FoxO3 regulates hepatic triglyceride metabolism via modulation of the expression of sterol regulatory-element binding protein 1c

Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Nov 15;18(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s12944-019-1132-2.

Abstract

Background: Excessive intrahepatic lipid accumulation is the major characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to identify the mechanisms involved in hepatic triglyceride (TG) homeostasis. Forkhead box class O (FoxO) transcription factors have been shown to play an important role in hepatic metabolism. However, little is known about the effect of FoxO3 on hepatic TG metabolism.

Methods: Liver biopsy samples from patients with NALFD and liver tissues from high glucose and high sucrose (HFHS) fed mice, ob/ob mice and db/db mice were collected for protein and mRNA analysis. HepG2 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA to mediate FoxO3 knockdown, or adenovirus and plasmid to mediate FoxO3 overexpression. FoxO3-cDNA was delivered by adenovirus to the liver of C57BL/6 J male mice on a chow diet or on a high-fat diet, followed by determination of hepatic lipid metabolism. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) luciferase reporter gene plasmid was co-transfected into HepG2 cells with FoxO3 overexpression plasmid.

Results: FoxO3 expression was increased in the livers of HFHS mice, ob/ob mice, db/db mice and patients with NAFLD. Knockdown of FoxO3 reduced whereas overexpression of FoxO3 increased cellular TG concentrations in HepG2 cells. FoxO3 gain-of-function caused hepatic TG deposition in C57BL/6 J mice on a chow diet and aggravated hepatic steatosis when fed a high-fat diet. Analysis of the transcripts established the increased expression of genes related to TG synthesis, including SREBP1c, SCD1, FAS, ACC1, GPAM and DGAT2 in mouse liver. Mechanistically, overexpression of FoxO3 stimulated the expression of SREBP1c, whereas knockdown of FoxO3 inhibited the expression of SREBP1c. Luciferase reporter assays showed that SREBP1c regulated the transcriptional activity of the SREBP1c promoter.

Conclusions: FoxO3 promotes the transcriptional activity of the SREBP1c promoter, thus leading to increased TG synthesis and hepatic TG accumulation.

Keywords: Forkhead box class O3; FoxO3; NAFLD; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; SREBP1c; Sterol regulatory element-binding protein1c.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / metabolism
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / metabolism*
  • Triglycerides / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • FoxO3 protein, mouse
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Triglycerides