San-Huang-Chai-Zhu Formula Ameliorates Liver Injury in Intrahepatic Cholestasis through Suppressing SIRT1/PGC-1-Regulated Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress.

BACKGROUND

Chinese herbal formulae possess promising applications in treating intrahepatic cholestasis.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aims to explore the protective effect of the San-Huang-Chai-Zhu formula (SHCZF) on liver injury in intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) and investigate the underlying mechanism related to mitochondrial oxidative stress.

METHODS

An IC rat model was established by -naphthyl isothiocyanate induction. Hepatic histomorphology was observed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Levels of biochemical indexes of hepatic function and oxidative stress were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell apoptosis in liver tissues was detected by the TUNEL assay. The mRNA expression of mtDNA, SIRT1, and PGC-1 was measured by qRT-PCR, and the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, SIRT1, and PGC-1 was determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

SHCZF treatment attenuated liver injury in IC. Levels of hepatic function parameters were decreased after SHCZF administration. In addition, the decreased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in hepatic mitochondria confirmed that SHCZF could attenuate oxidative stress in IC. SHCZF treatment also reduced the apoptosis in the liver tissues of IC rats. Furthermore, SHCZF administration upregulated the expression of mtDNA, SIRT1, and PGC-1 in IC.

CONCLUSIONS

SHCZF exerts a protective effect on liver injury in IC via alleviating SIRT1/PGC-1-regulated mitochondrial oxidative stress.