Protective effects of levo-tetrahydropalmatine on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury are mediated by inhibition of the ERK/NF-κB pathway.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is a common medical phenomenon that occurs during a number of clinical conditions, such as liver transplantation, severe injuries, and shock. In our study, we determined the protective functions of levo-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) on hepatic IR injury in mice by inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

METHOD:

BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups as follows: normal control (NC); sham; L-THP (40 mg/kg); IR; L-THP (20 mg/kg) + IR; and L-THP (40 mg/kg) + IR. Liver tissues and sera were collected at three time points after reperfusion (2, 8, and 24 h). The liver enzyme, inflammatory factor, and other protein levels in the serum and liver tissues were detected.

RESULTS:

L-THP pretreatment alleviated hepatocyte injury caused by IR and reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, L-THP could inhibit the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate hepatocyte apoptosis and autophagy. And the protective effect of L-THP is positively correlated with its dose.

CONCLUSION:

L-THP protects the liver from IR injury by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and alleviating liver cell apoptosis and autophagy. The protective functions of L-THP may be partly based on the downregulation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway.

• Authors: Qiang Yu, Liwei Wu, Tong Liu, Sainan Li, Jiao Feng, Yuqing Mao, Xiaoming Fan, Chuanyong Guo, Jianye Wu
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 70 Pg. 435-445 (May 2019) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 30856394 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Berberine Alkaloids
• Interleukin-6
• NF-kappa B
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• tetrahydropalmatine

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Autophagy (drug effects)
• Berberine Alkaloids (therapeutic use)
• Cells, Cultured
• Hepatocytes (drug effects, physiology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Liver (physiology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System
• Male
• Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)