Induction of the chaperone heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) through heat treatment (HT), exercise, or overexpression improves glucose tolerance and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Less is known about HSP72 function in the liver where lipid accumulation can result in insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was 1) to determine whether weekly in vivo HT induces hepatic HSP72 and improves glucose tolerance in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and 2) to determine the ability of HSP72 to protect against lipid accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction in primary hepatocytes. Male Wistar rats were fed an HFD for 15 wk and were given weekly HT (41°C, 20 min) or sham treatments (37°C, 20 min) for the final 7 wk. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were assessed, along with HSP72 induction and triglyceride storage, in the skeletal muscle and liver. The effect of an acute loss of HSP72 in primary hepatocytes was examined via siRNA. Weekly in vivo HT improved glucose tolerance, elevated muscle and hepatic HSP72 protein content, and reduced muscle triglyceride storage. In primary hepatocytes, mitochondrial morphology was changed, and fatty acid oxidation was reduced in small interfering HSP72 (siHSP72)-treated hepatocytes. Lipid accumulation following palmitate treatment was increased in siHSP72-treated hepatocytes. These data suggest that HT may improve systemic metabolism via induction of hepatic HSP72. Additionally, acute loss of HSP72 in primary hepatocytes impacts mitochondrial health as well as fat oxidation and storage. These findings suggest therapies targeting HSP72 in the liver may prevent NAFLD.
Keywords: heat shock proteins; liver metabolism; mitochondria; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; steatosis.