Protective effects of selenium-glutathione-enriched probiotics on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis

Therapeutic Role of Probiotics Against Environmental-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Mechanisms, Clinical Perspectives, Limitations, and Future

Hepatotoxicity is one of the biggest health challenges, particularly in the context of liver diseases, often aggravated by gut microbiota dysbiosis. The gut-liver axis has been regarded as a key idea in liver health. It indicates that changes in gut flora caused by various hepatotoxicants, including alcoholism, acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride, and thioacetamide, can affect the balance of the gut's microflora, which may lead to increased dysbiosis and intestinal permeability. As a result, bacterial endotoxins would eventually enter the bloodstream and liver, causing hepatotoxicity and inducing inflammatory reactions. Many treatments, including liver transplantation and modern drugs, can be used to address these issues. However, because of the many side effects of these approaches, scientists and medical experts are still hoping for a therapeutic approach with fewer side effects and more positive results. Thus, probiotics have become well-known as an adjunctive strategy for managing, preventing, or reducing hepatotoxicity in treating liver injury. By altering the gut microbiota, probiotics offer a secure, non-invasive, and economical way to improve liver health in the treatment of hepatotoxicity. Through various mechanisms such as regulation of gut microbiota, reduction of pathogenic overgrowth, suppression of inflammatory mediators, modification of hepatic lipid metabolism, improvement in the performance of the epithelial barrier of the gut, antioxidative effects, and modulation of mucosal immunity, probiotics play their role in the treatment and prevention of hepatotoxicity. This review highlights the mechanistic effects of probiotics in environmental toxicants-induced hepatotoxicity and current findings on this therapeutic approach's experimental and clinical trials.

Redox-Responsive AIEgen Diselenide-Covalent Organic Framework Composites Targeting Hepatic Macrophages for Treatment of Drug-induced Liver Injury

The escalating misuse of antipyretic and analgesic drugs, alongside the rising incidents of acute drug-induced liver injury, underscores the need for a precisely targeted drug delivery system. Herein, two isoreticular covalent organic frameworks (Se-COF and Se-BCOF) are developed by Schiff-base condensation of emissive tetraphenylethylene and diselenide-bridged monomers. Leveraging the specific affinity of macrophages for mannose, the first precise targeting of these COFs to liver macrophages is achieved. The correlation is also explored between the therapeutic effects of COFs and the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Utilizing this innovative delivery vehicle, the synergistic delivery of matrine and berberine are accomplished, compounds extracted from traditional Chinese medicine. This approach not only demonstrated the synergistic effects of the drugs but also mitigated their toxicity. Notably, berberine, through phosphorylation of JNK and up-regulation of nuclear Nrf-2 and its downstream gene Mn-SOD expression, simultaneously countered excessive ROS and suppressed the activation of the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway in injured liver tissues. This multifaceted approach proved highly effective in safeguarding against acute drug-induced liver injury, ultimately restoring liver health to normalcy. These findings present a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of acute drug-induced liver injury.

Probiotics-A Promising Novel Therapeutic Approach in the Management of Chronic Liver Diseases

An increased incidence of liver diseases has been observed in recent years and is associated with gut dysbiosis, which causes bacterial infection, intestinal permeability, and further leads to disease-related complications. Probiotics, active microbial strains, are gaining more clinical importance due to their beneficial effect in the management of many diseases, including liver diseases. Clinical scenarios show strong evidence that probiotics have efficacy in treating liver diseases due to their ability to improve epithelial barrier function, prevent bacterial translocation, and boost the immune system. Moreover, probiotics survive both bile and gastric acid to reach the gut and exert their health benefit. Evidence shows that probiotics are a promising approach to prevent several complications in clinical practice. Herein, we discuss the recent evidence, challenges, and appropriate use of probiotics in managing advanced liver diseases, which may have an impact on future therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, the superior effect of strain-specific probiotics and their efficacy and safety in managing liver diseases are discussed.

The Role of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Liver Disease

Liver disease is a major global health problem leading to approximately two million deaths a year. This is the consequence of a number of aetiologies, including alcohol-related, metabolic-related, viral infection, cholestatic and immune disease, leading to fibrosis and, eventually, cirrhosis. No specific registered antifibrotic therapies exist to reverse liver injury, so current treatment aims at managing the underlying factors to mitigate the development of liver disease. There are bidirectional feedback loops between the liver and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract via the portal venous and biliary systems, which are mediated by microbial metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids. The interaction between the liver and the gastrointestinal microbiome has the potential to provide a novel therapeutic modality to mitigate the progression of liver disease and its complications. This review will outline our understanding of hepatic fibrosis, liver disease, and its connection to the microbiome, which may identify potential therapeutic targets or strategies to mitigate liver disease.

