A refined MASH–HCC model identifies macrophage Gadd45b as a key orchestrator of inflammation-driven neoplastic progression

Abstract

Abstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is emerging as a leading driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet the molecular mechanisms linking metabolic stress, chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Here we established a metabolically relevant, time-efficient MASH-to-HCC model in C57BL/6N mice by combining a MASH diet with controlled CCl 4 administration, enabling stepwise recapitulation of MASH-associated neoplastic progression. Using this model, we identified growth arrest and DNA damage 45b (Gadd45b) as a novel MASH-derived protumorigenic regulator selectively activated under metabolic stress. Integrated analyses of human bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets and mouse transcriptomic deconvolution revealed concordant macrophage remodeling and GADD45B/Gadd45b expression dynamics during MASH-to-HCC progression. Mechanistically, fatty acids and TNFα preferentially induced Gadd45b in macrophages, where it amplified TNFα–NF-κB signaling. Macrophage-derived inflammatory signals subsequently induced Gadd45b and NF-κB activation in hepatocytes, establishing a feed-forward inflammatory loop that promoted fibrogenic and partial EMT-like programs and tumor spheroid formation. Importantly, temporal profiling during spheroid formation and progression revealed transient induction of Gadd45b during early spheroid establishment, but not during later progression, indicating that Gadd45b-mediated inflammatory signaling primarily promotes tumor initiation rather than subsequent growth. Consistent with human data, Gadd45b expression increased with disease severity and positively correlated with inflammatory factors in the MASH–HCC model, whereas pharmacological inhibition attenuated the Gadd45b–inflammation signaling axis. Collectively, our findings establish macrophage Gadd45b as a key orchestrator linking metabolic stress, chronic inflammation, and neoplastic transformation during MASH-to-HCC progression. Our refined MASH–HCC model provides a robust platform for mechanistic studies and preclinical evaluation of inflammation-targeted therapies.