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Gene Expression Profiling and Biofunction Analysis of HepG2 Cells Targeted by Crocetin.
Yi-Ling Wen1, Yong Li1, Guangcheng Zhu1
1Lab of Food Function and Nutrigenomics, College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
Mediators of Inflammation
|April 19, 2021
Summary
Crocetin from Gardenia jasminoides impacts gene expression in liver cells. This study reveals its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism, offering insights into its therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacogenomics
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Crocetin, a carotenoid from Gardenia jasminoides, is a traditional Chinese medicine with diverse therapeutic uses.
- Understanding crocetin's molecular mechanisms is crucial for its medicinal applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the effects of crocetin on gene expression profiles in HepG2 cells.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms behind crocetin's biofunctions using bioinformatics.
Main Methods:
- RNA-sequencing assay to profile gene expression changes.
- Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses for functional enrichment.
- Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction using STRING and Cytoscape.
- RT-qPCR validation of transcriptome data.
Main Results:
- Crocetin significantly altered the expression of 491 upregulated and 283 downregulated genes (≥2-fold change).
- Enriched pathways include cell proliferation, apoptosis, lipid formation, and growth factor signaling.
- KEGG analysis highlighted regulation of transcriptional misregulation, ABC transporters, and notably, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- A core network of 21 proteins was identified, and RT-qPCR confirmed transcriptome sequencing accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Crocetin modulates key cellular processes in HepG2 cells, including metabolism and apoptosis.
- The study provides comprehensive data on crocetin's hepatic targets and biofunctions.
- Findings support crocetin's potential in managing diseases related to hepatic metabolism and immune pathways like SLE.
