Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as leading cause of liver disease
worldwide. Specific pharmacologic therapy for NAFLD is a major unmet medical need.
Recently, iso-alpha
acids, hop-derived bitter compounds in beer, have been shown to beneficially affect
NAFLD pathology. Humulinones are further hop derived bitter acids particularly found
in modern styles of
beer. So far, biological effects of humulinones have been unknown. Here, we investigated
the effect of humulinones in in vitro models for hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis.
Humulinones dose-dependently inhibited fatty acid induced lipid accumulation in primary
human hepatocytes. Humulinones reduced the expression of fatty acid uptake transporter
CD36 and key
enzymes of (de novo) lipid synthesis. Conversely, humulinones increased the expression of FABP1, CPT1
and ACOX1, indicative for increased lipid combustion. Furthermore, humulinones
ameliorated steatosis induced pro-inflammatory gene expression. Furthermore, humulinones
significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic factors
in control as
well as lipopolysaccharide treated activated hepatic stellate cells, which play a
key role in hepatic fibrosis. In conclusion, humulinones beneficially affect different
pathophysiological
steps of NAFLD. Our data suggest humulinones as promising therapeutic agents for the
prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
Key words
Cannabaceae -
Humulus lupulus L
- humulinones - nonalcoholic fatty liver disease - steatosis - inflammation - fibrosis