Alpha-lipoic acid exerts a liver-protective effect in acute liver injury rats

Abstract Background Recent evidence indicates that alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) has a variety of liver-protective effects through the suppression of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, there are few reports that α-LA markedl...

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Published in:The Journal of surgical research 2015-02, Vol.193 (2), p.675-683
Main Authors: Tanaka, Yoshito, MD, Kaibori, Masaki, MD, PhD, Miki, Hirokazu, MD, Nakatake, Richi, MD, Tokuhara, Katsuji, MD, PhD, Nishizawa, Mikio, MD, PhD, Okumura, Tadayoshi, PhD, Kwon, A-Hon, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute liver injury
Animals
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Antioxidants - therapeutic use
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - prevention & control
d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Galactosamine
Inducible nitric oxide synthase
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-10 - metabolism
Lipopolysaccharides
Liver - drug effects
Liver - metabolism
Male
NF-kappa B - metabolism
Nitric Oxide - blood
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism
Nuclear factor-κB
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Surgery
Thioctic Acid - pharmacology
Thioctic Acid - therapeutic use
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
Tumor necrosis factor-α
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Summary:Abstract Background Recent evidence indicates that alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) has a variety of liver-protective effects through the suppression of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, there are few reports that α-LA markedly enhanced the survival rate in animal models of liver injury with more than 90% death. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of α-LA in a rat model of acute liver injury and to clarify the mechanisms of α-LA action. Methods Rats were treated with d -galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (GalN and LPS) to induce acute liver injury. α-LA (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before GalN and LPS injection. Inflammatory mediators including TNF-α and iNOS were analyzed. Results A single injection of α-LA improved the survival rate by more than 80%. α-LA prevented serum transaminase increases, histopathologic changes, and apoptosis in the liver. In the serum, α-LA decreased TNF-α production and increased interleukin (IL)-10 production. In the liver, α-LA reduced TNF-α and IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) but enhanced IL-10 mRNA. α-LA decreased the expression of iNOS mRNA and its antisense transcript, leading to the reduction of iNOS protein expression and resulting in the inhibition of nitric oxide production. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that α-LA reduced the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B induced by GalN and LPS. Conclusions α-LA inhibited the induction of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α and iNOS, in part through the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B activation and enhanced the induction of IL-10. α-LA may have therapeutic potential for use in the prevention of acute liver injury.
ISSN:0022-4804
1095-8673
DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2014.08.057