PAR2 promotes high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting AMPK-mediated autophagy.

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a member of G protein-coupled receptors. There are two types of PAR2 signaling pathways: canonical G-protein signaling and β-arrestin signaling. Although PAR2 signaling has been reported to aggravate hepatic steatosis, the exact mechanism is still unclear, and the role of PAR2 in autophagy remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of PAR2 in autophagy during high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis in mice. Increased protein levels of PAR2 and β-arrestin-2 and their interactions were detected after four months of HFD. To further investigate the role of PAR2, wild-type (WT) and PAR2-knockout (PAR2 KO) mice were fed HFD. PAR2 deficiency protected HFD-induced hepatic steatosis in male mice, but not in female mice. Interestingly, PAR2-deficient liver showed increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation with decreased interaction between Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CAMKKβ) and β-arrestin-2. In addition, PAR2 deficiency upregulated autophagy in the liver. To elucidate whether PAR2 plays a role in the regulation of autophagy and lipid accumulation in vitro, PAR2 was overexpressed in HepG2 hepatocytes. Overexpression of PAR2 decreased AMPK activation with increased interaction of CAMKKβ with β-arrestin-2 and significantly inhibited autophagic responses in HepG2 hepatocytes. Inhibition of autophagy by PAR2 overexpression further exacerbated palmitate (PA)-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that the increase in the PAR2-β-arrestin-2-CAMKKβ complex by HFD inhibits AMPK-mediated autophagy, leading to the alleviation of hepatic steatosis.