Simultaneous and rapid detection of avian respiratory diseases of small poultry using multiplex reverse transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction assay

Major viral infections, such as Newcastle disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian influenza virus, and infectious bursal disease virus, inflict significant injury to small poultry and tremendous economic damage to the poultry sector. This research aims to develop a multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (m-RT-PCR) approach to simultaneously determine these important viral pathogens. The conserved segment of various viral genetic sequences was used to design and synthesize specific primers. Moreover, as positive controls, recombinant vectors were synthesized in this investigation. The d-optimal approach was used to improve PCR conditions in this investigation. Positive controls and clinical samples were used to assess the m-PCR assay's specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility. According to the sensitivity test findings, the m-PCR technique could generate the 8 target genes from viral genomes using 1 × 102. In addition, 8 viral pathogens were detected from the infected samples. The findings also suggest that live animal oral swabs were not significantly different from tissue sampling of a dead animal (P < 0.05), and this kit had a high sensitivity for analyzing both types of samples. The suggested m-PCR test may detect and evaluate viral infection in birds with excellent specificity, sensitivity, and throughput.

Supression Thioredoxin reductase 3 exacerbates the progression of liver cirrhosis via activation of ferroptosis pathway

AIMS

In the past decades, Txnrd3 as selenoprotein is considered to be highly expressed in testis and participate in sperm mature; however its role in liver diseases needs further study. Iron is essential for humans and animals, while its overload could damage to multiple organs. However, role of Txnrd3 and iron in cirrhosis is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty 8-week-old wild-type and forty Txnrd3-/- mice were selected to build liver cirrhosis model using Thiacetamide solution, deposition of iron in liver was observed via Prussian blue staining. Txnrd3 overexpression/knockdown model in vitro was constructed based on cell transfection techniques in AML12 cells, expression abundance of ferroptosis pathway genes within cells and tissues were determined by qRT-PCR and Western Blot.

KEY FINDINGS

Results showed that Txnrd3-/- mice developed more pronounced liver damage, accompanied by reduced GPX4 expression and iron deposition. A significant decrease in the expression abundance of GPX4 was also detected in Txnrd3 knock-down AML12 cells. In summary, Txnrd3 knockdown could result in iron overload and ferroptosis pathway activation within liver tissues and hepatocytes, ultimately lead to the occurrence of liver injury and cirrhosis.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results will provide biological markers for early diagnosis during cirrhosis and lay a theoretical basis for clinical therapy.

Recent Perspective of Lactobacillus in Reducing Oxidative Stress to Prevent Disease

During oxidative stress, an important factor in the development of many diseases, cellular oxidative and antioxidant activities are imbalanced due to various internal and external factors such as inflammation or diet. The administration of probiotic Lactobacillus strains has been shown to confer a range of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects in the host. This review focuses on the potential role of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), cancer, and liver-related diseases in the context of preventive and therapeutic effects associated with Lactobacillus. This article reviews studies in cell lines and animal models as well as some clinical population reports that suggest that Lactobacillus could alleviate basic symptoms and related abnormal indicators of IBD, cancers, and liver damage, and covers evidence supporting a role for the Nrf2, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways in the effects of Lactobacillus in alleviating inflammation, oxidative stress, aberrant cell proliferation, and apoptosis. This review also discusses the unmet needs and future directions in probiotic Lactobacillus research including more extensive mechanistic analyses and more clinical trials for Lactobacillus-based treatments.

The association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced fibrosis with blood selenium level based on the NHANES 2017-2018

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Selenium was one of the essential trace elements that played a pivotal role in human health. Although previous studies have investigated the relationship between selenium and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and fibrosis, these findings were still inconclusive. Our study was aimed to explore the association between blood selenium level and NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis diagnosed by vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) in US adults.

METHODS

All data were extracted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (2017-2018). Participants were divided into four groups according to quartile of blood selenium level. Liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) were measured by VCTE. Multiple logistic regression models and subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the association between blood selenium level and NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis diagnosed by a variety of methods.

RESULTS

A total of 3336 participants were enrolled in main analysis. In multiple logistic regression models, the higher blood selenium level (>205.32, ≤453.62 μg/L) had a significant positive association with NAFLD (β = 1.31). Moreover, high blood selenium level had significantly inversely association to advanced liver fibrosis (β = 0.61). In subgroup analysis, the main inversely correlation between blood selenium and advanced liver fibrosis was found in males with high blood selenium level. Despite dietary selenium intake being adjusted or in different subgroups, the associations between blood selenium level and NAFLD/advanced liver fibrosis remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that blood selenium level were positively association with NAFLD among US population. Participants with lower blood selenium level showed a higher percentage of advanced liver fibrosis. Blood selenium is more likely to cause NAFLD and liver fibrosis due to imbalances in selenium homeostasis rather than dietary selenium intake.Key messagesHigh blood selenium level was association with NAFLD diagnosed by vibration controlled transient elastography.Participants with lower blood selenium level had high percentage of advanced liver fibrosis.NAFLD and liver fibrosis are caused by an imbalance of selenium homeostasis, not by dietary selenium intake.

Synthesis, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial Activities, Molecular Docking, and DFT Studies of Sultams Derived from Saccharin

A series of N-substituted saccharins namely 2-(1,1-dioxido-3-oxobenzo[d]isothiazol-2(3H)-yl) acetonitrile (2) and (alkyl 1,1-dioxido-3-oxobenzo[d]isothiazol-2(3H)-yl) acetate (3a-g) were synthesized, in moderate to excellent yields, from commercially available starting materials by two different approaches and their chemical structures were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and MS). All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory toward IL-6 and TNF-α, antioxidant, as well as their anticancer activities against hepatic cancer cells. In addition, their anti-fungal and antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were tested. All the tested compounds have exhibited excellent (3a, d, e) to moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, esters (3b, f) and nitrile (2) showed excellent antioxidant activity. Furthermore, ester 3f, with isopropyl ester, exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity compared to the other esters. Moreover, all compounds were evaluated as selective inhibitors of the human COX-1 enzyme using molecular docking by calculating the free energy of binding, inhibition constant, and other parameters to find out the binding affinity. The molecular study showed that esters (3d, f) and nitrile (2) revealed the highest binding affinities, hence enhancing the inhibition activity with the active site of the COX-1 enzyme. All the tested compounds have more negative Gibbs free, electrostatic, and total intermolecular energies than the standard inhibitor ASA. These results indicate that, all the tested sultams are potent anti-inflammatory drugs as compared to standard inhibitors. Finally, the chemical properties and the quantum factors of synthesized sultams were calculated based on density functional theory (DFT) to predict reactivity, and then correlated with the experimental data. Ester 3f showed the lowest ionization potential and lowest energy gap (Egap = 7.5691 eV), which was correlated with its cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, the spatial electron distribution of HOMO, LUMO were computed and it clearly indicates the electron donation ability of all the tested compounds.

Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III culture supernatant ameliorates alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress

Background

Long-term alcohol exposure is associated with oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and neuroinflammation, which may impair cognitive function. Probiotics supplements can significantly improve cognitive function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Nevertheless, the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III culture supernatant (LP-cs) on alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction remains unclear.

Methods

A mouse model of cognitive dysfunction was established by intraperitoneal injection of alcohol (2 g/kg body weight) for 28 days. Mice were pre-treated with LP-cs, and cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze test. Hippocampal tissues were collected for biochemical and molecular analysis.

Results

LP-cs significantly ameliorated alcohol-induced decline in learning and memory function and hippocampal morphology changes, neuronal apoptosis, and synaptic dysfunction. A mechanistic study showed that alcohol activated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) signaling and suppressed brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels via ER stress in the hippocampus, which LP-cs reversed. Alcohol activated oxidative stress and inflammation responses in the hippocampus, which LP-cs reversed.

Conclusion

LP-cs significantly ameliorated alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction and cellular stress. LP-cs might serve as an effective treatment for alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Preparation and Antioxidant Activities of High Fischer's Ratio Oligopeptides from Goat Whey

This study aimed to obtain high Fischer's ratio oligopeptides from goat whey (HFO) and investigate antioxidant property of it. Hydrolysis of goat whey was done with the approach of sequential digestion of pepsin and flavourzyme. With the adsorption of aromatic amino acids by activated carbon, HFO with a Fischer's ratio of 27.070 and a molecular weight of 200-1,000 Da were obtained, and the branched-chain amino acids accounted for 22.87%. Then the antioxidant activity of HFO was evaluated. At the concentrations of 2.0 mg/mL and 0.50 mg/mL, HFO scavenged 77.27% and 99.63% of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate free radicals respectively. The scavenging rate of HFO against hydroxyl radicals reached 92.31% at the concentration of 0.25 mg/mL. Animal experiments demonstrated that HFO could moderate the changes of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase caused by CCl4-induced oxidative stress in vivo. This study indicated that HFO from goat whey was capable of oxidation resistance both in vivo and in vitro, which provided a scientific basis for the high-value processing and application of goat milk whey.

Protective Effect of Mitophagy Regulated by mTOR Signaling Pathway in Liver Fibrosis Associated with Selenium

Background: As a central organ of energy metabolism, the liver is closely related to selenium for its normal function and disease development. However, the underlying roles of mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitophagy in liver fibrosis associated with selenium remain unclear. Methods: 28 rats were randomly divided into normal, low-selenium, nano-selenium supplement-1, and supplement-2 groups for a 12-week intervention. We observed pathological and ultrastructural changes in the liver and analyzed the effects of selenium deficiency and nano-selenium supplementation on liver metabolic activities and crucial proteins expression of mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Results: Selenium deficiency caused liver pathological damage and fibrosis with the occurrence of mitophagy by disrupting normal metabolic activities; meanwhile, the mTOR signaling pathway was up-regulated to enhance mitophagy to clear damaged mitochondria. Furthermore, nano-selenium supplements could reduce the severity of pathological damage and fibrosis in livers and maintain normal energy metabolic activity. With the increased concentrations of nano-selenium supplement, swelling mitochondria and mitophagy gradually decreased, accompanied by the higher expression of mTOR and phosphorylation-modified mTOR proteins and lower expression of unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) and phosphorylation-modified ULK1 proteins. Conclusions: Mitophagy regulated by the mTOR signaling pathway plays a dual protective role on low-selenium inducing liver fibrosis and nano-selenium supplements preventing liver fibrosis. Mitochondrial energy metabolism plays an important role in these processes as well.

Protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-o-gallate combined with organic selenium against transforming growth factor-beta 1-induced fibrosis in LX-2 cells

In this study, we investigated the protective effects and possible mechanism of epigallocatechin-3-o-gallate (EGCG) combined with organic selenium in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-activated LX-2 cells. After 12 h of starvation, LX-2 cells were treated with 10 ng/ml of recombinant TGF-β1 and different concentrations of EGCG, L-selenomethionine (L-SeMet), or L-selenomethylcysteine (L-SeMC) for 24 h. We found that 100 and 200 μM EGCG combined with 1 mM L-SeMet or L-SeMC showed a synergistic effect in decreasing the survival rate of activated LX-2 cells. In addition, the combination of 100 mM EGCG and 1 mM L-SeMet or L-SeMC promoted the apoptosis of activated LX-2 cells. Compared with the EGCG treatment group, the combination intervention group had significantly suppressed levels of hepatic stellate cell activation markers including alpha-smooth muscle actin, collagen type I alpha 1, collagen type III alpha 1, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT), and 5-HT receptors 2A and 2B. Moreover, interleukin-10 levels were decreased, while TGF-β1 levels were increased after TGF-β1 activation in LX-2 culture medium, whereas the combin1ation intervention reversed this phenomenon. The combination treatment had a more pronounced effect than any single treatment at the same dose. These results demonstrated that the combination of EGCG and organic selenium synergistically improves the TGF-β1-induced fibrosis of LX-2 cells to some extent by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting cell activation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Here, we found that the effects of epigallocatechin-3-o-gallate (EGCG) + L-selenomethionine or L-selenomethylcysteine were more pronounced than those of EGCG alone. Future studies should investigate the protective effects of green tea and selenium-enriched green tea against hepatic fibrosis and explore the differences in their molecular mechanisms. The results of this study will be helpful for the development and utilization of selenium-enriched tea for food processing and health supplement production.

The Role and Mechanisms of Selenium Supplementation on Fatty Liver-Associated Disorder

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent chronic liver disease without effective therapy. Selenium, as an essential trace element for humans, is notable for its antioxidant properties. The previous study shows that selenium levels in NAFLD patients are lower than normal ones. Selenium supplementation can effectively alleviate metabolic disorders by relieving anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory regulation. However, the correlation between selenium and NAFLD has not been fully clarified. Herein, we review the current studies on selenium in regulating the different stages of NAFLD and summarize relevant clinical trials to highlight the potential roles of selenium in NAFLD treatment.

Empyema and bacteremia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila: Case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Despite the advance in antibiotics and widespread chest tube drainage, acute empyema still shows a high mortality rate, accounting for 10-25%. We experienced a case of acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila, which is extremely uncommon, and reviewed all previously published articles.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 76-year older man with a medical history of liver cirrhosis (LC) due to chronic hepatitis C and hepatic cell carcinoma was admitted to our institute. Elevated inflammatory reaction and effusions on chest CT were seen, and he was suspected of having acute empyema. Although an empiric antibiotic therapy of meropenem with chest tube drainage was performed as an initial treatment, he died within 8 hours of admission. Postmortem, both blood and left pleural fluid cultures yielded Aeromonas hydrophila. The final diagnosis was acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila. We reviewed previously reported empyema caused by Aeromonas species cases (4 A. hydrophila, and 1 A. veronii) in 4 previous reports written in English, including ours. Of 5, all were male, and the mean age was 52 years (range 27-76 years). All patients had LC due to alcohol or viral infections. As for antibiotics initially prescribed, third-generation cephalosporins were most frequently used in 3/5 (60%). Thoracentesis was performed in all patients (100%). As for prognosis, 2 (40%) survived, and 3 (60%) died.

CONCLUSION

Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute empyema caused by A. hydrophila among patients with chronic hepatic disease.

Protective Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 1201 Combined with Galactooligosaccharide on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Acute liver injury (ALI) has a high mortality rate of approximately 20–40%, and it is imperative to find complementary and alternative drugs for treating ALI. A carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced ALI mouse model was established to explore whether dietary intervention can alleviate ALI in mice. Intestinal flora, intestinal integrity, biomarkers of hepatic function, systemic inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis signals were detected through a real-time PCR, hematoxylin-eosin staining, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and so on. The results showed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 1201 had a strongly antioxidant ability, and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) could boost its growth. Based on these findings, the combination of L. plantarum 1201 and GOS, the synbiotic, was applied to prevent CCl₄-induced ALI in mice. The current research proved that GOS promoted the intestinal colonization of L. plantarum 1201, and the synbiotic improved the antioxidant capacity of the host, regulated the intestinal flora, repaired the intestinal barrier, inhibited the activation of the MAPK/NF-κB pathway, and then inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy pathways, relieving inflammation and liver oxidation; thereby, the ALI of mice was alleviated. These results suggest that synbiotics may become a new research direction for liver-protecting drugs.

Therapeutic implications of probiotics in microbiota dysbiosis: A special reference to the liver and oral cancers

The microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Imbalance in the microbiota is referred to as microbiota dysbiosis. Microbiota dysbiosis leads to pro-inflammatory immune response and progression of cancer- one of the leading causes of mortality globally. Accumulating evidence suggest the role of microbiota-dysbiosis in the liver and oral carcinogenesis and the therapeutic role of probiotic strains against these diseases. Probiotics are active microbial strains that have recently gained clinical importance due to their beneficial effects on the human body associated with the prevention and treatment of different diseases, including cancer. Multiple researchers have reported the use of probiotic strains in the modulation of microbiota and immune responses for cancer prevention and management. Clinical trials have also highlighted the efficacy of probiotic strains in reducing the side effects of microbiota dysbiosis related to cancer. In this context, the probiotic-mediated modulation to reverse microbiota dysbiosis is now considered one of the possible novel strategies for cancer prevention and management. In this article, we review the association between microbiota dysbiosis and liver/oral cancer. This review highlights the research advances on the anti-cancer activity of probiotic strains and their metabolites in the management of liver and oral cancers.

Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum DD98 attenuates irinotecan-induced intestinal and hepatic toxicity in vitro and in vivo

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a camptothecin chemotherapy drug largely used in treating cancers. However, its strong adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal and hepatic toxicities, tend to reduce the patients' life qualities and to limit the clinical use of CPT-11. The protective roles of selenium (Se) and probiotics against CPT-11-induced toxicity have been widely reported. However, the application of Se-enriched probiotics in the adjuvant therapy of CPT-11 has not been well explored. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in-vitro and in-vivo effects of Se-enriched Bifidobacterium longum DD98 (Se-B. longum DD98) as a chemotherapy preventive agent on alleviating intestinal and hepatic toxicities induced by CPT-11 chemotherapy. The results showed that Se-B. longum DD98 positively regulated the aberrant cell viability and oxidative stress induced by CPT-11 both in human normal liver (L-02) and rat small intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cell lines. In vivo experiment revealed that Se-B. longum DD98 significantly attenuated intestinal and hepatic toxicities by ameliorating symptoms such as body weight loss and diarrhea, and by improving the biochemical indicators of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Furthermore, we discovered that the protective effects of Se-B. longum DD98 based largely upon decreasing the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and enhancing the expression of tight-junction proteins occludin and ZO-1, as well as restoring the composition and diversity of gut microbiota. Results suggested that Se-B. longum DD98 effectively protected livers and intestines against the CPT-11-induced damages, and therefore, could be considered as a promising adjuvant therapeutic agent with CPT-11 for the cancer treatment.

The Protective Effects of Live and Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila and Its Extracellular Vesicles against HFD/CCl4-Induced Liver Injury

Akkermansia muciniphila, as a member of the gut microbiota, has been proposed as a next-generation probiotic. Liver fibrosis is the main determinant of liver dysfunction and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to determine the beneficial effects of live and pasteurized A. muciniphila and its extracellular vesicles (EVs) on the prevention of liver fibrosis. The response of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to live and pasteurized A. muciniphila and its EVs was examined in quiescent, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated LX-2 cells. Liver fibrosis was induced in 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice, using a high-fat diet (HFD) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration for 4 weeks. The mice were concomitantly treated via oral gavage with three forms of bacteria. The relative expression of different fibrosis and inflammatory markers was assessed in the tissues. Histological markers, serum biochemical parameters, and cytokine production were also analyzed, and their correlations with the relative abundance of targeted fecal bacteria were examined. All A. muciniphila preparations exhibited protective effects against HSC activation; however, EVs showed the greatest activity in HSC regression. Oral gavage with A. muciniphila ameliorated the serum biochemical and inflammatory cytokines and improved liver and colon histopathological damages. The relative expression of fibrosis and inflammatory biomarkers was substantially attenuated in the tissues of all treated mice. The composition of targeted stool bacteria in the live A. muciniphila group was clearly different from that in the fibrosis group. This study indicated that A. muciniphila and its derivatives could successfully protect against HFD/CCl4-induced liver injury. However, further studies are needed to prove the beneficial effects of A. muciniphila on the liver. IMPORTANCE Akkermansia muciniphila, as a member of the gut microbiota, has been proposed as a next-generation probiotic. Liver fibrosis is the main determinant of liver dysfunction and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to determine the beneficial effects of live and pasteurized A. muciniphila and its extracellular vesicles (EVs) on the prevention of liver fibrosis. The results of the present study indicated that oral administration of live and pasteurized A. muciniphila and its EVs could normalize the fecal targeted bacteria composition, improve the intestinal permeability, modulate inflammatory responses, and subsequently prevent liver injury in HFD/CCl4-administered mice. Following the improvement of intestinal and liver histopathology, HFD/CCl4-induced kidney damage and adipose tissue inflammation were also ameliorated by different A. muciniphila treatments.

