Research Article Details
Article ID: | A44262 |
PMID: | 29207074 |
Source: | Mol Med Rep |
Title: | Establishment of a novel hepatic steatosis cell model by Cas9/sgRNA-mediated DGKθ gene knockout. |
Abstract: | To investigate the role of diacylglycerol kinase θ (DGKθ) in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, the present study generated an in vitro hepatic steatosis cell model by knockout of the DGKθ gene in liver cancer cell line HepG2 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The cell line was characterized by Oil Red O staining and shown to exhibit increased intracellular lipid accumulation, compared with that in wild‑type liver cancer cell line HepG2. The gene expression levels of signaling proteins in pathways involved in lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis were also examined. The DGKθ‑knockout HepG2 cells showed increased mRNA and protein expression levels of lipid synthesis‑related genes, fatty acid synthase, peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor‑γ and sterol regulatory element‑binding protein‑1c, and decreased expression levels of the lipolysis‑related gene, carnitine palmitoyltransferase1A. These changes may account for the increased intracellular lipid content of this cell line. The DGKθ‑knockout HepG2 cells also exhibited an increased phosphorylation level of protein kinase Cε and decreased phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor substrate 1, mechanistic target of rapamycin and protein kinase B (also known as Akt). These changes have been reported to mediate insulin resistance. Taken together, an in vitro hepatic steatosis cell model was established in the present study, providing a valuable tool for understanding the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and associated insulin resistance, and for developing treatment strategies for this disease. |
DOI: | 10.3892/mmr.2017.8140 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D612 | Rapamycin | Miscellany | -- | Immunosuppressants; Methylmalonyl CoA mutase stimulants; MTOR protein inhibitors; T lymphocyte inhibitors | -- | Under investigation | Details |
D201 | L-Carnitine | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D062 | Carnitine complex | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |