Mechanism of VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 signaling in the effects of sodium dehydroacetate on coagulation factors in rat hepatocytes.

Sodium dehydroacetate (Na-DHA) is widely used as an antibacterial and preservative additive in food and cosmetics. Previously, we reported that repeated oral administration of Na-DHA induces coagulation disorders, and inhibited liver vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) and VKORC1-like protein 1 (VKORC1L1) in rats. However, the effects of Na-DHA on coagulation factors in rat hepatocytes and the mechanism of VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 signaling in that process are unclear. Here, we constructed stable Vkorc1 and Vkorc1l1 overexpressing cell lines using lentiviruses and transfected small interfering RNAs into buffalo rat liver BRL3A cells for Vkorc1 and Vkorc1l1 overexpression and silencing, respectively. After treatment with 5 mmol/L Na-DHA for 24 h, VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 expression levels were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting. Vitamin K (VK) and factor IX (FIX) contents were detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. We observed that Na-DHA inhibited VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 expression levels and reduced VK and FIX levels in rat hepatocytes. Overexpression or silencing of Vkorc1 and Vkorc1l1 increased or decreased, respectively, the production and secretion of VK and FIX in rat hepatocytes, and alleviated or aggravated the inhibitory effects of Na-DHA on VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 expression levels. Taken together, the results indicated that both VKORC1 and VKORC1L1 signaling play regulatory roles in the effects of Na-DHA on coagulation factors in rat hepatocytes.