Hesperidin Attenuates Experimental MASH by Modulating the Liver-Immune-Brain Axis: Integrated Evidence from Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Analysis.

Background/

Objectives

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is characterized by severe hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and fibrosis. Although hesperidin, a citrus-derived flavanone, has been reported to exert metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects, its role in severe inflammatory and fibrotic conditions such as MASH remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hesperidin in MASH using integrated in silico and in vivo approaches.

Methods

Potential targets of hesperidin were identified using network pharmacology and molecular docking. For in vivo validation, C57BL/6 mice were fed a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for five weeks, with oral administration of hesperidin (150 or 300 mg/kg/day) starting from week two. The MCD model induces severe hepatic inflammation and fibrosis but does not fully reflect metabolic features such as obesity and insulin resistance. Hepatic histology, serum transaminases, immune cell populations, and hypothalamic neuroinflammatory markers were assessed.

Results

In silico analyses suggested that hesperidin interacts with key regulators associated with MASH, including PPARG, TGFB1, and TNF. In the in vivo MCD-induced model, hesperidin treatment reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and collagen deposition, accompanied by significant decreases in serum ALT and AST levels (by approximately 30-34% and 42-53%, respectively, depending on dose). These effects were associated with downregulation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic gene expression and increased expression of antioxidant markers. In addition, hesperidin decreased circulating Ly6Chigh monocytes and hepatic Kupffer cells, along with reduced hypothalamic microglial and astrocyte activation.

Conclusions

Hesperidin attenuated key pathological features of MASH, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, and was associated with modulation of peripheral immune responses and central neuroinflammatory markers. These findings suggest that hesperidin may influence the liver-immune-brain axis and warrant further investigation in models that more closely reflect human metabolic conditions.