[Protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide against α-amanitin-induced liver injury in mice based on Bax/Apaf-1/ Caspase-3 apoptosis pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides(DOP) on α-amatoxins-induced liver injury in mice and to analyze its regulatory role in the Bax/Apaf-1/Caspase-3 apoptosis signaling pathway. METHODS: Sixty SPF-grade Kunming mice, half male and half female, were randomly divided into six groups according to sex and body weight: control group, α-amatoxins model group, and DOP intervention groups at doses of 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg. Mice were administered α-amatoxins 0.6 mg/kg by gavage to induce acute liver injury. Immediately after administration, mice in each intervention group were administered the corresponding concentration of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide solution by gavage at 6-h intervals for a total of four times. The control group and model group were simultaneously given an equal volume(10 mL/kg) of physiological saline. Mice were sacrificed 24 hours after exposure to the toxin, and blood and liver were collected. Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total bilirubin(TBIL), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) levels were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe histopathological changes in liver tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of Bax, Apaf-1, and Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in the liver. The content of reactive oxygen species in the liver was detected by fluorescent probe method. The levels of Bcl-2, cytochrome C, and Caspase-9 in the liver were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the α-amanita peptide model group showed significantly increased serum ALT, AST, TBIL, ALP and GGT levels, as well as significantly increased liver Bax, Apaf-1, and Caspase-3 mRNA and protein levels, and significantly increased liver reactive oxygen species, cytochrome C and Caspase-9 levels(P