Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
Chin J Integr Med. 2011 Mar;17(3):205-11. doi: 10.1007/s11655-011-0668-4. Epub 2011 Feb 27.
To observe the effect of berberine on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) mRNA and protein expressions in the hepatic tissue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats, and to explore the molecular mechanism.
To establish the NAFLD rat model; the rats were fed by high fat forage and were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, berberine high-dose group (324 mg/kg), and berberine low-dose group (162 mg/kg). After treatment for 12 weeks, the expression of UCP2 mRNA in the liver tissue was analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-RTPCR). The expression level of UCP2 protein in the liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry. Total PCR). cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contents in blood serum, and TG and TC contents in the liver were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The other is to observe the axungia degree of the liver.
The expression of UCP2 mRNA and positive cell numbers in the liver tissue were dramatically increased in the model group (P<0.01). Lipid in the serum and hepatic tissues increased significantly, and the liver was fatty. But in the treatment groups, the expression levels of mRNA and UCP2 proteins were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Liver steatosis was improved.
Berberine can down-regulate the expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 proteins of hepatic tissue in NAFLD rats. It can promote the recovery of hepatocyte steatosis and improve lipid metabolism disorder in NAFLD rats. Berberine shows a potential therapeutic effect on NAFLD.
观察黄连素对非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）大鼠肝组织解偶联蛋白 2（UCP2）mRNA 和蛋白表达的影响，探讨其分子机制。
建立 NAFLD 大鼠模型；高脂饲料喂养大鼠，随机分为正常组、模型组、黄连素高剂量组（324mg/kg）和黄连素低剂量组（162mg/kg），治疗 12 周后，半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分析肝组织 UCP2mRNA 表达，免疫组化法检测肝组织 UCP2 蛋白表达。全自动生化分析仪检测血清总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量，肝组织 TG、TC 含量。另观察肝脏脂肪变性程度。
模型组大鼠肝组织 UCP2mRNA 表达及阳性细胞数明显增加（P<0.01），血清及肝组织脂质明显增加，肝脏脂肪变性；各治疗组 UCP2mRNA 及 UCP2 蛋白表达水平均明显下调（P<0.01），肝脂肪变性改善。
黄连素可下调 NAFLD 大鼠肝组织 UCP2mRNA 和 UCP2 蛋白的表达水平，促进肝细胞脂肪变性的恢复，改善 NAFLD 大鼠脂代谢紊乱，对 NAFLD 具有潜在的治疗作用。
