Effects of Soothing Liver and Invigorating Spleen Recipes on the IKKβ-NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Kupffer Cells of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Rats

• Main Authors: Xiang-Wen Gong, Yong-Jian Xu, Qin-He Yang, Yin-Ji Liang, Yu-Pei Zhang, Guan-Long Wang, Yuan-Yuan Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
• Series: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/687690
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288

This study investigates the effect of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on steatohepatitis examining the IKKβ-NF-κB signaling pathway in KCs of NASH rats. SD male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups, and the NASH model was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). After 26 weeks, liver tissue was examined in H&E stained sections and liver function was monitored biochemically. KCs were isolated by Seglen’s method, with some modifications. The mRNA and protein expression of the IKKβ-NF-κB signaling pathway components was examined by quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The results show that the high-fat diet induced NASH in the rats, and the soothing liver recipe and invigorating spleen recipe decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 in KCs, as well as inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of the IKKβ-NF-κB signaling pathway components. In conclusion, the experiment indicated the importance of the IKKβ-NF-κB signaling pathway in KCs for the anti-inflammatory effects of the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes.