Objective:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver
condition worldwide, and the statistics show that men have a higher incidence and
prevalence than women, but its toxicological mechanism is not completely clear. This
research is intended to explore the role of BaP in NAFLD and to study how the
environmental pollutant BaP influences the AHR/ERα axis to mediate the progression
of NAFLD.Methods:In this study, we established NAFLD models in vivo and in vitro by treating
HepG2 cells with a high-fat diet and Oleic acid (OA) in C57BL/6J mice. Liver injury
indexes ALT, AST, and lipid metabolism indexes TG and TC were evaluated to verify
the success of modeling. Then, the model was treated with BaP, and the mRNA and
protein expressions of CYP1A1, ERα, and SREBP-1c were evaluated by RT-PCR and
WB, and the changes of liver fat were evaluated by HE and oil red O staining. Next,
BaP was added into the cells treated with or without estradiol (E2), and the lipid
metabolism in the cells was evaluated by oil red O staining, and whether the above
levels of CYP1A1, ERα and SREBP-1c were changed.Results:Our results show that after exposure to BaP, ERα protein levels in mice and
cells are inhibited, mRNA and protein levels of SREBP-1c are reduced, and lipid
metabolism processes are obstructed. The addition of E2 can reduce the increase of
SREBP-1c mRNA and protein expression induced by OA, and reduce the deposition of
lipids in cells. However, BaP treatment can weaken the action of E2 and destroy the
protection of E2 in cells.Conclusion:The results showed that E2 could reduce SREBP-1c mRNA and protein
levels. BaP can stimulate AHR, leading to the degradation of ERα protein, reducing the
binding of E2 to ERα, and aggravating the progression of NAFLD. This reveals the
toxicological mechanism by which environmental pollutant BaP influences E2 to
mediate NAFLD, and provides strong evidence for differences in NAFLD between the
sexes.