DietaryN-acetylcysteine supplementation alleviates liver injury in lipopolysaccharide-challenged piglets

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could modulate liver injury in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglet model. For this purpose, eighteen piglets were randomly assigned to the control, LPS or NAC group. Piglets in the control and LPS groups were fed a basal diet, whereas those in the NAC group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg NAC. On days 10, 13 and 20 of the trial, the LPS-and NAC-treated piglets were intraperitoneally administered LPS (100 mg/kg body weight), while the control group was administered the same volume of saline. On day 20 of the trial, blood samples were obtained 3 h after LPS or saline injection. On day 21, the piglets were killed to collect liver samples. Dietary NAC supplementation attenuated LPS-induced liver histomorphological abnormalities. Compared with the control group, in the LPS-challenged piglets, the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and the concentrations of H 2 O 2 , TNF-a, IL-6 and PGE 2 were dramatically increased in the plasma and the activity of superoxide dismutase in the plasma and that of glutathione peroxidase in the liver were significantly decreased. The LPS challenge also increased the concentration of AMP and the ratio of AMP:ATP, but decreased adenylate energy charges and the levels of ATP and ADP. These adverse effects of the LPS challenge were ameliorated by NAC supplementation. Moreover, NAC inhibited the LPS-induced increases in the abundance of liver heat shock protein 70 and NF-kB proteins. In conclusion, these results suggest that dietary NAC supplementation alleviates LPS-induced liver injury by reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing the antioxidative capacity and improving energy metabolism.

Dietary supplementation with glutamate precursor α-ketoglutarate attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in young pigs

“…Liver samples were then rapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80 °C for further analysis. All samples were collected within 15 min after killing (Yi et al 2014). …”

“…Plasma was used for the determination of enzyme activities by colorimetric methods using commercial kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Biological Product, Nanjing, China) according to the manufacturer's recommendations (Yi et al 2014). The enzymes included alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ADA (adenosine deaminase), and CHE (cholinesterase).…”

“…It also plays a critical role in the defense of body against bacteria and their toxic products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Yi et al 2014). Therefore, maintaining liver health is vital for human and animals.…”

“…LPS-induced effects in the liver are initiated by stimulating Kupffer cells, followed by the subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (He et al 2001) and radical oxygen and nitrogen species (Su 2002). These substances result in the injury of tissues, including parenchymal liver damage and liver dysfunction Yi et al 2014;Bellezzo et al 1998). Although some nutrients and chemicals (e.g., N-acetylcysteine, arginine, and fish oil) can be effective in attenuating liver damage induced by LPS challenge (Yi et al 2014;Li et al 2012;Chen et al 2013), more low-cost curatives are preferable for doctors and animal producers under certain conditions.…”

“…These substances result in the injury of tissues, including parenchymal liver damage and liver dysfunction Yi et al 2014;Bellezzo et al 1998). Although some nutrients and chemicals (e.g., N-acetylcysteine, arginine, and fish oil) can be effective in attenuating liver damage induced by LPS challenge (Yi et al 2014;Li et al 2012;Chen et al 2013), more low-cost curatives are preferable for doctors and animal producers under certain conditions. AKG is a key intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle as well as a precursor of glutamate and glutamine (Blachier et al 2009;Hou et al 2011a;Yao et al 2012).…”