Low-dose γ-ray irradiation reduces oxidative damage induced by CCl4 in mouse liver

We examined the effects of irradiation (50 cGy of γ-ray) reducing the oxidative damage in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-hepatopathy mice. We made pathological examinations and analyzed transaminase activity (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase), lipid peroxide level and the activities of endogenous antioxidants in the mouse. The irradiation was found to accelerate the recovery. Based on pathological examination as well as changes in each transaminase activity and lipid peroxide levels, it was shown that hepatopathy improved 3 d after the irradiation. The activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase rapidly elevated after irradiation, and the total glutathione content gradually increased in the irradiation group. Both activities of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and catalase were higher than normal at all times after the irradiation and gradually increased. In addition, the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity changed in a similar fashion to the total glutathione content. However, superoxide dismutase activity in both groups decreased and that of the irradiation group was significantly lower than that of the sham-irradiation group. These findings suggest that low-dose radiation relieved functional disorder at least in the liver of mice with active oxygen diseases.     

脂氧素受体激动剂BML-111对大鼠急性肝损伤的干预作用及其机制*

目的: 探索脂氧素对急性肝损伤的作用及机制。方法: SD大鼠24只随机分为4组(n=6):正常对照组:皮下注射橄榄油,剂量1.8 ml/kg。模型组:皮下注射40%四氯化碳(CCL4)油剂(橄榄油为溶剂),剂量3 ml/kg。BML-111治疗组:皮下注射Lipoxin受体激动剂BML-111,剂量1 mg/kg,30 min后处理同模型组。BOC-2阻断剂组:皮下注射Lipoxin受体阻断剂BOC-2,剂量50 μg/kg,30 min后处理同BML-111组。HE染色观察肝组织病理学变化,判断肝损伤情况。血清学检测血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)及谷草转氨酶(AST)活性;试剂盒法检测大鼠肝组织中髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性;ELISA法测定血清中血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)、血管紧张素转化酶2(ACE2)、血管紧张素II(AngII)、血管紧张素1-7(Ang-(1-7))的含量。Western blot检测肝组织中Ang II、Ang-(1-7)的蛋白含量。结果: 治疗组较模型组和阻断剂组的肝损伤程度减轻;BML-111降低CCL4损伤的大鼠血清中ACE、AngII的含量(P＜0.01)及升高血清中ACE2、Ang-(1-7)的含量(P＜0.01)。BML-111增加肝组织中Ang-(1-7)含量,降低CCL4损伤的大鼠组织中AngII含量。结论: 结果表明脂氧素受体激动剂BML-111对大鼠急性肝损伤的干预作用及其机制,可能与调节AngII和Ang-(1-7)有关。     

Arsenic induces oxidative DNA damage in mammalian cells

Although arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, the underlying carcinogenic mechanism(s) is not known. Using the human-hamster hybrid (A_L) cell mutagenic assay that is sensitive in detecting mutagens that induce predominately multilocus deletions, we showed previously that arsenite is indeed a potent gene and chromosomal mutagen and that oxyradicals may be involved in the mutagenic process. In the present study, the effects of free radical scavenging enzymes on the cytotoxic and mutagenic potential of arsenic were examined using the A_L cells. Concurrent treatment of cells with either superoxide dismutase or catalase reduced both the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of arsenite by an average of 2–3 fold, respectively. Using immunoperoxidase staining with a monoclonal antibody specific for 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), we demonstrated that arsenic induced oxidative DNA damage in A_L cells. This induction was significantly reduced in the presence of the antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, reducing the intracellular levels of non-protein sulfhydryls (mainly glutathione) using buthionine S-R-Sulfoximine increased the total mutant yield by more than 3-fold as well as the proportion of mutants with multilocus deletions. Taken together, our data provide clear evidence that reactive oxygen species play an important causal role in the genotoxicity of arsenic in mammalian cells.     

