The effect of polyene phosphatidyl choline intervention on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and related mechanism

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has similar clinical pathological changes to alcoholic hepatitis. It shows increased incidence and young trend year by year. Polyene phosphatidyl choline (PPC) is widely used in clinic for liver disease treatment. The effect and mechanism of PPC on NASH have not been fully elucidated. Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly equally divided into control, NASH group, and PPC group. NASH model was established by high fat diet. PPC was intraperitoneal injected to NASH rat from the second week at 80 mg/kg·d for three weeks. Body weight, liver weight index, ALT, AST, TG, and TC were tested. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected by ELISA. NF-κB mRNA and protein expression in liver tissue were determined by real time PCR and Western blot. SOD activity and ROS content were measured by colorimetry. NASH rat presented significantly elevated body weight and liver weight index, increased ROS content, declined SOD activity, enhanced liver function and inflammatory factors expression, and upregulated NF-κB mRNA and protein levels compared with control (P < 0.05). PPC intervention obviously reduced body weight and liver weight index, declined ROS content, amplified SOD activity, decreased liver function, weakened inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-1β expression, and downregulated NF-κB mRNA and protein levels compared with NASH group (P < 0.05). PPC can play a treatment effect on NASH through regulating oxidative balance, inhibiting inflammatory factors and NF-κB signaling pathway.