Objective To elucidate the potential protective effects of PQQ against diabetic liver damages and its underlying mechanisms. Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10), including control group, DM group, DM+ PQQ low dose group, DM+ PQQ medium dose group and DM+ PQQ high dose group. Streptozotocin (STZ) was used by intraperitoneal injection to develop type 1 diabetes. Following successful modeling, mice were treated with daily oral administration of low dose (10 mg/kg), medium dose (20 mg/kg), and high dose (40 mg/kg) of PPQ for a duration of 12 weeks. The changes of body weight and fasting blood glucose were recorded. Histopathological alterations of liver tissue were examined using HE staining. Additionally, liver damage-associated blood biochemical markers and antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed utilizing commercial reagent kits. The expressions of (nucleotide binding oligomer-rization domain-like pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related proteins were detected by Western blot analysis. Results Treatment with a dosage of 40 mg/(kg·d ) PQQ significantly decreased fasting blood glucose levels and liver injury-related enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activites, reduced serum levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzyme SOD and GSH content in the liver. Histopathological analysis also demonstrated that PQQ exhibited hepatoprotective effects. Western blot analysis revealed that PQQ substantially downregulated the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway proteins including NLRP3, thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), apoptosis- associated speck - like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), caspase-1 cut as well as IL-1β and interleukin-18 (IL-18). Conclusion PQQ significantly protects against diabetic liver damages in mice by enhancing antioxidant function and inhibiting NLRPS inflammasome signaling pathway.
Key words
pyrroloquinoline quinone /
diabetes /
liver damage /
NLRP3 inflammasome /
mice
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