Relationship between 2 acyl coa:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme and NAFLD prognostic on chronic overload nutritional condition

• Grant number: 11/18644-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: André Ferreira Do Nascimento
• Grantee: Aline de Oliveira Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recent evidences suggest NAFLD is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, it is unknown if the cardiovascular risk is present in NAFLD with pure steatosis or necro-inflammation characteristics. Results demonstrated that a steatosis block might be a risk factor for NAFLD progression, which derivate from lesser activity of 2 acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme (DGAT2). The time-dependent relationship of this event has been demonstrated. Thus, the objective of this study will be evaluating the relationship between 2 acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme and NAFLD prognostic on chronic overload nutritional condition. Male Wistar rats from São Paulo State University Animal Center - UNESP - Botucatu/SP will be fed with normal chow or hipercaloric diet for 6, 12 and 24 weeks (C6, C12, C24, H6, H12, H24; n=15 animals/group). NAFLD indicators will be evaluated, such as, steatosis and inflammatory process. Hepatic free fatty acid pool will also be determined. Hepatic DGAT2 levels will be evaluated for protein and gene expression by Western Blot and Real Time PCR, respectively. Serum biochemistry profile will also be analyzed. Data will be reported as descriptive measures of position and variability. Comparisons between groups will be performed using two-way ANOVA for independent groups and complemented by post hoc Tukey test. A 5% significance level will be adopted. (AU)