title: Lipid lowering effects of Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon) in HIV-1-protease inhibitor-treated human hepatoma cells, HepG2.
abstract: 1. Hyperlipidemic effects of HIV-1-protease inhibitors (PI) are associated with increased hepatic production of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins, rather than lipoprotein clearance. PI are known to increase apolipoprotein B (apoB) secretion, apoC-III mRNA expression and decrease apoA-1 secretion. Nutritional therapy remains an important strategy to manage PI-associated hyperlipidemia. 2. This study investigated the in vitro efficacy of Asian vegetable, Momordica charantia or bitter melon (BM) to ameliorate PI-associated apoB and lipid abnormalities in HepG2 cells. 3. Our study demonstrates that bitter melon juice (BMJ) significantly reduced apoB secretion and apoC-III mRNA expression and normalized apoA-I expression in PI-treated HepG2 cells. BMJ also significantly reduced cellular TG and microsomal TG transfer protein, suggesting that lipid bioavailability and lipidation of apoB assembly may play a role in decreased apoB secretion. 4. Identifying molecular targets of BM may offer alternative dietary strategies to decrease PI-associated hyperlipidemia and improve quality of life among HIV-1-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders and Alternative Medicine, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Room 415H, East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. pratibha@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Pratibha V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Nerurkar
authors.forename: Yun Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ellen H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Vivek R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Nerurkar
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics; D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III / Q000235:genetics; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D029777:Momordica charantia; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D017931:DNA Primers; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger