title: S-allylmercaptocysteine reduces carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic oxidative stress and necroinflammation via nuclear factor kappa B-dependent pathways in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the protective effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of SAMC on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in the mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (50 μl/kg; single dose) to induce acute hepatotoxicity with or without a 2-h pre-treatment of SAMC intraperitoneal injection (200 mg/kg; single dose). After 8 h, the blood serum and liver samples of mice were collected and subjected to measurements of histological and molecular parameters of hepatotoxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAMC reduced CCl4-triggered cellular necrosis and inflammation in the liver under histological analysis. Since co-treatment of SAMC and CCl4 enhanced the expressions of antioxidant enzymes, reduced the nitric oxide (NO)-dependent oxidative stress, and inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by CCl4. SAMC played an essential antioxidative role during CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Administration of SAMC also ameliorated hepatic inflammation induced by CCl4 via inhibiting the activity of NF-κB subunits p50 and p65, thus reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mediators, and chemokines, as well as promoting pro-regenerative factors at both transcriptional and translational levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that SAMC mitigates cellular damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity mouse model through regulation of NF-κB. Garlic or garlic derivatives may therefore be a potential food supplement in the prevention of liver damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, L1-41, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Liong
authors.forename: Ming-Tat
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Yick-Pang
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Man-Lung
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Tipoe
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016328:NF-kappa B; C086300:S-allylmercaptocysteine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003545:Cysteine