AUTHOR=Wu Dongdong , Zhong Peiyu , Wang Yizhen , Zhang Qianqian , Li Jianmei , Liu Zhengguo , Ji Ailing , Li Yanzhang 

TITLE=Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Promoting Autophagy via Reactive Oxygen Species/Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/AKT/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.585860

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.585860

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease worldwide. Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of H<sub>2</sub>S in NAFLD development has not been fully clarified. Here, the reduced level of H<sub>2</sub>S was observed in liver cells treated with oleic acid (OA). Administration of H<sub>2</sub>S increased the proliferation of OA-treated cells. The results showed that H<sub>2</sub>S decreased apoptosis and promoted autophagy through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade in OA-treated cells. In addition, administration of H<sub>2</sub>S relieved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD via inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of autophagy. These findings suggest that H<sub>2</sub>S could ameliorate HFD-induced NAFLD by regulating apoptosis and autophagy through ROS/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Novel H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing donors may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of NAFLD.</p>