Geraniol altered lipid droplets composition in HepG2 cells

POLO MP; LAYERENZA JP; VES-LOSADA A ; GARCíA DE BRAVO, M

Bilbao

Congreso; 51st International Conference of Bioscience of Lipids (ICBL); 2010

Monoterpenes are a class of phytochemical compounds found in many commonly consumed fruits and vegetables. These compounds would inhibit cancer growth and development through multiple effects on mevalonate pathway. We have reported that geraniol (G), a natural monoterpene, inhibits cholesterol synthesis and cell growth at concentration greater than 10ìM and 100ìM respectively in HepG2 cells. The present study was undertaken to test the effect of geraniol on the composition and organization of lipids. Cells were treated with 200 mM G for 48 h with bovine fetal serum. Lipid droplets (LD) isolation method (ultracentrifugation in a sucrose density gradient) was applied to sonicated Hep G2 cells. Six bands were isolated. Total lipids from cells and the major upper band were extracted and cholesterol (Cho), cholesterylesters (CE), triacylglycerides (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) were determined. TAG content decreased and PL increased in G treated cell. Upper band volume from G treated cells was 1.67 times higher than that in control cells. Control band:  7% proteins and 93% lipids (63%TAG, 12%Cho and 16%CE and 9% PL). Upper band from G treated cells presented a relative enrichment in proteins, Cho and PL and decreased in TAG and CE. Geraniol produced alterations in lipid cell composition and in the organization of the main cytoplasmic neutral lipid pools, lipid droplets.