Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease alters brain function and behavior: Insights from liver-targeted siRNA therapy.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a liver-centric condition, is associated with cognitive impairment and sensorimotor alterations. However, it remains unclear whether MASLD is sufficient to drive central nervous system deficits. Here, using diet-induced mouse models, we showed that MASLD was associated with alterations in social memory, sensorimotor processing, and hippocampal function, including decreased parvalbumin-positive interneurons, reduced dendritic spine density, and diminished dentate gyrus neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation. Then, we selectively modulated liver metabolism through N-acetylgalactosamine small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy against Cyclin M4 (CNNM4), a magnesium transporter dysregulated in MASLD. Liver-specific intervention with siRNA-Cnnm4 reversed impaired social memory and sensorimotor processing in association with recovery of hippocampal synaptogenesis and mitochondrial function pathways, alongside activation of neurogenesis-associated transcriptional programs. Our findings demonstrate that liver pathology is sufficient to drive neurobehavioral and hippocampal dysfunction in MASLD. Hepatic-specific intervention restores brain function, strongly supporting the existence of a causal and therapeutically targetable liver-brain axis for MASLD-associated neurological complications.
Mental Health
Care/Management

Authors

Cardoso Delgado Cardoso Delgado, Martín-Cuevas Martín-Cuevas, Sánchez Hidalgo Sánchez Hidalgo, Gil Gómez Gil Gómez, Rejano Gordillo Rejano Gordillo, Landa Landa, Gallego Durán Gallego Durán, Goikoetxea-Usandizaga Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, González-Recio González-Recio, Gil-Pitarch Gil-Pitarch, Zapata-Pavas Zapata-Pavas, Barrenechea-Barrenechea Barrenechea-Barrenechea, Conter Conter, Martínez-Cruz Martínez-Cruz, Ramos Herrero Ramos Herrero, Nogueiras Nogueiras, Azkargorta Azkargorta, Elortza Elortza, Moncho-Amor Moncho-Amor, Crespo Crespo, Matheu Matheu, Romero Gómez Romero Gómez, Crespo-Facorro Crespo-Facorro, Martínez-Chantar Martínez-Chantar
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