Improvement of curcumin combined with aerobic exercise on liver function in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To explore the improvements and mechanisms of curcumin combined with aerobic exercise on liver function in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, NAFLD model group, aerobic exercise intervention group, curcumin intervention group and curcumin combined with aerobic exercise intervention group, 8 in each group. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer; histomorphology, hepatic lipid deposition and ultrastructural changes were detected by hematoxylin-eosin, Oil Red O and electronic staining; hepatic adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), coiled-coil myosin-like B-cell lymphoma-2-interacting protein-1 (Beclin-1), sequestosome-1 protein (SQSTM1/P62), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅰ (LC3-Ⅰ) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ (LC3-Ⅱ) mRNA and protein expression were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results: Eight-week high-fat diet induced NAFLD in rats successfully. Curcumin and/or aerobic exercise intervention could decrease serum TC, TG, LDL-C significantly, improve abnormality of liver lipid deposition; decrease serum AST and ALT, improve pathologic changes in liver; up-regulate hepatic Beclin1, LC3-II mRNA expression and p-AMPK, Beclin1, LC3-II protein expression, p-AMPK/AMPK and LC3-II/LC3-Ⅰ ratio of protein, down-regulate mTOR, P62 mRNA and protein expression, alleviate ultrastructural damage, enhance cellular autophagy. Curcumin and aerobic exercise had interactive effects on serum TC and TG levels, ALT and AST activity, hepatic mTOR, Beclin-1, P62 mRNA expression, p-AMPK, P62, LC3-Ⅱ protein expression and LC3-II/LC3-Ⅰ ratio of protein. Conclusion: Curcumin and/or aerobic exercise intervention can improve liver structure and function in NAFLD rats by modulating AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and enhancing cellular autophagy moderately. Thereinto, Curcumin combined with aerobic exercise intervention is the most effective.

Key words: curcumin, aerobic exercise, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/ mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, autophagy, nonalcoholic fatty liver

CLC Number:

TS218
G804.7

References

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