Multi-target regulation by artemether in MAFLD through EGFR/HSP90 pathways

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is rising, while current pharmacological treatments are often limited by adverse effects. Artemether (Art), a derivative of artemisinin, has demonstrated therapeutic potential against MAFLD, but its direct molecular targets remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: This work focuses on Art's therapeutic effects and molecular targets in MAFLD. METHODS: In this study, MAFLD was induced in C57BL/6J male mice via high-fat diets, followed by treatment with Art at 10 or 50 mg/kg·bw/d; obeticholic acid served as a positive control. Glucose tolerance, serum biochemistry, and liver histology were assessed. Fatty acid-induced MAFLD models in HepG2 and primary mouse hepatocytes were treated with Art (5 µM or 25 µM), and lipid accumulation was evaluated. Protein target identification involved drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), cellular thermal shift assay (CESTA), chemical proteomics, and molecular docking etc. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were confirmed as direct targets of Art through over-expression, inhibition, and knockdown techniques in cells and mice. RESULTS: Art dose-dependently reduced hepatic lipid accumulation in MAFLD mice and suppressed oleic-palmitic acid-induced lipid droplet formation in vitro. HSP90 and EGFR were identified as direct binding targets of Art, which disrupted the HSP90-EGFR complex, reducing EGFR stability and expression. The therapeutic efficacy of Art was not further enhanced when administered following HSP90 or EGFR knockdown, confirming that HSP90 and EGFR function as key molecular targets of Art. CONCLUSION: These findings identify EGFR as a key target of Art, modulated directly or via HSP90, thereby offering new insights into Art's multi-target therapeutic mechanism in MAFLD.