Roles of adipose tissue in survival, proliferation, differentiation and lipotoxicity of hepatocytes

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461001
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Akita University (2014-2015); Saga University (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Nishijima Aki 秋田大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (40566105)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Toda Shuji 佐賀大学, 医学部, 教授 (80188755)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脂肪毒性 / 脂肪組織 / 肝細胞 / アポトーシス / NAFLD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research has shown that visceral, but not subctaneous adipose tissue promotes apoptosis and lipid droplet deposition of hepatocytes together with the inhibition of the growth and differentiation. That is, visceral adipose tissue promotes lipotoxicity of hepatocytes. Our results support the clinical findinf that metabolic syndrome based on visceral fat accumulation is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Our study has demonstrated that the free fatty acid palmitate may be involved in the lipotoxicity of hepatocytes partially.

Free Research Field

医学、病理学、肝臓病学