Background: Bergamot polyphenolic fraction (PF) extract exerts a beneficial against liver steatosis. However, the fundamental processes underlying this beneficial effect of bergamot PF remain elusive. In this work, we examined the effect of bergamot PF extract on 2D and 3D hepatocyte cultures.
Material and methods: We evaluated the effect of bergamot PF in 2D and 3D cultures from rat, human hepatoma cells, and human primary hepatocytes.
Results: In 2D cell culture, we demonstrated that incubation with bergamot PF decreases intracellular lipid content and is associated with an increase in expression levels of ß-oxidation genes (Acox1, Pparα, and Ucp2) and lipophagy (Atg7). Moreover, we confirm this effect on 3D spheroids and organoids.
Conclusion: Incubation with bergamot PF reduces intracellular lipid neutral fat potentially by increasing intracellular pathways related to beta-oxidation.
Keywords: NAFLD; citrus bergamia; human liver organoid; nutraceutical; spheroids.