The hepatoprotective role of reduced glutathione and its underlying mechanism in oxaliplatin-induced acute liver injury

A novel approach to alleviate acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity with hybrid balloon flower root-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (BDEs) with silymarin via inhibition of hepatocyte MAPK pathway and apoptosis

INTRODUCTION

Balloon flower root-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (BDEs) have recently been proposed as physiologically active molecules with no cytotoxicity. However, the therapeutic effects of drug-induced hepatotoxicity of BDEs have not been elucidated. BDEs contain a large amount of platycodin D, which is widely known to be effective in regulating inflammation and ameliorating systemic toxicity. Thus, the main therapeutic activity of BDEs is attributed to inhibiting the inflammatory response and alleviating toxicity. In this study, we fabricated the hybrid BDEs fused with liposomes containing silymarin (SM) to enhance the synergistic effect on inhibition of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity (APAP).

OBJECTIVE

Considering the potential therapeutic effects of BDEs, and the potential to achieve synergistic effects to improve therapeutic outcomes, we constructed hybrid BDEs with a soy lecithin-based liposome loaded with SM. Since liposomes can provide higher thermal stability and have greater structural integrity, these might be more resistant to clearance and enzymatic degradation of drug molecules.

METHODS

Hybrid BDEs with liposome-loaded SM (BDEs@lipo-SM) were fabricated by thin-film hydration and extrusion. BDEs@lipo-SM were characterized using dynamic light scattering and high-performance liquid chromatography. After confirmation of the physical properties of BDEs@lipo-SM, various therapeutic properties were evaluated.

RESULTS

BDEs@lipo-SM were internalized by hepatocytes and immune cells and significantly decreased mRNA expression of apoptosis and inflammation-relevant cytokines by inhibiting the hepatocyte MAPK pathway. BDEs@lipo-SM significantly induced an increase in glutathione levels and inhibited APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

From this study, we know that BDEs are reliable and safe nanovesicles containing natural metabolites derived from balloon flower, and they can facilitate intercellular communication. BDEs are also easily modified to enhance drug loading capacity, targeting effects, and long-term accumulation in vivo. BDEs@lipo-SM have therapeutic benefits for acute liver injury and can alleviate cell death and toxicity. They can be efficiently delivered to the liver and effectively inhibit APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway and apoptosis, which accelerates liver recovery in the APAP-induced acute liver injury model. These findings highlight that BDEs represent an attractive delivery vehicle for drug delivery.

Mechanism of action of quercetin in rheumatoid arthritis models: meta-analysis and systematic review of animal studies

Quercetin, a typical flavonoid derived from a common natural plant, has multiple biological activities. Previous research in animal models has demonstrated the effectiveness of quercetin in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The pharmacological effects and probable mechanisms of quercetin were evaluated in this study. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched for relevant studies from the creation of the databases to November 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool. STATA 15.1 was used to perform the statistical analysis. This research included 17 studies involving 251 animals. The results indicated that quercetin was able to reduce arthritis scores, paw swelling, histopathological scores, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and increase interleukin-10 (IL-10), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These may be related to quercetin's potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and osteoprotective properties. However, more high-quality animal studies are needed to assess the effect of quercetin on RA. Additionally, the safety of quercetin requires further confirmation. Given the importance of the active ingredient, dose selection and the improvement of quercetin's bioavailability remain to be explored.

Aluminum, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Platinum, Thallium, Titanium, Vanadium, and Zinc: Molecular Aspects in Experimental Liver Injury

Experimental liver injury with hepatocelluar necrosis and abnormal liver tests is caused by exposure to heavy metals (HMs) like aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, thallium, titanium, vanadium, and zinc. As pollutants, HMs disturb the ecosystem, and as these substances are toxic, they may affect the health of humans and animals. HMs are not biodegradable and may be deposited preferentially in the liver. The use of animal models can help identify molecular and mechanistic steps leading to the injury. HMs commonly initiate hepatocellular overproduction of ROS (reactive oxygen species) due to oxidative stress, resulting in covalent binding of radicals to macromolecular proteins or lipids existing in membranes of subcellular organelles. Liver injury is facilitated by iron via the Fenton reaction, providing ROS, and is triggered if protective antioxidant systems are exhausted. Ferroptosis syn pyroptosis was recently introduced as mechanistic concept in explanations of nickel (Ni) liver injury. NiCl₂ causes increased iron deposition in the liver, upregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein and mRNA expression levels, downregulation of glutathione eroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) protein, and mRNA expression levels. Nickel may cause hepatic injury through mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis, defined as mechanism of iron-dependent cell death, similar to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity but likely distinct from apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Under discussion were additional mechanistic concepts of hepatocellular uptake and biliary excretion of mercury in exposed animals. For instance, the organic anion transporter 3 (Oat3) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) were involved in the hepatic handling of mercury. Mercury treatment modified the expression of Mrp2 and Oat3 as assessed by immunoblotting, partially explaining its impaired biliary excretion. Concomitantly, a decrease in Oat3 abundance in the hepatocyte plasma membranes was observed that limits the hepatic uptake of mercury ions. Most importantly and shown for the first time in liver injury caused by HMs, titanium changed the diversity of gut microbiota and modified their metabolic functions, leading to increased generation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). As endotoxins, LPS may trigger and perpetuate the liver injury at the level of gut-liver. In sum, mechanistic and molecular steps of experimental liver injury due to HM administration are complex, with ROS as the key promotional compound. However, additional concepts such as iron used in the Fenton reaction, ferroptosis, modification of transporter systems, and endotoxins derived from diversity of intestinal bacteria at the gut-liver level merit further consideration.

Serum Cystatin, Chemokine, and Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Precursors and Their Clinical Value in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Objective. To investigate the serum cystatin (CysC), Chemerin, and gastrin-releasing peptide precursor (ProGRP) levels in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Methods. CRF patients admitted to our hospital from February 2019 to July 2019 were selected as the observation group, and 50 healthy patients were selected as the control group. The serum levels of CysC, Chemerin, ProGRP, and Scr of all subjects were detected. Patients with CRF were admitted for peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment for 1 week, and continued treatment was performed. The survival rate of patients with CRF in nearly 1 year after continuous treatment was observed. Multivariate analysis of factors affecting survival time of CRF patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis was performed. The results were compared with those in the health group. The expression levels of CysC, Chemerin, ProGRP, and Scr in the observation group were all decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). Pearson correlation analysis showed that Scr expression in CRF patients is positively correlated with CysC, Chemerin, and ProGRP ( $P<0.001$ ). The survival rate of 98 patients with CRF was 80.61% (79/98), and the mortality rate was 19.39% (19/98). Serum levels of CysC, Chemerin, ProGRP, and Scr in the death group are all higher than those in the survival group, and the differences are statistically significant ( $P<0.05$ ). CysC, Chemerin, ProGRP, and Scr are independent risk factors affecting survival time ( $P<0.05$ ). The AUC aspects of serum CysC, Chemerin, ProGRP, and Scr in predicting the survival rate of CRF patients in the treatment phase are 0.840, 0.775, 0.782, and 0.725, respectively. Conclusion. The serum levels of CysC, Chemerin, and ProGRP of CRF patients are abnormally elevated and are positively correlated with serum Scr of patients, which can be used as a reliable indicator of pathogenesis and prognosis assessment of CRF patients.

The Ameliorative Effects of Saikosaponin in Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Liver disorders are a major health concern. Saikosaponin-d (SSd) is an effective active ingredient extracted from Bupleurum falcatum, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its hepatoprotective properties and underlying mechanisms are unknown. We investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of SSd treatment for thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury and high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in male C57BL/6 mice. The SSd group showed significantly higher food intake, body weight, and hepatic antioxidative enzymes (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) and lower hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) compared with controls, as well as reduced expression of inflammation-related genes (nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)) messenger RNA (mRNA). In NAFLD mice, SSd reduced serum ALT, AST, triglycerides, fatty acid–binding protein 4 (FABP4) and sterol regulatory element–binding protein 1 (SREBP1) mRNA, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress-related proteins (phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α subunit (p-eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). SSd has a hepatoprotective effect in liver injury by suppressing inflammatory responses and acting as an antioxidant.

Role of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline in the treatment of oxaliplatin-induced hepatic toxicity in mice

There is an increasing incidence of hepatotoxicity induced by oxaliplatin (OXA); therefore, researchers' attention has been drawn to therapeutic alternatives that may decrease OXA-induced hepatotoxicity. Studies indicate that oxidative stress plays a major role in OXA-induced liver injury. As several pharmacological effects of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinole (4-PSQ) involve its antioxidant action, the hypothesis that this organoselenium compound could be promising for the treatment or prevention of hepatotoxicity induced by treatment with OXA was investigated. To test this hypothesis, male Swiss mice received OXA (10 mg·kg-1) on days 0 and 2, followed by oral administration of 4-PSQ (1 mg·kg-1) on days 2 to 14. 4-PSQ reduced the plasma aspartate, and alanine aminotransferase activity increased by exposure to OXA. The histopathological examination of the liver showed that 4-PSQ markedly improved OXA-induced hepatic injury. In addition, treatment with 4-PSQ reduced the oxidation of lipids and proteins (thiobarbituric acid reactive species levels and protein carbonyl content) and attenuated the increase of hepatic catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity caused by OXA. The inhibition of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity induced by OXA was reverted by 4-PSQ. In conclusion, results indicate that 4-PSQ may be a good therapeutic strategy for attenuating OXA-induced liver damage.

The Ameliorative Effects of Fucoidan in Thioacetaide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Liver disorders have been recognized as one major health concern. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the brown seaweed Fucus serratus, has previously been reported as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, the discovery and validation of its hepatoprotective properties and elucidation of its mechanisms of action are still unknown. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect and possible modes of action of a treatment of fucoidan against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury in male C57BL/6 mice by serum biochemical and histological analyses. The mouse model for liver damage was developed by the administration of TAA thrice a week for six weeks. The mice with TAA-induced liver injury were orally administered fucoidan once a day for 42 days. The treated mice showed significantly higher body weights; food intakes; hepatic antioxidative enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)); and a lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Additionally, a reduced hepatic IL-6 level and a decreased expression of inflammatory-related genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was observed. These results demonstrated that fucoidan had a hepatoprotective effect on liver injury through the suppression of the inflammatory responses and acting as an antioxidant. In addition, here, we validated the use of fucoidan against liver disorders with supporting molecular data.

Curcumin Attenuates Oxaliplatin-Induced Liver Injury and Oxidative Stress by Activating the Nrf2 Pathway

Purpose

Oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced liver injury is one of the main limiting factors affecting the efficacy of OXA-based chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases. In addition, oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological mechanism of OXA-induced liver injury. Therefore, dietary antioxidants may decrease or prevent hepatic toxicity in vivo and be beneficial to OXA-based chemotherapy.

Methods

An experimental OXA-induced liver injury animal model was established, and the protective effects of curcumin (CUR) against OXA-induced liver injury were investigated. ELISA was used to determine the levels of MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH in liver tissue. The effect of CUR treatment on the expression of cytokines and the Nrf2 pathway was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting.

Results

CUR treatment alleviated OXA-induced hepatic pathological damage and splenomegaly. The protective effect of CUR was demonstrated to be correlated with inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, and the coagulation system. Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that CUR treatment reverses the suppression of Nrf2 nuclear translocation and increases the expression of HO-1 and NOQ1 in mice with OXA-induced liver injury. Moreover, the Nrf2 activation and hepatoprotective effect of CUR were abolished by brusatol.

Conclusion

Curcumin attenuates oxaliplatin-induced liver injury and oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2 pathway, which suggests that CUR may be potentially used in the prevention and treatment of OXA-induced liver injury.

Oxaliplatin aggravates hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in a non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model

Oxaliplatin (OXA)-based chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors; however, it is associated with chemotherapy-associated liver injury. Whether OXA induces liver injury and aggravates the already existing hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and whether these effects can be alleviated by reduced glutathione (GSH) treatment, remains unclear. In the present study, OXA induced acute liver injury in NAFLD mice. Moreover, OXA increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased the levels of superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase in the livers of NAFLD mice. OXA also induced the upregulation of hepatic inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17, in NAFLD mice. Furthermore, collagen fiber deposition in liver tissues was increased and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and tissue inhibitor of metallopeptidase (TIMP)-1 was upregulated in the livers of OXA-treated NAFLD mice. Treatment with exogenous GSH alleviated OXA-induced acute liver injury in NAFLD mice, and significantly reduced the levels of ROS, MDA and TNF-α. However, GSH treatment did not inhibit collagen fiber deposition, although it reduced the levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, TGF-β, α-SMA and TIMP-1 in the livers of OXA-treated NAFLD mice. In conclusion, OXA chemotherapy may induce acute liver injury and aggravate the existing hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD. Treatment of NAFLD mice with exogenous GSH alleviated OXA-induced liver injury, possibly by ameliorating OXA-aggravated hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation; it did not, however, attenuate OXA-aggravated liver fibrosis.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate has hepatoprotective effects in an oxaliplatin‑induced model of liver injury

Oxaliplatin is a core chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of colorectal liver metastasis; however, liver injury caused by oxaliplatin increases the risk of peri‑operative morbidity and mortality. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgiG) is a magnesium salt of 18‑α glycyrrhizic acid stereoisomer that has demonstrated liver‑protective effects against toxins and hepatitis. In the present study, the liver‑protective effect of MgiG against oxaliplatin‑induced hepatic injury was examined in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that MgiG had a protective effect against oxaliplatin‑induced liver injury, as evidenced by the alleviation of hepatic pathological damage and transaminase levels. The protective effect of MgiG was demonstrated to be correlated with inhibition of oxidative stress, the interleukin‑6 pathway and the coagulation system. Altogether, the present findings suggested that MgiG may have potential value in the clinical prevention and treatment of oxaliplatin‑induced liver injury.