Salsalate attenuates diet induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by decreasing lipogenic and inflammatory processes

Background and Purpose

Salsalate (salicylsalicylic acid) is an anti‐inflammatory drug that was recently found to exert beneficial metabolic effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Although its utility in the prevention and management of a wide range of vascular disorders, including type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome has been suggested before, the potential of salsalate to protect against non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was therefore to ascertain the effects of salsalate on the development of NASH.

Experimental Approach

Transgenic APOE*3Leiden.CETP mice were fed a high‐fat and high‐cholesterol diet with or without salsalate for 12 and 20 weeks. The effects on body weight, plasma biochemical variables, liver histology and hepatic gene expression were assessed.

Key Results

Salsalate prevented weight gain, improved dyslipidemia and insulin resistance and ameliorated diet‐induced NASH, as shown by decreased hepatic microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis, reduced hepatic inflammation and reduced development of fibrosis. Salsalate affected lipid metabolism by increasing β‐oxidation and decreasing lipogenesis, as shown by the activation of PPAR‐α, PPAR‐γ co‐activator 1β, RXR‐α and inhibition of genes controlled by the transcription factor MLXIPL/ChREBP. Inflammation was reduced by down‐regulation of the NF‐κB pathway, and fibrosis development was prevented by down‐regulation of TGF‐β signalling.

Conclusions and Implications

Salsalate exerted a preventive effect on the development of NASH and progression to fibrosis. These data suggest a clinical application of salsalate in preventing NASH.

DOI: 10.1111/bph.13315

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