1.Mechanism of Triclosan in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Network Pharmacology.
Chao ZUO ; Dong-Lei SUN ; Tian-He ZHAO ; Jing-Jing WANG ; Zun-Zhen ZHANG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2022;44(2):253-261
Objective To explore the potential targets of triclosan in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and to provide new clues for the future research on the application of triclosan. Methods The targets of triclosan and NAFLD were obtained via network pharmacology.The protein-protein interaction network was constructed with the common targets shared by triclosan and NAFLD.The affinity of triclosan to targets was verified through molecular docking.Gene ontology(GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment were carried out to analyze the key targets and the potential mechanism of action.NAFLD model was established by feeding male C57BL/6J mice with high-fat diet for 12 weeks.The mice were randomly assigned into a model group and a triclosan group [400 mg/(kg·d),gavage once a day for 8 weeks].The hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used for observation of the pathological changes and oil red O staining for observation of fat deposition in mouse liver.Western blotting was employed to detect the protein level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα) in the liver tissue. Results Triclosan and NAFLD had 34 common targets,19 of which may be the potential targets for the treatment,including albumin(ALB),PPARα,mitogen-activated protein kinase 8(MAPK8),and fatty acid synthase.Molecular docking predicted that ALB,PPARα,and MAPK8 had good binding ability to triclosan.KEGG pathway enrichment showcased that the targets were mainly enriched in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway,in which ALB and MAPK8 were not involved.Triclosan alleviated the balloon-like change and lipid droplet vacuole,decreased the lipid droplet area,and up-regulated the expression level of PPARα in mouse liver tissue. Conclusion PPARα is a key target of triclosan in the treatment of NAFLD,which may be involved in fatty acid oxidation through the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor signaling pathway.
Animals
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Liver/pathology*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Network Pharmacology
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy*
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PPAR alpha/therapeutic use*
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Triclosan/therapeutic use*
2.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and retinoid X receptor alpha expressions and intervention in alcoholic cardiomyopathy rats.
Ling JING ; Wei-min LI ; Li-jun ZHOU ; Bao-feng YANG
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2009;37(4):324-329
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of carnitine on cardiac function, collagen contents, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRct) expressions in a rat alcoholic cardiomyopathy modeL.
METHODSAdult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into alcohol group (A) , alcohol/carnitine group (B) and control group. Six months later, protein expressions of collagen I, collagen III, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and Smad-3 were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Protein expressions of PPARalpha and RXRalpha were detected by Western blot.
RESULTSExpressions of collagen I, collagen III, MMP-9 and Smad-3 were significantly increased in groups A and B compared to group C (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Expressions of PPARalpha and RXRalpha (0.156 and 0.192, respectively, in group A; 0.248 and 0.385, respectively, in group B) were decreased compared to group C (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). These changes were significantly attenuated by carnitine (all P < 0.05, group B vs. group A). Moreover, PPARalpha and RXRalpha positively correlated with EF and FS, and negatively correlated LVEDd, collagen I , collagen III, MMP-9 and Smad-3 (all P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONPPARalpha and RXRalpha downregulation is significantly correlated with cardiac dysfunction in this alcoholic cardiomyopathy model, carnitine ameliorated the cardiac fibrosis and remodeling possibly through upregulating the metabolic pathways of PPARalpha and RXRalpha.
Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; PPAR alpha ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha ; metabolism
3.Anti-fibrosis effects of fenofibrate in mice with hepatic fibrosis.
Cong XIE ; Long LI ; Ya-ping XU ; Yue-yong ZHU ; Jia-ji JIANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2013;21(12):914-919
OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-fibrosis effects and mechanisms of fenofibrate on hepatic fibrosis using a mouse model of fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).
METHODSTwenty-six male C57BL mice were divided into the following three groups: CCL4-induced untreated model control (n = 10), CCl4-induced fenofibrate-treated model (n = 10), and uninduced/untreated normal control (n = 6). All animals were sacrificed after the 5 weeks of induction and treatment. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA) and procollagen III amino-terminal peptide (PIIINP) were determined by routine biochemistry assays. Liver content of hydroxyproline (HYP) was measured by spectrophotometry. Liver content of malonic aldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured by enzymatic assays. mRNA expression levels of liver fibrosis-associated factors were determined by PCR, and included alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), type I collagen-alpha (Collagen1a), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARa), and the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Finally, the degree of inflammation and fibrosis were assessed by histological analysis using hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius red staining.
RESULTSCompared to the untreated model group, the fenofibrate-treated model group showed significantly lower levels of serum ALT (55.72+/-1.20 vs. 38.72+/-1.25 IU/L), HA (236.20+/-17.57 vs. 152.9+/-13.06 mug/L) and PIIINP (41.66+/-1.89 vs. 34.32+/-1.53 mug/L) (all P less than 0.05). The fenofibrate-treated group also showed a significantly higher level of hepatic SOD content (untreated model: 67.00+/-4.65 vs. 101.1+/-5.32) but significantly lower level of hepatic MDA content (14.67+/-0.93 vs. 10.17+/-0.60 nmol/mg) and lower level of hepatic HYP content (0.67+/-0.80 vs. 0.41+/-0.50 mg/g) (all, P less than 0.05). In addition, the fenofibrate-treated group showed significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of a-SMA (6.83+/-0.88 vs. untreated model: 11.57+/-1.31), TGFbeta1 (67.83+/-4.65 vs. 112.30+/-4.81), Collagen1a (67.83+/-4.65 vs. 112.30+/-4.81), TNFa (17.43+/-2.32 vs. 37.83+/-4.69), and IL-6 (4.00+/-0.49 vs. 5.62+/-0.54), but significantly increased PPARa (0.30+/-0.03 vs. 0.18+/-0.03) (all, P less than 0.05). Finally, the degree of CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis was attenuated by the fenofibrate treatment.
CONCLUSIONFenofibrate can reduce the degree of liver fibrosis in mice induced by CCl4. The mechanism may involve up-regulation of PPARa, inhibition of the inflammatory response, and enhancement of SOD antioxidant activity.
Animals ; Fenofibrate ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; PPAR alpha ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism
4.Age-related decrease in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and its effects on development of dyslipidemia.
Ping YE ; Zhao-jun WANG ; Xiu-jin ZHANG ; Ya-li ZHAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2005;118(13):1093-1098
BACKGROUNDAgeing is associated with increased incidence of dyslipidemia. To investigate potential molecular mechanisms, the effects of age and fibrate administration on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) expression in livers of young and old rats were studied.
METHODSA total of 16 young (2-month-old) and 16 old rats (24-month-old) were randomly assigned to a control group and fenofibrate group (fenofibrate in a total therapeutic dosage of 0.5% in ratio to each treated rat weight in 14 days). RT-PCR was applied to evaluate hepatic mRNA expression of PPARalpha and its target genes. Western blotting was used to determine PPARalpha protein level in liver tissue.
RESULTSWhen compared with 2-month-old rats, the liver tissue from 24-month-old rats showed reduced expression of PPARalpha mRNA (52%, P < 0.05) and protein (109%, P < 0.01). Consequently, the mRNA levels of PPAR target genes, LPL, ACO, ACS and CPT-1 were markedly lowered by 19%, 8%, 13% and 9% respectively, and apoCIII increased by 24% in livers from 24-month-old rats, compared with values obtained from 2-month-old rats (P < 0.05). Fenofibrate therapy significantly lowered plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in old rats, accompanied with improvement in hepatic expression of genes, including LPL, ACO, ACS, CPT-1 and apoCIII, but no change was found in PPARalpha expression in livers from either 24-month or 2-month-old rats.
CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in the hepatic PPARalpha expression is probably directly related to the lipid metabolic disturbances observed in old animals. The beneficial effects of fenofibrate administration in old rats suggests that fibrates may be useful for treating lipid disturbances in old people.
Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
5.An experimental study on the reverse mechanism of PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Cai-yan ZHAO ; Ya-dong WANG ; Jun-ying ZHOU ; Bei JIA ; Jun-feng CUI
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2007;15(6):450-455
OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence and significance of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist rosiglitazone on the expression of I kappa B kinase-beta(IKK-beta) mRNA and protein induced by LPS in Kupffer cells (KCs) cultured in vitro and to investigate the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) together with the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in livers of rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
METHODS(1) KCs from healthy Wistar rats were isolated and purified with IV collagenase digestion and gradient centrifugalization, and then were incubated in the presence or absence of LPS (1 microg/ml) together with two different concentrations of rosiglitazone (10 nmol/L and 50 nmol/L). (2) Thirty-eight healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal blank control group (10 rats) fed with a normal diet and a NASH model group (28 rats) fed with a fat-rich diet (10% lard + 2% cholesterol + 5% corn oil). After the NASH model was established successfully and confirmed by pathological examination of the livers of 4 rats, 24 rats that continued with the high fat-rich diet, were divided into three groups (8 rats in each group): a control group fed normal saline (NS), a lower dose rosiglitazone group (1 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and a higher dose rosiglitazone group (4 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) for 12 weeks. The mRNA expression of IKK-beta in KCs and COX-2 in livers were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The IKK-beta protein in KCs and the NF-kappa B activity of hepatic tissues were determined respectively by Western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in the supernatant of KCs cultures and serum of the rats was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
RESULTSLPS significantly increased the expression of IKK-beta mRNA and protein in the KCs and the concentration of TNF alpha in the supernatant of the KCs cultures. The expressions of COX-2 mRNA and protein were more obvious in rats with NASH than those in the normal control group, and the binding activity of NF-kB correlated positively with the expression of COX-2 in the livers and the level of serum TNF alpha of model rats as well. Rosiglitazone blocked the expression of IKK-beta mRNA and protein induced by LPS in KCs, and also inhibited NF-kappa B activation and reduced COX-2 expression in the rats.
CONCLUSIONSPPAR-gamma specific agonist rosiglitazone can play an anti-inflammatory role by IKK-beta/I kappa B/NF-kappa B/TNF alpha signal ways, and minimize inflammatory reaction at cellular and molecular levels. This may help to provide a new idea for treating NASH effectively.
Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; I-kappa B Kinase ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism
6.Fenofibrate improves energy metabolism and attenuates isoproterenol induced acute myocardial ischemic injury in rats via PPAR alpha activation.
Jie YUAN ; Jian WU ; Zhi-Gang HAN
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2008;36(9):847-850
OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha agonist Fenofibrate (FF) on energy metabolism and histology in isoproterenol (Iso) induced acute myocardial ischemic injury model.
METHODSMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, Iso group (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and FF group (80 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1) per gavage for 7 days, then Iso 5 mg/kg, i.p. n = 30 each). Twenty-four hours post Iso, heart weight/body weight ratio, myocardial histopathological changes (HE staining), serum and myocardial free fatty acids (FFA) levels, the myocardial protein expression of PPARalpha (Western blot) were determined.
RESULTCompared with the control group, pathological myocardial injuries were observed under light microscope in Iso treated hearts and FF pretreatment could significantly attenuate these changes [necrotic area: 0 vs (10.00 +/- 3.00)% vs (7.36 +/- 2.60)%], the heart weight/body weight ratio, FFA in serum (501.17 +/- 43.69 vs 939.53 +/- 69.51 vs 736.53 +/- 70.30 micromol/L) and myocardium (62.01 +/- 9.19 vs 140.59 +/- 19.34 vs 116.28 +/- 14.03 micromol/L) were significantly increased while myocardial protein expressions of PPARalpha (251.57 +/- 10.95 vs 191.97 +/- 10.74 vs 215.08 +/- 9.61) was significantly downregulated in the Iso group and FF pretreatment could significantly attenuate these changes (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONOur data suggested that the FFA utilization was decreased in Iso induced acute myocardial ischemic injury and FF could attenuate Iso induced myocardial damage via activating PPARalpha signaling pathway.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Energy Metabolism ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Isoproterenol ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; PPAR alpha ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar
7.Hypotriglyceridemic effects of apple polyphenols extract via up-regulation of lipoprotein lipase in triton WR-1339-induced mice.
