Placental extract ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by exerting protective effects on endothelial cells

The revolutionary role of placental derivatives in biomedical research

The human placenta is a transient yet crucial organ that plays a key role in sustaining the relationship between the maternal and fetal organisms. Despite its historical classification as "biowaste," placental tissues have garnered increasing attention since the early 1900s for their significant medical potential, particularly in wound repair and surgical application. As ethical considerations regarding human placental derivatives have largely been assuaged in many countries, they have gained significant attention due to their versatile applications in various biomedical fields, such as biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine, and pharmacology. Moreover, there is a substantial trend toward various animal product substitutions in laboratory research with human placental derivatives, reflecting a broader commitment to advancing ethical and sustainable research methodologies. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the current applications of human placental derivatives, explores the mechanisms behind their therapeutic effects, and outlines the future potential and directions of this rapidly advancing field.

Human Placenta Hydrolysate Protects Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Background/Objectives: Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic, but overdose can lead to APAP-induced liver injury (AILI), a major cause of acute liver failure. While N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the current standard of care, its efficacy is significantly reduced when administered after the peak time of liver injury, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Human placenta hydrolysate (HPH) has shown potential as a therapeutic agent for various liver diseases due to its rich content of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of HPH in a mouse model of AILI. Methods: HPH was administered to mice for three days prior to APAP treatment. The effects of HPH on liver morphology, necrosis, liver enzymes, phase I/II detoxification enzymes, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Results: HPH pretreatment attenuated APAP-induced liver necrosis and congestion, reduced serum levels of liver enzymes. In addition, HPH showed a concentration-dependent attenuation of APAP-induced decrease in human hepatocyte viability. HPH modulated phase I/II enzyme expression by downregulating CYP2E1 and upregulating SULT1A1, UGT1A6, GSTP1, and TPMT. HPH also exhibited antioxidant effects by increasing SOD and GPx activities, reducing MDA levels, and restoring the GSH/GSSG ratio. Furthermore, HPH attenuated the APAP-induced increase in the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. These findings suggest that HPH protects against AILI through multiple mechanisms, including the modulation of phase I/II detoxification, activation of antioxidants, and inhibition of inflammation. Conclusions: HPH could be a potential therapeutic option for APAP overdose and related liver injuries.

Activation of hepatic alcohol metabolism by enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate in rats

Alcohol consumption causes severe liver damage and oxidative stress. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate (EPPH) in Sprague-Dawley rats under acute alcohol administration. EPPH significantly reduced plasma ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EPPH decreased the hepatic levels of malondialdehyde and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and suppressed Cyp2e1 mRNA expression. EPPH decreased the plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels and increased the hepatic NAD+/NADH ratio. Hepatic transcriptome analysis revealed the significant regulation of key genes involved in inflammation, alcohol response, and apoptosis. Phosphokinase array analysis demonstrated that EPPH reduced phosphorylation of CASP9, BAX, TP53, and CHK2, thereby facilitating reactive oxygen species removal and suppressing apoptosis. Additionally, qPCR confirmed EPPH reduced Bax and Caspase9 mRNA levels, while immunoblotting showed decreased phosphorylation of TP53 and CHK2. These findings suggest that EPPH improves hepatic alcohol metabolism and reduces alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-025-01822-1.

Effectiveness and safety of human placenta hydrolysate injection into subacromial space in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome: a single-blind, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Human placental hydrolysate (hPH) contains anti-inflammatory substances. This study aimed to analyze whether injecting hPH into the subacromial space could reduce pain in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

METHODS

This single-blind, randomized controlled study enrolled 50 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome who were randomly assigned to either the hPH or placebo groups. All patients received three ultrasound-guided subacromial space injections of 4 mL hPH or normal saline every week. Outcome measurements included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score during daily activity, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) utility index. Patients were followed up for nine weeks after the last injection.

RESULTS

Significant differences were noted in the VAS (p < 0.001) during daily activity, SPADI total score (p < 0.001), and EQ-5D-5L utility index (p < 0.001) nine weeks after the last injection between the hPH group and placebo group. Significant time effects were observed for all outcome measurements (all p < 0.001) in the hPH group but not in the placebo group. No severe complications, such as local infections or laboratory abnormalities, were reported during this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Subacromial injections showed significant improvement in pain, functional level, and quality of life in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Therefore, hPH can be used as an alternative treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered on www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov (NCT05528705, Registration Date: 06/09/2022).

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell: An important yet often overlooked player in the liver fibrosis

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are liver-specific endothelial cells with the highest permeability than other mammalian endothelial cells, characterized by the presence of fenestrae on their surface, the absence of diaphragms and the lack of basement membrane. Located at the interface between blood and other liver cell types, LSECs mediate the exchange of substances between the blood and the Disse space, playing a crucial role in maintaining substance circulation and homeostasis of multicellular communication. As the initial responders to chronic liver injury, the abnormal LSEC activation not only changes their own physicochemical properties but also interrupts their communication with hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes, which collectively aggravates the process of liver fibrosis. In this review, we have comprehensively updated the various pathways by which LSECs were involved in the initiation and aggravation of liver fibrosis, including but not limited to cellular phenotypic change, the induction of capillarization, decreased permeability and regulation of intercellular communications. Additionally, the intervention effects and latest regulatory mechanisms of anti-fibrotic drugs involved in each aspect have been summarized and discussed systematically. As we studied deeper into unraveling the intricate role of LSECs in the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis, we unveil a promising horizon that pave the way for enhanced patient outcomes.

Cow placenta extract ameliorates d-galactose-induced liver damage by regulating BAX/CASP3 and p53/p21/p16 pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Placenta is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, known as "Ziheche", which has the function of tonifying qi and blood, nourishing liver and kidney. Placenta extract (PE) has been used for delaying organismal aging and treating various liver diseases. Cow placenta is a rich natural resource with large mass. Its composition is similar to that of human placenta, but it has not been effectively utilized. However, little is known about the effect of CPE on the liver of aging mice.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to explore the protective effect and mechanism of CPE on the liver of d-galactose (D-gal) induced aging mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Statistical methods were used to calculate mouse body weight and liver index. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to detect the morphological structure of the liver. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure serum biochemical indicators. Three special staining methods were used to observe hepatocytes apoptosis, senescence and proliferation respectively. Relative kits were used to detect oxidative, inflammatory, and aging markers in the liver. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western-blot were used to detect aging related signaling pathways.

RESULTS

CPE significantly improved the morphological damage and dysfunction of liver, restored the activities of liver enzymes in serum, and alleviated liver oxidative stress and inflammatory response in D-gal induced aging mice. Furthermore, CPE inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis and senescence, and promoted hepatocyte proliferation by regulating BAX/CASP3 and p53/p21/p16 signaling pathways, ultimately reduced the effects of aging on the liver.

CONCLUSION

CPE effectively ameliorated the impact of aging on the liver by inhibiting free radical production or scavenging excessive free radicals, and its mechanism is associated to the regulation of apoptosis and proliferation-related factors.

Efficacy of human placenta hydrolyzate in the treatment of patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease at the stage of fibrosis (pilot study)

Background. Despite active research, drug treatment options for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are limited, and there are no currently approved drugs for patients with MAFLD. Treatment of patients at risk of developing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and progressive liver fibrosis (LF) is of particular relevance, since they determine the clinical outcomes of the disease. Aim. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of complex polypeptide drug (CPD), human placenta hydrolyzate, containing low molecular weight regulatory peptides, amino acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements in patients with MAFLD at the LF stage. Materials and methods. A single-center, placebo-controlled pilot study. Patients with MAFLD at LF stage 1≤F≤3 according to METAVIR were included (n=10, of which 8 were women, median age was 55 years old). Patients were randomized into 2 groups: 5 people received CPD therapy for 12 weeks (intravenous infusion of 6 ml 2 times a week); another 5 people initially received placebo x 2 times a week (12 weeks), with transfer to the open phase for CPD therapy in the same regimen. The dynamics laboratory and instrumental data was assessed, as well as determine the presence of fibrosis by non-invasive tests – measurement of liver stiffness by transient elastography and use of serum biomarker (SM) by FibroTest and detection of steatosis with controlled attenuation parameter for transient elastography and SM by SteatoTest. The quality of life of patients was assessed using questionnaire SF-36 and well-being via Visual Analogue Scale. Statistical processing of the material was carried out using the methods of nonparametric analysis, using the Statistica 13.3 software. Results. Patients in the CPD group compared with the baseline data and with the placebo group showed a statistically significant improvement: 1) transaminases (ALT, AST), lipid profile indicators (cholesterol), ferritin; 2) indicators of LF, based on a decrease in liver stiffness by transient elastography and SM of Fibrotest, as well as the degree of steatosis based on controlled attenuation parameter and SM of Steatotest; 3) in well-being and quality of life (according to testing: SF-36 physical, mental well-being and general condition of the VAS). CPD was well tolerated, no side effects were noted. Conclusion. In patients with MAFLD during CPD therapy, a decrease in the level of liver enzymes was noted, as well as in LF and liver steatosis according to noninvasive methods. Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.

