title: Palmitate induces TRB3 expression and promotes apoptosis in human liver cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is a major complication for patients who require long-term parenteral nutrition. Treatment options for PNALD are limited and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) is a pseudokinase that modulates many signal transduction cascades and may be involved in the pathogenesis of PNALD. The aim of this study was to examine the role of TRB3 in palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in the human liver cell line L02.
  
  
  METHODS
  L02 cells were treated with palmitate, and its effect on cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis and TRB3 expression were assessed. The role of TRB3 was also studied using transient overexpression of TRB3 in L02 cells, as well as its interaction with Akt signaling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that palmitate induced ER stress and apoptosis in L02 cells. Palmitate-associated ER stress was accompanied by a significant induction of TRB3 expression at the mRNA and protein level. Overexpression of TRB3 potentiated the deleterious effects of palmitate, which was associated with decreased levels of phospho-Akt.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TRB3 is an important mediator of palmitate-induced apoptosis in human liver cells, suggesting that it may also be involved in the molecular mechanism underlying PNALD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Weihui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C474831:TRIB3 protein, human; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases