Acetaminophen (
APAP) overdose-induced acute liver injury (AILI) is a significant clinical problem worldwide, the hepatotoxicity mechanisms are well elucidated, but the factors involved in the
necrosis and repair still remain to be investigated.
APAP was injected intraperitoneally in male Institute of
Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Quantitative
proteome analysis of liver tissues was performed by 2-nitrobenzenesulfenyl tagging, two-dimensional-nano high-performance liquid chromatography separation, and matrix-assisted
laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis. Diffrenetial
proteins were verified by the immunochemistry method. 36 and 44 differentially expressed
proteins were identified, respectively, at 24 hr after
APAP (200 or 300 mg·kg -1 ) administration. The decrease in the mitochondrial protective
proteins Prdx6, Prdx3, and Aldh2 accounted for the accumulation of excessive
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and
aldehydes, impairing mitochondria structure and function. The Gzmf combined with Bax and Apaf-1 jointly contributed to the
necrosis. The blockage of Stat3 activation led to the overexpression of unphosphorylated Stat3 and the overproduction of Bax. The overexpression of unphosphorylated Stat3 represented
necrosis; the alternation from Stat3 to p-Stat3 in necrotic regions represented hepatocytes from death to renewal. The high expressions of P4hα1,
Ncam, α-SMA, and Cygb were involved in the liver repair, they were not only the markers of activated HSC but also represented an intermediate stage of hepatocytes from damage or
necrosis to renewal. Our data provided a comprehensive report on the profile and dynamic changes of the liver
proteins in AILI; the involvement of Gzmf and the role of Stat3 in
necrosis were revealed; and the role of hepatocyte in liver self-repair was well clarified.