Mechanisms involved in lipid accumulation and apoptosis induced by 1-nitropyrene in Hepa1c1c7 cells

► 1-Nitropyrene increases apoptosis and lipid accumulation in hepatoma cells. ► 1-NP modifies cholesterol and fatty acids content. ► 1-NP alters the expression and activities of two enzymes involved in lipid homeostatsis, the steaoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and the AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). ► 1-NP-induced apoptosis is caspase- and AMPK-dependent, and is associated to a decrease of SCD1 expression.