Title:Deoxycholic and Ursodeoxycholic Acid Differentially Impact Cellular Steatosis
and Lipid Peroxidation in Cultured Hepatoma Cells
Volume: 1
Author(s): Laura Vergani, Francesca Baldini, Mohamad Khalil, Nadia Serale, Jacek Baj, Agostino Di Ciaula and Piero Portincasa*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and
Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro” Medical School, Bari, Italy
Keywords:
Bile acids, hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, oxidative stress, antioxidant effect, lipid dysmetabolism.
Abstract:
Background: Bile acids (BAs) are the major lipid components of bile. They are synthesized
from cholesterol in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. BAs have gained attention as drug candidates
to control obesity and/or diabetic condition due to their role in lipid and glucose metabolism.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antisteatotic and antioxidant potential of deoxycholic acid
(DCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), two BAs with opposite physico-chemical features.
Methods: Different concentrations of DCA and UDCA in the micromolar range were tested on cultured
hepatoma cells after loading with an excess of fatty acids to mimic non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD) in vitro. Experimental analyses included cell viability, lipid accumulation and lipid
peroxidation in steatotic hepatocytes before and after exposure to either DCA or UDCA.
Results: Both UDCA and DCA improved lipid dysmetabolism and oxidative stress conditions in the
steatotic hepatocytes. However, while UDCA was more effective as lipid lowering agent, DCA
showed a greater antioxidant effect.
Conclusion: UDCA seems to have better protective and beneficial potential than DCA, as it is able
to both alleviate lipid accumulation in the steatotic liver cells, but also to play antioxidant effect.
