Journal: Life Metabolism

Article Title: Propionic acid secreted by Akkermansia muciniphila alleviates hepatic fibrosis by antioxidant regulation across the gut–liver axis

doi: 10.1093/lifemeta/loaf036

Figure Lengend Snippet: AKK alleviates liver fibrosis in mice by improving propionic acid metabolism. (a) Body weight of animals recorded weekly during the experimental period. (b) Liver index ( n = 6). (c–f) Serum content of ALT (c), AST (d), γ-GT (e), and ALP (f) ( n = 6). (g) Representative images of H&E, Masson, and Sirius Red staining (scale bar = 25 μm) in the liver ( n = 6). (h and i) Liver collagen deposition index ( n = 6). (j) Fibrosis-related markers such as TIMP-1, α-SMA, and Col1α1 and TGF-β1 protein expression assayed by western blotting. (k) Propionic acid levels in the livers, feces, and plasma of mice ( n = 6). (l) Gene expression of Slc52a1 and Slc52a2 in mice ( n = 6). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA for multiple-group comparisons. CCl 4 -induced hepatic fibrosis (CCl 4 ), ABX + CCl 4 , or a combination of ABX + CCl 4 plus AKK (ABX + CCl 4 + AKK ) were used to assess liver metabolomics and the indicated assays. ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.05, compared with the CCl 4 group. # P < 0.05, ## P < 0.01, compared with the ABX + CCl 4 group. $ P < 0.05, compared with the CCl 4 + AKK group.

Article Snippet: To induce the ABX model, mice with hepatic fibrosis were orally administered an ABX mixture consisting of ampicillin (0.2 g/L, MedChemExpress, CAS# HY-B0522), vancomycin (0.2 g/L, MedChemExpress, CAS# HY-B0671), neomycin sulfate (0.2 g/L, MedChemExpress, CAS# HY-B0470), and metronidazole (0.2 g/L, MedChemExpress, CAS# HY-B0318) for 1 week before the 8th week.

Techniques: Staining, Expressing, Western Blot, Clinical Proteomics, Gene Expression