Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of betaine on the expression of caspase-12 in the liver of rats with ethanol-induced liver injury.
METHODS: Forty-eight female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, model, and low and high dose betaine group. Except the rats in control group, all the rats were fed fat-rich diet plus ethanol plus fish oil gavage for 8 wk. Betaine was administered intragastrically in the rats of betaine groups after 4-wk exposure of ethanol. The expression of caspase-12 was detected in the liver tissues by immunohistomistry and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: Compared with that in control group, the expression of caspase-12 was markedly induced in the liver after chronic ethanol consumption (mRNA: 1.00 vs 0.18, P <0.01; protein: 0.296 9±0.045 1 vs 0.052 6±0.023 4, P < 0.01). However, the level of caspa-se-12 expression was significantly lower in high- and low-dose betaine group than that in model group (mRNA: 0.10, 0.12 vs 1.00, P < 0.01; protein: 0.121 5±0.013 0, 0.185 0±0.008 5 vs 0.296 9±0.045 1, P < 0.01). Significant difference of caspase-12 expression also existed between high- and low-dose betaine group (mRNA: 0.10 vs 0.12, P < 0.05; protein: 0.121 5±0.013 0 vs 0.185 0±0.008 5, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Betaine suppresses the expression of caspase-12 both in mRNA and protein level in the rats with ethanol-induced liver injury, which may be related to its anti-apoptotic mechanism.
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