Evaluation of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway in diabetic rat testis

We investigated the role of the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) signaling pathway in diabetic male infertility. Male rats were divided into two groups: a control group and a streptozotocin induced diabetic group. Thirty days after induction of diabetes, samples of testes were harvested and fixed in 10% formalin for light microscopy. Germ cell apoptosis was determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate in situ nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and immunostaining of caspase 8 and active caspase 3. We also investigated the expressions of Fas and FasL using immunohistochemistry. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes caused severe histopathological damage and increased apoptotic tubule and apoptotic cell indices, caspase 8 and caspase 3 expressions, and Fas and FasL-immunopositive cells in the rat testes. We suggest that the Fas/FasL signaling pathway may play a role in male infertility caused by diabetes.     

四氯化碳诱导小鼠肝脏纤维化的差异蛋白质组学

以四氯化碳(Carbon tetrachloride,CCl4)诱导小鼠肝组织纤维化为研究模型,发现并探讨纤维化肝组织与正常肝组织在蛋白质组水平上的差异。实验小鼠(C57 BL/6)随机分为两组,由橄榄油和四氯化碳诱导15周,并分别对这两组肝组织的全蛋白表达谱进行质谱检测,应用GO(Gene Ontology)功能分类分析和KEGG(Kyoto Enyoolpedia of Genes and Genomes)信号通路的富集分析方法对鉴定到的全蛋白表达谱进行差异表达分析。在对照组和实验组中,我们分别鉴定到17 382和20 486条特异性肽段,图谱平均利用率大于50%,共计鉴定到蛋白4 991种(蛋白特异性肽段个数至少为1),其中差异表达蛋白有2 135种(差异倍数大于或等于2),表达上调蛋白1 264种,下调蛋白871种。纤维化肝脏组织中与细胞外基质组成(Extracellular matrix organization)、细胞骨架组成(Cytoskeleton organization)、有机磷酸代谢(Organophosphate metabolic process)、细胞定位(Cellular localization)和细胞组分调节(Regulation of cellular component organization)相关蛋白的表达是上调的;另外,与小分子代谢(Small molecule metabolic process)、蛋白质转运(Protein transport)和有机氮化合物的代谢(Organonitrogen compound metabolic process),以及四吡咯的合成过程(Tetrapyrrole biosynthetic process)有关蛋白的表达是下调的。信号通路富集分析结果表明,纤维化与VEGF和T细胞受体信号调节通路密切相关。结果提示,纤维化的形成不仅是一个复杂的信号转导过程,更是一个炎症与免疫相互促成的结果;增强肝实质细胞的存活,降低相关信号的传递及接收都有可能对纤维化的发生和发展起到抑制效果。     

Thyroid Hormone Influences Antioxidant Defense System in Adult Rat Brain

The objective of the current study was to find out whether thyroid hormone influences antioxidant defense parameters of rat brain. Several oxidative stress and antioxidant defense parameters of mitochondrial (MF) and post-mitochondrial (PMF) fractions of cerebral cortex (CC) of adult rats were compared among euthyroid (control), hypothyroid [6-n-propylthiouracil (PTU)-challenged], and hyperthyroid (T3-treatment to PTU-challenged rats) states. Oxidative stress parameters, such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) and protein carbonyl content (PC), in MF declined following PTU challenge in comparison to euthyroid rats. On the other hand, when PTU-challenged rats were treated with T3, a significant increase in the level of oxidative stress parameters in MF was recorded. Hydrogen peroxide content of MF as well as PMF of CC was elevated by PTU-challenge and brought to normal level by subsequent treatment of T3. Although mitochondrial glutathione (reduced or oxidized) status did not change following PTU challenge, a significant reduction in oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level was noticed in PMF following the treatment. T3 administration to PTU-challenged rats had no effect on mitochondrial glutathione status. Total and CN-resistant superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in MF of CC augmented following PTU challenge. CN-resistant SOD activity did not change when PTU-challenged rats were treated with T3. Although CN-sensitive SOD activity of PMF remained unaltered in response to PTU challenge, its activity increased when PTU-challenged rats were treated with T3. Catalase activity in PMF of CC of PTU-challenged rats increased, whereas the activity was decreased when hypothyroid rats were treated with T3. Similarly, total and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities of MF increased following PTU challenge and reduced following administration of T3. Se-independent GPx activity of MF and PMF and glutathione reductase activity of PMF decreased following PTU challenge and did not change further when rats were treated with T3. On the other hand, glutathione S-transferase activity of MF and PMF of CC did not change following PTU challenge but decreased below detectable level following T3 treatment. Results of the current investigation suggest that antioxidant defense parameters of adult rat brain are considerably influenced by thyroid states of the body.     

