Role of glutamine depletion in directing tissue-specific nutrient stress responses to L-asparaginase

L-asparaginase is important in the induction regimen for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytotoxic complications are clinically significant problems lacking mechanistic insight. To reveal tissue-specific molecular responses to this drug, mice were administered asparaginase from either Escherichia coli (clinically used) or Wolinella succinogenes (novel, glutaminase-free form). Both enzymes abolished serum asparagine, but only the E. coli form reduced circulating glutamine. E. coli asparaginase reduced protein synthesis in liver and spleen but not pancreas via increased phosphorylation of the translation factor eIF2. In contrast, treatment with Wolinella caused no untoward changes in protein synthesis in any tissue examined. Treating mice deleted for the eIF2 kinase, GCN2, with the E. coli enzyme showed eIF2 phosphorylation to be GCN2-dependent, but only initially. Furthermore, although eIF2 phosphorylation was not increased in the pancreas or by Wolinella asparaginase, expression of the amino acid stress response genes, asparagine synthetase and CHOP/GADD153, increased as a result of both enzymes, even in tissues demonstrating no change in eIF2 phosphorylation. Finally, signaling downstream of the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase was repressed in liver and pancreas by E. coli but not Wolinella asparaginase. These data demonstrate that the nutrient stress response to asparaginase is tissue-specific and exacerbated by glutamine depletion. Importantly, increased expression of asparagine synthetase and CHOP does not require eIF2 phosphorylation, signifying alternate or auxiliary means of inducing gene expression under conditions of amino acid depletion in the whole animal.     

有氧运动对非酒精性脂肪肝小鼠肝脏CNPY2-PERK通路的影响

目的:探讨有氧运动对高脂诱导小鼠非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的影响及其肝脏冠层成纤维细胞生长因子信号调节器2 (CNPY2)-PKR样内质网激酶(PERK)机制。方法:8周龄雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为对照组(C)、对照+运动组(CE),NAFLD模型组(M)和NAFLD模型+运动组(ME),每组10只。C组和CE组小鼠给予普通饲料,M组和ME组小鼠给予高脂饲料(脂肪供能占比为60%),连续喂养18周至实验结束,取小鼠血清和肝脏。CE组和ME组从第10周起进行有氧跑台训练(12 m/min,每次60 min,每周5 d)。检测小鼠血清总胆固醇(TC)、总甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-c)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)和天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)水平;观察小鼠肝组织病理学形态;检测肝组织CNPY2、PERK、p-eIF2a、CHOP、CNPY2 mRNA、PERK mRNA表达和CNPY2、PERK的阳性表达。结果:与C组比较,M组小鼠的血清LDL-c、TC、TG、ALT和AST水平显著升高(P<0.05),HDL-c水平显著降低(...     

Preservation of liver protein synthesis during dietary leucine deprivation occurs at the expense of skeletal muscle mass in mice deleted for eIF2 kinase GCN2

In eukaryotic cells, amino acid depletion reduces translation by a mechanism involving phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2). Herein we describe that mice lacking the eIF2 kinase, general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) fail to alter the phosphorylation of this initiation factor in liver, and are moribund in response to dietary leucine restriction. Wild-type (GCN2(+/+)) and two strains of GCN2 null (GCN2(-/-)) mice were provided a nutritionally complete diet or a diet devoid of leucine or glycine for 1 h or 6 days. In wild-type mice, dietary leucine restriction resulted in loss of body weight and liver mass, yet mice remained healthy. In contrast, a significant proportion of GCN2(-/-) mice died within 6 days of the leucine-deficient diet. Protein synthesis in wild-type livers was decreased concomitant with increased phosphorylation of eIF2 and decreased phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K1, translation regulators controlled nutritionally by mammalian target of rapamycin. Whereas translation in the liver was decreased independent of GCN2 activity in mice fed a leucine-free diet for 1 h, protein synthesis in GCN2(-/-) mice at day 6 was enhanced to levels measured in mice fed the complete diet. Interestingly, in addition to a block in eIF2 phosphorylation, phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K1 was not decreased in GCN2(-/-) mice deprived of leucine for 6 days. This suggests that GCN2 activity can also contribute to nutritional regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. As a result of the absence of these translation inhibitory signals, liver weights were preserved and instead, skeletal muscle mass was reduced in GCN2(-/-) mice fed a leucine-free diet. This study indicates that loss of GCN2 eIF2 kinase activity shifts the normal maintenance of protein mass away from skeletal muscle to provide substrate for continued hepatic translation.     

