Therapeutic Effect of Glycyrrhizin Arginine Salt on Rat Cholestatic Cirrhosis and its Mechanism

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (05) ◽  
pp. 1111-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Zhang ◽  
Yajun Lin ◽  
Yongzhan Zhen ◽  
Gang Hu ◽  
Xu Meng ◽  
...  

To investigate the therapeutic effect of glycyrrhizin arginine salt on rat cholestatic cirrhosis, we subjected male Sprague Dawley rats to common bile duct ligation for 14 days and treated them with distilled water (model group), arginine, or a low or high dose of glycyrrhizin arginine salt by gavage. A sham-operated group was used as a control group. Treatment with glycyrrhizin arginine salt substantially improved animal growth rates, reduced the ratio of liver weight to body weight and decreased total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, 8-isoprostane and malondialdehyde compared with the values measured in the model group. The progress of liver fibrosis, as detected by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining, was slower in the glycyrrhizin arginine salt groups than in the model group or the arginine group. Reductions of bile salt pool size, hepatic hydroxyproline content and fibrosis score were also seen in the glycyrrhizin arginine salt groups compared with the model group. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin arginine salt significantly reduced the expression of transforming growth factor [Formula: see text]1 (TGF-[Formula: see text]1), [Formula: see text]-smooth muscle actin, tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9. Glycyrrhizin arginine salt also inhibited the expression of [Formula: see text]-SMA and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in response to TGF-[Formula: see text]1 in LX-2 cells and primary rat hepatic stellate cells and mitigated the cytotoxicity induced by rat bile in HepG2 cells and primary rat hepatocytes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 5205-5215
Author(s):  
Li Xing ◽  
Er Lin Song ◽  
Xi Bei Jia ◽  
Jing Ma ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
...  

Objective This study was performed to investigate the possible nephroprotective effects of losartan in a rat model of experimental IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The rats in the model group were treated with bovine serum albumin (oral gavage), lipopolysaccharide (tail vein injection), and carbon tetrachloride (subcutaneous injection); rats in the losartan group received treatments similar to those of the model group, and were orally gavaged with losartan; and rats in the control group received phosphate-buffered saline alone (both orally and intravenously). Results Losartan treatment lowered the 24-hour urinary protein, serum blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels. Proliferating mesangial cells with a variable increase in the mesangial matrix were detected in the model group, whereas injury in the losartan group was significantly attenuated. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and α-smooth muscle actin were significantly elevated in the model group but reduced in the losartan group. The expression levels of TGF-β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were minimal in the control group, significantly increased in the model group, and reduced in the losartan group. Conclusion Losartan has a protective effect against tubulointerstitial injury in IgAN.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414-1428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jieun Kim ◽  
Sihyung Wang ◽  
Chanbin Lee ◽  
Sumi Sung ◽  
Yongbo Shin ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Malaria is the most deadly parasitic infection in the world, resulting in damage to various organs, including the liver, of the infected organism; however, the mechanism causing this damage in the liver remains unclear. Liver fibrosis, a major characteristic of liver diseases, occurs in response to liver injury and is regulated by a complex network of signaling pathways. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling orchestrates a number of hepatic responses including hepatic fibrogenesis. Therefore, we investigated whether Hh signaling influenced the liver’s response to malarial infection. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice inoculated with blood containing Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-infected erythrocytes were sacrificed when the level of parasitemia in the blood reached 10% or 30%, and the livers were collected for biochemical analysis. Liver responses to PbA infection were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results: Severe hepatic injury, such as ballooned hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, and infiltrated leukocytes, was evident in the livers of the malaria-infected mice. Hypoxia was also induced in 30% parasitemia group. With the accumulation of Kupffer cells, inflammation markers, TNF-α, interleukin-1β, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1, were significantly upregulated in the infected group compared with the control group. Expression of fibrotic markers, including transforming growth factor-β, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen 1a1, thymosin β4, and vimentin, were significantly higher in the infected groups than in the control group. With increased collagen deposition, hepatic stellate cells expressing α-SMA accumulated in the liver of the PbA-infected mice, whereas those cells were rarely detected in the livers of the control mice. The levels of Hh signaling and Yes-associated protein (YAP), two key regulators for hepatic fibrogenesis, were significantly elevated in the infected groups compared with the control group. Treatment of mice with Hh inhibitor, GDC-0449, reduced hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis with Hh suppression in PbA-infected mice. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that HSCs are activated in and Hh and YAP signaling are associated with this process, contributing to increased hepatic fibrosis in malaria-infected livers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1328-1338
Author(s):  
Yufeng Xing ◽  
Chuantao Zhang ◽  
Fenfen Zhai ◽  
Tianran Zhou ◽  
Xiang Cui ◽  
...  

