Protective effect of wild Corni fructus methanolic extract against acute alcoholic liver injury in mice

Background: In Chinese folk medicine, Corni fructus (C. fructus) has traditionally been used to improve liver function, although the mechanism underlying its activity remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of wild C. fructus methanolic extract against acute alcoholic liver injury.

Methods: Alcohol was administered to mice for three consecutive days, either alone or in combination with C. fructus methanolic extract (50, 100, or 200?mg/kg body weight/d). Serum and liver tissue were collected from the animals and subjected to biochemical and histopathological analyses.

Results: C. fructus signi?cantly alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and thiobarbituric acid reactive species, inhibiting hydroxyl radicals (?OH), and increasing total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione in the liver (P?C. fructus treatment inhibited the expression and activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P?Conclusions: C. fructus could be a promising natural substance for ameliorating acute alcohol-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury.     

解酒护肝饮解酒及对急慢酒精性肝损伤的保护作用

为了评价解酒护肝饮解酒效果及其对急、慢性酒精性肝损伤保护作用机制,本研究通过建立醉酒模型,确定致醉剂量;通过醉酒睡眠实验比较解酒护肝饮解酒特性;通过测定醉酒小鼠血乙醇含量的变化,研究解酒护肝饮对乙醇代谢的影响;通过建立急慢性酒精性肝损伤模型,测定AST、ALT、SOD活性,GSH、MDA水平,HE染色切片观察肝组织形态学的变化。研究发现小鼠最佳致醉剂量为11 m L/kg;与模型组比较,解酒护肝饮高(HD)、中剂量组(MD)均可延长醉酒时间、缩短醒酒时间(p<0.05),高、中剂量组可降低酒精灌胃后2 h、3 h时间点血乙醇含量(p<0.05);与模型组比较,急慢性酒精肝损伤模型各剂量组均能显著降低血清AST、ALT活性(p<0.05),急性酒精性肝损伤模型中,各剂量组肝组织SOD、GSH水平上升(p<0.05),MDA水平下降(p<0.05),而在慢性酒精性肝损伤模型肝组织中,低剂量组(LD)的SOD、GSH及MDA水平没有统计学差异;病理切片观察可见,急慢性酒精肝损伤模型高、中、低剂量组均能显著改善肝组织因乙醇而导致的肝损伤,并且高、中剂量组效果较好。本研究表明解酒护肝饮可显著延长醉酒时间,缩短醒酒时间,降低血乙醇的含量,对酒精诱导的肝损伤有较好的保护作用。     

The roles of aerobic exercise training and suppression IL-6 gene expression by RNA interference in the development of insulin resistance

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the hypothesis that aerobic exercise training inhibits the development of insulin resistance through IL-6 and probe into the possible molecular mechanism about it.MethodsRats were raised with high-fat diets for 8 weeks to develop insulin resistance, and glucose infusion rates (GIRs) were determined by hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamping to confirm the development of insulin resistance. Aerobic exercise training (the speed and duration time in the first week were respectively 16 m/min and 50 min, and speed increased 1 m/min and duration time increased 5 min every week following it) and/or IL-6shRNA plasmid injection (rats received IL-6shRNA injection via the tail vein every two weeks) were adopted during the development of insulin resistance. The serum IL-6, leptin, adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, fasting serum insulin, GIR, IL-6 gene expression levels, p-p38 in various tissues and p-STAT3/t-STAT3 ratio in the liver were measured.ResultsRats fed with high-fat diets for 8 weeks were developed insulin resistance and the IL-6mRNA levels of IL-6shRNA injection groups in various tissues were significantly lower than those of control group (P < 0.05), respectively. The development of insulin resistance in exercise rats significantly decreased, however, compared with that, the GIR of exercise rats injected by IL-6shRNA was lower (P < 0.05). The IL-6mRNA levels were highest in the fat tissue and lowest in the skeletal muscles in all the rats. The serum adiponectin levels decreased (P < 0.05) following the development of insulin resistance, and it increased (P < 0.05) when the rats were intervened by aerobic exercise training for 8 weeks at the same time. However, there were not significant differences when serum leptin concentrations were compared (P > 0.05). The p-p38 significantly increased in the rats fed with high-fat diets, however, p-p38 of the exercise high-fat diets rats in the liver and fat tissues significantly decreased than that (P < 0.05). The changes of p-p38 in exercise rats injected by IL-6shRNA were irregular. The activation of STAT3 in the liver significantly increased (P < 0.05) following the development of insulin resistance, and it decreased (P < 0.05) when the rats were intervened by aerobic exercise training for 8 weeks at the same time, and the gene silencing of IL-6 did not have effects on the activation of STAT3 in the liver (P > 0.05).ConclusionsIn conclusion, aerobic exercise training prevented the development of insulin resistance through IL-6 to a certain degree. The gene expression and secretion of IL-6 could inhibit the development of insulin resistance. The mechanism of the effects were possibly related with elevating the levels of serum adiponectin, and/or inhibiting the activation of STAT3 in the liver and p38MAPK in the skeletal muscles, liver and fat tissues.     

运动干预下CSE/H2S调控TLR4/NF-κB信号通路对酒精性肝损伤的改善作用

胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶(cystathionine γ-lyase, CSE)是合成内源性H₂S的核心酶之一。CSE/H₂S体系可介导多种信号转导途径减轻机体炎性损伤。而有氧运动已被证实对机体免疫功能具促进作用,但是否通过CSE/H₂S体系介导炎性通路发挥效应,其机制有待深入研究。本研究旨在探讨有氧运动通过CSE/H₂S体系抑制TLR4/NF-κB信号通路对酒精性肝损伤的改善作用。选取3周龄健康雄性昆明(KM)种小鼠50只,随机分成酒精性脂肪肝病组(AFLD)[模型组(M)、有氧运动组(E)、有氧运动+NaHS组(EN)、有氧运动+PAG组(EP)]、空白组(K),每组10只。干预7周,解剖学观察发现,M组小鼠脂肪系数、脏器系数均高于K组(P<0.01)。ELISA酶联免疫结果显示,相比K组,M组谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶水平增高,CSE活性下降,丙二醛含量上升,蛋白质羰基化程度上升及谷胱甘肽含量下降(P<0.01, P<0.05)。去蛋白质法检测发现,外周血H₂S含量升高(P<0.01)。HE染色显示,M组肝组织结构紊乱,呈现大量脂滴空泡样变,且胞核畸形位变。给予有氧运动干预及腹腔注射NaHS,可显著减轻肝质变及肝功能症状,提升血清H₂S含量和CSE活性(P<0.01)。而腹腔注射PAG可加剧酒精性肝损伤。免疫组织化学染色显示,相比M组,E、EN组TLR4、NF-κB、IL-1β阳性表达面积下降(P<0.01)。实时荧光定量PCR显示,相比M组,E组、EN组CSE、TLR4、NF-κB、IL-1β mRNA表达显著下降(P<0.01),EP组无显著差异(P>0.05)。Illumina高通量测序筛选肝组织炎症相关因子及关联分析显示,差异表达因子主要富集在NF-κB、TGF-β、TNF、TOLL样受体等信号通路,涉及肝组织细胞信号转导、凋亡抑制和免疫反应等,有氧运动及NaHS可降低炎症和免疫相关信号通路的富集。以上研究结果表明,有氧运动可促进小鼠肝组织中CSE/H₂S气体信号体系的表达,从而抑制TLR4/NF-κB通路促炎过程,拮抗小鼠酒精性肝损伤,且有氧运动结合外源性H₂S供体对TLR4/NF-κB的干预效果更佳。     

Inhibitory Effect of Gallic Acid on CCl4-Mediated Liver Fibrosis in Mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gallic acid (GA) on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (group A), CCl₄-induced liver injury control group (group B), and CCl₄ induction with GA of low dose (5 mg/kg) and high dose (15 mg/kg) treatment group (group C and group D). GA was intra-gastric given for mice once a day after 2 weeks of CCl₄ induction. Animals were killed at the eighth week. Degrees of fibrosis and collagen percentage were measured. Hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (cIV), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) were determined. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA levels were examined by RT-PCR. Western blotting was carried out to evaluate the changes of MMP-2 protein. HE and VG stainings showed GA in a dose-dependent manner improved significantly the fibrosis condition in CCl₄-injured mice (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Also, the concentrations of HA, cIV, and MDA, as well as the serum levels of ALT, AST, and γ-GT were markedly reduced by GA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and decreases in MMP-2, TIMP-1 mRNA, and MMP-2 protein were observed as well (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). GA could exert protective effect on liver injury and reduce liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ in mice, which might be through the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activity.     

