Foxa1 Reduces Lipid Accumulation in Human Hepatocytes and Is Down-Regulated in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
Figure 6
Foxa1 increases FA catabolism and KB synthesis.
(A) Cultured cells were infected with Ad-Foxa1 or Ad-Control for 48 h, and the mRNA level of the mitochondrial 3-hydroxymethyl glutaryl coA synthase (HMGCS2, ketogenesis) and the peroxisomal carnitine O-octanoyltransferase (CROT, β-oxidation) were measured by real-time Q-RT-PCR. (B) HepG2 were infected with Ad-Foxa1 or Ad-Control and 48 h after infection ACOX activity was assayed spectrophotometrically in cell homogenates using palmitoyl-CoA as the substrate. Results were expressed as increments of absorbance at 502 nm (ΔA)/min/mg of protein. (C) Human hepatocytes and HepG2 cells were infected with Ad-Foxa1 for 24 h and were then exposed to 0.2 mM FA for an additional period lasting 24 h. The concentration of KB (β-HB, β-hydroxybutyrate) was determined in the culture medium with a specific kit. Data represent the mean±SD of 4–5 independent experiments. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01; *** p<0.001.