Determination of Fatty Acid Oxidation and Lipogenesis in Mouse Primary Hepatocytes

Summary

De novo lipogenesis and β-fatty acid oxidation constitute key metabolic pathways in hepatocyte, pathways that are perturbed in several metabolic disorders, including fatty liver disease. Here we demonstrate isolation of mouse primary hepatocytes and describe quantification of β-fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis.

Abstract

Lipid metabolism in liver is complex. In addition to importing and exporting lipid via lipoproteins, hepatocytes can oxidize lipid via fatty acid oxidation, or alternatively, synthesize new lipid via de novo lipogenesis. The net sum of these pathways is dictated by a number of factors, which in certain disease states leads to fatty liver disease. Excess hepatic lipid accumulation is associated with whole body insulin resistance and coronary heart disease. Tools to study lipid metabolism in hepatocytes are useful to understand the role of hepatic lipid metabolism in certain metabolic disorders.

In the liver, hepatocytes regulate the breakdown and synthesis of fatty acids via β-fatty oxidation and de novo lipogenesis, respectively. Quantifying metabolism in these pathways provides insight into hepatic lipid handling. Unlike in vitro quantification, using primary hepatocytes, making measurements in vivo is technically challenging and resource intensive. Hence, quantifying β-fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis in cultured mouse hepatocytes provides a straight forward method to assess hepatocyte lipid handling.

Here we describe a method for the isolation of primary mouse hepatocytes, and we demonstrate quantification of β-fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis, using radiolabeled substrates.

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the leading causes of liver disease in Westernized cultures^1,2. Lipid accumulation within the liver is associated with cell death, fibrosis, and liver failure via yet unknown mechanisms^3-6. In fatty liver disease, hepatocyte-mediated β-fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis are important determinants of net lipid accumulation^7,8. This article will, therefore, focus on hepatocyte isolation, followed by quantification of β-fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis.

Numerous methodologies have been developed to interrogate hepatocy....

Protocol

All animal experimentation should be carried out in accordance with local and federal regulations and with the approval of an institutional IACUC and radiation safety administration.

1. Preparation

1. Several days prior to the assay, thaw the 500 ml bottle of Liver Digest Medium (LDM) and refreeze ~35 ml aliquots in 50 ml conical tubes. Store at -20 °C until needed.
2. One day prior to the assay, pre-sterilize clean dissection tools by autoclave.
3. On the day of the assay, treat the necessary amount of 24-well culture plates with collagen.
   1. Mix 1 part of 3 mg/ml rat tail collagen w....

Results

Hepatocyte isolations typically result in 1 - 3 x 10⁷ total cells. After overnight incubation, the cells will appear hexagonal, many of which will be binucleated (Figure 2). Healthy cells should be devoid of granulations or blebs, which are indicative of cell death.

In general, Fatty Acid Oxidation assay is run in three to four replicates per test compound. Counts for the CO₂ samples are approximately one-fifth of those derived from the acid soluble mater.......

Discussion

The time from sacrifice to perfusion should be less than 3 min for ideal perfusion and collagenase digestion of the liver. Once perfusion with Perfusion Medium is initiated, the liver should immediately change appearance to from red to pale. After approximately 10 min of incubation with LDM, the liver will appear swollen and pink. In the event that perfusion is insufficient, the liver may not exhibit these changes, and this will typically result in a lower hepatocyte yield.

Following the washi.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Liver Perfusion Medium	Life Technologies	17701038
Liver Digest Medium	Life Technologies	17703034	Aliquot and store at -20 °C
PBS	Corning	21-040-CV
10X DPBS	Corning	46-013-CM
DMEM	Corning	10-017-CV
FBS	Life Technologies	26140079
Collagen	Life Technologies	A1048301
Colloidal silica coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone	GE Life Sciences	17-0891-01
Sodium Pyruvate	Cellgro	25-000-CI
Penicillin / Streptomycin	Cellgro	30-001-CI
Insulin	Sigma	I0516-5ML
Dexamethasone	Sigma	D2915-100MG
Albumin (BSA), Fraction V	MP Biomedicals	103703
24-Well Culture Dish	Corning Falcon	353047
Tygon S3 Tubing	Cole Parmer	06460-34
Male Leur Lock to 200 Barb Connectors	Cole Parmer	45518-00
24 G x 3/4" Catheter	SurFlo	SROX2419CA
Perma-Hand Silk Suture	Ethicon	683G
Cell Strainer	Corning Falcon	08-771-2
IsoTemp 3013HD Recirculating Water Bath	Fisher	13-874-3
MasterFlex C/L Peristaltic Pump	MasterFlex	HV-77122-24
Microclamp	Roboz	RS-7438	Pre-sterilize in autoclave
5” Straight, Blunt-Blunt Operating Scissors	Roboz	RS-6810	Pre-sterilize in autoclave
24 mm Blade Straight, Sharp-point Microdissecting Scissors	Roboz	RS-5912	Pre-sterilize in autoclave
4” 0.8 mm Tip Microdissecting Forceps	Roboz	RS-5130	Pre-sterilize in autoclave
4” 0.8 mm Tip Full Curve Microdissecting Forceps	Roboz	RS-5137	Pre-sterilize in autoclave
60 ml Syringe	Becton Dickinson	309653
50 ml conical tubes	Corning Falcon	352070
BCA Protein Assay	Thermo Scientific	23225
Biosafety Cabinet
CO2 Incubator
Serological pipets
1,000, 200, 20 μl pipet and tips