Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in OB/OB Mice Treated with Yo Jyo Hen Shi Ko (YHK) : Effects on Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) and Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTP)

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences 2007-12, Vol.52 (12), p.3448-3454
• Main Authors: STEFANO, José Tadeu, SOUZA DE OLIVEIRA, Claudia Pinto Marques, CORREA-GIANNELLA, Maria Lucia, DE LIMA, Vicencia Mara Rodrigues, VALERIA DE SA, Sandra, PIERRE DE OLIVEIRA, Ellen, SOBROZA DE MELLO, Evandro, GIANNELLA, Daniel, ALVES, Venancio Avancini Ferreira, CARRILHO, Flair José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - biosynthesis; Carrier Proteins - drug effects; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Fatty Liver - drug therapy; Fatty Liver - genetics; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gene Expression - genetics; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatocytes - pathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Obese; Microsomes, Liver; Other diseases. Semiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy - methods; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; PPAR alpha - biosynthesis; PPAR alpha - drug effects; PPAR alpha - genetics; PPAR gamma - biosynthesis; PPAR gamma - drug effects; PPAR gamma - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-007-9810-8

YHK has antioxidant properties, has a hypoglycemic effect, and may reduce plasma lipid levels. In this study, we examined the hepatic expression of PPAR-alpha and -gamma and MTP in ob/ob mice receiving or not receiving YHK. Ob/ob mice were assigned to receive oral YHK (20 mg/kg/day) fed solution (methionine/choline-deficient [MCD] diet+YHK group) or vehicle (MCD group) by gavage for 4 weeks. Liver fragments were collected for histologic examination and mRNA isolation. PPAR-alpha and -gamma and MTP gene expression was examined by RT-qPCR. YHK treatment was associated with NASH prevention, weight loss, and reduction of visceral fat and of serum concentrations of aminotransferases in comparison to the MCD group. YHK promoted an increment in PPAR-alpha and MTP and a decrement in PPAR-gamma mRNA contents. These findings suggest that modulation of PPAR-alpha and -gamma and MTP RNA expression may be implicated in the protective effect of YHK in experimental NASH, limiting hepatocyte lipid accumulation.