Chinese herb extract improves liver steatosis by promoting the expression of high molecular weight adiponectin in NAFLD rats

  • Authors:
    • Xudong Liu
    • Wangxia Tong
    • Xiaofang Zhao
    • Hongxing Zhang
    • Yanfang Tang
    • Xin Deng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 18, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7284
  • Pages: 5580-5586
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Abstract

High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin (APN) is closely correlated with the development of fatty liver and is modulated by the Akt/forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) pathway through disulfide‑bond A oxidoreductase‑like protein (DsbA‑L). The Chinese herb extract, QSHX, is used to treat liver diseases. The present study investigated the effects of QSHX on non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanism. A rat model of NAFLD was established by feeding of a high‑fat and high‑sugar diet for 20 weeks. From week 13, the rats were administered with QSHX, or saline as a control, for 8 weeks. The liver function, blood fat and plasma APN were measured using a radioimmunoassay. The hepatic tissue score was measured following staining for pathology. The expression and activities of Akt, FOXO1, DsbA‑L and HMW APN in the adipose tissue and primary adipocytes of the rats were measured using western blot analysis. It was found that QSHX significantly decreased the body weight, liver index, and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and triglyceride; and increased the serum level of APN in the NAFLD rats. Following 8 weeks of treatment with QSHX, the hepatic steatosis in the liver tissue improved and the score of hepatic steatosis was significantly decreased. The results of the western blot analysis indicated that QSHX promoted the expression of DsbA‑L and HMW APN, and reduced the expression levels of phosphorylated FOXO1 and FOXO1 in adipose tissue and primary adipocytes. It was concluded that QSHX reduced hepatic steatosis by promoting the expression of HMW APN and DsbA‑L, which may have been induced by inhibiting the activation and expression of FOXO1 in adipocytes.

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October-2017
Volume 16 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Liu X, Tong W, Zhao X, Zhang H, Tang Y and Deng X: Chinese herb extract improves liver steatosis by promoting the expression of high molecular weight adiponectin in NAFLD rats. Mol Med Rep 16: 5580-5586, 2017
APA
Liu, X., Tong, W., Zhao, X., Zhang, H., Tang, Y., & Deng, X. (2017). Chinese herb extract improves liver steatosis by promoting the expression of high molecular weight adiponectin in NAFLD rats. Molecular Medicine Reports, 16, 5580-5586. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7284
MLA
Liu, X., Tong, W., Zhao, X., Zhang, H., Tang, Y., Deng, X."Chinese herb extract improves liver steatosis by promoting the expression of high molecular weight adiponectin in NAFLD rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 16.4 (2017): 5580-5586.
Chicago
Liu, X., Tong, W., Zhao, X., Zhang, H., Tang, Y., Deng, X."Chinese herb extract improves liver steatosis by promoting the expression of high molecular weight adiponectin in NAFLD rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 16, no. 4 (2017): 5580-5586. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7284