Endogenous n-3 Fatty Acids Alleviate Carbon-Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury inFat-1Transgenic Mice

Abstract

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are beneficial for numerous models of liver diseases. The probable protective effects of n-3 PUFA against carbon-tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced acute liver injury were evaluated in afat-1transgenic mouse that synthesizes endogenous n-3 from n-6 PUFA.Fat-1mice and their WT littermates were fed a modified AIN93 diet containing 10% corn oil and were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CCl4or vehicle. CCl4challenge caused severe liver injury in WT mice, as indicated by serum parameters and histopathological changes, which were remarkably ameliorated infat-1mice. Endogenous n-3 PUFA decreased the elevation of oxidative stress induced by CCl4challenge, which might be attributed to the activation of Nrf2/keap1 pathway. Additionally, endogenous n-3 PUFA reduces hepatocyte apoptosis via suppressing MAPK pathway. These findings indicate that n-3 PUFA has potent protective effects against acute liver injury induced by CCl4in mice, suggesting that n-3 PUFA can be used for the prevention and treatment of liver injury.