Low oxygen availability induces a metabolic shift toward enhanced glucose utilization in nonlipid-loaded and lipid-loaded HepG2 cells

2026/07/02 by Geng Li, Ludwig J. Dubois, Rianne Biemans +2
Medicine · #Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment #Adipose Tissue and Metabolism #Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

paper · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00095.2026

Abstract

, p=0.038) were downregulated in steatotic cells. Low oxygen exposure increased glycogen content in non-lipid-loaded and steatotic cells (both p<0.001) and reduced glucose release (p<0.05). Finally, low oxygen exposure reduced OCR (p<0.05) and increased glycolysis (p<0.001) in both non-lipid-loaded and steatotic cells compared to 21%. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that reduced oxygen availability in the microenvironment has marked effects on metabolic pathways in non-lipid-loaded and steatotic hepatocytes, inducing a metabolic shift to enhanced reliance on glucose as energy source.

Citations

• Regulation of glycolysis by the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF): implications for cellular physiology

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