Maresin 1 mitigates concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury in mice by inhibiting ROS-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling

Abstract

The liver is the most important metabolic and detoxifying organ in the human body, and liver damage can seriously affect bodily function and potentially be life threatening. Accumulating evidence suggests that maresin 1 (MaR1) exhibits protective and anti-inflammatory effects in some diseases, such as pneumonia and colitis; however, its role in acute hepatitis remains unclear. Here, we established a concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute liver-injury mouse model to determine whether MaR1 administration can attenuate liver damage. Our results indicate that MaR1 confers protective effects against ConA-induced acute liver injury, improves liver function and survival, and reduces histopathological damage. Additionally, MaR1 attenuated the inflammatory response and reduced hepatocyte apoptosis while increasing mouse macrophage apoptosis and markedly decreasing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in macrophages. We also found that MaR1 significantly inhibited ConA-induced activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. This work will contribute to a better understanding of acute liver injury (ALI) and advancement towards its treatment.