Effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on AST, ALT, and serum levels of Th1 cytokines in patients with allo-HSCT

Effects of Dietary Energy Levels on Growth Performance, Serum Metabolites, and Meat Quality of Jersey Cattle-Yaks

Energy feed can provide animals with balanced nutrition, thereby enhancing their growth performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary energy levels on the growth performance, serum metabolites, and meat quality of Jersey cattle-yaks. A total of 24 male Jersey cattle-yaks were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed diets with metabolizable energy levels of 8.21 MJ/kg (LE), 9.50 MJ/kg (ME), and 10.65 MJ/kg (HE), respectively. The HE and ME groups showed significantly higher final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency compared to the LE group (p < 0.05). The glucose (GLU) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were significantly increased in the serum of the ME and HE groups (p < 0.05). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher in the serum of the HE group than in the ME group (p < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels exhibited a significant decrease with increasing metabolizable energy levels in the diet (p < 0.05). Increasing dietary energy levels enhances the eye muscle area and intramuscular fat content of Jersey cattle-yaks (p < 0.05), with no effect on pH45 min, pH24 h, and shear force. In the HE group, the levels of heneicosanoic acid (C21:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), and eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n6) were notably elevated (p < 0.05) when compared to the LE group. We concluded that a higher dietary energy level enhanced the growth performance and meat quality traits of male Jersey cattle-yaks.

Effect of Different Slow-Release Urea on the Production Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Blood Parameter of Angus Heifer

This study investigated the effect of replacing part of the dietary soybean meal with either polymer-coated urea or gelatinized starch urea on the production performance, blood indexes, and ruminal fermentation of Angus heifers. A total of 210 purebred Angus cattle (BW = 314.26 kg) were divided into three groups: the no urea group (CON), the polymer-coated urea group (PCU), and the gelatinized starch urea group (GSU); 20 g/kg polymer-coated urea or 25 g/kg gelatinized starch urea was used to replace part of soybean meal in the concentrate feed, according to the principle of isometabolic energy and isonitrogenous. The result showed that the PCU group had higher ADG and ADF apparent digestibility, while it had a lower feed-weight ratio. On the 86th day, the serum albumin (ALB) content in the PCU group was significantly higher than that in the CON group. In rumen, compared with the CON group, the contents of acetic acid and total volatile fatty acid were significantly higher in the PCU group, whereas butyric acid and propionic acid were significantly higher in the PCU group and GSU group. Ruminal bacterial diversity analysis found that the abundance of Firmicutes was higher in the PCU group at the phylum level, and an inverse result was observed in Bacteroidetes. The abundance of Paraprevotella was higher in the PCU group, whereas higher abundance of Prevotella was found in the GSU group at the genus level. These results indicate that slow-release urea can replace part of soybean meal in the diet, and the amount of substitution in this trial had no diverse effect on the performance of Angus heifers.

Blended-protein changes body weight gain and intestinal tissue morphology in rats by regulating arachidonic acid metabolism and secondary bile acid biosynthesis induced by gut microbiota

PURPOSE

The impact of dietary nutrients on body growth performance and the composition of gut microbes and metabolites is well-established. In this study, we aimed to determine whether dietary protein can regulate the physiological indexes and changes the intestinal tissue morphology in rats, and if dietary protein was a crucial regulatory factor for the composition, function, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota.

METHOD

A total of thirty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (inbred strain, weighted 110 ± 10 g) were randomly assigned to receive diets containing animal-based protein (whey protein, WP), plant-based protein (soybean protein, SP), or a blended protein (soybean-whey proteins, S-WP) for a duration of 8 weeks. To investigate the effects of various protein supplement sources on gut microbiota and metabolites, we performed a high throughput 16S rDNA sequencing association study and fecal metabolomics profiling on the SD rats. Additionally, we performed analyses of growth indexes, serum biochemical indexes, and intestinal morphology.

RESULTS

The rats in S-WP and WP group exhibited a significantly higher body weight and digestibility of dietary protein compared to the SP group (P < 0.05). The serum total protein content of rats in the WP and S-WP groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in SP group, and the SP group exhibited significantly lower (P < 0.05) serum blood glucose levels compared to the other two groups. The morphological data showed the rats in the S-WP group exhibited significantly longer villus height and shallower crypt depth (P < 0.05) than the SP group. The gut microbial diversity of the SP and S-WP groups exhibited a higher level than that of the WP group, and the microbiomes of the WP and S-WP groups are more similar compared to those of the SP group. The Arachidonic acid metabolism pathway is the most significant KEGG pathway when comparing the WP group and the SP group, as well as when comparing the SP group and the S-WP group.

