Aging impairs the hepatic subcellular distribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/feeding in rats: Implications on hepatic steatosis

• Published in: Experimental gerontology 2015-09, Vol.69, p.9-19
• Main Authors: Salamanca, Aurora, Bárcena, Brenda, Arribas, Carmen, Fernández-Agulló, Teresa, Martínez, Carmen, Carrascosa, José Ma, Ros, Manuel, Andrés, Antonio, Gallardo, Nilda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Aging - metabolism; Animals; Cerebellar Nuclei - physiology; ChREBP; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Eating - physiology; Fasting - metabolism; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Hepatic steatosis; Insulin resistance; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Liver - metabolism; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - metabolism; Nutritional adaptation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Signal Transduction - physiology; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 - metabolism; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.05.009

Aging is associated with alterations of lipid metabolism and increased prevalence of non alcoholic hepatic steatosis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which fat is accumulated in the liver during aging remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated potential alterations that might contribute to the development of hepatic steatosis with aging. To this end, we analyzed the expression and the subcellular localization of key transcriptional factors involved in lipid metabolism such as ChREBP, Foxo1, Foxa2 and SREBP-1c in the liver of 3- and 24-month old Wistar rats. In addition, we studied the intracellular redistribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/refeeding transition. Old rats were characterized by hepatic steatosis, low serum ketone body levels and postprandial hyperinsulinemia. These observations were paralleled by the cytoplasmic localization and decreased expression of Foxa2, while ChREBP expression was markedly up-regulated and mainly localized in the nucleus. Consequently, the expression of lipogenic and β-oxidation genes was up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively. Besides, the intracellular redistribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/refeeding transition was also impaired in old animals. Additionally, a negative correlation between serum ketone body levels and the nuclear localization of ChREBP was observed only in adult but not in old rats. Taken together, these data suggest that an age-related dysfunctional adaptation of ChREBP, in response to changes in the nutritional state, might contribute to the development of liver steatosis with aging. •Hepatic lipid accumulation increases with aging.•Liver nuclear protein levels of ChREBP were markedly increased in fasted old rats.•Subcellular redistribution of ChREBP after feeding was impaired in old rats.•Age-related dysfunctional adaptation of ChREBP may contribute to liver steatosis.