Serum Metabonomics Analysis of Liver Failure Treated by Nonbioartificial Liver Support Systems

The impact of artificial liver support system on intestinal microbiota and serum bile acid profiles in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients exhibit an imbalance in intestinal microbiota, and bile acids (BAs) can affect the composition of intestinal microbiota. Although Artificial liver support system (ALSS) is a treatment for ACLF, the impact of ALSS on intestinal microbiota and serum BA profiles of ACLF patients remains unclear.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted, which included 51 patients diagnosed with ACLF. These patients were stratified into two groups based on the utilization of an ALSS during their treatment period: a standard medical treatment group (SMT group), comprising 19 patients, and an ALSS combined with SMT group (ALSS group), comprising 32 patients. Blood and stool samples were collected from the patients on the day of admission and 14 days after treatment. Additionally, eight healthy controls were recruited, and their stool samples were also collected. The intestinal microbiota was sequenced using the 16S rRNA sequencing technique, while the serum BA profiles were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

ACLF patients exhibited imbalances in intestinal microbiota and abnormalities in BA profiles. Compared to SMT alone, the combined ALSS and SMT was more effective in regulating intestinal microbiota imbalance and increasing the concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid and glycoursodeoxycholic acid. Correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between intestinal microbiota and Bas. Furthermore, the preliminary correlation heatmap indicated that the Faecalibaculum, Gemmiger, and taurochenodeoxycholic acid were associated with clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified the compositional characteristics of the intestinal microbiota and serum BA in ACLF patients, emphasizing the impact of ALSS on both intestinal microbiota and serum BA profiles.

Conjoint transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses provide insights into the toxicity of acetamiprid to Lethenteron reissneri larvae

The neonicotinoid pesticide acetamiprid has been widely used in agricultural pest control and was frequently detected in the water environment. There have been some studies of the toxic effects of acetamiprid on fish, but studies on aquatic lower vertebrates are still very limited. As a primitive jawless vertebrate, Lethenteron reissneri has a special position in evolution and is now listed as a national second level protected animal in China. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effect of acetamiprid on the liver of L. reissneri larvae. A conjoint analysis of the transcriptomics and metabolomics was performed to determine the responses of L. reissneri larvae liver to acetamiprid at different concentrations (L for low concentration 25 mg/L and H for high concentration 100 mg/L). Even low concentrations of acetamiprid can cause significant liver damage to L. reissneri larvae in a short period. In omics analyses, 2141 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 183 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were identified in the H/Control group, and 229 DEGs and 144 DAMs were identified in the L/C group. Correlation analyses revealed acetamiprid affected the metabolic pathways of L. reissneri larvae liver such as the glycerophospholipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism. This study not only enriches the basis for understanding the toxic effect of acetamiprid exposure to L. reissneri larvae liver and provides more information on the breeding and conservation of L. reissneri, but also further causes attention on toxicity risk from acetamiprid to aquatic lower vertebrate species.

Combination of Trans-Resveratrol and ε-Viniferin Induces a Hepatoprotective Effect in Rats with Severe Acute Liver Failure via Reduction of Oxidative Stress and MMP-9 Expression

Stilbenes are a major grapevine class of phenolic compounds, known for their biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, but never studied in combination. We aimed to evaluate the effect of trans-resveratrol + ε-viniferin as an antioxidant mixture and its role in inflammatory development an in vivo model of severe acute liver failure induced with TAA. Trans-resveratrol + trans-ε-viniferin (5 mg/kg each) was administered to Wistar rats. Resveratrol + ε-viniferin significantly decreased TBARS and SOD activity and restored CAT and GST activities in the treated group. This stilbene combination reduced the expression of TNFα, iNOS, and COX-2, and inhibited MMP-9. The combination of resveratrol + ε-viniferin had a hepatoprotective effect, reducing DNA damage, exhibiting a protective role on the antioxidant pathway by altering SOD, CAT, and GST activities; by downregulating TNFα, COX-2, and iNOS; and upregulating IL-10. Our results suggested that adding viniferin to resveratrol may be more effective in hepatoprotection than resveratrol alone, opening a new perspective on using this stilbene combination in functional diets.

