Far-infrared Radiation Alleviates Steatohepatitis and Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2024 Aug 20

PMID 39164313

Authors

Tianyi Xu

Haijing Fu

Wumei Zhao

Shijun Shan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a disease that causes an abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver, triggering inflammation and fibrosis, the mechanism of which is not fully understood and for which there is a lack of specific drug therapy. Far-infrared radiation (FIR) has demonstrated evident therapeutic efficacy across various diseases, and novel nanomaterial graphene patches can emit it through electric heating. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of FIR against MAFLD. Mice were fed with a MCD diet to mimic MAFLD progression, and histopathology analysis, biochemical analysis, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting analysis were performed to assess the effect of FIR on MAFLD in vivo. The effect of FIR treatment on MAFLD in vitro was investigated by biochemical analysis and gene expression profiling of hepatocytes. Mice subjected to the MCD diet and treated with FIR exhibited reduced hepatic lipid deposition, inflammation, fibrosis and liver damage. The therapeutic effect exerted by FIR in mice may be caused by the enhancement of AMPK phosphorylation and inhibition of the TGFβ1-SMAD2/3 pathway. Besides, FIR intervention alleviated MAFLD in hepatocytes in vitro and the results were verified by gene expression profiling. Our results revealed a promising potential of FIR as a novel therapeutic approach for MAFLD.

References

Walter E, Hanna-Jumma S, Carraretto M, Forni L . The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever. Crit Care. 2016; 20(1):200. PMC: 4944485. DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1375-5. View

Younossi Z, Koenig A, Abdelatif D, Fazel Y, Henry L, Wymer M . Global epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-Meta-analytic assessment of prevalence, incidence, and outcomes. Hepatology. 2015; 64(1):73-84. DOI: 10.1002/hep.28431. View

Plaghki L, Decruynaere C, Van Dooren P, Le Bars D . The fine tuning of pain thresholds: a sophisticated double alarm system. PLoS One. 2010; 5(4):e10269. PMC: 2859063. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010269. View

Vachliotis I, Vasiloglou M, Kapama A, Matsagkos D, Goulas A, Papaioannidou P . Association between hepatic steatosis and fibrosis indices and dietary habits, physical activity, and quality of life. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2022; 23(4):277-287. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2022.05.006. View

Kihara T, Miyata M, Fukudome T, Ikeda Y, Shinsato T, Kubozono T . Waon therapy improves the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure. J Cardiol. 2009; 53(2):214-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2008.11.005. View

Xiao J, Ho C, Liong E, Nanji A, Leung T, Lau T . Epigallocatechin gallate attenuates fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease rat model through TGF/SMAD, PI3 K/Akt/FoxO1, and NF-kappa B pathways. Eur J Nutr. 2013; 53(1):187-99. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-013-0516-8. View

Lonardo A, Nascimbeni F, Mantovani A, Targher G . Hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis and NASH: Cause or consequence?. J Hepatol. 2017; 68(2):335-352. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.09.021. View

Younossi Z, Blissett D, Blissett R, Henry L, Stepanova M, Younossi Y . The economic and clinical burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States and Europe. Hepatology. 2016; 64(5):1577-1586. DOI: 10.1002/hep.28785. View

Hernandez-Espinosa D, Mota R, Minano A, Ordonez A, Yelamos J, Vicente V . In vivo effects of hyperthermia on the functional and conformational characteristics of antithrombin. J Thromb Haemost. 2007; 5(5):963-70. DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.02479.x. View

10.

. EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetologia. 2016; 59(6):1121-40. DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3902-y. View

11.

Paik J, Golabi P, Younossi Y, Mishra A, Younossi Z . Changes in the Global Burden of Chronic Liver Diseases From 2012 to 2017: The Growing Impact of NAFLD. Hepatology. 2020; 72(5):1605-1616. DOI: 10.1002/hep.31173. View

12.

Bessone F, Razori M, Roma M . Molecular pathways of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease development and progression. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2018; 76(1):99-128. PMC: 11105781. DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2947-0. View

13.

Cai J, Zhang X, Li H . Progress and challenges in the prevention and control of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Med Res Rev. 2018; 39(1):328-348. DOI: 10.1002/med.21515. View

14.

Vatansever F, Hamblin M . Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications. Photonics Lasers Med. 2013; 4:255-266. PMC: 3699878. DOI: 10.1515/plm-2012-0034. View

15.

Inzaugarat M, De Matteo E, Baz P, Lucero D, Garcia C, Gonzalez Ballerga E . New evidence for the therapeutic potential of curcumin to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans. PLoS One. 2017; 12(3):e0172900. PMC: 5336246. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172900. View

16.

Tei C, Shinsato T, Miyata M, Kihara T, Hamasaki S . Waon therapy improves peripheral arterial disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007; 50(22):2169-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.08.025. View

17.

Younes R, Bugianesi E . Should we undertake surveillance for HCC in patients with NAFLD?. J Hepatol. 2017; 68(2):326-334. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.10.006. View

18.

Araujo A, Enea M, Carvalho F, Bastos M, Carvalho M, Guedes de Pinho P . Hepatic Metabolic Derangements Triggered by Hyperthermia: An In Vitro Metabolomic Study. Metabolites. 2019; 9(10). PMC: 6835778. DOI: 10.3390/metabo9100228. View

19.

Lee M, Baletto F, Kanhere D, Scandolo S . Far-infrared absorption of water clusters by first-principles molecular dynamics. J Chem Phys. 2008; 128(21):214506. DOI: 10.1063/1.2933248. View

20.

Lin C, Chang C, Lai M, Chen T, Lee P, Yang W . Far-infrared therapy: a novel treatment to improve access blood flow and unassisted patency of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007; 18(3):985-92. DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2006050534. View