Dietary supplementation of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium protects against oxidative stress and liver damage in laying hens fed an oxidized sunflower oil-added diet

The protective effects of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ.Na₂) supplementation against oxidized sunflower oil-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in laying hens were examined. Three hundred and sixty 53-week-old Hy-Line Gray laying hens were randomly allocated into one of the five dietary treatments. The treatments included: (1) a diet containing 2% fresh sunflower oil; (2) a diet containing 2% thermally oxidized sunflower oil; (3) an oxidized sunflower oil diet with 100 mg/kg of added vitamin E; (4) an oxidized sunflower oil diet with 0.08 mg/kg of PQQ.Na₂; and (5) an oxidized sunflower oil diet with 0.12 mg/kg of PQQ.Na₂. Birds fed the oxidized sunflower oil diet showed a lower feed intake compared to birds fed the fresh oil diet or oxidized oil diet supplemented with vitamin E (P=0.009). Exposure to oxidized sunflower oil increased plasma malondialdehyde (P<0.001), hepatic reactive oxygen species (P<0.05) and carbonyl group levels (P<0.001), but decreased plasma glutathione levels (P=0.006) in laying hens. These unfavorable changes induced by the oxidized sunflower oil diet were modulated by dietary vitamin E or PQQ.Na₂ supplementation to levels comparable to the fresh oil group. Dietary supplementation with PQQ.Na₂ or vitamin E increased the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in plasma and the liver, when compared with the oxidized sunflower oil group (P<0.05). PQQ.Na₂ or vitamin E diminished the oxidized sunflower oil diet induced elevation of liver weight (P=0.026), liver to BW ratio (P=0.001) and plasma activities of alanine aminotransferase (P=0.001) and aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.001) and maintained these indices at the similar levels to the fresh oil diet. Furthermore, oxidized sunflower oil increased hepatic DNA tail length (P<0.05) and tail moment (P<0.05) compared with the fresh oil group. Dietary supplementation of PQQ.Na₂ or vitamin E decreased the oxidized oil diet induced DNA tail length and tail moment to the basal levels in fresh oil diet. These results indicate that PQQ.Na₂ is a potential antioxidant and is as effective against oxidized oil-related liver injury in laying hens as vitamin E. The protective effects of PQQ.Na₂ against liver damage induced by oxidized oil may be partially due to its role in the scavenging of free radicals, inhibiting of lipid peroxidation and enhancing of antioxidant defense systems.     

不同病因肝硬化患者临床特征及其预后影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨不同病因肝硬化患者临床特征及其预后影响因素。方法：回顾性选择2017年1月至2020年12月来我院诊治的具有完整资料，同时明确诊断为肝硬化，病因为乙肝后肝硬化（78例）、酒精性肝硬化（42例）。分析两组患者的一般资料、并发症发生情况、合并疾病情况，分析乙肝后肝硬化、酒精性肝硬化患者的预后影响因素。结果：两组患者在性别、职业、临床表现（黄疸、黑便、呕血、蜘蛛痣、脾脏增大）、肝脏体积缩小、并发症（上消化道出血、肝性脑病）、合并疾病（脂肪肝、糖尿病、胰腺炎、胆结石）方面有统计学意义（P<0.05）。乙肝后肝硬化组的疾病进展发生率明显较酒精性肝硬化组高（P<0.05）。单因素分析结果表明，临床表现（乏力、食欲减退、皮肤瘙痒、腹痛、腹胀、呕血、黑便、腹水）、Child-Pugh分级、并发症（上消化道出血、肝性脑病）是影响乙肝后肝硬化患者预后的因素（P<0.05）；Logistic回归分析结果表明，Child-Pugh分级在B、C级、存在上消化道出血与肝性脑病是影响乙肝后肝硬化患者预后的危险因素（P<0.05）。单因素分析结果表明，临床表现（黄疸）、Child-Pugh分级、并发症（上消化道出血、肝性脑病、感染）是影响酒精性肝硬化患者预后的因素（P<0.05）；Logistic回归分析结果表明，Child-Pugh分级为C级、存在上消化道出血肝性脑病、感染是影响酒精性肝硬化患者预后的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：乙肝后肝硬化与酒精性肝硬化的差异主要体现在性别、职业、临床表现、并发症与合并疾病中，影响乙肝后肝硬化预后的危险因素为Child-Pugh分级在B、C级、存在上消化道出血与肝性脑病，影响酒精性肝硬化预后的危险因素为Child-Pugh分级为C级、存在上消化道出血、肝性脑病、感染，需防治并发症，以改善患者预后。     

