Tissue-specific pathways and networks underlying sexual dimorphism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 06 Biological Sciences 0604 Genetics

Zeyneb Kurt, Rio Barrere-Cain, Jonnby Laguardia, Margarete Mehrabian, Calvin Pan, Simon T. Hui, Frode Norheim, Zhiqiang Zhou, Yehudit Hasin, Aldons J. Lusis*, Xia Yang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses benign steatosis and more severe conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. This chronic liver disease has a poorly understood etiology and demonstrates sexual dimorphisms. We aim to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphisms in NAFLD pathogenesis through a comprehensive multi-omics study. We integrated genomics (DNA variations), transcriptomics of liver and adipose tissue, and phenotypic data of NAFLD derived from female mice of ~ 100 strains included in the hybrid mouse diversity panel (HMDP) and compared the NAFLD molecular pathways and gene networks between sexes. Results: We identified both shared and sex-specific biological processes for NAFLD. Adaptive immunity, branched chain amino acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and cell cycle/apoptosis were shared between sexes. Among the sex-specific pathways were vitamins and cofactors metabolism and ion channel transport for females, and phospholipid, lysophospholipid, and phosphatidylinositol metabolism and insulin signaling for males. Additionally, numerous lipid and insulin-related pathways and inflammatory processes in the adipose and liver tissue appeared to show more prominent association with NAFLD in male HMDP. Using data-driven network modeling, we identified plausible sex-specific and tissue-specific regulatory genes as well as those that are shared between sexes. These key regulators orchestrate the NAFLD pathways in a sex- and tissue-specific manner. Gonadectomy experiments support that sex hormones may partially underlie the sexually dimorphic genes and pathways involved in NAFLD. Conclusions: Our multi-omics integrative study reveals sex- and tissue-specific genes, processes, and networks underlying sexual dimorphism in NAFLD and may facilitate sex-specific precision medicine.

Original languageEnglish
Article number46
JournalBiology of Sex Differences
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Oct 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bayesian networks
  • Coexpression networks
  • Hybrid mouse diversity panel
  • Key regulator genes
  • Multi-omics integration
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
  • Sexual dimorphism

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