Induction of lipid autophagy by chitosan-coated selenium nanoparticles mitigates NAFLD in vitro and in vivo.

Excessive lipid accumulation within the liver is a main factor inducing non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Chitosan coated selenium nanoparticles (CS-SeNPs), a new kind of selenium supplement. In vitro study, CS-SeNPs remarkably decreased FFA-induced lipid accumulation. CS-SeNPs could reverse the inhibition effects of FFA on the autophagy process. Inhibition of autophagy increased lipid accumulation and TC and TG levels, and decreased the expression levels of fat metabolism-related genes. In vivo analysis, CS-SeNPs administration apparently improved the pathological changes in NAFLD, including body weight, liver function, serum lipids, and liver histopathological changes. Additionally, autophagy levels in the liver were also increased, oxidative stress and inflammation were reduced after CS-SeNPs treatment. In summary, CS-SeNPs showed protective effects on NAFLD both in vivo and in vitro, likely through a mechanism involving promotion of lipid degradation and reduction of fat accumulation in hepatocytes by inducing lipid autophagy.