Interaction of non-esterified fatty acid and insulin in control of triacylglycerol secretion by Hep G2 cells.

The role of insulin in the regulation of plasma triacylglycerol is poorly understood. Conflicting actions of insulin on rat liver cells have been reported, insulin inhibiting triacylglycerol secretion in short incubations (less than 24 h) and stimulating triacylglycerol secretion in longer incubations (48-72 h). The present study was undertaken to examine regulation of triacylglycerol secretion by insulin and investigate the interaction between insulin and non-esterified fatty acid over 72 h in human hepatoblastoma (Hep G2) cells. Insulin inhibited triacylglycerol secretion throughout the 72 h period. The inhibition increased from 66% in the first 24 h to 88% in the final 24 h. Increasing the initial concentration of oleic acid from 200 microM to 1000 microM resulted in a 358% increase in triacylglycerol secretion and a 712% increase in accumulation over 24 h. Oleic acid uptake by the cells was rapid, with only 2.4% of the initial concentration (500 microM) remaining after 24 h. Supplementation of the medium with oleic acid to maintain the concentration between 750 microM and 1000 microM throughout a 5 h period resulted in a 350% increase in triacylglycerol secretion. Supplementation also decreased the insulin-induced inhibition of triacylglycerol secretion (18.2 to 7.8%; P less than 0.001). These results demonstrate that there is not a biphasic action of insulin on triacylglycerol secretion by Hep G2 cells. Experiments of this nature have not previously taken into account the rapid uptake of non-esterified fatty acid by hepatocytes and have consequently underestimated the effect of a sustained concentration on triacylglycerol metabolism. Oleic acid is therefore an even more potent stimulus to triacylglycerol synthesis and secretion than has previously been recognized. In addition, in the presence of a sustained increase in oleic acid concentration, there is a decrease in the action of insulin to inhibit triacylglycerol secretion.