Palmitate induces TRB3 expression and promotes apoptosis in human liver cells

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is a major complication for patients who require long-term parenteral nutrition. Treatment options for PNALD are limited and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) is a pseudokinase that modulates many signal transduction cascades and may be involved in the pathogenesis of PNALD. The aim of this study was to examine the role of TRB3 in palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in the human liver cell line L02.

L02 cells were treated with palmitate, and its effect on cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis and TRB3 expression were assessed. The role of TRB3 was also studied using transient overexpression of TRB3 in L02 cells, as well as its interaction with Akt signaling.

We found that palmitate induced ER stress and apoptosis in L02 cells. Palmitate-associated ER stress was accompanied by a significant induction of TRB3 expression at the mRNA and protein level. Overexpression of TRB3 potentiated the deleterious effects of palmitate, which was associated with decreased levels of phospho-Akt.

TRB3 is an important mediator of palmitate-induced apoptosis in human liver cells, suggesting that it may also be involved in the molecular mechanism underlying PNALD.