CONCLUSION

The type of dietary proteins exerted a significant impact on the physiological indices of SD rats. Intake of S-WP diet can enhance energy provision, improve the body's digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as promote intestinal tissue morphology. In addition, dietary protein plays a crucial role in modulating fecal metabolites by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the changes in the levels of arachidonic acid metabolites and secondary bile acid metabolite induced by Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group maybe the primarily causes of intestinal morphological differences.

Glycyrrhizin and the Related Preparations: An Inspiring Resource for the Treatment of Liver Diseases

Liver diseases and their related complications endanger the health of millions of people worldwide. The prevention and treatment of liver diseases are still serious challenges both in China and globally. With the improvement of living standards, the prevalence of metabolic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, has increased at an alarming rate, resulting in more cases of end-stage liver disease. Therefore, the discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases is urgently needed. Glycyrrhizin (GL), a triterpene glycoside from the roots of licorice plants, possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. Currently, GL preparations (GLPs) have certain advantages in the treatment of liver diseases, with good clinical effects and fewer adverse reactions, and have shown broad application prospects through multitargeting therapeutic mechanisms, including antisteatotic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antifibrotic, anticancer, and drug interaction activities. This review summarizes the currently known biological activities of GLPs and their medical applications in the treatment of liver diseases, and highlights the potential of these preparations as promising therapeutic options and their alluring prospects for the treatment of liver diseases.

A Prediction Model for Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia Based on Real-World Data and a Close Relationship Between AST/ALT Ratio and Platelet Count in Patients with Solid Tumors

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) can lead to chemotherapy dose delay or reduction, and even serious bleeding. This study aimed to develop a CIT-predicting model based on the laboratory indices of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From Jun 1, 2017 to Dec 30, 2021, a total of 2043 patients who had received 7676 cycles of chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors, on the basis of which a nomogram model for predicting CIT was established. A bootstrapping technique was applied for internal validation. A generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was constructed to analyze the trends in the changes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ratio of AST to alanine transaminase (ALT) (AST/ALT ratio), and platelet (PLT) count in patients with solid tumors. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The patient-based incidence of CIT was 20.51% and the cycle-based incidence was 10.01%. The multivariate analysis showed that AST level, AST/ALT ratio, and total bilirubin (Tbil), white blood cell (WBC), platelet (PLT), hemoglobin (Hb) levels were significantly associated with the risk of CIT. The GAMM analysis showed that PLT level was inversely associated with AST/ALT ratio and AST level, more significantly with AST/ALT ratio. And both exhibited statistically predictive abilities for CIT. The model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.793, a sensitivity of 0.543 and a specificity of 0.930.

CONCLUSION

The AST/ALT ratio was inversely associated with the CIT risk in cancer patients. The GAMM model based on laboratory indices presented a high accuracy in predicting the risk of CIT, and a potential to be translated into clinical management.

Impacts of nutritive and bioactive compounds on cancer development and therapy

For persons who survive with progressive cancer, nutritional therapy and exercise may be significant factors to improve the health condition and life quality of cancer patients. Nutritional therapy and medications are essential to managing progressive cancer. Cancer survivors, as well as cancer patients, are mostly extremely encouraged to search for knowledge about the selection of diet, exercise, and dietary supplements to recover as well as maintain their treatment consequences, living quality, and survival of patients. A healthy diet plays an important role in cancer treatment. Different articles are studied to collect information and knowledge about the use of nutrients in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention. The report deliberates nutrition and exercise strategies during the range of cancer care, emphasizing significant concerns during treatment of cancer and for patients of advanced cancer, but concentrating mostly on the requirements of the population of persons who are healthy or who have constant disease following their repossession from management. It also deliberates choice nutrition and exercise problems such as dietary supplements, food care, food selections, and weight; problems interrelated to designated cancer sites, and common questions about diet, and cancer survival. Decrease the side effects of medicines both during and after treatment.

