The top 10 ions that were significantly altered in MCD diet–treated mice selected by contribution analysis are listed in Table 1. Of these, the top three decreased ions were 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

(palmitoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine [LPC]; 16:0-LPC), 1-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (stearoyl-LPC; 18:0-LPC), and 1-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (oleoyl-LPC; 18:1-LPC) (d1, d2, and d3 in Fig. 1B, respectively). Serum 16:0-, 18:0-, and 18:1-LPC levels in MCD diet–treated mice were significantly decreased to approximately 40%, 30%, and 15%, respectively, of such levels in MCS diet–treated mice (Fig. 1C). Furthermore, the top three increased ions were tauro-β-muricholate, tauocholate, and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) (i1, i2, and i3 in Fig. 1B, respectively, and Fig. 1C). Similar results were obtained using AZD6244 price the UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS find more positive mode data (data not shown). To rule out the possibility that such

metabolite changes are simply the result of advancement of NASH, the same analysis was performed using mice with 2-week MCD and MCS diet treatment. PCA showed clear separation between the two groups (Fig. 2A). The top 10 ions that changed in the MCD diet–treated mice are listed in Supporting Table 2. Interestingly, the top three increased and decreased ions were completely identical to those in the 8-week MCD diet treatment: decreased ions were 16:0-LPC, 18:0-LPC, and 18:1-LPC (d1, d2, and d3 in Fig. 2B, respectively, and Fig. 2C),

and increased ions were tauro-β-muricholate, tauocholate, and 12-HETE (i1, i2, and i3 in Fig. 2B, respectively, and Fig. 2C). These results indicate that MCD diet treatment significantly decreases serum LPC levels and increases serum levels of bile acids and 12-HETE. To determine the mechanism of the changes in metabolites, hepatic mRNA levels of the genes associated with LPC metabolism were examined in mice treated with the MCD diet for 8 weeks. LPC is catabolized by lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (Lpcat) 1-4, lysophospholipase A1 (Lypla1), and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (Enpp2). Of these, the mRNAs encoding Lpcat1-4, key enzymes that convert LPC into phosphatidylcholine (PC; i.e., Lands’ cycle), were significantly increased in MCD MCE diet–treated mice (Fig. 3A). The mRNA levels of Lypla1, Enpp2, and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (Lcat), an enzyme that converts PC into LPC, did not differ between the groups. These results suggest that decreased serum LPC is associated with hepatic up-regulation of Lpcat1-4. Next, hepatic mRNA levels of the genes related to bile acid metabolism were measured. The mRNAs encoding cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and 8β-hydroxylase (Cyp8b1) were unchanged, and those encoding sterol 27-hydroxylase (Cyp27a1) were decreased by MCD diet treatment (Fig. 3B).