Protective role of AGK2 on thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure in mice

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of AGK2 as a selective SIRT2 inhibitor on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) in mice and its potential mechanism.

Main methods: All male C57BL/6 mice were separated into control, TAA, AGK2 + TAA, and AGK2 groups. The histological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The apoptosis cells of liver tissues were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were used to evaluate the damage of liver function. The inflammatory cytokines of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR assay. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB, and apoptosis pathways was determined by Western blotting.

Key findings: AGK2 improved the damage of TAA-induced liver pathology and function. AGK2 pretreatment also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ALF liver tissues. AGK2 improved the TAA-induced survival rate. Moreover, AGK2 administration suppressed the increase of phosphorylation NF-κB-p65 and the activation of MAPK pathway. In addition, pretreatment alleviated TAA-induced the liver cells apoptosis.

Significance: AGK2 improve TAA-induced survival rate in mice with ALF, suppress the inflammatory responses by inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and decrease the hepatocyte necrosis by inhibition of apoptosis. Pharmacologic inhibition of SIRT2 may be a promising approach for the treatment of ALF.

Keywords: AGK2; Acute liver failure; Apoptosis; SIRT2; Thioacetamide.