Resolvin D1–mediated cellular crosstalk protects against MASH [scRNA-seq]

Recent studies have highlighted the beneficial effect of resolvin D1 (RvD1), a DHA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediator, on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Our study aims to determine the mechanism by which RvD1 protects against MASH progression. RvD1 was administrated to MASH mice, followed by bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Primary cells including bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), Kupffer cells, T cells, and primary hepatocytes were isolated to study the effect of RvD1 on inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis regression genes. RvD1 administration improved MASH features including reducing inflammation, cell death, and liver fibrosis. Mechanistically, RvD1 reduced inflammation by suppressing the stat1-cxcl10 signaling pathway in macrophages and prevented cell death by alleviating ER stress-mediated apoptosis in hepatocytes. Moreover, RvD1 induced Mmp2 and decreased Acta2 expression in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and promoted Mmp9 and Mmp12 expression in macrophages, leading to fibrosis regression in MASH. RvD1 reduced stat1-mediated pro-inflammatory response, mitigated ER stress-induced apoptosis, and promotes MMP-mediated fibrosis regression in MASH. Thus, our study highlights the therapeutic potential of RvD1 for MASH.