HCBP6 Modulates Triglyceride Homeostasis in Hepatocytes Via the SREBP1c/FASN Pathway

ABSTRACT Hypertriglyceridemia leads to liver steatosis, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Although HCBP6 (hepatitis C virus core‐binding protein 6) was previously shown to be an HCV (hepatitis C virus) core‐binding protein, its biological function remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that HCBP6 negatively regulates intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels in hepatocytes. We found that bidirectional manipulation of hepatocyte HCBP6 expression by knockdown or overexpression results in increased or decreased TG accumulation, respectively. In addition, HCBP6 mRNA and protein levels exhibited significant time‐ and dose‐dependent increases in a cellular model of lipid‐overload hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, TG levels are regulated by HCBP6‐sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c)‐mediated fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression. We also demonstrate that HCBP6 mRNA and protein expression is inhibited by microRNA‐122 (miR‐122), and miR‐122 overexpression elicited more robust translational repression of luciferase activity driven by the full 3′‐UTR of HCBP6. Taken together, our results provide new evidence that miR‐122‐regulated HCBP6 functions as a sensor protein to maintain intrahepatocyte TG levels. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2375–2384, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.