The AST/ALT Ratio (De Ritis Ratio) Represents an Unfavorable Prognosis in Patients in Early-Stage SFTS: An Observational Cohort Study

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a widely prevalent infectious disease caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) that carries with it a high mortality rate, has emerged to be a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients infected with SFTSV, seeking novel prognostic risk factors for SFTS.

Methods

In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, confirmed SFTS patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled from September 1, 2019, to December 12, 2020. Cases were analyzed for epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between predictors and outcome variables. A generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was conducted to analyze the trending shift of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine transaminase-ratio (AST/ALT-ratio) and platelet (PLT) in SFTS patients treated with ribavirin. p values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Clinical and laboratory results of 107 hospitalized patients with SFTSV infection were retrospectively described. The mean age at onset of disease was 60.38 ± 11.29 years old and the ratio between male and female was 1:1.2. Fever and thrombocytopenia are hallmark features of SFTS. Furthermore, multiple cases also experienced neurological complications, gastrointestinal/skeletal muscle symptoms together with other non-specific clinical manifestations; laboratory dataset outcomes reported dysregulated levels for routine blood biomarkers, coagulation function, and biochemistry. Overall, 107 patients were segregated into two groups according to patient condition at the clinical endpoint (survivors/non-survivors). SFTS survivors had a higher level of PLT- counts, total protein (TP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), while levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), ALT, AST, AST/ALT-ratio, creatinine (Cr), creatine phosphokinase (CK) and procalcitonin (PCT) was higher in non-survivors. Results from univariate Cox regression revealed that elevated levels of FDP, TT, AST/ALT-ratio, PCT, as well as decreased eGFR level and presence of central nervous system symptoms (CNS), were significant predictors for SFTS prognostic, results from multivariate logistic regression analysis in three adjusted models showed AST/ALT-ratio and PCT were independent risk factors for the prognosis of SFTS patients. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that SFTS patients with AST/ALT-ratio >2.683 were associated with a shorter futime (means survival time), therefore indicating an unfavorable prognosis. Treatment with ribavirin could increase PLT count while decreasing AST/ALT-ratio within SFTS patients.

Conclusion

SFTS is an emerging infectious disease, possibly leading to multiple-organ injury; AST/ALT-ratio was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of SFTS patients. Further investigation should be performed in order to gain more knowledge on this disease and guide clinical management.

Leishmaniasis and Trace Element Alterations: a Systematic Review

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide prevalent parasitic infection caused by different species of the genus Leishmania. Clinically, the disease divided into three main forms, including visceral leishmaniasis (VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). There is no vaccine for human leishmaniasis and their treatment is challenging. Trace elements (TEs) alteration, including the selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), ron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) have been detected in patients with CL and VL as well as canine leishmaniasis. Because TEs play a pivotal role in the immune system, and host immune responses have crucial roles in defense against leishmaniasis, this systematic review aimed to summarize data regarding TEs alteration in human and animal leishmaniasis as well as the role of these elements as an adjuvant for treatment of leishmaniasis. In a setting of systematic review, we found 29 eligible articles (any date until October 1, 2020) regarding TEs in human CL (N = 12), human VL (N = 4), canine leishmaniasis (N = 3), and treatment of leishmaniasis based on TEs (N = 11), which one study examined the TEs level both in CL and VL patients. Our analysis demonstrated a significantly decreased level of Fe, Zn, and Se among human CL and canine leishmaniasis, and Zn and Fe in patients with VL. In contrast, an increased level of Cu in CL patients and Cu and Mg in VL patients and canine leishmaniasis was observed. Treatment of CL based zinc supplementation revealed enhancement of wound healing and diminished scar formation in human and experimentally infected animals. The results of this systematic review indicate that the TEs have important roles in leishmaniasis, which could be assessed as a prognosis factor in this disease. It is suggested that TEs could be prescribed as an adjuvant for the treatment of CL and VL patients.

