title: Regulation of acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2 expression by saturated fatty acids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT 2), which is associated with cholesterol metabolism, by saturated fatty acids (SFAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Palmitic acid (PA), the most abundant saturated fatty acid in plasma, and oleic acid (OA), a widely distributed unsaturated fatty acid, were used to treat hepatic cells HepG2, HuH7, and mouse primary hepatocytes. In addition, PA at different concentrations and PA treatment at different durations were applied in HepG2 cells. In in vivo experiment, three-month male C57/BL6 mice were fed with control diet and SFA diet containing hydrogenated coconut oil rich of SFAs. The mRNA level of ACAT2 in those hepatic cells and the mouse livers was detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the three types of hepatic cells treated with PA, that SFA induced significant increase of ACAT2 expression (Pü0.01), whereas treatment with OA showed no significant effect. That effect of PA was noticed gradually rising along with the increase of PA concentration and the extension of PA treatment duration (both Pü0.05). SFA diet feeding in mice resulted in a short-term and transient increase of ACAT2 expression in vivo, with a peak level appearing in the mice fed with SFA diet for two days (Pü0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFA may regulate ACAT2 expression in human and mouse hepatic cells and in mouse livers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu-qin
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hou-zao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rui-feng
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu-yan
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De-pei
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chih-chuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097587:Sterol O-Acyltransferase 2
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D000097587:Sterol O-Acyltransferase 2