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Updated: May 28, 2025
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Measurement of Fatty Acid β-Oxidation in a Suspension of Freshly Isolated Mouse Hepatocytes
Published on: September 9, 2021
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Short-Term Fasting Induces Hepatocytes' Stress Response and Increases Their Resilience
Patrik Prša1, Izak Patrik Miller1, Barbara Kramar1
1Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 13, 2025
Summary
A single fasting episode triggers a stress response in liver cells (hepatocytes). This response, mediated by hydrogen peroxide, prevents apoptosis initiation and persists even after cell isolation, offering insights into cellular resilience.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Metabolic Adaptations
- Stress Response
Background:
- Mammals exhibit evolutionary adaptations to fasting and feeding cycles due to variable food availability.
- Understanding cellular responses to fasting is crucial for interpreting research and developing clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of a single fasting episode in triggering stress responses in rat liver hepatocytes.
- Determine if these stress responses persist in isolated hepatocytes.
- Characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms, including the role of hydrogen peroxide.
Main Methods:
- Compared hepatocytes from fasted and ad libitum-fed rats.
- Measured staurosporine-induced apoptosis, stress signaling, and oxidative/antioxidant responses.
- Assessed the effect of glucose oxidase on isolated hepatocytes.
Main Results:
- Fasting induced a stress response in hepatocytes that prevented caspase-9 activation.
- This fasting-induced stress response persisted in isolated hepatocytes.
- Hydrogen peroxide was identified as a second messenger mediating this protective effect.
Conclusions:
- A single fasting episode primes hepatocytes with a protective stress response via hydrogen peroxide, reducing apoptosis.
- This mechanism is relevant for interpreting animal and cell research and has potential clinical applications for increasing cell resilience.
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