Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive disease that occurs in the liver. As the number of people with NASH has increased, effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed. Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (AGA) is a mushroom native to Brazil and is considered a healthy food because of its purported health benefits, including its antioxidant properties. In this study, we focused on the oxidative stress that accompanies the onset of NASH and examined whether AGA can prevent NASH development through its antioxidant activity. We used a mouse model of NASH in which pathogenesis was promoted by dietary induction. Supplementation with AGA attenuated the development of hepatic fibrosis, which is a characteristic feature of late-stage NASH. This effect appeared to be mechanistically linked to an AGA-promoted reduction in hepatic oxidative stress. These results demonstrate a novel role for AGA in NASH prevention.
Highlights
Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (AGA) is a fungus considered to be a health food because of its antioxidant [1,2] and anti-inflammatory properties [3,4,5]
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a disease caused by the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the liver and the progression of its symptoms [26]
AGA tended to suppress weight gain caused by the high-cholesterol diet (HC) diet (Figure 1A)
Summary
Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (AGA) (or subrufescens) is a fungus considered to be a health food because of its antioxidant [1,2] and anti-inflammatory properties [3,4,5]. Inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Multiple studies have demonstrated that AGA can ameliorate the symptoms of lifestyle-related diseases [6,7,8], including obesity [9,10], hypertension [11], and diabetes [12,13]. A characteristic symptom of NASH, cannot be cured once it has developed, methods of preventing NASH are urgently needed. Previous studies have shown that inflammation is a key predictor of eventual histological progression to fibrosis and cirrhosis [37]. It has been demonstrated that antioxidants have the potential to function as very effective factors in preventing and treating the onset of NASH pathogenesis [40]. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecules may affect NASH, no cures have been identified
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