Polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit fatty acid synthase and spot-14-protein gene expression in cultured rat hepatocytes by a peroxidative mechanism.

In vivo, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) inhibit the expression of hepatic genes related to the lipogenic process such as fatty acid synthase and spot-14-protein (S14) genes. In vitro studies have suggested that this was a direct transcriptional effect of PUFA. In hepatocytes, the inhibition of the lipogenic rate by PUFA is not specific, but is linked to a cytotoxic effect due to peroxidative mechanisms. We have investigated whether peroxidation could also explain the inhibitory effect of PUFA on gene expression. Rat hepatocytes were cultured for 24 h with mono-unsaturated or PUFA. PUFA inhibited the expression of fatty acid synthase and S14 genes, and this inhibition was directly related to the number of unsaturations. However, the beta-actin and albumin mRNA concentrations were also affected by the most unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting a non-specific effect of PUFA on gene expression. Measurement of lactate dehydrogenase released into the medium indicated a cytotoxicity of PUFA. This was associated with their peroxidation as evaluated by the presence of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the culture medium. The addition of high concentrations of antioxidants abolished lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase leakage and completely reversed the inhibitory effect of PUFA on gene expression. This suggests (i) that the results obtained previously in cultured hepatocytes in the presence of low concentrations of antioxidants must be interpretated cautiously and (ii) that in vivo, the inhibitory effect of PUFA on lipogenesis-related genes could be indirect through hormonal or metabolic changes or that their effect on gene expression is somehow linked to peroxidative mechanisms.