Astaxanthin prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury of the steatotic liver in mice

Shaowei Li, Terumi Takahara*, Masayuki Fujino, Yasuyuki Fukuhara, Toshiro Sugiyama, Xiao Kang Li, Shiro Takahara

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Steatosis has a low tolerance against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). To prevent IRI in the steatotic liver, we attempted to elucidate the protective effect of astaxanthin (ASTX) in the steatotic liver model by giving mice a methionine and choline-deficient high fat (MCDHF) diet. Levels of lipid peroxidation and apoptosis, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, in the liver were assessed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis-related proteins and members of the signaling pathway were also examined in isolated Kupffer cells and/or hepatocytes from the steatotic liver. ASTX decreased serum ALT and AST levels, the amount of TUNEL, F4/80, or 4HNE-posi-tive cells and the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in MCDHF mice by IRI. Moreover, HO-1 and HIF-1α, phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR expressions were increased by ASTX. The inflammatory cytokines produced by Kupffer, which were subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation (HR), were inhibited by ASTX. Expressions of Bcl-2, HO-1 and Nrf2 in hepatocytes by HR were increased, whereas Caspases activation, Bax and phosphorylation of ERK, MAPK, and JNK were suppressed by ASTX. Pretreatment with ASTX has a protective effect and is a safe therapeutic treatment for IRI, including for liver transplantation of the steatotic liver.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0187810
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume12
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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