1. Academic Validation
  2. Isobavachalcone attenuates liver fibrosis via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in rats

Isobavachalcone attenuates liver fibrosis via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in rats

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Jan 2:128:111398. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111398.
Xiangshu Wang 1 Haozhe Tian 1 Jie Chen 2 Di Huang 2 Feng Ding 3 Tao Ma 3 Jin Xi 4 Chengzhu Wu 5 Yuxin Zhang 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China.
  • 2 School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China.
  • 3 School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China.
  • 4 Anhui Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China.
  • 5 School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China. Electronic address: wuchengzhu0611@bbmc.edu.com.
  • 6 School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation at Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, China. Electronic address: zhangyuxin@bbmc.edu.cn.
Abstract

Liver fibrosis, a progression of chronic liver disease, is a significant concern worldwide due to the lack of effective treatment modalities. Recent studies have shown that Natural Products play a crucial role in preventing and treating liver fibrosis. Isobavachalcone (IBC) is a chalcone compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. However, its potential antifibrotic effects remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the antifibrotic effects of IBC on liver fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms in rats. The results showed that IBC significantly ameliorated the pathological damage and collagen deposition in liver tissues; it also reduced the levels of hydroxyproline (HYP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, IBC activated Nuclear factor E2-associated factor 2/Hemeoxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling, leading to the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. This translocation subsequently increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), thereby alleviating oxidative stress-induced damage. Moreover, it inhibited the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which further reduced the levels of downstream inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1 beta (IL-1β), thereby suppressing the activation of HSCs and weakening liver fibrosis. In HSC-T6 cell experiments, changes observed in inflammatory responses, oxidative stress indicators, and protein expression were consistent with the in vivo results. Furthermore, the Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) attenuated the effect of IBC on inhibiting the activation of quiescent HSCs. Consequently, IBC could alleviate liver fibrosis by activating Nrf2/ HO-1 signaling.

Keywords

HSCs; Inflammation; Isobavachalcone; Liver fibrosis; Nrf2; Oxidative stress.

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