First Author | Shen L | Year | 2014 |
Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 289 |
Issue | 34 | Pages | 23332-42 |
PubMed ID | 24993831 | Mgi Jnum | J:320773 |
Mgi Id | MGI:6834139 | Doi | 10.1074/jbc.M113.526343 |
Citation | Shen L, et al. (2014) Hepatic differentiated embryo-chondrocyte-expressed gene 1 (Dec1) inhibits sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c) expression and alleviates fatty liver phenotype. J Biol Chem 289(34):23332-42 |
abstractText | Hepatic steatosis, characterized by ectopic hepatic triglyceride accumulation, is considered as the early manifestation of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Increased SREBP-1c level and activity contribute to excessive hepatic triglyceride accumulation in NAFLD patients; however, negative regulators of Srebp-1c are not well defined. In this study, we show that Dec1, a critical regulator of circadian rhythm, negatively regulates hepatic Srebp-1c expression. Hepatic Dec1 expression levels are markedly decreased in NAFLD mouse models. Restored Dec1 gene expression levels in NAFLD mouse livers decreased the expression of Srebp-1c and lipogenic genes, subsequently ameliorating the fatty liver phenotype. Conversely, knockdown of Dec1 expression by an adenovirus expressing Dec1-specific shRNA led to an increase in hepatic TG content in normal mouse livers. Correspondingly, expression levels of lipogenic genes, including Srebp-1c, Fas, and Acc, were increased in livers of mice with Dec1 knockdown. Moreover, a functional lipogenesis assay suggested that Dec1 overexpression repressed lipid synthesis in primary hepatocytes. Finally, a luciferase reporter gene assay indicates that DEC1 inhibits Srebp-1c gene transcription via the E-box mapped to the promoter region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that DEC1 proteins bound to the identified E-box element. Our studies indicate that DEC1 is an important regulator of Srebp-1c expression and links circadian rhythm to hepatic lipogenesis. Activation of Dec1 can alleviate the nonalcoholic fatty liver phenotype. |