Ercao Qinggan decoction regulates apoptosis of hepatocytes in mice with acute liver failure via the TLR4-mediated PI3K/Akt/GSK3βsignal pathway

Background:To clarify the inhibitory effect of Ercao Qinggan decoction(EQD)on acute liver failure(ALF)and its related mechanisms.Methods:HL-7702 hepatocytes were pretreated with TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095,glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)inhibitor LiCl and different doses of EQD for 2 hours,and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)(10μg/mL)for 24 hours.Cell apoptosis,TNF-αand IL-6 and GSK3βwere detected by flow cytometry,immunofluorescence,quantitative polymerase chain reaction.After mice were gavaged with different concentrations of EQD for 12 days,ALF mouse models were established intraperitoneal injection of D-Gal/LPS.After 24 hours,the mice were euthanized and the liver tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Liver cell apoptosis,the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,TNF-αand IL-βwere detected by terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and Western blotting,respectively.These methods were also used to test the mRNA expression of Bax,Bcl-2 and the protein expression of GSK3β,p-Akt/Akt in livers.Results:CLI-095,LiCl,and EQD significantly inhibited apoptosis induced by LPS,the mRNA expression of IL-6,TNF-αand the nuclear translocation of GSK3βin HL-7702 hepatocytes.EQD dose-dependently inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis,the serum concentration of aspartate aminotransferase and ALT,the expression of TNF-αand IL-β,the ratio of p-GSK3β/GSK3β,p-Akt/Akt in alanine aminotransferase mice.Conclusion:EQD can inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis in ALF mice through regulating TLR4/PI3K/Akt/GSK3βsignaling pathway.