Healthy mitochondria attenuate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by restoring cell metabolism

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has become a major global health issue. Mitochondrial damage plays a crucial role in the development and progression of MASH. Therefore, it is speculated that mitochondrial transplantation therapy, which could replace dysfunctional mitochondria with normal ones, might potentially restore the liver cell metabolism of MASH. In palmitate-damaged AML-12 hepatocytes, exogenous mitochondria could eliminate lipid deposits and recover cell viability. However, in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the exogenous mitochondria showed the capability to inhibit the generation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I. Moreover, the mechanism by which the exogenous mitochondria initiated the mitochondria-nucleus signaling pathway of liver cells was studied. The results showed the mitochondria could prevent metabolism disorders in the liver cells by regulating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) activity. Subsequently, a MASH animal model was established by the administration of a high-fat diet and the intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride to Kunming mice. The results indicated that the mitochondrial therapy significantly inhibited the livery injury and restored liver cell function in the experimental MASH mice (p < 0.01). The mitochondrial therapy would be a promising strategy to improve MASH pathological features, which could be developed as a new treatment option against MASH.