Arginine deficiency causes runting in the suckling period by selectively activating the stress kinase GCN2

Suckling "F/A2" mice, which overexpress arginase-I in their enterocytes, develop a syndrome (hypoargininemia, reduced hair and muscle growth, impaired B-cell maturation) that resembles IGF1 deficiency. The syndrome may result from an impaired function of the GH-IGF1 axis, activation of the stress-kinase GCN2, and/or blocking of the mTORC1-signaling pathway. Arginine deficiency inhibited GH secretion and decreased liver Igf1 mRNA and plasma IGF1 concentration, but did not change muscle IGF1 concentration. GH supplementation induced Igf1 mRNA synthesis, but did not restore growth, ruling out direct involvement of the GH-IGF1 axis. In C2C12 muscle cells, arginine withdrawal activated GCN2 signaling, without impacting mTORC1 signaling. In F/A2 mice, the reduction of plasma and tissue arginine concentrations to ～25% of wild-type values activated GCN2 signaling, but mTORC1-mediated signaling remained unaffected. Gcn2-deficient F/A2 mice suffered from hypoglycemia and died shortly after birth. Because common targets of all stress kinases (eIF2α phosphorylation, Chop mRNA expression) were not increased in these mice, the effects of arginine deficiency were solely mediated by GCN2.     

Genetic removal of eIF2α kinase PERK in mice enables hippocampal L‐LTP independent of mTORC1 activity

Characterization of the molecular signaling pathways underlying protein synthesis‐dependent forms of synaptic plasticity, such as late long‐term potentiation (L‐LTP ), can provide insights not only into memory expression/maintenance under physiological conditions but also potential mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of memory disorders. Here, we report in mice that L‐LTP failure induced by the mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC 1) inhibitor rapamycin is reversed by brain‐specific genetic deletion of PKR ‐like ER kinase, PERK (PERK KO ), a kinase for eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF 2α). In contrast, genetic removal of general control non‐derepressible‐2, GCN 2 (GCN 2 KO ), another eIF 2α kinase, or treatment of hippocampal slices with the PERK inhibitor GSK 2606414, does not rescue rapamycin‐induced L‐LTP failure, suggesting mechanisms independent of eIF 2α phosphorylation. Moreover, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF 2) is significantly decreased in PERK KO mice but unaltered in GCN 2 KO mice or slices treated with the PERK inhibitor. Reduction in eEF 2 phosphorylation results in increased general protein synthesis, and thus could contribute to the mTORC 1‐independent L‐LTP in PERK KO mice. We further performed experiments on mutant mice with genetic removal of eEF 2K (eEF 2K KO ), the only known kinase for eEF 2, and found that L‐LTP in eEF 2K KO mice is insensitive to rapamycin. These data, for the first time, connect reduction in PERK activity with the regulation of translation elongation in enabling L‐LTP independent of mTORC 1. Thus, our findings indicate previously unrecognized levels of complexity in the regulation of protein synthesis‐dependent synaptic plasticity.

Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 119 . Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14185 .