Nan YAO ; Rong-rong HE ; Xiao-hui ZENG ; Xue-jun HUANG ; Tie-liang DU ; Jing-chao CUI ; Kurihara HIROSHI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2014;20(1):31-35
OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of apple polyphenols extract (APE) in Triton WR-1339-induced endogenous hyperlipidemic model.
METHODSFirstly, APE was isolated and purified from the pomace of Red Fuji Apple and contents of individual polyphenols in APE were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Secondly, forty male National Institude of Health (NIH) mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 8 animals in each group. The Fenofibrate Capsules (FC) group and APE groups received oral administration of respective drugs for 7 consecutive days. All mice except those in the normal group were intravenously injected through tail vein with Triton WR-1339 on the 6th day. Serum and livers from all the mice were obtained 18 h after the injection. The changes in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) were measured by respective kits. Finally, expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) mRNA was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS SERUM TC AND TG LEVELS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY REDUCED THE SERUM LEVEL OF TG IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.01). SERUM LPL AND HTGL ACTIVITIES SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.05). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE SERUM ACTIVITY OF LPL IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01). FURTHERMORE, COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP, HEPATIC MRNA LEVEL OF PPARα IN THE MODEL GROUP SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE EXPRESSION OF PPARα IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01):
CONCLUSIONAPE could reduce TG level via up-regulation of LPL activity, which provides new evidence to elucidate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of APE.
Animals ; Chlorogenic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; PPAR alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tannins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects
8.PPAR alpha activator fenofibrate regressed left ventricular hypertrophy and increased myocardium PPAR alpha expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Hong-juan CHEN ; Jun-zhu CHEN ; Xing-xiang WANG ; Min YU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2007;36(5):470-476
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of PPAR alpha activator fenofibrate on left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardium PPAR alpha (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha) expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
METHODSSixteen nine-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into two groups: SHR received fenofibrate 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) by oral gavage once daily for 8 weeks (SHR-F, n=8), and SHR received vechile (0.9 % saline) acted as controls (SHR, n=8). Age-matched Wistar-kyoto rats received vehicle for 8 weeks were served as negative controls (WKY, n=8). Systolic blood pressure was measured at the beginning, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, plasma BNP (brain natriuretic peptide)and lipid levels were measured. Left ventricular hypertrophy was accessed by pathological analysis. The expression of PPAR alpha and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B p65) were investigated by the method of Western blotting.
RESULTCompared with SHR group, systolic blood pressure was slightly lowered in SHR-F group, but it didn't reach significant level(p>0.05). Fenofibrate administration lowered plasma BNP in SHR-F group (P<0.01). There were not much difference of plasma lipid levels between SHR-F and SHR group. Left ventricular mass index (assessed by left ventricular weight/body weight, g x kg(-1)), transdiameter of cardiomyocyte (TDM), cardiomyocyte area (CA), collagen volume fraction (CVF), and perivascular circumferential area (PVCA) decreased significantly in SHR-F group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The myocardium PPAR alpha expression increased significantly (P<0.01), and NF-kappa B p65 expression decreased significantly (P<0.01) in SHR-F group.
CONCLUSIONPPAR alpha activator fenofibrate can regress left ventricular hypertrophy and increase myocardium PPAR alpha expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats, which is perhaps independent of its lipid-lowering activity.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Fenofibrate ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; PPAR alpha ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factor RelA ; biosynthesis
9.Pioglitazone ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by down-regulating hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B and cyclooxygenases-2 expression in rats.
Jia-Sheng ZHAO ; Feng-Shang ZHU ; Su LIU ; Chang-Qing YANG ; Xi-Mei CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2012;125(13):2316-2321
BACKGROUNDPioglitazone is effective in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the mechanisms of action are not completely understood. This study was designed to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) expression in NASH rats.
METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 10), NASH group (n = 10), and pioglitazone treatment group (n = 10). Liver tissues were processed for histology by hematoxylin & eosin and Masson stained. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) levels and biochemical parameters of antioxidant enzyme activities, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels in serum and liver were measured. The mRNA and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), NF-κB and COX-2 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis.
RESULTSThere were severe steatosis, moderate inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrosis in NASH rats. After pioglitazone treatment, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly improved compared with the NASH group (χ(2) = 20.40, P < 0.001; χ(2) = 20.17, P < 0.001; χ(2) = 13.98, P = 0.002). Serum ALT, cholesterol, triglyceride, FBG, FINS levels were significantly elevated in the NASH group (P < 0.05). In the NASH group, total anti-oxidation competence (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and liver were conspicuous disordered than those parameters in the control group. Meanwhile, TNF-α and PGE(2) levels in serum and liver were significantly increased compared with the control group. Immunohistochemistry showed NF-κB and COX-2 expression in liver was significantly elevated. However, PPAR? level was decreased in the NASH group. Real-time PCR and Western blotting revealed mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 were increased in the NASH group compared with the control group (0.57 ± 0.08 vs. 2.83 ± 0.24; 0.38 ± 0.03 vs. 1.00 ± 0.03, P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). After pioglitazone intervention, all of those parameters markedly improved (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONDown-regulating hepatic NF-κB and COX-2 expression, at least in part, is one of the possible therapeutic mechanisms of pioglitazone in NASH rats.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism
10.Anti-obesity effects of Lysimachia foenum-graecum characterized by decreased adipogenesis and regulated lipid metabolism.
Jong Bae SEO ; Sung Sik CHOE ; Hyun Woo JEONG ; Sang Wook PARK ; Hyun Jung SHIN ; Sun Mi CHOI ; Jae Young PARK ; Eun Wook CHOI ; Jae Bum KIM ; Dong Seung SEEN ; Jae Yeon JEONG ; Tae Gyu LEE
Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2011;43(4):205-215
Lysimachia foenum-graecum has been used as an oriental medicine with anti-inflammatory effect. The anti-obesity effect of L. foenum-graecum extract (LFE) was first discovered in our screening of natural product extract library against adipogenesis. To characterize its anti-obesity effects and to evaluate its potential as an anti-obesity drug, we performed various obesity-related experiments in vitro and in vivo. In adipogenesis assay, LFE blocked the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 2.5 microg/ml. In addition, LFE suppressed the expression of lipogenic genes, while increasing the expression of lipolytic genes in vitro at 10 microg/ml and in vivo at 100 mg/kg/day. The anti-adipogenic and anti-lipogenic effect of LFE seems to be mediated by the inhibition of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha expression as shown in in vitro and in vivo, and the suppression of PPARgamma activity in vitro. Moreover, LFE stimulated fatty acid oxidation in an AMPK-dependent manner. In high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (n = 8/group), oral administration of LFE at 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg/day decreased total body weight gain significantly in all doses tested. No difference in food intake was observed between vehicle- and LFE-treated HFD mice. The weight of white adipose tissues including abdominal subcutaneous, epididymal, and perirenal adipose tissue was reduced markedly in LFE-treated HFD mice in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of LFE also greatly improved serum levels of obesity-related biomarkers such as glucose, triglycerides, and adipocytokines leptin, adiponectin, and resistin. All together, these results showed anti-obesity effects of LFE on adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo and raised a possibility of developing LFE as anti-obesity therapeutics.
3T3-L1 Cells
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Adipogenesis/*drug effects
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Adipose Tissue/drug effects/metabolism
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Adipose Tissue, White
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Animals
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Anti-Obesity Agents/administration & dosage/pharmacology/*therapeutic use
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Body Weight/drug effects
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha/genetics
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Cell Differentiation/drug effects
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Eating/drug effects
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Fatty Acids/metabolism
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Gene Expression/drug effects
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Lipid Metabolism/*drug effects
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Lipids
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Lipogenesis/drug effects
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Obesity/prevention & control
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PPAR gamma/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics
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Plant Extracts/*pharmacology
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Plants, Medicinal
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Primulaceae/*chemistry