[Effect of fatty acid synthase gene silencing on lipid metabolism and biological behaviors of human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene silencing on lipid metabolism and biological behaviors of human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells.

Objective: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting FASN gene or a negative control siRNA sequence (NC-siRNA) was transfected into HepG2 cells, and the gene silencing efficiency was evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Triglyceride level in the cells was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Oil red O staining was performed to examine intracellular lipid droplets. The proliferation ability of the transfected cells was tested by CCK-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was evaluated using annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit. Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to assess the migration ability of the transfected cells.

Objective: Transfection of the cells with FASN-siRNA, but not NC-siRNA, significantly lowered FASN expression at both the mRNA and protein level ( < 0.001) and decreased the number of lipid droplets ( < 0.001) and triglyceride level ( < 0.01) in the cells. FASN gene silencing significantly inhibited proliferation, increased apoptosis rate and suppressed migration of HepG2 cells ( < 0.001).

Objective: FASN gene silencing inhibits proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of HepG2 cells possibly by suppressing lipid synthesis in the cells.