Abstract
The excessive accumulation of lipid droplets within hepatocytes stands as a hallmark characteristic of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Selenium (Se) nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered considerable attention for their notable bioavailability, minimal toxicity, and exceptional antioxidant properties. However, a critical limitation lies in the propensity of SeNPs to aggregate into the biologically inactive elemental Se, thereby constraining their utility. Here, we utilized Stevioside (SV), a natural sweetener, to modify SeNPs and obtained the SV-SeNPs with a size of about 187 ± 7 nm. We aimed to investigate the effect of SV-SeNPs on high fructose-palmitate (HFP) induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Noteworthy is the absence of overt cytotoxicity attributed to SV-SeNPs on normal HepG2 cells. Of significance, our findings delineate the profound inhibitory effects of SV-SeNPs on the expression of key genes implicated in de novo lipogenesis, such as fatty-acid synthase (FASN), acetyl-CoA-carboxylase 1 (ACC1), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) within HFP-induced HepG2 cells. Furthermore, our investigation reveals that SV-SeNPs mediate a significant reduction in lipid accumulation by activating the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling cascades. Additionally, the antioxidative properties of SV-SeNPs are underscored by their ability to counteract oxidative stress via the upregulation of two pivotal antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx). In conclusion, our study unveils the potential beneficial effects of SV-SeNPs on the prevention and treatment of MAFLD by effectively suppressing lipid accumulation and ameliorating oxidative stress.