Novel hepatoprotective role of Leonurine hydrochloride against experimental non-alcoholic steatohepatitis mediated via AMPK/SREBP1 signaling pathway

Background and aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. We aim to characterize the hepatoprotective effects of Leonurine hydrochloride (LH) and the possible pathway in a cell and rodent model of diet-induced steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: For in vitro studies, Palmitic acid (PA) and free fatty acid (FFA) induced HepG2 and HL7702 steatosis cell models were used. For in vivo studies, NASH was induced by feeding mice MCD diet. These mice received either placebo or LH at three different doses (50、100、200 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. Histological staining's, and commercially available kits for ALT and AST and hepatic contents of TG, TC, MDA, SOD, and GSH were used to assess NASH. Furthermore, relative liver protein and gene expression levels were determined by Western Blot and qPCR, respectively.

Results: After establishing NASH models, LH treatment improved lipid accumulation, hepatic contents of TG, TC, and expression levels of ALT and AST in dose-dependent manner. Also, LH improved MDA, SOD, and GSH expression levels. The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that LH upregulated the expression of AMPK phosphorylation and downregulated SREBP-1c and its target genes expression level.

Conclusions: Our data reveal the promising role of Leonurine hydrochloride in the prevention and treatment of NASH, in vitro and in vivo. This effect may be partially mediated by the AMPK/SREBP1 pathway. These findings provide a novel therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of NASH.