title: [Effects of puerarin on expressions of leptin receptor mRNA, phosphorylated Janus kinase 2/phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 proteins in the liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of puerarin on the expressions of leptin receptor mRNA and phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 / phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (P-JAK2/P-STAT3) proteins in the liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of NAFLD was successfully established by feeding high-fat diet. All SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, untreated group, simvastatin-treated group and puerarin-treated group. After four-week treatment, the levels of hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol were analyzed by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathology of the liver tissue was observed by light microscopy. Serum leptin level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expressions of leptin receptor mRNA and P-JAK2/P-STAT3 proteins in the liver of NAFLD rats were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Puerarin significantly decreased the levels of hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol in NAFLD rats. Fat degeneration and inflammatory reaction in liver tissues of NAFLD rats were ameliorated after puerarin treatment. The serum leptin level was increased and the expressions of leptin receptor mRNA and P-JAK2/P-STAT3 proteins were up-regulated in puerarin-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Puerarin can effectively attenuate liver lipid disorder and inflammation by improving the leptin resistance and enhancing the expressions of leptin receptor mRNA and P-JAK2/P-STAT3 proteins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digestive Diseases and Department of Gastroenterology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Pei-Yong
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zan-Song
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yong-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lian-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D007529:Isoflavones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; C507927:Jak2 protein, rat; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; C033607:puerarin