Evaluation of the Effect of Curcumin Analog on Lipid Accumulation and SIRT1 and FAS Genes Expression in HepG2 Cells

Non- alcoholic fatty liver is a disease that will lead to liver cirrhosis if not treated. Curcumin is the active substance of the rhizome of the turmeric plant, which has antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc. properties. In the present study, the effects of curcumin analog on the expression of SIRT1 and FAS genes and the accumulation of triglycerides in fatty HepG2 cells (fatty liver model) have been investigated.

In this experimental study, after cultivating HepG2 cells in the right medium and conditions, the MTT test is used to choose the right dose for curcumin and it’s analog. After oiling the cells and treating them with the desired compounds, RNA was extracted and cDNA was made. Then, in order to investigate the effect of curcumin and its analog on the expression of SIRT1 and FAS genes, Real- Time PCR was used. SIRT1 activity was measured using a fluorometric kit and intracellular triglyceride levels were also measured using a triglyceride detection kit. And finally, the results were analyzed with t- test and one-way Anova statistical methods with p-value < 0.05.

As a result of the treatment of HepG2 fatty cells (fatty liver model) with Cur, the relative expression of SIRT1 gene (1.52 ± 0.8) and its enzyme activity (2.1 ± 0.7) increased significantly compared to the control group (for gene expression: 0.9 ± 1.79 and for enzyme activity: 0.8 ± 1.66). On the other hand, the relative expression of the FAS gene (0.6 ± 1.69) compared to the control group (0.8 ± 2.03), as well as the accumulated triglycerides in these cells, and has decreased significantly. Also, in the group treated with FCur compared to the control group, the level of SIRT1 gene expression (2.76 ± 1.16) and enzyme activity (3.2 ± 1.21) increased significantly, and the level of FAS gene expression (0.2 ± 1.1) decreased significantly compared to the control group. The increase in SIRT1 enzyme activity in the FCur group has increased more compared to Cur, and the decrease in FAS gene expression in the treatment of cells with FCur has been significantly higher compared to Cur. The reduction of intracellular lipid was somewhat higher in the treatment with FCur compared to the treatment with Cur. (In all evaluations, p-value < 0.01 for curcumin and p-value < 0.001 for its derivative).

It seems that curcumin analog (FCur) can be used as a medicinal supplement in the treatment of fatty liver, along with other common treatment methods, due to its wide range of pharmacological activities, including its effects on lipid metabolism in the liver.