Astilbin selectively induces dysfunction of liver-infiltrating cells--novel protection from liver damage.
The present study aimed to examine the effect of astilbin, a flavanoid, on liver injury. When administered during the effector but not induction phase, astilbin significantly decreased the liver injury induced by delayed-type hypersensitivity to picryl chloride in mice. The pretreatment of nonparenchymal cells but not hepatocytes with astilbin in vitro caused a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition against the damage. Nonparenchymal cells isolated from astilbin-administered mice also showed a significant incompetence of hepatotoxicity, correlated with the inhibition of serum transaminase elevation. However, astilbin did not protect from CCl4-induced liver damage. Furthermore, the flavanoid markedly promoted the apoptosis of nonparenchymal cells from liver-injured mice, whereas did not influence those from naive mice. These results suggest that astilbin provides improvement against liver injury through a selective dysfunction of liver-infiltrating cells rather than by protecting the hepatocyte membrane. Such characteristics will be of significance to pave a new way for treating immunologically related liver diseases and for developing new drugs.
Xu
Q
Q
Department of Pharmacology for Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing.
Wu
F
F
Cao
J
J
Chen
T
T
Jiang
J
J
Saiki
I
I
Koda
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044948:Flavonols; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010853:Picryl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000637:Transaminases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; C099069:astilbin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000637:Transaminases; D010853:Picryl Chloride