Possible Involvement of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in a Cellular Model of NAFLD Progression Induced by Benzo[a]pyrene/Ethanol CoExposure

Figure 2

Mitochondrial effects of ethanol and B[a]P in nonsteatotic and steatotic HepaRG cells. Nonsteatotic (−FA, black bars) and steatotic (+FA, grey bars) HepaRG cells were untreated (c) or treated with 25 mM ethanol (e), 2.5 μM B[a]P (b), or a combination of both toxicants (BE) for 14 days. (a) Parameters of mitochondrial respiration provided by the XF Cell Seahorse Mito Stress Test profile: basal respiration, maximal respiration, ATP production, and proton leak. (b) Activities of the MRC complexes I, II (SDH), and IV. (c) mtDNA levels. (d) mitochondrial FAO. Results are for 4 (a, b, and c) or 8 (d) independent cultures. ^#Significantly different from nonsteatotic HepaRG cells. Significantly different from untreated nonsteatotic or steatotic HepaRG cells. ^aSignificantly different from nonsteatotic or steatotic HepaRG cells treated with ethanol. ^bSignificantly different from nonsteatotic or steatotic HepaRG cells treated with B[a]P.

(a) Mitochondrial respiration

(b) Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity

(c) mtDNA levels

(d) Mitochondrial FAO