RGD Reference Report - Betaine inhibits toll-like receptor 4 expression in rats with ethanol-induced liver injury. - Rat Genome Database

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Betaine inhibits toll-like receptor 4 expression in rats with ethanol-induced liver injury.

Authors: Shi, Qing-Zhao  Wang, Lu-Wen  Zhang, Wei  Gong, Zuo-Jiong 
Citation: Shi QZ, etal., World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Feb 21;16(7):897-903. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i7.897.
RGD ID: 38508901
Pubmed: PMID:20143470   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC2825338   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.3748/wjg.v16.i7.897   (Journal Full-text)


AIM: To test whether ethanol feeding could induce Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) responses, assess the hepatoprotective effect of betaine and its inhibitive effect on TLR4 in animal models of alcoholic liver injury.
METHODS: Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups as control, model, low and high dose betaine groups. Except control group, all rats were fed with high fat-containing diet plus ethanol and fish oil gavages for 8 wk. Betaine was administered intragastrically after exposure of ethanol for 4 wk. The changes of liver histology were examined. The expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The serum aminotransferase activity [alanine transarninase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], serum endotoxin, and liver inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-18 (IL-18)] were also assayed.
RESULTS: Compared with control group, rats of model group developed marked liver injury, accompanied by an increase of ALT (159.41 +/- 7.74 U/L vs 59.47 +/- 2.34 U/L, P < 0.0001), AST (248.25 +/- 1.40 U/L vs 116.89 +/- 3.48 U/L, P < 0.0001), endotoxin (135.37 +/- 30.17 ng/L vs 44.15 +/- 7.54 ng/L, P < 0.0001), TNF-alpha (20.81 +/- 8.58 pg/mL vs 9.34 +/- 2.57 pg/mL, P = 0.0003), IFN-gamma (30.18 +/- 7.60 pg/mL vs 16.86 +/- 9.49 pg/mL, P = 0.0039) and IL-18 (40.99 +/- 8.25 pg/mL vs 19.73 +/- 9.31 pg/mL, P = 0.0001). At the same time, the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was markedly induced in the liver after chronic ethanol consumption (1.45 +/- 0.07 vs 0.44 +/- 0.04, P < 0.0001; 1.83 +/- 0.13 vs 0.56 +/- 0.08, P < 0.0001). Compared with model group, betaine feeding resulted in significant decreases of ALT (64.93 +/- 6.06 U/L vs 159.41 +/- 7.74 U/L, P < 0.0001), AST (188.73 +/- 1.11 U/L vs 248.25 +/- 1.40 U/L, P < 0.0001), endotoxin (61.80 +/- 12.56 ng/L vs 135.37 +/- 30.17 ng/L, P < 0.0001), TNF-alpha (9.79 +/- 1.32 pg/mL vs 20.81 +/- 8.58 pg/mL, P = 0.0003), IFN-gamma (18.02 +/- 5.96 pg/mL vs 30.18 +/- 7.60 pg/mL, P = 0.0008) and IL-18 (18.23 +/- 7.01 pg/mL vs 40.99 +/- 8.25 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Betaine also improved liver steatosis. The expression levels of TLR4 mRNA or protein in liver tissues were significantly lowered (0.62 +/- 0.04 vs 1.45 +/- 0.07, P < 0.0001; and 0.65 +/- 0.06 vs 1.83 +/- 0.13, P < 0.0001). There was a statistical difference of TLR4 mRNA and protein expression between high- and low-dose betaine groups (0.62 +/- 0.04 vs 0.73 +/- 0.05, P < 0.0001, and 0.65 +/- 0.06 vs 0.81 +/- 0.09, P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: Betaine can prevent the alcohol-induced liver injury effectively and improve the liver function. The expression of TLR4 increases significantly in ethanol-fed rats and betaine administration can inhibit TLR4 expression.



RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

  

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Tnf  (tumor necrosis factor)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Tnf  (tumor necrosis factor)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
TNF  (tumor necrosis factor)


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