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells promotes the recovery of neurological functions in rats with traumatic brain injury associated with downregulation of Bad

Background aimsThe neuroprotective effects of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) after transplantation have largely been known in the injured nervous system. However, the underlying mechanisms still must be further elucidated. We explored the effects of OEC transplantation on the recovery of neurophysiologic function and the related anti-apoptosis mechanism in acute traumatic brain injury.MethodsThe OECs from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated, identified and labeled and then were immediately transplanted into the regions surrounding the injured brain site that is resulted from free-weight drop injury.ResultsNerve growth factor and it's recepor, p75 was expressed in cultured OECs. Transplanted OECs survived, migrated around the injury site and significantly improved the neurological severe scores compared with the control group (P < 0.05). OEC transplantation significantly increased the number of GAP-43–immunopositive fibers and synaptophysin-positive vesicles (P < 0.05) but significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells (P < 0.05). On the molecular level, the expression of Bad in the OEC transplantation group was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOEC transplantation could effectively improve neurological deficits in TBI rats; the underlying mechanism may be related with their effects on neuroprotection and regeneration induction, which is associated with the downregulation of the apoptotic molecule Bad.     

Chemokine Receptor Ccr6 Deficiency Alters Hepatic Inflammatory Cell Recruitment and Promotes Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis

Chronic liver diseases are characterized by a sustained inflammatory response in which chemokines and chemokine-receptors orchestrate inflammatory cell recruitment. In this study we investigated the role of the chemokine receptor CCR6 in acute and chronic liver injury. In the absence of liver injury Ccr6 ^-/- mice presented a higher number of hepatic macrophages and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and M1 markers Tnf-α, Il6 and Mcp1. Inflammation and cell recruitment were increased after carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in Ccr6 ^-/- mice. Moreover, chronic liver injury by carbon tetrachloride in Ccr6 ^-/- mice was associated with enhanced inflammation and fibrosis, altered macrophage recruitment, enhanced CD4⁺ cells and a reduction in Th17 (CD4⁺IL17⁺) and mature dendritic (MHCII⁺CD11c⁺) cells recruitment. Clodronate depletion of macrophages in Ccr6 ^-/- mice resulted in a reduction of hepatic pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic markers in the absence and after liver injury. Finally, increased CCR6 hepatic expression in patients with alcoholic hepatitis was found to correlate with liver expression of CCL20 and severity of liver disease. In conclusion, CCR6 deficiency affects hepatic inflammatory cell recruitment resulting in the promotion of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.     

Cathepsin B inactivation attenuates the apoptotic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion of mouse liver

Background: A major mechanism underlying warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during liver transplantation is the activation of the caspase chain, which leads to apoptosis. Recently, it was demonstrated that the release of cathepsin B, a cysteine protease, from the cytosol in liver injury induces mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3 and -9, thereby leading to apoptosis. The aim of this study was to ascertain if cathepsin B inactivation attenuates the apoptotic injury due to I/R in mouse liver. Methods: A model of segmental (70%) hepatic ischemia was used. Eighteen mice were anesthetized and randomly divided into three groups: (1) Control group: sham operation (laparotomy); (2) Ischemic group: midline laparotomy followed by occlusion of all structures in the portal triad to the left and median lobes for 60 min (ischemic period); (3) Study group: like group 2, but with intraperitoneal administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B (4 mg/100 g) 30 min before induction of ischemia. Serum liver enzyme levels were measured by biochemical analysis, and intrahepatic caspase-3 activity was measured by fluorometric assay; apoptotic cells were identified by morphological criteria, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) fluorometric assay, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. Results: Showed that at 6 h of reperfusion, there was a statistically significant reduction in liver enzyme levels in the animals pretreated with cathepsin B inhibitor (p < 0.05). On fluorometric assay, caspase-3 activity was significantly decreased in group 3 compared to group 2 (p < 0.0001). The reduction in postischemic apoptotic hepatic injury in the cathepsin B inhibitor -treated group was confirmed morphologically, by the significantly fewer apoptotic hepatocyte cells detected (p < 0.05); immunohistochemically, by the significantly weaker activation of caspase-3 compared to the ischemic group (p < 0.05); and by the TUNEL assay (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The administration of cathepsin B inhibitor before induction of ischemia can attenuate postischemic hepatocyte apoptosis and thereby minimize liver damage. Apoptotic hepatic injury seems to be mediated through caspase-3 activity. These findings have important implications for the potential use of cathepsin B inhibitors in I/R injury during liver transplantation.     

