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The Restorative Effect of Taurine on Experimental Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

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Abstract

Our objective was to explore the restorative effect of taurine on experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, 12 in each group: the normal group was fed standard rat diet; the model group and the treatment group were both fed a high-fat rat diet for 12 weeks, and the rats in the treatment group were simultaneously injected with taurine subcutaneously for 8 weeks. Hepatic histological change was observed; TNF-α and TGF-β1 protein expression was identified by immunohistochemistry; mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, type I procollagen, and adiponectin was measured by RT-PCR; body weight, weight gain, liver weight, and liver index were measured; and biochemical parameters monitored included serum transaminases, serum lipids, fasting plasma glucose, and hepatic level of oxidative stress. Rats in the model group showed a significant increase in liver weight, liver index, serum transaminase activities, serum triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose, and oxidative stress; the mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and type I procollagen increased, whereas the expression of adiponectin decreased significantly, compared with that in the normal group. The typical hepatic lesions of NASH were observed histologically in the model group. Taurine treatment resulted in a significant decrease in liver weight, liver index, serum transaminase activities, serum triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose, and oxidative stress; the mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and type I procollagen decreased, but the expression of adiponectin increased significantly, compared with that in the model group. Histological improvement was observed in the treatment group. In conclusion, taurine could inhibit lipid peroxidation, improve lipid and glucose metabolism, decrease synthesis of TNF-α and TGF-β1, promote synthesis of adiponectin, and have a restorative effect on experimental NASH.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Science & Technology Development Foundation of the Shanghai Health Bureau (034112) and the Scientific Research Projects Foundation of the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (044119730).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China

    Si-Wen Chen, Yue-Xiang Chen, Jian Shi, Yong Lin & Wei-Fen Xie

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  1. Si-Wen Chen
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  2. Yue-Xiang Chen
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Correspondence to Yue-Xiang Chen.

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The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

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Chen, SW., Chen, YX., Shi, J. et al. The Restorative Effect of Taurine on Experimental Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 51, 2225–2234 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9359-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9359-y

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