Curcumin raises lipid content by Wnt pathway in hepatic stellate cell

Abstract Background Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a pivotal event in liver fibrosis, which is characterized by dramatic disappearance of lipid droplets. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. We aimed to explore the role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HSC lip...

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Published in:The Journal of surgical research 2016-02, Vol.200 (2), p.460-466
Main Authors: Zhang, Feng, PhD, Lu, Chunfeng, PhD, Xu, Wenxuan, BS, Shao, Jiangjuan, PhD, Wu, Li, PhD, Lu, Yin, PhD, Zheng, Shizhong, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology
beta Catenin - metabolism
Biomarkers - metabolism
Blotting, Western
Curcumin
Curcumin - pharmacology
Hepatic stellate cell
Hepatic Stellate Cells - drug effects
Hepatic Stellate Cells - metabolism
Lipid Metabolism - drug effects
Lipid Metabolism - physiology
Lipogenesis
Lipogenesis - drug effects
Lipogenesis - physiology
Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism
Liver fibrosis
Rats
Surgery
Transcription Factors - metabolism
Wnt Signaling Pathway - drug effects
Wnt Signaling Pathway - physiology
β-Catenin
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Summary:Abstract Background Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a pivotal event in liver fibrosis, which is characterized by dramatic disappearance of lipid droplets. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. We aimed to explore the role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HSC lipogenesis and to examine the effects of curcumin in this molecular context. Methods Primary rat HSCs were cultured in vitro for experiments. The Wnt activator WAY-262611 and β-catenin activator lithium chloride (LiCl) were used to activate the pathway at distinct levels in HSCs. Cell proliferation, fibrogenic markers, intracellular lipids and triglyceride, and adipogenic transcription factors were examined in HSCs. Results Both WAY-262611 and LiCl promoted proliferation and upregulated the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and α1(I) procollagen, but they decreased the contents of intracellular lipids and triglyceride in HSCs. Analyses of adipogenic transcription pattern showed that the two compounds reduced the expression of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, retinoid X receptor-α, and retinoic acid receptor-β, four key transcription regulators of HSC adipogenic phenotype. Curcumin also reduced the expression of Frizzled and β-catenin, upregulated the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, and restored lipid content in HSCs. However, both WAY-262611 and LiCl abrogated curcumin restoration of lipogenesis and inhibition of fibrogenic marker expression in HSCs. Conclusions Wnt/β-catenin pathway was a profibrogenic signaling and inhibited lipogenesis by suppressing adipogenic transcription pattern in HSCs. Blockade of this pathway was associated with curcumin stimulation of HSC lipogenesis. We revealed a novel mechanism underlying curcumin restoration of lipid droplets during HSC activation.
ISSN:0022-4804
1095-8673
DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2015.08.040