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Silymarin Protects Against Chemical Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Liver Cells
Author(s) -
Stover Jessica,
Dickey Angela,
Cox Rebecca,
Wei Yuren,
Wang Dong,
Pagliassotti Michael
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.717.18
Subject(s) - unfolded protein response , endoplasmic reticulum , tunicamycin , thapsigargin , silybum marianum , xbp1 , downregulation and upregulation , fatty liver , chemistry , endocrinology , pharmacology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , traditional medicine , disease , rna , rna splicing , gene
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) are present in the liver of obese humans and may be involved in disease progression in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Silymarin (Sil) is the collective name for an extract from the milk thistle, Silybum marianum. Sil provides protection against such liver insults as carbon tetrachloride‐induced lipid peroxidation and lipid‐induced cell death. The present study was designed to investigate whether Sil influenced ER stress and UPR activation in response to chemical agents that promote the accumulation of unfolded proteins, thapsigargin (Th) and tunicamycin (Tu). H4IIE liver cells (n=7) were incubated in a control media (Con) or Con that contained either Th or Tu in the absence or presence of 100 µM Sil. In the absence of Sil, Th and Tu increased several biochemical markers of ER stress and UPR activation (7‐57 fold increase vs Con). The presence of Sil reduced Th‐ and Tu‐induced upregulation of these biochemical markers of ER stress and UPR activation by 43‐88%. The ability of Silymarin to reduce chemical‐induction of ER stress suggests that Silymarin may have therapeutic value in disease states characterized by ER stress, such as obesity and NAFLD.