Amphiregulin alleviated concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury via IL-22

OBJECTIVES

Amphiregulin (Areg), a glycoprotein from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand family, has a well-documented protective role against tissue injury; however, its effects on immune-mediated liver injury are still unclear. Here, we used a concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute liver hepatitis model to explore the effects of Areg on immune-mediated acute liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Some C57BL/6 mice were administered ConA at a dose of 20 mg/kg (model mice), and some received 5 µg of Areg (treated mice). Then, their survival rates over 36 h were analyzed. After 5 h of treatment, liver function, hepatic histology, and apoptosis in liver tissue were investigated, and cytokine expression and neutrophil infiltration and activity in the liver were detected. Moreover, the protective effects of Areg were also evaluated without IL-22 in vivo.

RESULTS

Our results showed that Areg administration increased acute liver failure (ALF) mouse survival, restored liver function, and alleviated liver damage. Interestingly, Areg administration increased IL-22 production in hepatic T cells and upregulated IL-22 concentrations in the serum and liver, whereas IL-22 neutralization completely abolished the therapeutic effect of Areg. Meanwhile, Areg administration was concomitant with increased expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, which are important in the hepatoprotective mechanism of IL-22.

CONCLUSIONS

Areg showed direct protective effects against ConA-induced acute liver injury, which suggests the potential therapeutic application of Areg in immune-mediated ALF.

Targeted toxicometabolomics of endosulfan sulfate in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) using GC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode

Endosulfan sulfate is a major oxidative metabolite of the chlorinated insecticide endosulfan. In this study, a targeted metabolomics approach was used to investigate the toxic mechanisms of endosulfan sulfate in adult zebrafish using the multiple reaction monitoring mode of a GC-MS/MS. The LC₅₀ of endosulfan sulfate in adult zebrafish was determined and then zebrafish were exposed to endosulfan sulfate at one-tenth the LC₅₀ (0.1LC₅₀) or the LC₅₀ for 24 and 48 h. After exposure, the fish were extracted, derivatized and analyzed by GC-MS/MS for 379 metabolites to identify 170 metabolites. Three experimental groups (control, 0.1LC₅₀ and LC₅₀) were clearly separated in PLS-DA score plots. Based on the VIP, ANOVA, and fold change results, 40 metabolites were selected as biomarkers. Metabolic pathways associated with those metabolites were identified using MetaboAnalyst 4.0 as follows: aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, valine/leucine/isoleucine biosynthesis, citrate cycle, glycerolipid metabolism, and arginine/proline metabolism. Gene expression studies confirmed the activation of citrate cycle and glycerolipids metabolism. MDA levels of the exposed group significantly increased in oxidative toxicity assay tests. Such significant perturbations of important metabolites within key biochemical pathways must result in biologically hazardous effects in zebrafish.

Protective action of glutamine in rats with severe acute liver failure

BACKGROUND

Severe acute liver failure (SALF) is a rare, but high-mortality, rapidly evolving syndrome that leads to hepatocyte degeneration with impaired liver function. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a known xenobiotic, which promotes the increase of the formation of reactive oxygen species. Erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activates the antioxidant protection of cells. Studies have evidenced the involvement of inflammatory mediators in conditions of oxidative stress.

AIM

To evaluate the antioxidant effects of glutamine on Nrf2 activation and NFκB-mediated inflammation in rats with TAA-induced IHAG.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats (n = 28) were divided into four groups: control, control+glutamine, TAA, and TAA + glutamine. Two TAA doses (400 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally, 8 h apart. Glutamine (25 mg/kg) was administered at 30 min, 24 h, and 36 h. At 48 h, blood was collected for liver integrity analysis [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)]. The liver was harvested for histology and assessment of oxidative stress [thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), Nrf2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), NADPH quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1), superoxide dismutase (SOD)] and inflammatory process.

RESULTS

TAA caused disruption of the hepatic parenchyma, with inflammatory infiltration, massive necrosis, and ballooning degeneration. Glutamine mitigated this tissue damage, with visible regeneration of hepatic parenchyma; decreased TBARS (P < 0.001), GSH (P < 0.01), IL-1β, IL6, and TNFα levels (P <0.01) in hepatic tissue; and decreased blood levels of AST, ALT, and ALP (P <0.05). In addition, CAT, GPx, and GST activities were restored in the glutamine group (P <0.01, P <0.01, and P <0.001, respectively vs TAA alone). Glutamine increased expression of Nrf2 (P < 0.05), NQO1, and SOD (P < 0.01), as well as levels of IL-10 (P <0.001), while decreasing expression of Keap1, TLR4, NFκB (P < 0.001), COX-2 and iNOS, (P < 0.01), and reducing NO2 and NO3 levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In the TAA experimental model of IHAG, glutamine activated the Nrf2 pathway, thus promoting antioxidant protection, and blunted the NFκB-mediated pathway, reducing inflammation.