Effect and Mechanism of Puerarin Protects APAP-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice Through Inhibition of Ferroptosis
10.19378/j.issn.1003-9783.2023.12.010
- VernacularTitle:葛根素通过抑制铁死亡改善对乙酰氨基酚诱导小鼠急性肝损伤的作用及机制研究
- Author:
Aiqi ZHONG
1
;
Qi WANG
;
Yousheng MO
Author Information
1. 广州中医药大学科技创新中心,广东 广州 510405
- Keywords:
puerarin;
acetaminophen;
drug-induced liver injury;
ferroptosis;
SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway;
mice
- From:
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology
2023;34(12):1729-1735
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the role and mechanism of puerarin in ameliorating acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury in mice based on ferroptosis signaling pathway.Methods Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,and puerarin low-and high-dose groups(50 and 200 mg·kg-1),6 mice in each group;all the administration groups were given continuous gavage(10 mL·kg-1)once a day pre-dosed for 3 days.One hour after the last dose,APAP(300 mg·kg-1)was intraperitoneally injected into the mice of the model group and the puerarin low-and high-dose groups to replicate the drug-induced liver injury(DILI)mouse model.After 24 hours,the serum levels of alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)were measured by the microplate assay;HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in liver tissue;the apoptosis of hepatocytes was observed by the TUNEL staining assay;the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured by the TBA assay;the mRNA expression levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE),glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),and solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)were detected by immunofluorescence;qRT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels of ferroptosis-related genes GPX4,transferrin receptor(TFRC),and solute carrier family 11 member 2(SLC11A2)in liver tissue.Results Compared with the normal group,the serum ALT,AST,and LDH levels of mice in the model group were significantly elevated(P＜0.01);the liver lobules showed obvious damage,with swelling and rupture of hepatocytes,cytoplasmic vacuolisation,fragmentation of nuclei,congestion of the hepatic blood sinusoids and infiltration of inflammatory cells,and an increase in apoptotic cells;the level of MDA in the hepatic tissues was significantly elevated(P＜0.05);the red fluorescence(positive expression)of ROS and 4-HNE was significantly enhanced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the red fluorescence(positive expression)of GPX4 and SLC7A11 was significantly weakened in liver tissue(P＜0.01);the mRNA expressions of GPX4 and SLC11A2 in liver tissue were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.05),and there was a tendency for the down-regulation of TFRC expression but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Compared with the model group,the serum AST and LDH levels of mice in the low-and high-dose groups of puerarin were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and there was a decrease in serum ALT,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);the structure of the liver lobules was clearer,with radial arrangement of hepatic cords,and the area of necrotic liver tissue and apoptotic cells were significantly reduced;the level of MDA in the liver tissue was significantly reduced(P＜0.05);the red fluorescence(positive expression)of ROS and 4-HNE in liver tissue were significantly attenuated(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The red fluorescence(positive expression)of GPX4 and SLC7A11 in liver tissue of the mice in the puerarin low-dose group were significantly enhanced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and there was a tendency to enhance the red fluorescence(positive expression)of GPX4 and SLC7A11 in the liver tissue of the mice in the puerarin high-dose group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The mRNA expressions of GPX4 and TFRC in liver tissue of mice in low-dose puerarin group was significantly up-regulated(P＜0.05),while the mRNA expressions of GPX4 and SLC11A2 in high-dose puerarin group were significantly up-regulated(P＜0.05).Conclusion Puerarin had a significant protective effect on APAP-DILI,which may be related to its inhibition of cellular ferroptosis through the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway.
