Morin, a plant derived flavonoid, modulates the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α mediated by AMPK pathway in hepatic stellate cells.

Morin exerts inhibitory effects on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) stimulation which is considered important step for fibrogenesis in liver. These morin-induced inhibitory effects are mediated through enhancement in the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). PPARγ plays a critical role in inhibition of HSC stimulation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) acts as a co-activator for PPARγ. Hence, studies directed at examining the influence of morin on PGC-1α may help to understand the mechanisms behind the morin induced suppression of HSC stimulation and liver fibrosis via PPARγ. The current research was therefore designed to examine the effect of morin on the expression levels of PGC-1α in HSCs under in vitro conditions and to attempt to investigate the involved potential mechanisms by western blotting, RT-PCR, and transfection assays. The results revealed that morin increased the expression of PGC-1α and the effects of morin on the expression of PGC-1α were positively associated with the stimulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Additionally, morin enhanced superoxide dimutase-2 (SOD-2) transcript levels as well as the activity via AMPK/PGC-1α axis. Furthermore, PGC-1α was found to suppress α1 (I) collagen transcript levels in HSCs. Taken together, these results revealed that the effect of morin on the enhancement of the expression of PGC-1α is mediated through AMPK pathway which ultimately leads to increase in the activity of PPARγ and SOD-2.