Multi-Omics Integration Uncovers That Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Is Linked to Hepatic Metabolic Reprogramming Independent of Viral Infection
Background and Aims: TDF is a first-line antiviral for CHB with pleiotropic effects including immunomodulation and fibrosis regression, but its virus-independent mechanisms are unclear. This study delineates TDF’s direct molecular and metabolic landscape in vivo using multi-omics. Methods: Wild-type mice received TDF or vehicle for 4 months. Liver tissues underwent RNA-seq and targeted metabolomics, followed by integrative systems biology. Results: TDF caused no hepatotoxicity but induced transcriptomic reprogramming: broad upregulation of immune/inflammatory pathways and suppression of metabolic pathways. Metabolomics confirmed perturbations in amino acid and fatty acid homeostasis. Multi-omics revealed coordinated downregulation of arginine/proline, alanine/aspartate/glutamate, and phenylalanine metabolism, restricting fibrogenic amino acids. TDF also suppressed the TCA cycle (downregulating Idh, Sdh, and Mdh), suggesting a metabolic bottleneck that was associated with paradoxically accumulated succinate and oxoglutarate—immunomodulatory danger signals. Conclusions: This first integrated atlas shows TDF actively remodels the hepatic microenvironment independent of viral infection, bridging metabolic suppression with immune activation. These findings provide an immunometabolic framework that offers new perspectives for understanding the clinical application of TDF and identifies potential biomarkers for CHB therapy. explaining TDF’s clinical superiority and identifying potential biomarkers for CHB therapy.
Authors
- Yunling Xue
- P Hu
- Yuanqin Duan
- Teng Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-9502)
- Zhiwei Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0478-4880)
- Mingli Peng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9764-3445)
- Jing Tang
Institutions
- Dalian Medical University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CN)
- Chongqing Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Life
- Published
- 2026-06-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/life16061017
- Primary Topic
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00