Molecular mechanism of Biejiajian pills in alleviating trimethylamine oxide-aggravated liver fibrosis in BDL rats
CSTR:
Author:
Affiliation:

1. Hebei Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Medical and Industrial Integration, School of Clinical Medicine,North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063000, China. 2. Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210

Clc Number:

R575. 2;R285;R-332

Fund Project:

  • Article
  • |
  • Figures
  • |
  • Metrics
  • |
  • Reference
  • |
  • Related
  • |
  • Cited by
  • |
  • Materials
  • |
  • Comments
    Abstract:

    Objective To establish a model to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Biejiajian pills (BJJP) on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis in rats, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which BJJP alleviates trimethlylamine oxide (TMAO)-aggravated liver fibrosis in BDL rats. Methods A rat model of therapeutic BJJP for BDL-induced hepatic fibrosis was established. Thirty rats were divided randomly into Sham, BDL, and BJJP low-dose (-L), medium-dose (-M), and high-dose (-H) groups. Collagen-fiber deposition was analyzed by Masson and Sirius Red staining. Expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) and type Ⅰ collagen α1 chain (COL1A1) proteins in liver tissue in each group were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.Feces were collected from rats in the Sham, BDL, the BJJP-H groups for 16S rRNA high-throughput microbial sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Serum and feces levels of trimethylamine ( TMA) and TMAO were determined in the Sham, BDL, and BJJP-H groups, respectively, by non-targeted and targeted metabolomics technologies. To investigate the therapeutic effects of BJJP on TMAO-aggravated hepatic fibrosis and its potential molecular mechanisms, a further 20 Sprague Dawley rats were divided randomly into Sham, BDL, BDL+TMAO, and BDL+ TMAO + BJJP-H groups. Changes in histomorphology and collagen fibers in liver tissue were detected by hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and Sirius Red staining. Expression levels of α-SMA, flavin-containing monooxygenase 3(FMO3), phosphorylated (p-) protein kinase B (AKT), and p-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in each group were analyzed quantitatively by Western blot. Results Compared with the Sham group, liver levels of collagen fiber,α-SMA and COL1A1 protein were increased in the BDL group(P<0. 000 1, P<0. 000 1, P<0. 001). Compared with the BDL group, levels of collagen fiber in the BJJP-L, BJJP-M, and BJJP-H groups were significantly decreased(P<0. 05, P<0. 05, P<0. 001), as well as the levels of α-SMA protein and COL1A1 protein ( all P<0. 05). BJJP improved the intestinal flora and metabolic disorders in BDL rats, and reduced feces levels of TMA and serum levels of TMAO (all P<0. 05). Compared with the Sham group, rats in the BDL group exhibited disorganized hepatic cord arrangement, evident hepatocyte swelling, and extensive collagen-fiber deposition, along with up-regulation of α-SMA, FMO3, p-AKT, and p-PI3K protein expression(all P<0. 05). The above indicators in liver tissues of rats were further increased in the BDL+TMAO group compared with the BDL group(P<0. 001, P<0. 05, P<0. 000 1, P<0. 05). Compared with the BDL + TMAO group, rats in the BDL + TMAO + BJJP-H group exhibited more orderly hepatocellular arrangement, reduced collagen-fiber deposition(P<0. 000 1), and decreased protein expression of α-SMA, FMO3, p-AKT, and p-PI3K (P<0. 001, P<0. 01, P<0. 001, P<0. 05). Conclusions BJJP can improve hepatic fibrosis while TMAO can aggravate hepatic fibrosis in BDL rats. BJJP may alleviate the hepatic fibrosis process in BDL rats by regulating intestinal flora TMAO.

    Reference
    Related
    Cited by
Get Citation
Related Videos

Share
Article Metrics
  • Abstract:
  • PDF:
  • HTML:
  • Cited by:
History
  • Received:September 30,2025
  • Revised:
  • Adopted:
  • Online: May 06,2026
  • Published:
Article QR Code