"Yajieshaba" prevents acute alcoholic liver injury and repairs the intestinal mucosal barrier

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: An essential factor related to the acute alcoholic liver injury is damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Yajieshaba (YJSB) is a commonly used formulation of Dai people in China and protects the liver.

Aim of the study: This study investigated whether YJSB can prevent acute alcoholic liver injury by regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier.

Materials and methods: The mice received 0.39 g/kg, 1.17 g/kg, and 3.51 g/kg dose YJSB for 7 days, a mouse model of acute alcoholic liver injury was established by a single instillation of 56% alcohol. Plasma biochemical markers were analyzed, liver injury was identified by histopathology, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF-κB), hepatic inflammatory factors, oxidative stress factors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was analyzed. The morphological changes of intestinal histology were observed by H&E staining, and the ultrastructure of ileal cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence and Western blot was used to determine the expression levels of transporters and enzymes involved in Claudin 1, Occludin and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) homeostasis in the liver and intestine.

Results: The findings showed that YJSB reduced the levels of aspartate aminotr ansferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bile acid (TBA), both of which are indicators of liver function and had a protective effect against liver injury. In the liver homogenate, YJSB reduced the level of LPS, NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), decreased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) and ROS. The results of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that YJSB reduced the degree of damage to intestinal tissue and intracellular organelles, implying that YJSB can reduce the "attack factor" that causes intestinal barrier damage, increase the "defense factor" that protects the intestinal barrier. The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis showed that YJSB could increase the expression of claudin 1, occludin, and ZO-1 proteins, suggesting that the mechanism of action of YJSB against acute alcohol liver injury involves the upregulation of the expression of the intestinal barrier-related proteins and the repair of the damaged intestinal barrier.

Conclusions: YJSB can block LPS, oxidative stress factors, and other harmful substances in the blood and protect the liver resisting acute alcoholic liver injury.

Keywords: Acute alcoholic liver injury; Intestinal mucosa barrier; Mechanism; Yajieshaba.