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=10

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=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To investigate the protective effects of crocetin against transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)—induced injury in LO2 cells.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Human hepatocyte LO2 cells were pre-treated with crocetin (10 μM) for 6, 12, and 24 h, and then induced by TGF-β. Proliferation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and related proteins were assessed.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Crocetin pre-treating 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 <italic>via</italic> upregulating p-AMPK and p-Beclin-1 but downregulating p-mTOR.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Crocetin protected LO2 cells from TGF-β-induced damage by promoting proliferation and autophagy, and suppressing apoptosis and anti-inflammation <italic>via</italic> regulation of AMPK/m-TOR signaling pathway.</p></sec>