Protective Effect of Salvianolic Acid B on Arsenic Trioxide-induced HepaRG Human Hepatocyte Injury / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective::To investigate the protective effect of salvianolic acid B on HepaRG hepatocyte injury induced by arsenic trioxide (As2O3 ) and its mechanism. Method::HepaRG cells were incubated with 5μmol·L-1 As2O3 for 24 h to induce hepatocyte injury. The cells were divided into control group, model group, salvianolic acid B 10 μmol·L-1 group, salvianolic acid B 10 μmol·L-1+ As2O3 group, salvianolic acid B 5 μmol·L-1+ As2O3 group, and salvianolic acid B 2.5 μmol·L-1+ As2O3 group. HepaRG cells were preincubated with salvianolic acid B for 2 h and then incubated with As2O3 for 24 h. At the end of the incubation, cell viability was detected by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay, apoptosis was observed by Hoechst33342 fluorescence staining, apoptosis rate was detected by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining flow cytometry, and mitochondrial membrane was observed by JC-1 fluorescence staining. Western blot was used to detect the protective effect of expressions of relevant proteins Bcl-2, Bax, Akt, p-Akt on salvianolic acid B in the liver. Result::As2O3 concentration-dependently reduced the survival rate of HepaRG cells(P<0.01), salvianolic acid B had no effect on normal cell viability for 2 h, pre-incubation with salvianolic acid B(5, 10 μmol·L-1) for 2 h significantly increased the decreased cell survival rate caused by As2O3 (P<0.01). As2O3 significantly increased hepatocytes apoptosis rate(P<0.01), while pre-incubation with salvianolic acid B(10 μmol·L-1) deceased apoptosis rate(P<0.01). Incubation with As2O3 for 24 h caused decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, pre-incubation with salvianolic acid B maintained mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating that the anti-apoptotic effect of salvianolic acid B were related to the mitochondrial pathway modulation. Western blot analysis showed that salvianolic acid B promoted the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and promoted p-Akt/Akt compared with As2O3 group(P<0.01). Conclusion::Salvianolic acid B has a protective effect on hepatocyte injury induced by As2O3, and its mechanism is related to maintenance of mitochondrial function and inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis.