Lipolysis-stimulating peptide-VHVV ameliorates high fat diet induced hepatocyte apoptosis and fibrosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common outcome of obesity characterized with the accumulation of triacylglycerols, increase in tissue apoptosis and fibrosis. This study was performed to determine the effect of a lipolysis stimulating peptide-VHVV to reduce the NAFLD related effects in mice liver induced by high fat diet (HFD). Five groups of mice (n = 8), control fed with standard chow; HFD-induced obese control and three treatment groups with high/moderate/low dose VHVV-treatment, were used to evaluate the effect of VHVV. HFD fed mice exhibited heavier body weight than those with control chow diet. However, the levels of triacylglycerol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were significantly reduced in mice administered with low, moderate and high doses of VHVV. VHVV-administration also suppressed the HFD-induced hepatic apoptosis and fibrosis related proteins. Our results indicate that VHVV attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation and ameliorate inflammation events in HFD fed mice to suppress apoptosis and fibrosis. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.