AbstractCells with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were studied to determine the mechanism of liver deficiency via the AdipoR2-PPARa pathway. NAFLD cells were randomly divided into a normal control group, blank control group, model group, low dose group, medium dose group, and high dose group. The NAFLD models were established by incubating the cells with linoleic acid (LA) and palmitic acid (PA) (2:1) for 24 h. The test groups were incubated with different doses of Shugan Xiaozhi Fang extract. The pathological changes in cells that accumulated lipids were detected by Oil Red O staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. The apoptosis of cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. The levels of AdipoR2, PPARa, CD36, acyl-CoA mRNA, and protein were confirmed by RT- PCR and Western blot. The results of the Oil Red O staining demonstrated that the NAFLD cell model was successfully established. Compared with the model group, the levels of TG and MDA in the groups that received low, medium, and high doses of Shugan Xiaozhi were significantly lower (P<0.01), and a dose effect was evident. In addition, the expression of AdipoR2, PPARa, CD36, acyl-CoA protein, and mRNA in the Shugan Xiaozhi-treated groups was upregulated. Furthermore, the levels of AdipoR2, PPAR, CD36, acyl-CoA protein, and mRNA in all drug treatment groups that were extracted from L-O2 normal human hepatocytes were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Moreover, the factor pattern of HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells was similar to that of L-O2. The levels of AdipoR, CD36, acyl-CoA, and AdipoR mRNA in the HepG2 low group were increased (P<0.05). AdipoR, PPAR, CD36, and acyl-CoA protein levels and AdipoR mRNA expression were significantly increased in the intermediate dose group and high dose group (P<0.01). Shugan Xiaozhi Fang attenuates hepatic lipid deposition in NAFLD induced by incubating with LA and PA for 24 h, which is associated with the activation of the AdipoR2-PPARα pathway.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (06) ◽  
pp. 1241-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sae-Kang Ku ◽  
Jae-Soo Kim ◽  
Young-Bae Seo ◽  
Yong-Ung Kim ◽  
Seung-Lark Hwang ◽  
...  

This study was performed to investigate effects of Curculigo orchioides rhizome (curculiginis rhizome) on acute reflux esophigitis (RE) in rats that are induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Proinflammatory cytokine, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were all assayed and the expression of TNF-α and COX2 analyzed by RT-PCR. The esophagic tissue damage of reflux esophagitis rat was increased compared to that of normal intact group. However, the esophagic damage percentage from the extract of curculiginis rhizoma (ECR) 600 mg/kg and ECR 300 mg/kg were significantly lower than that of the RE control group. Administration of α-tocopherol (30 mg/kg) and ECR (600 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg) had a significant effect on the gastric acid pH in rats with induced reflux esophagitis (p < 0.05). The treatment with ECR significantly reduced the production of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels compared to the model group (p < 0.05). The expression of TNF-α and COX2 in the intact esophageal mucosa was low while those of the RE control group were significantly higher due to an inflammatory reaction in the esophagus. Compare to the model group, treatment with α-tocopherol or ECR significantly inhibited the expression levels of COX2 and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory and protective effects of ECR could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent esophageal mucosal damage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 456-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Sug Kim ◽  
Kyung Sook Cho ◽  
Seon Hwa Park ◽  
Sang Ho Lee ◽  
Ji Hwan Lee ◽  
...  

