Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction, a famous Chinese medicine formula, protects against APAP-induced liver injury by promoting autophagy/mitophagy

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity is a major cause of acute liver failure (ALF), during which autophagy is triggered as a cellular defense mechanism. Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction (SGD), a traditional prescription in Chinese Medicine, is renowned for its therapeutic effects on liver diseases. However, the efficacy and mechanisms of SGD in treating APAP-induced liver injury remain underexplored.

PURPOSE

This study aims to provide robust evidence regarding the protective effects of SGD against APAP overdose in vitro and in vivo, as well as to elucidate its hepatoprotective mechanisms and active components.

STUDY DESIGN

The hepatoprotective mechanisms and active components of SGD were investigated through a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODS

The protective effects of SGD on APAP-induced liver injury were assessed using a murine model and primary hepatocytes. RNA sequencing and subsequent experimental validations were conducted to uncover the underlying mechanisms of SGD's hepatoprotective actions. Comprehensive chemical profiling of SGD was performed using UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS to identify potential active ingredients. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry were utilized to investigate the specific cellular changes in liver tissues and hepatocytes influenced by SGD.

RESULTS

SGD was observed to mitigate APAP-induced mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and necrosis by promoting mitochondrial autophagy. The inhibition of autophagy negated the hepatoprotective effects of SGD. Additionally, a detailed characterization of SGD's chemical composition revealed that Licoisoflavone B, Liquiritin, Liquiritin apioside, Licorice saponin G2 and Paeoniflorin Sulfit were potentially critical compounds in the regulation of autophagy and mitophagy.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that SGD promotes autophagy/mitophagy, which effectively mitigates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting SGD's potential as a promising therapeutic agent for APAP-induced liver injury.

Protective effect of Tibetan medicine Qiwei Tiexie pills on liver injury induced by acetaminophen overdose: An integrated strategy of network pharmacology, metabolomics and transcriptomics

BACKGROUND

Drug-induced liver injury, particularly from acetaminophen (APAP), has emerged as a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment strategy available. Qiwei Tiexie pills (QWTX), a traditional Tibetan medicine, have demonstrated considerable clinical efficacy in treating various liver diseases. Nevertheless, the protective effect of QWTX against drug-induced liver injury and its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of QWTX, a Tibetan medicine, in an animal model of APAP-induced liver injury. Additionally, we sought to investigate the molecular mechanism through which QWTX exerts its effects.

METHODS

We employed LC-MS and network pharmacology to predict the potential targets of QWTX in drug-induced liver injury. Subsequently, we employed HE staining, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and qRT-PCR to analyze the mechanism underlying QWTX treatment in drug-induced liver injury.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the active components of QWTX are involved in inflammatory and drug metabolism-related pathways. In mouse models, pretreatment with QWTX effectively mitigated the elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) induced by APAP overdose. Moreover, APAP inhibited 1459 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 874 differential accumulation metabolites (DAMs), while QWTX promoted their expression. Conversely, APAP promoted 874 genes and 119 metabolites, which were inhibited by QWTX. Further analysis demonstrated that QWTX ameliorated the metabolic disorders induced by APAP overdose and potentially exerted a protective effect by inhibiting the expression of critical genes in crucial inflammatory pathways. QWTX also up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, thereby mitigating the oxidative stress resulting from APAP overdose.

CONCLUSION

QWTX treatment effectively protects against APAP-induced liver damage in mice. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further revealed that QWTX ameliorated hepatic metabolic disorders induced by APAP overdose while significantly suppressing the inflammatory response and oxidative stress associated with drug-induced liver injury. This study provides a new insight into the treatment of drug-induced liver injury by the TCM system and provides a basis for the development of new therapies for drug-induced liver injury by QWTX and its active ingredients.

Natural Products for Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Review

The liver plays a vital role in metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification, but it is susceptible to damage from various factors such as viral infections, drug reactions, excessive alcohol consumption, and autoimmune diseases. This susceptibility is particularly problematic for patients requiring medication, as drug-induced liver injury often leads to underestimation, misdiagnosis, and difficulties in treatment. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used and safe drug in therapeutic doses but can cause liver toxicity when taken in excessive amounts. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of APAP and explore potential treatment strategies using a mouse model of APAP-induced liver injury. The study involved the evaluation of various natural products for their therapeutic potential. The findings revealed that natural products demonstrated promising hepatoprotective effects, potentially alleviating liver damage and improving liver function through various mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which cause changes in signaling pathways. These results underscore the importance of exploring novel treatment options for drug-induced liver injury, suggesting that further research in this area could lead to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions, ultimately benefiting patients with liver injury caused by medicine.