Exploration of the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate in mice with arsenic trioxide‑induced acute liver injury

Arsenic trioxide (ATO)-induced hepatotoxicity limits the therapeutic effect of acute myelogenous leukemia treatment. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) is a natural compound extracted from licorice and a hepatoprotective drug used in liver injury. It exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. The aim of the present study was to identify the protective action and underlying mechanism of MgIG against ATO-induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 50 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=10/group): Control; ATO; MgIG and high- and low-dose MgIG + ATO. Following continuous administration of ATO for 7 days, the relative weight of the liver, liver enzyme, histological data, antioxidant enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell apoptosis and changes in Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) signaling pathway were observed. MgIG decreased liver injury, decreased the liver weight and liver index, inhibited oxidative stress and decreased the activity of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase, production of reactive oxygen species and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Western blotting showed a decrease in Bax and caspase-3. There was decreased cleaved caspase-3 expression and increased Bcl-2 expression. MgIG notably activated ATO-mediated expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 in liver tissue. MgIG administration was an effective treatment to protect the liver from ATO-induced toxicity. MgIG maintained the level of Nrf2 in the liver and protected the antioxidative defense system to attenuate oxidative stress and prevent ATO-induced liver injury.

Effects of immunopotentiators on biochemical parameters, proinflammatory cytokine, and nonspecific immune responses in Shaoxing ducklings

Antibiotics are one of the most important medical discoveries of the 20th century and will remain an essential tool for treating animal and human diseases in the 21st century. However, misuse of antibiotics imperils the development of animal husbandry and human health all over the world, and it is important to find reliable alternatives to antibiotics to reduce the use of antibiotics. In this study, 22 potential immunopotentiators were screened on the levels of apoptosis and inflammatory factor in duck embryo fibroblast cells (DEFs). The results indicated that interferon (IFN)-β and tumor necrosis factor-α gene transcriptions were significantly upregulated, while interleukin (IL)-2 and Bcl2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased during 22 immunopotentiators treatment. Besides, the expression level of IL-1β mRNA showed significant increase during dihydromyricetin, chlorogenic acid, naringin, imiquimod, thymopentin, β-D-Glucan, astragalus polysacharin, astragalus saponin I, astragalus flavone, curcumin, CpG-DNA-2, and LPS treatment. And the level of caspase 3 protein was significantly upregulated with treating chlorogenic acid, β-D-Glucan, astragalus polysacharin, astragalus flavone, curcumin, CpG-DNA-2, chicken IgG, LPS, and poly(I:C). These results indicated that chlorogenic acid, β-D-Glucan, astragalus flavone, CpG-DNA-2, and chicken IgG have the positive immune regulation effects on duck DEFs. Thus, the 5 immunopotentiators were chosen to further verify their immunomodulatory function in vivo. The results showed that the activity of serum AST was significantly downregulated during all immunopotentiators treatments excepting for β-D-Glucan, and the activities of serum IL12p40, IL-1β, IFN-α, and IFN-β were significantly increased compared with the control group. Five immunopotentiators also induced the duck's pattern recognition receptors and inflammatory factor gene expression. In addition, 5 immunopotentiators could facilitate the contents of serum caspase 3, iNOSm and COX2 and reduce the Bcl2. These results suggested that these 5 immunopotentiators could enhance duck innate immune responses. Taken together, our study not only screened out 5 kinds of duck innate immune immunopotentiators but also initially clarified their underlying mechanism of action, which provide a new insight for the development of efficient approaches to prevent the duck disease from pathogen infections.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate alleviates fructose-induced liver oxidative stress and inflammatory injury through suppressing NOXs

Excessive fructose intake is a risk factor for liver oxidative stress injury. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate as a hepatoprotective agent is used to treat liver diseases in clinic. However, its antioxidant effects and the underlying potential mechanisms are still not clearly understood. In this study, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate was found to alleviate liver oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in fructose-fed rats. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate suppressed hepatic reactive oxygen species overproduction (0.97 ± 0.04 a.u. versus 1.34 ± 0.07 a.u.) in fructose-fed rats by down-regulating mRNA and protein levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) 1, NOX2 and NOX4, resulting in reduction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels (1.13 ± 0.09 a.u. versus 1.97 ± 0.12 a.u.). Similarly, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate reduced reactive oxygen species overproduction (1.07 ± 0.02 a.u. versus 1.35 ± 0.06 a.u.) and IL-1β levels (1.14 ± 0.09 a.u. versus 1.66 ± 0.07 a.u.) in fructose-exposed HepG2 cells. Furthermore, data from treatment of reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine or NOXs inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium in fructose-exposed HepG2 cells showed that fructose enhanced NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression to increase reactive oxygen species generation, causing oxidative stress and inflammation, more importantly, these disturbances were significantly attenuated by magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate. The molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects suggest that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may inhibit NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression to reduce reactive oxygen species generation, subsequently prevent liver oxidative stress injury under high fructose condition. Thus, the blockade of NOX1, NOX2 and NOX4 expression by magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may be the potential therapeutic approach for improving fructose-induced liver injury in clinic.

