Jan Rezayee, Khalid and Mat Harun, Noraihan and Kuttulebbai Naina Mohamed Salam, Sirajudeen and Abdullah, Nor Zamzila and Buyong, Zunariah and Ahmed Mohamed, Nawal (2026) Effects of retinoic acid on liver triglyceride level and diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2) gene expression in rats with high-cholesterol diet-induced steatosis. IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 25 (1). pp. 151-157. ISSN 1823-4631 E-ISSN 2735-2285
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence is rising globally without effective treatment available. Serum retinoic acid level was found to be low in NAFLD patients. Thus, this study investigated the effects of retinoic acid administration on liver triglyceride levels and Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) gene expression in high-cholesterol diet-induced steatosis rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n=8/group). Groups A and B received a normal diet, while groups C, D, and E were fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) for four weeks to induce steatosis (Phase 1) and continued with the same diet for the next four weeks (Phase 2). In Phase 2, Group D received vehicle (Olive oil), while Groups B and E received retinoic acid (7.5mg/kg subcutaneously) twice weekly with their respective diet. Liver triglyceride levels were measured using the Bligh and Dyer’s method, and hepatic DGAT2 gene expression was quantified using Real-Time qPCR. Data was analysed using the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. RESULTS: Retinoic acid-treated groups showed a reduced pattern in liver triglyceride levels, in which Group E level is 3.6±0.88 mg/g compared with Group C 4.12±1.5 mg/g, but statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The DGAT2 expression was significantly reduced in Group E by 0.63-fold (63%) when compared to Group C. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that retinoic acid administration might reduce the liver triglyceride level by down-regulating DGAT2 gene expression. However, further studies are required to confirm retinoic acid as a potential candidate for improving NAFLD.
| Item Type: | Article (Journal) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | 6061/127057 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, High cholesterol diet, Retinoic acid, liver Triglyceride, DGAT2 expression |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RB Pathology |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Medicine Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Basic Medical Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Pathology & Lab Medicine |
| Depositing User: | DR NORAIHAN MAT HARUN |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Jan 2026 16:18 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jan 2026 16:21 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-01-Q1827 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/127057 |
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