Reviewer's report
Title:Role of serotonin in fatty acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in
mice
Version: 1Date:18 February 2013
Reviewer: Manlio Vinciguerra
Reviewer's report:
The paper "Role of serotonin in fatt acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
in mice" by Ritze et al. demonstrates that a diet rich in saturated or
monounsaturated fatty acids promote NAFLD in mice, through a dysfunction of
the intestinal permeability and of therein serotonin system.
The manuscript, although not very innovative, is well designed and data are
convincing. However it suffers of several pitfalls that need to be addressed.
Revisions
1) the authors talk recurrently of "energy consumption"? However, it looks like
that in their studies they measured food intake, which is the correct expression.
How this was measured? Energy consumption in the differently FA-fed groups
should be assessed with the aid of metabolic cages. It is possible that although
food consumption is the same, energy expenditure varies, and this has an effect
on NAFLD. Similarly, what is the weight of these mice, and the liver weight to
body weight ratio? These would be very interesting data.
2) Line 65. A reference is missing.
3) Line 75. Define better the "translocation hypothesis"
4) 5-HT has a well defined role in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation and
fibrosis. Do the authors observe some different degree of fibrosis in their 3
experimental dietary groups. Please discuss the role of 5-HT on HSC function in
the models presented.
5) References 21 and 22 are somewhat old and published on minor Journals. Do
the authors have better references.
6) histologies in Figure 1: the control panel has a background staining completely
different than the experimental conditions. It is odd and it should be changed with
a better image.
7) A western blot for MyD88 would be required to support Fig. 2B
8) Figure 2F is not commented. When something is shown in a Figure, it should
be commented.
9) Line 180. Define SERT.
10) Line 195. Reference 28 has nothing to do to what it is described (intestinal
permeability , gut endotoxin).
11) Line 198. Show the data not shown.
12) Line 200 and 201. Show the data not shown.
13) Line 216. "...unclear". This statement could be better supported with a recent
reference. For instance: PMID: 22658146.
14) Line 224. When comparing their study to the published [31] one, it would be
useful to state quantitatively in what the different PUFA that was intaken by the
animals consisted of (% of energy from which nutrient, FA etc).
15) Line 272. Substitute "to be published" with "of the manuscript".
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Role of serotonin in fatty acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in
mice
Version: 1Date:18 February 2013
Reviewer: Manlio Vinciguerra
Reviewer's report:
The paper "Role of serotonin in fatt acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
in mice" by Ritze et al. demonstrates that a diet rich in saturated or
monounsaturated fatty acids promote NAFLD in mice, through a dysfunction of
the intestinal permeability and of therein serotonin system.
The manuscript, although not very innovative, is well designed and data are
convincing. However it suffers of several pitfalls that need to be addressed.
Revisions
1) the authors talk recurrently of "energy consumption"? However, it looks like
that in their studies they measured food intake, which is the correct expression.
How this was measured? Energy consumption in the differently FA-fed groups
should be assessed with the aid of metabolic cages. It is possible that although
food consumption is the same, energy expenditure varies, and this has an effect
on NAFLD. Similarly, what is the weight of these mice, and the liver weight to
body weight ratio? These would be very interesting data.
2) Line 65. A reference is missing.
3) Line 75. Define better the "translocation hypothesis"
4) 5-HT has a well defined role in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation and
fibrosis. Do the authors observe some different degree of fibrosis in their 3
experimental dietary groups. Please discuss the role of 5-HT on HSC function in
the models presented.
5) References 21 and 22 are somewhat old and published on minor Journals. Do
the authors have better references.
6) histologies in Figure 1: the control panel has a background staining completely
different than the experimental conditions. It is odd and it should be changed with
a better image.
7) A western blot for MyD88 would be required to support Fig. 2B
8) Figure 2F is not commented. When something is shown in a Figure, it should
be commented.
9) Line 180. Define SERT.
10) Line 195. Reference 28 has nothing to do to what it is described (intestinal
permeability , gut endotoxin).
11) Line 198. Show the data not shown.
12) Line 200 and 201. Show the data not shown.
13) Line 216. "...unclear". This statement could be better supported with a recent
reference. For instance: PMID: 22658146.
14) Line 224. When comparing their study to the published [31] one, it would be
useful to state quantitatively in what the different PUFA that was intaken by the
animals consisted of (% of energy from which nutrient, FA etc).
15) Line 272. Substitute "to be published" with "of the manuscript".
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Role of serotonin in fatty acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in
mice
Version: 1Date:18 February 2013
Reviewer: Manlio Vinciguerra
Reviewer's report:
The paper "Role of serotonin in fatt acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
in mice" by Ritze et al. demonstrates that a diet rich in saturated or
monounsaturated fatty acids promote NAFLD in mice, through a dysfunction of
the intestinal permeability and of therein serotonin system.
The manuscript, although not very innovative, is well designed and data are
convincing. However it suffers of several pitfalls that need to be addressed.
Revisions
1) the authors talk recurrently of "energy consumption"? However, it looks like
that in their studies they measured food intake, which is the correct expression.
How this was measured? Energy consumption in the differently FA-fed groups
should be assessed with the aid of metabolic cages. It is possible that although
food consumption is the same, energy expenditure varies, and this has an effect
on NAFLD. Similarly, what is the weight of these mice, and the liver weight to
body weight ratio? These would be very interesting data.
2) Line 65. A reference is missing.
3) Line 75. Define better the "translocation hypothesis"
4) 5-HT has a well defined role in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation and
fibrosis. Do the authors observe some different degree of fibrosis in their 3
experimental dietary groups. Please discuss the role of 5-HT on HSC function in
the models presented.
5) References 21 and 22 are somewhat old and published on minor Journals. Do
the authors have better references.
6) histologies in Figure 1: the control panel has a background staining completely
different than the experimental conditions. It is odd and it should be changed with
a better image.
7) A western blot for MyD88 would be required to support Fig. 2B
8) Figure 2F is not commented. When something is shown in a Figure, it should
be commented.
9) Line 180. Define SERT.
10) Line 195. Reference 28 has nothing to do to what it is described (intestinal
permeability , gut endotoxin).
11) Line 198. Show the data not shown.
12) Line 200 and 201. Show the data not shown.
13) Line 216. "...unclear". This statement could be better supported with a recent
reference. For instance: PMID: 22658146.
14) Line 224. When comparing their study to the published [31] one, it would be
useful to state quantitatively in what the different PUFA that was intaken by the
animals consisted of (% of energy from which nutrient, FA etc).
15) Line 272. Substitute "to be published" with "of the manuscript".
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
assistant