Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of resveratrol (Res) on the fat synthesis in the liver cancer HepG₂ cells, and to elucidate its possible mechanism.Methods: The HepG₂ cells were cultured in vitro and divided into Res group (treated with 40 μmol·L^-1 DMSO- diluted Res for 24 h) and control group (treated with the same concentration of DMSO for 24 h). The cell supernatant was collected, and the levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the cells in various groups were measured by ELISA. The mRNA and protein expression levels of lipase synthase acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1), fatty acid synthetase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) in the cells in various groups were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting method. The levels of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine(O-GlcNAc)glycosylation in the cells in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.Results: Compared with control group, the levels of TG and TC in the cells in Res group were decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant (t₁=1.886,P>0.05; t₂=2.457,P>0.05). Compared with control group, the levels of expressions of ACC1, FASN and SCD1 mRNA and proteins in the cells in Res group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the O-GlcNAc glycosylation level in the cells in Res group was significantly decreased (t=2.87, P<0.05).Conclusion: Res has the effect of inhibiting the fat synthesis in the liver cancer HepG₂ cells. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of cellular O-GlcNAc glycosylation level and the reduction of the expression of FASN.

Key words: resveratrol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, HepG₂ cells, fatty acid synthetase, O-GlcNAc glycosylation