基于蛋白质组学方法探讨四氯化碳诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤的差异蛋白表达

目的 应用标记定量（TMT）蛋白质组学技术;探究化学诱导剂（carbon tetrachloride;CCl₄）致小鼠急性肝损伤的作用机制。 方法 20只SPF级雄性BALB/C小鼠随机分为对照组和诱导组;每组10只;腹腔注射诱导8周（2次/周）。通过测定血液生化水平及肝组织病理切片等指标评价肝损伤的程度。通过串联质谱标记技术（TMT）进行蛋白质组学分析;对发现的差异蛋白进行基因本体论（GO）注释、KEGG通路和蛋白互作网络分析。 结果 与对照组比较;CCl₄诱导组的血液生化指标谷草转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase;AST）的值显著升高（P<0.05）;谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase;ALT）、谷氨酰转肽酶（Y-glutamyl transpeptadase;GGT）、总胆汁酸（total biliary acid;TBA）的值极显著增加（P<0.01）;且肝组织病理切片显示CCl₄诱导组小鼠肝损伤明显。利用TMT技术共鉴定了5 955个蛋白;其中440个蛋白强度增加;294个蛋白强度降低;差异蛋白在蛋白表达差异倍数、生物标志物应用和参与经典信号通路（JAK-STAT、PI3K-Akt、Rap1、GnRH、AGE-RAGE）中发挥重要作用。经典信号通路中差异蛋白存在显著富集;且富集程度相对较高。 结论 CCl₄作为肝损伤评价的理想化学诱导剂;参与了机体免疫、细胞分裂、凋亡和自噬、炎症和肿瘤形成等多个关键过程;多方向多靶点还原了肝损伤的病理机制;为保肝药物的研发提供了坚实的理论基础和视角。     

消炎痛对四氯化碳损伤大鼠肝的保护作用

本工作发现,消炎痛一次预处理能诱导大鼠肝脏对毒性物质损伤产生保护作用。用四氯化碳造成大鼠急性肝损伤模型,若预先皮下注射消炎痛一次,则血清谷丙转氨酶、胆红素及死亡率都显著降低,肝组织学检查也见损伤程度明显减轻。这一保护效应具有剂量依从关系,10mg/kg消炎痛剂量产生最好的保护效应。此种保护效应在消炎痛注射后12h左右产生,持续约一周。     

Comparison of the Preventive Activity of Isorhamnetin Glycosides from Atsumi-kabu (Red Turnip,Brassica, campestris L.) Leaves on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, which was contained together with isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside in atsumi-kabu leaves, suppressed increases in the plasma ALT and AST activities of mice with liver injury induced by the injection of carbon tetrachloride, but no suppression by isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was apparent. This result indicates that the release of glucose at the 7-position in isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was very important to mitigating liver injury.     

Protective Effect of Cornuside against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Hepatic Injury

This study elucidated the effects of cornuside on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with 0.5 mL/kg of CCl₄. Sixteen h after CCl₄ treatment, the levels of serum aminotransferases, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated, whereas the hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities were decreased. These changes were attenuated by cornuside. Histological studies also indicated that cornuside inhibited CCl₄-induced liver damage. Furthermore, the contents of hepatic nitrite, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were elevated after CCl₄ treatment, while cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) expression was suppressed. Cornuside treatment inhibited the formation of liver nitrite, and reduced the overexpression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins, but restored the liver CYP2E1 content as compared with the CCl₄-treated rats. Our data indicate that cornuside protects the liver from CCl₄-induced acute hepatotoxicity, perhaps due to its ability to restore the CYP2E1 function and suppress inflammatory responses, in combination with its capacity to reduce oxidative stress.     

Hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin is released into the serum of rats administered orally carbon tetrachloride

The change in calcium-binding protein regucalcin, mainly localized in liver, in the liver and serum of rats received a single oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (50%; 1.0 ml/100 g body weight) was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels in the liver was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin cDNA (0.6 kb). At 10 and 24 h after the administration, liver regucalcin mRNA levels were reduced markedly. Moreover, regucalcin concentration in the liver and serum was estimated by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) with rabbit-anti-regucalcin IgG. Administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced a significant decrease in liver regucalcin concentration and a corresponding elevation of serum regucalcin concentration at 24 h after the administration. An appreciable increase in serum regucalcin concentration was seen at 2 h after the administration. Meanwhile, serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) activities were significantly increased by CCl₄ administration, indicating that liver injury is induced. The present study demonstrates that hepatic regucalcin is released into the serum of rats administered orally CCl₄, suggesting that the estimation of serum regucalcin is a useful tool for diagnosis of liver injury.     

大鼠再生肝抗CCl4损伤与其线粒体呼吸活性变化的关系

本工作观察了肝部分切除(68%)后96h 大鼠再生肝的抗 CCl_4损伤作用,并用氧电极法测定了再生肝线粒体的呼吸活性。结果如下: (1)CCl_4(50%,10ml/kg)引起的动物死亡率,肝切除组大鼠较假手术组明显降低;(2)CCl_4(50%,5 ml/kg)损伤后,肝切除组大鼠血清胆红素、血清谷丙转氨酶(sGPT)均明显低于假手术组,组织学检查损伤程度也明显减轻;(3)无论是否伴有 CCI_1损伤,肝切除组大鼠肝线粒体的呼吸活性均强于假手术组,且肝线粒体呼吸活性的变化与血清胆红素、sGPT 及肝组织损伤程度的改善是一致的。上述结果提示:再生肝线粒体呼吸活性增高,同时不易受 CCl_4损伤,可能在再生肝抗 CCl_4损伤机制中起一定作用。     

Genetic differentiation of two distinct chemotypes of Ferula communis (Apiaceae) in Sardinia (Italy)

The giant fennel, Ferula communis L. (Apiaceae) is a circum-Mediterranean species responsible of severe haemorrhagic intoxication of livestock. Electrophoretic analysis of 14 putative enzyme loci was carried out to assess genetic differentiation among poisonous and non-poisonous chemotypes of F. communis in Sardinia. Genetic structuring characterises all the five populations examined. However, differentiation was higher between poisonous and non-poisonous populations (P<0.00001), and was independent from geographic distances, suggesting a reduced gene flow between the two chemotypes.     

Maturation of the liver-specific peroxisome versus laminin, collagen IV and integrin expression

The interaction of cells with extracellular matrix components contributes to their specific differentiation. We studied hepatic peroxisomes and their changing features during embryonic development, and we immunolocalized in the same tissue the extracellular matrix components laminin and collagen IV as well as the integrin receptor subunits alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, and beta 4. Rat and human embryonic liver peroxisome expression were studied at the light- and electron-microscopic level by means of localizing catalase-, D-amino acid oxidase- and polyamine oxidase activities and by means of the immunocytochemistry of six peroxisomal proteins. The successive import of catalase and the peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes, the late appearance of the other enzymes, and the gradual increase of peroxisomal size and number to adult values occurred as asynchronous events. Although still immature, peroxisomes were recognized at every stage examined and coexisted with laminin and collagen IV in both species. The beta 1 integrin subunit was immunodetected as early as at 12.5 days in rat. It was concluded that these extracellular matrix factors may be important for the differentiation of liver parenchyma from the liverbud stage onwards. However, the stepwise maturation of the liver-specific peroxisome suggests the involvement of many other regulating factors.