Background: Peritoneal fibrosis is a devastating complication of peritoneal dialysis. However, its precise mechanism is unclear, and specific treatments have not yet been established. Recent evidence suggests that the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is involved in tissue fibrogenesis. Drugs that inhibit this pathway are emerging in the field of anti-fibrosis therapy. Itraconazole, an anti-fungal agent, was also recently recognized as an inhibitor of the SHH signaling pathway. In this study, we used a mouse model to investigate whether the SHH signaling pathway is involved in the development of peritoneal fibrosis and the effects of itraconazole on peritoneal fibrosis. Methods: Peritoneal fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) solution every other day for 4 weeks, with or without itraconazole treatment (20 mg/kg, IP injection on a daily basis). Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups: saline group, saline plus itraconazole group, CG group, and CG plus itraconazole group. Isotonic saline was administered intraperitoneally to the control group. The peritoneal tissues were evaluated for histological changes, expression of fibrosis markers, and the main components of the SHH signaling pathway. Results: Peritoneal thickening was evident in the CG group and was significantly decreased by itraconazole administration (80.4 ± 7.7 vs. 28.2 ± 3.8 µm, p < 0.001). The expression of the following SHH signaling pathway components was upregulated in the CG group and suppressed by itraconazole treatment: SHH, patched, smoothened, and glioma-associated oncogene transcription factor 1. The IP injection of CG solution increased the expression of fibrosis markers such as α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β1 in the peritoneal tissues. Itraconazole treatment significantly decreased the expression of these markers. Conclusion: Our study provides the first evidence that the SHH signaling pathway may be implicated in peritoneal fibrosis. It also demonstrates that itraconazole treatment has protective effects on peritoneal fibrosis through the regulation of the SHH signaling pathway. These findings suggest that blockage of the SHH signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy for peritoneal fibrosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Fangui Zhao ◽  
Wenjun Wang

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. Western treatment of DOR does not improve the ovarian reserve fundamentally, and the effect is limited. Gengnianchun recipe (GNC) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula originally applied to treat menopausal syndrome but is also found to be effective in treating clinical DOR patients. Here we aim to examine the effect of GNC in a DOR rat model induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), a chemical that selectively destroys ovarian small preantral follicles, and further investigate the possible mechanisms. Female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), model group (M), high-dose GNC group (H), and low-dose GNC group (L). Rats in M, H, and L were administered with VCD and normal saline, high-dose GNC, and low-dose GNC separately. Rat ovaries were harvested either to conduct HE staining for follicle count, immunohistochemistry, or western blot. We found that high dose of GNC significantly increased the ovarian index and sustained the number of primordial follicles and primary follicles in VCD treated rats. Moreover, high dose of GNC significantly increased the ovarian protein expression of mouse vasa homologue (MVH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) compared with that in the model group. Besides, high-dose GNC significantly increased ovarian AKT phosphorylation and the expression of downstream forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a). Proapoptosis proteins of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were significantly decreased after high-dose GNC treatment compared with those in the model group. Taken together, these findings suggest that high-dose GNC could protect ovarian reserve against VCD-induced toxicity via the activation of the AKT signaling pathway and reduced cell apoptosis in SD Rats. This effect could either be induced by the increased FSHR signaling or by the nontranscriptional activation of ERβ, which requires further investigation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Sun ◽  
Menghua Xu ◽  
Peijun Zhuang ◽  
Gong Chen ◽  
Kuiran Dong ◽  
...  

AbstractTo investigate the mechanism of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency in children with biliary atresia (BA) and its effect on liver fibrosis. The serum vitamin D and 25(OH)D, and expression of 25 hydroxylase (CYP2R1 and CYP27A1) in the liver of BA patients were detected and compared with those in the control group. We investigated the effect of differential expression of CYP2R1 in hepatocytes on the expression of genes related to liver fibrosis in primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of BA and animal models of cholestasis. The ratio of 25(OH)D/vitamin D in the BA group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The mRNA and protein expression of CYP2R1 and CYP27A1 in liver tissue of the BA group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Exogenous active vitamin D (calcitriol) inhibited the proliferation and migration of primary HSCs isolated from BA patients, and reduced the expression of fibrosis-related genes in vitro. Downregulation of expression of CYP2R1 in hepatocytes increased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, collagen (Col)-1α1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in cocultured primary HSCs of BA. Upregulation of expression of CYP2R1 in mice with bile duct ligation significantly increased the level of 25(OH)D, decreased the expression of TGF-β1, Col-1α1 and TIMP-1, and increased the expression of MMP-2. Children with BA have impaired vitamin D activation due to CYP2R1 deficiency. The dysactivation of vitamin D can promote the proliferation and activation of HSCs and participate in the development of hepatic fibrosis in BA.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (5) ◽  
pp. G1004-G1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Zhong ◽  
Matthias Froh ◽  
Mark Lehnert ◽  
Robert Schoonhoven ◽  
Liu Yang ◽  
...  

Accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids during cholestasis leads to generation of oxygen free radicals in the liver. Accordingly, this study investigated whether polyphenols from green tea Camellia sinenesis, which are potent free radical scavengers, decrease hepatic injury caused by experimental cholestasis. Rats were fed a standard chow or a diet containing 0.1% polyphenolic extracts from C. sinenesis starting 3 days before bile duct ligation. After bile duct ligation, serum alanine transaminase increased to 760 U/l after 1 day in rats fed a control diet. Focal necrosis and bile duct proliferation were also observed after 1–2 days, and fibrosis developed 2–3 wk after bile duct ligation. Additionally, procollagen-α1(I) mRNA increased 30-fold 3 wk after bile duct ligation, accompanied by increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β and the accumulation of 4-hydroxynenonal, an end product of lipid peroxidation. Polyphenol feeding blocked or blunted all of these bile duct ligation-dependent changes by 45–73%. Together, the results indicate that cholestasis due to bile duct ligation causes liver injury by mechanisms involving oxidative stress. Polyphenols from C. sinenesis scavenge oxygen radicals and prevent activation of stellate cells, thereby minimizing liver fibrosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjun Shi ◽  
Fei Yang ◽  
Liting Wang ◽  
Nankun Qin ◽  
Chengxiang Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundPlantaginis semen has been widely used as folk medicine and health care food against hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout, but little was known about its pharmacological mechanism. MethodsThe model was established by potassium oxonate intragastric administration. 42 Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, benzbromarone group (10 mg/kg) and three Plantaginis semen groups (n = 7). The Plantaginis semen groups were treated orally with Plantaginis semen at 0.9375, 1.875 and 3.75 g/kg for 28 days. The levels of serum uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), triacylglycerol (TG) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used as the basis for serum lipidomics analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was carried out for the pattern recognition and characteristic metabolites identification. The relative levels of critical regulatory factors of urate anion transporter 1(URAT1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/ protein kinases B (PI3K/Akt) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). ResultsCompared with the model group, the levels of serum UA, Cr, and TG were significantly (p<0.01) decreased in benzbromarone and three Plantaginis semen groups and the level of serum TNF-α was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in benzbromarone and low dose of Plantaginis semen group. With lipidomics analysis, significant lipid metabolic perturbations were observed in HUA rats, 13 metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was mostly affected. These perturbations can be partially restored via treatment of benzbromarone and Plantaginis semen. Additionally, the URAT1 and PI3K/Akt mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05) after treatment with benzbromarone and high dose of Plantaginis semen. ConclusionsPlantaginis semen had significant anti-HUA, anti-inflammatory and renal protection effects and could attenuate potassium oxonate-induced HUA through regulation of lipid metabolism disorder. Trial registrationNot applicable


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 1281-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Suzuki ◽  
T. Tanigaki ◽  
D. Heimer ◽  
W. Wang ◽  
W. G. Ross ◽  
...  

Neutrophil adherence to vascular endothelium is partially mediated by adhesion molecules, including intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), on endothelial cells. We examined the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the expression of ICAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). TGF-beta 1 (1 ng/ml) increased ICAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in HUVEC, as assessed by flow cytometry and Northern blot analysis, respectively. In addition, we investigated whether exogenous recombinant TGF-beta 1 can cause neutrophil-mediated lung injury in guinea pigs. The plasma half-life of 125I-labeled TGF-beta 1 in guinea pigs was 4.6 +/- 0.1 min, and the 125I activity was 2.8 +/- 0.2% 8 h after injection. The ratio of 125I-labeled albumin concentration in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid to that in plasma, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, numbers of neutrophils in BAL fluid, and numbers of neutrophils per alveolus in fixed lung sections increased in guinea pigs that received a high dose of TGF-beta 1 (25 micrograms i.v. followed by 2 micrograms/h for 8 h) compared with the control group. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 causes neutrophil-mediated lung injury, possibly through upregulation of ICAM-1 on endothelial cells, and might be important in the pathogenesis of lung injury.


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