Lactobacillus plantarum Exhibits Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide

Probiotics are widely used for protection against stress-induced intestinal dysfunction. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in gastrointestinal disorders. It is established that probiotics alleviate oxidative stress; however, the mechanism of action has not been elucidated. We developed an in vitro intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) model of oxidative stress to explore the antioxidant effect and potential mode of action of Lactobacillus plantarum ZLP001. The IPEC-J2 cells were preincubated with and without L. plantarum ZLP001 for 3 h and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 4 h. Pretreatment with L. plantarum ZLP001 protected IPEC-J2 cells against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage as indicated by cell viability assays and significantly alleviated apoptosis elicited by H₂O₂. L. plantarum ZLP001 pretreatment decreased reactive oxygen species production and the cellular malondialdehyde concentration and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential compared with H₂O₂ treatment alone, suggesting that L. plantarum ZLP001 promotes the maintenance of redox homeostasis in the cells. Furthermore, L. plantarum ZLP001 regulated the expression and generation of some antioxidant enzymes, thereby activating the antioxidant defense system. Treatment with L. plantarum ZLP001 led to nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) enrichment in the nucleus compared with H₂O₂ treatment alone. Knockdown of Nrf2 significantly weakened the alleviating effect of L. plantarum ZLP001 on antioxidant stress in IPEC-J2 cells, suggesting that Nrf2 is involved in the antioxidative effect of L. plantarum ZLP001. Collectively, these results indicate that L. plantarum ZLP001 is a promising probiotic bacterium that can potentially alleviate oxidative stress.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy and the Potential Influence of Gut Microbiome

Disruptions in the human gut microbiome have been associated with a cycle of hepatocyte injury and regeneration characteristic of chronic liver disease. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can promote the development of hepatocellular carcinoma through the persistence of this inflammation by inducing genetic and epigenetic changes leading to cancer. As the gut microbiome is known for its effect on host metabolism and immune response, it comes as no surprise that the gut microbiome may have a role in the response to therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy for liver cancer. Gut microbiota may influence the efficacy of immunotherapy by regulating the responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we review the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences hepatic carcinogenesis, the immune checkpoint inhibitors currently being used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as summarize the current findings to support the potential critical role of gut microbiome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) immunotherapy.

Mechanisms by Which Probiotic Bacteria Attenuate the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chronic infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are the major extrinsic risk factors of HCC development. Genetic background is pivotal in HCC pathogenesis, and both germline mutations and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) are intrinsic risk factors of HCC. These HCC risk factors predispose to hepatic injury and subsequent activation of fibrogenesis that progresses into cirrhosis and HCC. Probiotic bacteria can mitigate HCC risk by modulating host gut microbiota (GM) to promote growth of beneficial microbes and inhibit HCC-associated dysbiosis, thus preventing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-mediated hepatic inflammation. Probiotics have antiviral activities against HBV and HCV infections, ameliorate obesity and risk of NAFLD/NASH, and their antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects can prevent the HCC pathogenesis. Probiotics also upregulate the expression of tumor suppressor genes and downregulate oncogene expression. Moreover, metabolites generated by probiotics through degradation of dietary phytochemicals may mitigate the risk of HCC development. These multiple anticancer mechanisms illustrate the potential of probiotics as an adjuvant strategy for HCC risk management and treatment.

Hydrogen selenide, a vital metabolite of sodium selenite, uncouples the sulfilimine bond and promotes the reversal of liver fibrosis

Sodium selenite has alleviating effects on liver fibrosis; however, its therapeutic molecular mechanism remains unclear. Herein, hydrogen selenide, a major metabolite of Na₂SeO₃, was tested to uncouple the sulfilimine bond in collagen IV, the biomarker of liver fibrosis. A mouse model of liver fibrosis was constructed via a CCl₄-induced method, followed by the administration of 0.2 mg kg^-1 Na₂SeO₃ via gavage three times per week for 4 weeks. Changes in H₂Se, NADPH, and H₂O₂ levels were monitored in real time by using NIR-H₂Se, DCI-MQ-NADPH, and H₂O₂ probes in vivo, respectively. H₂Se continuously accumulated in the liver throughout the Na₂SeO₃ treatment period, but the levels of NADPH and H₂O₂ decreased. The expression of collagen IV was analyzed through Western blot and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results confirmed that the sulfilimine bond of collagen IV in the fibrotic mouse livers could be broken by H₂Se with the Na₂SeO₃ treatment. Therefore, the therapeutic effect of Na₂SeO₃ on liver fibrosis could be mainly attributed to H₂Se that uncoupled the sulfilimine bond to induce collagen IV degradation. This study provided a reasonable explanation for the molecular mechanism of the in vivo function of Na₂SeO₃ and the prevention of liver fibrosis by administering inorganic selenium.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Liver Cirrhosis Treatment

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, diseases such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and Wilson's disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease of other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver fibrosis.

Oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria as probiotic: a systematic review

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most frequently used probiotics in fermented foods and beverages and as food supplements for humans or animals, owing to their multiple beneficial features, which appear to be partially associated with their antioxidant properties. LAB can help improve food quality and flavor and prevent numerous disorders caused by oxidation in the host. In this review, we discuss the oxidative stress tolerance, the antioxidant capacity related herewith, and the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways in probiotic LAB. In addition, we discuss appropriate methods used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of probiotic LAB. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the current state of the research associated with the oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of LAB.

