Heme oxygenase-1 alleviates alcoholic liver steatosis: histopathological study

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most important causes of hepatic steatosis, which involves oxidative stress. In particular, increased oxidative stress has been strongly linked to stimulation of the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This study aimed to investigate whether HO-1 could alleviates alcoholic steatosis in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) the control group, 2) the EtOH group, 3) the EtOH + ZnPP-IX group and 4) the EtOH + Hemin group. Liver histopathology was investigated in weeks 1 and 4 after the start of the treatment period. Alcohol treatment significantly increased the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an oxidative stress marker. In addition, it increased the triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in both weeks. Gross examination demonstrated a yellowish and slightly enlarged liver in the alcohol-treated rats. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining indicated hepatic steatosis, which was characterized by diffuse, extensive fatty accumulation and discrete lipid droplets of variable size in hepatocytes of the alcohol-treated rats. Administration of the HO-1 inducer hemin resulted in upregulation of hepatic HO-1 gene expression, reduced the MDA, triglyceride, ALT and AST levels and alleviated alcoholic hepatic steatosis, whereas administration of the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP-IX) resulted in downregulation of hepatic HO-1 gene expression and could not alleviate alcoholic hepatic steatosis either week. In conclusion, HO-1 could alleviate alcoholic hepatic steatosis in male Wistar rats and may be useful in development of a new therapeutic approach.     

Irbesartan alleviates hepatic steatosis in db/db mice by inducing auto-phagy

AIM: To investigate the effect of irbesartan on the fatty liver of db/db mice and whether autophagy is involved in the process. METHODS: Male db/db mice (n=24) were randomly divided into model group and irbesartan group, and 12 db/m mice with similar age and weight were selected as normal control group. After 16 weeks of intervention respectively, the fatty liver-related parameters including body weight, liver index, blood lipid, liver function and pathological changes in the liver were observed. The protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR, as well as Atg-7, beclin-1 and LC3B in the liver tissues were detected by Western blot, and the autophagosomes in the liver were observed under electron microscope. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the body weight, liver index, blood lipids, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were decreased in irbesartan group (P<0.05). Moreover, the pathological changes in the liver were significantly ameliorated in irbesartan group than that of model group. Importantly, the protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were decreased with irbesartan administration, while the expression of Atg-7, beclin-1 and LC3B-Ⅱ was increased(P<0.05), which resulted in a distinct increase in autophagosomes. CONCLUSION: Irbesartan alleviates hepatic steatosis in db/db mice by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and upregulating the protein expression of Atg-7, beclin-1 and LC3B-Ⅱ, thereby inducing autophagy in hepatocytes.     

草鱼肝细胞脂变模型的建立及脂代谢基因表达分析

为了筛选草鱼肝细胞脂肪变性的最佳诱导剂及浓度,并初步分析脂肪乳剂(lipid emulsions,LE)引起草鱼肝细胞脂肪变性的作用机理,以草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)正常肝细胞为研究对象,建立草鱼脂肪变性肝细胞模型,以含10%胎牛血清的基础培养液为对照组,处理组为含20%脂肪乳剂0.5~2 m L/L和含20%、50%胎牛血清的诱导培养液,孵育草鱼肝细胞48 h后,定量分析肝细胞内的甘油三酯(TG)含量,观察脂滴积聚情况及肝细胞超微结构的变化,检测细胞培养上清中谷丙转氨酶(alanine transaminase,ALT)、谷草转氨酶(aspartate transaminase,AST)的活性,q RT-PCR技术检测脂代谢关键基因(PPAR?、PPAR?、SREBP-1c、LPL、Lep和UCP2)的转录水平变化,蛋白质印迹技术检测PPAR?、SREBP-1c的蛋白水平变化。结果发现,含1~2 m L/L LE的诱导液组和含20%、50%FBS的诱导液组与对照组相比TG含量均显著上升(P0.05),且20%FBS和各浓度LE诱导组的转氨酶活性与对照组相比差异不显著(P0.05),表明含1~2 m L/L LE的诱导液和含20%FBS的诱导液均可建立草鱼营养性脂肪肝细胞模型。在肝细胞脂变模型中,PPARγ和LPL等脂代谢基因的表达量显著升高(P0.05),而Lep基因表达量显著降低(P0.05),PPARγ和SREBP-1c的蛋白水平升高。结论认为:采用1~2 m L/L LE和20%的FBS均可以在短时间内建立草鱼肝细胞脂肪变性模型,含1 m L/L LE的诱导液诱导效果最佳;肝细胞内脂质的蓄积可能与脂肪代谢关键基因PPARγ、SREBP-1c、LPL及Lep等密切相关。     

