Zinc accumulation in macrophages exacerbates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression

{"Metabolic":[0],"dysfunction-associated":[1],"steatotic":[2],"liver":[3],"disease":[4,66],"(MASLD)":[5],"affects":[6],"over":[7],"1":[8],"billion":[9],"people":[10],"globally,":[11],"yet":[12],"the":[13,65,74,85,102,107,123,166,173],"role":[14,167],"of":[15,45,50,72,84,168],"trace":[16],"elements":[17],"in":[18,34,89,159,170,186],"its":[19],"progression":[20],"remains":[21],"poorly":[22],"defined.":[23],"Here,":[24],"we":[25,55],"identify":[26],"\\"macrophage":[27],"zinc":[28,32,39,59,80,86,100,169,184],"trapping\\"":[29],"(i.e.,":[30],"selective":[31],"accumulation":[33,185,191],"hepatic":[35,75],"macrophages":[36,76,131,187],"despite":[37],"systemic":[38,176],"depletion)":[40],"as":[41],"a":[42,48,69,206],"critical":[43],"driver":[44],"MASLD.":[46],"In":[47,68,95],"cohort":[49],"1069":[51],"individuals":[52],"with":[53,64,140],"MASLD,":[54,73,171],"found":[56],"that":[57,183],"serum":[58],"levels":[60],"were":[61],"inversely":[62],"correlated":[63],"severity.":[67],"mouse":[70,161],"model":[71],"are":[77],"marked":[78],"by":[79],"accumulation.":[81],"Macrophage-specific":[82],"depletion":[83],"exporter":[87],"Slc30a1":[88],"mice":[90],"recapitulates":[91],"human":[92],"MASLD":[93],"pathology.":[94],"macrophage-specific":[96],"Slc30a1-deficient":[97],"mice,":[98],"trapped":[99],"activates":[101],"Ire1α-Xbp1s":[103],"pathway,":[104],"which":[105],"on":[106,122],"one":[108],"hand":[109,125],"stimulates":[110],"IL-1β":[111,119,147],"secretion":[112],"to":[113,132,178],"alter":[114],"hepatocyte":[115,189],"lipid":[116,128,190],"metabolism":[117],"via":[118],"signaling,":[120],"and":[121,144,157,197,205],"other":[124],"enhances":[126],"direct":[127],"transfer":[129],"from":[130,175],"hepatocytes,":[133],"thereby":[134],"synergistically":[135],"exacerbating":[136],"steatosis.":[137],"Notably,":[138],"treatment":[139],"Ire1α":[141],"inhibitors":[142],"(4μ8C":[143],"STF-083010)":[145],"or":[146],"blockade":[148],"(clinically":[149],"approved":[150],"anti-IL-1β":[151],"antibodies)":[152],"reverse":[153],"established":[154],"steatosis,":[155],"inflammation,":[156],"fibrosis":[158],"preclinical":[160],"models.":[162],"This":[163],"work":[164],"redefines":[165],"shifting":[172],"paradigm":[174],"deficiency":[177],"cell-specific":[179],"sequestration.":[180],"It":[181],"reveals":[182],"exacerbates":[188],"through":[192],"both":[193],"fatty":[194],"acid":[195],"transflux":[196],"inflammation-driven":[198],"metabolic":[199],"reprogramming,":[200],"uncovering":[201],"novel":[202],"therapeutic":[203],"targets":[204],"clinically":[207],"actionable":[208],"biomarker.":[209]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Published
2026-08-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-026-02816-z
Primary Topic
Trace Elements in Health
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Zinc accumulation in macrophages exacerbates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression

Junxia Min, Wanru Zheng, Xinhui Wang, Fudi Wang et al.
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Trace Elements in Health
article

Zinc accumulation in macrophages exacerbates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression

Junxia Min, Wanru Zheng, Xinhui Wang, Fudi Wang, Yingying Yu, Shumin Sun, Xiaotian Wu, Enjun Xie, Wanting Shi, Li‐You Lian, Pinanong Na Phatthalung, Shujie Wang, Wen-Yue Liu, Yi Yang, Ziqin Yao, Zijun Song, Jiahui Zhou
article en

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects over 1 billion people globally, yet the role of trace elements in its progression remains poorly defined. Here, we identify "macrophage zinc trapping" (i.e., selective zinc accumulation in hepatic macrophages despite systemic zinc depletion) as a critical driver of MASLD. In a cohort of 1069 individuals with MASLD, we found that serum zinc levels were inversely correlated with the disease severity. In a mouse model of MASLD, the hepatic macrophages are marked by zinc accumulation. Macrophage-specific depletion of the zinc exporter Slc30a1 in mice recapitulates human MASLD pathology. In macrophage-specific Slc30a1-deficient mice, trapped zinc activates the Ire1α-Xbp1s pathway, which on the one hand stimulates IL-1β secretion to alter hepatocyte lipid metabolism via IL-1β signaling, and on the other hand enhances direct lipid transfer from macrophages to hepatocytes, thereby synergistically exacerbating steatosis. Notably, treatment with Ire1α inhibitors (4μ8C and STF-083010) or IL-1β blockade (clinically approved anti-IL-1β antibodies) reverse established steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in preclinical mouse models. This work redefines the role of zinc in MASLD, shifting the paradigm from systemic deficiency to cell-specific sequestration. It reveals that zinc accumulation in macrophages exacerbates hepatocyte lipid accumulation through both fatty acid transflux and inflammation-driven metabolic reprogramming, uncovering novel therapeutic targets and a clinically actionable biomarker.

Signal Transduction and Targeted TherapyVol. 11(1)
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (CN), Jilin University (CN), Wenzhou Medical University (CN), First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (CN), Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (CN), First Hospital of Jilin University (CN), Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (CN), Zhejiang University (CN)
Wenzhou Medical University, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Zhejiang University
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Trace Elements in Health
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.