1. Academic Validation
  2. PPARα is one of the key targets for dendrobine to improve hepatic steatosis in NAFLD

PPARα is one of the key targets for dendrobine to improve hepatic steatosis in NAFLD

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 1:323:117684. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117684.
Yanzhe Xu 1 Miao Wang 2 Yi Luo 1 Hao Liu 3 Hua Ling 4 Yuqi He 5 Yanliu Lu 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China; Guizhou Engineering Research Center of Industrial Key-technology for Dendrobium Nobile, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China.
  • 2 Department of Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
  • 3 The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Intersection of Xinlong Avenue and Xinpu Avenue, Honghuagang District, Zunyi, 563009, China.
  • 4 School of Pharmacy, Georgia Campus-Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 625 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Suwanee, GA, 30024, USA.
  • 5 Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China; Guizhou Engineering Research Center of Industrial Key-technology for Dendrobium Nobile, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China. Electronic address: yqhe.pharm@foxmail.com.
  • 6 Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China; Guizhou Engineering Research Center of Industrial Key-technology for Dendrobium Nobile, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 6 West Xue-Fu Road, Zunyi, 563009, China. Electronic address: yanliu.lu@foxmail.com.
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (DNL) is a traditional Chinese ethnobotanical herb. Dendrobine (DNE) has been designated as a quality indicator for DNL in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. DNE exhibits various pharmacological activities, including the reduction of blood lipids, regulation of blood sugar levels, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Aim of the study: The objective of this study is to explore the impact of DNE on lipid degeneration in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver cells and elucidate its specific mechanism. The findings aim to offer theoretical support for the development of drugs related to DNL.

Materials and methods: We utilized male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6 weeks old, to establish a NAFLD model. This model allowed us to assess the impact of DNE on liver pathology and lipid levels in NAFLD mice. We investigated the mechanism of DNE's regulation of lipid metabolism through RNA-seq analysis. Furthermore, a NAFLD model was established using HepG2 cells to further evaluate the impact of DNE on the pathological changes of NAFLD liver cells. The potential mechanism of DNE's improvement was rapidly elucidated using HT-qPCR technology. These results were subsequently validated using mouse liver samples. Following the in vitro activation or inhibition of PPARα function, we observed changes in DNE's ability to ameliorate pathological changes in NAFLD hepatocytes. This mechanism was further verified through RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis.

Results: DNE demonstrated a capacity to enhance serum TC, TG, and liver TG levels in mice, concurrently mitigating liver lipid degeneration. RNA-seq analysis unveiled that DNE primarily modulates the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways in mouse liver. Utilizing HT-qPCR technology, it was observed that DNE markedly regulates the expression of genes associated with the PPAR signaling pathway in liver cells. Consistency was observed in the in vivo data, where DNE significantly up-regulated the expression of PPARα mRNA and its protein level in mouse liver. Additionally, the expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes (ACOX1, CPT2, HMGCS2, LPL), regulated by PPARα, was significantly elevated following DNE treatment. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that DNE notably ameliorated lipid deposition, peroxidation, and inflammation levels in NAFLD hepatocytes, particularly when administered in conjunction with fenofibrate. Notably, the PPARα Inhibitor GW6471 attenuated these effects of DNE.

Conclusions: In summary, DNE exerts its influence on the expression of genes associated with downstream fat metabolism by regulating PPARα. This regulatory mechanism enhances liver lipid metabolism, mitigates lipid degeneration in hepatocytes, and ultimately ameliorates the pathological changes in NAFLD hepatocytes.

Keywords

Dendrobine; Lipid metabolism; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha.

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