Study On Protective Effects And Mechanisms Of Caffeic Acid On Chronic Aluminum Overload-Induced Liver Damage In Rats

Objective:To study the protective effects of caffeic acid on liver damage induced by chronic aluminum overload in rats and primary explore the protective mechanism.Methods:The SD rats were given aluminum gluconate (200 mg ·kg-1) intragastrically once a day,5 days every week for 20 weeks. Caffeic acid (10,30 mg·kg-1) was intragastrically administered 1 hour after each aluminum administration. The biochemical method was used to detect the ALT, AST and ALP activity in rat serum, and the MDA content and SOD activity in rat liver. HE staining method was used to observe the morphology changes of rat liver. ELISA was used to detect the content of LTB4, LTC4, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in rat liver and the 5-LO mRNA and protein expression in liver were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results:In aluminum overload rat, the serum ALT, AST, ALP activity was increased significantly, and liver cells showed a significant vacuolar degeneration, necrosis and irregular arrangement. The MDA, LTB4, LTC4, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 content were elevated significantly, while the SOD activity decreased significantly. The 5-LO mRNA and protein expression in liver significantly increased. Caffeic acid significantly alleviated liver injury, blunted the increase of ALT, AST, and ALP activity decreased the content of MDA, LTB4, LTC4, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and increased the activity of SOD. The 5-LO mRNA and protein expression were also inhibited.Conclusion:Caffeic acid can alleviate liver injury induced by chronic aluminum overload. The inhibition of 5-LO protein expression, oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in the protective mechanisms of caffeic acid.