Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate inhibits inflammatory response through STAT3 pathway to protect remnant liver function

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate(Mg IG) on excessive hepatectomy animal model and its possible mechanism.METHODS: We used the standard 90% hepatectomy model in Sprague-Dawley rats developed using the modified Emond’s method,in which the left,middle,right upper,and right lower lobes of the liver were removed. Rats with 90% liver resection were divided into three groups,and were injected intraperitoneally with 3 m L saline(control group),30 mg/kg(low-dose group) and 60 mg/kg(high-dose group) of Mg IG,respectively. Animals were sacrificed at various time points and blood was drawn from the vena cava. Biochemical tests were performed with an automatic biochemical analyzer for the following items: serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),glutamyl endopeptidase,total bilirubin(TBil),direct bilirubin(DBil),total protein,albumin,blood glucose(Glu),hyper-sensitivity C-reactive protein,prothrombin time(PT),and thrombin time(TT). Postoperative survival time was observed hourly until death. Hepatocyte regeneration was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Serum inflammatory cytokines(IL-1,IL-6,IL-10,and i NOS) was analyzed by ELISA. STAT3 protein and m RNA were analyzed by Western blot and quantitative reversetranscription PCR,respectively.RESULTS: The high-dose group demonstrated a significantly prolonged survival time,compared with both the control and the low-dose groups(22.0 ± 4.7 h vs 8.9 ± 2.0 vs 10.3 ± 3.3 h,P = 0.018). There were significant differences among the groups in ALT,Glu and PT levels starting from 6 h after surgery. The ALT levels were significantly lower in the Mg IG treated groups than in the control group. Both Glu and PT levels were significantly higher in the Mg IG treated groups than in the control group. At 12 h,ALT,AST,TBil,DBil and TT levels showed significant differences between the Mg IG treated groups and the control group. No significant differences in hepatocyte regeneration were found. Compared to the control group,the high-dose group showed a significantly increase in serum inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-10,and a decrease in IL-6. Both STAT3 protein and m RNA levels were significantly lower in the Mg IG treated groups than in the control group at 6 h,12 h,and 18 h after surgery.CONCLUSION: High-dose Mg IG can extend survival time in rats after excessive hepatectomy. This hepatoprotective effect is mediated by inhibiting the inflam-matory response through inhibition o