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth ameliorate concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis by protecting hepatocytes from apoptosis

BACKGROUNDAutoimmune hepatitis is a serious autoimmune liver disease that threatens human health worldwide, which emphasizes the urgent need to identify novel treatments. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), which are easy to obtain in a non-invasive manner, show pronounced proliferative and immunomodulatory capacities.AIMTo investigate the protective effects of SHED on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis in mice, and to elucidate the associated regulatory mechanisms.METHODSWe used a ConA-induced acute hepatitis mouse model and an in vitro co-culture system to study the protective effects of SHED on ConA-induced autoimmune hepatitis, as well as the associated underlying mechanisms.RESULTSSHED infusion could prevent aberrant histopathological liver architecture caused by ConA-induced infiltration of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, tumor necrosis-alpha⁺, and interferon-gamma⁺ inflammatory cells. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated in hepatitis mice. SHED infusion could therefore block ConA-induced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase elevations. Mechanistically, ConA upregulated tumor necrosis-alpha and interferon-gamma expression, which was activated by the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway to induce hepatocyte apoptosis, resulting in acute liver injury. SHED administration protected hepatocytes from ConA-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONSHED alleviates ConA-induced acute liver injury via inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis mediated by the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. Our findings could provide a potential treatment strategy for hepatitis.     

Endurance training in mice increases the unfolded protein response induced by a high-fat diet

Certain conditions, such as several weeks of high-fat diet, disrupt endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and activate an adaptive pathway referred as the unfolded protein response. When the unfolded protein response fails, the result is the development of inflammation and insulin resistance. These two pathological states are known to be improved by regular exercise training but the mechanisms remain largely undetermined. As it has recently been shown that the unfolded protein response is regulated by exercise, we hypothesised that concomitant treadmill exercise training (HFD+ex) prevents ER homeostasis disruption and its downstream consequences induced by a 6-week high-fat diet (HFD) in mice by activating the protective unfolded protein response. Several well-documented markers of the unfolded protein response were measured in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles as well as in the liver and pancreas. In HFD mice, an increase in these markers was observed (from 2- to 15-fold, P?<?0.05) in all tissues studied. The combination of HFD+ex increased the expression of several markers further, up to 100 % compared to HFD alone (P?<?0.05). HFD increased inflammatory markers both in the plasma (IL-6 protein, 2.5?±?0.52-fold; MIP-1α protein, 1.3?±?0.13-fold; P?<?0.05) and in the tissues studied, and treadmill exercise attenuated the inflammatory state induced by HFD (P?<?0.05). However, treadmill exercise could not reverse HFD-induced whole body glucose intolerance, assessed by OGTT (AUC, 1.8?±?0.29-fold, P?<?0.05). In conclusion, our results show that a HFD activated the unfolded protein response in mouse tissues in vivo, and that endurance training promoted this response. We speculate that the potentiation of the unfolded protein response by endurance training may represent a positive adaptation protecting against further cellular stress.     

