Hepatoprotective effect of Arazyme on CCl4-induced acute hepatic injury in SMP30 knock-out mice

Toxicology. 2008 Apr 18;246(2-3):132-42. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2008.01.006. Epub 2008 Jan 19.

Abstract

Arazyme is a novel protease produced by the HY-3 strain of Aranicola proteolyticus, which is a Gram-negative aerobic bacterium that has been isolated from the intestine of the spider Nephila clavata. This study focused on the hepatoprotective effect of Arazyme on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatic injury in senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) knock-out (KO) mice and SMP30 wild-type (WT) mice. WT mice and SMP30 KO mice were divided into eight groups as follows: (i) two negative control groups (G1, G5) which were treated with a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) olive oil injection. (ii) Two positive control groups (G2, G6) which received a single i.p. CCl4 (0.4mL/kg) injection. (iii) Two vitamin C-treated groups (G3, G7) which received a single oral administration of vitamin C (100mg/kg) and were injected with a single i.p. CCl4 (0.4mL/kg). (iv) Two Arazyme-treated groups (G4, G8) which received a single oral administration of Arazyme (500mg/kg) and were injected with a single i.p. CCl4 (0.4mL/kg). Through present study, we could find that Arazyme-treated groups showed decreased degree of liver injury, increased expression of SMP30, decreased expression of phospho-Smad3 (p-Smad3), elevated expression of antioxidant proteins including sorbitol dehydrogenase, dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), dehydrofolate reductase (DHFR), NADH dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase kappa 1 (GSTK1) and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) compared with non-Arazyme-treated groups. Therefore, it is concluded that Arazyme plays a significant role in protecting injured hepatocytes by increasing the expression of SMP30, inhibiting the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/Smad pathway and elevating the expression of antioxidant proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / prevention & control*
  • Chemoprevention
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Metalloproteases / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Proteomics
  • Serratia / enzymology
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Rgn protein, mouse
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Smad3 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Metalloproteases
  • Ascorbic Acid