Adipose stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells from obese patients reveal hepatic steatosis and mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction

Background & Aims: Obesity is the most important risk factor and a potential treatment target for fatty liver disease (FLD). The continuous adaptation or 'remodelling' of hepatic mitochondrial flexibility plays a key role in the pathogenesis of FLD. Human adipose stem cell (hASC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) offer attractive tools for the research and therapy of liver dysfunction. However, evidence showing the 'remodelling' of hepatic mitochondrial flexibility or differentiation capability of hASCs in obese patients is lacking. Methods: The differentiation capability and mitochondrial structure and function of hepatic cells were evaluated by measuring gene expression, de novo lipogenesis and mitochondrial respiration in HLCs derived from hASCs of obese patients and lean controls. The ability of the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR-99021 to modify the mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction was evaluated in the HLCs derived from the hASCs of obese patients. Results: hASCs from obese patients showed the potential to differentiate into HLCs. HLCs from the hASCs of obese patients exhibited the characteristics of hepatic steatosis, lower expression of the subunits of mitochondrial complex I and lower oxidative phosphorylation levels. CHIR-99021 promoted the expression of NDUFB8, NDUFB9, the subunits of mitochondrial complex I, and the basal oxygen consumption rate of the HLCs derived from the hASCs of obese patients by upregulating the expression of PGC-1a, the transcription factor involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and 'remodelling'. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that obese patient ASC-derived HLCs had mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction, which may represent the consequence of hepatic steatosis. Overall design: Examination of adipose stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells from 3 different donors per group.