Induction of Lipin1 by ROS-Dependent SREBP-2 Activation

Lipin1 was identified as a phosphatidate phosphatase enzyme, and it plays a key role in lipid metabolism. Since free radicals contribute to metabolic diseases in the liver, this study investigated the effects of free radicals on the regulation of Lipin1 expression in Huh7 and AML12 cells. Hydrogen peroxide induced mRNA and protein expression of Lipin1 in Huh7 cells, which was assayed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. Induction of Lipin1 by hydrogen peroxide was confirmed in AML12 cells. Hydrogen peroxide treatment significantly increased expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2, but not SREBP-1. Moreover, nuclear translocation of SREBP-2 was detected after hydrogen peroxide treatment. Hydrogen peroxide-induced Lipin1 or SREBP-2 expression was significantly reduced by N-acetyl-l-cysteine treatment, indicating that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were implicated in Lipin1 expression. Next, we investigated whether the hypoxic environments that cause endogenous ROS production in mitochondria in metabolic diseases affect the expression of Lipin1. Exposure to hypoxia also increased Lipin1 expression. In contrast, pretreatment with antioxidants attenuated hypoxia-induced Lipin1 expression. Collectively, our results show that ROS activate SREBP-2, which induces Lipin1 expression.