Prolonged oxidative stress and delayed tissue repair exacerbate acetaminophen-induced liver injury in aged mice

Evaluating the therapeutic effect of different forms of silymarin on liver status and expression of some genes involved in fat metabolism, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory in older laying hens

BACKGROUND

Silymarin, the predominant compound of milk thistle, is an extract took out from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seeds, containing a mixture of flavonolignans with strong antioxidant capability.

METHODS

The experiment was conducted using 70 Lohmann LSL-Lite hens at 80 weeks of age with 7 treatments each with 10 replicates. Treatments included: (1) control diet without silymarin, (2) daily intake of 100 mg silymarin powder/kg body weight (BW) (PSM100), (3) daily intake of 200 mg silymarin powder/kg BW (PSM200), (4) daily intake of 100 mg nano-silymarin/kg BW (NSM100), (5) daily intake of 200 mg nano-silymarin/kg BW (NSM200), (6) daily intake of 100 mg lecithinized silymarin/kg BW (LSM100) and (7) daily intake of 200 mg lecithinized silymarin/kg BW (LSM200). The birds were housed individually, and diets were fed for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Scanning electron microscopy showed that NSM was produced with the average particle size of 20.30 nm. Silymarin treatment improved serum antioxidant enzyme activity. All groups receiving silymarin showed a decrease in liver malondialdehyde content, expression of fatty acid synthase, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 (IL-6) genes in the liver, and hepatic steatosis than the control, except those fed the PSM100 diet. There were decreases in liver dry matter and fat contents, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocyte ballooning, and an increase in glutathione peroxidase gene expression and a decrease in iNOS gene expression in birds fed the NSM100, NSM200, LSM100 and LSM200 diets compared to the control group. Moreover, all groups receiving silymarin showed a significant decrease in liver weight compare to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the effects of silymarin when converted to NSM or LSM and offered at the level of 200 mg/kg BW were more pronounced on the hepatic variables and may be useful in the prevention of the liver disease in older laying hens.

Protective Role of Nanoceria-Infused Nanofibrous Scaffold toward Bone Tissue Regeneration with Senescent Cells

The presence of oxidative stress in bone defects leads to delayed regeneration, especially in the aged population and patients receiving cancer treatment. This delay is attributed to the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these populations due to the accumulation of senescent cells. Tissue-engineered scaffolds are emerging as an alternative method to treat bone defects. In this study, we engineered tissue scaffolds tailored to modulate the adverse effects of oxidative stress and promote bone regeneration. We used polycaprolactone to fabricate nanofibrous mats by using electrospinning. We exploited the ROS-scavenging properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles to alleviate the high oxidative stress microenvironment caused by the presence of senescent cells. We characterized the nanofibers for their physical and mechanical properties and utilized an ionization-radiation-based model to induce senescence in bone cells. We demonstrate that the presence of ceria can modulate ROS levels, thereby reducing the level of senescence and promoting osteogenesis. Overall, this study demonstrates that ceria-infused nanofibrous scaffolds can be used for augmenting the osteogenic activity of senescent progenitor cells, which has important implications for engineering bone tissue scaffolds for patients with low regeneration capabilities.

Histological and molecular difference in albumen quality between post-adolescent hens and aged hens

The decline in albumen quality resulting from aging hens poses a threat to the financial benefits of the egg industry. Exploring the underlying mechanisms from the perspective of cell molecules of albumen formation is significant for the efficient regulation of albumen quality. Two individual groups of Hy-Line Brown layers with ages of 40 (W40) and 100 (W100) wk old were used in the present study. Each group contained over 2,000 birds. This study assessed the egg quality, biochemical indicators and physiological status of hens between W40 and W100. Subsequently, a quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted to identify differences in protein abundance in magnum tissues between W40 and W100. In the W40 group, significant increases (P < 0.05) were notable for albumen quality (thick albumen solid content, albumen height, Haugh unit), serum indices (calcium, estrogen, and progesterone levels), magnum histomorphology (myosin light-chain kinase content, secretory capacity, mucosal fold, goblet cell count and proportion) as well as the total antioxidant capacity of the liver. However, the luminal diameter of the magnum, albumen gel properties and random coil of the albumen were increased (P < 0.05) in the W100 group. The activity of glutathione, superoxidase dismutase, and malondialdehyde in the liver, magnum, and serum did not vary (P > 0.05) among the groups. Proteomic analysis revealed the identification of 118 differentially expressed proteins between the groups, which comprised proteins associated with protein secretion, DNA damage and repair, cell proliferation, growth, antioxidants, and apoptosis. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes pathway analysis revealed that BRCA2 and FBN1 were significantly downregulated in Fanconi anemia (FA) and TGF-β signaling pathways in W100, validated through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In conclusion, significant age-related variations in albumen quality, and magnum morphology are regulated by proteins involved in antioxidant capacity.

