title: The Hepatoprotective and MicroRNAs Downregulatory Effects of Crocin Following Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.
abstract: Background. Liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is one of the chief etiologies of tissue damage during liver transplantation, hypovolemic shock, and so forth. This study aimed to evaluate hepatoprotective effect of crocin on IR injury and on microRNAs (miR-122 and miR-34a) expression.Materials and Methods. 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, IR, crocin pretreatment (Cr), and crocin pretreatment + IR (Cr + IR) groups. In sham and Cr groups, animals were given normal saline (N/S) and Cr (200 mg/Kg) for 7 consecutive days, respectively, and laparotomy without inducing IR was done. In IR and Cr + IR groups, N/S and Cr were given for 7 consecutive days and rats underwent a partial (70%) ischemia for 45 min/reperfusion for 60 min. Blood and tissue samples were taken for biochemical, molecular, and histopathological examinations.Results. The results showed decreased levels of antioxidants activity and increased levels of liver enzymes improved by crocin. The expression of miR-122, miR-34a, and p53 decreased, while Nrf2 increased by crocin. Crocin ameliorated histopathological changes.Conclusion. The results demonstrated that crocin protected the liver against IR injury through increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, improving serum levels of liver enzymes, downregulating miR-122, miR-34a, and p53, and upregulating Nrf2 expression.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center (PRC), Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghaidafeh
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0454-2002
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center (PRC), Research Center for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Ali
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1483-8923
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mard
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center (PRC), Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dianat
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Esrafil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mansouri
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase