Chitohexaose protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Cell Death Dis. 2016 May 12;7(5):e2224. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2016.131.

Abstract

Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP)) toxicity causes acute liver failure by inducing centrilobular hepatic damage as a consequence of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Sterile inflammation, triggered by hepatic damage, facilitates gut bacterial translocation leading to systemic inflammation; TLR4-mediated activation by LPS has been shown to have a critical role in APAP-mediated hepatotoxicity. In this study, we demonstrate significant protection mediated by chitohexaose (Chtx) in mice challenged with a lethal dose of APAP (400 mg/kg b.w.). Decreased mortality by Chtx was associated with reduced hepatic damage, increased peritoneal migration of neutrophils, decreased mRNA expression of IL-1β as well as inhibition of inflammasome activation in liver. Further, an alternate mouse model of co-administration of a sublethal doses of APAP (200 mg/kg b.w.) and LPS (5 mg/kg b.w.) operating synergistically and mediating complete mortality was developed. Overwhelming inflammation, characterized by increased inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and so on) in liver as well as in circulation and mortality was demonstrable in this model. Also, Chtx administration mediated significant reversal of mortality in APAP+LPS co-administered mice, which was associated with reduced IL-1β in liver and plasma cytokines in this model. In conclusion, Chtx being a small molecular weight linear carbohydrate offers promise for clinical management of liver failure associated with APAP overdose.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Acetaminophen / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / genetics
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / mortality
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / prevention & control*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hepatitis, Animal / chemically induced
  • Hepatitis, Animal / genetics
  • Hepatitis, Animal / mortality
  • Hepatitis, Animal / prevention & control*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Oligosaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • IL1B protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Acetaminophen
  • chitohexaose