Mechanism of neoagarotetraose protects against intense exercise-induced liver injury based on molecular ecological network analysis

Here we have explored the effect of neoagarotetraose (NAT) on liver injury caused by intense exercise. Our results showed that NAT treatment obviously decreased liver weight (p < 0.01), improved the liver morphological structure, decreased ALT level (p < 0.05) and endotoxin (LPS) (p < 0.01). In addition, NAT could regulate bile acid profiles in feces and serum of mice, which indicated the potential of liver function, suggesting that NAT was effective to relieve intense exercise-induced liver injury. NAT could regulate the expression of colon genes. NAT tended to alter the microbial composition of mice under intense exercise. We uncovered the network interactions between liver traits and microbial communities in NAT treatment mice. Interestingly, our data indicated that intense exercise-induced liver injury may be related to Clostridiales. In summary, these results demonstrated that NAT relieved liver injury induced by intense exercise may be related to gut microbiota.     

急性肝损伤小鼠中线粒体解耦联蛋白2的表达变化及意义

目的:观察C57小鼠急性肝损伤(acute liver injury,ALI)中解偶联蛋白2(Uncouple Protein2,UCP2)的表达,探讨ALI与UCP2表达变化的意义。方法:领取36只小鼠,随机分为对照组、ALI 1 d组、ALI 4 d组、ALI 7 d组。分别检测血清谷氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)的变化;肝组织病理变化用HE染色观察;利用Western Blot方法分别检测全肝组织蛋白和肝细胞线粒体提纯蛋白中的UCP2蛋白水平的变化;Real Time quality PCR检测UCP2在mRNA水平的表达变化。结果:ALI组1 d、4 d组与对照组相比,ALT(160.69±22.11 vs 34.43±5.19;96.37±15.39 vs 34.43±5.19)、AST(306.54±68.09 vs 97.74±14.49;173.94±26.74 vs 97.74±14.49)表达差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);肝组织病理学检查ALI组1 d和4 d组中肝细胞出现大面积坏死,7d组肝细胞坏死缓解;蛋白水平检测UCP2在ALI 1 d和4 d时全肝组织分别增加2.84倍和2.25倍,在肝线粒体中1 d、4 d和7 d时分别增加2.19倍、1.68倍和1.56倍,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);mRNA水平检测UCP2在ALI 1 d和4 d与对照组相比明显升高,相对增加3.79倍和1.46倍(P0.05)。结论:急性肝损伤状态下UCP2在蛋白和mRNA水平高表达,UCP2可能对于治疗急性肝损伤具有重要意义。     

Correlation between heat shock protein 32 and chronic heat-induced liver injury in developing mice

Heat stress is one of a wide variety of factors causing liver injury, a small heat shock protein (HSP), HSP32, is induced by heat stress in the liver. But the biological function of HSP32 in this injury is unclear. To investigate the underlying role of HSP32, RT-PCR, immunocytochemical staining and ELISA were applied to confirm the expression of HSP32. And the underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of hepatic dysfunction following hyperthermic challenge and the possible involvement of oxidative stress to induce oxidative deterioration of liver functions in developing mice were investigated in this study. Caspase-3mRNA expression and caspase-3 activity of heated liver were also analysed. The results showed that liver injury caused by chronic heat stress(39 °C, 1.5 h/day for 6 weeks) was reversible, caspase-3mRNA expression and caspase-3 activity of heat treated mice were increased after the first three weeks of heat exposure (P<0.05) and high expression levels of HSP32 were observed throughout the duration of experiment (P<0.01). A strong correlation exists between heat-induced liver injury and the induction of HSP32, which suggested that the reversibility of liver injury is involved in the induction of HSP32 in the hepatic cells under continuing heat stress.     

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM)-Accumulating Sake Yeast Suppresses Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

The suppressive effects on acute alcoholic liver injury of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and the sake yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kyokai No. 9, have been shown previously. To enhance the suppression of acute alcoholic liver injury by sake yeast, we prepared SAM-accumulating sake yeast (SAM yeast). Male C57BL/6 mice that had been fed on a diet containing 0.25% SAM yeast or sake yeast for two weeks received three doses of ethanol (5 g/kg BW). In the mice fed on the SAM yeast, the ethanol-induced increases in both triglyceride (TG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly repressed. In addition, the SAM yeast-fed mice did not show an ethanol-induced decrease in hepatic SAM level, suggesting that a disorder of methionine metabolism in the liver caused by ethanol was relieved by the SAM yeast. These results suggest that the SAM yeast had a stronger effect suppressing acute alcoholic liver injury in mice than the sake yeast.     

Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性的影响

摘要 目的：探究Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性的作用。方法：33只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为两组：一组16只饲喂普通饲料,另一组17只饲喂高脂饲料建立肥胖模型。造模成功后将小鼠随机分成四组：普通饲料溶剂对照组（Control ND组）、普通饲料Nrf2激动剂组（Nrf2(+) ND组）、高脂饲料溶剂对照组（Control HFD组）和高脂饲料Nrf2激动剂组（Nrf2(+) HFD组）。分别给予Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im和等体积溶剂灌胃干预6周后,检测各组小鼠血清甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（T-CHO）和低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（LDL-C）。苏木素-伊红（HE）染色观察肝脏组织形态学变化。RT-qPCR检测肝脏Nrf2下游抗氧化基因Nqo1、Ho1和Gclc的mRNA表达水平,Western Blot检测肝脏NQO1、HO-1和GCLC的蛋白表达水平。结果：与正常小鼠相比,肥胖小鼠的体重、TG和LDL-C升高（P＜0.05）,肝脏脂肪变性增加,GCLC的蛋白表达水平降低（P＜0.05）。在肥胖小鼠中,与溶剂对照组相比,Nrf2激动剂组小鼠的体重、血清TG降低（P＜0.05）,肝脏脂肪变性减轻,Nqo1和Gclc的mRNA表达水平升高（P＜0.05）,NQO1和GCLC的蛋白表达水平升高（P＜0.05）。结论：Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im可改善高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性,可能与Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im激活抗氧化基因的表达来减轻肝细胞氧化应激有关。     

Enhancement of exercise endurance capacity by fermented deer antler in BALB/c mice

To investigate the activity of fermented deer antler on exercise endurance capacity, we evaluated endurance capacity in five-week-old male BALB/c mice by administering the fermented deer antler extract (FA) or the non-fermented deer antler extract (NFA) and then subjected the mice to exercise in the form of swimming. The mice administered 500?mg/kg/day of FA showed a significant increase in swimming time compared with mice administered placebo (16.55?min vs. 21.64?min, P?<?0.05). Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the marker of the liver and muscle damage, was significantly lower in FA groups. However, NFA groups did not show significantly different swimming time or serum LDH from that of the control group. Moreover, the FA-500 group had significantly higher hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after forced swimming than the control and NFA groups (P?<?0.05). These findings suggest that fermentation may increase the exercise endurance capacity of the deer antler.     

急性力竭运动后小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平的变化及牛磺酸的保护作用

为探讨急性力竭运动后小鼠(Mus musculus)肾细胞凋亡水平的时相性变化及牛磺酸对肾的保护作用,将56只雄性小鼠随机分为对照组、力竭运动组(分为运动后即刻组、12h组、24 h组和48 h组)及牛磺酸运动组(分为12h组和24 h组),每小组8只,一次性力竭游泳运动后检测肾细胞凋亡水平、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达、一氧化氮(NO)含量及结构型一氧化氮合酶(cNOS)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)活性的变化.结果显示,力竭运动后各组小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平呈先升高后下降的趋势,其中运动后24 h组的凋亡水平达峰值(P＜0.05).与对照组相比,运动各组Bax表达均显著增强(P＜0.05).除运动后即刻组外,运动各组Bcl-2表达显著减弱(P＜0.05).各组Bax/Bcl-2比值显著升高,并在运动后24 h达峰值(P＜0.01),后出现下降趋势.小鼠力竭游泳后24 h和48 h肾组织NO含量显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),同时iNOS活性升高(P＜0.01),cNOS活性无显著性变化.相比同时刻运动组,牛磺酸运动组小鼠肾细胞凋亡水平、Bax表达及Bax/Bcl-2比值、iNOS活性显著降低(P＜0.05),Bcl-2表达显著升高(P＜0.05).以上结果表明,急性力竭运动可导致肾细胞凋亡的发生,iNOS、Bax、Bcl-2水平及Bax/Bcl-2比值可能在肾细胞凋亡的发生过程中发挥重要的介导作用.牛磺酸可通过调控iNOS活性及Bax/Bcl-2比值,抑制急性力竭运动后小鼠肾细胞凋亡的发生.