Expression of liver-specific functions in rat hepatocytes following sublethal and lethal acetaminophen poisoning

Comparative hepatoprotective activity of detoxified roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. and Plumbago rosea L. in Wistar rats

Background

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) toxicity is considered to be one of the major causes of drug-induced hepatic failure. Citraka (Plumbago rosea L. and Plumbago zeylanica L.) was mentioned in Ayurveda classics as a remedy in liver disorders.

Objective(s)

The aim of the study was to experimentally evaluate the comparative effect of hepatoprotective activity of detoxified root decoction of the two species of Citraka against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats.

Materials and methods

The hepatoprotective effect of Citraka decoction of two species was evaluated by the assessment of biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and serum creatinine. The study was also supported by histopathological assessment of liver sections.

Results

The results showed the elevated concentration of biochemical markers and histopathological degenerative changes in animals treated with paracetamol indicating severe hepatic damage; whereas, the treatment with decoction of both the species of Citraka showed significant reduction in the serum markers and regenerative changes in the histopathological specimens pointing towards its effectiveness as a hepatoprotective drug.

Conclusion

The present study showed Citraka’s effectiveness as a hepatoprotective drug and proved that the detoxified root decoction of P. rosea L. has a significant protective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity than P. zeylanica L.

Glycocapture-assisted global quantitative proteomics (gagQP) reveals multiorgan responses in serum toxicoproteome

Blood is an ideal window for viewing our health and disease status. Because blood circulates throughout the entire body and carries secreted, shed, and excreted signature proteins from every organ and tissue type, it is thus possible to use the blood proteome to achieve a comprehensive assessment of multiple-organ physiology and pathology. To date, the blood proteome has been frequently examined for diseases of individual organs; studies on compound insults impacting multiple organs are, however, elusive. We believe that a characterization of peripheral blood for organ-specific proteins affords a powerful strategy to allow early detection, staging, and monitoring of diseases and their treatments at a whole-body level. In this paper we test this hypothesis by examining a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic and extra-hepatic toxicity. We used a glycocapture-assisted global quantitative proteomics (gagQP) approach to study serum proteins and validated our results using Western blot. We discovered in mouse sera both hepatic and extra-hepatic organ-specific proteins. From our validation, it was determined that selected organ-specific proteins had changed their blood concentration during the course of toxicity development and recovery. Interestingly, the peak responding time of proteins specific to different organs varied in a time-course study. The collected molecular information shed light on a complex, dynamic, yet interweaving, multiorgan-enrolled APAP toxicity. The developed technique as well as the identified protein markers is translational to human studies. We hope our work can broaden the utility of blood proteomics in diagnosis and research of the whole-body response to pathogenic cues.

Classical and alternative activation of rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells by inflammatory stimuli

The ability of rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSEC) to become activated in response to diverse inflammatory stimuli was analyzed. Whereas the classical macrophage activators, IFNγ and/or LPS upregulated expression of iNOS in HSEC, the alternative macrophage activators, IL-10 or IL-4+IL-13 upregulated arginase-1 and mannose receptor. Similar upregulation of iNOS and arginase-1 was observed in classically and alternatively activated Kupffer cells, respectively. Removal of inducing stimuli from the cells had no effect on expression of these markers, demonstrating that activation is persistent. Washing and incubation of IFNγ treated cells with IL-4+IL-13 resulted in decreased iNOS and increased arginase-1 expression, while washing and incubation of IL-4+IL-13 treated cells with IFNγ resulted in decreased arginase-1 and increased iNOS, indicating that classical and alternative activation of the cells is reversible. HSEC were more sensitive to phenotypic switching than Kupffer cells, suggesting greater functional plasticity. Hepatocyte viability and expression of PCNA, β-catenin and MMP-9 increased in the presence of alternatively activated HSEC. In contrast, the viability of hepatocytes pretreated for 2 h with 5 mM acetaminophen decreased in the presence of classically activated HSEC. These data demonstrate that activated HSEC can modulate hepatocyte responses following injury. The ability of hepatocytes to activate HSEC was also investigated. Co-culture of HSEC with acetaminophen-injured hepatocytes, but not control hepatocytes, increased the sensitivity of HSEC to classical and alternative activating stimuli. The capacity of HSEC to respond to phenotypic activators may represent an important mechanism by which they participate in inflammatory responses associated with hepatotoxicity.

