Fig. 4

L-theanine inhibits fatty acid synthesis through mTOR-SREBP1c-ACC1/FASN signaling pathway. HepG2 and AML12 cells were treated with 500 μM OA for 24 h with or without pretreated L-theanine for 2 h. Western blot analysis showing protein expression of SREBP -1c, p-mTOR,  mTOR in HepG2 (A) and AML12 cells (B). C57BL/6J mice were fed normal control diet (NCD), HFD or HFD supplemented with L-Theanine for 16 weeks. C mRNA expression of Srebf1 in mice liver. D Protein levels of SREBP-1c in mice liver. E Representative images of immunohistochemical staining of SREBP -1c in liver sections. Scale bar: 50 μm (40 ×). Band intensity was quantified by densitometry analysis. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus control or NCD group; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 versus OA or HFD group. SREBP-1c-P: precursor form of SREBP-1c; SREBP-1c-N: nuclear active form of SREBP-1c