     

Salubrinal对铜负荷诱导的PERK/eIF2α内质网应激信号通路介导肝细胞凋亡的干预作用

Wilson病是一种以肝损害为常见临床表现的常染色体隐性遗传铜代谢障碍性疾病,但铜蓄积导致的肝细胞损害的具体分子机制尚不明确。本研究拟采用硫酸铜模拟肝细胞铜负荷进行体外实验,选用Western印迹法测试铜负荷肝细胞内蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, PERK)及p-eIF2α蛋白质的表达;并探究特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal对铜负荷诱导的肝细胞凋亡、胱天蛋白酶-3活性、C/EBP同源蛋白（C/EBP homologous protein, CHOP）mRNA转录的影响。选用流式细胞仪测试肝细胞凋亡率;比色法测试肝细胞内的胱天蛋白酶-3活性;Real-time PCR法检测肝细胞内CHOP mRNA转录水平。本研究结果显示: (1) 铜负荷显示出时间依赖性地增加肝细胞内PERK及p-eIF2α蛋白质表达(P<0.05, P<0.01)。(2)相比较对照组,铜负荷培养肝细胞24 h明显增加了肝细胞的凋亡率(P<0.01),增强了肝细胞内的胱天蛋白酶-3活性,促进肝细胞内CHOP mRNA的转录,加入特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal后可抑制上述过程。(3)相比较对照组,铜负荷促进肝细胞PERK及p-eIF2α蛋白质表达,加入特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal后,对铜负荷诱导的肝细胞PERK蛋白质表达无影响(P>0.05),但可显著抑制铜负荷诱导的肝细胞p-eIF2α蛋白质表达(P<0.01)。本研究结果提示,铜负荷可以诱发肝细胞内质网应激,铜负荷引起的肝细胞凋亡机制与激活内质网应激PERK/eIF2α信号通路密切相关, Salubrinal具有干预该信号通路作用,能够抑制铜负荷后肝细胞的凋亡。     

Novel function of PERK as a mediator of force-induced apoptosis

Induction of apoptosis by tensile forces is an important determinant of connective tissue destruction in osteoarthritis and periodontal diseases. We examined the role of molecular components of the unfolded protein response in force-induced apoptosis. Magnetic fields were used to apply tensile force through integrins to cultured fibroblasts bound with collagen-coated magnetite beads. Tensile force induced caspase 3 cleavage, DNA fragmentation, depolarization of mitochondria, and induction of CHOP10, all indicative of activation of apoptosis. Immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum showed evidence for both physical and functional associations between bound beads and the endoplasmic reticulum. Force-induced apoptosis was not detected in PERK null cells, but reconstitution of wild-type PERK in PERK null cells restored the apoptotic response. Force-induced apoptosis did not require PKR, GCN2, eIF2alpha, or CHOP10. Furthermore, force more than 24 h did not activate other initiators of the unfolded protein response including IRE-1 and ATF6. However, force-induced activation of caspase 3 was dependent on caspase 9 but was independent of mitochondria. We conclude that force-induced apoptosis depends on a novel function of PERK that occurs in addition to its canonical role in the unfolded protein response.     

Tuberous sclerosis complex-1 deficiency attenuates diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is causally linked to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. In a normal liver, insulin suppresses gluconeogenesis and promotes lipogenesis. In type 2 diabetes, the liver exhibits selective insulin resistance by failing to inhibit hepatic glucose production while maintaining triglyceride synthesis. Evidence suggests that the insulin pathway bifurcates downstream of Akt to regulate these two processes. Specifically, mTORC1 has been implicated in lipogenesis, but its role on hepatic steatosis has not been examined. Here, we generated mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Tsc1 to study the effects of constitutive mTORC1 activation in the liver. These mice developed normally but displayed mild hepatomegaly and insulin resistance without obesity. Unexpectedly, the Tsc1-null livers showed minimal signs of steatosis even under high-fat diet condition. This 'resistant' phenotype was reversed by rapamycin and could be overcome by the expression of Myr-Akt. Moreover, rapamycin failed to reduce hepatic triglyceride levels in models of steatosis secondary to Pten ablation in hepatocytes or high-fat diet in wild-type mice. These observations suggest that mTORC1 is neither necessary nor sufficient for steatosis. Instead, Akt and mTORC1 have opposing effects on hepatic lipid accumulation such that mTORC1 protects against diet-induced steatosis. Specifically, mTORC1 activity induces a metabolic shift towards fat utilization and glucose production in the liver. These findings provide novel insights into the role of mTORC1 in hepatic lipid metabolism.     

