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. 2025 Sep 9:e70107.
doi: 10.1002/kjm2.70107. Online ahead of print.

The Proteomic Profiling of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles of Western Diet and Chemical-Induced Murine MASH Model

Szu-Jen Wang  1   2   3 , Yung-Ho Wang  4 , Jee-Fu Huang  5   6   7 , En-Sheng Lin  6   8 , Wei-Shiun Chen  6   8 , Chia-Yang Li  9   10 , Chia-Yen Dai  5   6 , Wan-Long Chuang  5   6 , Ming-Lung Yu  5   6   7 , Shu-Chi Wang  6   8   9   10
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Free article

The Proteomic Profiling of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles of Western Diet and Chemical-Induced Murine MASH Model

Szu-Jen Wang et al. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. .
Free article

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an increasingly prevalent chronic liver condition that can progress to severe complications such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Despite its growing burden, there are no reliable non-invasive biomarkers for tracking disease progression. In this study, we established a murine MASLD/MASH model using a high-fat diet and chemical (CCl4) induction. We analyzed serum-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) at 14 and 28 weeks to identify stage-specific proteomic signatures. Proteomic profiling of circulating EVs revealed key proteins associated with disease progression, including cathepsin B (Ctsb) and prosaposin (Psap) in early MASLD, and coagulation factor XIII A chain (F13a1) and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (Pigr) in early MASH. The significant and severe MASH stages notably enriched Psma2, Psmb3, and Psmb5. These findings suggest EV-associated proteins may be promising non-invasive biomarkers for differentiating MASLD/MASH stages and guiding clinical monitoring.

Keywords: biomarker; extracellular vesicles (EVs); metabolic‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH); metabolic‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD); proteomic.

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