2. Academic Validation
  3. Si-Ni-San Reduces Hepatic Lipid Deposition in Rats with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease by AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway

Si-Ni-San Reduces Hepatic Lipid Deposition in Rats with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease by AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway

  • Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023 Oct 3:17:3047-3060. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S417378.
Ning Zhang # 1,  Tong Liu # 1,  Jianan Wang # 2,  Yingying Xiao 1,  Ying Zhang 1,  Jun Dai 1,  Zhihong Ma 1 3,  Donglai Ma 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People's Republic of China.
  • 4 School of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People's Republic of China.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 37808345 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S417378
Abstract

Background: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic disease characterized by excessive lipid deposition in the liver without alcohol or Other clear liver-damaging factors. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/silencing information regulator (SIRT)1 signaling pathway plays an important role in MAFLD development. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats, however, the underlying mechanisms of SNS are barely understood.

Purpose: The aim of this research was to investigate the mechanisms of SNS in reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats by regulating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathways.

Methods: The components of SNS were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. MAFLD rats were induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD), and treated by SNS. SNS-containing serum and Compound C (AMPK Inhibitor) were used to treat palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells. To elucidate the potential mechanism, lipid synthesis-related proteins (SREBP-1c and FAS), fatty acid oxidation (PPARα and CPT-1), and AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway (p-AMPK and SIRT1) were assessed by Western blot.

Results: SNS improved serum lipid levels, liver function and reduced hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats. SNS-containing serum reduced lipid deposition in PA-induced HepG2 cells. SNS could up-regulate protein expressions of PPARα, CPT-1, p-AMPK and SIRT1, and down-regulate protein expressions of SREBP-1c and FAS. Similar effects of SNS-containing serum were observed in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, Compound C weakened the therapeutic effects of SNS-containing serum on lipid deposition.

Conclusion: SNS could reduce hepatic lipid deposition by inhibiting lipid synthesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation, which might be related with activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This study could provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of SNS to treat MAFLD.

Keywords

AMPK; MAFLD; Si-Ni-San; fatty acid oxidation; lipid deposition; lipid synthesis.

Figures
Products