Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 10), NASH group (n = 10), and pioglitazone treatment group (n = 10). Liver tissues were processed for histology by hematoxylin & eosin and Masson stained. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) levels and biochemical parameters of antioxidant enzyme activities, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E(2) ( PGE(2)) levels in serum and liver were measured. The mRNA and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), NF-κB and COX-2 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were severe steatosis, moderate inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrosis in NASH rats. After pioglitazone treatment, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly improved compared with the NASH group (χ(2) = 20.40, P < 0.001; χ(2) = 20.17, P < 0.001; χ(2) = 13.98, P = 0.002). Serum ALT, cholesterol, triglyceride, FBG, FINS levels were significantly elevated in the NASH group (P < 0.05). In the NASH group, total anti-oxidation competence (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and liver were conspicuous disordered than those parameters in the control group. Meanwhile, TNF-α and PGE(2) levels in serum and liver were significantly increased compared with the control group. Immunohistochemistry showed NF-κB and COX-2 expression in liver was significantly elevated. However, PPAR? level was decreased in the NASH group. Real-time PCR and Western blotting revealed mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 were increased in the NASH group compared with the control group (0.57 ± 0.08 vs. 2.83 ± 0.24; 0.38 ± 0.03 vs. 1.00 ± 0.03, P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). After pioglitazone intervention, all of those parameters markedly improved (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Down-regulating hepatic NF-κB and COX-2 expression, at least in part, is one of the possible therapeutic mechanisms of pioglitazone in NASH rats.
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Authors | Jia-Sheng Zhao, Feng-Shang Zhu, Su Liu, Chang-Qing Yang, Xi-Mei Chen |
Journal | Chinese medical journal
(Chin Med J (Engl))
Vol. 125
Issue 13
Pg. 2316-21
(Jul 2012)
ISSN: 2542-5641 [Electronic] China |
PMID | 22882855
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- NF-kappa B
- PPAR gamma
- Thiazolidinediones
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Malondialdehyde
- Glutathione Peroxidase
- Cyclooxygenase 2
- Superoxide Dismutase
- Alanine Transaminase
- Pioglitazone
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Topics |
- Alanine Transaminase
(blood, metabolism)
- Animals
- Cyclooxygenase 2
(genetics, metabolism)
- Fatty Liver
(drug therapy, metabolism)
- Glutathione Peroxidase
(metabolism)
- Male
- Malondialdehyde
(blood, metabolism)
- NF-kappa B
(genetics, metabolism)
- PPAR gamma
(metabolism)
- Pioglitazone
- Random Allocation
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Superoxide Dismutase
(metabolism)
- Thiazolidinediones
(therapeutic use)
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
(blood, metabolism)
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