Effect of berberine on expressions of uncoupling protein-2 mRNA and protein in hepatic tissue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of berberine on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) mRNA and protein expressions in the hepatic tissue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats, and to explore the molecular mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To establish the NAFLD rat model; the rats were fed by high fat forage and were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, berberine high-dose group (324 mg/kg), and berberine low-dose group (162 mg/kg). After treatment for 12 weeks, the expression of UCP2 mRNA in the liver tissue was analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-RTPCR). The expression level of UCP2 protein in the liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry. Total PCR). cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contents in blood serum, and TG and TC contents in the liver were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The other is to observe the axungia degree of the liver.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of UCP2 mRNA and positive cell numbers in the liver tissue were dramatically increased in the model group (P<0.01). Lipid in the serum and hepatic tissues increased significantly, and the liver was fatty. But in the treatment groups, the expression levels of mRNA and UCP2 proteins were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Liver steatosis was improved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Berberine can down-regulate the expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 proteins of hepatic tissue in NAFLD rats. It can promote the recovery of hepatocyte steatosis and improve lipid metabolism disorder in NAFLD rats. Berberine shows a potential therapeutic effect on NAFLD.</p>

Effects of soybean isoflavone on liver lipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver rats / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of soybean isoflavone on liver lipid, serum lipid, antioxidant index and hepatic lipid metabolism associated factors in nonalcoholic fatty liver rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six male rats (SD) were randomly divided into four groups by weight: normal control group, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model control group, low-dose isoflavone treatment group (10 mg/kg) and high-dose isoflavone group (20 mg/kg), 9 rats in each group. Normal control rats were fed with D12450B (10% fat energy), model control and isoflavone intervention rats were fed with D12492 (60% fat energy). Twelve weeks later, liver lipid, serum lipid and antioxidant index were observed. Liver sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) were detected by western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Liver triglyceride (TG) in normal control group, NAFLD model control group, low-dose isoflavone group and high-dose isoflavone group were (8.11 ± 4.13), (57.06 ± 16.95), (31.26 ± 10.48), (31.38 ± 13.25) mmol/mg protein, respectively (F = 22.569, P < 0.01); liver free fatty acid (FFA) were (0.030 ± 0.007), (0.042 ± 0.009), (0.038 ± 0.009), (0.032 ± 0.005) µmol/mg protein, respectively (F = 4.857, P < 0.01); liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were (502.29 ± 23.71), (201.83 ± 16.99), (228.93 ± 21.71), (238.08 ± 15.96) U/mg protein, respectively (F = 9.555, P < 0.01); liver malondialdehyde (MDA) were (1.29 ± 0.29), (2.85 ± 0.73), (2.07 ± 0.49), (2.03 ± 0.37) nmol/mg protein, respectively (F = 13.449, P < 0.01); SREBP-1c protein expression were 0.45 ± 0.16, 1.42 ± 0.30, 1.02 ± 0.31, 0.47 ± 0.27, respectively (F = 24.515, P < 0.01); FAS protein expression were 0.27 ± 0.08, 1.97 ± 0.47, 1.35 ± 0.30, 0.49 ± 0.12, respectively (F = 60.361, P < 0.01); PPARα protein expression were 2.03 ± 0.56, 0.41 ± 0.17, 0.81 ± 0.27, 0.66 ± 0.16, respectively (F = 37.97, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Soy isoflavone can reduce the hepatic lipid deposition and increase antioxidant capacity, the mechanism may be related to inhibition of SREBP-1c and activation of PPARα expression in liver.</p>

Effect of early vitamin D supplementation on lung inflammatory factors in baby rat with asthma / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of different doses of 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) early supplementation on airway inflammation and lung inflammatory factors in baby rats with asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male weaned Wistar rats were divided into normal group, model group, low 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) group, middle 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) group, high 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) group using random number table (8 rats each group). The rats in low, middle and high 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) groups were given 1, 4, 10 µg/kg of 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) every other day by intraperitoneal injection respectively for 25 days. Except normal group, the rats in other groups were challenged with ovalbumin to establish the asthma model. The pathologic changes of lung tissue, the total white blood cell and classified cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γ in serum and BALF were measured by ELISA method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of total white blood cell counts in BALF were (5.98 ± 1.67)×10(5)/ml, (25.34 ± 4.28)×10(5)/ml, (17.24 ± 3.3)×10(5)/ml, (9.31 ± 3.37)×10(5)/ml, (45.1 ± 15.75)×10(5)/ml, respectively (F = 33.453, P < 0.01). The percent ratio of EOS in BALF were (1.44 ± 0.78)%, (17.81 ± 6.88)%, (15.00 ± 5.70)%, (8.89 ± 3.66)%, (25.88 ± 5.57)%, respectively (F = 27.299, P < 0.01). The level of IL-4 in serum of normal, model, low, middle and high-1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) groups were (0.62 ± 0.54), (7.57 ± 1.04), (3.58 ± 0.56), (2.70 ± 0.78) and (5.27 ± 0.30) pg/ml, respectively (F = 116.287, P < 0.01); IL-5 in resume were (32.20 ± 4.23), (67.14 ± 18.14), (37.51 ± 0.47), (40.69 ± 2.47) and (124.60 ± 36.19) pg/ml, respectively (F = 23.902, P < 0.01); IFN-γ in serum were (79.71 ± 10.08), (49.06 ± 4.46), (59.15 ± 2.51), (59.27 ± 2.33) and (53.85 ± 1.97) pg/ml, respectively (F = 39.954, P < 0.01). Also in BLAF, the IL-4 of all groups were (0.51 ± 0.30), (102.92 ± 54.61), (8.64 ± 4.07), (3.10 ± 1.28) and (33.67 ± 8.1) pg/ml, respectively (F = 24.062, P < 0.01); the IFN-γ were (247.37 ± 189.18), (43.82 ± 13.76), (81.32 ± 17.07), (86.50 ± 14.26) and (59.89 ± 34.17) pg/ml, respectively (F = 7.157, P < 0.01); the IL-5 in BALF were (38.81 ± 0.60), (80.48 ± 17.90), (45.11 ± 1.33), (43.39 ± 1.11) and (149.60 ± 45.87) pg/ml, respectively (F = 35.978, P < 0.01). Pathologic changes in lung of asthma rat groups were obvious. The lung pathologic changes in low and middle dose groups showed a significant improvement compared to the asthma group and high dosage group showed more serious pathologic changes compared to the low and middle dose groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intervention with appropriate dose of 1,25-(OH)(2)VitD(3) in the early life could improve lung pathologic changes and reduce the effect of inflammatory factors in air way of baby rat asthma model. However, overdose might play detrimental effect.</p>