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The effects of coadministration of ghrelin agonist (GHRP-2) and GH on TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS genes expression induced by LPS in mouse liver

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Abstract

Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), a ghrelin receptor agonist, has been reported to bear an anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of GHRP-2 and GH on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse liver tissues. Thirty-five male NMRI mice (25 ± 5 g) were used. Mice were divided into five groups (n = 7). GHRP-2 (100 μg/kg), GH (25 μg/kg), and (GHRP-2 + GH) were injected through the mice tail vein 30 min before the injection of LPS. Then, inflammation was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5 mg/kg) while the control animals received sterile saline. Changes in the levels of expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS genes in the mice liver induced by LPS injection for 2 h were studied by a semiquantitative RT-polymerase chain reaction method. Administration of LPS increased hepatic TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS mRNAs. The results showed that intravenous administration of GHRP-2and GH significantly reduced the elevated TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS mRNA levels 2 h after the injection. In contrast, injection of GHRP-2 prior to injection of LPS reduced IL-6. Injection of GH reduced the expression of iNOS in liver tissues. Coadministration of two drugs had a positive effect on the reduction of TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS expression.

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The authors dedicate this article to our family.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, PO Box 14515-775, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Abrehdari & Parvaneh Allahdini

  2. Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Zendehdel

  3. Department of Biology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

    Elham Safarpour

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  1. Zahra Abrehdari
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  2. Morteza Zendehdel
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  3. Elham Safarpour
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  4. Parvaneh Allahdini
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Correspondence to Zahra Abrehdari.

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Abrehdari, Z., Zendehdel, M., Safarpour, E. et al. The effects of coadministration of ghrelin agonist (GHRP-2) and GH on TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS genes expression induced by LPS in mouse liver. Comp Clin Pathol 23, 835–840 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1698-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-013-1698-4

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