[The protection mechanisms of glycine against liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharides].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the protective mechanisms of glycine (Gly) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced liver injury.


METHODS
BABL/c mice were randomly divided into a LPS group, in which the animals were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg LPS, and a Gly group, in which the mice were pretreated with a 5% Gly-containing diet for 3 days before receiving the same dose of LPS. The livers of the mice were examined for histopathological changes. The TNF alpha and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the blood plasma were measured using ELISA analysis. The mRNA expression of TNF alpha, IL-10 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in hepatic tissues were detected using RT-PCR analysis. Protein expression of TLR4 in livers was detected using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The Gly group mice had an improved survival rate and attenuated LPS-induced pathological changes in the liver tissues in comparison with those of the LPS group animals. The TNF alpha levels [(1,852.80+/-126.64) pg/ml vs (708.83+/-51.29) pg/ml, P<0.05] in plasma, as well as the expression of TNF alpha (A 1.59+/-0.14 vs. 0.91+/-0.11, P<0.05) and TLR4 (A 0.97+/-0.12 vs. 0.53+/-0.11, P<0.05) mRNA in liver tissues were decreased. However, the levels of plasma interleukin-10 [(344.09+/-31.70) pg/ml vs (418.64+/-38.86) pg/ml, P<0.05] were significantly increased and the peaking time left, shifted.


CONCLUSIONS
Gly pretreatment could attenuate LPS -induced liver injury in mice, which may be associated with its role in down-regulating TLR4 expression and up-regulating IL-10 production.
You
Hai-bo
HB
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China.
Wang
Qiang
Q
Li
Xu-hong
XH
Chen
Xian-feng
XF
Liu
Zuo-jin
ZJ
Gong
Jian-ping
JP
D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D005998:Glycine