Sesamin ameliorates nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis by inhibiting CD36-mediated hepatocyte lipid accumulation in vitro and in vivo

Hepatic steatosis is a critical factor in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Sesamin (Ses), a functional lignan isolated from Sesamum indicum, possesses hypolipidemic, liver-protective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-tumor properties. Ses has been found to improve hepatic steatosis, but the exact mechanisms through which Ses achieves this are not well understood. In this study, we observed the anti-hepatic steatosis effects of Ses in palmitate/oleate (PA/OA)-incubated primary mouse hepatocytes, AML12 hepatocytes, and HepG2 cells, as well as in high-fat, high-cholesterol diet-induced NASH mice. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), a free fatty acid (FA) transport protein, was involved in the Ses-mediated inhibition of hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, the overexpression of CD36 significantly increased hepatic steatosis in both Ses-treated PA/OA-incubated HepG2 cells and NASH mice. Furthermore, Ses treatment suppressed insulin-induced de novo lipogenesis in HepG2 cells, which was reversed by CD36 overexpression. Mechanistically, we found that Ses ameliorated NASH by inhibiting CD36-mediated FA uptake and upregulation of lipogenic genes, including FA synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1. The findings of our study provide novel insights into the potential therapeutic applications of Ses in the treatment of NASH.