyuki Kohjima
  • , Miki Igarashi
  • , Hironori Katoh
  • , Tomohiro Tanaka
  • , Asuka Inoue
  • , Takayoshi Suganami
  • , Koji Hase
  • , Yoshihiro Ogawa
  • , Junken Aoki
  • , Ikuo Kimura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which consist of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), are unique forms of dietary fat with various health benefits. G protein–coupled 84 (GPR84) acts as a receptor for MCFAs (especially C10:0 and C12:0); however, GPR84 is still considered an orphan receptor, and the nutritional signaling of endogenous and dietary MCFAs via GPR84 remains unclear. Here, we showed that endogenous MCFA-mediated GPR84 signaling protected hepatic functions from diet-induced lipotoxicity. Under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions, GPR84-deficient mice exhibited nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the progression of hepatic fibrosis but not steatosis. With markedly increased hepatic MCFA levels under HFD, GPR84 suppressed lipotoxicity-induced macrophage overactivation. Thus, GPR84 is an immunomodulating receptor that suppresses excessive dietary fat intake–induced toxicity by sensing increases in MCFAs. Additionally, administering MCTs, MCFAs (C10:0 or C12:0, but not C8:0), or GPR84 agonists effectively improved NASH in mouse models. Therefore, exogenous GPR84 stimulation is a potential strategy for treating NASH.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere165469
JournalJCI Insight
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Jan 24

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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