Positive allosteric γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulation prevents lipotoxicity‐induced injury in hepatocytes in vitro

To determine if a novel positive allosteric modulator of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAAllosteric modulation of the GABAPatch clamping, calcium influx measurements and apoptosis assays with the non-competitive GABAHK4 reduced lipotoxic-induced apoptosis by preventing inflammation, DNA damage and ER stress. We propose that the effect of HK4 is mediated by STAT3 and NF-κB. It is suggested that thioacrylamide compounds represent an innovative pharmacological tool to treat or prevent non-alcoholic steatohepatitis as first-in-class drugs.