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Li Y, Lu Y, Nian M, Sheng Q, Zhang C, Han C, Dou X, Ding Y. Therapeutic potential and mechanism of Chinese herbal medicines in treating fibrotic liver disease. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:643-657. [PMID: 37777315 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by replacement of normal liver tissue with scar tissue, and also the leading cause of liver-related death worldwide. During the treatment of liver fibrosis, in addition to antiviral therapy or removal of inducers, there remains a lack of specific and effective treatment strategies. For thousands of years, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used to treat liver fibrosis in clinical setting. CHMs are effective for liver fibrosis, though its mechanisms of action are unclear. In recent years, many studies have attempted to determine the possible mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating liver fibrosis. There have been substantial improvements in the experimental investigation of CHMs which have greatly promoted the understanding of anti-liver fibrosis mechanisms. In this review, the role of CHMs in the treatment of liver fibrosis is described, based on studies over the past decade, which has addressed the various mechanisms and signaling pathways that mediate therapeutic efficacy. Among them, inhibition of stellate cell activation is identified as the most common mechanism. This article provides insights into the research direction of CHMs, in order to expand its clinical application range and improve its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Yunrui Lu
- Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Mozuo Nian
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Qiuju Sheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Chao Han
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Xiaoguang Dou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Yang Ding
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China.
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Abstract
AIM Fibrosis is a common pathological feature of most types of chronic liver injuries. There is no specific treatment for liver fibrosis at present. The liver microenvironment, which fosters the survival and activity of liver cells, plays an important role in maintaining the normal structure and physiological function of the liver. The aim of this review is to deeply understand the role of the liver microenvironment in the dynamic and complicated development of liver fibrosis. METHODS After searching in Elsevier ScienceDirect, PubMed and Web of Science databases using 'liver fibrosis' and 'microenvironment' as keywords, studies related to microenvironment in liver fibrosis was compiled and examined. RESULTS The homeostasis of the liver microenvironment is disrupted during the development of liver fibrosis, affecting liver cell function, causing various types of cell reactions, and changing the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, eventually affecting fibrosis formation. CONCLUSION Liver microenvironment may be important for identifying potential therapeutic targets, and restoring microenvironment homeostasis may be an important strategy for promoting the reversal of liver fibrosis.KEY MESSAGESThe homeostasis of the liver microenvironment is disrupted in liver fibrosis;A pro-fibrotic microenvironment is formed during the development of liver fibrosis;Restoring microenvironment homeostasis may be an important strategy for promoting the reversal of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Meng
- Department of General Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Tong Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University First Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Zhengyi Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Dekui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Effect of Gypenosides on the composition of gut microbiota and metabolic activity in the treatment of CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. J Funct Foods 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Fathy M, Abdel-Latif R, Abdelgwad YM, Othman OA, Abdel-Razik ARH, Dandekar T, Othman EM. Nephroprotective potential of eugenol in a rat experimental model of chronic kidney injury; targeting NOX, TGF-β, and Akt signaling. Life Sci 2022; 308:120957. [PMID: 36113730 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease is a crucial health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Eugenol is a natural phenolic plant compound with various pharmacological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effect of different eugenol doses in an experimental model of chronic CCl4-induced renal damage and investigate various mechanisms that underlie this postulated effect. Eugenol treatment (100 mg/kg) ameliorated kidney damage induced by CCl4 and rectified the distorted kidney function parameters and renal histological structure. Additionally, eugenol at a dose of 100 mg/kg suppressed the upregulated oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in CCl4-treated rats as evident by down regulations of NADPH oxidase (NOX2 and NOX4), proinflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) and proapoptotic markers (cyt c and caspase-3), respectively. Importantly, eugenol co-administration in rats challenged with CCl4 downregulated the renal protein expressions of both TGF-β as well as pAkt compared with CCl4 group. In conclusion, eugenol showed a potent nephroprotective effect against CCl4-induced renal damage through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustafa Fathy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Minia, 61519 Minia, Egypt.
| | - Rania Abdel-Latif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Minia, 61519 Minia, Egypt.
| | - Yasmeen M Abdelgwad
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Science, University of Minia, 61519 Minia, Egypt.
| | - Othman Ali Othman
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Science, University of Minia, 61519 Minia, Egypt.
| | - Abdel-Razik H Abdel-Razik
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt.