Therapeutic implication of human placental extract to prevent liver cirrhosis in rats with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is always accompanied with hepatic fibrosis that could potentially progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Employing a rat model, we evaluated the role of human placental extract (HPE) to arrest the progression of hepatic fibrosis to cirrhosis in patients with MASH. SHRSP5/Dmcr rats were fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks and evaluated for the development of steatosis. The animals were divided into control and treated groups and received either saline or HPE (3.6 ml/kg body weight) subcutaneously thrice a week. A set of animals were killed at the end of 6th, 8th, and 12th weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione content were measured. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), collagen type I, and type III. Control rats depicted progression of liver fibrosis at 6 weeks, advanced fibrosis and bridging at 8 weeks, and cirrhosis at 12 weeks, which were significantly decreased in HPE-treated animals. Treatment with HPE maintained normal levels of MDA and glutathione in the liver. There was marked decrease in the staining intensity of α-SMA, 4-HNE, and collagen type I and type III in HPE treated rats compared with control animals. The results of the present study indicated that HPE treatment mediates immunotropic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses and attenuates hepatic fibrosis and early cirrhosis. HPE depicts therapeutic potential to arrest the progression of MASH towards cirrhosis.

Human placental extract: a potential therapeutic in treating osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease marked by cartilage degradation and loss of function. Recently, there have been increased efforts to attenuate and reverse OA by stimulating cartilage regeneration and preventing cartilage degradation. Human placental extract (HPE) may be an option due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and growth stimulatory properties. These properties are useful in preventing cell death and senescence, which may optimize in-situ cartilage regeneration. In this review, we discuss the anatomy and physiology of the placenta, as well as explore in vivo and in vitro studies assessing its effects on tissue regeneration. Finally, we assess the potential role of HPE in cartilage regenerative medicine and OA. The Medline database was utilized for all studies that involved the use of HPE or human placenta hydrolysate. Exclusion criteria included articles not written in English, conference reviews, editorials, letters to the editor, surveys, case reports, and case series. HPE had significant anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, HPE had a role in attenuating cellular senescence and cell apoptosis via reduction of reactive oxidative species both in vitro and in vivo. One study explored the effects of HPE in OA and demonstrated reduction in cartilage catabolic gene expression, indicating HPE's effect in attenuating OA. HPE houses favorable properties that can attenuate and reverse tissue damage. This may be a beneficial therapeutic in OA as it creates a more favorable environment for in-situ cartilage regeneration. More well designed in-vitro and in-vivo studies are needed to define the role of HPE in treating OA.

Protective Effect and Mechanism of Placenta Extract on Liver

The placenta contains multiple biologically active substances, which exert antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and delayed aging effects. Its extract can improve hepatic morphology and function: on the one hand, it can reduce liver interstitial collagen deposition, lipogenesis, and inflammatory cell infiltration and improve fibrosis; on the other hand, it can prevent hepatocellular degeneration by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production, further improve hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis, and promote hepatocyte regeneration, making it a promising liver-protective agent. Current research on placenta extract (PE) mainly focuses on treating a specific type of liver injury, and there are no systematic reports. Therefore, this review comprehensively summarizes the treatment reports of PE on liver injury and analyzes its mechanism of action.

Effect of Porcine Placental Extract Mixture on Alcohol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study was conducted to examine the effect of porcine placenta extract mixture (pPEM, enzymatic/acidic extract = 1/3) on alcoholic hepatotoxicity after pPEM dosing with alcohol in rats. The experimental groups were normal, control, silymarin, three pPEM (590, 1771, and 2511 mg/kg/day, po), and silymarin (100 mg/kg/day, po) groups (n = 10). Alcoholic hepatotoxicity was caused by a liquid ethanol diet for 4 weeks. The effect of pPEM and silymarin on alcoholic hepatotoxicity was evaluated by serology, hepatic ADH and ALDH activities, and histopathological findings. After oral dosing with alcohol for 4 weeks, ALT and AST were significantly increased to 33.7 → 115.6 and 81.37 → 235.0 in the alcohol group, respectively. These levels were decreased significantly to 83.9 and 126.7 in the silymarin group and dose-dependently to 73.6–56.9 and 139.2–122.8 in all pPEM groups. Hepatic ADH and ALDH might have been increased in the control and not in the silymarin and pPEM groups for hepatic ADH. All pPEM groups exhibited no effects on hepatic ALDH except for the high pPEM group. Mild inflammation and fatty lesions were observed in the alcohol group and were attenuated in the silymarin and pPEM groups. As a results, the pPEM showed protective activities against alcoholic hepatotoxicity on the serological markers, hepatic ADH and ALDH, and pathological findings.

