title: Dietary Nucleotides Supplementation and Liver Injury in Alcohol-Treated Rats: A Metabolomics Investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggested that nucleotides were beneficial for liver function, lipid metabolism and so on. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic response of dietary nucleotides supplementation in alcohol-induced liver injury rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five groups of male Wistar rats were used: normal control group (basal diet, equivalent distilled water), alcohol control group (basal diet, 50% alcohol (v/v)), dextrose control group (basal diet, isocaloric amount of dextrose), and 0.04% and 0.16% nucleotides groups (basal diet supplemented with 0.4 g and 1.6 g nucleotides kg(-1) respectively, 50% alcohol (v/v)). The liver injury was measured through traditional liver enzymes, expression of oxidative stress markers and histopathological examination. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was applied to identify liver metabolite profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nucleotides supplementation prevented the progression of hepatocyte steatosis. The levels of total proteins, globulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol triglyceride, as well as the oxidative stress markers altered by alcohol, were improved by nucleotides supplementation. Elevated levels of liver bile acids (glycocholic acid, chenodeoxyglycocholic acid, and taurodeoxycholic acid), as well as lipids (stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, phosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylethanolamine) in alcohol-treated rats were reversed by nucleotides supplementation. In addition, supplementation with nucleotides could increase the levels of amino acids, including valyl-Leucine, L-leucine, alanyl-leucine and L-phenylalanine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate potential biomarkers and confirm the benefit of dietary nucleotides on alcoholic liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. shuiruoran8886@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiaxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, China. baolei6230@163.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. kingsouth818@163.com.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. xumeihong@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Meihong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. rx334@163.com.
authors.forename: Ruixue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. liyongbmu@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000633:toxicity; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055442:Metabolome / Q000187:drug effects; D055432:Metabolomics; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000596:Amino Acids; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D009711:Nucleotides
keywords: alcohol; liver injury; metabolomics; nucleotides; oxidative stress