Effects of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Androgen Receptor on Lipid Metabolism in HepG2 Cells

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR) and androgen receptor(AR) on lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells.

METHODS HepG2 cells were divided into Control group, 6-formylindolo3,2-bcarbazole(FICZ, AhR agonist) group, dihydrotestosterone(DHT, AR agonist) group, and FICZ+DHT group. HepG2 cells were given 1 μmol·L⁻¹ FICZ and 1 μmol·L⁻¹ DHT according to the groups. Kits were used to detect the levels of TG, TC and LDL-C. Oil red O staining was used to detect lipid content, and Nile Red staining was used to detect lipid fluorescence intensity. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of cholesterol synthesis-related proteins3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2(SREBP2), liver X receptor alpha(LXRα) and fatty acid synthesis-related proteinsCCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha(C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1).

RESULTS Compared with the Control group, lipid content in HepG2 cells increased in the FICZ group but decreased in the DHT group. Compared with the FICZ group, the lipid content in HepG2 cells in the FICZ+DHT group decreased. Compared with the Control group, the expression of HMGCR, SREBP2 and LXRα proteins increased in the FICZ group but decreased in the DHT group. Compared with the FICZ group, the expression of HMGCR, SREBP2 and LXRα proteins in the FICZ+DHT group decreased. Compared with the Control group, the expression of SCD1, C/EBPα and PPARγ proteins increased in the FICZ group but decreased in the DHT group. Compared with the FICZ group, the expression of SCD1, C/EBPα, and PPARγ proteins in the FICZ+DHT group decreased.

CONCLUSION AhR and AR interact with each other and their effects on lipid metabolism are antagonistic.