Bacground: Ghrelin has been shown to exert various biological functions. However, the effect and mechanism of ghrelin on PA- or LPS-induced liver injury remains unknown. Methods: Normal human hepatocyte lines (LO2 and 7701) were pretreated with ghrelin (10 M-8) for 30 min before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or palmitic acid (PA). The proliferation and apoptosis of cells were detected with CCK8, Hoechst staining and flow cytometric analysis. Levels of NO of cell supernatants were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein levels and mRNA of target genes of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) were measured by western blotting, immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression of Bax, Bcl2, caspase 3, p-Akt, p-P38 and p-JNK were detected by western blotting. Results: Results of CCK8, Hoechst staining and flow cytometric analysis showed that ghrelin-pretreatment attenuated LPS- or PA-induced cellular proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction. ELISA results revealed that ghrelin pretreatment reduced levels of NO of cell supernatants (P < 0.05). Results of western blotting and immunofluorescence showed that protein levels of iNOS in ghrelin-pretreated group were significantly reduced compared with LPS-or PA-treated group, while protein levels of eNOS were restored by ghrelin pretreatment. Results of qRT-PCR showed that mRNA levels of Bax, iNOS were reduced by ghrelin pretreatment, while levels of mRNA of Bcl2 and eNOS were increased (P < 0.05). The protein levels of pAkt were significantly increased by ghrelin pretreatment, while the protein levels of p-JNK, p-P38 and caspase 3 were reduced. The restoration of eNOS could be reversed by an Akt inhibitor. Conclusions: Ghrelin pretreatment attenuated LPS-or PA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis, which may least partly via inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/iNOS and restoration of Akt/eNOS pathways. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
[1]Fudan Univ, Jinshan Hosp, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, 1508 Longhang Rd, Shanghai 201508, Peoples R China.
[2]Wenzhou Med Univ, Cent Hosp Lishui City, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.
[3]Tongji Univ, Shanghai Peoples Hosp 10, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, 301 Yanchang Rd, Shanghai 200072, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)