Effects and mechanisms of store-operated calcium channel blockade on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

The dynamic equilibrium between the protective and toxic effects of matrine in the development of liver injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Matrine, an alkaloid derived from the dried roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton, has been utilized for the treatment of liver diseases, but its potential hepatotoxicity raises concerns. However, the precise condition and mechanism of action of matrine on the liver remain inconclusive. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to comprehensively evaluate both the hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic effects of matrine and provide therapeutic guidance based on the findings. Methods: The meta-analysis systematically searched relevant preclinical literature up to May 2023 from eight databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Med Online, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biomedical Literature Service System. The CAMARADES system assessed the quality and bias of the evidence. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA, which included the use of 3D maps and radar charts to display the effects of matrine dosage and frequency on hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity. Results: After a thorough screening, 24 studies involving 657 rodents were selected for inclusion. The results demonstrate that matrine has bidirectional effects on ALT and AST levels, and it also regulates SOD, MDA, serum TG, serum TC, IL-6, TNF-α, and CAT levels. Based on our comprehensive three-dimensional analysis, the optimal bidirectional effective dosage of matrine ranges from 10 to 69.1 mg/kg. However, at a dose of 20-30 mg/kg/d for 0.02-0.86 weeks, it demonstrated high liver protection and low toxicity. The molecular docking analysis revealed the interaction between MT and SERCA as well as SREBP-SCAP complexes. Matrine could alter Ca2+ homeostasis in liver injury via multiple pathways, including the SREBP1c/SCAP, Notch/RBP-J/HES1, IκK/NF-κB, and Cul3/Rbx1/Keap1/Nrf2. Conclusion: Matrine has bidirectional effects on the liver at doses ranging from 10 to 69.1 mg/kg by influencing Ca2+ homeostasis in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria. Systematic review registration: https://inplasy.com/, identifier INPLASY202340114.

TRPM2 Non-Selective Cation Channels in Liver Injury Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species

TRPM2 channels admit Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ across the plasma membrane and release Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ from lysosomes. Channel activation is initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a subsequent increase in ADP-ribose and the binding of ADP-ribose to an allosteric site in the cytosolic NUDT9 homology domain. In many animal cell types, Ca²⁺ entry via TRPM2 channels mediates ROS-initiated cell injury and death. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge of the roles of TRPM2 and Ca²⁺ in the initiation and progression of chronic liver diseases and acute liver injury. Studies to date provide evidence that TRPM2-mediated Ca²⁺ entry contributes to drug-induced liver toxicity, ischemia–reperfusion injury, and the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to cirrhosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Of particular current interest are the steps involved in the activation of TRPM2 in hepatocytes following an increase in ROS, the downstream pathways activated by the resultant increase in intracellular Ca²⁺, and the chronology of these events. An apparent contradiction exists between these roles of TRPM2 and the role identified for ROS-activated TRPM2 in heart muscle and in some other cell types in promoting Ca²⁺-activated mitochondrial ATP synthesis and cell survival. Inhibition of TRPM2 by curcumin and other “natural” compounds offers an attractive strategy for inhibiting ROS-induced liver cell injury. In conclusion, while it has been established that ROS-initiated activation of TRPM2 contributes to both acute and chronic liver injury, considerable further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved, and the conditions under which pharmacological inhibition of TRPM2 can be an effective clinical strategy to reduce ROS-initiated liver injury.

STIM1 deficiency protects the liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is unavoidable in various clinical conditions. Despite considerable investigation, the underlying molecular mechanism revealing liver I/R injury remains elusive. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) plays essential role in regulating the induction of cellular responses to a number of stress conditions, including temperature changes, elevated ROS, and hypoxia. Here, to explore if STIM1 is involved in hepatic injury, wild type (WT) and STIM1-knockout (STIM1^-/-) mice were subjected to I/R. Our results indicated that the WT mice with hepatic I/R injury showed higher STIM1 expressions from gene and protein levels in liver tissue samples. Similar results were observed in hypoxia-exposed cells in vitro. Significantly, STIM1^-/- attenuated hepatic injury compared to the WT mice after I/R, as evidenced by the improved pathological alterations in liver sections. WT mice subjected to liver I/R showed higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aminotransferase (AST) levels, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, which were significantly reduced by STIM1^-/-. In addition, STIM1^-/- also decreased the liver mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice after I/R injury. Furthermore, significantly decreased oxidative stress was found in STIM1^-/- mice after I/R injury compared to the WT group of mice, evidenced by the enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in liver tissue samples. Moreover, STIM1^-/- mice with hepatic I/R injury displayed the down-regulated nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT1), Orai1 and cleaved Caspase-3 levels in liver, contributing to apoptosis suppression. The results above were confirmed in hypoxia-treated cells lacking of STIM1 expression. Together, the findings suggested that STIM1-deletion protects the liver from I/R injury in mice through inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. STIM1 could be considered as a potential therapeutic target to ameliorate I/R injury.

Autophagy in Ischemic Livers: A Critical Role of Sirtuin 1/Mitofusin 2 Axis in Autophagy Induction

No-flow ischemia occurs during cardiac arrest, hemorrhagic shock, liver resection and transplantation. Recovery of blood flow and normal physiological pH, however, irreversibly injures the liver and other tissues. Although the liver has the powerful machinery for mitochondrial quality control, a process called mitophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cell death occur after reperfusion. Growing evidence indicates that reperfusion impairs mitophagy, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, defective oxidative phosphorylation, accumulation of toxic metabolites, energy loss and ultimately cell death. The importance of acetylation/deacetylation cycle in the mitochondria and mitophagy has recently gained attention. Emerging data suggest that sirtuins, enzymes deacetylating a variety of target proteins in cellular metabolism, survival and longevity, may also act as an autophagy modulator. This review highlights recent advances of our understanding of a mechanistic correlation between sirtuin 1, mitophagy and ischemic liver injury.

Protective effects of fish oil, allopurinol, and verapamil on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Background:

The major aim of this work was to study the protective effects of fish oil (FO), allopurinol, and verapamil on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced injury in experimental rats.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to six groups of 10 rats each. Group 1 served as a negative control. Group 2 served as hepatic IR control injury. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 received N-acetylcysteine (standard), FO, allopurinol, and verapamil, respectively, for 3 consecutive days prior to ischemia. All animals were fasted for 12 h, anesthetized and underwent midline laparotomy. The portal triads were clamped by mini-artery clamp for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min. Blood samples were withdrawn for estimation of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities as well as hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, myeloperoxidase, and total nitrate/nitrite levels, in addition to histopathological examination.

Results:

Fish oil, allopurinol, and verapamil reduced hepatic IR injury as evidenced by significant reduction in serum ALT and AST enzyme activities. FO and verapamil markedly reduced oxidative stress as compared to control IR injury. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers in liver were also reduced after treatment with FO, allopurinol, or verapamil. In accordance, a marked improvement of histopathological findings was observed with all of the three treatments.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study prove the benefits of FO, allopurinol, and verapamil on hepatic IR-induced liver injury and are promising for further clinical trials.

Protective effect of 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate on acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat kidney

BACKGROUND

To investigate the protective effect of 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB) against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat kidney by an experimental study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: (1) sham group, (2) I/R group, and (3) I/R + 2-APB group. Renal I/R injury was induced by clamping the left renal pedicle for 45 min after right nephrectomy, followed by 3 h of reperfusion. The therapeutic agent 2-APB was administered intravenously at a dose of 2 mg/kg 10 min before renal ischemia. Glutathione, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine levels were measured from blood samples, and the rats were sacrificed subsequently. Tissue samples were scored histopathologically. Visualization of apoptotic cells was performed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining method.

RESULTS

2-APB significantly reduced serum malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine levels in the I/R injury group. However, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity levels increased significantly. Histopathologic scores were significantly better and the rate of apoptosis was lower in the 2-APB group.

CONCLUSIONS

2-APB reduces oxidative stress and damage caused by renal I/R injury. The results of this study demonstrate that 2-APB can be used as an effective agent against I/R injury in the kidney.