Characterization of binding interaction between magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate and human serum albumin

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) is the magnesium salt of 18β-glycyrrhizic acid extracted from licorice, a Chinese traditional medicine. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of MgIG have been widely studied; nevertheless, its target protein and mechanism of action remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of present work was to determine the characteristics of binding between human serum albumin (HSA) and MgIG. The formation of HSA-MgIG complex was studied using spectrometric techniques, LC-MS/MS, and molecular docking calculations. The results of fluorescence study demonstrated the quenching mechanism is definitely static. The negative thermodynamic parameters suggested that the interaction is enthalpically driven and occurs spontaneously. Binding density and probe displacement analysis suggested that MgIG bound to HSA at a single site, determined to be site I. The mean albumin binding rate of MgIG with HSA concentration ranged from 35 to 50 g·L^-1 reached 85.6%. Molecular docking analysis revealed the major residues and interaction forces involved in formation of HSA-MgIG complex, corresponding with the experimental results.

Influence of intranasal exposure of MPTP in multiple doses on liver functions and transition from non-motor to motor symptoms in a rat PD model

Besides the effects on the striatum, the impairment of visceral organs including liver functions has been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, it is yet unclear if liver functions are affected in the early stage of the disease before the motor phase has appeared. The aim of our present study was thus to assess the effect of intranasal administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in different doses on striatum and liver functions. Deterioration of non-motor activities appeared on single exposure to MPTP along with rise in striatum oxidative stress and decline in antioxidant levels. Decreases in dopamine, noradrenaline, and GABA and increase in serotonin were detected in striatum. Motor coordination was impaired with a single dose of MPTP, and with repeated MPTP exposure, there was further significant impairment. Locomotor activity was affected from second exposure of MPTP, and the impairment increased with third MPTP exposure. Impairment of liver function through increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was observed after first MPTP insult, and it worsened with second and third administrations. First administration of MPTP triggered systemic inflammation showing significant increase in inflammatory markers in the liver. Our data shows for the first time that an intranasal route of entry of MPTP affects liver from the non-motor phase of PD itself, occurring concomitantly with the reduction of striatal dopamine. It also suggests that a single dose is not enough to bring about progression of the disease from non-motor to locomotor deficiency, and a repeated dose is needed to establish the motor severity phase in the rat intranasal MPTP model.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates high fructose-induced liver fibrosis in rat by increasing miR-375-3p to suppress JAK2/STAT3 pathway and TGF-β1/Smad signaling

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that excessive fructose intake induces liver fibrosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) driven by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) signaling activation promotes the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate is clinically used as a hepatoprotective agent to treat liver fibrosis, but its underlying molecular mechanism has not been identified. Using a rat model, we found that high fructose intake reduced microRNA (miR)-375-3p expression and activated the janus-activating kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cascade and TGF-β1/Smad signaling, which is consistent with the EMT and liver fibrosis. To further verify these observations, BRL-3A cells and/or primary rat hepatocytes were exposed to high fructose and/or transfected with a miR-375-3p mimic or inhibitor or treated with a JAK2 inhibitor, and we found that the low expression of miR-375-3p could induce the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to activate TGF-β1/Smad signaling and promote the EMT. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate was found to ameliorate high fructose-induced EMT and liver fibrosis in rats. More importantly, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate increased miR-375-3p expression to suppress the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and TGF-β1/Smad signaling in these animal and cell models. This study provides evidence showing that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate attenuates liver fibrosis associated with a high fructose diet.

