Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.1 (aspartate aminotransferase)
21,665 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Sepsis is associated with an activation of the coagulation system and multiorgan failure. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of selective thrombin inhibition with melagatran on renal hemodynamics and function, and liver integrity, during early endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was induced in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats by an intravenous bolus dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 6 mg/kg). Sham-Saline, LPS-Saline, and LPS-Melagatran study groups received isotonic saline or melagatran immediately before (0.75 micromol/kg iv) and continuously during (0.75 micromol.kg(-1).h(-1) iv) 4.5 h of endotoxemia. Kidney function, renal blood flow (RBF), and intrarenal cortical and outer medullary perfusion (OMLDF) measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry were analyzed throughout. Markers of liver injury and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were measured in plasma after 4.5 h of endotoxemia. In addition, liver histology and gene expression were examined. Melagatran treatment prevented the decline in OMLDF observed in the LPS-Saline group (P < 0.05, LPS-Melagatran vs. LPS-Saline). However, melagatran did not ameliorate reductions in mean arterial pressure, RBF, renal cortical perfusion, and glomerular filtration rate or attenuate tubular dysfunctions during endotoxemia. Melagatran reduced the elevated plasma concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (-34 +/- 11%, P < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase (-21 +/- 7%, P < 0.05), bilirubin (-44 +/- 9%, P < 0.05), and TNF-alpha (-32 +/- 14%, P < 0.05) in endotoxemia. Melagatran did not diminish histological abnormalities in the liver or the elevated hepatic gene expression of TNF-alpha, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase in endotoxemic rats. In summary, thrombin inhibition with melagatran preserved renal OMLDF, attenuated liver dysfunction, and reduced plasma TNF-alpha levels during early endotoxemia.
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PMID:Effects of thrombin inhibition with melagatran on renal hemodynamics and function and liver integrity during early endotoxemia. 1706 59

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by the fugus Fusarium verticillioides, a common fungus growing on corn. Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is the most toxic and prevalent fumonisin detected in corn and corn-based foods. It produces species-, gender-specific damage, and is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic in rodents. Disruption of sphingolipid metabolism resulting from inhibition of ceramide synthase leads to alterations of cell signaling events, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha signal pathways and to the toxic effects of FB(1). It has been reported that FB(1) toxicity involves oxidative stress. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and methylthioadenosine (MTA), an intermediate metabolite in SAM metabolism, are hepatoprotective by modulating TNFalpha expression and increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. The current study investigated the effects of SAM and MTA on FB(1) hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6N mice. The animals were given SAM or MTA by intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg kg(-1) body weight every 12 h when they received subcutaneous injection of 2.25 mg FB(1) kg(-1) body weight once daily for 5 days. The results showed that neither SAM nor MTA protected FB(1)-induced liver damage indicated by the increases in activities of plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase as well as the number of apoptotic hepatocytes. Both agents prevented an increase of free sphingosine but not sphinganine. Neither SAM nor MTA modified the FB(1)-induced expression of TNFalpha, interleukin (IL)-1alpha or IL-1 receptor antagonist. The decreased GSH in liver following FB(1) treatment was not protected by either agent. The data indicate that SAM and MTA are ineffective in protecting against FB(1) toxic effects.
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PMID:S-adenosylmethionine or 5'-methylthioadenosine are unable to prevent fumonisin B1 hepatotoxicity in mice despite increased oxidation in liver. 1708 Apr

The liver can be injured and its functions altered by activation of the coagulation and inflammatory processes in sepsis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the pattern of protease- activated receptors (PARs) over time in a model of acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS); and whether PARs play a role in this process and exert their effects through inflammation and coagulation. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) were significantly expressed 1 h after LPS administration followed by: i) an increase in levels of tissue factor, factor VIIa, thrombin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; ii) unchanged or steady levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor; and iii) subsequent deposition of fibrin in the liver tissue, that led to the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which are associated with liver injury. The expression of all PAR isoforms (1-4) was elevated, and each isoform had a distinct cellular localization (hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, the portal triad area, and central veins) and a time-dependent pattern of expression. The immuno-reactivity of PAR2 and 4 in Kupffer cells was intense. Interestingly, PAR2 blocking peptide improved the healing of liver injuries, an effect that was associated with suppression of TNF-a elevation, and normalization of coagulation and fibrinolysis. This ultimately led to decreased fibrin formation in the injured liver. The present study reveals a distinct chronological expression and cellular localization of PARs in LPS-mediated liver injury and shows that blockade of PAR2 may play a crucial role in treating liver injury, via normalization of inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways.
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PMID:Chronological expression of PAR isoforms in acute liver injury and its amelioration by PAR2 blockade in a rat model of sepsis. 1713 80

Brief and sublethal ischaemia renders an organ tolerant to subsequent prolonged ischaemia, which is called ischaemic preconditioning (IPC). In regard to the beneficial effects and endogenous mechanisms of renal delayed IPC, few data are available. In this study, we aim at determining reno-protective effects of delayed IPC against ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and illustrating whether these effects are associated with suppressing inflammation and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. I/R injury was induced by clamping both renal pedicles for 40 min, followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The rats were subjected to ischaemia for 20 min (preconditioning) or sham surgery (non- preconditioning) at day 4 before I/R. Functional and morphological parameters were evaluated at 24 h after reperfusion. At the same time, macrophage (ED-1(+)) infiltration, and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, I kappa B-alpha degradation and NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity were analyzed. Compared with rats exposed to I/R injury, preconditioned rats had a significant decrease in levels of serum creatinine (Scr, 384.3 +/- 21.8 micromol/L vs. 52.5 +/- 21.7 micromol/L; p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN, 40.4 +/- 2.7 mmol/L vs. 15.9 +/- 4.2 mmol/L; p<0.001) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST, 486.7 +/- 58.6 IU/L vs. 267.3 +/- 43.9 IU/L; p<0.001). Parallel to the above changes, preconditioned rats preserved structural integrity and decreased tubulointerstitial damage scores (3.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.05; p<0.001) and ED-1(+) cell infiltration (25.3 +/- 3.5 vs. 6.2 +/- 1.2 cells/HPF, p<0.01). Furthermore, our results showed that the expression of ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha, the degree of I kappa B-alpha degradation, and NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity were reduced by IPC. Taken together, our results demonstrated that delayed IPC offered both functional and histological protection, which may be related to suppression of inflammation in preconditioned kidneys.
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PMID:Renal protection by delayed ischaemic preconditioning is associated with inhibition of the inflammatory response and NF-kappaB activation. 1722 34

We examined whether treatment with amodiaquine, a potent inhibitor of histamine N-methyltransferase protects mice from Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)-primed and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatitis. The subcutaneous injection of amodiaquine (2 and 5 mg/kg) significantly increased the histamine levels in the liver in comparison to saline treated mice. Pretreatment with amodiaquine also improved the survival rate of the hepatitis mice, and this improvement was partially associated with the decrease in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Amodiaquine partially suppressed increases of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the serum and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the liver, whereas the expression of interleukin (IL)-18, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-12 in the liver was not changed by amodiaquine treatment. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that the elevation of endogenous histamine by amodiaquine may thus play a protective role through the regulation of TNF-alpha production in endotoxin-induced hepatic injury mice.
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PMID:Effect of amodiaquine, a histamine N-methyltransferase inhibitor, on, Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatitis in mice. 1722 19

Cholestasis is a major complication in sepsis although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of P-selectin and leukocyte recruitment in endotoxemia-associated cholestasis. C57BL/6 mice were challenged intraperitoneally with endotoxin (0.4 mg/kg), and 6 h later the common bile duct was cannulated for determination of bile flow and biliary excretion of bromosulfophthalein. Mice were pretreated with an anti-P-selectin antibody or an isotype-matched control antibody. Leukocyte infiltration was determined by measuring hepatic levels of myeloperoxidase. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and CXC chemokines in the liver was determined by ELISA. Liver damage was monitored by measuring serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Apoptosis was quantified morphologically by nuclear condensation and fragmentation using Hoechst 33342 staining. Endotoxin induced a significant inflammatory response with increased TNF-alpha and CXC chemokine concentrations, leukocyte infiltration, liver enzyme release, and apoptotic cell death. This response was associated with pronounced cholestasis indicated by a >70% decrease of bile flow and biliary excretion of bromosulfophthalein. Immunoneutralization of P-selectin significantly attenuated endotoxin-induced leukocyte infiltration reflected by a >60% reduction of hepatic myeloperoxidase levels. Interference with P-selectin decreased endotoxin-mediated hepatocellular apoptosis and necrosis, but did not affect hepatic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and CXC chemokines. Of interest, inhibition of P-selectin restored bile flow and biliary excretion of bromosulfophthalein to normal levels in endotoxin-challenged animals. Our study demonstrates for the first time that P-selectin-mediated recruitment of leukocytes, but not the local production of proinflammatory mediators, is the primary cause of cholestasis in septic liver injury.
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PMID:Sepsis-associated cholestasis is critically dependent on P-selectin-dependent leukocyte recruitment in mice. 1725 63

Mercury(II) is a highly toxic metal which induces oxidative stress in the body. In this study we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), an antioxidant agent, against experimental mercury toxicity in rat model. Following a single dose of 5mg/kg mercuric chloride (HgCl(2); Hg group) either saline or EGb (150mg/kg) was administered for 5days. After decapitation of the rats trunk blood was obtained and the tissue samples from the brain, lung, liver, and kidney were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen contents. Formation of reactive oxygen species in the tissue samples was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) technique. BUN, creatinin, ALT, and AST levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assayed in serum samples. The results revealed that HgCl(2) induced oxidative damage caused significant decrease in GSH level, significant increase in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content of the tissues. Treatment of rats with EGb significantly increased the GSH level and decreased the MDA level, MPO activity, and collagen contents. Similarly, serum ALT, AST and BUN levels, as well as LDH and TNF-alpha, were elevated in the Hg group as compared to control group. On the other hand, EGb treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. Our results implicate that mercury-induced oxidative damage in brain, lung, liver, and kidney tissues protected by G. biloba extract, with its antioxidant effects.
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PMID:Ginkgo biloba extract protects against mercury(II)-induced oxidative tissue damage in rats. 1726 89

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a dramatic clinical syndrome characterized by massive hepatocyte apoptosis and very high mortality. The c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is an important stress-responsive kinase activated by several forms of liver injury. The aim of this study is to assess the role of JNK during D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury, an experimental model of FHF, using SP600125, a small molecule JNK-specific inhibitor. Mice were given an intraperitoneal dose of GalN (800 microg/g body weight)/LPS (100 ng/g body weight) with and without subcutaneous SP600125 (50 mg/kg body weight) treatment (at 6 and 2 h before and 2 h after GalN/LPS administration). GalN/LPS treatment induced sustained JNK activation. Administration of SP600125 diminished JNK activity, suppressed lethality and the elevation of both serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, but had no effect on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and reduced hepatocyte apoptosis after GalN/LPS administration. In support of the role of JNK in promoting the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway, SP600125 prevented cytochrome c release, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, SP600125 downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Bad in the early periods following GalN/LPS injection and prevented Bid cleavage in the late periods. These results confirm the role of JNK as a critical apoptotic mediator in GalN/LPS-induced FHF. SP600125 has the potential to protect FHF by downregulating Bad and inhibiting Bid cleavage.
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PMID:An inhibitor of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, SP600125, protects mice from D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic failure by modulating BH3-only proteins. 1730 Aug 14

Lead (Pb) increases lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha, which causes liver damage. In this study, we investigated the effect of sesame oil on Pb-plus-LPS (Pb + LPS)-induced acute liver damage in mice. Mice were given sesame oil (8 mL/kg orally) just after Pb acetate (10 mmol/kg i.p.) plus LPS (5 mg/kg i.p.). Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, nitric oxide, and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels were examined. Sesame oil significantly decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in Pb + LPS-stimulated mice. Sesame oil reduced Pb + LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and nitric oxide production in serum and liver tissue. Furthermore, sesame oil decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in leukocytes and liver tissue in Pb + LPS-treated mice. We hypothesize that the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide might be involved in sesame oil-associated protection against Pb + LPS-induced acute hepatic injury in mice.
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PMID:Sesame oil protects against lead-plus-lipopolysaccharide-induced acute hepatic injury. 1730 16

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) contributes to early and late dysfunction of liver transplants. We have shown that sentinel Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) plays a key role in the activation of T cell immune responses during hepatic IRI. We have also documented that overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) exerts potent cytoprotective effects. This study analyzes how adenovirus (Ad)-based viral interleukin-10 (vIL-10) gene transfer affects TLR4 and HO-1 signaling in host innate and adaptive immunity during liver IRI. Using a partial lobar warm IRI model, groups of wild-type and HO-1(+/-) knockout (KO) mice were assessed for severity of hepatocellular damage after 90 min of warm ischemia followed by 6 hr of reperfusion. Both wild-type and HO-1 (+/-) KO mice treated with Ad-vIL-10 have shown improved hepatic function (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase levels), ameliorated histological signs of IRI (Suzuki's score), decreased neutrophil accumulation (myeloperoxidase activity), and depressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha/IL-1beta, IL-2/interferon-gamma, E-selectin, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 expression. These effects were IL-10 dependent as treatment with neutralizing antibody re-created liver IRI. In contrast, untreated wild-type and HO-1 (+/-) KO mice, as well as wild-type and HO-1 (+/-) KO mice treated with Ad-beta-Gal, showed severe hepatocellular damage due to IRI. Unlike in controls, wild-type and HO-1 (+/-) KO mice treated with Ad-vIL-10 revealed markedly depressed TLR4 and NF-kappaB expression, along with increased HO-1 and Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) expression, as compared with respective controls. Thus, vIL-10 gene transfer prevents hepatic IRI in association with depressed expression of innate TLR4, and adaptive Th1 cytokine/chemokine programs. The induction of antioxidant HO-1 and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) by vIL-10 exerts synergistic cytoprotective function against antigen-independent hepatic inflammatory response triggered by IRI.
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PMID:Viral interleukin-10 gene transfer prevents liver ischemia-reperfusion injury: Toll-like receptor-4 and heme oxygenase-1 signaling in innate and adaptive immunity. 1743 57


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