Saturated fatty acids are generally cytotoxic to β-cells. Accumulation of lipid intermediates and subsequent activation of lipid-mediated signals has been suggested to play a role in fatty acid-induced toxicity. To determine the effects of lipid metabolism in fatty acid-induced toxicity, lipid metabolism was modulated by up- and down-regulation of a lipogenic or fatty acid oxidation pathway, and the effects of various modulators on palmitate (PA)-induced INS-1 β-cell death were then evaluated. Treatment with the liver X receptor agonist T0901317 reduced PA-induced INS-1 cell death, regardless of its enhanced lipogenic activity. Furthermore, transient expression of a lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) was also protective against PA-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, knockdown of SREBP-1c or glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 significantly augmented PA-induced cell death and reduced T0901317-induced protective effects. Conversely, T0901317 increased carnitine PA transferease-1 (CPT-1) expression and augmented PA oxidation. CPT-1 inhibitor etomoxir or CPT-1 knockdown augmented PA-induced cell death and reduced T0901317-induced protective effects, whereas the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α agonist bezafibrate reduced PA-induced toxicity. In particular, T0901317 reduced the levels of PA-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, including phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor-2α, phospho-C-Jun N terminal kinase, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein. In contrast, knockdown of SREBP-1c or glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 augmented PA-induced ER stress responses. Results of these experiments suggested that stimulation of lipid metabolism, including lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation, protected β-cells from PA-induced lipotoxicity and that protection through enhanced lipogenesis was likely due to reduced ER stress.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.