Effect of Zhihuang decoction on CD14 expression in lipopolysaccharide signal transduction pathway of alcohol-induced liver disease in rats.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of Zhihuang (枳黄) decoction on CD14 expression in the lipopolysaccharide signal transduction pathway of alcohol-induced liver disease in rats. Seventy-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Ethanol (56%, weight/volumn) was intragastrically administrated to 50 rats (14 mL/kg body weight per day) for 10 days to establish a model of alcohol-induced liver disease, and 25 of these 50 rats were treated with Zhihuang decoction simultaneously. Liver injury was evaluated by biochemical examination. The plasma content of endotoxin was assayed by biochemistry. The expression of CD14 mRNA and protein in rat liver was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Zhihuang decoction pretreatment significantly protected against acute alcohol-induced liver injury, which was evidenced by the decrease of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In addition, the level of plasma endotoxin and up-regulation of CD14 was also suppressed by Zhihuang decoction in alcohol-intoxicated rats. Zhihuang decoction can significantly reduce CD14 expression in the lipopolysaccharide signal transduction pathway, which is one of the most important mechanisms of Zhihuang decoction to treat hepatic injury induced by alcohol in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]