Fructose and follistatin potentiate acute MASLD during complete hepatic insulin resistance

Abstract

MASLD (metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (steatohepatitis) are closely associated with hepatic IR (insulin resistance) and T2D. Regardless, insulin-stimulated hepatic lipogenesis is considered essential for MASLD development, as mouse models of complete hepatic IR become diabetic without MASLD when fed high-fat diets. Challenging this notion, we found that male LDKO mice lacking hepatic insulin receptor substrates acutely developed MASLD if fed a fructose-enriched “MASH diet” (GAN) or high-fructose diet. Fructose potentiated hepatic re-esterification of abundant circulating fatty acids in LDKO mice, evidenced by excess 13C incorporation into the glycerol backbone—but not fatty acid chains—of hepatic triacylglyceride after gavage with [U13C]fructose. Suppressing adipose lipolysis in LDKO mice by inactivating hepatic Fst (Follistatin) prevented acute MASLD, whereas over-expressing Fst in wild-type mouse liver accelerated GAN-promoted MASLD/MASH. Compatibly, higher serum FST levels among Tübingen Diabetes Family Study participants clustered with increased adipose IR and greater hepatic triacylglyceride accumulation.