Effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on concanavalin A-induced acute liver failure in mice

Objective To investigate the effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate(MgIG) on concanavalin A(ConA)-induced acute liver failure in mice and its mechanism. Methods A total of 60 healthy BALB/C mice were randomly divided into control group with 10 mice,MgIG control group with 10 mice,ConA model group with 20 mice,and MgIG-ConA pretreatment group with 20 mice. The liver and peripheral blood were collected to evaluate survival rate,serum levels of aminotransferases,and degree of liver injury by HE staining of liver tissue; TUNEL fluorescence staining and activity of caspase-3 protein were used to evaluate the apoptosis of hepatocytes; the liquid chip method was used to measure the serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα).A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results The overall survival rate of mice was 40% in the ConA model group and80% in the MgIG-ConA pretreatment group. The ConA model group had significantly increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase( ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase( AST) compared with the control group( both P < 0. 01),while the MgIG + ConA pretreatment group had significantly reduced serum levels of ALT and AST compared with the ConA model group( both P < 0. 01). The control group,the MgIG control group,the ConA model group,and the MgIG-ConA pretreatment group had a pathological score of 1. 0 ± 0. 2,1. 2 ± 0. 3,3. 7 ±0. 6,and 2. 3 ± 0. 5,respectively,and there was a significant difference between groups( F = 2. 7,P < 0. 05); the apoptotic cells/100 cells ratio was 0. 2 ± 0. 1,0. 1 ± 0. 1,7. 8 ± 1. 3,and 2. 2 ± 0. 4,respectively,in these four groups,and there was a significant difference between groups( F = 27. 6,P < 0. 001); the activity of caspase-3 protein was 0. 813 ± 0. 022,0. 930 ± 0. 033,1. 347 ± 0. 042,and1. 060 ± 0. 053,respectively,in these four groups,and there was a significant difference between groups( F = 51. 072,P < 0. 001).Compared with the control group,the Con A model group had significant increases in serum levels of IL-1β and TNFα( both P < 0. 05);compared with the Con A model group,the Mg IG + Con A pretreatment group had significant reductions in serum levels of IL-1β and TNFα( both P < 0. 05). Conclusion Mg IG exerts a marked protective effect against Con A-induced acute liver failure in mice and can alleviate liver injury possibly by reducing hepatocyte apoptosis and alleviating liver inflammatory response caused by IL-1β and TNFα.