Pharmacological inhibition of Lin28 promotes ketogenesis and restores lipid homeostasis in models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Evangelia Lekka, Aleksandra Kokanovic, Simone Mosole, Gianluca Civenni, Sandro Schmidli, Artur Laski, Alice Ghidini, Pavithra Iyer, Christian Berk, Alok Behera, Carlo V. Catapano () and Jonathan Hall ()
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Evangelia Lekka: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Aleksandra Kokanovic: Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI)
Simone Mosole: Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI)
Gianluca Civenni: Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI)
Sandro Schmidli: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Artur Laski: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Alice Ghidini: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Pavithra Iyer: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Christian Berk: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Alok Behera: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich
Carlo V. Catapano: Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI)
Jonathan Hall: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Lin28 RNA-binding proteins are stem-cell factors that play key roles in development. Lin28 suppresses the biogenesis of let-7 microRNAs and regulates mRNA translation. Notably, let-7 inhibits Lin28, establishing a double-negative feedback loop. The Lin28/let-7 axis resides at the interface of metabolic reprogramming and oncogenesis and is therefore a potential target for several diseases. In this study, we use compound-C1632, a drug-like Lin28 inhibitor, and show that the Lin28/let-7 axis regulates the balance between ketogenesis and lipogenesis in liver cells. Hence, Lin28 inhibition activates synthesis and secretion of ketone bodies whilst suppressing lipogenesis. This occurs at least partly via let-7-mediated inhibition of nuclear receptor co-repressor 1, which releases ketogenesis gene expression mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha. In this way, small-molecule Lin28 inhibition protects against lipid accumulation in multiple cellular and male mouse models of hepatic steatosis. Overall, this study highlights Lin28 inhibitors as candidates for the treatment of hepatic disorders of abnormal lipid deposition.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35481-1

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