Natural products in licorice for the therapy of liver diseases: Progress and future opportunities

Liver diseases related complications represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, creating a substantial economic burden. Oxidative stress, excessive inflammation, and dysregulated energy metabolism significantly contributed to liver diseases. Therefore, discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases are urgently required. Licorice is one of the most commonly used herbal drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of liver diseases and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Various bioactive components have been isolated and identified from the licorice, including glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritigenin, Isoliquiritigenin, licochalcone A, and glycycoumarin. Emerging evidence suggested that these natural products relieved liver diseases and prevented DILI through multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms, including anti-steatosis, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, anti-fibrosis, anti-cancer, and drug-drug interactions. In the current review, we summarized the recent progress in the research of hepatoprotective and toxic effects of different licorice-derived bioactive ingredients and also highlighted the potency of these compounds as promising therapeutic options for the treatment of liver diseases and DILI. We also outlined the networks of underlying molecular signaling pathways. Further pharmacology and toxicology research will contribute to the development of natural products in licorice and their derivatives as medicines with alluring prospect in the clinical application.

Effects of antimicrobial peptides on serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity and non-specific immune responses in Epinephelus coioides

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins showing broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that have been known to be powerful agents against a variety of pathogens (bacteria, fungi and viruses). In this study, the effects of AMPs from Bacillus subtilis on Epinephelus coioides were examined. E. coioides were fed with diets containing AMPs (0, 100, 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg) for four weeks. Results showed that the levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood glucose (GLU) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the serum of E. coioides changed than those of the control group; compared to the control group, the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and lysozyme (LZM) levels in E. coioides fed with different dosages AMP diets were also different; in addition, the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in the tissues of E. coioides were measured, the three genes in the tissues examined were significantly upregulated. The results demonstrated that diets containing AMPs can enhance the antioxidant capacity and innate immune ability of E. coioides, indicating that AMPs might be a potential alternative to antibiotics in E. coioides.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate alleviates liver injury in obese rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

For patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), a high body mass index (BMI) increases the likelihood of acute hepatic injury (AHI). In the current study, we explored whether magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIg) could alleviate ANP-induced liver injury in obese rats.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected for the present study, and the ANP model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct. Thirty-six SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups: the normal (N), standard rat chow (SRC) normal (SN), SRC ANP (S-ANP), high-fat diet (HFD) normal (H-N), HFD ANP (H-ANP), and MgIg pretreatment HFD ANP (H-ANPT) groups. The rats in the H-ANPT group were treated with MgIg (30 mg/kg) intragastrically for 7 days before the ANP model was established. The rats were sacrificed 12 h after ANP was established, and the blood and pancreatic and liver tissues were collected. Differences in the physiology, pathology and cellular and molecular responses of the rats in each group were examined.

RESULT

Analyses of serum amylase lipase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase indicated that obesity aggravated ANP-induced hepatic injury and that MgIg improved liver function. The superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, M1 macrophage, M2 macrophage, neutrophil, NF-κB, IL-1β and caspase-3 levels in liver tissue showed that MgIg attenuated H-ANP-induced hepatic injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Obesity aggravated ANP-induced liver injury via oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. MgIg alleviated oxidative stress and decreased the inflammatory reaction, protecting the liver against the AHI induced by ANP in obese rats.

Hydroxylation and sulfation of sex steroid hormones in inflammatory liver

Sex steroids, also known as gonadal steroids, are oxidized with hydroxylation by cytochrome P450, glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, sulfation by sulfotransferase, andO-methylation by catechol O-methyltransferase. Thus, it is important to determine the process by which inflammation influences metabolism of gonadal hormones. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of metabolic enzymes against high physiologic inflammatory responsein vivo to study their biochemical properties in liver diseases. In this study, C57BL/6N mice were induced with hepatic inflammation by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) exposure. We observed upregulation of Cyp19a1, Hsd17b1, Cyp1a1, Sult1e1 in the DEN-treated livers compared to the control-treated livers using real time PCR. Moreover, the increased Cyp19a1 and Hsd17b1 levels support the possibility that estrogen biosynthesis from androgens are accumulated during inflammatory liver diseases. Furthermore, the increased levels of Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 in the hydroxylation of estrogen facilitated the conversion of estrogen to 2- or 4-hydroxyestrogen, respectively. In addition, the substantial increase in the Sult1e1 enzyme levels could lead to sulfate conjugation of hydroxyestrogen. The present information supports the concept that inflammatory response can sequester sulfate conjugates from the endogenous steroid hormones and may suppress binding of sex steroid hormones to their receptors in the whole body.