Hepatorenal Effects of Silver Nanoparticles in In-Vivo Postnatal Model of Toxicity and in HepG2 Cell Line

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) had many uses in medicine, household and industry. To better understand the postnatal toxicity of Ag-NPs in lactating female rats and its offspring’s, 18 female rats after delivery were divided into three groups and dams received orally the AG-NPs at doses of 0, 50, 100 ppm daily for 21 days. After the end of treatment, all rats were euthanized and blood and tissues were separated for evaluation of biochemical and histopathology in dams and its pups. The Ag-NPs had no effect on the dam's weight while the reduction of rats’ pups weight was noticed after first week only after the treatment. Notably, Ag-NPs had toxic effects in rat’s pups, as well as its dam with evidence of elevation of liver enzymes, urea, creatinine and reduction of serum protein, albumin and globulin and considered the first report explained the toxicity in the rat’s pups. Moreover, rats' pups revealed histopathological changes in liver and kidney as well as its dams. Notably, the nano-silver is considered cytotoxic for HepG2 cell line as well as mouse liver cell line. In conclusions, the Ag-NPs considered toxic in offspring as well as dams and had immunosuppressive effects in the postnatal model of toxicity as well as cytotoxicity to hepatic cells lines.

Mung Bean Protein Hydrolysates Protect Mouse Liver Cell Line Nctc-1469 Cell from Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Injury

Mung bean is nutritious and rich in protein (19.5%–33.1%). However, there are few studies on mung bean protein active peptides so the mung bean protein hydrolysates (MBPHs) were investigated for evaluating their ability to clear intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating the ability of antioxidant enzymes on NCTC-1469 cells. Results showed that MBPHs, MBPHs-I (molecular weight < 3 kDa), MBPHs-II (molecular weight between 3 and 10 kDa), and MBPHs-III (molecular weight > 10 kDa) could all improve the survival rate of cells compared with the model group. MBPHs, MBPHs-I, and MBPHs-II could significantly decrease the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduce the generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) at a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Regarding the intracellular ROS, the result showed that MBPHs-I significantly reduced the production of ROS (from 58.3% to 26.6%) and had a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, the amino acid analysis showed that MBPHs-I had a balanced amino acid composition. MBPHs-I is rich in lysine but was deficient in cereals. Therefore, the hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids in MBPHs-I were high, which could improve its antioxidant activity. According to the results, MBPHs-I was the best and most potent natural antioxidant and it can contribute to drug development and medical application.

Hepatitis B Virus Infection of a Mouse Hepatic Cell Line Reconstituted with Human Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) enters hepatocytes via its receptor, human sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (hNTCP). So far, HBV infection has been achieved only in human hepatic cells reconstituted with hNTCP and not in cells of mouse origin. Here, the first mouse liver cell line (AML12) which gains susceptibility to HBV upon hNTCP expression is described. Thus, HBV infection of receptor-expressing mouse hepatocytes does not principally require a human cofactor but can be triggered by endogenous murine determinants.