2. Academic Validation
  3. Farnesoid X receptor activation is required for the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of Alisol B 23-acetate in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice

Farnesoid X receptor activation is required for the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of Alisol B 23-acetate in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2023 Aug 11;123:110768. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110768.
Libei Zhang 1,  Weiling Lin 1,  Yunqing Cai 1,  Ziyou Huang 1,  Rui Zhao 1,  Tingdong Yan 1,  Hongtao Xu 2,  Zhaoguo Liu 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China.
  • 2 Teaching and Research Section of Clinical Medicine, Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, Yancheng 224005, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 37573684 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110768
Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Alisol B 23-acetate (23ABA) had potent liver-protection effects, however, its roles and potential mechanisms in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis remain to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 23ABA on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and tried to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by focusing on regulating of farnesoid X receptor (FXR). In vivo study found that 23ABA alleviated the CCl4-induced liver injury, and showed no obvious systemic toxicity on mice. 23ABA inhibited the collagen production, decreased sera levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and procollagen type III (PC-III), lowered mRNA expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III in livers of mice. 23ABA inhibited the mRNA expressions and the sera levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in fibrotic livers of mice. Besides, 23ABA decreased levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased glutathione (GSH) level, enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) as well as increased mRNA expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutamate-cysteine ligase, modifier subunit (GCLM). Further study showed that the anti-liver injury and anti-fibrotic effects of 23ABA were abrogated by FXR antagonist guggulsterone (GS) in vivo. In addition, the inhibition effects of 23ABA on liver inflammation and oxidative stress were also weakened by treatment with GS in CCl4-induced fibrotic mice livers. In conclusion, the protective effects of 23ABA against CCl4-induced liver injury and fibrosis, due to FXR-mediated regulation of liver inflammation and oxidative stress.

Keywords

Alisol B 23-acetate; Farnesoid X receptor; Inflammation; Liver fibrosis; Oxidative stress.

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