Ethanol extract of Momordica tuberosa tubers protects liver in paracetamol-induced damage

The study assessed the in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of an ethanol (70%) extract of Momordica tuberosa Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae) (TMT) tubers in experimentally induced liver damage by paracetamol (2 g/kg, po.) in albino rats. The degree of protection was ascertained by estimating the levels of biochemical markers like SGPT, SGOT, bilirubin (total and direct), ALP, and triglycerides. Tissue GSH and lipid peroxidation were also determined. The ethanol (70%) extract of tubers in an oral administration of 20 and 40 mg/kg doses produced significant protection by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides and tissue lipid peroxidation, while it increased tissue GSH at 40 mg/kg dose. The effects of the extract were comparable to the standard drug silymarin (100 mg/kg). Results suggested that an ethanol (70%) extract of the tubers of the plant at 40 mg/kg possesses potential hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage and significant antioxidant activity in rats.

Role of inflammation in the mechanism of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (AAP) overdose and the resulting hepatotoxicity is an important clinical problem. In addition, AAP is widely used as a prototype hepatotoxin to study mechanisms of chemical-induced cell injury and to test the hepatoprotective potential of new drugs and herbal medicines. Because of its importance, the mechanisms of AAP-induced liver cell injury have been extensively investigated and controversially discussed for > 30 years. This review highlights recent new insight into intracellular events critical for liver cell death. In addition, the relevance of the inflammatory response is addressed, including cytotoxic and inflammatory mediators generated by activated inflammatory cells, that is, resident macrophages and lymphocytes as well as newly recruited blood-derived leukocytes. Inflammation is a critical component of the overall pathophysiology, not only as a potential factor that may aggravate cell damage, but more importantly as a vital response to limit cell injury, remove cell debris and promote regeneration.

Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity of gel entrapped rat hepatocytes in hollow fibers

An important application of primary hepatocyte cultures is for hepatotoxicity research. In this paper, gel entrapment culture of rat hepatocytes in miniaturized BAL system were evaluated as a potential in vitro model for hepatotoxicity studies in comparison to monolayer cultures. After exposure for 24 and 48 h to acetaminophen (2.5 mM), gel entrapped hepatocytes were more severely damaged than hepatocyte monolayer detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) reduction, intracellular glutathione (GSH) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, urea genesis and albumin synthesis. CYP 2E1 activities detected by 4-nitrocatechol (4-NC) formation were higher in gel entrapped hepatocytes than in hepatocyte monolayers while the addition of CYP 2E1 inhibitor, diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DDC), more significantly reduced acetaminophen-induced toxicity in gel entrapped hepatocytes. In addition, protective effects of GSH, liquorice extract and glycyrrhizic acid against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity were clearly observed in gel entrapped hepatocytes but not in hepatocyte monolayer at an incubation time of 48 h. Overall, gel entrapped hepatocytes showed higher sensitivities to acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity than hepatocyte monolayer by a mechanism that higher CYP 2E1 activities of gel entrapped hepatocytes could induce more severe acetaminophen toxicity. This indicates that gel entrapped hepatocytes in hollow fiber system could be a promising model for toxicological study in vitro.

Role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (p55) in hepatocyte proliferation during acetaminophen-induced toxicity in mice

Hepatocyte proliferation represents an important part of tissue repair. In these studies, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) knockout mice were used to analyze the role of TNF-alpha in hepatocyte proliferation during acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Treatment of wild-type (WT) mice with acetaminophen (300 mg/kg) resulted in centrilobular hepatic necrosis. This was associated with proliferation of hepatocytes surrounding the damaged areas, which was evident at 24 h. The cell cycle regulatory proteins, cyclin D1 and cyclin A, were also up regulated in hepatocytes. In contrast, in TNFR1-/- mice, which exhibit exaggerated acetaminophen hepatotoxicity, hepatocyte proliferation, and expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin A, as well as the cyclin dependent kinases, Cdk4 and Cdk2, were reduced. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was also induced in the liver following acetaminophen administration. This was greater in TNFR1-/- mice compared to WT mice. To investigate mechanisms mediating the reduced hepatic proliferative response of TNFR1-/- mice, we analyzed phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) signaling. In both WT and TNFR1-/- mice, acetaminophen caused a rapid increase in total PI-3K within 3 h. Acetaminophen also increased phosphorylated PI-3K, but this was delayed 6-12 h in TNFR1-/- mice. Expression of Akt, a downstream target of PI-3K, was increased in both WT and TNFR1-/- mice in response to acetaminophen. However, the increase was greater in WT mice. Acetaminophen-induced expression of phosphorylated STAT3, a key regulator of cytokine-induced hepatocyte proliferation, was also delayed in TNFR1-/- mice relative to WT. These data suggest that TNF-alpha signaling through TNFR1 is important in regulating hepatocyte proliferation following acetaminophen-induced tissue injury. Delayed cytokine signaling may account for reduced hepatocyte proliferation and contribute to exaggerated acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in TNFR1-/- mice.

