Ginsenoside Rd Inhibited Ferroptosis to Alleviate CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice via cGAS/STING Pathway

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced lipid peroxidation associated with hepatic oxidative stress and cell death is an important mechanism of acute liver injury (ALI). Ginsenoside Rd is considered an active ingredient of ginseng. Evidence suggests that ginsenoside Rd may improve ischaemic stroke, nerve damage, cancer and other diseases involving apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial injury and autophagy. However, the effects of ginsenoside Rd on CCl₄-induced ALI and its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, 0.25% CCl₄ was injected intraperitoneally in mice to establish a CCl₄-induced ALI model. In the Rd treatment group, Rd (10, 20[Formula: see text]mg/kg) doses were injected intraperitoneally 1[Formula: see text]h before and 23[Formula: see text]h after CCl₄ administration. Ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin (IKE) was injected intraperitoneally 4[Formula: see text]h before CCl₄ administration to explore the mechanism. The blood and liver were collected 24[Formula: see text]h after CCl₄ administration to investigate the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rd on CCl₄-induced ALI. Our results showed that ginsenoside Rd inhibited CCl₄-induced ALI in mice. Ginsenoside Rd also downregulated CCl₄-induced serum and liver iron, 4-hydroxynonenal, and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine levels. Furthermore, it upregulated glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 levels. In addition, ginsenoside Rd downregulated the expression of cGAS and STING. Subsequently, the ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin significantly reversed the hepatoprotective effect and influence of ginsenoside Rd with regard to the indicators mentioned above. Our study confirmed that ginsenoside Rd ameliorated CCl₄-induced ALI in mice, which was related to the reduction of ferroptosis. Simultaneously, the ginsenoside Rd-mediated inhibition of the cGAS/STING pathway contributed to its antiferroptosis effect. In conclusion, our results suggested that ginsenoside Rd inhibited ferroptosis via the cGAS/STING pathway, thereby protecting mice from CCl₄-induced ALI. These results suggested ginsenoside Rd may be used as a potential intervention treatment against CCl₄-induced ALI.

Keywords: Acute Liver Injury; Carbon Tetrachloride; Ferroptosis; Ginsenoside Rd; cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway.