Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan.
Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Genetic Counseling Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970374, Taiwan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Oct 18;23(20):12485. doi: 10.3390/ijms232012485.
Nobiletin, a dietary citrus flavonoid, exerts biological activities against hyperlipidemia, obesity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). The aim of this study was to explore the lipid-lowering effects of nobiletin and the underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro in hepatic cells and in vivo in zebrafish models. Transcriptome and gene ontology (GO) analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that a set of twenty-eight core enrichment DEGs associated with "GO BP regulation of lipid metabolic process" (GO: 0019216) were significantly downregulated in nobiletin-treated cells. Among these genes, angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3), an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity that regulates TG-rich lipoprotein (TGRL) metabolism in circulation, was the protein most markedly downregulated by nobiletin. Nobiletin (20 and 40 μM) significantly reduced the levels of ANGPTL3 mRNA and intracellular and secreted ANGPTL3 proteins in hepatic cell lines. Furthermore, alleviation of secreted ANGPTL3 production by nobiletin was found to reinstate LPL catalytic activity. Nobiletin significantly inhibited ANGPTL3 promoter activity and attenuated the transcription factor liver X receptor-α (LXRα)-mediated ANGPTL3 transcription. Molecular docking analysis predicted that nobiletin could bind to the ligand-binding domain of LXRα, thereby counteracting LXRα activation. In animal studies, orally administered nobiletin significantly alleviated the levels of plasma triglycerides (TGs) and cholesterol in zebrafish fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, nobiletin significantly reduced the amounts of hepatic ANGPTL3 protein in zebrafish. Our findings suggest that nobiletin may regulate the LXRα-ANGPTL3-LPL axis and exhibit lipid-modulating effects in vitro and in vivo. Thus, nobiletin is a potential ANGPTL3 inhibitor for the regulation of lipid metabolism to ameliorate dyslipidemia and ASCVDs.
川陈皮素是一种膳食类黄酮,具有抗高血脂、肥胖和动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病(ASCVDs)的生物学活性。本研究旨在探讨川陈皮素在体外肝细胞和体内斑马鱼模型中的降脂作用及其潜在的分子机制。通过基因集富集分析(GSEA)对差异表达基因(DEGs)的转录组和基因本体(GO)分析表明,一组与“GO:BP 脂质代谢过程的调节”(GO:0019216)相关的 28 个核心富集 DEGs 在川陈皮素处理的细胞中显著下调。在这些基因中,血管生成素样 3(ANGPTL3)是脂蛋白脂肪酶(LPL)活性的抑制剂,调节循环中甘油三酯(TG)丰富的脂蛋白(TGRL)代谢,是川陈皮素下调最显著的蛋白质。川陈皮素(20 和 40 μM)显著降低了肝细胞系中 ANGPTL3 mRNA 及细胞内和分泌型 ANGPTL3 蛋白的水平。此外,发现川陈皮素减轻了分泌型 ANGPTL3 的产生,从而恢复了 LPL 的催化活性。川陈皮素显著抑制 ANGPTL3 启动子活性,并减弱了转录因子肝 X 受体-α(LXRα)介导的 ANGPTL3 转录。分子对接分析预测,川陈皮素可以与 LXRα 的配体结合域结合,从而拮抗 LXRα 的激活。在动物研究中,口服给予川陈皮素可显著降低高脂饮食喂养的斑马鱼血浆甘油三酯(TGs)和胆固醇水平。此外,川陈皮素还显著降低了斑马鱼肝脏中 ANGPTL3 蛋白的含量。我们的研究结果表明,川陈皮素可能通过调节 LXRα-ANGPTL3-LPL 轴,在体外和体内发挥调节脂质代谢的作用。因此,川陈皮素是一种潜在的 ANGPTL3 抑制剂,可用于调节脂质代谢,改善血脂异常和 ASCVDs。