Liver gene regulation in rats following both 70 or 90% hepatectomy and endotoxin treatment

BACKGROUND

The metabolic state effect of liver failure on liver gene regulation was evaluated in a rat model.

METHODS

Following 70 or 90% hepatectomy and lipopolysaccharide or vehicle treatment at intervals up to 24 h, the liver remnants were analyzed for mRNA levels for acute-phase, liver-specific and growth-related proteins.

RESULTS

After 70% hepatectomy mRNA for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 2-macroglobulin, thiostatin and fibrinogen, haptoglobin increased three- to sevenfold (P < 0.05), and mRNA for cyclin D and histone 3 increased seven- and 15-fold (P < 0.05), respectively. After lipopolysaccharide injection and 70% hepatectomy were done, mRNA for acute-phase proteins raised significantly (P < 0.05), more to five to 20-fold, while mRNA for growth-related proteins raised significantly (P < 0.05) less to three- to fourfold. After 90% hepatectomy, acute-phase protein mRNA increased five- to ninefold (P < 0.05) more than after 70% hepatectomy, while mRNA for histone 3 and cyclin D did not increase within 24 h, which indicates a delayed growth after 90% hepatectomy. In 90% of hepatectomized rats treated with lipopolysaccharide, acute-phase protein mRNA raised three- to sixfold (P < 0.05) less than after vehicle treatment.

CONCLUSION

In endotoxemia from liver failure, the synthesis of acute-phase proteins is upregulated by gene regulation at the expense of that for regeneration, which may be an appropriate response for immediate survival. In severe liver failure, endotoxin may interfere with the appropriate gene regulation.

The effects of serum from patients with acute liver failure on the growth and metabolism of Hep G2 cells

In many bioartificial liver systems currently being designed and evaluated for use in fulminant hepatic failure, direct contact is required between the patient's blood and the liver cells in the device. The efficacy of such devices will be influenced by the interaction of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) patient serum with the cells. We have found that FHF serum inhibits the growth rate and the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein; disturbs glutathione homeostasis; and induces morphological changes in cultured human Hep G2 cells. These interactions should influence the design of bioartificial liver devices based on proliferating cell lines and indicate the requirement to pretreat FHF patient plasma to reduce the toxin load.

Expression of liver functions following sub-lethal and non-lethal doses of allyl alcohol and acetaminophen in the rat

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To relate severity of intoxication with allyl alcohol and acetaminophen to modulated hepatic gene expression of liver functions and regeneration.

METHODS

Rats fasted for 12 h received acetaminophen 3.5 or 5.6 g per kg body weight, or allyl alcohol 100 or 125 microl by gastric tube, doses producing no and about 30% mortality, respectively, within 2 days. In the morning 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h after intoxication, RNA was extracted from liver tissue. By slot blot hybridization mRNA levels were determined for acute phase proteins, enzymes involved in ammonia elimination and urea synthesis, and for proteins related to liver regeneration.

RESULTS

After allyl alcohol, mRNA of "positive" acute phase proteins was higher than after acetaminophen and increased with the dose, whereas after acetaminophen it decreased with the dose. The mRNA of the urea cycle enzymes and glutamine synthetase was uniformly reduced by allyl alcohol, whereas that of most urea cycle enzymes was above the controls after the non-lethal, but not after the sub-lethal, dose of acetaminophen. The mRNA of glutamine synthetase was significantly more reduced by acetaminophen than by allyl alcohol. The mRNA of cell-cycle dependent proteins was greatly reduced after both toxins, more after the higher dose.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that acetaminophen intoxication inhibits or fails to induce the expression of acute phase proteins in contrast to allyl alcohol intoxication. Allyl alcohol suppressed the expression of urea cycle enzymes, whereas that of the rate limiting enzymes carbamoylphosphate synthase and argininosuccinate synthetase was increased by the non-lethal but not by the sub-lethal dose of acetaminophen. The expression of the cell-cycle dependent proteins was more suppressed after the sub-lethal than after the non-lethal dose of both toxins. The data support the view that a fatal outcome of the intoxications depends more on the ability to regenerate than on the maintenance of liver-specific functions.