• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권9호
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• pp.527-534
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• 2023

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the main cause of organ dysfunction and failure after liver surgeries including organ transplantation. The mechanism of liver IRI is complex and numerous signals are involved but cellular metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, and inflammation are considered the major contributors to liver IRI. In addition, the activation of inflammatory signals exacerbates liver IRI by recruiting macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, and activating NK cells, NKT cells, and cytotoxic T cells. Technological advances enable us to understand the role of specific immune cells during liver IRI. Accordingly, therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat liver IRI have been proposed but no definitive and effective therapies exist yet. This review summarizes the current update on the immune cell functions and discusses therapeutic potentials in liver IRI. A better understanding of this complex and highly dynamic process may allow for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches and optimize patient outcomes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.471-475
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• 1997

Livers isolated from 18 hours fasted rats were subjected to N$_{2}$ hypoxia (for 45 min) followed by reoxygenation (for 45 min). The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB, pH 7.4). Lactate and alanine were added as gluconeogenic and ureagenic substrates and Trolox C was also added to perfusate. Oxygen consumption, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), total glutathione, oxidized glutathione, bile flow, glucose and urea were measured. After hypoxia oxygen consumption significantly dropped but Trolox C had no influence on this decrease. ALT and LDH were significantly increased by hypoxia/reoxygenation. This increase was markedly attenuated in the presence of Trolox C. The total glutathione and oxidized glutathione efflux increased following hypoxia, which were prevented by the treatment of Trolox C. Bile flow rate decreased following hypoxia/reoxygenation but did not continue to decrease in the reoxygenation phase by Trolox C. Following hypoxia/reoxygenation glucose and urea releases decreased. Trolox C had no influence on inhibition of glucose and urea production. These results suggest that Trolox C protected the liver cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, yielding further evidence for a causative role of oxidative stress in this model.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.402-417
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• 2023

Objective: Liver fibrosis is a highly conserved wound-healing response and the final common pathway of chronic inflammatory injury. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma water extract (RW) and silymarin in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis model. Methods: The liver fibrosis mouse model was established through the intraperitoneal injection of TAA (1 week 100 mg/kg, 2-3 weeks 200 mg/kg, 4-8 weeks 400 mg/kg) three times per week for eight weeks. Animal experiments were conducted in five groups; Normal, Control (TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice), Sily (silymarin 50 mg/kg), RSL (RW 50 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg), and RSH (RW 100 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg). Biochemical analyses were measured in serum, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ammonia levels. Liver inflammatory cytokines and fibrous biomarkers were measured by Western blot analysis, and liver histopathology was evaluated through tissue staining. Results: A significant decrease in the liver function markers AST and ALT and a reduction in ammonia and total bilirubin were observed in the group treated with RSL and RSH. Measurement of reactive oxygen species and MDA revealed a significant decrease in the RSL and RSH administration group compared to the TAA induction group. The expression of extracellular matrix-related proteins, such as transforming growth factor β1, α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type I alpha 1, was likewise significantly decreased. All drug-administered groups had increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 but a decreasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1. RSL and RSH exerted a significant upregulation of NADPH oxidase 2, p22^phox, and p47^phox, which are oxidative stress-related factors. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory proteins such as cyclooxygenase 2 and interleukin-1β were markedly suppressed through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation. Conclusions: The administration of RW and silymarin suppressed the NADPH oxidase factor protein level and showed a tendency to reduce inflammation-related enzymes. These results suggest that the combined administration of RW and silymarin improves acute liver injury induced by TAA.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.16-24
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• 2014

Objectives: Alcohol abuse is a public issue and one of the major causes of liver disease worldwide. This study was aimed at investigating the protective effect of Ganoderma lucidum pharmacopuncture (GLP) against hepatotoxicity induced by acute ethanol (EtOH) intoxication in rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: normal, control, normal saline pharmacopuncture (NP) and GLP groups. The control, NP and GLP groups received ethanol orally. The NP and the GLP groups were treated daily with injections of normal saline and Ganoderma lucidum extract, respectively. The control group received no treatment. The rats in all groups, except the normal group, were intoxicated for 6 hours by oral administration of EtOH (6 g/kg BW). The same volume of distilled water was administered to the rats in the normal group. Two local acupoints were used: Qimen (LR14) and Taechung (LR3). A histopathological analysis was performed, and the liver function and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Results: GLP treatment reduced the histological changes due to acute liver injury induced by EtOH and significantly reduced the increase in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme; however, it had an insignificant effect in reducing the increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzyme. It also significantly ameliorated the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the catalase (CAT) activities. Conclusion: The present study suggests that GLP treatment is effective in protecting against ethanol-induced acute hepatic injury in SD rats by modulating the activities of ethanol-metabolizing enzymes and by attenuating oxidative stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.105-115
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• 2015

Background: Alcoholic steatosis is the earliest and most common liver disease, and may precede the onset of more severe forms of liver injury. Methods: The effect of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) was tested in two murine models of ethanol (EtOH)-feeding and EtOH-treated hepatocytes. Results: Blood biochemistry analysis demonstrated that RGE treatment improved liver function. Histopathology and measurement of hepatic triglyceride content verified the ability of RGE to inhibit fat accumulation. Consistent with this, RGE administration downregulated hepatic lipogenic gene induction and restored hepatic lipolytic gene repression by EtOH. The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver diseases is well established. Treatment with RGE attenuated EtOH-induced cytochrome P450 2E1, 4-hydroxynonenal, and nitrotyrosine levels. Alcohol consumption also decreased phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which was restored by RGE. Moreover, RGE markedly inhibited fat accumulation in EtOH-treated hepatocytes, which correlated with a decrease in sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and a commensurate increase in sirtuin 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a expression. Interestingly, the ginsenosides Rb2 and Rd, but not Rb1, significantly inhibited fat accumulation in hepatocytes. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that RGE and its ginsenoside components inhibit alcoholic steatosis and liver injury by adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/sirtuin 1 activation both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that RGE may have a potential to treat alcoholic liver disease.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.659-670
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• 2017

산화스트레스와 염증은 간 손상의 진행과정에 중요한 인자로 작용한다. 굴가수분해물의 항산화 및 항염증 활성은 지질대사, 혈압 및 혈당, 면역기능의 조절과 같은 다양한 기능에 관여한다. 그러나 급성 간 손상 모델에서 굴가수분해물의 효과를 확인한 연구 결과는 아직 확인된 바 없다. 본 연구는 LPS/D-GalN에 의해 유도된 급성 간 손상 생쥐 모델에서 굴가수분해물의 효과를 확인하기 위해 수행되었다. 실험군은 대조군(생리식염수), LPS/D-GalN 간 손상군, LPS/D-GalN과 굴가수분해물(100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg)의 병합투여군 및 LPS/D-GalN과 silymarin(25 mg/kg) 병합투여군으로 나누었다. 급성 간 손상 모델은 $1{\mu}g/kg$의 LPS와 400 mg/kg의 D-GalN으로 유도되었다. 먼저 시료의 항산화 및 항염증 활성을 분석한 결과 굴가수분해물은 농도 의존적으로 높은 DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성을 보였으며, 인간 정상 간세포주(Chang)에서 과산화수소에 의한 세포 내 활성산소의 생성을 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 또한, 굴가수분해물은 농도 의존적으로 높은 COX-2 및 5-LOX 억제능을 보였으며, LPS에 의해 활성화된 생쥐 대식세포주 RAW264.7에서 발현되는 $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6 및 $IL-1{\beta}$의 염증성 사이토카인의 mRNA 발현률을 감소시켰다. 굴가수분해물 투여는 LPS/D-GalN에 의한 혈청 ALT 및 AST 증가를 유의적으로 감소시켰으며, 간 조직의 출혈 및 간세포의 자멸사를 감소시켰다. 또한, 간 균질의 $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ 및 IL-6 함량을 감소시켰으며, 감소한 catalase의 활성을 유의적으로 증가시켰다. 이상의 결과로부터 굴가수분해물은 간 보호 효과를 가지는 것으로 판단되며, 급성 간 손상의 예방 및 치료에 도움이 될 수 있는 시료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.316-325
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• 2017

Background: Ginseng essence (GE) is a formulation comprising four medicinal and edible herbs including ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and lily bulb (Lilium longiflorum). This study was aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effect of GE against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium, and high [0.625 g/kg body weight (bw), 1.25 g/kg bw, and 3.125 g/kg bw, respectively] doses of GE for 9 wk. After the 1st wk of treatment, rats were administered 20% $CCl_4$ (1.5 mL/kg bw) two times a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. Results: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GE ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and albumin decline in $CCl_4$-treated rats. Moreover, $CCl_4$-induced accumulation of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride was inhibited. The hepatoprotective effects of GE involved enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining showed that GE inhibited $CCl_4$-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin indicated that $CCl_4$-triggered activation of hepatic stellate cells was reduced. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that GE improves $CCl_4$-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GE could be a promising hepatoprotective herbal formulation for future development of phytotherapy.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.938-947
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• 2022

Objective: The beneficial effects of glycine were tested in piglets with diquat-induced hepatic injury. Methods: Thirty-two piglets were assigned by a 2×2 factorial experimental design including glycine supplementation and diquat challenge. After 3 weeks of feeding with a basic diet or a 1% glycine supplemented diet, piglets were challenged with diquat or saline. After 1 week later, the piglets were slaughtered and samples were collected. Results: Our results indicated that glycine alleviated diquat induced morphological hepatic injury, decreased the activities of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and glutamyl transpeptidase in the piglets under diquat challenge, and increased total antioxidant capacity and antioxidative enzyme activity significantly. Adding glycine enhanced the concentrations of hepatic adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate. Transmission electron microscope observation showed that diquat induced clear hepatocytes ferroptosis and its effect could be alleviated by glycine to a certain degree. Moreover, glycine significantly affected mRNA and protein expression of ferroptosis-related signals in the liver. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that glycine attenuated liver damage via inhibiting ferroptosis.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.611-616
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• 2013

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Although much progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of ALD, there remains no effective therapy for it. Accumulated evidence indicates that oxidative stress is the main pathological factors in the development of ALD. Ethanol administration causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. ROS, in turn, cause lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes, and protein and DNA oxidation, which results in hepatocyte injury. In addition to pro-oxidants formation, antioxidants depletion caused by ethanol administration also results in oxidative stress. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Shiryung-tang extract on the chronic alcoholic liver injury induced by EtOH. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. All rats were maintained under standard laboratory conditions ($23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 12h light/12h dark cycles). All animals (n=30) were randomly divided into following groups: (1) Normal group, treated with distilled water (n=10); (2) Control group, treated with ethanol (n=10); (3) Sample group, treated with ethanol + pharmacopuncture (n=10). For oral administration of ethanol in Control and Sample group, the ethanol was dissolved in distilled water in concentrations of 25%(v/v). Throughout the experiment of 8 week, the rats were allowed free access to water and standard chow. Sample group were administrated by Shiryung-tang extract daily for 8 weeks. Control group were given normal saline for same weeks. As a results, the oral administration of ethanol for 8 weeks leads to hepatotoxicity. The levels of hepatic marker such as HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were altered. The ethanol also increased lipid peroxidation and depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities as well as hepatic tissue injury. However, the treatment of Shiryung-tang extract prevented all the alterations induced by ethanol and returned their levels to near normal. These data suggest that Shiryung-tang extract could have a beneficial effect in inhibiting the oxidative damage induced by chronic ethanol administration. Therefore, Shiryung-tang extract can be a candidate to protect against EtOH-induced liver injury.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.188-202
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• 2011

Objectives : Oxidative stress seems to play a major role in mechanisms by which ethanol causes liver injury. Previous studies have shown that treatment with Chungganhaeju-tang (Qingganjiejiu-tang, CGHJT) has protective effects on alcoholic liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Chungganhaeju-tang on oxidative stress. Materials and Methods : In vitro, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of CGHJT on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), xanthine oxidase, trypsin, and hyaluronidase, and measured cell viability, and proliferation. In the cell culture model, we measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) after CGHJT treatment in C34 and E47 cell lines, HepG2 cells transfected with/without the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene. In vivo, we measured malondialdehyde levels in the liver tissue and alcohol concentration in the blood. Results : CGHJT showed significant free radical scavenging activity against DPPH and xanthine oxidase in the in vitro study, and increased cell viability, proliferation, and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase in C34 and in E47 cell lines. CGHJT reduced malondialdehyde levels and blood alcohol concentration in vivo, as well. Conclusions : This study suggests that CGHJT has antioxidant effects on oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation and inhibiting the ethanol induced suppression of antioxidant enzyme activities.