Human placenta hydrolysates: from V.P. Filatov to the present day: Review

Works of V.P. Filatov and his school laid the foundation for the study and clinical use of human placenta hydrolysates (HPH). To date, the PubMed database contains more than 5,000 publications on basic and clinical research on HPH. Studies of the peptide composition of HPH, carried out using the methods of modern proteomics, have made it possible to propose a complex of molecular mechanisms of the action of HPH in various pathologies. The article discusses the effects of HPH on the treatment of liver diseases, atopic dermatitis, viral infections (herpes, COVID-19, viral hepatitis), iron overload and chronic fatigue syndrome. Stimulation of HPH regenerative capabilities of the body is important for accelerating and improving the quality of wound healing, treatment of diseases of the joints and the reproductive system.

Successful treatment of ascites accumulation and diarrhea associated with protein-losing enteropathy with oral equine placenta extract supplementation in a dog: A case report

Background

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is characterized by leakage of serum proteins into the intestinal lumen, indicating hypoproteinemia. Immunosuppressive agents are the mainstay of treatment, but in many cases, patients are forced to taper off early owing to the induction of liver damage.

Case Description

An 8-year-old, non-spayed female Chihuahua presented with diarrhea and ascites effusion lasting 2 weeks. Based on the results of radiography and blood tests, a diagnosis of PLE was made. Prednisolone (3 mg/kg semel in die [SID]) and MitoMax (200 mg/day) were administered, but ascites accumulation and diarrhea did not improve. Thus, azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) was added, but there was no improvement, and liver damage developed. The liver injury did not improve immediately, but diarrhea and ascites effusion improved after serum total protein and serum albumin levels increased after they had decreased. Subsequent tapering of prednisolone from 3 mg/kg SID to 1 mg/kg SID, combined with MitoMax (200 mg/day) and equine placenta extract (eqPE) (2 ml/day), resulted in no recurrence of ascites or diarrhea.

Conclusion

In canine PLE with prolonged diarrhea and ascites effusion, supplementation with eqPE may be considered a reasonable additional therapeutic strategy.

Integrated miRNA and mRNA Analysis Identified Potential Mechanisms and Targets of Qianggan Extracts in Preventing Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Objective:

Qianggan (QG) extract is a patented traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used for the clinical treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, its mechanism remains unclear.

Methods:

The efficacy of QG was evaluated in mice with methionine-and-choline-deficient diet-induced NASH by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels and by H and E staining of liver sections. Microarray and bioinformatics analyses were performed to obtain hepatic microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression profiles and to mine potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, representative miRNA and mRNA expression levels were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results:

QG extract significantly improved NASH. Twelve differentially expressed miRNAs and 1124 differentially changed mRNAs were identified as potential targets of QG extract. Integrated analysis detected 976 miRNA–mRNA regulatory pairs, and networks including 11 miRNAs and 427 mRNAs were constructed by Cytoscape. Hub nodes including miR-7050-5p, miR-212-3p, Bcl2l11, and Kras were filtered out. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that 427 mRNAs were enriched in pathways including apoptotic process, immune response, FoxO signaling pathway, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We also constructed a protein–protein interaction network with 254 nodes, and identified hub genes including Kras, Fasl, and Ncam1. Finally, the results of qRT-PCR were in good accordance with microarray data.

Conclusion:

This study identified important hub miRNAs and mRNAs involved in the mechanism of QG extract and which might provide potential therapeutic targets for patients with NASH.

Placental extract suppresses the formation of fibrotic deposits by tumor necrosis factor alpha and transforming growth factor beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ARPE-19 cells

Objective

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and subsequent fibrosis. Previously, we demonstrated that placental extract ameliorates fibrosis in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this study, we evaluated whether placental extract influences EMT and fibrosis through cytokine-induced EMT in the retinal pigment epithelial cells, in vitro.

Results

Placental extract did not inhibit EMT, but it suppressed excessive mesenchymal reactions and the subsequent fibrosis. These results suggest that placental extract effectively ameliorates EMT-associated fibrosis in PVR. This beneficial effect could be partially attributed to the suppression of excessive mesenchymal reactions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05824-0.

Placental extract ameliorates liver fibrosis in a methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of fatty liver disease that is defined by the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, which ultimately leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We previously showed that human placental extract (hPE) was intramuscularly injected to ameliorates liver injury in a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH model. In the present study, we investigated the effects of hPE using dB/dB mice which exhibit obesity and insulin resistance and are thought to reproduce the pathological background of NASH. The MCD-diet induced liver atrophy accompanied by fibrosis around the liver sinusoids. hPE dose-dependently reduced the perivascular fibrosis. Moreover, αSMA-positive activated hepatic stellate cells increased in number in mice on the MCD diet, with this effect reversed by hPE treatment. hPE significantly decreased expression of Acta2, Col1a1, and Tgfb1 genes in hepatic stellate cells, and inhibited Smad phosphorylation. Moreover, hPE treatment increased the expression of the anti-oxidative genes Hmox1, Nqo1, Cat, and Sod1, and significantly enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 activity. Furthermore, hPE decreased the expression of Nox4 and attenuated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results, along with our previous study, suggest that hPE effectively ameliorates liver fibrosis in NASH. This beneficial effect may, in part, be due to suppression of hepatic stellate cell activation.

Placental extract suppresses cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in an angiotensin II-induced cachexia model in mice

Cachexia is an intractable metabolic disorder that causes extreme weight loss. It is a symptom of many chronic diseases, including cancer, liver failure, congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease, and there is as yet no effective treatment. While the mechanisms underlying cachexia are complex, it is often accompanied by elevated angiotensin II (Ang II). Human placental extract (HPE) is a source of numerous biologically active molecules and has been used clinically to treat chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and other chronic diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of HPE in an Ang II-induced cachexia model in mice. HPE treatment preserved both fat mass and lean body mass and suppressed weight loss in the cachexia model, though food intake was unaffected. Ang II infusion also caused cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. HPE suppressed these effects as well as Ang II-induced cardiac expression of genes related to heart failure and cardiac remodeling. HPE also reversed Ang II-induced downregulation of mitochondria-related molecules and suppressed cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. HPE administration may thus be an effective approach to the treatment of cachexia, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Porcine placental extract facilitates memory and learning in aged mice

Aging induces a decline in both memory and learning ability without predisposing an individual to diseases of the central nervous system, such as dementia. This decline can have a variety of adverse effects on daily life, and it can also gradually affect the individual and the people they are surrounded by. Since recent evidence indicated that placental extract has effects on brain function such as memory, we hypothesized that placental extract could ameliorate the age-associated reduction in cognitive function in aging. Here, we investigated the effect of new modified porcine placental extract (SD-F) on memory ability in aged mice at both the behavioral and molecular levels. Our results revealed that SD-F significantly enhanced memory ability in the object recognition and object location tasks in a dose-dependent manner in aged mice relative to controls. The numbers of Nissl-positive cells in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) and dentate gyrus (DG) regions were increased in SD-F-treated aged mice relative to controls. RNA-seq analysis of the hippocampus of aged mice identified 542 differentially expressed genes, of which 216 were up-regulated and 326 were down-regulated in SD-F-treated mice relative to controls. Of the 216 up-regulated genes, we identified four characteristic genes directly related to memory, including early growth response protein 1 (Egr1), growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible, beta (Gadd45b), NGFI-A binding protein 2 (Nab2), and vascular endothelial growth factor a (Vegfa). These results suggest that the efficacy of SD-F involves upregulation of these genes.

Development of a mouse iron overload-induced liver injury model and evaluation of the beneficial effects of placenta extract on iron metabolism

Hepatic iron deposition is seen in cases of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, and is a hallmark of a poorer prognosis. Iron deposition is also found in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. We have now developed a mouse model of NASH with hepatic iron deposition by combining a methione- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet with an iron-overload diet. Using this model, we evaluated the effects of human placenta extract (HPE), which has been shown to ameliorate the pathology of NASH. Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed the MCD diet with 2% iron for 12 weeks. In liver sections, iron deposition was first detected around the portal vein after 1 week. From there it spread throughout the parenchyma. Biliary iron concentrations were continuously elevated throughout the entire 12-week diet. As a compensatory response, the diet caused elevation of serum hepcidin, which accelerates excretion of iron from the body. Accumulation of F4/80-positive macrophages was detected within the sinusoids from the first week onward, and real-time PCR analysis revealed elevated hepatic expression of genes related inflammation and oxidative stress. In the model mice, HPE treatment led to a marked reduction of hepatic iron deposition with a corresponding increase in biliary iron excretion. Macrophage accumulation was much reduced by HPE treatment, as was the serum oxidation-reduction potential, an index of oxidative stress. These data indicate that by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress and iron deposition, and enhancing iron excretion, HPE effectively ameliorates iron overload-induced liver injury. HPE administration may thus be an effective strategy for treating NASH.