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Mao (Ephedra sinica Stapf) protects against D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic failure
- Source :
- Cytokine. 41(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Mao is one component of various traditional herbal medicines. We examined the effects of Mao on an acute liver failure model treated with d-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The lethality of mice administrated Mao with GalN/LPS was significantly decreased compared with that in mice without Mao. Hepatic apoptosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were slight in Mao-treated mice. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (T.Bil) activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and caspase 8, 9, and 3 activity in the liver were significantly lower in mice administrated Mao. But, Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 levels and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity in the liver were significantly higher in mice administrated Mao. To investigate the effect of STAT3, we used AG490, which selectively inhibits the activation of Janus kinase (JAK) family tyrosine kinase and inhibits the constitutive activation of STAT3. There was significant aggravation in hepatic apoptosis treated with Mao and AG490 compared with Mao alone. In conclusions, Mao significantly suppressed hepatic apoptosis by inhibition of TNF-alpha production and caspase activity. Furthermore, it is also suggested that Mao, which activates STAT3 induced by IL-6, may be a useful therapeutic tool for fulminant hepatic failure.
- Subjects :
- Lipopolysaccharides
Male
STAT3 Transcription Factor
medicine.medical_specialty
Lipopolysaccharide
Immunology
Apoptosis
Galactosamine
Caspase 8
Biochemistry
chemistry.chemical_compound
Mice
Fulminant hepatic failure
Internal medicine
Immunology and Allergy
Medicine
Animals
STAT3
Molecular Biology
Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Caspase
Ephedra sinica
biology
business.industry
Hematology
Tyrphostins
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Disease Models, Animal
Endocrinology
chemistry
Liver
Caspases
biology.protein
Cytokines
Tumor necrosis factor alpha
business
Janus kinase
Liver Failure
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10960023
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Cytokine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....75ad3f7a7c955ea07f7c66fe00e2df49