茯砖茶及其配方对脂肪变性L-02肝细胞中TG含量的影响

利用1mL/L的20%医用脂肪乳剂处理L-02肝细胞48h复制非酒精性脂肪变性肝细胞,然后加入不同浓度的提取物及配方分别处理24h和48h,全自动生化分析仪检测肝细胞内的甘油三酯（TG）水平,探讨茯砖茶提取物和两个配方对脂肪变性L-02肝细胞内TG的影响。结果显示,茯砖茶提取物和配方1与自然恢复组比较均可显著降低脂肪变性肝细胞内TG的水平（P<0.05）,而与血脂康组比较无显著差异（P>0.05）,显示出茯砖茶和配方1具有广阔的开发应用前景。     

乙酸钠对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性的影响及机制分析

通过向油酸诱导的大鼠肝成纤维细胞(BRL-3A)脂肪变性模型中添加不同浓度(2、4、8 mmol·L^-1)的乙酸钠,探讨其对脂肪变性细胞模型脂代谢的调控机理及细胞损伤的修复作用。试验方法：1)用不同浓度的油酸(0、0.03、0.06、0.12、0.24、0.48) mmol·L^-1刺激BRL-3A细胞24 h后,分别检测细胞相对活力、总脂滴面积、三酰甘油(TG)含量、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)及丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)活性,建立脂肪变性细胞模型;2)向BRL-3A细胞中添加不同浓度的乙酸钠,通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;3)用不同浓度的乙酸钠和0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸共同孵育BRL-3A细胞,试验分为4组,分别为油酸处理组、2 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组、4 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组和8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组,分别对细胞脂滴、TG含量、AST、ALT活性、AMPK信号通路蛋白以及脂代谢关键基因进行检测。结果显示:1)用0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸处理BRL-3A细胞24 h,成功建立BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型。2)不同浓度的乙酸钠对BRL-3A细胞凋亡率没有影响;3)4、8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠处理脂肪变性细胞模型后,与油酸处理组相比,细胞总脂滴面积、每平方毫米脂滴数、TG含量、AST和ALT活性均显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)下降,P-AMPK表达水平显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)上升;脂合成代谢相关基因ACC、FAS以及SCD-1 mRNA表达水平均有一定程度下降;脂分解代谢相关基因CPT-1、CPT-2以及ACO mRNA表达水平均有一定程度上升。本研究表明,乙酸钠会通过AMPK通路激活脂分解代谢,减轻肝细胞脂质蓄积,并且对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型的损伤具有一定缓解作用。     

棕榈酸通过上调ACC/FAS/DGAT2通路表达诱导BRL 3A细胞脂肪变性

为探究棕榈酸诱导BRL 3A细胞脂肪变性的机制,以不同浓度的PA（0、0.2、0.4、0.6 mmol·L^-1）处理BRL 3A细胞24 h,用CCK-8法、RTCA技术检测细胞增殖情况;油红O染色,观察细胞脂滴生成情况;DAPI/F-actin双染,观察细胞核及骨架形态;采用比色法测定TG含量;采用RT-PCR检测脂肪合成相关基因Acaca、Fasn、Dgat2转录水平;采用Western blot检测脂肪合成关键蛋白ACC、FAS、SCD1、GPAM、DGAT2表达量。结果显示：与对照组相比,0.2、0.4 mmol·L^-1 PA对细胞增殖无影响,0.6 mmol·L^-1 PA抑制细胞增殖;油红O染色结果显示0.4 mmol·L^-1 PA处理细胞24 h,脂滴大量蓄积,发生明显脂肪变性;随PA浓度升高,细胞核发生皱缩、变形、碎裂,细胞骨架被破坏,微丝断裂;TG含量极显著增加（P<0.01）;不同浓度PA（0.2、0.4、0.6 mmol·L^-1）处理组脂肪合成关键基因Acaca、Fasn、Dgat2 mRNA转录水平均显著升高（P<0.05）,ACC、FAS、SCD1、GPAM、DGAT2蛋白表达水平均显著升高（P<0.05）;0.6 mmol·L^-1 PA组与0.4 mmol·L^-1 PA组相比,SCD1蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。高浓度棕榈酸抑制BRL 3A细胞增殖,对细胞核及骨架产生损伤;棕榈酸诱导细胞发生脂滴蓄积,TG增加,通过上调脂肪合成关键基因Acaca、Fasn、Dgat2 mRNA转录水平及ACC/FAS/DGAT2通路蛋白表达水平诱导细胞发生脂肪变性。     

碳水化合物反应元件结合蛋白的研究进展

糖脂代谢是人和动物正常生长发育的能源基础,这将直接影响着动物的脂质性状,因此糖脂代谢目前已经成为培育优质畜禽品种的切入点。近年来,发现碳水化合物反应元件结合蛋白(carbohydrate response element binding protein,ChREBP)在调控动物糖脂代谢中具有重要的作用,特别在糖脂代谢的主要场所——肝脏中对糖脂代谢发挥着关键作用。作者就ChREBP的结构特征、组织分布、葡萄糖应答机制、生物学功能、表达调控等方面作一综述,以期为今后的研究提供理论依据。