Ursocholic acid ameliorates hepatic steatosis via direct AMPK activation in preclinical models of MASLD.

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a major global health challenge lacking effective therapeutic agents. Ursocholic acid (UCA), a natural bile acid with established cholesterol-lowering properties, has not been evaluated for MASLD treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic efficacy, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetic profile of UCA in MASLD.

METHODS

Hepatoprotective effects were assessed in free fatty acid (FFA)-induced Huh7 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. RNA sequencing identified target pathways. Direct AMPK interaction was validated by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and cellular thermal shift assay. Pharmacokinetics was compared with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

RESULTS

UCA dose-dependently reduced hepatic lipid accumulation in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed AMPK signaling as the primary modulated pathway. Mechanistically, UCA directly bound to AMPK, promoted Thr172 phosphorylation, and downregulated lipogenic genes (SREBF1, LPIN1, FASN, SCD1), and these effects were abrogated by Compound C (AMPK inhibitor). Pharmacokinetically, UCA exhibited dose-proportional oral exposure (AUClast 1120-13,700 h ng/mL across 30-300 mg/kg) with a terminal half-life of 3.7-5.9 h, comparable to UDCA.

CONCLUSION

UCA is a direct AMPK agonist that ameliorates MASLD by suppressing the SREBF1/LPIN1 lipogenic axis, representing a promising natural therapeutic candidate.