Sapidolide A alleviates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages

NLRP3 inflammasome activation results in severe liver inflammation and injury. Saikosaponin-d (SSd) possesses anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. This study aimed to determine the protective effects of SSd on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in mice, and whether oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation participate in the process. The CCl4 mice model and controls were induced. The mice were treated with SSd at 1, 1.5, or 2.0 mg/kg in a total volume of 100 µl/25 g of body weight. Liver injury was assessed by histopathology. Oxidative stress was determined using mitochondrial superoxide production (MSP), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities. NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase 1 were determined by real-time PCR and western blot. IL-1β and IL-18 levels were determined by ELISA. Significantly elevated oxidative stress was induced in the liver by CCl4, as demonstrated by histopathology and increases of MDA and MSP levels and decreases of SOD, GPx, and CAT activities (all P < 0.01). SSd significantly decreased the MDA and MSP levels and increased the activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT (all P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase 1, and the protein expression of Caspase 1-p10, NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly increased after CCl4 induction (all P < 0.01). These changes were reversed by SSd (all P < 0.05). Suppression of the oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation were involved in SSd-alleviated acute liver injury in CCl4-induced hepatitis.

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Hydrogen Sulfide Protects against Paraquat-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats by Regulating Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Function, and Inflammation

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2020/6325378 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhenning Liu ◽

Xiaofeng Wang ◽

Lei Li ◽

Guigui Wei ◽

Min Zhao

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Hydrogen Sulfide ◽

Liver Injury ◽

Mitochondrial Function ◽

Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽

Acute Liver Injury ◽

Inflammasome Activation ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

In addition to the lung, the liver is considered another major target for paraquat (PQ) poisoning. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been demonstrated to be effective in the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of exogenous H2S against PQ-induced acute liver injury. The acute liver injury model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of PQ, evidenced by histological alteration and elevated serum aminotransferase levels. Different doses of NaHS were administered intraperitoneally one hour before exposure to PQ. Analysis of the data shows that exogenous H2S attenuated the PQ-induced liver injury and oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. H2S significantly suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the elevation of malondialdehyde content while it increased the ratio of GSH/GSSG and levels of antioxidant enzymes including SOD, GSH-Px, HO-1, and NQO-1. When hepatocytes were subjected to PQ-induced oxidative stress, H2S markedly enhanced nuclear translocation of Nrf2 via S-sulfhydration of Keap1 and resulted in the increase in IDH2 activity by regulating S-sulfhydration of SIRT3. In addition, H2S significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β excretion in PQ-induced acute liver injury. Moreover, H2S cannot reverse the decrease in SIRT3 and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome caused by PQ in Nrf2-knockdown hepatocytes. In summary, H2S attenuated the PQ-induced acute liver injury by enhancing antioxidative capability, regulating mitochondrial function, and suppressing ROS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The antioxidative effect of H2S in PQ-induced liver injury can at least partly be attributed to the promotion of Nrf2-driven antioxidant enzymes via Keap1 S-sulfhydration and regulation of SIRT3/IDH2 signaling via Nrf2-dependent SIRT3 gene transcription as well as SIRT3 S-sulfhydration. Thus, H2S supplementation can form the basis for a promising novel therapeutic strategy for PQ-induced acute liver injury.

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