Icariin and its phosphorylated derivatives reduce duck hepatitis A virus serotype 1-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in duck embryonic hepatocytes through mitochondrial regulation

Liver protecting effects and molecular mechanisms of icariin and its metabolites

As a detoxification and metabolism organ, the liver plays a vital role in human health. However, an excessive consumption of drugs and toxins, exposure to pathogenic viruses, and unhealthy living habits can lead to liver damage, which may even develop into liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. is a traditional Chinese medicine and dietary supplement in which the flavonoid icariin is a main functional component. Although the protective mechanisms of icariin and its metabolites against liver injury are not yet comprehensively understood, an increasing number of studies have confirmed their liver-protective and anticancer effects. Indeed, icaritin, one of the metabolites of icariin, is currently utilized as an active component of an anti-cancer drug. This paper presents a review of the molecular mechanisms through which icariin and its metabolites actively protect against the occurrence and development of liver injury, and, thus, provides a comprehensive reference for further research and their application in liver protection.

Phosphorylated bush sophora root polysaccharides protect the liver in duck viral hepatitis by preserving mitochondrial function

In order to ascertain the mechanism underlying the therapeutic efficacy of Bush sophora root polysaccharides (BSRPS) and phosphorylated Bush sophora root polysaccharides (pBSRPS) in the treatment of in duck viral hepatitis (DVH), an investigation was conducted to assess the protective impact of BSRPS and pBSRPS against duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) induced mitochondrial dysfunction both in vivo and vitro. The BSRPS underwent modification through the utilization of the sodium trimetaphosphate - sodium tripolyphosphate method, and was subsequently characterized though Fourier infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Following this, the degree of mitochondrial oxidative damage and dysfunction was described through the use of fluorescence probes and various antioxidative enzyme assay kits. Furthermore, the utilization of transmission electron microscopy facilitated the observation of alterations in the mitochondrial ultrastructure within the liver tissue. Our findings demonstrated that both BSRPS and pBSRPS effectively mitigated mitochondrial oxidative stress and conserved mitochondrial functionality, as evidenced by heightened antioxidant enzyme activity, augmented ATP production, and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential. Meanwhile, the histological and biochemical examinations revealed that the administration of BSRPS and pBSRPS resulted in a reduction of focal necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells, thereby mitigating liver injury. Additionally, both BSRPS and pBSRPS exhibited the ability to maintain liver mitochondrial membrane integrity and enhance the survival rate of ducklings infected with DHAV-1. Notably, pBSRPS demonstrated superior performance in all aspects of mitochondrial function compared to BSRPS. The findings indicated that maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is a crucial factor in DHAV-1 infections, and the administration of BSRPS and pBSRPS may mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction and safeguard liver function.

Escherichia coli O88 induces intestinal damage and inflammatory response through the oxidative phosphorylation and ribosome pathway in Pekin ducks

Colibacillosis is one of the major health threats in the poultry industry worldwide. Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms involved in Escherichia coli-induced inflammatory response may lead to the development of new therapies to combat the disease. To address this, a total of 96 1-day-old male lean Pekin ducklings were employed and randomly allocated to two treatments, each with six replicates of eight ducks. Ducks in the experiment group (EG) and the control group (CG) were separately orally administered with 0.2 ml of pathogenic E. coli O88 (3 × 109 CFU/ml) or equivalent volumes of 0.9% sterile saline solution on day 7, two times with an 8-h interval. Serum and intestinal samples were collected on days 9, 14, and 28. Results showed that ducks challenged with E. coli had lower average daily gain and higher feed intake/weight gain during days 9–14 and overall (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination showed that E. coli decreased the villus height and the ratio of villus height/crypt depth in the jejunum (P < 0.05) on days 9 and 14. The intestinal barrier was disrupted, presenting in E. coli ducks having higher serum DAO and D-LA on days 9 and 14 (P < 0.05) and greater content of serum LPS on day 9 (P < 0.05). Escherichia coli infection also triggered a systemic inflammatory response including the decrease of the serum IgA, IgM, and jejunal sIgA on day 14 (P < 0.05). In addition to these, 1,062 differentially expressed genes were detected in the jejunum tissues of ducks by RNA-seq, consisting of 491 upregulated and 571 downregulated genes. Based on the KEGG database, oxidative phosphorylation and the ribosome pathway were the most enriched. These findings reveal the candidate pathways and genes that may be involved in E. coli infection, allow a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inflammation progression and may facilitate the genetic improvement of ducks, and provide further insights to tackle the drug sensitivity and animal welfare issues.