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Protective effects of C-phycocyanin on alcohol-induced subacute liver injury in mice

  • 1st International Coastal Biology Congress, Yantai, China
  • Published:
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Abstract

Excessive and long-term alcohol consumption leads to liver disease and low immunity. Extensive evidence suggests that C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a chromophore phycocyanobilin derived from Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, exerts protective effects against chemical-induced organ damage and improves immunity. In this study, we investigated whether C-PC could protect against ethanol-induced subacute liver injury and improve immunity. KM mice with ethanol-induced liver injury were established, and animals were divided into three groups that were treated with high, medium, and low doses of C-PC. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total bilirubin (TBIL), liver homogenate malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured. In addition, the number of thymus T cell subsets was assessed, and liver sections were examined pathologically. C-PC exhibited obvious inhibitory effects on serum ALT, AST, TG, CHOL, LDL, and MDA levels and increased SOD content significantly in the liver. C-PC also increased serum CD3+ and CD4+ cell activation and T cell proliferation significantly compared with the model group. The structure of the hepatic lobules was clear, the liver sinus returned to normal, and the liver cell cords were arranged in neat rows. Therefore, C-PC could protect against ethanol-induced subacute liver injury significantly.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Public science and technology research funds projects of ocean (No. 201205027).

Compliance with ethical standards

Animal welfare and experimental procedures were carried out in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Ministry of Science and Technology of China, 2006) and were approved by the animal ethics committee of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Science.

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Author notes

  1. Zhenning Du

    Present address: School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China

  2. Song Qin

    Present address: Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China

    Dong Xia

  2. Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China

    Bing Liu, Junyan Sun & Nana Liu

  3. School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China

    Wenyu Xin & Tongshen Liu

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  1. Dong Xia
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Correspondence to Song Qin.

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Xia, D., Liu, B., Xin, W. et al. Protective effects of C-phycocyanin on alcohol-induced subacute liver injury in mice. J Appl Phycol 28, 765–772 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-015-0677-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-015-0677-3

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