ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo discuss the effects of Cistanches Herba phenylethanoid glycosides （CHPhGs） on the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota in alcoholic liver disease （ALD） mice were discussed. MethodThe 36 C57BL/6N female mice were randomly divided normal group， normal group of CHPhGs， model group， and low， medium， and high-dose groups （175， 350， 700 mg·kg-1） of CHPhGs， with six mice in each group. The ALD mouse model was built using Lieber-Decarli alcohol liquid feed. The normal group and low， medium， and high-dose groups of CHPhGs were given CHPhGs by gavage daily. Serum aspartate aminotransferase aminotransferase （ALT）， alanine aminotransferase （AST）， triglycerides （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） levels were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， lipopolysaccharide-binding protein （LBP）， D-lactic acid （D-LA）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and LBP of liver were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The levels of TG and TC in the liver were detected by colorimetry. Liver tissue was treated by oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The microstructure of jejunum epithelial cells was observed by electron microscope. Jejunum and colon were treated by HE staining and alcian blue-periodate-scheff (AB-PAS) staining staining， and mucin 2 （Muc2） was treated by immunohistochemistry. The intestinal contents of the normal group， normal group of CHPhGs， model group， and high-dose group of CHPhGs were collected and sequenced. ResultThe ALD model was established successfully. Compared with the normal group， the levels of serum ALT， AST， and TG， as well as the levels of liver TG and TC in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Histopathology showed that compared with the normal group， the liver cells in the model group showed obvious steatosis. Compared with the model group， the levels of serum TG and liver TG and TC in the low， medium， and high-dose groups of CHPhGs decreased significantly （P<0.05）. The serum ALT， AST， TNF-α， IL-1β， LPS， and LBP in the high-dose group of CHPhGs were also significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The number of liver cells with steatosis in the high-dose group of CHPhGs was significantly reduced， and the microvilli structure of jejunum epithelial cells was basically intact. The expression of Muc2 was reduced in the colon， and the gut microbiota of the high-dose group of CHPhGs changed significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the Allobaculum was significantly up-regulated in the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the abundance of Akkermansia in the high-dose group of CHPhGs was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The abundance of Akkermansia was negatively correlated with that of Allobaculum （r=-0.701， P<0.01）. ConclusionCHPhGs can reduce the intestinal barrier injury caused by ALD， which may play a protective role by regulating the abundance and structure of Akkermansia and Allobaculum and affecting the homeostasis of intestinal mucus.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of miRNAs in alcoholic liver injury in rats.Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into model and control groups.The model group was gavaged with 56%liquor and the control group was gavaged with distilled water for 8 weeks.Liver tissue was collected,miRNAs were analyzed,and target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by a rat miRNA chip.Gene ontology(GO)and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were used to understand the function of differentially expressed miRNA target genes.A differentially expressed miRNA-mRNA-pathway regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape to further screen important regulatory miRNAs versus important pathways.RT-qPCR was performed for selected miRNAs to validate the expression analysis.Results Twelve differentially expressed miRNAs(P<0.05,Fold change≥2)were screened out,including two upregulated and 10 downregulated miRNAs by comparative analysis of microarray data between model and control groups.GO classification annotation of differential miRNA target genes showed close associations between differentially expressed miRNAs and biological functions such as signal transduction,metabolic processes,antioxidant activity,cell killing,enzyme regulatory activity and biological regulation.Differentially expressed miRNA target genes in KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the AMPK signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,Hippo signaling pathway,Wnt signaling pathway,cancer,autophagy,insulin resistance,Ras signaling pathway,and other signaling pathways might play major regulatory roles in alcoholic liver injury lesions.Hub miRNAs and pathways screened by constructing the differentially expressed miRNA-mRNA-pathway regulatory network were miR-145-5p,miR-107-3p,miR-297,Hippo signaling pathway,cancer,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and AMPK signaling pathway.qRT-PCR validated the gene expression trends,and gene chip result were consistent.Conclusions We established an miRNA profile of alcoholic liver injury in rats,which suggests that miR-145-5p,miR-107-3p,and miR-297 play major roles in the process of alcoholic liver pathology.