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Role of Betaine Homocysteine Methyltransferase in Regulating Lipid Metabolism in McArdle RH7777 Cells
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- Author / Creator
- Ab Aziz, Nusaibah
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. It is a clinical pathological state characterized by the accumulation of triacylglycerol (TG) in hepatocytes. It can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and in some cases to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that increased betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) activity protects the liver from excess TG accumulation. BHMT is highly expressed in liver and is important for the synthesis of methionine, an intermediate of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). The ability of BHMT to regulate hepatic lipid metabolism has been documented, but the precise mechanism is not completely clear. Here we show that expression of rat BHMT1 or BHMT2 in McArdle RH7777 rat hepatoma cells reduces intracellular TG content. Reduction in TG was associated with downregulation of key genes involved in de novo biosynthesis of TG, increased β-oxidation and possibly altered glucose metabolism. This thesis affirms the important role of BHMT in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and provides potential mechanisms by which BHMT prevents hepatic TG accumulation and to our knowledge, this is the first report to show a potential metabolic role for BHMT2 with respect to lipid metabolism.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2013
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.