Preventive effects of Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium on the liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide.
Thioacetamide (TAA), usually used as a fungicide to control the decay of citrus products, itself is not toxic to the liver, but its intermediates are able to increase oxidative stress in livers and further cause fibrosis. Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium (OSM) which contains 10% polysaccharides and 0.25% adenosine decreased (P < 0.05) the lipid accumulation and increased (P < 0.05) antioxidative capacity in livers of thioacetamide (TAA) injected rats. Meanwhile, the increased (P < 0.05) liver sizes, serum alanine transaminase (AST) and aspartate transaminase (ALT) values in thioacetamide (TAA)-injected rats were ameliorated (P < 0.05) by OSM supplementation. Moreover, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were also reduced (P < 0.05). The fibrosis phenomena in pathological (Masson's trichrome and H&E stainings) and immunohistochemical [α-smooth actin (αSMA) and CD86/ED1] observations in TAA-treated rats were reduced (P < 0.05) by OSM cotreatment. The protective effect of OSM against TAA-induced liver inflammation/fibrosis may be via downregulations (P < 0.05) of TGF-β pathways and NFκB which further influenced (P < 0.05) the expressions of fibrotic and inflammatory genes (i. e., αSMA, Col1α, COX2). Therefore, OSM shows preventive effects on the development of TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis.
Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Yi-Hsieng Samuel
YS
Wu
Department of Optometry, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
Jung-Kai
JK
Tseng
School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.|Zoonoses Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Chung-Hsi
CH
Chou
Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Chih-Hsien
CH
Chiu
Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Yi-Ling
YL
Lin
Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.|Zoonoses Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Yi-Chen
YC
Chen
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000737:chemistry*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013853:Thioacetamide; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium; antioxidative capacity; liver inflammation/fibrosis; thioacetamide