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Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Promotes Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Energy Balance in a NAFLD Cell Model

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Abstract

Objective

To explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cell model.

Methods

Normal human hepatocyte LO2 cells were treated with 1 mmol/L free fatty acids (FFA) mixture for 24 h to induce NAFLD cell model. Cells were divided into 5 groups, including control, model, low-, medium- and high dose LBP (30,100 and 300 µg/mL) groups. The monosaccharide components of LBP were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography. Effects of LBP on cell viability and intracellular lipid accumulation were assessed by cell counting Kit-8 assay and oil red O staining, respectively. Triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and oxidative stress indicators were evaluated. Energy balance and mitochondrial biogenesis related mRNA and proteins were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.

Results

Heteropolysaccharides with mannose and glucose are the main components of LBP. LBP treatment significantly decreased intracellular lipid accumulation as well as TG, ALT, AST and malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01), increased the levels of superoxide dismutase, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and ATP in NAFLD cell model (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of uncoupling protein 2 was down-regulated and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α/nuclear respiratory factor 1/mitochondrial transcription factor A pathway was up-regulated (P<0.05).

Conclusion

LBP promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and improves energy balance in NAFLD cell model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China

    Yan-nan Zhang, Yan-na Fan, Xiu-juan Tao, Qing-han Gao & Jian-jun Yang

  2. Ningxia Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Yinchuan, 750004, China

    Yan-nan Zhang, Yan-na Fan, Xiu-juan Tao, Qing-han Gao & Jian-jun Yang

  3. Xi’an Chang’an South Road Community Health Service Center, Xi’an Yanta Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, 710000, China

    Yi-qiong Guo

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  1. Yan-nan Zhang
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Contributions

Zhang YN and Yang JJ contributed to the conception and design of this work. Zhang YN, Guo YQ and Fan YN performed the experiments. Tao XJ and Gao QH contributed to data analyses. Zhang YN and Guo YQ wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-jun Yang.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81660537), Special Talents Start-up Project of Ningxia Medical University (No. XT2018009) and Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia (No.2020AAC03163)

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Zhang, Yn., Guo, Yq., Fan, Yn. et al. Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Promotes Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Energy Balance in a NAFLD Cell Model. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 28, 975–982 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3309-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3309-6

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