title: Hepatoprotective effect of DT56a is associated with changes in natural killer T cells and regulatory T cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the metabolic and immunological effects of the oral administration of DT56a, an enzymatic isolate of soybeans.
  
  
  METHODS
  DT56a was orally administered to mice in three animal models: leptin deficiency, high-fat diet (HFD) supplementation and immune-mediated hepatitis. Liver damage and immunological status were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of DT56a to leptin-deficient (ob/ob) and HFD mice led to a significant reduction in serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. DT56a-treated mice in both models exhibited a significant reduction in hepatic levels of TG and marked alleviation of glycemic control as indicated by significant decreases in fasting blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance tests. The levels of liver enzymes were reduced. These metabolic effects were associated with altered distributions of regulatory T (Tregs) and natural killer T (NKT) cells. DT56a suppressed the immune-mediated liver damage induced by concanavalin A indicated by decreased liver enzymes and serum interferon-γ levels and by improved histology and decreased hepatic apoptosis. Oral administration of DT56a also alleviated immune-mediated hepatitis and affected Tregs and NKT cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of DT56a promotes a hepatoprotective effect associated with an alteration in the distribution of Tregs and NKT cells.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Yehudit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shabat
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.forename: Lydya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zolotarov
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Ya'acov
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ilan
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C478341:DT56a; D004041:Dietary Fats; D020738:Leptin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase