Effect of astragaloside on expression of smac, cytochrome C and caspase-3 in hepatic tissue of acute hepatic failure induced by D-Gal NLPS

Abstract

This study assessed astragaloside IV’s effect on liver Smac, Cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and Caspase-3 expression in acute liver failure in mice. Mice were randomly assigned into normal group, model group, model+astragaloside (1%) group and model+astragaloside (5%) group. Mice were given by gavage of astragaloside (50 mg/kg/d, 250 mg/kg/d) for 2 d before making the model in model + astragaloside group and model+astragaloside group. Equal dose of normal saline was administrated to the other groups. Except for the normal group, mice in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with D-GalN/LPS for 48 h. The mice were at the end killed after the final intraperitoneal injection for 2 hours. Hepatic apoptosis and expressions of hepatic Smac, Cyt-C and caspase-3 were then analyzed. Mice exhibited less hepatocyte apoptosis and lower content of hepatic Cyt-C expression in both the model+astragaloside and model+astragaloside groups (P <0.01). D-GalN/LPS significantly enhanced Caspase-3 and Smac mRNA. Moreover, astragaloside suppressed the activity of Caspase-3 and decreased hepatic Smac mRNA expression in mice (P <0.01). Astragaloside IV can reduce the content of Cyt-C and down-regulate the expression of Smac and caspase-3, thereby protecting acute liver failure.