Curcumin ameliorates LPS/D-GalN induced acute liver injury by regulating TLR4/NF-кB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Background: NLRP3 inflammasome activation results in liver inflammation and injury. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcumin longa, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. The effects and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of curcumin were explored on acute liver injury induced by LPS/D-GalN.Methods and Results: An in vitro acute liver injury model was established on L-02 cells by treatment with10 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS); An in vivo model was established on SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of 0.02 mg/kg LPS and 500 mg/kg D-galactosamine (D-GalN). Biochemical index detection, histopathology, Western blotting, and qPCR were used to explore the effects and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of curcumin on acute liver injury induced by LPS/D-GalN in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that curcumin significantly reduced the damage of L-02 cells induced by LPS, reduced the levels of transminase, inhibited oxidative stress induced by LPS in rats, and alleviated liver pathological injury. These effects accompanied by the downregulation of the expression of TLR4, NF-кB, and pyrotosis related proteins NLRP3 and caspase 1.Conclusions: Curcumin ameliorated acute liver injury induced by LPS and D-GalN in L-02 cells and SD rats by inhibiting TLR4/NF-кB/NLRP3 pathway.