Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2025
Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen
Published on: November 27, 2019
Thonningianin A ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury by activating GPX4 and modulating endoplasmic
Shanglei Lai1, Yingyan Ye2, Qinchao Ding3
1Department of Medical Research Center, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Introduction:
Acetaminophen (APAP) is widely used as an analgesic and antipyretic. However overdose APAP can lead to acute liver injury (ALI), representing a significant challenge for public health due to limited treatment options. Current research highlights the need for safer and more effective therapies for APAP-induced liver injury, especially those that target oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways. This study investigates the protective effects of Thonningianin A (TA), a flavonoid compound derived from Penthorum chinense Pursh, in mitigating APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
Methods:
The experimental design involved administering TA at doses of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg to C57BL/6 mice prior to inducing hepatotoxicity with APAP.
Results And Discussion:
TA treatment significantly lowered plasma ALT and AST levels, inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines, and reduced oxidative stress markers in liver tissues. Furthermore, TA modulated apoptosis-related proteins by increasing BCL-2 expression while decreasing CHOP and BAX levels. It alleviated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by downregulating GRP78, p-PERK, and ATF4. Notably, liver-specific GPX4 knockdown, achieved through AAV-8-mediated shRNA delivery, abolished the hepatoprotective effects of TA, underscoring GPX4's essential role in mediating TA-induced hepatoprotection. These findings suggest TA as a promising therapeutic agent in managing APAP-induced liver injury, with its unique action on both oxidative and ER stress pathways contributing to its hepatoprotective efficacy.
