2.3.2. CEACAM1 role in metabolic balance and NAFLD/NASH
Here, we focus on the role of CEACAM1 in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including NAFLD, NASH and liver fibrosis on the molecular aspect.
First, this protein is known to have a key role in hepatocyte differentiation, especially in early life where CEACAM1 is more expressed in hepatocytes. A major role in hepatic regeneration has also been noticed in rat livers after partial hepatectomy where CEACAM1 expression was analyzed through indirect fluorescence [
74]. On the genetic aspect, CEACAM1 expression is essentially upregulated by the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and CEACAM1’s promoter studies in rats have shown to have binding sites for factors including hepatonuclear factor 5 (HNF5), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), hepatonuclear factor 1 (HNF1), glucocorticoids, cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and activator protein 1 and 2 (AP-1 and AP-2) [
75]. CEACAM1 acts as a tumor suppressor, in tissue organization and in hepatocyte differentiation. These different functions have been known for a long time but CEACAM1’s role in metabolic processes, although suspected, has only recently been studied and explored.
Indeed, CEACAM1 plays a central function in insulin transduction since it has been reported as a substrate of the insulin receptor specifically in liver, in opposition to the other insulin-sensitive tissues (adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) [
76].
Once insulin reaches the hepatocyte, it enhances CEACAM1 action on the hepatocyte mitogenic activity by downregulating it. In fact, the action of CEACAM1, phosphorylated by the insulin receptor, is allowed through its binding to SH2-containg adapter protein (Shc), which becomes sequestered by CEACAM1. Since Shc is a coupler protein, this has the effect of reducing the coupling of the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) to the insulin receptor and down-regulates the Ras/MAP kinase mitogenesis pathway resulting in a reduced mitogenic activity. Another consequence of the Shc sequestering by the CEACAM1 is the reduced activity of the phosphoinositide 3’kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT). This pathway is usually made possible through the binding between insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and PI3k after IRS-1 is phosphorylated by the insulin receptor and leads to cell proliferation. CEACAM1’s binding to Shc competes with IRS-1 phosphorylation by the insulin receptor, hence downregulating cell proliferation in hepatocytes [
77].
Regarding insulin clearance, CEACAM1-L plays a central role, orchestrating multiple intracellular reactions initiated by insulin binding to its receptor. This binding causes CEACAM1-L phosphorylation, allowing its indirect attachment to the insulin receptor in order to enhance the endocytosis, degradation and clearance of the insulin-insulin receptor complex [
78].
SHP-2 is a tyrosine phosphatase which is a protein that dephosphorylates and inhibits insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) action. CEACAM1-L attaches itself to the SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase, preventing its negative action on IRS-1, which results in a sustained action of IRS-1 in the hepatocyte. IRS-1 sustained action is also favored by the insulin-insulin receptor complex endocytosis because of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase prolonged exposure to IRS-1 [
78,
79].
These mechanisms point out the major role of CEACAM1 in insulin degradation and in insulin clearance in hepatocytes since hepatic insulin removal is responsible for clearing approximatively 80 % of the total insulin synthetized by the pancreatic β cells [
80]. Mutation on the phosphorylation site in CEACAM1-L has been shown to cause hyperinsulinemia, glucose resistance and leads ultimately to chronic fatty hepatopathy in mouse models [
81].
The role and impact of CEACAM1 protein in the development of chronic NAFLD is intimately linked to its function as an insulin clearer. In non-mutated individuals, it has been hypothesized that chronic hyperinsulinemia and impaired insulin secretion pulsatility reduce CEACAM1 phosphorylation and action, creating a vicious cycle [
82,
83]. There is clear evidence that hyperinsulinemia in patients with NAFLD correlates much more with impaired insulin clearance than with increased insulin secretion [
84], implying that CEACAM1 is one of the major key factors linking insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and fatty liver disease.
Intrahepatic lipogenesis is essentially stimulated by insulin by increasing sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) in hepatocytes, which promotes cholesterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids synthesis and uptake [
85]. SREBPs are also essential for enzymes expression, for example glucokinase, liver-type pyruvate kinase (LPK), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC) which are required for lipogenesis [
86]. Insulin concentration is much higher in the portal vein than in the peripheral blood circulation [
80], therefore the liver seems to be more likely increase de novo lipogenesis through insulin action. However, despite the liver expressing more lipogenic genes, the activity of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) in normal insulinemic individuals is nearly imperceptible and it is mainly due to insulin release pulsatility [
83]. This allows an acute and fast action of insulin on the hepatocytes, phosphorylating CEACAM1-L protein, permitting insulin clearance through endocytosis of the insulin-insulin receptor complex. As a reminder, insulin is usually secreted by the β cells in two phases, a first secretion peak phase following glucose intake, then a second deferred phase that helps bring glycemia back to normal blood concentration [
87]. In individuals with chronic hyperinsulinemia, this mechanism is impaired and insulin secretion pulsatility is progressively diminished. Since CEACAM1 is the main factor for insulin clearance, and impaired insulin clearance correlates more with hyperinsulinemia than with insulin secretion [
84], it is safe to deduce that CEACAM1 impairment leads to a hyperinsulinemic state.
Interestingly, in patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), the only treatment relies on exogenous insulin administration in the peripheral circulation. Not only is it unlikely that all the administrated insulin reaches the liver, but also this causes altered dynamic of insulin delivery, in opposition to endogenous insulin production [
84,
88]. This altered hepatic exposure to insulin is congruent with the loss of the insulin pulsatility effect, described above. Knowing the importance of the insulin pulsatility effect on the proper functioning of CEACAM1, patients with T1D are probably more likely to have CEACAM1 impairment [
82].
CEACAM1 also plays a critical role in hepatic lipogenesis. As explained, CEACAM1-L in hepatocytes is activated through its phosphorylation mediated by the insulin-insulin receptor complex. Phosphorylated CEACAM1-L binds to the fatty acid synthase (FAS) and suppresses its activity by sequestering it. FAS is an enzymatic complex essential for enhancing fatty acids synthesis, and its inhibition by the activated CEACAM1-L leads to decreased liver lipogenesis [
89].
Obese individuals have excessive white adipose tissue and, hence, high levels of circulating FFA [
90]. FFA action on hepatocytes will promote and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) [
91], which is a nuclear receptor acting as a ligand-activated transcriptional factor regulating the expression of crucial genes participating in fatty acid beta-oxidation [
92]. PPARα reduces one of CEACAM1 promoter activity, thus downregulating the CEACAM1 protein transcription by decreasing CEACAM1-mRNA action [
91]. Individuals with metabolic syndrome tend to have more FFA and thus have a much lower CEACAM1 activity. Whenever CEACAM1 activity is reduced by 50% or more, its sequestration of FAS is greatly diminished, and insulin clearance is also impaired inducing hyperinsulinemia, then leading to insulin resistance and to increased FAS activity [
76]. This ultimately leads to steatosis and to NAFLD development and puts forward the crucial importance of CEACAM1 protein in the metabolic balance and in the buildup of chronic fatty liver disease.
CEACAM1 protein synthesis in hepatocytes is promoted by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) [
93]. PPARγ expression and action is induced and upregulated by incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) [
80,
93], the activity of which has been shown to be reduced in patients with chronic hyperinsulinemia [
94]. This suggests that the reduced activity of GLP-1 implies a downregulation and, thus, a reduced activity of CEACAM1, but also implies that a treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists could be a possible therapy to increase CEACAM1 protective activity in liver.