Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent liver disease associated with obesity and its complications. Recent studies have underscored a significant correlation between NASH and an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the precise mechanisms of inter-orga...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qiuhe Chen, Lifeng Ye, Liting Huang, Hongjing You, Xiaoying Yu, Ke Wang, Shengtao Xiong, Weiyan Liao, Xiao Wang, Haiyan Li, Yang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94917-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850208706063499264
author Qiuhe Chen
Lifeng Ye
Liting Huang
Hongjing You
Xiaoying Yu
Ke Wang
Shengtao Xiong
Weiyan Liao
Xiao Wang
Haiyan Li
Yang Chen
author_facet Qiuhe Chen
Lifeng Ye
Liting Huang
Hongjing You
Xiaoying Yu
Ke Wang
Shengtao Xiong
Weiyan Liao
Xiao Wang
Haiyan Li
Yang Chen
author_sort Qiuhe Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent liver disease associated with obesity and its complications. Recent studies have underscored a significant correlation between NASH and an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the precise mechanisms of inter-organ communication between the liver and vascular endothelium are not fully understood. In this study, we established a NASH mouse model using a methionine-choline-deficient diet to investigate the role of liver-derived exosomes in modulating vascular endothelial dysfunction during NASH progression. Utilizing both in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches, we observed vascular dysfunction and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in NASH mice. Further analyses identified exosomal novel-miRNA-126 as a critical mediator influencing vascular endothelial dysfunction. This miRNA augments NLRP3 transcription and accelerates NLRP3 inflammasome activation by targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). These findings offer novel insights into the mechanisms of liver-to-vascular communication and suggest new avenues for the prevention and therapeutic intervention of cardiovascular complications in NASH patients.
format Article
id doaj-art-959fd7fa9a9b4cf7a8050168ceb3f58f
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-959fd7fa9a9b4cf7a8050168ceb3f58f2025-08-20T02:10:10ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-94917-yExosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitisQiuhe Chen0Lifeng Ye1Liting Huang2Hongjing You3Xiaoying Yu4Ke Wang5Shengtao Xiong6Weiyan Liao7Xiao Wang8Haiyan Li9Yang Chen10State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineChinese Medicine Guangdong LaboratoryAbstract Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent liver disease associated with obesity and its complications. Recent studies have underscored a significant correlation between NASH and an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the precise mechanisms of inter-organ communication between the liver and vascular endothelium are not fully understood. In this study, we established a NASH mouse model using a methionine-choline-deficient diet to investigate the role of liver-derived exosomes in modulating vascular endothelial dysfunction during NASH progression. Utilizing both in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches, we observed vascular dysfunction and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in NASH mice. Further analyses identified exosomal novel-miRNA-126 as a critical mediator influencing vascular endothelial dysfunction. This miRNA augments NLRP3 transcription and accelerates NLRP3 inflammasome activation by targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). These findings offer novel insights into the mechanisms of liver-to-vascular communication and suggest new avenues for the prevention and therapeutic intervention of cardiovascular complications in NASH patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94917-yNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)ExosomeNLRP3Endothelial dysfunction
spellingShingle Qiuhe Chen
Lifeng Ye
Liting Huang
Hongjing You
Xiaoying Yu
Ke Wang
Shengtao Xiong
Weiyan Liao
Xiao Wang
Haiyan Li
Yang Chen
Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Scientific Reports
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Exosome
NLRP3
Endothelial dysfunction
title Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
title_full Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
title_fullStr Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
title_full_unstemmed Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
title_short Exosomal novel-miRNA-126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting AhR-NLRP3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
title_sort exosomal novel mirna 126 mediates vascular endothelial dysfunction by targeting ahr nlrp3 pathway in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
topic Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Exosome
NLRP3
Endothelial dysfunction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94917-y
work_keys_str_mv AT qiuhechen exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT lifengye exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT litinghuang exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT hongjingyou exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT xiaoyingyu exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT kewang exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT shengtaoxiong exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT weiyanliao exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT xiaowang exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT haiyanli exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis
AT yangchen exosomalnovelmirna126mediatesvascularendothelialdysfunctionbytargetingahrnlrp3pathwayinnonalcoholicsteatohepatitis