Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α/γ and Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonist Attenuated Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Exosome-Related Abnormalities in Mice

This study explored the mechanisms and effects of 1 month of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α/γ agonist aleglitazar (10 mg/kg per day) or cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB₂R) agonist JWH015 (3 mg/kg per day), alone or combined, on visceral adipose tissue (VAT)–derived extracellular vesicle (EV) release and associated systemic/VAT inflammation, decreased VAT capillary density/fibrosis, and intestinal inflammation/hyperpermeability in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mice. High EV release from VAT of NASH mice was associated with severe systemic/VAT/intestinal inflammation, reduced capillary network of VAT, and intestinal hyperpermeability. Combined JWH015 with aleglitazar treatment suppressed high-fat diet–induced obesity/adiposity, inhibited VAT expansion, reduced VAT inflammation/fibrosis, normalized VAT capillary network, and attenuated intestinal mucosal injury, inflammation, and hyperpermeability in NASH + aleglitazar + JWH015 mice. The inhibition of adipose tissue (AT)–derived EV release and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)1α levels in AT-derived EV, normalization of CB₂R, PPARα, PPARγ, PPARγ1, PPARγ2, tight junction proteins, vascular endothelial growth factor/CD31 expression, and down-regulation of HIF1α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and transforming growth factor-β1 were observed in the VAT and intestine of the NASH + aleglitazar + jwh015 group. In vitro experiments revealed that PPARα/γ and CB₂R activation attenuated NASH AT-derived EV–induced pathogenic changes in the J774/SVEC4-10/Caco2/3T3-L1 cell system. This study suggested that VAT-derived EVs contribute to the pathogenesis of NASH and that combined PPARα/γ and CB₂R agonist treatment ameliorated the abovementioned abnormalities of NASH mice.