Metabolic Modeling Combined With Machine Learning Integrates Longitudinal Data and Identifies the Origin of LXR-Induced Hepatic Steatosis

Natal A.W. van Riel (Corresponding author), Christian A. Tiemann, Peter A.J. Hilbers, Albert K. Groen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Temporal multi-omics data can provide information about the dynamics of disease development and therapeutic response. However, statistical analysis of high-dimensional time-series data is challenging. Here we develop a novel approach to model temporal metabolomic and transcriptomic data by combining machine learning with metabolic models. ADAPT (Analysis of Dynamic Adaptations in Parameter Trajectories) performs metabolic trajectory modeling by introducing time-dependent parameters in differential equation models of metabolic systems. ADAPT translates structural uncertainty in the model, such as missing information about regulation, into a parameter estimation problem that is solved by iterative learning. We have now extended ADAPT to include both metabolic and transcriptomic time-series data by introducing a regularization function in the learning algorithm. The ADAPT learning algorithm was (re)formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem in which the estimation of trajectories of metabolic parameters is constrained by the metabolite data and refined by gene expression data. ADAPT was applied to a model of hepatic lipid and plasma lipoprotein metabolism to predict metabolic adaptations that are induced upon pharmacological treatment of mice by a Liver X receptor (LXR) agonist. We investigated the excessive accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver resulting in the development of hepatic steatosis. ADAPT predicted that hepatic TG accumulation after LXR activation originates for 80% from an increased influx of free fatty acids. The model also correctly estimated that TG was stored in the cytosol rather than transferred to nascent very-low density lipoproteins. Through model-based integration of temporal metabolic and gene expression data we discovered that increased free fatty acid influx instead of de novo lipogenesis is the main driver of LXR-induced hepatic steatosis. This study illustrates how ADAPT provides estimates for biomedically important parameters that cannot be measured directly, explaining (side-)effects of pharmacological treatment with LXR agonists.

Original languageEnglish
Article number536957
Number of pages18
JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Volume8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Feb 2021

Keywords

  • cholesterol
  • longitudinal trajectory modeling
  • LXR agonist
  • machine learning
  • mechanistic modeling
  • regularization
  • systems biology
  • uncertainty quantification

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  • MATRyOSka: Metabolic adaptation, transitions and resilience in overweight individuals

    van Riel, N. A. W. (Project Manager), O'Donovan, S. (Project member), Arts, I. C. W. (Project member) & Afman, L. A. (Project member)

    1/10/1730/06/23

    Project: Research direct

  • RESOLVE

    van Riel, N. A. W. (Project Manager), Sips, F. L. P. (Project member), Rozendaal, Y. J. W. (Project member), Tiemann, C. A. (Project member), Groen, B. (Program Manager) & Kuivenhoven, J. A. (PI)

    1/01/1330/06/18

    Project: Research direct

  • NGI/NCSB/CMSB

    van Riel, N. A. W. (Project Manager), Prompers, J. J. (CoPI), Vanlier, J. (Project member), Tiemann, C. A. (Project member), Jeneson, J. A. L. (CoPI), Janssens, S. M. M. (Project member) & Willems van Dijk, K. (Project Manager)

    1/01/0831/08/14

    Project: Research direct

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