Background and Aims

Human TM6SF2 variant rs58542926 is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). However, conflicting reports in germline Tm6sf2 knockout mice suggest no change or decreased VLDL secretion and either unchanged or increased hepatic steatosis, with no increased fibrosis. We generated liver specific Tm6Sf2 knockout mice (Tm6 LKO) to study VLDL secretion and the impact on development and progression of NAFLD.
Approach and Results

Two independent lines of Tm6 LKO mice exhibited spontaneous hepatic steatosis. Targeted lipidomic analyses showed increased triglyceride (TG) species whose distribution and abundance phenocopied findings in mice with liver specific deletion of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. VLDL TG secretion was reduced, with small, underlipidated particles and unchanged or increased APOB. Liver‐specific adeno‐associated viral (AAV8‐TBG) rescue using either wild type (WT) or mutant E167K‐Tm6 reduced hepatic steatosis and improved VLDL secretion. Tm6 LKO mice fed a high milk‐fat diet for 3 weeks exhibited increased steatosis and fibrosis and those phenotypes were further exacerbated when mice were fed fibrogenic, high fat/fructose diets for 20 weeks. In two models of HCC, either neonatal mice injected with streptozotocin (NASH/STAM) and high fat fed or with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) injection plus fibrogenic diet feeding, Tm6 LKO mice exhibited increased steatosis, greater tumor burden and increased tumor area versus Tm6 flox controls. Additionally, DEN‐injected and fibrogenic diet fed Tm6 LKO mice administered WT Tm6 or E167K‐mutant Tm6 AAV8 revealed significant tumor attenuation, with tumor burden inversely correlated with Tm6 protein levels.

Conclusions: Liver‐specific Tm6sf2 deletion impairs VLDL secretion, promoting hepatic steatosis, fibrosis and accelerated development of HCC, which was mitigated with AAV8‐ mediated rescue.