Impact of Glutathione and Vitamin B-6 in Cirrhosis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-Up Study

Vitamin B-6 and glutathione (GSH) are antioxidant nutrients, and inadequate vitamin B-6 may indirectly limit glutathione synthesis and further affect the antioxidant capacities. Since liver cirrhosis is often associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant capacities, we conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial to assess the antioxidative effect of vitamin B-6, GSH, or vitamin B-6/GSH combined supplementation in cirrhotic patients. We followed patients after the end of supplementation to evaluate the association of vitamin B-6 and GSH with disease severity. In total, 61 liver cirrhosis patients were randomly assigned to placebo, vitamin B-6 (50 mg pyridoxine/d), GSH (500 mg/d), or B-6 + GSH groups for 12 weeks. After the end of supplementation, the condition of patient’s disease severity was followed until the end of the study. Neither vitamin B-6 nor GSH supplementation had significant effects on indicators of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacities. The median follow-up time was 984 d, and 21 patients were lost to follow-up. High levels of GSH, a high GSH/oxidized GSH ratio, and high GSH-St activity at baseline (Week 0) had a significant effect on low Child–Turcotte–Pugh scores at Week 0, the end of supplementation (Week 12), and the end of follow-up in all patients after adjusting for potential confounders. Although the decreased GSH and its related enzyme activity were associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis, vitamin B-6 and GSH supplementation had no significant effect on reducing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant capacities.

Development and application of a triplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and duck Tembusu virus

Background

Pathogens including duck-origin avian influenza virus (AIV), duck-origin Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) posed great harm to ducks and caused great economic losses to the duck industry. In this study, we aim to develop a triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect these three viruses as early as possible in the suspicious duck flocks.

Results

The detection limit of the triplex real-time PCR for AIV, NDV, and DTMUV was 1 × 10¹ copies/μL, which was at least 10 times higher than the conventional PCR. In addition, the triplex assay was highly specific, and won’t cross-react with other duck pathogens. Besides, the intra-day relative standard deviation and inter-day relative standard deviation were lower than 4.44% for these viruses at three different concentrations. Finally, a total of 120 clinical samples were evaluated by the triplex real-time PCR, the conventional PCR and virus isolation, and the positive rates for these three methods were 20.83, 21.67, 19.17%, respectively. Taking virus isolation as the gold standard, the diagnostic specificity and positive predictive value of the three viruses were all above 85%, while the diagnostic sensitivity and negative predictive value of the three viruses were all 100%.

Conclusion

The developed triplex real-time PCR is fast, specific and sensitive, and is feasible and effective for the simultaneous detection of AIV, NDV, and DTMUV in ducks.

Selenium and selenoprotein P in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Conflicting data link nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease with no currently approved treatment, with selenium (Se) and selenoprotein P (SELENOP), a glycoprotein synthesized and primarily secreted by the hepatocytes, functioning as a Se transporter from the liver to other tissues. This review aims to summarize the evidence between Se, SELENOP, and NAFLD, which may hopefully clarify whether current data on Se and SELENOP in NAFLD warrant further investigation for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Most, albeit not all, experimental data show a favorable effect of Se on hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. It seems that Se may exert an antioxidant effect on the liver, at least partly via increasing the activity of glutathione peroxidase, whose depletion contributes to the pathogenesis of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Se may also affect metalloproteinases, cytokines, and growth factors participating in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and, most importantly, may induce the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells, the key players in hepatic fibrosis. However, the association between Se or SELENOP and insulin resistance, which is a principal pathogenetic factor of NAFLD, remains inconclusive. Clinical studies on Se or SELENOP in NAFLD are conflicting, apart from those in advanced liver disease (cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma), in which lower circulating Se and SELENOP are constant findings. Existing data warrant further mechanistic studies in valid animal models of human NAFLD. Prospective cohort studies and possibly randomized controlled trials are also needed to elucidate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of Se supplementation in selected NAFLD individuals with Se deficiency.

Natural Sulfur-Containing Compounds: An Alternative Therapeutic Strategy against Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a pathophysiologic process involving the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins as collagen deposition. Advanced liver fibrosis can evolve in cirrhosis, portal hypertension and often requires liver transplantation. At the cellular level, hepatic fibrosis involves the activation of hepatic stellate cells and their transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts. Numerous pro-fibrogenic mediators including the transforming growth factor-β1, the platelet-derived growth factor, endothelin-1, toll-like receptor 4, and reactive oxygen species are key players in this process. Knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrosis development need to be extended to find novel therapeutic strategies. Antifibrotic therapies aim to inhibit the accumulation of fibrogenic cells and/or prevent the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Natural products from terrestrial and marine sources, including sulfur-containing compounds, exhibit promising activities for the treatment of fibrotic pathology. Although many therapeutic interventions are effective in experimental models of liver fibrosis, their efficacy and safety in humans are largely unknown. This review aims to provide a reference collection on experimentally tested natural anti-fibrotic compounds, with particular attention on sulfur-containing molecules. Their chemical structure, sources, mode of action, molecular targets, and pharmacological activity in the treatment of liver disease will be discussed.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG prevents progesterone metabolite epiallaopregnanolone sulfate-induced hepatic bile acid accumulation and liver injury

