PAT protein mRNA expression in primary rat hepatocytes: Effects of exposure to fatty acids

Excess energy is stored as neutral lipids in lipid droplets (LDs) whose surface is coated by PAT proteins, each playing a distinct cellular function. The adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP) and tail-interacting protein (TIP47) are expressed almost ubiquitously, whereas the oxidative tissue-enriched PAT protein (OXPAT) is expressed in specific tissues, such as the liver In rat liver, only ADRP expression has been documented This study was aimed at identifying OXPAT and TIP47 transcripts in rat hepatocytes. and investigating how their expression is modulated by excess lipids, using fat-enriched hepatocytes to mimic different degrees of steatosis Primary rat hepatocytes were exposed to fatty acids (FFAs) for 12, 24 and 36 h Lipid accumulation was estimated by spectrophotometric quantification of triacyglycerol Expression of PAT proteins its well its of PPAR gamma Was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Hepatocytes exposed to FFAs showed progressive lipid accumulation. The increase In 111)1(1 Content was associated with the induction of PAT protein expression At 12 h. OXPAT and TIP47 mRNA expression was up-regulated At longer times. the level of OXPAT transcripts remained high, whereas that of TIP47 Slowly declined Conversely. ADRP expression showed it time-dependent increase with exposure to FFAs This study demonstrates. for the first time, the presence of OXPAT and TIP47 transcripts in rat hepatocytes, as well as their up-regulation with lipid accumulation. The distinct time courses observed for the three PAT proteins during FFA exposure might reflect the different roles played by each protein in lipid metabolism In the hepatocyte Up-regulation of TIP47 and OXPAT might represent an early response to excess lipids, while in correspondence with a lipid overload, up-regulation of ADRP could address lipids towards storage.