Higd1a Protects Cells from Lipotoxicity under High-Fat Exposure

Figure 2

Overexpression of Higd1a protects cells from apoptosis under high-fat exposure and vice versa. (a) HepG2 and LO2 cells were transfected with pcDNA NC or pcDNA Higd1a and treated with FFAs (0.4 mM palmitate) for 72 hours, and the overexpression of Higd1a was validated by qRT-PCR and western blot (b); cells in the FFA+pcDNA Higd1a group exhibited increased expression compared with those in the FFA+pcDNA NC group. (c) Cell proliferation in the abovementioned groups was measured by the CCK8 kit. (d) Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI staining, and less apoptosis was induced in the FFA+pcDNA Higd1a group compared with the FFA+pcDNA NC group. (e) Cells were transfected with siRNA NC or siRNA Higd1a and then treated with FFAs for 72 hours; Higd1a knockdown was validated by qRT-PCR and western blot (f). (g) Cell proliferation in each group was measured by the CCK8 kit, and cell proliferation was more inhibited in the FFA+siRNA Higd1a group compared with the FFA+siRNA NC group. (h) Cell apoptosis in each group was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI staining, and more apoptosis was induced in the FFA+siRNA Higd1a group compared with the FFA+siRNA NC group ( compared with the control group; compared with the FFA+pcDNA NC group; compared with the FFA+siRNA NC group).

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