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is gestation-specific liver disease associated with liver injury and increased serum and hepatic bile acids. Although the mechanism of ICP is still not fully understood, the reproductive hormones seem to play an important role. Recent studies show that a progesterone metabolite, epiallopregnanolone sulfate (PM5S), is supraphysiologically elevated in the serum of ICP patients, indicating it may play an etiology role in ICP. Bile acid homeostasis is controlled by multiple mechanisms including farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-mediated bile acid export and synthesis. It is known that cholic acid (CA), a primary bile acid, can activate FXR, which is inhibited by PM5S, an FXR antagonist. Here we employed a mouse model of concurrent exposure of CA and PM5S-induced liver injury and determined the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in the prevention of the bile acid disorders and liver injury. Mice challenged with CA + PM5S had significantly increased levels of serum and hepatic bile acids and bilirubin and liver enzyme. Pretreatment with LGG significantly reduced bile acid and bilirubin levels associated with reduced liver enzyme level and mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also showed that the beneficial effects of LGG is likely mediated by hepatic FXR activation and bile salt export pump (BSEP) upregulation. In conclusion, our results provide a rationale for the application of probiotics in the management of ICP through gut microbiota-mediated FXR activation.

Development and application of multiplex PCR method for simultaneous detection of seven viruses in ducks

BACKGROUND

Major viruses, including duck-origin avian influenza virus, duck-origin Newcastle disease virus, novel duck parvovirus, duck hepatitis A virus, duck Tembusu virus, fowl adenovirus, and duck enteritis virus, pose great harm to ducks and cause enormous economic losses to duck industry. This study aims to establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) method for simultaneous detection of these seven viruses.

RESULTS

Specific primers were designed and synthesized according to the conserved region of seven viral gene sequences. Then, seven recombinant plasmids, as the positive controls, were reconstructed in this study. Within the study, D-optimal design was adopted to optimize PCR parameters. The optimum parameters for m-PCR were annealing temperature at 57 °C, Mg²⁺ concentration at 4 mM, Taq DNA polymerase concentration at 0.05 U/μL, and dNTP concentration at 0.32 mM. With these optimal parameters, the m-PCR method produced neither cross-reactions among these seven viruses nor nonspecific reactions with other common waterfowl pathogens. The detection limit of m-PCR for each virus was 1 × 10⁴ viral DNA copies/μL. In addition, the m-PCR method could detect a combination of several random viruses in co-infection analysis. Finally, the m-PCR method was successfully applied to clinical samples, and the detection results were consistent with uniplex PCR.

CONCLUSION

Given its rapidity, specificity, sensitivity, and convenience, the established m-PCR method is feasible for simultaneous detection of seven duck-infecting viruses and can be applied to clinical diagnosis of viral infection in ducks.

Effect of Gpx3 gene silencing by siRNA on apoptosis and autophagy in chicken cardiomyocytes

Glutathione peroxidase 3 (Gpx3), as an important selenoprotein, is the most crucial antioxidant defense in cardiomyocytes. However, the role of Gpx3 in Se-deficient cardiomyocyte damage still less reported. Here, we developed Gpx3 silence cardiomyocytes culture model (small interfering RNA; siRNA) for research the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis are performed to detect the expression of apoptosis and autophagy-related genes. MDC stain, flow cytometry, AO/EB stain, and electron microscope were performed to observe the changes of cell morphology. Our results reveal that Gpx3 suppression can significant increases in ROS (p < 0.05) levels, which further induced apoptosis through upregulated the expression of Caspase-3 in cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, we also found that the whole process is accompanied by the occurrence of autophagy, which are promoted by inhibiting the mTOR, and increasing the expression of ATG-7, ATG-10, and ATG-12. Altogether, we conclude that the apoptotic and autophagic response machineries share antagonistic function in Gpx3 knockdown cardiomyocytes.

Combination of Selenomethionine and N-Acetylcysteine Alleviates the Joint Toxicities of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A by ERK MAPK Signal Pathway in Porcine Alveolar Macrophages

Our previous studies showed that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) could trigger joint immune toxicity. Little is known about the combined effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the joint toxicities of the two toxins. In this study, results showed that SeMet or NAC alone or in combination significantly alleviated the downswing of cell viability, glutathione production, and phagorytosis induced by AFB1 and OTA in porcine alveolar macrophages. The uptrend of lactate dehydrogenase activities, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species levels, and the relative mRNA of inflammatory cytokines triggered by the two toxins was decreased. Combination of them was more effective than single application. Knockdown of p38, c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK), or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) via use of the corresponding specific siRNA could alleviate the joint toxicities of AFB1 and OTA. However, the ERK but not p38 or JNK pathway was involved in the protection of SeMet and NAC against the immunotoxicity. In conclusion, combination of SeMet and NAC might be a new therapeutic orientation for preventing the joint toxicities induced by AFB1 and OTA.