title: Methane-rich saline protects against concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice through anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative pathways.
abstract: Methane is a common gas which has been reported to play a protective role in organ injury and presents an anti-inflammatory property. However, its effects on Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methane on Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice and its underlying mechanism. Autoimmune hepatitis was induced by Con A (15 mg/kg) in healthy C57BL/6 mice and methane-rich saline (MS) (20 ml/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 30 min after the challenge with Con A. We found that methane treatment significantly reduced the elevated serum aminotransferase levels and ameliorated liver pathological damage. Furthermore, methane treatment obviously suppressed the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Moreover, we found that the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were highly increased while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were decreased in liver with the injection of Con A, which was reversed by methane. Also, the data demonstrated that the phosphorylated IκB, NF-κB and P38 MAPK in liver were significantly down-regulated by methane. These results suggested that methane protected liver against Con A-induced injury through anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative pathways.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Anesthesia Application Technology, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, Fuzhou 350025, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Jiali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Anesthesia Application Technology, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Suhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Anesthesia Application Technology, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: lijinbaoshanghai@163.com.
authors.forename: Jinbao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Anesthesia Application Technology, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu, China; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: deng_x@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008697:Methane / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008697:Methane
keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; Concanavalin A; Inflammation; Methane; Oxidant stress