Sex‐ and tissue‐specific changes in mTOR signaling with age in C57BL/6J mice

Inhibition of the mTOR (mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin) signaling pathway robustly extends the lifespan of model organisms including mice. The precise molecular mechanisms and physiological effects that underlie the beneficial effects of rapamycin are an exciting area of research. Surprisingly, while some data suggest that mTOR signaling normally increases with age in mice, the effect of age on mTOR signaling has never been comprehensively assessed. Here, we determine the age‐associated changes in mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1) and mTORC2 (mTOR complex 2) signaling in the liver, muscle, adipose, and heart of C57BL/6J.Nia mice, the lifespan of which can be extended by rapamycin treatment. We find that the effect of age on several different readouts of mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity varies by tissue and sex in C57BL/6J.Nia mice. Intriguingly, we observed increased mTORC1 activity in the liver and heart tissue of young female mice compared to male mice of the same age. Tissue and substrate‐specific results were observed in the livers of HET3 and DBA/2 mouse strains, and in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of F344 rats. Our results demonstrate that aging does not result in increased mTOR signaling in most tissues and suggest that rapamycin does not promote lifespan by reversing or blunting such an effect.     

Discordant regulation of eIF2 kinase GCN2 and mTORC1 during nutrient stress

Appropriate regulation of the Integrated stress response (ISR) and mTORC1 signaling are central for cell adaptation to starvation for amino acids. Halofuginone (HF) is a potent inhibitor of aminoacylation of tRNA^Pro with broad biomedical applications. Here, we show that in addition to translational control directed by activation of the ISR by general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2), HF increased free amino acids and directed translation of genes involved in protein biogenesis via sustained mTORC1 signaling. Deletion of GCN2 reduced cell survival to HF whereas pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 afforded protection. HF treatment of mice synchronously activated the GCN2-mediated ISR and mTORC1 in liver whereas Gcn2-null mice allowed greater mTORC1 activation to HF, resulting in liver steatosis and cell death. We conclude that HF causes an amino acid imbalance that uniquely activates both GCN2 and mTORC1. Loss of GCN2 during HF creates a disconnect between metabolic state and need, triggering proteostasis collapse.     

佛手苷内酯对磷酸三钙磨损颗粒诱导骨细胞损伤的影响及机制*

目的:研究佛手苷内酯(BP)对磷酸三钙(TCP)磨损颗粒诱导骨细胞损伤的影响,并阐明其可能作用机制。方法:将TCP磨损颗粒与小鼠骨细胞MLO-Y4细胞共孵育48 h建立骨细胞体外损伤模型,随机分为正常对照(Control)组、TCP磨损颗粒(TCP,0.1 mg/ml)组、佛手苷内酯(1 μmol/L)组、佛手苷内酯(5 μmol/L)组和佛手苷内酯(20 μmol/L)组。MTT法和Calcein-AM染色检测各组骨细胞活性和形态改变;Hoechst 33342染色和流式细胞术分析各组骨细胞凋亡情况;实时荧光定量PCR检测各组骨细胞特征蛋白牙本质基质蛋白-1(DMP-1)、骨硬化蛋白(SOST)、成纤维细胞生长因子23(FGF23)的mRNA水平;Western blot法检测各组骨细胞中内质网应激标志蛋白葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)、蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(PERK)、磷酸化PERK(p-PERK)、真核细胞翻译起始因子2α (eIF2α)、磷酸化eIF2α(p-eIF2α)、活性转录因子(ATF4)和 C/EBP 同源蛋白(CHOP)等的表达及caspase-3的活化变化。结果:与Control组比较,TCP组骨细胞的活性和DMP-1的mRNA水平显著降低(P＜0.05),骨细胞凋亡率及SOST、FGF23的mRNA水平显著增加(P＜0.05),GRP78、ATF4和CHOP等蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK值和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值显著升高;与TCP组比较,佛手苷内酯组骨细胞损伤明显减轻,骨细胞凋亡率显著减少(P＜ 0.05),GRP78、ATF4和CHOP等蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK值和p-eIF2α/PERK值也明显下降(P＜0.05)。结论:佛手苷内酯可明显抑制TCP磨损颗粒所致的骨细胞损伤,其机制可能与减弱TCP磨损颗粒诱导的内质网应激反应及PERK通路的活化密切相关。     

Albumin/asparaginase capsules prepared by ultrasound to retain ammonia

Asparaginase reduces the levels of asparagine in blood, which is an essential amino acid for the proliferation of lymphoblastic malign cells. Asparaginase converts asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia. The accumulation of ammonia in the bloodstream leads to hyperammonemia, described as one of the most significant side effects of asparaginase therapy. Therefore, there is a need for asparaginase formulations with the potential to reduce hyperammonemia. We incorporated 2 % of therapeutic enzyme in albumin-based capsules. The presence of asparaginase in the interface of bovine serum albumin (BSA) capsules showed the ability to hydrolyze the asparagine and retain the forming ammonia at the surface of the capsules. The incorporation of Poloxamer 407 in the capsule formulation further increased the ratio aspartic acid/ammonia from 1.92 to 2.46 (and 1.10 from the free enzyme), decreasing the levels of free ammonia. This capacity to retain ammonia can be due to electrostatic interactions and retention of ammonia at the surface of the capsules. The developed BSA/asparaginase capsules did not cause significant cytotoxic effect on mouse leukemic macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The new BSA/asparaginase capsules could potentially be used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia preventing hyperammonemia associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment with asparaginase.     

mTORC1 serves ER stress-triggered apoptosis via selective activation of the IRE1-JNK pathway

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has a key role in the regulation of an array of cellular function. We found that rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), attenuated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. Among three major branches of the unfolded protein response, rapamycin selectively suppressed the IRE1-JNK signaling without affecting PERK and ATF6 pathways. ER stress rapidly induced activation of mTORC1, which was responsible for induction of the IRE1-JNK pathway and apoptosis. Activation of mTORC1 reduced Akt phosphorylation, which was an event upstream of IRE-JNK signaling and consequent apoptosis. In vivo, administration with rapamycin significantly suppressed renal tubular injury and apoptosis in tunicamycin-treated mice. It was associated with enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and suppression of JNK activity in the kidney. These results disclosed that, under ER stress conditions, mTORC1 causes apoptosis through suppression of Akt and consequent induction of the IRE1-JNK pathway.     

Deletion of the eIF2α Kinase GCN2 Fails to Rescue the Memory Decline Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulated translation through phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α) may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related memory impairments. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we crossed knockout mice for an eIF2α kinase (GCN2: general control nonderepressible-2 kinase) with 5XFAD transgenic mice, and investigated whether GCN2 deletion affects AD-like traits in this model. As observed in AD brains, 5XFAD mice recapitulated significant elevations in the β-secretase enzyme BACE1 and the CREB repressor ATF4 concomitant with a dramatic increase of eIF2α phosphorylation. Contrary to expectation, we found that GCN2^−/− and GCN2^+/− deficiencies aggravate rather than suppress hippocampal BACE1 and ATF4 elevations in 5XFAD mice, failing to rescue memory deficits as tested by the contextual fear conditioning. The facilitation of these deleterious events resulted in exacerbated β-amyloid accumulation, plaque pathology and CREB dysfunction in 5XFAD mice with GCN2 mutations. Notably, GCN2 deletion caused overactivation of the PKR-endoplasmic reticulum-related kinase (PERK)-dependent eIF2α phosphorylation pathway in 5XFAD mice in the absence of changes in the PKR pathway. Moreover, PERK activation in response to GCN2 deficiency was specific to 5XFAD mice, since phosphorylated PERK levels were equivalent between GCN2^−/− and wild-type control mice. Our findings suggest that GCN2 may be an important eIF2α kinase under the physiological condition, whereas blocking the GCN2 pathway under exposure to significant β-amyloidosis rather aggravates eIF2α phosphorylation leading to BACE1 and ATF4 elevations in AD.     

Arabidopsis mutants lacking asparaginases develop normally but exhibit enhanced root inhibition by exogenous asparagine

Asparaginase catalyzes the degradation of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, and is implicated in the catabolism of transported asparagine in sink tissues of higher plants. The Arabidopsis genome includes two genes, ASPGA1 and ASPGB1, belonging to distinct asparaginase subfamilies. Conditions of severe nitrogen limitation resulted in a slight decrease in seed size in wild-type Arabidopsis. However, this response was not observed in a homozygous T-DNA insertion mutant where ASPG genes had been inactivated. Under nitrogen-sufficient conditions, the ASPG mutant had elevated levels of free asparagine in mature seed. This phenotype was observed exclusively under conditions of low illumination, when a low ratio of carbon to nitrogen was translocated to the seed. Mutants deficient in one or both asparaginases were more sensitive than wild-type to inhibition of primary root elongation and root hair emergence by L-asparagine as a single nitrogen source. This enhanced inhibition was associated with increased accumulation of asparagine in the root of the double aspga1-1/-b1-1 mutant. This indicates that inhibition of root growth is likely elicited by asparagine itself or an asparagine-derived metabolite, other than the products of asparaginase, aspartic acid or ammonia. During germination, a fusion between the ASPGA1 promoter and beta-glucuronidase was expressed in endosperm cells starting at the micropylar end. Expression was initially high throughout the root and hypocotyl, but became restricted to the root tip after three days, which may indicate a transition to nitrogen-heterotrophic growth.     

Diurnal Changes in Asparaginase Activity in Pea Leaves: II. REGULATION OF ACTIVITY

Pea leaf asparaginase is stabilized by asparagine and aspartateduring incubation. In crude extracts this effect was enhancedby products of the light reaction (NADPH, NADH, or reduced ferredoxin),but these compounds were ineffective on the purified enzyme,or in the absence of asparagine. MgATP, MgADP and oxidized ferredoxinreduced asparaginase activity in purified preparation reducedor oxidized glutathione had no effect. Asparaginase activitydoes not appear to be modulated via phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.The presence of calcium during extraction increased asparaginaseactivity more than 2-fold, but addition of calcium to extractsprepared in its absence had no effect; calmodulin had no effecton activity. Co-extraction of light- and dark-treated tissueshowed that soluble factors are not responsible for the diurnalvariation in asparaginase activity. Association of asparaginasewith membranes did not account for changes in extractable activity.Use of the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide, puromycin,emetine, actinomycin D and cordycepin and the thiol proteaseinhibitor leupeptin suggested that mRNA and protein synthesisare required for the increase of asparaginase activity duringthe light period and that proteolytic degradation accounts forthe decrease during the dark. Key words: Pisum sativum, asparaginase, protein synthesis, proteolysis.     

Saturated fatty acid induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in human liver cells via the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway

Accumulation of saturated fatty acids in the liver can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated saturated fatty acid induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in human liver cells and the underlying causal mechanism. Human liver L02 and HepG2 cell lines were exposed to the saturated fatty acid sodium palmitate. MTT assay was used for cell viability, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining for apoptosis, RT-PCR for mRNA expression, and Western blot for protein expression. Silence of PRK-like ER kinase (PERK) expression in liver cells was through transient transfection of PERK shRNA. Treatment of L02 and HepG2 cells with sodium palmitate reduced cell viability through induction of apoptosis. Sodium palmitate also induced ER stress in the cells, indicated by upregulation of PERK phosphorylation and expression of BiP, ATF4, and CHOP proteins. Sodium palmitate had little effect on activating XBP-1, a common target of the other two canonical sensors of ER stress, ATF6, and IRE1. Knockdown of PERK gene expression suppressed the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway during sodium palmitate-induced ER stress and significantly inhibited sodium palmitate-induced apoptosis in L02 and HepG2 cells. Saturated fatty acid-induced ER stress and apoptosis in these human liver cells were enacted through the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway. Future study is warranted to investigate the role of these proteins in mediating saturated fatty acid-induced NAFLD in animal models.