In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on high-fat-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recently, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of hepatocellular lipid metabolism. Here, we demonstrated that LBP up-regulates SIRT1 deacetylase activity and protein expression by enhancing the NAD+/NADH ratio. Subsequently, LBP promoted LKB1 deacetylation and AMPK phosphorylation via SIRT1-dependent signalling. We also found that LBP increases acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) protein expression and decreases fatty acid synthase (FAS) by activating the SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK pathway in vitro and in vivo. However, SIRT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown reversed the LBP-mediated effects on ACC, FAS and ATGL. Moreover, LBP elevated carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha (CPT-1α) expression by suppressing malonyl-CoA accumulation. Taken together, our data indicate that LBP plays a vital role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and that pharmacological activation of SIRT1 by LBP may be a strategy for the prevention of NAFLD.
IntroductionG-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) is emerging as a potential therapeutic target against type 2 diabetes with beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis. However, the function of GRP119 in lipotoxicity induced pancreatic beta cell apoptosis and the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown.Material and methodsImpact of GPR119 on pancreatic islet beta cell apoptosis was evaluated in INS-1 cells treated with palmitate. The subsequent modulation of the MST1-FOXO1-Pdx1 signaling pathway and pro-apoptotic caspase-3 system were determined by measuring the target protein and mRNA expression. Dyslipidemia mice with gain and loss of GPR119 function by the application of specific lenti-viral vector was utilized to evaluate the impact of GPR119 on pancreas function in vivo. Lipid metabolism, glucose and insulin response, morphological changes as well as activation/inhibition of MST1-FOXO1-Pdx1 signaling pathway in pancreas were analyzed systematically.ResultsPalmitate treatment stimulated pro-apoptotic response in INS-1 cells, accompanied by inhibition of GPR119 expression and the subsequent activation of the MST1-FOXO1 combined with inhibition of Pdx1 signaling cascade. Activation of GPR119 by MBX prevents INS-1 cell from lipotoxicity induced apoptosis by targeting the MST1-FOXO1-Pdx1 pathway. Moreover, overexpression of GPR119 significantly attenuates the dyslipidemia and dysfunction of the pancreas. In contrast, inactivation of GPR119 by lentiviral vector in mice results in accelerated pancreas apoptosis and malfunction. The protective effects of GRP119 on lipotoxicity induced pancreas dysfunction are associated with modulating the MST1-FOXO1-Pdx1 signaling cascade.ConclusionsGPR119 alleviates lipotoxicity induced pancreatic beta cell apoptosis and malfunction through regulating MST1-FOXO1-Pdx1 signaling pathway.
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