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Vaspin attenuates steatosis-induced fibrosis via GRP78 receptor by targeting AMPK signaling pathway

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Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease that is rapidly becoming a public health problem. An imbalance in lipid distribution to the hepatocytes and metabolism causes hepatocyte steatosis. Vaspin is a newly discovered adipokine that has been linked to a variety of metabolic disorders. The effects of vaspin on steatosis and fibrosis pathogenesis and related mechanisms are unclear. Thus, this study investigated the molecular mechanism of vaspin on hepatocyte steatosis and fibrosis. HepG2 cells were treated with 1.2 mM free fatty acid and the intracellular lipid values were measured by flow cytometry and Nile red assay. RT-qPCR was used to assess the effect of vaspin and blocking of the GRP78 receptor on the expression of lipogenesis, oxidation, uptake, and secretion of fatty acid (FA), as well as AMPK activity. In co-cultured HepG2 and LX-2 cell lines, the expression of main proteins of hepatocyte fibrosis was analyzed using Western blot analysis. In the HepG2 cell line, we discovered that vaspin increased oxidation, FA secretion and gene expression, and AMPK activity and decreased lipogenesis and FA uptake and gene expression. Western blot analysis in co-cultured HepG2 and LX-2 cell lines showed that α-SMA and TGF-β1 protein expression decreased. The data demonstrated that vaspin acts as a novel regulator of hepatocyte steatosis through the GRP78 receptor, effectively reducing hepatocyte fibrosis through AMPK activation and decreasing NF-κB gene expression.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Liver and Digestive Research Center and Cellular and Molecular Research Center. We would like to express special thanks to Dr. Asadollah Mohammadi and Dr. Vahideh Asadollahi for their consultation and cooperation during this work.

Funding

This study was funded by grants provided by Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (Effect of vaspin adipokine on steatosis and fibrosis signaling pathway in liver cells; grant/award/proposal number: IR.MUK.REC.1397/46).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Alina Abdolahi

  2. Liver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Pasdaran St, 6617713446, Sanandaj, Iran

    Zakaria Vahabzadeh & Mohammad Raman Moloudi

  3. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical, Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Esmael Izadpanah

Authors
  1. Alina Abdolahi
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  2. Zakaria Vahabzadeh
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  3. Esmael Izadpanah
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  4. Mohammad Raman Moloudi
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Contributions

Alina Abdolahi carried out the experiments, processed the experimental data, performed the analysis, co-wrote the original draft, and critically revised the manuscript. Zakaria Vahabzadeh supervised, reviewed, and processed the experimental data and edited the manuscript. Esmael Izadpanah processed the experimental data, reviewed the manuscript, and made suggestions for revision. Mohammad Raman Moloudi designed, supervised, and processed the experimental data, performed the analysis, co-wrote the original draft, and critically revised the manuscript. This manuscript was read and approved by all authors. The authors declare that all data were generated in-house and that no paper mill was used.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Raman Moloudi.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Key Points

• GRP78 acts as a vaspin receptor in HepG2 cells.

• Blocking the GRP78 receptor with GRP78 antibodies reduces the protective effects of vaspin.

• Vaspin has anti-steatosis and anti-inflammatory effects due to fatty acid deposition.

• Vaspin reduces the protein expression involved in fibrosis.

Esmael Izadpanah is the co-last author.

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Abdolahi, A., Vahabzadeh, Z., Izadpanah, E. et al. Vaspin attenuates steatosis-induced fibrosis via GRP78 receptor by targeting AMPK signaling pathway. J Physiol Biochem 78, 185–197 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-021-00852-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-021-00852-7

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