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Trivalent Chromium Supplementation Ameliorates Oleic Acid-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice

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Abstract

Trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] is recognized as an essential trace element for human health, whereas its effect on hepatic lipid metabolism has not yet been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects and potential mechanisms of Cr(III) on hepatic steatosis in an oleic acid (OA) induced mice model. Mice were fed with high OA for 12 weeks to induce lipid accumulation, and co-administrated with Cr(III) supplementation. Indexes of liver lipid accumulation, associated lipid genes expression, fatty acids (FAs) profile and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. The data showed that Cr(III) supplementation could attenuate disease progress of hepatic steatosis and protect liver from high OA. After Cr(III) supplementation, elevated body weight and liver injury in steatosis mice were reversed, excessive lipid accumulation and FAs were also reduced. The up-regulation of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) following steatosis induction were inhibited by Cr(III). Cr(III) reduced the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α, IL-12) and restored the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) to the control values. Our results suggest that Cr(III) supplementation is a novel strategy for alleviating OA-induced hepatic steatosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671309), and the Opening Project of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence (2016XCWZK13).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Song Wang, Jian Wang, Yajing Liu & Ping Shi

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No 1 Road, Shanghai, 200083, China

    Hui Li & Wenbin Liu

  3. College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 Renmin Road, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Qiao Wang & Zhiwei Huang

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  1. Song Wang
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  2. Jian Wang
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Wang, S., Wang, J., Liu, Y. et al. Trivalent Chromium Supplementation Ameliorates Oleic Acid-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 187, 192–201 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1368-0

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