Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Alisol G(AG) in improving lipid metabolism disorder in HepG2 cells fat accumulation model using lipidomics.
METHODS HepG2 cells fat accumulation model was constructed using free fatty acids(FFA) solution(oleic acid∶palmitic acid=2∶1). After intervention with AG, oil red O staining was performed, and the relative lipid content, triglycerides(TG) content, and total cholesterol(TC) content in the cells were measured, respectively. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) techniques was applied to analyze the changes in the cellular lipid composition and the effects of lipid metabolism pathways.The mechanism of the effect of AG on lipid metabolism of HepG2 cells was predicted by network pharmacology, and the binding ability of AG to key targets was verified by molecular docking technology.
RESULTS 5 µmol·L−1(P<0.05) and 10 µmol·L−1(P<0.01) of AG significantly inhibited the lipid content in the FFA induced HepG2 cells fat accumulation model, and significantly reduced the levels of TG and TC(P<0.01). 16 potential differential lipid metabolites including glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterols, were identified through Lipidomics analysis, which mainly affect the process of fat accumulation in HepG2 cells through the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway. Network pharmacologic analysis identified PPARG, PPARA, ESR1, AKT1, AKT2, PIK3CA and other key targets, suggesting that these targets play a key role in the improvement of lipid metabolism disorders by AG. Molecular docking results showed that the lowest binding energy between AG and these key targets was −6.0 kcal·mol−1, indicating that AG has high affinity with key targets and high drug activity.
CONCLUSION Lipid deposit in the HepG2 cells fat accumulation model was alleviated by AG. AG might have the potential to improve lipid metabolism disorders by affecting the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. The main characteristic differential lipid metabolites were glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterol lipids. The mechanism may also play a role in regulating lipid metabolism disorders through multiple key targets such as AKT1, AKT2, PPARG, PPARA, and various signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT.