AIM: To explore the mechanism of protection against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by Liuweiwuling tablets.METHODS: Intraperitoneal injections of acetaminophen(250 mg/kg) were used to induce acute liver inju...AIM: To explore the mechanism of protection against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by Liuweiwuling tablets.METHODS: Intraperitoneal injections of acetaminophen(250 mg/kg) were used to induce acute liver injury in male C57BL/6 mice.A total of 24 healthy mice were randomly assigned to two groups: an acute liver injury group(control group) and a Liuweiwuling tablet group.Mice were given Liuweiwuling tablets or a vehicle(PBS) orally prior to the administration of acetaminophen.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase(AST) levels were measured at different time points within one week,and pathological examinations of liver tissues were performed 36 h after induction of acute liver injury.Serum inflammatory cytokines,such as high mobility group box protein B1(HMGB1),tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin IL-1b,were detected using an ELISA method according to the manufacturer's instructions.Hepatic morphological changes at 36 h were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in liver tissue was determined by Western blot analysis.The m RNA levels of hepatocyte proliferation markers(PCNA,Cyclin D1 and p21) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: The levels of ALT/AST in the Liuweiwuling tablet group were decreased significantly at 6,12 and 24 h compared to that of the control group(654.38 ± 120.87 vs 1566.17 ± 421.64,1154.18 ± 477.72 vs 4654.84 ± 913.71 and 935.13 ± 252.34 vs 4553.75 ± 727.37,P < 0.01).Serum HMGB1 levels at 6 and 12 h for the Liuweiwuling tablet group were significantly lower than those of the control group(23.49 ± 3.89 vs58.6 ± 3.65,61.62 ± 13.07 vs 27.32 ± 5.97,P < 0.01).Furthermore,serum TNF-α and IL-1b levels at 12 h in the Liuweiwuling tablet group were also significantly lower than those of the control group(299.35 ± 50.61 vs 439.03 ± 63.59,57.42 ± 12.98 vs 160.07 ± 49.87,P < 0.01).Centrilobular necrosis was evident in liver tissue of mice with acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury,but was almost abolished in the Liuweiwuling tablet group.The expression levels of PCNA and Cyclin D1 were up-regulated in liver tissue in the Liuweiwuling tablet group(321.08 ± 32.87 vs 157.91 ± 21.52,196.37 ± 25.39 vs 68.72 ± 11.27,P < 0.01); however,expression of p21 in liver tissue was downregulated compared to that of the control group(40.26 ± 9.97 vs 138.24 ± 13.66,P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Liuweiwuling tablets can attenuate acute liver injury by decreasing inflammatory cytokine(HMGB1,TNF-α and IL-1b) levels and promoting liver regeneration.展开更多
文摘AIM: To explore the mechanism of protection against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by Liuweiwuling tablets.METHODS: Intraperitoneal injections of acetaminophen(250 mg/kg) were used to induce acute liver injury in male C57BL/6 mice.A total of 24 healthy mice were randomly assigned to two groups: an acute liver injury group(control group) and a Liuweiwuling tablet group.Mice were given Liuweiwuling tablets or a vehicle(PBS) orally prior to the administration of acetaminophen.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase(AST) levels were measured at different time points within one week,and pathological examinations of liver tissues were performed 36 h after induction of acute liver injury.Serum inflammatory cytokines,such as high mobility group box protein B1(HMGB1),tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin IL-1b,were detected using an ELISA method according to the manufacturer's instructions.Hepatic morphological changes at 36 h were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in liver tissue was determined by Western blot analysis.The m RNA levels of hepatocyte proliferation markers(PCNA,Cyclin D1 and p21) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: The levels of ALT/AST in the Liuweiwuling tablet group were decreased significantly at 6,12 and 24 h compared to that of the control group(654.38 ± 120.87 vs 1566.17 ± 421.64,1154.18 ± 477.72 vs 4654.84 ± 913.71 and 935.13 ± 252.34 vs 4553.75 ± 727.37,P < 0.01).Serum HMGB1 levels at 6 and 12 h for the Liuweiwuling tablet group were significantly lower than those of the control group(23.49 ± 3.89 vs58.6 ± 3.65,61.62 ± 13.07 vs 27.32 ± 5.97,P < 0.01).Furthermore,serum TNF-α and IL-1b levels at 12 h in the Liuweiwuling tablet group were also significantly lower than those of the control group(299.35 ± 50.61 vs 439.03 ± 63.59,57.42 ± 12.98 vs 160.07 ± 49.87,P < 0.01).Centrilobular necrosis was evident in liver tissue of mice with acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury,but was almost abolished in the Liuweiwuling tablet group.The expression levels of PCNA and Cyclin D1 were up-regulated in liver tissue in the Liuweiwuling tablet group(321.08 ± 32.87 vs 157.91 ± 21.52,196.37 ± 25.39 vs 68.72 ± 11.27,P < 0.01); however,expression of p21 in liver tissue was downregulated compared to that of the control group(40.26 ± 9.97 vs 138.24 ± 13.66,P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Liuweiwuling tablets can attenuate acute liver injury by decreasing inflammatory cytokine(HMGB1,TNF-α and IL-1b) levels and promoting liver regeneration.