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Eman M Othman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Minia, 61519 Minia, Egypt; Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Histone deacetylase 2 inhibitor valproic acid attenuates bisphenol A-induced liver pathology in male mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10258. [PMID: 35715448 PMCID: PMC9205966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12937-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates the role of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) in many pathological conditions. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has potential for the treatment of many diseases/abnormalities. Using a mouse BPA exposure model, this study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the Food and Drug Administration–approved HDAC2 inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) against BPA-induced liver pathology. We randomly divided 30 adult male Swiss albino mice (8 weeks old; N = 6) into five groups: group 1, no treatment (sham control (SC)); group 2, only oral sterile corn oil (vehicle control (VC)); group 3, 4 mg/kg/day of oral BPA (single dose (BPA group)); group 4, 0.4% oral VPA (VPA group); and group 5, oral BPA + VPA (BPA + VPA group). At the age of 10 weeks, the mice were euthanized for biochemical and histological examinations. BPA promoted a significant decrease in the body weight (BW), an increase in the liver weight, and a significant increase in the levels of liver damage markers aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the BPA group compared to SC, as well as pathological changes in liver tissue. We also found an increase in the rate of apoptosis among hepatocytes. In addition, BPA significantly increased the levels of oxidative stress indices, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonylation but decreased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the BPA group compared to SC. In contrast, treatment with the HDAC2 inhibitor VPA significantly attenuated liver pathology, oxidative stress, and apoptosis and also enhanced GSH levels in VPA group and BPA + VPA group. The HDAC2 inhibitor VPA protects mice against BPA-induced liver pathology, likely by inhibiting oxidative stress and enhancing the levels of antioxidant-reduced GSH.
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Beyoğlu D, Idle JR. Metabolomic and Lipidomic Biomarkers for Premalignant Liver Disease Diagnosis and Therapy. Metabolites 2020; 10:E50. [PMID: 32012846 PMCID: PMC7074571 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a plethora of attempts to discover biomarkers that are more reliable than α-fetoprotein for the early prediction and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efforts have involved such fields as genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, microRNA, exosomes, proteomics, glycoproteomics, and metabolomics. HCC arises against a background of inflammation, steatosis, and cirrhosis, due mainly to hepatic insults caused by alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C virus infection, adiposity, and diabetes. Metabolomics offers an opportunity, without recourse to liver biopsy, to discover biomarkers for premalignant liver disease, thereby alerting the potential of impending HCC. We have reviewed metabolomic studies in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Specificity was our major criterion in proposing clinical evaluation of indole-3-lactic acid, phenyllactic acid, N-lauroylglycine, decatrienoate, N-acetyltaurine for ALD, urinary sulfated bile acids for cholestasis, cervonoyl ethanolamide for fibrosis, 16α-hydroxyestrone for cirrhosis, and the pattern of acyl carnitines for NAFL and NASH. These examples derive from a large body of published metabolomic observations in various liver diseases in adults, adolescents, and children, together with animal models. Many other options have been tabulated. Metabolomic biomarkers for premalignant liver disease may help reduce the incidence of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey R. Idle
- Arthur G. Zupko’s Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, 75 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA;
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Fathy M, Okabe M, Saad Eldien HM, Yoshida T. AT-MSCs Antifibrotic Activity is Improved by Eugenol through Modulation of TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway in Rats. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25020348. [PMID: 31952158 PMCID: PMC7024200 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
For hepatic failure, stem cell transplantation has been chosen as an alternative therapy, especially for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eugenol (EUG) on the in vivo antifibrotic activity of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AT-MSCs) and the underlying mechanism. After characterization of MSCs, rats were divided into five groups, Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 (CCl4), Group 3 (CCl4 + AT-MSCs), Group 4 (CCl4 + EUG) and Group 5 (CCl4 + AT-MSCs + EUG). Biochemical and histopathological investigations were performed. Furthermore, expression of type 1 collagen, α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad3 and P-Smad3 was estimated. Compared to the single treatment with AT-MSCs, the combination treatment of the fibrotic rats with AT-MSCs and EUG significantly improved the plasma fibrinogen concentration, IL-10 level and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression, and also significantly decreased the serum levels of liver enzymes, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, type III collagen, hyaluronic acid, hydroxyproline and the TGF-β growth factor. Furthermore, the combination treatment significantly decreased the hepatic expression of fibrotic markers genes (Type 1 collagen and α-SMA) and proteins (α-SMA, TGF-β1 and phospho-Smad3) more than the treatment with AT-MSCs alone. We demonstrated that the combination treatment with EUG and AT-MSCs strongly inhibited the advancement of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, compared with AT-MSCs alone, through TGF-β/Smad pathway inhibition. This approach is completely novel, so more investigations are necessary to improve our perception of the underlying molecular mechanisms accountable for the effects of EUG on the antifibrotic potential of AT-MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustafa Fathy
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (M.F.); (M.O.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Motonori Okabe
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (M.F.); (M.O.)
| | - Heba M. Saad Eldien
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Jouf 74311, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
| | - Toshiko Yoshida
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (M.F.); (M.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-76-434-7211
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Yong HY, Larrouy-Maumus G, Zloh M, Smyth R, Ataya R, Benton CM, Munday MR. Early detection of metabolic changes in drug-induced steatosis using metabolomics approaches. RSC Adv 2020; 10:41047-41057. [PMID: 35519189 PMCID: PMC9057704 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra06577c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Steatosis is the accumulation of triglycerides in hepatic cells wherein fats exceed 5% of the entire liver weight. Although steatotic liver damage is reversible due to the liver's regenerative capability, protracted damage often and typically leads to irreversible conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, early steatotic detection is critical for preventing progression to advanced liver diseases. This also becomes particularly important given the higher prevalence of drug usage, as drugs are a frequent cause of liver damage. Currently, the recommendation to diagnose steatosis is using liver enzymes and performing a liver biopsy. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard method of detection, but the procedure is invasive and an unreliable diagnostic tool. Non-invasive, specific and sensitive diagnostic solutions such as biomarkers are therefore needed for the early detection of steatosis. Our aim is to identify changes in urinary metabolites in tetracycline-induced hepatic steatotic rats at different stages of the diseases using metabolomic-based techniques. Sprague Dawley male rats are treated by intraperitoneal injection (I.P.) with either 62.5 mg kg−1 or 125 mg kg−1 tetracycline, an antibiotic previously known to induce steatosis. We analyse the metabolic profile of the urinary tetracycline induced hepatic steatotic rats using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 2D 1H–1H TOCSY (total correlation spectroscopy) and electrospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS/MS) based metabolomics. The combined analysis of haematoxylin & eosin (H&E), oil red O (ORO) and direct measurement of triglyceride content in the liver tissues of the control samples against 125 mg kg−1 and 62.5 mg kg−1 treated samples, reveals that 125 mg kg−1 tetracycline exposure potentially induces steatosis. The combination of 1H NMR, 2D 1H–1H TOCSY and ESI-LC-MS/MS alongside multivariate statistical analysis, detected a total of 6 urinary metabolites changes, across 6 metabolic pathways. Furthermore, lysine concentration correlates with liver damage as tetracycline dose concentration increases, whilst both H&E and ORO fail to detect hepatocellular damage at the lowest dose concentration. We conclude that the combination of 1H NMR and ESI-LC-MS/MS suggests that these are suitable platforms for studying the pathogenesis of steatosis development, prior to morphological alterations observed in staining techniques and offer a more detailed description of the severity of the steatotic disease. Urinary metabolic profiling of tetracycline induced hepatic steatotic rats were investigated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, 2D 1H–1H total correlation spectroscopy and electrospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based metabolomics.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Y Yong
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry
- University of London
- UK
| | - Gerald Larrouy-Maumus
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection
- Department of Life Science
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Mire Zloh
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry
- University of London
- UK
| | - Rosemary Smyth
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry
- University of London
- UK
| | - Rayan Ataya
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry
- University of London
- UK
| | | | - Michael R. Munday
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry
- University of London
- UK
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Sphingolipids in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Ceramide Turnover. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010040. [PMID: 31861664 PMCID: PMC6982102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD comprises a group of conditions characterized by the accumulation of hepatic lipids that can eventually lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fifth most common cancer type with a poor survival rate. In this context, several works have pointed out perturbations in lipid metabolism and, particularly, changes in bioactive sphingolipids, as a hallmark of NAFLD and derived HCC. In the present work, we have reviewed existing literature about sphingolipids and the development of NAFLD and NAFLD-derived HCC. During metabolic syndrome, considered a risk factor for steatosis development, an increase in ceramide and sphigosine-1-phosphate (S1P) have been reported. Likewise, other reports have highlighted that increased sphingomyelin and ceramide content is observed during steatosis and NASH. Ceramide also plays a role in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, acting synergistically with S1P. Finally, during HCC, metabolic fluxes are redirected to reduce cellular ceramide levels whilst increasing S1P to support tumor growth.
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Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of Boswellia serrate gum resin in CCl 4-induced hepatotoxicity. Exp Ther Med 2019; 19:1313-1321. [PMID: 32010304 PMCID: PMC6966228 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.8353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of Boswellia serrate (BS) gum resin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage. Four groups consisting of eight rats each were designated: Group I, normal healthy control; group II, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis; group III, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis followed by BS treatment daily for two weeks; and group IV, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis followed by silymarin treatment daily for two weeks. Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were assessed, in addition to histopathological and fibrotic changes in liver tissues isolated from the rats. BS significantly ameliorated CCl4-induced increases in serum aspartate (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in addition to restoring total bilirubin, triglyceride and albumin levels. BS treatment also alleviated oxidative stress and improved total antioxidant capacity in the liver, and reduced the expression of TNF-α, NF-κB, TGF-β, IL-6 and COX-2. On a histopathological level, BS treatment also exhibited antifibrotic activity. In conclusion, these findings suggest that BS contains potentially hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced liver injury via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic characteristics.
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Modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway by eugenol and telmisartan in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Life Sci 2018; 216:207-214. [PMID: 30452970 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway has been in the limelight since its discovery as a key mediator in the process of liver fibrogenesis. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to elucidate the in vivo molecular mechanism underlying the hepatic preventive relevance of eugenol (EUG) and telmisartan (TEL) through iNOS pathway modulation against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. METHODS Sixty healthy male albino rats were used in this study. Serum aminotransferases activities and NO levels were assessed. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), total nitrite/nitrate content and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were estimated. Liver NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS proteins expressions were investigated by western blot assay. Histopathological examination was done. KEY FINDINGS CCl4 resulted in damage to centrilobular regions of the liver, elevation of serum aminotransferases, rise in oxidative parameters level, and up-regulation of NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6 as well as iNOS proteins expressions. Treatment of fibrotic rats with either EUG or TEL significantly alleviated CCl4-induced biochemical, inflammatory and histopathological changes. Moreover, the combined administration of EUG with TEL has an ameliorative effect which is greater than either of them alone. SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, the combination therapy between EUG and TEL is more effective than either drug alone which is attributed to suppression of NO production and iNOS protein expression. The results support that use of EUG and TEL exerts beneficial effects in the attenuation of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
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Farouk S, Sabet S, Abu Zahra FA, El-Ghor AA. Bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells downregulate IL17A dependent IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway in CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206130. [PMID: 30346985 PMCID: PMC6197688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic potential of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) has been reported in several animal models of liver fibrosis. Interleukin (IL) 17A, IL6 and Stat3 have been described to play crucial roles in chronic liver injury. However, the modulatory effect of MSCs on these markers was controversial in different diseases. BM-MSCs might activate the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway and promote cell invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma, but the immunomodulatory role of BM-MSCs on IL17A/IL6/STAT3 was not fully elucidated in liver fibrosis. In the present study, we evaluated the capacity of the BM-MSCs in the modulation of cytokines milieu and signal transducers, based on unique inflammatory genes Il17a and Il17f and their receptors Il17rc and their effect on the IL6/STAT3 pathway in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. A single dose of BM-MSCs was administered to the group with induced liver fibrosis, and the genes and proteins of interest were evaluated along six weeks after treatment. Our results showed a significant downregulation of Il17a, Il17ra, il17f and Il17rc genes. In accordance, BM-MSCs administration declined IL17, IL2 and IL6 serum proteins and downregulated IL17A and IL17RA proteins in liver tissue. Interestingly, BM-MSCs downregulated both Stat3 mRNA expression and p-STAT3, while Stat5a gene was downregulated and p-STAT5 protein was elevated. Also P-SMAD3 and TGFβR2 proteins were downregulated in response to BM-MSCs treatment. Collectively, we suggest that BM-MSCs might play an immunomodulatory role in the treatment of liver fibrosis through downregulation of IL17A affecting IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa Farouk
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Faculty of Science & Technology, AL-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Salwa Sabet
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- * E-mail:
| | - Fatma A. Abu Zahra
- Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Akmal A. El-Ghor
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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Eltahir HM, Nazmy MH. Esomeprazole ameliorates CCl 4 induced liver fibrosis in rats via modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory, fibrogenic and apoptotic markers. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 97:1356-1365. [PMID: 29156525 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic fibrosis is a major health problem that requires further medical attention. Proton pump inhibitors are proven to possess other therapeutic potentials apart of their acid anti-secretory actions. AIM OF THE WORK To test possible anti-fibrotic effect of esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate in management of liver fibrosis compared to silymarin, the well-known hepatoprotective agent. MATERIALS & METHODS 40 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups: normal control group; CCl4-treated group (1 mL/kg 40% CCl4, diluted in olive oil) I.P twice weekly for 6 weeks; esomeprazole-treated group (30 mg/kg body weight); and Silymarin-treated group (100 mg/kg body weight). Both esomeprazole and silymarin were given orally daily for two weeks after the last CCl4 dose. Serum and tissue samples were assessed for histopathological and biochemical analyses. RESULTS Esomeprazole reversed hepatocellular damage, improved liver integrity, corrected major histopathological disturbances induced by CCl4 and lowered fibrosis scoring. It also improved anti-oxidant capacity and attenuated lipid peroxidation. Esomeprazole treatment resulted in down-regulation of hepatic pro-apoptotic Bax and up-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein expressions. In addition, it resulted in inhibition of TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-6 -mediated inflammatory responses, and retrieval of the epithelial marker e-cadherin. CONCLUSION Esomeprazole confers significant anti-fibrotic actions. Further study is needed to elucidate other probable mechanisms for this effect and to test their anti-fibrotic potential clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba M Eltahir
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Maiiada H Nazmy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
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Chang H, Meng HY, Liu SM, Wang Y, Yang XX, Lu F, Wang HY. Identification of key metabolic changes during liver fibrosis progression in rats using a urine and serum metabolomics approach. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11433. [PMID: 28900168 PMCID: PMC5595818 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11759-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reversibility of hepatic fibrosis is an intrinsic response to chronic injury, and with on-going damage, fibrosis can progress to its end-stage consequence, cirrhosis. Non-invasive and reliable biomarkers for early detection of liver fibrosis are needed. Based on the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rat model, urinary and serum metabolic profiling performed by LC-QTOF-MS associated with histological progression were utilized to identify liver fibrosis-specific potential biomarkers for early prediction and to reveal significant fibrotic pathways and their dynamic changes in different stages of liver fibrosis. Finally, nine differential metabolites in urine and ten in serum were selected and identified involving the most relevant metabolic pathways. Perturbations of tryptophan, valine, leucine, isoleucine, and citrate (TCA) cycle metabolites, along with sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolites, occurred from the onset of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, dysregulation of valine and bile acid biosynthesis metabolites occurred in the intermediate and advanced stages. More importantly, among these metabolites, urinary kynurenic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetyl glycine, 4-(2-amino-3-hydroxyphenyl)-2,4-dioxobutanoic acid and serum sphinganine, sphingomyelin, L-leucine, L-tryptophan, and LysoPC(17:0) changed at all time points and may serve as potential early biomarkers for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis and as therapeutic targets. Overall, this work evaluates the potential of these metabolites for the early detection of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chang
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
- School of Pharmacy, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia, Baotou, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Yu Meng
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Shu-Min Liu
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China.
- Drug Safety Evaluation Center, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China.
| | - Yu Wang
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Xu Yang
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Fang Lu
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Yu Wang
- Chinese Medicine Toxicological Laboratory, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China
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