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Tripartite motif containing 26 prevents steatohepatitis progression by suppressing C/EBPδ signalling activation
Minxuan Xu1,2, Jun Tan3, Xin Liu4
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, 400067, Chongqing, P. R. China. minxuanxu@foxmail.com.
Abstract:
Currently potential preclinical drugs for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NASH-related pathopoiesis have failed to achieve expected therapeutic efficacy due to the complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms. Here we show Tripartite motif containing 26 (TRIM26) as a critical endogenous suppressor of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ), and we also confirm that TRIM26 is an C/EBPδ-interacting partner protein that catalyses the ubiquitination degradation of C/EBPδ in hepatocytes. Hepatocyte-specific loss of Trim26 disrupts liver metabolic homeostasis, followed by glucose metabolic disorder, lipid accumulation, increased hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis, and dramatically facilitates NASH-related phenotype progression. Inversely, transgenic Trim26 overexpression attenuates the NASH-associated phenotype in a rodent or rabbit model. We provide mechanistic evidence that, in response to metabolic insults, TRIM26 directly interacts with C/EBPδ and promotes its ubiquitin proteasome degradation. Taken together, our present findings identify TRIM26 as a key suppressor over the course of NASH development.
Insights
Tripartite motif containing 26 (TRIM26) suppresses nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by degrading CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ). TRIM26 protects against NASH progression, offering a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis is complex, hindering therapeutic development.
- Existing preclinical drugs for NASH often fail due to intricate disease mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key regulators of NASH pathogenesis.
- To investigate the role of Tripartite motif containing 26 (TRIM26) in liver metabolic homeostasis and NASH progression.
Main Methods:
- Investigated TRIM26 as a suppressor of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ).
- Confirmed TRIM26 interaction with C/EBPδ and its role in ubiquitin-proteasome degradation.
- Utilized hepatocyte-specific Trim26 loss and overexpression models in rodent and rabbit NASH models.
Main Results:
- TRIM26 directly interacts with C/EBPδ, catalyzing its ubiquitination and degradation in hepatocytes.
- Loss of hepatocyte TRIM26 leads to metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, fibrosis, and accelerated NASH.
- Overexpression of TRIM26 ameliorates NASH phenotypes in animal models.
Conclusions:
- TRIM26 is a critical endogenous suppressor of C/EBPδ and NASH development.
- TRIM26 regulates liver metabolic homeostasis and mitigates NASH progression.
- TRIM26 represents a potential therapeutic target for NASH treatment.
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