Arbutin ameliorates liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting macrophage recruitment and regulating the Akt/NF-κB and Smad signaling pathways
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2024.04.05
- VernacularTitle:熊果苷通过抑制巨噬细胞募集并调控Akt/NF-κB和Smad信号通路改善小鼠肝纤维化
- Author:
Jiafan CAO
1
;
Yue SUN
;
Xin DING
;
Shengwen LI
;
Bo CHEN
;
Tian LAN
Author Information
1. 广东药科大学药学院,广东 广州 510006
- Keywords:
arbutin;
inflammation;
liver fibrosis;
macrophage recruitment;
hepatic stellate cells
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2024;44(4):652-659
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the protective effect of arbutin against CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and low-and high-dose arbutin treatment (25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively) groups. Mouse models of liver fibrosis were established by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4, and arbutin was administered daily via gavage for 6 weeks. After the treatments, serum biochemical parameters of the mice were tested, and liver tissues were taken for HE staining, Sirius Red staining and immunohistochemical staining. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of α-SMA, Pdgfb, Col1α1, Timp-1, Ccl2 and Tnf-α, and Western blotting was performed to detect α-SMA protein expression in the liver tissues. In the cell experiment, the effect of arbutin treatment for 24 h on THP-1 and RAW264.7 cell migration and recruitment was examined using Transwell migration assay and DAPI staining; The changes in protein levels of Akt, p65, Smad3, p-Akt, p-p65, p-Smad3 and α-SMA in arbutin-treated LX-2 cells were detected with Western blotting. Results Arbutin treatment significantly lowered serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, alleviated liver tissue damage and collagen deposition, and reduced macrophage infiltration and α-SMA protein expression in the liver of the mouse models (P<0.05 or 0.001). Arbutin treatment also significantly reduced CCl4-induced elevation of α-SMA, Pdgfb, Col1α1, Timp-1, Ccl2 and Tnf-α mRNA levels in mice (P<0.05). In the cell experiment, arbutin treatment obviously inhibited migration and recruitment of THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells and lowered the phosphorylation levels of Akt, p65 and Smad3 and the protein expression level of α-SMA in LX-2 cells. Conclusion Arbutin ameliorates liver inflammation and fibrosis in mice by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation via reducing macrophage recruitment and infiltration and suppressing activation of the Akt/NF-κB and Smad signaling pathways.