Dandelion polysaccharide treatment protects against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation and activating Nrf2 in mouse colon

The treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is still an intractable medical problem. Polysaccharides are promising candidates for the treatment of UC and have received widespread attention in recent years. The objective of this study was to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of dandelion polysaccharide (DP) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Our results showed that oral administration of DP could dramatically alleviate colonic lesions, as evidenced by reduced DAI scores, shortening of colon length, and ameliorating pathologic abnormalities in colons. Additionally, the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and the infiltration of inflammation-regulation cells, marked by myeloperoxidase and F4/80, were also inhibited after DP treatment. Moreover, DP treatment also markedly suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p65 and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, DP also activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and reduced the oxidative stress induced by DSS. Overall, these results suggest that DP could be a promising novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of UC.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit JNK-Mediated Mitochondrial Retrograde Pathway to Alleviate Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the major cause of drug-induced liver injury, with limited treatment options. APAP overdose invokes excessive oxidative stress that triggers mitochondria-to-nucleus retrograde pathways, contributing to APAP-induced liver injury (AILI). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a promising tool for acute liver failure. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AMSC) therapy on AILI and reveal the potential therapeutic mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were used as the animal model and AML12 normal murine hepatocytes as the cellular model of APAP overdose. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and RNA sequencing assays were used for assessing the efficacy and validating mechanisms of AMSC therapy. We found AMSC therapy effectively ameliorated AILI, while delayed AMSC injection lost its efficacy related to the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated mitochondrial retrograde pathways. We further found that AMSC therapy inhibited JNK activation and mitochondrial translocation, reducing APAP-induced mitochondrial damage. The downregulation of activated ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and DNA damage response proteins in AMSC-treated mouse liver indicated AMSCs blocked the JNK-ATM pathway. Overall, AMSCs may be an effective treatment for AILI by inhibiting the JNK-ATM mitochondrial retrograde pathway, which improves APAP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and liver injury.

Allyl methyl trisulfide protected against LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice via inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways

Allyl methyl trisulfide (AMTS) is one major lipid-soluble organosulfur compound of garlic. Previous studies have reported the potential therapeutic effect of garlic on acute lung injury (ALI) or its severe condition acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the specific substances that exert the regulatory effects are still unclear. In this study, we investigate the protective effects of AMTS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice and explored the underlying mechanisms. In vivo experiments, ICR mice were pretreated with 25–100 mg/kg AMTS for 7 days and followed by intratracheal instillation of LPS (1.5 mg/kg). The results showed that AMTS significantly attenuated LPS-induced deterioration of lung pathology, demonstrated by ameliorative edema and protein leakage, and improved pulmonary histopathological morphology. Meanwhile, the expression of inflammatory mediators and the infiltration of inflammation-regulation cells induced by LPS were also inhibited. In vitro experiments also revealed that AMTS could alleviate inflammation response and inhibit the exaggeration of macrophage M1 polarization in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, we identified that AMTS treatment could attenuate the LPS-induced elevation of protein expression of p-IκBα, nuclear NF-κB-p65, COX2, iNOS, p-P38, p-ERK1/2, and p-JNK. Collectively, these data suggest that AMTS could attenuate LPS-induced ALI and the molecular mechanisms should be related to the suppression of the NF-κB and MAPKs pathways.

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Allium ursinum: Impact of Temperature and Pressure on the Extracts Chemical Profile

The aim of this study was to extract Allium ursinum L. for the first time by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂ ) as green sustainable method. The impact of temperature in the range from 40 to 60 °C and pressure between 150 and 400 bar on the quality of the obtained extracts and efficiency of the extraction was investigated. The highest extraction yield (3.43 %) was achieved by applying the extraction conditions of 400 bar and 60 °C. The analysis of the extracts was performed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The most dominant sulfur-containing constituent of the extracts was allyl methyl trisulfide with the highest abundance at 350 bar and 50 °C. In addition, the presence of other pharmacologically potent sulfur compounds was recorded including S-methyl methanethiosulfinate, diallyl trisulfide, S-methyl methylthiosulfonate, and dimethyl trisulfide. Multivariate data analysis tool was utilized to investigate distributions of the identified compounds among the extracts obtained under various extraction conditions and yields. It was determined that the SC-CO₂ extraction can by efficiently used for A. ursinum.

Functional Application of Sulfur-Containing Spice Compounds

Sulfur-containing spice compounds possess diverse biological functions and play an important role in food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. The development of functional spices has become increasingly popular, especially for medicinal functions for dietary health. Thus, this review focuses on the properties and functions of sulfur-containing spice compounds, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anticancer, antibacterial, and insecticidal functions, among others. Developments over the last five years concerning the properties of sulfur-containing spice compounds are summarized and discussed.

The Enhancing Effects of S-Allylcysteine on Liver Regeneration Are Associated with Increased Expression of mRNAs Encoding IGF-1 and Its Receptor in Two-Thirds Partially Hepatectomized Rats

Two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PHx) was performed in rats, and the differences in effects between S-allylcysteine (SAC) and other sulfur-containing compounds on regeneration of the remaining liver and restoration of the injury were examined. Three days after two-thirds PHx, rats treated with 300 mg/kg/d, per os (p.o.) SAC showed a 1.2-fold increase in liver weight per 100 g body weight compared with saline-treated controls. In contrast, S-methylcysteine (SMC) (300 mg/kg/d, p.o.) or cysteine (Cys) (300 mg/kg/d, p.o.) did not have a regeneration-promoting effect. In the comparison with control rats, the regenerating liver of SAC-treated rats showed a significantly higher 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling index on day 1. In contrast, serum alanine aminotransferase activity, which increases following PHx, was significantly inhibited by SAC and SMC (but not Cys) on day 1 after two-thirds PHx. In addition, SAC induced increases in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and its receptor mRNA expressions at 1 h after two-thirds PHx, and it increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)2 and Akt at 3 h after two-thirds PHx without affecting serum growth hormone levels. These results demonstrate that SAC is a mitogenic effector of normal remnant liver and promotes recuperation of liver function after two-thirds PHx. Moreover, SAC-induced proliferative effects are mediated via increased mRNA expressions of IGF-1 and its receptor and subsequent phosphorylation of ERK2 and Akt.

Critical role of OX40 in drug-induced acute liver injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The innate and adaptive immune systems both play important roles in drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, the crosstalk between the innate and adaptive immunity in DILI is largely unknown. Extensive crosstalk is likely mandated by co-stimulatory interactions between these immune systems. OX40 is a co-stimulatory molecule, but whether it regulates the intrahepatic immune response in DILI remains unknown.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Acute liver injury was induced by paracetamol (acetaminophen), carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄ ), and d-galactosamine/LPS (GalN/LPS) in wild-type (WT) and Ox40 knockout (KO) mice, and disease progress was compared.

KEY RESULTS

Plasma OX40 levels were significantly increased and were augmented in intrahepatic CD4⁺ T cells after paracetamol, CCl₄ , or GalN/LPS administration. Liver injury in Ox40-deficient mice was attenuated compared with that in WT mice. Compared with WT mice, hepatic infiltration of Th1 and Th17 cells and macrophages in Ox40 KO mice was reduced. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of Ox40 KO-CD4⁺ T cells to Rag1^-/- mice resulted in alleviated liver injury compared with WT-CD4⁺ T-cell transfer, with reduced liver infiltration of macrophages and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Moreover, OX40/Fc stimulation in vitro revealed that soluble OX40 enhanced the biological function of murine macrophages, including up-regulation of genes associated with inflammation and tissue infiltration. Finally, soluble OX40 levels were significantly elevated in DILI patients compared with healthy controls.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

OX40 is a key molecule that promotes both pro-inflammatory macrophage and CD4⁺ T-cell function, exacerbating paracetamol-induced liver injury. OX40 could serve as a diagnostic index and therapeutic target of DILI.

Early galactooligosaccharide intervention alters the metabolic profile, improves the antioxidant capacity of mitochondria and activates the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway in suckling piglet liver

The early GOS intervention altered the composition of the hepatic metabolic profile by promoting lipid catabolism and regulating amino acid metabolism in the suckling piglets.