Hyperglycaemic-induced regulation of SIRT3 and downstream antioxidant profile.

Abstract

Hyperglycaemia increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial dysfunction which are involved in metabolic disorders. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a primary mitochondrial deacetylase that regulates mitochondrial function and antioxidant (AO) defence. We investigated the role of SIRT3 in AO defence under hyperglycaemic conditions in HepG2 cells in the presence and absence of metformin and curcumin. We also examined cell protective mechanisms that counterbalance apoptotic stress under these oxidative conditions. HepG2 cells were cultured with 5mM (control), 19.9mM mannitol (OC), 10mM glucose, 30mM glucose (hyperglycaemic), 10mM nicotinamide (NAM) at 24hr and 72hr time points in the absence or presence of curcumin (5μM and 10μM) or metformin (3mM). Increased expressions of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), mitochondrial AO enzymes glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and mtDNA repair enzyme 7, 8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (OGG1) were observed under hyperglycaemic conditions. The same trend was observed for all parameters following metformin and curcumin treatment. In addition, curcumin also increased expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), lon protease (Lon) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). These were optimally expressed in the 10μM curcumin-treated groups. We also showed that under hyperglycaemic conditions, apoptosis was initiated but may not have been fully executed due to the induction of stress proteins (heat shock protein 27, nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2) and AO defence that counterbalance apoptotic stress. The results suggest that SIRT3 modulates AO defence and confers resistance to oxidative stress (OS)- induced damage under hyperglycaemic conditions in HepG2 cells. Our data also suggests that metformin and curcumin may work synergistically with SIRT3, or through SIRT3-mediated mechanisms, to improve AO defence. Our model shows that hyperglycaemia may induce apoptosis; however, apoptotic stress may be counterbalanced by cell survival mechanisms that include stress response proteins and the downstream activation of AO defence. Mitochondria are susceptible to OS, which is involved in metabolic disorders. SIRT3 may, therefore, be therapeutically targeted as a potential cyto-protective factor. Modulation of SIRT3 function, by chemical or natural therapeutics, may also improve disease outcomes.