Liver Antioxidant Capacity and Steatosis in Laying Hens Exposed to Various Quantities of Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) Seeds in the Diet

Despite the many beneficial properties of legume plants, their use in diets for poultry is limited by the presence of antinutritional factors. The aim of the study was to determine the activity of DT-diaphorase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, and catalase, and the concentration of malondialdehyde in liver tissue, as well as the activity of SOD and CAT in the serum of Hy-line Brown hens fed a diet supplemented with various doses of Lupinus angustifolius seeds. The results indicate that the use of large amounts of lupin in the diet resulted in an increase in MDA concentration in the liver and the lipid vacuolization of hepatocytes. A significant increase in DTD activity was observed in chickens receiving 15% lupin. Regardless of lupin dose, no increase in SOD activity was observed in chicken serum after 33 days of the experiment. From the 66th day of the experiment, an increase in catalase activity in the serum of laying hens was observed, while low activity of this enzyme was found in the liver. It can be concluded that the short-term use of lupin in the diet of laying hens does not affect the activity of antioxidant enzymes and, therefore, does not affect the oxidative-antioxidant balance of their body.

Polystyrene Microplastics Postpone APAP-Induced Liver Injury through Impeding Macrophage Polarization

Polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) are micrometer-scale items degraded from plastics and have been detected in various organisms. PS MPs have been identified as causing cognitive, cardiac, intestinal, and hepatic damage. However, their role in liver regeneration under drug-induced liver injury remains unknown. Thus, the current study aims to evaluate the impact of PS MPs on liver repair during APAP hepatotoxicity. PS MPs pretreatment exacerbates mice mortality and hepatocyte apoptosis, suppresses hepatic cell proliferation, and disturbs the inflammatory response in the APAP-induced damage model. Further mechanism exploration uncovers that prior PS MPs administration is sufficient to recruit neutrophils and macrophages, which are necessary for tissue recovery in the acute liver injury model. However, the polarization capacity of macrophages to anti-inflammatory sub-type is significantly delayed in PS MPs plus APAP group compared to the single APAP group, which is the leading cause of tissue repair suppression. Overall, the current study supports a new insight to realize the toxicity of PS MPs in acute liver injury, which should be considered in health risk assessment.

Unraveling the effect of intra- and intercellular processes on acetaminophen-induced liver injury

In high dosages, acetaminophen (APAP) can cause severe liver damage, but susceptibility to liver failure varies across individuals and is influenced by factors such as health status. Because APAP-induced liver injury and recovery is regulated by an intricate system of intra- and extracellular molecular signaling, we here aim to quantify the importance of specific modules in determining the outcome after an APAP insult and of potential targets for therapies that mitigate adversity. For this purpose, we integrated hepatocellular acetaminophen metabolism, DNA damage response induction and cell fate into a multiscale mechanistic liver lobule model which involves various cell types, such as hepatocytes, residential Kupffer cells and macrophages. Our model simulations show that zonal differences in metabolism and detoxification efficiency are essential determinants of necrotic damage. Moreover, the extent of senescence, which is regulated by intracellular processes and triggered by extracellular signaling, influences the potential to recover. In silico therapies at early and late time points after APAP insult indicated that prevention of necrotic damage is most beneficial for recovery, whereas interference with regulation of senescence promotes regeneration in a less pronounced way.

Amelioration of aflatoxin acute hepatitis rat model by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and their hepatogenic differentiation

Background and Aim:

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) transplantation and their hepatogenic differentiated cells (HDCs) can be applied for liver injury repair by tissue grafting. Regenerative potentiality in liver cirrhosis models was widely investigated; however, immunomodulation and anti-inflammation in acute hepatitis remain unexplored. This study aimed to explore the immunomodulatory and evaluate twice intravenous (IV) or intrahepatic (IH) administration of either BM-MSCs or middle-stage HDCs on aflatoxin (AF) acute hepatitis rat model.

Materials and Methods:

BM-MSCs viability, phenotypes, and proliferation were evaluated. Hepatogenic differentiation, albumin, and mmmmmmmm-fetoprotein gene expression were assessed. AF acute hepatitis was induced in rats using AFB1 supplementation. The transplantation of BM-MSCs or their HDCs was done either by IV or IH route. Hepatic ultrasound was performed after 3-weeks of therapy. Cytokines profile (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-4, and IL-10) was assessed. Hepatic bio-indices, serum, and hepatic antioxidant activity were evaluated, besides examining liver histological sections.

Results:

Acute AFB1 showed a significant increase in TNF-α (p<0.01), liver enzyme activities (p<0.05), as well as decrease in IL-4, IL-10, and antioxidant enzyme activities (p<0.05). Cytokines profile was ameliorated in groups treated with IV and IH BM-MCs, showed a negative correlation between IL-4 and TNF-α (p<0.05), and a positive correlation between IL-10 upregulation and TNF-α (p<0.01). In IV HDCs treated group, positive correlations between IL-4 and IL-10 downregulation and TNF-α were observed. However, in IH HDCs group, a significant positive correlation between IL-4 and IL-10 upregulation and TNF-α, were recorded (p<0.05). In addition, IV BM-MSCs and IH HDCs treatments significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activity (p<0.05). IV and IH BM-MSCs significantly ameliorated liver transaminase levels, whereas IH HDCs significantly ameliorated alanine aminotransferase activity and nitric oxide concentration (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

The administration routes of BM-MSCs did not demonstrate any significant difference; however, the IH route of HDCs showed significant amelioration from the IV route. On the other hand, it showed noticeable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory improvements in aflatoxicosis rats. Therefore, it can be concluded that acute hepatitis can be treated by a noninvasive IV route without the expense of hepatogenic differentiation. Further research using clinical trials that address several problems regarding engraftment and potentiation are needed to determine the optimal manipulation strategy as well as to achieve better long term effects.

Antrodia camphorata polysaccharide improves inflammatory response in liver injury via the ROS/TLR4/NF-κB signal

Antrodia Camphorata Polysaccharide (ACP) refers to a kind of polysaccharide extracted from the natural porous fungus Antrodia camphorata. This study investigated the mechanism of action of ACP in protecting the liver. The results showed that ACP suppressed the LPS‐induced KC cell activation, reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, increased the SOD level and suppressed ROS expression. In addition, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) was adopted for pre‐treatment to suppress ROS. The results indicated that NAC synergistically exerted its effect with ACP, suggesting that ACP played its role through suppressing ROS. Further detection revealed that ACP activated the Nrf2 signal. It was discovered in the mouse model that, ACP effectively improved liver injury in mice, decreased ALT and AST levels, and suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors. This study suggests that ACP can exert its effect against oxidative stress via the Nrf2‐ARE signalling, which further improves the production of ROS and the activation of TLR4‐NF‐κB signalling, and protects the liver against liver injury.

Age-related changes in liver metabolism and antioxidant capacity of laying hens

This study aimed to investigate the age-related changes of hepatic metabolism and antioxidant capacity of laying hens at 3 different ages. A total of 192 Hy-line Brown laying hens were assigned into 3 groups: 1) 195-day-old (D195 group); 2) 340-day-old (D340 group); 3) 525-day-old (D525 group). Each group replicated 8 times with 8 hens at the same age. Higher activity of aspartate aminotransferase and lower contents of total protein and globulin were observed in the serum of 525-day-old hens in comparison with their 195-day-old counterparts (P < 0.05). The 525-day-old hens accumulated higher contents of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver than 195-day-old birds. Additionally, compared with hens from D195 or D340 group, 525-day-old birds exhibited a lower circulating estradiol level (P < 0.05). For antioxidant capacity, birds in the D525 group showed a higher malondialdehyde concentration in both serum and liver as compared with D195 or D340 group (P < 0.05). The 525-day-old hens also exhibited lower glutathione peroxidase activities in both serum and liver when compared with 195-day-old birds (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, there was a decline of hepatic superoxide dismutase activity in the D525 group in comparison with D195 group (P < 0.05). Compared with 195-day-old counterparts, 340-day-old birds upregulated the mRNA abundance of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 and glutathione peroxidase 1 in the liver (P < 0.05). In contrast, hens from D525 group showed the downregulation of hepatic nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, and superoxide dismutase 1 when compared with D340 group (P < 0.05). These results indicated that increasing age can adversely affect liver metabolism and function of laying hens.

Advanced preclinical models for evaluation of drug-induced liver injury - consensus statement by the European Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [PRO-EURO-DILI-NET]

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major cause of acute liver failure (ALF) and one of the leading indications for liver transplantation in Western societies. Given the wide use of both prescribed and over the counter drugs, DILI has become a major health issue for which there is a pressing need to find novel and effective therapies. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DILI, our incomplete knowledge of its pathogenesis and inability to predict DILI is largely due to both discordance between human and animal DILI in preclinical drug development and a lack of models that faithfully recapitulate complex pathophysiological features of human DILI. This is exemplified by the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, a major cause of ALF because of its extensive worldwide use as an analgesic. Despite intensive efforts utilising current animal and in vitro models, the mechanisms involved in the hepatotoxicity of APAP are still not fully understood. In this expert Consensus Statement, which is endorsed by the European Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network, we aim to facilitate and outline clinically impactful discoveries by detailing the requirements for more realistic human-based systems to assess hepatotoxicity and guide future drug safety testing. We present novel insights and discuss major players in APAP pathophysiology, and describe emerging in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models, as well as advanced imaging and in silico technologies, which may improve prediction of clinical outcomes of DILI.