Transglutaminase inhibitor cystamine alleviates the abnormality in liver from NZB/W F1 mice

Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Jan 28;579(1-3):382-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.10.059. Epub 2007 Oct 30.

Abstract

Increased hepatic abnormality has been observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and contributes to the elevated apoptosis that results in severe disease activity. Since cystamine has been demonstrated to be beneficial for NZB/W F1 mice, this study investigates the effects of cystamine on various inflammatory and stress-related proteins in liver from NZB/W F1 mice. Nephelometric analyses and immunoblots were conducted to detect aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), p53, p21, Gadd45, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). AST and ALT were reduced in NZB/W F1 mice that were given cystamine and CRP, p53, p21, Gadd45, HSP70 and COX-2 proteins in the liver were reduced in NZB/W F1 mice that were treated with cystamine. Moreover, cystamine has no obvious effect on BALB/c mice. These findings suggest that cystamine reduces the inflammation in liver of NZB/W F1 mice and provide a clue in treatment of SLE with liver abnormality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
  • Cystamine / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Immunoblotting
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Liver / abnormalities
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred NZB
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Proteins / drug effects
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Transglutaminases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Proteins
  • Transglutaminases
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Cystamine