Frontiers in Pharmacology (Jul 2021)

Caveolin-1 Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Fat Accumulation in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Enhancing Hepatic Antioxidant Ability via Activating AMPK Pathway

  • Jiarong Wang,
  • Jiarong Wang,
  • Jiarong Wang,
  • Wei Jiang,
  • Wei Jiang,
  • Wei Jiang,
  • Jiao Xin,
  • Jiao Xin,
  • Jiao Xin,
  • Weiju Xue,
  • Weiju Xue,
  • Weiju Xue,
  • Congjian Shi,
  • Congjian Shi,
  • Congjian Shi,
  • Jiagen Wen,
  • Jiagen Wen,
  • Jiagen Wen,
  • Yan Huang,
  • Yan Huang,
  • Yan Huang,
  • Chengmu Hu,
  • Chengmu Hu,
  • Chengmu Hu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.717276
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor for acute liver injury caused by overuse of acetaminophen (APAP). Caveolin-1 (CAV1), a regulator of hepatic energy metabolism and oxidative stress, was found to have a protective effect against NAFLD in our previous study. However, it remains unclear whether CAV1 has a protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in NAFLD. The aim of this study was to determine whether CAV1 inhibits oxidative stress through the AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to protect the liver from fat accumulation exacerbated by APAP in NAFLD. In this study, seven-week-old C57BL/6 male mice (18–20 g) were raised under similar conditions for in vivo experiment. In vitro, L02 cells were treated with A/O (alcohol and oleic acid mixture) for 48 h, and APAP was added at 24 h for further incubation. The results showed that the protein expression of the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway was enhanced after CAV1 upregulation. The effects of CAV1 on fat accumulation, ROS, and the AMPK/Nrf2 anti-oxidative pathway were reduced after the application of CAV1-siRNA. Finally, treatment with compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) prevented CAV1 plasmid-mediated alleviation of oxidative stress and fat accumulation and reduced the protein level of Nrf2 in the nucleus, demonstrating that the AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway was involved in the protective effect of CAV1. These results indicate that CAV1 exerted a protective effect against APAP-aggravated lipid deposition and hepatic injury in NAFLD by inhibiting oxidative stress. Therefore, the upregulation of CAV1 might have clinical benefits in reducing APAP-aggravated hepatotoxicity in NAFLD.

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