Galectin-1 attenuates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in mice

Modafinil lightens apoptosis and inflammatory response in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury through inactivation of TLR9/Myd88/p38 signaling

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a severe threat during liver surgery and transplantation, accounting for unfavorable clinical outcomes. Modafinil (MOD), a wakefulness-inducing compound, is increasingly disclosed to protect against IRI. However, the specific literatures covering the association between MOD and hepatic IRI are few. Here, this paper is committed to unraveling the role and response mechanism of MOD in hepatic IRI. After the establishment of hepatic IRI mice model and cell model, relevant assay kits measured the concentrations of biochemical indicators of hepatotoxicity and hematoxylin and eosin staining estimated liver morphology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot evaluated inflammatory levels. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay and western blot appraised apoptosis. Western blot also analyzed the expression of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)/myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)/p38 signaling-associated proteins. Cell counting kit-8 method judged cell viability. MOD was discovered to mitigate liver dysfunction and morphological damage, inflammatory response, apoptosis in vivo and improve cell viability, suppress inflammatory response and apoptosis in vitro. In addition, MOD inactivated TLR9/Myd88/p38 signaling both in vitro and in vivo. Further, TLR9 elevation reversed the inhibitory role of MOD in inflammatory response and cell apoptosis in vitro. Anyway, MOD blocked TLR9/Myd88/p38 signaling to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in hepatic IRI.

Neuroprotective effects of galectin‑1 on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating oxidative stress

Oxidative stress contributes to the pathology of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Galectin-1 has shown an anti-oxidative stress effect. The present study investigated whether this anti-oxidative stress effect can account for the neuroprotective actions of galectin-1 induced by cerebral I/R injury. A cerebral I/R injury model was created in C57Bl/6 mice by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, after which the mice were treated with galectin-1 for 3 days. Infarct volumes were measured. A rotarod test and neurological deficit score assessment was performed to evaluate the neurological deficits. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), while the anti-oxidative stress status was assessed by measuring molecules such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidation enzyme (GSH-Px) in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere of mice. The inflammatory cytokines, including Interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured, and the expression of microglia was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere of mice. Galectin-1 treatment ameliorated neurological deficits and reduced infarct volumes in the mice model with cerebral I/R injury. Moreover, it was demonstrated that galectin-1 can significantly alleviate cerebral I/R injury in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere by decreasing the production of ROS and MDA, but increasing the production of CAT, SOD and GSH-Px. Galectin-1 treatment decreased microglia expression, and IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere of mice. Galectin-1 could improve the outcome of cerebral I/R injury by alleviating oxidative stress. Moreover, the neuroprotective effect of galectin-1 in cerebral ischemia could be related to its anti-oxidative stress effect.

Ameliorative Effect of D-Carvone against Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Injury in Rats

Background: D-carvone is a monoterpene that exists in the essential oils of several plant species. Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (Hep I/R) takes place clinically during different scenarios of liver pathologies. The aim of the current investigation is to disclose the hepato-protective actions of carvone against Hep I/R-induced damage and to reveal the underlying mechanism. Material and methods: Rats were assigned into five groups: sham and carvone plus sham groups, in which rats were administered either saline or carvone orally for three weeks prior to the induction of Hep I/R. In the Hep I/R group, rats were administered saline orally prior to the Hep I/R induction operation. The carvone 25 plus Hep I/R and Carvone 50 plus Hep I/R groups were administered carvone (25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively) for three weeks, followed by the induction of Hep I/R. Results: Liver ischemic animals demonstrated impaired liver function, several histopathological variations, and reduced levels of antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, the Hep I/R groups showed the elevated gene expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and LR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLP3), with subsequent escalated adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), neutrophil infiltration, and several inflammatory mediators, including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), as well as apoptotic markers. Pretreatment with D-carvone alleviated ischemia/reperfusion-induced impaired liver function, diminished the histopathological deviations, and augmented the antioxidant enzymes. In addition, D-carvone mitigated the gene expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NFκB, and NLP3, with a subsequent reduction in ICAM-1, neutrophils infiltration, inflammatory mediators, and apoptotic markers. Conclusion: Rats pretreated with D-carvone exhibited hepato-protective actions against Hep I/R-induced damage via the downregulation of HMGB1, TLR4, NFκB, NLP3, associated inflammatory mediators, and apoptotic markers.

Galectin-1 secreted by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells mediates anti-inflammatory responses in acute airway disease

The hallmarks of allergic airway disease (AAD) include infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar space. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show anti-inflammatory properties in AAD. In addition, galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a lectin significantly upregulated upon inflammation and is also known to mediate potential anti-inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that BMSCs regulated inflammatory responses by secretion of Gal-1 during AAD pathogenesis. BMSCs were isolated from murine femurs and tibiae and adoptively transferred into an ovalbumin-induced AAD mouse model. Knockdown of Gal-1 in BMSCs was performed using shRNA. Flow cytometry, ELISAs, and immunohistology were performed to analyze inflammatory responses in mice, and a Transwell system was used to establish an in vitro co-culture system of lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) and BMSCs. Administration of BMSCs significantly upregulated Gal-1 expression upon inflammation and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo. In addition, we showed that this function was mediated by reduced activation of the MAPK p38 signaling pathway. Similar observations were found using an in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced model when MLE-12 cells were co-cultured with BMSCs. Gal-1 secretion by BMSCs alleviated inflammatory responses observed in AAD and hence provides a promising therapeutic alternative to AAD patients insensitive to conventional drug treatments.

Senkyunolide I attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways

BACKGROUND

Senkyunolide I (SEI)exerts considerable protective effects in various disease models, but its effect on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unknown. This research aimed to investigate the effect of SEI in a murine model of hepatic I/R injury.

METHODS

With modified liver I/R murine model, low, medium and high doses of SEI were injected intraperitoneally after operation. After 6 h of reperfusion, the blood and liver were collected. Serum ALT and AST were detected by automatic analyzer, while liver injury was evaluated by HE staining. High-dose SEI was selected to further explore its impacts on oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and apoptosis induced by hepatic I/R. The pharmacological effect of SEI was also compared with a positive control, glutathione (GSH). We used ELISA to detect serum TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6, special kit to explore activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and the content of MDA, and western blotting to detect HO-1, Bax and Bcl-2 levels, and to perceive expressions and phosphorylations of NF- κB p65 and p38/ERK/JNK in liver tissues. Apoptosis in liver tissue was evaluated by TUNEL. The antioxidative effect of SEI was further investigated using the HuCCT1 cells stimulated with H₂O₂ and the role of SEI on regulation of Nrf-2/HO-1 was determined.

RESULTS

200 mg/kg of SEI was optimal dose for treating liver I/R injury. Elevated ALT, AST and histopathological injury in I/R liver was attenuated by SEI administration, similarly to GSH. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were reduced in liver I/R mice treated with SEI, and in liver tissues, phosphorylation of p65 NF-κB and MAPK kinases (p38, ERK, JNK), were inhibited. SEI reduced the MDA content, but increased HO-1 level and enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activities. Apoptosis of liver tissues was decreased, while SEI inhibited Bax and elevated Bcl-2 expression. In in vitro experiments, H₂O₂ reduced the survival rate of HuCCT1 cells, which was protected by SEI administration. SEI reduced the ROS and MDA content. The transportation of Nrf-2 into the nucleus was enhanced and HO-1 expression was upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

SEI attenuates hepatic I/R injury in mice via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways.

Exogenous melatonin alleviates hemorrhagic shock‑induced hepatic ischemic injury in rats by inhibiting the NF‑κB/IκBα signaling pathway

Melatonin (MT) is an indoleamine hormone that can counteract ischemia-induced organ injury through its antioxidant effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of exogenous MT against hemorrhagic shock (HS)-induced hepatic ischemic injury in rats, and the role of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway in this process. A rat model of HS-induced hepatic ischemic injury was established. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β were measured every 6 h, and the 24-h survival rate of the rats was analyzed. All surviving rats were sacrificed after 24 h. Pathological changes in the liver and the hepatocyte apoptosis rate were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL assay, respectively, and the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis and western blotting. The results demonstrated that the serum levels of ALT, AST, LDH, GDH, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β gradually increased after HS compared with those in rats subjected to a sham procedure, but this increase was attenuated by MT. Furthermore, the survival rate of the MT group was significantly higher compared with that of the HS group. The degree of pathological hepatic injury, the hepatocyte apoptosis rate, and the hepatic levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly decreased in the MT group compared with the HS group. In addition, the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 was significantly decreased and the mRNA expression of IκBα was significantly increased in the MT group compared with the sham group. Furthermore, the NF-κB p65 protein levels in the MT group were significantly increased in the cytosol but decreased in the nucleus, and the IκBα protein levels were increased while those of phosphorylated IκBα were decreased compared with those in the HS group. Therefore, it may be inferred that exogenous MT alleviates HS-induced hepatic ischemic injury in rats via the inhibition of NF-κB activation and IκBα phosphorylation.

The roles of galectins in hepatic diseases

Hepatic diseases include all diseases that occur in the liver, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Hepatic diseases worldwide are characterized by high incidences of digestive system diseases, which present with subtle symptoms, are difficult to treat and have high mortality. Galectins are β-galactoside-binding proteins that have been found to be aberrantly expressed during hepatic disease progression. An increasing number of studies have shown that abnormal expression of galectins is extensively involved in hepatic diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver fibrosis. Galectins function as intracellular and extracellular hepatic disease regulators mainly through the binding of their carbohydrate recognition domain to glycoconjugates expressed in hepatocytes. In this review, we summarize current research on the various roles of galectins in cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver fibrosis and HCC, which may provide a preliminary theoretical basis for the exploration of new targets for the treatment of hepatic diseases.