Open Access

Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high‑fat diet‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol

  • Authors:
    • Yi Guo
    • Jun‑Xiang Li
    • Tang‑You Mao
    • Wei‑Han Zhao
    • Li‑Juan Liu
    • Yun‑Liang Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 30, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5076
  • Pages: 4279-4287
  • Copyright: © Guo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GGQLD) in experimental non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into five groups: The chow, model, high‑ and low‑dose GGQLD (GGQLD‑H and GGQLD‑L, respectively) and resveratrol (Resl) groups, and were treated with saline, GGQLD and Resl when a model of high‑fat diet (HFD)‑induced NAFLD was established. Blood lipid and liver enzymes were detected following treatment for 8 weeks and liver tissue pathology was observed using Oil Red O and haematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, the liver protein and mRNA expression of sirtuin (Sirt)1, peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor‑γ coactivator (PGC)‑1α and nuclear factor κ‑light‑chain‑enhancer of activated B cells (NF‑κB) were measured using western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the chow group, the model group demonstrated significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (P<0.01). GGQLD doses and Resl attenuated the elevated serum ALT and AST levels. GGQLD‑H and Resl significantly increased the serum high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared with that in the model group (P<0.01), while GGQLD‑L and Resl significantly decreased serum low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P<0.01). The GGQLDs and Resl groups revealed an evident improvement in Sirt1 protein and mRNA expression. Although GGQLD and Resl significantly decreased NF‑κB gene expression compared with the model group (P<0.01), the effect on NF‑κB protein expression was not significant. Furthermore, the PGC‑1α gene and protein expression in the HFD rat group slightly decreased compared to the levels in the chow group, but the decrease was insignificant. However, an evident increase in PGC‑1α mRNA expression was observed in the GGQLD‑H group compared with the model group (P<0.01). Histological staining revealed that GGQLD and Resl decreased the lipid droplets in hepatocytes and normalized steatosis in rats fed with a HFD. The results indicated that GGQLD treatment may be a potent strategy for managing NAFLD by managing lipid metabolism and inflammatory and histological abnormalities by triggering the Sirt1 pathway.
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November-2017
Volume 14 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Guo Y, Li JX, Mao TY, Zhao WH, Liu LJ and Wang YL: Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high‑fat diet‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol. Exp Ther Med 14: 4279-4287, 2017
APA
Guo, Y., Li, J., Mao, T., Zhao, W., Liu, L., & Wang, Y. (2017). Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high‑fat diet‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 4279-4287. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5076
MLA
Guo, Y., Li, J., Mao, T., Zhao, W., Liu, L., Wang, Y."Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high‑fat diet‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.5 (2017): 4279-4287.
Chicago
Guo, Y., Li, J., Mao, T., Zhao, W., Liu, L., Wang, Y."Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high‑fat diet‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 5 (2017): 4279-4287. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5076