AUTHOR=Guo Hongxing , Ruan Chenyu , Zhan Xiuhong , Pan Hao , Luo Yumei , Gao Ke 

TITLE=Crocetin Protected Human Hepatocyte LO2 Cell From TGF-β-Induced Oxygen Stress and Apoptosis but Promoted Proliferation and Autophagy via AMPK/m-TOR Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.909125

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.909125

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Object
To investigate the protective effects of crocetin against transforming growth factor - β (TGF-β) - induced injury in LO2 cell.
Methods 
Human hepatocyte LO2 cells were pretreated with crocetin (10μM) for 6h, 12h and 24h, and then induced by TGF-β. Proliferation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy and related proteins were assessed.
Results
Crocetin pretreating promoted proliferation but suppressed apoptosis in TGF-β-induced LO2 cells. Crocetin protected LO2 cells from TGF-β-induced inflammation and oxygen stress by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) but enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). Autophagy was suppressed in TGF-β but crocetin promoted autophagy in LO2 cells by mediating Adenosine 5'-monophosphate - activated protein kinase (AMPK) / mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) signaling pathway via upregulating p-AMPK and p-Beclin-1 but downregulating p-mTOR.
Conclusions
Crocetin protected LO2 cell from TGF-β-induced damage by promoting proliferation and autophagy, suppressing apoptosis and anti-inflammation via regulation on AMPK/m-TOR signaling pathway.