Luteolin Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Disease Induced by Chronic and Binge Ethanol Feeding in Mice. Issue 7 (14th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Gaigai; Zhang, Yuxue; Liu, Chunchun; Xu, Daqian; Zhang, Rui; Cheng, Yuan; Pan, Yi; Huang, Cheng; Chen, Yan
• Is Part Of: Journal of nutrition. Volume 144:Issue 7(2014)
• Page Start: 1009
• Page End: 1015
• Publication Date: 2014-05-14
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Diet -- Periodicals; 613.205
• DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.193128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3166

Abstract

Abstract: Ethanol consumption can lead to hepatic steatosis that contributes to late-stage liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of a flavonoid, luteolin, on ethanol-induced fatty liver development and liver injury. Six-wk-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups: a control group; a group exposed to alcohol by using a chronic and binge ethanol feeding protocol (EtOH); and a group that was administered daily 50 mg/kg of luteolin in addition to ethanol exposure (EtOH + Lut). A chronic and binge ethanol feeding protocol was used, including chronic ethanol consumption (1%, 2%, and 4% for 3 d, and 5% for 9 d) and a binge (30% ethanol) on the last day. Compared with the control group, the EtOH group had a significant elevation in serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (561%), triglyceride (TG) (47%), and LDL cholesterol (95%), together with lipid accumulation in the liver. Compared with the EtOH group, the EtOH + Lut group had significant reductions in serum concentrations of ALT (43%), TG (22%), LDL cholesterol (52%), and lipid accumulation in the liver. Ethanol elevated liver expression of lipogenic genes including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c ( Srebp1c ) (560%), fatty acid synthase ( Fasn ) (190%), acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( Acc ) (48%), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 ( Scd1 ) (286%). Luteolin reduced ethanol-induced expression of these genes in the liver: Srebp1c (79%), Fasn (80%), Acc (60%), and Scd1 (89%). In cultured hepatocytes, luteolin prevented alcohol-induced lipid accumulation and increase in the expression of lipogenic genes. The transcriptional activity of the master regulator of lipid synthesis, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), was enhanced by ethanol treatment (160%) and reduced by luteolin administration (67%). In addition, ethanol-induced reduction of AMP-activated protein kinase and SREBP-1c phosphorylation was abrogated by luteolin. Collectively, our study indicates that luteolin is effective in ameliorating ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis and injury.