[The relationship between the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores of cultured hepatocytes with their apoptoses in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model].

Objective: To investigate the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores of the cultured hepatocytes in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model and its relationship with apoptosis of the cells.

Methods: Oleic acid was used to induce cultured L02 hepatocyte steatotic in making a model of NAFLD. The steatotic hepatocytes were detected with oil red O staining; the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores was observed under a fluorescence microscope. The apoptosis of the cells was detected with a flow cytometer.

Results: After adding oleic acid to the cultured hepatocytes, a model of steatosis of human hepatocytes was established after 24 hours. Oleic acid opened the mitochondrial permeability transition pores of the L02 hepatocytes (72.58%+/-2.78%) more than that in the control group (8.28%+/-4.98%) and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Apoptosis index of the steatotic hepatocytes at 24 hours and 48 hours were 11.09%+/-4.95% and 15.24%+/-2.45%. They were also higher than those of the control group (4.56%+/-1.25%) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pores may be the basis of the apoptosis of steatotic hepatocytes in vitro, and it also may be related to the steatosis of NAFLD in human beings.